Category: From the Book

I See the Cross (Beautiful Jesus! Wonderful Savior!)

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I normally post weekly to give people space to read and not be overwhelmed by multiple messages a week. My heart was so stirred yesterday to recall what love cost God. You see, genuine love is costly. Anyone can say, “I love you,” yet our actions demonstrate whether those words are true. Only the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob offered up His only begotten Son to take away the sins of the world. Our sin was no shock to God. He already knew we’d choose our way over His. It was in the plan all along that Jesus would die for humanity and rise again with all power. 

Only Jesus (God in the flesh) allowed Himself to be humiliated, beaten, mocked, shamed, hurt, rejected, and nailed to a rugged cross to fulfill the Father’s divine plan of redemption. He loved the Father and out of that perfect love and obedience, He went to the cross. He also loves and loved us enough to give His life. 

God is love. He knew by no other means could mankind be truly be saved. So, He offered Himself. He took the penalty for us, for the wages of sin is death. God’s wrath was poured out on that cross so we would not have to face eternal damnation. 

Have you celebrated His sacrifice today? Thanked Him? Worshipped Him? Will you join me today in celebrating the greatest love anyone will ever know? He’s worthy of continual praise! Thank you Papa God. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. 

Here’s an excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was…hope it leads you to worship. You are SO deeply loved. 


I See the Cross
written by Erin Lamb October 25, 2007 
Copyright© 2011 may not be reproduced without permission

I see the cross,
so vividly in front of me;
one nail pierced hand on the left
and another on the right.
I see His head hanging there
with the thorns positioned, oh, so tight.
I see the blood
dripping from the pure, spotless Lamb.
I kneel before Him
laying my sins,
all of them,
there.
I see the cross.
I see the beauty of God’s unmerited favor
and His forgiveness.
I see love in the eyes of the One who took my place.
For no greater love lies within a person,
than to surrender His life for His friend.
I see the cross,
that rugged cross;
my freedom was purchased with His blood.
He has been and always will be,
the One who paid the greatest price.
I was purchased by His life’s offering.
I am forever seated with Him in the heavenlies,
and my name is written in His heart.
His children are seated next to Him in heavenly places,
for on the cross He did not remain.
He rose again with all power in His hands.
The same power that raised Him from the dead,
now lives inside of me.
It lives inside of you.
It is that great power at work in us
that changes us from the person we are,
into the person that He chose us to be.
It is that same power that transforms a wicked man
into a righteous man.
I see the cross;
my Deliverer
is hanging there.
He purchased my freedom,
my healing,
and every blessing in the heavenly realm.
Some blessings I see now,
and some are yet to be seen.
I see the cross.
Do you see Him?
Do you celebrate here;
the place where tattered rags of our wretchedness
are exchanged for a robe of righteousness?
This place, the place,
is where scarlet sins are washed white as snow.
This is the place we must go.
The cross is where miracles occur.
The greatest miracle of all
is that God would seek to be reconciled with a sinful world.
I see my Father’s love here.
He cared enough
to send His only Son to save the least, the last, and the lost.
I see the cross,
a reflection of what real love is.
Selfishness died on the cross
when He said, “Father not my desires, but all Your purposes be
accomplished.”
Death was triumphed over on the cross
when He spoke, “It is finished.”
We know that we will see Him again,
and this life here is not the end.
We know that when the trumpet sounds,
the dead in Christ will rise
again.
We know that we will have eternity to worship Him
and eternity to love Him.
I see the cross,
and it is all I must see.
Even if the world around me fades away,
I know that through my Savior I am
reconciled,
restored,
and made complete.
This body may fade and wither,
friends and family may come and go.
I have knelt before that rugged cross enough times to know
that my days are in His hands;
so are His purposes and His plan.
He is the reason I live.
He is the reason I rejoice.
No man would sacrifice his life,
put his very life in jeopardy, for someone who was guilty.
He gave His life,
so we may stand before Him completely unashamed.
Take a moment and look to the cross.
Ponder the wonderful cross.
I hope I find you there,
basking in the love of the Father.
He is the One who deeply loves you
and cares for you.
He is there
carrying your infirmities,
collecting every tear,
rejoicing when you rejoice,
and weeping when your soul has had its wear and tear.
You are never alone
and never abandoned.
I see the cross,
engrained forever in my memory.
The cross is a picture of the greatest love.
He is a love so true
and a love so dear.
He is a love that will never end.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

If you’d like to read more psalms, poems, love letters to and from God, you can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

Love, 

Erin 

Photo credit: Pinterest

Between Fear and Faith (Book Excerpt)

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The Bible says without faith it’s impossible to please God. In order to believe in God, there must be faith. We do not see Him the way we see people. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

Once we believe in God, I truly believe that’s just the beginning of the journey. The walk with God also includes believing God is who He says He is and will do everything He says He will do. There’s faith required to believe what He says in His word about us, about the future, and so much more.

