<![CDATA[Terri Bannister Music - Blog]]>Tue, 15 Apr 2025 17:14:33 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Turning on the world vs. Your spiritual world]]>Mon, 13 Jul 2020 13:32:10 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/turning-on-the-world-vs-your-spiritual-worldI woke up this morning and like many other days I went to grab my phone. Instantly I thought: "here I am waking up and the first thing I do is turn on all the noise." The interaction I get with the world through social media, texting etc. isn’t a bad thing... but there is a time for everything and used incorrectly makes it a bad choice.

I ask myself " whatever happened to prayer/devotions in the morning ? Are those days so far gone?" If you’re like me and find yourself reaching for the phone, I encourage you to NOT be like me. Instead of turning on the world, turn on your spiritual world. Spend time with God and get some direction about your day.... it makes all the difference and will bring peace, clarity and so much more. The noise can wait, trust me.. it’s not going anywhere ! #turnonyourspiritualworld #putprayersonCoronaVirus #tlisamusic


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]]><![CDATA[Thu, Jul 23, 2015]]>Sat, 25 Jul 2015 01:07:02 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/thu-jul-23-2015And then it hit me. The feeling like I'm at the end of my rope. Either shock wore off or reality finally set in and I realized, I need to face truth.

When someone dies, you have to get to a place where you accept the reality that they're just not coming back. The same applies to  things or circumstances, there's got to be acceptance.

Sometimes what dies is your point of view, your view on something or your view of someone else. Sometimes, it all happens in the same day. But truth however, never dies.

The one thing I've learned about death, is that there's life after it for me. So everytime something dies I must keep on living. I must keep on trusting God and still say " please fogive me for all of my sins" . I know I'm so flawed, but because of your everlasting love- I will not fear.

Lord help me to be a christian that accepts your plan. Let your will be done in my life as I pursue you and die daily to myself. Go ahead of me and straighten out the crooked path, so I can proclaim your goodness toward me in this life.
Thanks for your love, amen.


My reward:
It just doesnt make any sense
That I am rewarded after being forgiven
And I know sometimes I'm so distorted
But every moment that passed it could have been my last
Still your mercy is new again to me
And I feel so rewarded and it's for nothing that I've ever done....
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]]><![CDATA[Speak to me]]>Thu, 28 May 2015 04:50:58 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/speak-to-mePicture
I was doing fine. I mean, really great! 
I finally felt like I had my anxiety under control. After all, isn't it just worry anyway? 
My sister reminded me a while back of this : what the bible says about being anxious is to just NOT  be ( Phil 4 vs 6). 

So I was strolling around my merry little way, enjoying this freedom of no worries and one thing led to another and  like a ton of bricks- it flooded me again. To be quite honest, it's not one thing, it's actions. Thoughts that produce actions that produce worry- that's the nature of anxiety. 

So after my worry house was built I just sat inside of it like a little girl lost and with tears said to myself  " I was doing fine". 

When God speaks to me, he always calms the storm. Even when it's words of correction. The truth is, that the real storm is facing any day, any battle, any thing at all in life without him. When I start laying the foundation for these anxiety bricks to be built it's always a little thought or action I am facing without him. But when he is holding my hand, and my confidence is in his palm, worry doesn't stand a chance for survival.

Speak to me O God, and calm the storm again. Your sweet voice gives me joy that produces strength, and your amazing love enables my very breath. Forgive me for worrying  and speak, then  I will make it through these storms.
]]><![CDATA[a winning hope ]]>Tue, 19 May 2015 02:57:21 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/a-winning-hopeSometimes  you're hurting but  still understand that you're winning, no matter how bad it hurts.

When dealing with deep sorrow, I need to be reminded of who is in control. When you feel like you've heard something a thousand times sometimes it's worth escapes you. But, wash your ears out if you have to because God is very much in control.

I've asked God to help me deal with the heaviness of a bruise in my heart that I've been dealing with. Thankfully,  I am reminded regularly that no matter how difficult it is to stand, or how much it feels like a loss, according to God's word-we win.