It’s easy to talk about faith. It requires much more to live out our faith. Faith requires us to do something. When we believe God, we live differently. We experience peace and joy. We cease worrying.

God loves to show up in the lives of those who believe. God loves it when we place confidence in Him.

Fear is one of the many things that comes to choke out faith. It’s a belief that something or someone is more powerful than God. Fear is misplaced faith.

I’d love to tell you I’ve lived or live a 100% fearless life. That would be a lie. There are areas of my life where I have no fear, others where I cling to Jesus and ask for His courage. You won’t see me jumping out of a plane any time soon. 🙂

The Bible tells us to not be afraid because God knows we will be afraid. The more we experience His love, the more confidence we have in His ability to do what He says, including protect us.

Hope this book excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was blesses you.

Between Faith and Fear
Written July 28, 2010 by Erin Lamb
Copyright© 2011 may not be reproduced without permission

There is a place between faith and fear,
where the heart, mind, and the spirit battle for who will win.
There is a consistent tug-of-war,
an outcry;
“Is God here?
Will He answer?
How will I overcome?”
The mind can waver from firm belief
that God will do what He has promised,
to a place of no hope and no peace.
The heart can be so overjoyed,
standing on the mountain of promise
thinking, “This is for me, Lord.”
It can quickly shift its place to the valley
allowing the place of faith
to shift to fear asking, “Will God leave me here?”
The spirit shouts from the mountain top,
to the echo of the valley;
“God is who He says He is,
so do not worry and do not fear.”
This is an uncomfortable place,
the place between faith and fear.
The cold sweats,
the rapid pulse, and
the times of jubilee;
will all connected parts line up and take the leap?
Will there be the leap of faith that says,
“Though I cannot see,
I will still believe?”
Will there be the leap of faith
that says,
“I cannot feel,
but I will trust that God is real.
I will believe despite emotions
that God is good and has the most pure motives.”
Between faith and fear,
a choice must be made;
which one will decide our fate?
There is a blessing on the other side of faith;
will fear strangle it,
devour it, and
destroy it?
Or will faith overcome
and be victorious?
There is no life
on the other side of fear,
just limitations,
speculations,
worry,
and lack of participation.
Fear
strangles all ambition,
shatters all dreams,
destroys anything in its path,
and leaves nothing good to be seen.
On the path between faith and fear,
choose faith.
God will not disappoint you,
nor turn away from any promise He has made.

Do You Know Who You Are? (Book Excerpt)

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It’s been while since I have posted something from the book (I Thought I Knew What Love Was) and thought today this one is a good follow-up to the last post Chosen. God has so many good things to say about His children. He loves us with an everlasting love. It is a love that cannot be earned or lost. We must refuse His love. We must refuse to believe His love.

This poem was written in 2008. So many challenging things were happening in my life at the time. My quiet times with God often led to me writing down what He was speaking to my spirit. Do You Know Who You Are? was a sweet reminder from Him of my secure identity in Him. Our identity in Him is so important. Once we fully believe who we are in Him and how much we mean to Him-fear, pride, insecurity, and the temptations of this world lose their weight.

I hope this post blesses your soul. Don’t forget who you are! A beloved child of the King of the Universe.


Do You Know Who You Are?
Copyright© 2011 Erin Lamb (all rights reserved-may not be reproduced without permission)
Written May 12, 2008

Do you know who you are?
Do you know who you really, truly are,
without the name of your natural father,
or the labels given to you by man?
For I have given you My name,
and I call you, “Chosen.”
If you knew who you were;
the integrity of the kernels of faith
and spiritual gifts I have placed inside you;
you would no longer bow your head in shame.
You would understand that for all your sins I stood in your place.
Do you know who you are?
You are not defined by your past,
or even your present.
Each day is just setting the stage to tell your story;
where you are,
is not where you are going.
I do not define you by what you have done,
what you are doing,
or what you will do.
I have placed My name on you.
Your body is My temple,
and I long to always reside with you.
When you sleep and rest in the night hours,
I am awake.
I am watching over you,
waiting enthusiastically until you awaken.
I am longing to meet with you
and shower you with My love.
My love is constant, steadfast, and as enduring as the sun.
Do you know who you are?
I have set you apart to be holy;
for I am Holy.
You are clothed in My righteousness.
You cannot earn My redemption.
It is freely given by your faith and obedience.
My love for you is not dependent upon what you do,
or what you fail to do.
What I accomplished on the cross is finished.
The veil was torn
and your access granted to the most sacred of all.
When you confess your sins
and forgive others,
you are forgiven.
Your slate is wiped completely clean.
My blood covers each and every sin,
so you no longer have to feel guilt or shame.
Do you know who you are?
If only you could see,
what I see.
I wish you could view yourself through My eyes,
the eyes of love.
I have embraced you in the darkness of the night,
knowing that I wanted you.
My heart’s desire was, and is, to search for you,
to look for you,
to pursue you;
what I have for you is beyond your wildest imaginings.
I long to give you more of Me.
I know that My love can satisfy even your most profound needs.
I created you,
looked upon you,
and smiled on who I had made.
I am shaping and molding you into the person I created you to be.
I want the world to get a glimpse of My glory.
I long to radiate from you,
for all the world to see
My glorious splendor.
I am the One who created everything.
There is not one who can rank above Me.
I am above all,
in all,
and I have the power to change, create, and breathe life into any dead
thing.
Your right now is simply an infinitesimal step along the journey
which leads you closer to Me.
No matter what label the world chooses to place on you,
the only significant one
is the one I have given,
and I have called you, My child.
I call you My friend,
My co-laborer,
My dearly loved one,
My family,
and most of all, I call you redeemed.
Do you know who you are?
If only you could see what I see,
for you were birthed with a purpose;
a story uniquely written for you.
I have the ability to turn even the fine particles of the earth
into something that is living and breathing.
Won’t you surrender your identity to Me?
Trust that I am the One who will make you complete.
You are not to be compared to any other human being.
I made you to be you,
and I have placed on you My fingerprints.
I placed together your DNA,
and there is no one exactly like you.
You are My masterpiece.
Don’t look to this world to define you;
look to Me.
I am the One who designed you.
I know everything about you.
I know every breath you take,
and your life is not in vain.
Into you I breathed life,
so I might use you
to reflect My image.
You are My image bearer.
Do you know who you are?
Do you understand the authority you have been given, in My name?
You were created to be about My business.
You were created to reach out to the least, the last, and the lost.
You were created to worship the Creator
and not created things.
Your life is not your own;
it was purchased with My blood.
I took your lashes.
I carried your infirmities.
I took the nails for you.
I took your shame.
You no longer stand condemned,
but freely can receive My grace.
Do you know who you are?
Chosen one,
you are set apart to bear the image of the King.
You are My child.
You are the one I love.
You are the one I adore,
and I know you personally.
Each breath you take is sweet music to My ears.
It is the sound of the breath I Myself have placed there.
I know you.
I made you for a reason.
Each gift, placed inside you, is to play an integral part
in reflecting My kingdom,
in reflecting My creativity, and My love.
You are not a mistake,
a mishap,
or a blip on the screen of life.
You are not insignificant;
I knew you before the foundations of the earth.
Before your parents knew you,
I called you by name
and said, “This one belongs to Me.”
I know your name,
and I will always know your name.
I cannot forget you.
I know the measure of your days;
I have them numbered,
and your time is written on My hands.
Your end will be better than the beginning,
if you will trust Me,
even with the things you don’t understand.
I am the God of all creation.
If you cannot answer who you are,
look to Me.
Do you know who I am?
I have created you in My image,
and I delight in all that I have made.
I do not make mistakes.
I love you, now,
and I will love you, always.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

From My Heart to Yours

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The reason I began writing was to express my heart to God. I never imagined I would write a book or write for three blogs. Knowing God, not simply knowing about Him, has been my desire since I was a child. God is beyond amazing. I don’t know of anyone worth more devotion or worship. So, here’s the intro from I Thought I Knew What Love Was. I hope it inspires you to dive deeper into the depths of God’s heart. He loves you, and He longs to be with you more than you could ever want to be with Him.

I Thought I Knew What Love Was is a series of poems and reflections about God, about life, and about life with God. Over the years, the view of God has changed. He has broken out of every box in which He was placed. His love transforms all other loves into what they were meant to be. Once we receive His love, we view the love of others so differently. He changes our worldview as we receive more of Him. His love is the foundation for the truest, purest love. His love is the glue that holds all other loves together. His love is the most amazing of all loves. The title of this book should be I Thought I Knew Who Love Was. Love is who God is. It is impossible to understand even a fraction of who He is without first looking at love. Our human love may fail, but God’s love does not fail.