When I look and see and feel like I'm so confused, have lost so much- and is sorrowful-I can tell myself
                                                                                          " cheer up, girl"
Basically no matter how I look at it I'm a winner- because God is very much awake.
He who redeems me does not slumber, nor does he sleep.
As long as he is driving the car, I'm crossing the line and arriving at the winning destination.

]]><![CDATA[This ole thing...]]>Thu, 30 Apr 2015 16:59:51 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/this-ole-thingAs I was planning my first concert for last year, a good friend asked me what does " God of love" mean to me? I responded with the email below:

From: T Lisa 
To       : ****

"God of love" sometimes people think that God is cruel,  or mean, or not real. ..because if there really was a God- why would he allow certain things to happen?

The theme God of love means that the ultimate motive behind what God does, is everlasting, unfailing, unchanging love. He is One who loves us regardless of the circumstances or how they may appear. It's difficult to wrap your mind around it, because life doesn't work that way and  no one else is like him.

 Unearned affection? Most of the time you  have to do sometime to get something in return. God loves us so much, we didn't do anything to get it- he just gave. Even when God is chastening us or allows suffering, its because he loves us and he has a point to the pain. In blessings, he shows his fatherly love. Think about  parents who want their children to feel loved and they give them good things, they want their kids to know they're loved. ....but if that same child puts their hand in on the stove - the parent may reflexively push their hand away, or even allow them to get burned, so they would learn that that stuff hurts...THAT'S LOVE TOO!

Sometimes  we think when God allows pain and sadness it's because he has abandoned us or He doesn't love us anymore. Sometimes we think he has forgotten about us, but that is not the case because that would be mean, but God IS love. He's simply a God of love.  Love  through our trials and love  in our tribulations, love  in our sorrow, and love in our victories.  Love when you're up and love when we're down. We can't really fathom this kind of love because it's way past our HUMANNESS, and we 're definitely not God. But we were made in his image to love,  be loved and show love, but most of all- to receive His love. 

John 3 16- God showed us his ultimate love  for us  when he sent his son Jesus as a gift, by allowing him to go to the cross for our sins. God loved the children of Israel- he loved them when they were slaves in Egypt and struggling under harsh treatment. He also loved them when they were in the wilderness and went through a period of long waiting for his promise to go to the special land, God loved Mary when she got caught in the very act of adultery, and he forgave her.

God loved David when he was a little boy and and being anointed to be king, and he loved him after He had an affair with the woman Bathsheba. She got pregnant and the child died and David went through a time of repentance. God loved him even then, before and after the repentance.

God loved Abraham while he was holding his son Issac as a sacrifice and was about  the kill him. He was loving him even when he was testing his faith.  God loved Saul when he was walking in Damascus and persecuting the people of God. Because he was killing Christians- God could have zapped him, but instead he took away his sight and reveled himself  to him and even gave him a new name!

While I was dealing with a broken heart and I would try to understand the purpose or reason for what seemed like torture, he loved me.  Also, when I turned my back on him for my own pleasure. He loved me when my bones were broken, and I was suffering and screaming. 

God is the very essence of love, so He can't be cruel. He is just love, so much so-  that even when he brings blessings  or allows hardship- it's all  driven by love

]]><![CDATA[The beautifully ruined]]>Sat, 28 Mar 2015 02:13:41 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/the-beautifully-ruinedI think on when I was sure I fell deeply in love, yet it didn't last. I became so baffled at the thought of being with someone other than the man who stole my heart, that it sickened me. I thought to myself  " man-he's ruined me. My heart is committed."

Well, when I think of Jesus dying  on the cross and taking the stripes, bruising and piercings for me-he basically wanted to make sure I'd  be ruined for all others. His heart was and is still committed to me, his love has been poured out for me.

His goal was to ruin my heart for others, to secure my salvation and place in eternity with him. His actions would ensure I can be his and find all others disqualified to have me totally, the same way that guy did.

Singing: all other gods are the works of men. You are the most high God, there is none like you.

My God of love, I will trust you..For I have been beautifully ruined.

]]><![CDATA[I will still believe]]>Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:20:51 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/i-will-still-believeHave you ever been completely blank, spent or unable to focus?
Have you ever felt yourself in a space where your mind is disconnected, drifting or just  unable to focus?