 
I have found that love is a journey, not a destination. I will never say I have God or love all figured out. Until I meet Him face to face, He will continue to remain a bit mysterious. I also cannot say the love in my heart can even compare to His. I am simply learning day by day how to pour out what He pours in. What I can tell you is that walking with Him is an adventure. He is better than any person I have met. He is kind, compassionate, gracious, a gentleman, truthful, and always seeks our best. He loves justice and truth. He loves people. So if you have not encountered the love of God, I pray these poems speak to you. He loves you. It isn’t based on what you do, or fail to do. He simply loves you. If you invite Him into your heart and into your life, you won’t regret it.

 
Yes, life will still present challenges, but now you can face them with the most powerful being in the Universe. You will have a friend who sticks closer than a brother. He will bring about the internal changes in your life as you submit your life to Him. The more I grow to know Him, the more I realize that I say, “Yes” and He does all the hard work. I can always depend on Him to provide what is needed.

 
If you’ve already met Him and invited Him into your heart, I pray you are encouraged to dive in a little further. God wants to wow you. He wants to surprise you. He wants to stand by you. He longs to continue His pursuit of your heart. He never grows tired of being with you. He never wants the flame in your heart for Him to go out.

So here’s to you, the reader. I am praying for you. I hope you will never forget that you are deeply loved.

 

Alabaster (From the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

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Alabaster Box

Alabaster Box

Beautiful friends, here is an excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was. It was written during a time of worship and contemplation on all God has done. He is so worthy of our love and pure devotion. I hope you are encouraged and inspired. God bless you. You are deeply loved.

Alabaster, Copyright 2011 © Erin Lamb.
Written August 11, 2010
“Love Letter to Abba.”

I hear the sound of Your footsteps,
in the corridor of my soul.
You can see through the walls,
knowing what my hands hold.
It is there that I gather
all that I have
and all that I am;
placing aspirations,
dreams,
and fragments of any good,
into a box of alabaster to be poured out for You.
I feel the wind of Your presence
and with its gentle touch,
single tear drops are whisked away,
for Your love means so much.
My heart is hurried,
so as not to miss one second with You.
One moment in Your presence
and this heart is renewed.
You move me.
You stir my soul,
and it begins to dance.
I know You.
We have met here before.
You walked through the shadows,
stepped over the broken glass,
moved past the walls I built,
and You offered a love that would last.
It was You, alone, who heard my silent cries
while the world continued to pass and walk on by.
The anguish that they did not see,
You felt deep inside.
In compassion,
You met me where I was
with love and mercy in Your eyes.
It was there I met You,
so long ago,
with baskets of shattered wishes
and sighs of desperation.
We met in the hallways of my broken dreams,
surrounded by what seemed to be nothing.
You sought to fill every empty place.
As love was poured out
there at your feet;
Your love was returned,
and healing took place.
It was You, who saw me,
in the midst of the storm.
It was Your arm
that reached down to rescue me;
with tender care You said, “My love, I will carry you on.”
What can I offer?
What can I give?
All that I have
and all that I am;
I lay it here.
I lay down all that I have,
in its entirety,
poured out and
emptied
from this alabaster box.
I lay my life here at Your feet.
I am humbled by Your extravagant grace
that flows like a waterfall
over an undeserving soul.
Oh how my heart has loved You
because You first loved me.
We walk this path,
hand in hand.
It is You that my heart longs for;
a fire kindles in my heart for more knowledge of You.
Oh, the wonder,
and the mystery in Your eyes!
To know You,
to love You;
what an honor,
and what a joy.
You have filled this once broken vessel
with an expectation of something more.
You have painted Your murals of unfailing love
on the walls,
in the halls,
and have draped Your righteousness over the windows of this soul.
You rebuilt my crumbled devastated foundation
and sealed every empty space with Your love.
This heart is Your home.
What else can I desire,
but to dwell with You in this place?
In the darkness, You were my light.
In my hurting, it was Your arms that held me tight.
In my joyfulness,
it was You who danced
and sang songs of praise.
It was You who said You’d love me for all of my days.
In my times of crisis, it was You who refused to let go.
In my fear and isolation,
it was You who reached down into my valley.
You cleared out the debris and the dust,
and You breathed life into every part.
It was You;
it has always been You.
Here,
in this moment,
with tears of gratitude,
I pour out
all that I have,
to say that I love You,
and to say that I need You.
I am here saying, “There is no one who can take Your place.”
They may not understand
why, when I think of Your love,
the wellspring of tears seems to flow and flow.
But they weren’t there when You saw and came to my rescue.
They don’t know how much it cost
for You to stand in my place;
as Redeemer,
as Savior,
as Healer,
and as friend.
As You have laid down Your life,
let my offering to You be a pleasing sacrifice
and a fragrant aroma of love.
Let my love be
a symbol of my appreciation,
for a life Your love did spare.
May my love for You grow and grow.
May my passion for You never grow cold.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

I Thought I Knew What Love Was

Encounter with the Risen Christ (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

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I Thought I Knew What Love Was

I would love it if you check out, I Thought I Knew What Love Was. You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

I thought I knew what love was until I encountered the King of the Universe. This book is filled with prayers, psalms, letters to God, and encouragement from God. I hope it blesses your heart. Here is an excerpt from the book.

Encounter with the Risen Christ, Copyright 2011 © Erin Lamb.

I kneel my heart before the risen Christ.
He stands so perfectly
with the glory of our Father
surrounding Him.
He is Holy.
He is King.
His reign is eternal.
He has risen,
for death could not hold Him,
and the grave could not keep Him.
He has risen with all power in the palm of His hands.
His hands are marked with scars of where they pierced Him.
I see the nails He took for you and for me,
so we would no longer have to carry the weight of our shame.
He seeks to reconcile the entire world to His Father,
knowing that His Kingdom is the only kingdom
that will last forever.
I kneel before the risen Christ.
I take in His sweet fragrance,
the fragrance of love.
He laid down His life,
so He and I could live in paradise.
One tear I shed, leads to many,
for I understand I have nothing to repay Him with.
So I commit to Him for life.
My tears of adoration bathe His feet,
for there is no greater gift than the one He’s offered.
He has offered a new life.
I gaze upon Him
dressed in fine white linen,
in breathtaking radiance He stands.
There are flames of eternal fire in His eyes.
His presence is so overwhelming and captivating.
If only we could truly encounter the risen Christ,
the same Christ who with one touch
healed the woman with the issue of blood.
He is the One who heals our diseases
and delivers us from the penalty of our sins.
He was bruised for our transgressions,
and the price for our peace rested on His shoulders.
He stood blameless,
taking on the weight of sin from the entire world.
The burdens of all people He carried.
He still carries our burdens and our ailments today.
He was there in the beginning.
He is here, now.
He is there in the end.
He is in complete communion with the Holy Spirit and the Father.
There is nowhere we can go
where we are out of His reach.
There is nothing that can separate us from His love.
Though we may not feel loved,
we are loved.
I see love every time I gaze on the cross,
for God so loved the world that He sent His Son,
to die for us,
and to be the payment for all our sins.
He knew we had no ability to pay.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ,
who delivers the tormented
and sets all captives free.
He brings complete liberty,
so people are no longer chained and shackled.
He brings freedom so we may live the abundant life He has promised
to give us.
We bow before the risen Christ
who, alone, can change a sinful man
into a holy man.
He is the One who can take something completely broken,
and make it whole again.
If we could only encounter the risen Christ,
who still walks on the water and has the ability to calm all storms.
The winds and the waves are still subject to Him.
He is the same yesterday, today, and always.
He has not changed, nor will He ever change.
If we could only encounter the risen Christ
and see Him in the fullness of His glory;
to have that mighty power that was at work raising Him from the dead,
at work in our lives
and at work in our hearts.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ
and have that transforming power
changing us into the image of the Father.
We were purchased by Christ’s blood
and set apart to do His bidding.
We are no longer slaves,
but God’s children.
We are the children He loves.
We are the children He adores.
What a perfect sacrifice!
With acceptance of His sacrifice and belief in Him,
we become a part of His family forever.
We enter into a royal priesthood,
and we are set apart for His glory.
If only Satan knew
that on the third day
Jesus would rise again.
If only Judas knew that his betrayal
was a part of the plan.
The plan was to reconcile the world to the Father.
That one act
would help lead people to encountering the risen Christ.
He is risen.
Death could not hold Him.
Death has no power over Him.
He took the keys of death and hell.
He proclaimed victory over all who believe.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ,
who spoke and it was.
The truth of His words
permeate and saturate the soul.
His words are sharper than any sword
and able to divide the bone from the marrow.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ;
walk in holiness,
with purity of heart and purity of mind.
He walked the earth,
tempted,
yet, He did not sin.
He proved that sin did not hold Him,
and there is freedom from sin for all who believe.
He is our hope,
our salvation,
and our Deliverer.
He is Faithful and True.
He came to save the world,
cleanse the world,
and change the world.
If only we could encounter the risen Christ,
who has defeated death,
who has defeated sin,
and who has reunited us with our loving Father.
We do not accept defeat,
for He has already won the battle.
So let us rejoice
that Christ is RISEN!