Time and time again I've experienced moments of discouragement, heartbreak, loneliness and defeat and what I am learning, in a whole new way is how to move forward and be determined to focus!

When I was in high school, I repeatedly heard my pastor speak on topics like " When the bottom falls out" and others with themes like "Overcoming Giants" . I didn't  quite understand how many obstacles people face-but I'm sure glad those messages are lodged in my memory.

Its unbelievable the issues that face us. Sometimes we put ourselves there, other times it's all just a surprise.  There's so many problems, the struggles in life I feel can be so great, but God is able to deliver me!

He is my only source, my only hope, my only help. He will make me focused even while walking through a dark valley.

I have to believe, so I'll keep on believing and wait or his mighty hand to move.

💝Believe with me

]]><![CDATA[From past to present..]]>Fri, 13 Mar 2015 22:09:38 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/from-past-to-present
A few months ago I went through my old teen diaries. Some things I can look back and laugh at now, but  many times I felt like I was at the end of my rope.  Life can be unkind at times-but dealing with it was very tricky for me as a youth. There's always bridges to cross, situations to mourn and it can all feel overwhelming.  So the  teen version of me sincerely didn't think I would make it into adulthood because of  life's pains.

Some times I've been hurt or felt defeated because I thought I gave others the license to hurt me.
From "not having a specific agenda"  for a role I play in their lives, to some wanting their way regardless how it affects others. Then,  even when it's for the best, I've felt distressed by choices my heart has had to make.  How does one deal with it all?

What I must do is  remind my self that the "teen" girl knew that God had a plan and the grown up girl has to do the same. She knew that he was the answer- this life is hopeless without him and there's no other hope for her.. In the past year I've encountered circumstances that has allowed me to revisit a place of  vulnerability, where it's a struggle to know who to trust, where it's safe and question what the outcome should look like. But I'm so thankful that the same Jesus of back then is the same Jesus today!

Some people  can overlook the hurt they cause , because their objective is very different from yours.  So they may or may not intend on hurting you, but do anyway because their minds are set on meeting their desired goal. Submit even these things to the Lord, surrender your heart and will again to his, no matter the cost. He will keep it all safe, in a place where victorious living protects them.

Psalm 40
I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord....  (read the entire chapter, it's so good)
]]><![CDATA[Note to self]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2015 17:05:15 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/note-to-selfWhen you're sad- cry to Jesus
When you're glad-Praise Jesus
When your heart is broken- give it to Jesus
When you've broken someone else's heart- give them to Jesus
When you're empty - Be filled with Jesus
When you don't know who to trust- Trust Jesus
When you don't know who to turn to- Turn to Jesus
When there's no one to call- Call on Jesus
" casting on anxieties on Him because he cares"

*This is me talking to myself....
]]><![CDATA[Because He understands our needs…..]]>Thu, 26 Feb 2015 16:17:21 GMThttp://www.terribannister.com/blog/because-he-understands-our-needsSometimes I don’t even know what is good for me. See, many times I’ve prayed because of a need I had or a deep desire I was feeling. But now I know, I can no longer pray that way. I must always pray “according to His will”. That’s God’s perfect will that is profoundly listed in his word and also persistently presented to us by his Spirit.

By no means am I “good like that” and just really able to let go of what I want. In fact, I’m quite the opposite, very stubborn and know how to hold onto something for dear life especially if “I just really love it”. I am certainly not the girl who has it all together, but I’m learning that another way of “laying down my life” is in the way I pray.

What I’m trying to say is, that God knows and understands my needs way more than I do. I remember at 13 years old, I laid eyes on this:  Psalms 34 vs 10 says: The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. Sometimes I experience intense times of suffering because I feel like I’m lacking something. Not to minimize the reality of how I’m feeling or the sincerity of what is happening in my heart- but he understands my needs and truly see what they are. I need to know that as long as I seek him I am not lacking anything that is good. He brings the right things at the right times, regardless of how things may seem. So in times or waiting and wanting, seek him.

Here’s my verse for today: Ps 34 vs 10

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Either I’m going to believe that or I’m not. Either the Bible is true or it’s not. That’s a decision I must make….and I choose to believe it.

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