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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I See the Cross (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

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Hello sweet friends,

I would love it if you check out I Thought I Knew What Love Was. You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or the iTunes store.

I thought I knew what love was until I encountered the King of the Universe. This book is filled with prayers, psalms, letters to God, & encouragement from God. I hope it blesses your heart. Here is an excerpt from the book.

I See the Cross Copyright 2011 © Erin Lamb.
I see the cross,
so vividly in front of me;
one nail pierced hand on the left
and another on the right.
I see His head hanging there
with the thorns positioned, oh, so tight.
I see the blood
dripping from the pure, spotless Lamb.
I kneel before Him
laying my sins,
all of them,
there.
I see the cross.
I see the beauty of God’s unmerited favor
and His forgiveness.
I see love in the eyes of the One who took my place.
For no greater love lies within a person,
than to surrender His life for His friend.
I see the cross,
that rugged cross;
my freedom was purchased with His blood.
He has been and always will be,
the One who paid the greatest price.
I was purchased by His life’s offering.
I am forever seated with Him in the heavenlies,
and my name is written in His heart.
His children are seated next to Him in heavenly places,
for on the cross He did not remain.
He rose again with all power in His hands.
The same power that raised Him from the dead,
now lives inside of me.
It lives inside of you.
It is that great power at work in us
that changes us from the person we are,
into the person that He chose us to be.
It is that same power that transforms a wicked man
into a righteous man.
I see the cross;
my Deliverer
is hanging there.
He purchased my freedom,
my healing,
and every blessing in the heavenly realm.
Some blessings I see now,
and some are yet to be seen.
I see the cross.
Do you see Him?
Do you celebrate here;
the place where tattered rags of our wretchedness
are exchanged for a robe of righteousness?
This place, the place,
is where scarlet sins are washed white as snow.
This is the place we must go.
The cross is where miracles occur.
The greatest miracle of all
is that God would seek to be reconciled with a sinful world.
I see my Father’s love here.
He cared enough
to send His only Son to save the least, the last, and the lost.
I see the cross,
a reflection of what real love is.
Selfishness died on the cross
when He said, “Father not my desires, but all Your purposes be
accomplished.”
Death was triumphed over on the cross
when He spoke, “It is finished.”
We know that we will see Him again,
and this life here is not the end.
We know that when the trumpet sounds,
the dead in Christ will rise again.
We know that we will have eternity to worship Him
and eternity to love Him.
I see the cross,
and it is all I must see.
Even if the world around me fades away,
I know that through my Savior I am
reconciled,
restored,
and made complete.
This body may fade and wither,
friends and family may come and go.
I have knelt before that rugged cross enough times to know
that my days are in His hands;
so are His purposes and His plan.
He is the reason I live.
He is the reason I rejoice.
No man would sacrifice his life,
put his very life in jeopardy, for someone who was guilty.
He gave His life,
so we may stand before Him completely unashamed.
Take a moment and look to the cross.
Ponder the wonderful cross.
I hope I find you there,
basking in the love of the Father.
He is the One who deeply loves you
and cares for you.
He is there
carrying your infirmities,
collecting every tear,
rejoicing when you rejoice,
and weeping when your soul has had its wear and tear.
You are never alone
and never abandoned.
I see the cross,
engrained forever in my memory.
The cross is a picture of the greatest love.
He is a love so true
and a love so dear.
He is a love that will never end.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Hope (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

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Hello dear friends,

I would love it if you check out my book, I Thought I Knew What Love Was. You can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through these wonderful sites: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

I thought I knew what love was until I encountered the King of the Universe. This book is filled with prayers, psalms, letters to God, encouragement from God. I hope it blesses your heart. Here is an excerpt from the book.

Hope, Copyright 2011 © Erin Lamb.

 
There is a place of growth
between faith and the actualization of a promise
that I call the waiting room, or garden of hope.
Hope
is eagerly awaiting an answer to prayer;
the prayers that have seemed to linger, for years and years.
Hope
is the water for the seeds of faith,
so delicately placed in the soil of our souls.
Our souls
are the fertile places that need turned over.
Our hearts have to be infused with God’s love.
Our minds
need a reminder of His faithfulness.
Hope
keeps us alive.
Hope
keeps God’s promises for our lives alive
when we feel like giving up and dying.
Hope
requires the nurturing of our spirits and souls.
Hope
requires a renewing of our minds
that focuses on what God says, versus what our eyes may see.
In this place
there is a of tug-of-war
between God’s will and our own.
Can we see past the unseen into the realm of what could be?
Could we believe that what God has planned could,
and would, supersede
anything we could possibly dream?
Every so often fear comes
to strangle the seeds of faith,
attempting to grow weeds in the garden of our souls.
Fear seeks to devour our hopeful place.
Our skillful gardener,
our heavenly Father,
tells us not to be anxious because He is the keeper of our souls.
Hope
involves waiting;
waiting for blossoms,
and waiting for winter to turn into spring.
We are waiting for a glimpse of something better;
something more beautiful than what we could have imagined in our
wildest dreams.
Hope
is eagerly anticipating
the next chapter to unfold in God’s plan.
Hope
rests in today,
but desperately desires a peak at the complete picture of what He has
planned.
Hope
is delighting in the simple realization that God is love,
and God is in control.
God has the best plan and the best methods to achieve His plans.
Hope
is releasing our expectations
and our predisposition to settle for less than God’s best.
Hope
encourages us to soar above mediocrity.
Hope
is trusting in the unseen life force
that is His Spirit within.
He is our hope.
He is our only true hope.
We are hopeful
that we will be transformed into His image.
He is our security.
He is the truly faithful One.
He has the ability to change our hearts into His astonishing work of art.
He can take any impossibility,
at least in the eyes of man,
and turn that impossibility into reality.
He is the God who sees our impossibilities,
as His own personal opportunity
to showcase His power, His might, and His great love for those He
calls His own.
He is able to repair,
rescue,
deliver,
and save.
On that cross,
everything we required was released;
all of our spiritual promises were fulfi lled for all of eternity.
So, we cling to Him,
the One who is able to do remarkably and lavishly
more than we could request or even envision.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

 

When Heaven Comes Down (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

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Lovely friends, here is an excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was. I hope it blesses your heart. You are deeply loved.

Image from are-you-going.com

Image from are-you-going.com

When Heaven Comes Down

Written by Erin Lamb Copyright © 2011, all rights reserved.

When heaven comes down,

there is light that pierces through every level of darkness;

a ray of pulsating light

breaks off all the chains of the captive.

His presence,

a full cloud of glory,

saturates the ground,

leaving pools of His splendor that are heavenly and holy.

One touch from Him,

and the heart and the soul are transformed;

no longer does it remain vacant,

cold,

or broken.

When heaven comes down,

every knee must bow,

for He is majestic;

no one can stand upright in His presence.

The body shakes and

the earth quakes,

for He is a rolling thunder.

His voice drowns out

the noise,

the chatter,

and He silences all of man’s agenda.

He stands in full authority,

speaking to the wind;

He commands it to obey.

He brings with Him

justice and mercy,

setting wrong things right.

He is establishing a Kingdom that diminishes all darkness with

immense light.

When heaven comes down,

there is a healing rain;

it heals the heart,

heals the soul,

and builds up the spirit.

There is a downpour of love

that reaches down, even to the human cellular level.

It moves through and

navigates through,

every cell,

every tissue,

and every vein.

It brings life-giving oxygen

to a depleted heart.

He brings His love, His comfort, and His saving power to those who

are lost.

When heaven comes down,

we begin to understand

He has a great purpose.

He has always had a great plan.

Darkness trembles

and bows its head,

for in the presence of His light

even darkness must acknowledge He is good, and He is divine.

When heaven comes down,

the soul begins to weep;

it knows it has encountered the King above all Kings.

The heart may race

and pulse increase,

for He is so incredible;

our eyes can barely see.

We can barely take Him in.

We are captivated,

elated,

and motivated

to seek more and more of Him.

His goodness

is so alluring;

we want nothing more.

When heaven comes down,

we see ourselves as we were meant to be;

loved,

esteemed,

highly thought of,

and part of a divine family.

He washes away our insecurities.

He clothes us in His acceptance;

He declares, “I made you for Me.”

When heaven comes down,

our lives will change,

our world will change,

and our perspectives will change.

There in His presence,

wisdom is imparted into the mind of man;

not human wisdom,

but Godly wisdom.

His ways are drastically different from ours.

His thoughts are not the same as our thoughts.

An encounter with Him

brings our high thoughts low.

We are humbled by His presence;

overwhelmed by His grace.

How could someone so holy

want to stand with us, face to face?

When heaven comes down,

the conflict between the already, and the not yet, ceases to be,

for He stands loaded with His promises;

He holds all the elements of time and space in His hands.

He proves to be the miraculous working God,

time and time again.

Copyright © 2011 Erin Lamb. Excerpt from,  “I Thought I Knew What Love Was.”

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Book available: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and http://www.amazon.com

When Love Came Down (from the book I Thought I Knew What Love Was)

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When Love Came Down
written by Erin Lamb © 2011, all rights reserved.

When love came down,
there was a glorious light that shined penetrating the darkness,
for His glory no man could fully fathom.
His light pierces the darkness,
dispelling all that is untrue.
When love came down,
He walked the earth with no sin
to present Himself as the perfect sacrifice
that would pay the ultimate price to save me and to save you.
When love came down,
there was hope given to the world,
a world so full of death, sin, and darkness.
He came down to rescue us all.
He knew that no other love would suffice
and man would be perpetually unsatisfied,
for without Him there is no real peace, love, or life.
There are only counterfeits and substitutes that seek to numb the pain,
please the flesh,
and leave man hungry for more,
while giving man less and less.
When love came down,
He came to cover a multitude of sins
and reconcile a sinful world to a loving Father.
He is a loving Father
who cares so genuinely
that He sent His only Son
to pay the price for those who are lost.
When love came down,
He captured the essence of what God’s love is;
for love requires a sacrifice.
A spotless Lamb was led to the slaughter,
rejected, spat on, and abused.
How many lashes did He take for me,
and how many did He take for you?
Laying on the altar of sacrifice,
He said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will,
but yours be done.”
When love came down,
He took the keys to death and hell
and triumphed over them;
passing on to all who follow Him,
eternal life
and access to the Holy One.
He is the One who made it all.
We are able to go boldly to the Throne of His Grace,
freely forgiven,
with no guilt or disgrace.
When we confess our sins to Him,
He blots them out, and He does not remember them again.
The Creator of the Universe
sent His love into the world and even calls us His own.
I know no love so satisfying.
I know no love
that has the capability to renovate,
redeem,
and save all who have gone astray.
He is the only One who can love us past our sin.
He extends His love in
healing,
transforming,
delivering,
and freeing the captive soul.
There is no person out of love’s reach,
and no issues that love cannot touch.
There is no heart that God cannot mend and restore.
When love came down,
we began to truly see
what the word, love, really means.
Nothing can separate us from His love.
He is there even when we turn from Him,
run from His will,
stumble and fall,
seeking to do life our way.
I see Him standing there
with loving eyes saying, “You are Mine;
‘See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands’.
My covenant of love with you I will keep.
I am here waiting for you to realize
that I am all that you need.
I seek to give you the very best of Me.
I want to fill every void and meet your every deficiency.
Even if the entire world turns and walks away,
My love for you will always be the same.
It out spans time,
for I am not limited by time or space.
I have loved you
before you could even say your name.
I never sleep.
I have no requirement for rest.
I watch over My children
and even give My angels to watch over them.”
When love came down,
He washed the scarlet sins of a contrite heart
white as snow.
Much was given,
and there is much required.
Love cries out,
“Be My hands.
Be My feet.
Be My mouth,
and show the world what love truly means.
Love others,
forgive others,
and shine your light so brilliantly before men
that they praise your heavenly Father.”
No matter your place in the world,
it does not matter;
you were chosen, and appointed to go and bear much fruit.
You were handcrafted,
handpicked;
a masterpiece in the hands of the Father.
He does not see just who we are,
but who He created us to be.
When love came down,
He entered the world through humble circumstances.
Who would have thought a carpenter’s son,
the Son of God, would walk the earth
and then change the world?
He humbled Himself,
even to death on a cross;
the innocent One taking away the sins of the lost.
Never forget the love of God
that was here before you
and will exist after you.
Love is who He is,
and no other love can substitute
what God has done for you.
You can search the world forever,
looking for love and acceptance
in all the wrong places.
You will find real love,
true love, the most rich and purest love,
in the arms of the Father.
When love came down,
He said, “Enter into My family.
Come feast at My royal table.
Be united with Me,
and enjoy Me forever.
All the earthly things will pass away,
but My love for you will always remain.”

Copyright © 2011 Erin Lamb. Excerpt from,  “I Thought I Knew What Love Was.”

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Book available: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com and http://www.amazon.com

I Thought I Knew What Love Was