Category: Articles

"Say to them … of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:"

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4, KJV.
This is the Word of God, King James Version where some words are spelled differently today. But recompense has the same strong meaning according to an old Webster’s definition:  REC’OMPENSE, verb transitive
1. To compensate; to make return of an equivalent for any thing given, done or suffered; as, to recompense a person for services, for fidelity or for sacrifices of time, for loss or damages.
Do you believe God’s word? Many can say, “Yes, God I do.”
But it seems this world has become a wilderness.
As the busy-ness takes our eyes away from the Mount on which we must look to for courage and hope.
Isolated, yet surrounded by voices everywhere, our eyes are not up – but looking about as if on a fairground,  we in turn feel barren and alone, even dry and parched as a desert place.
There are enemies of God. The foes of God are many. They are loud. They lie. They murder. They deceive. They manipulate. They hate behind smiling faces.
Followers of God are to hate only one thing: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9.
But what are the children to do? They are lied to continuously. The children of this world are being taught that loss, suffering, sickness, and pain come from a ‘hard-hearted’ God, and it’s all His fault. Or they prove God is ‘dead’ over and over inside their heads.
Anger abounds in the hearts of the children of the world. The anger has brought on violence and fear and strife and tears.
The thirsting of the people have cause them to seek all else but God.
But Your Word, You – Who are from the Beginning, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, call Your children to You softly,… :
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3. 
“I will speak comfort, and courage, and hope. I will enlighten the darkness of each day. Will you hear My words? Right now? This day?
Then you may think for yourselves instead of following the crowd. That you might help lift others out of the pit they are in, or perhaps offer living waters to those who are thirsty and be a friend.  Call to Me, I am love. I am here, I alone, am good. Search my Word, discover hope for yourself and breathe:”
I do not come with the pointing finger. I do not accuse and condemn. That is the job of My enemy. Hear My Words and stop listening to him:”

“Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
 the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

 And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[a]
 No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
   Isaiah 35:3-9, NIV.

This is the Word of God. These aren’t some pretty words for some far away future heaven – these words breathe a reality of peace in the midst of the sorrow, in the midst of the fight.

Jesus is an ever present help in times of trouble. He is the Word.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5.

“Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Romans 12:9, NLT.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.

‘Full of grace and truth …’ hold tightly to Me. I am Jesus. ‘Be strong and don’t be afraid.’ I am your Savior:

  “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10, NIV. 

 

Why 'give back?' Because, I've been 'given!'

Writing, homegrown. Thoughts – rich with thankfulness. Yes, I am thankful. I believe a thankful heart is the beginning and the end of healing. I love the Lord because He saved me from myself and loved me from all over the place! Yes, I can see the Lord in others, yesterday – and I will make the choice to see Him loving and working through others’ today.

Giving thanks at the Table

Giving thanks.
For traditions of old that help us to stop all the work. To prepare to spend time around a table of sorts.  To breathe the same air, for some, to sit and watch sports.
And for others, busily creating great aromas from the oven and stove.
Giving thanks for time to tell the stories of great things – that have happened, and … are happening still.
The story is told that the King at his Table, puts His invitations out, each day of the year. And He waits and He watches and He loves deep and constant. His grace is sufficient and high above all others. The King of all Kings has called out your name, my name, and the one that you are so angry with.
Remember the story, 2 Samuel chapter 9? It might do us well to make this story, mine.
You see, David was king of Israel at the time, and he remembered his friend Jonathan, who was son of King Saul, (who spent year after year seeking to kill David, whose main desire was to chop off his head.)
But for Jonathan’s sake, and a promise that was made, David asked, ‘Is there any that are left of the house of Saul, that I might show kindness?’
‘Yes, Jonathan’s son is alive after all.’
‘Mephibosheth. He’s lame and can’t walk on his own two feet. He lives in a barren and deserted type street.’
Bring him to me, to the palace of the king. This is the story in 2 Samuel chapter 9. But keep your heart soft, don’t close the door on this thing.
So, here in verse 6, pay very close attention, Mephibosheth came to David and gave him honor as the king, and…
“David said, “Mehibosheth!”
 The king spoke his name.
You and me, we are ‘lame’ as well. We live in deserted places, ‘crippled’ from life. But the King invites us to His Table today, and not only that,
He calls you, and me, (and possibly your enemy), … by name.
But not only that, King David said to him, ‘Fear not, for I will show you kindness … and restore you the land of your inheritance. And you will eat bread at my table, continually.’
Did you hear that? What do you think Mephibosheth said, “Thank you king, but I like my deserted place with stale bread and hopeless tomorrows.”
No. He bowed himself to the king and asked, “Why do you even look at someone like me?”
Mephibosheth was still lame, but he was not the same. He was now at the kings table. Restored and refreshed and healed from within.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says …” Revelation 2 verse 29.
Perhaps we make our name ‘Mephibosheth’ from now on, for all time.
Here is some of the conversation from the King. He has called us – you, me, and whosoever is listening.  Do we come, that we might hear His voice ring:
Jesus invites us to Come to His Table: ” … and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24,25.
Jesus was broken that we might be whole.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.” Revelation 3:20. This is all written in the invitation of old.
A treasury of hope and words from our Lord: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten– the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm …” Joel 2:25.
Jesus came that we might come alive.
The story is written that we might know, that Jesus loves me. And this I know:
 “When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 2 Samuel 9:6-8.

Did you see the Son rise today?

Perhaps your body hurts with too much pain.
Or your heart is broken, there’s so much strain.
The sadness has caused your eyes to close.
“Jesus loves me …” in this day, who knows?
The clouds are too thick. Is there a Son rise?
Forever, yes. And not as far as you think.
If you stop, and be still … and open your mind.
Put off the doubt, and a young child do find.
If you are able, sit with a youngster or just watch, the wiggles and squeals for a short while or else:  think back of a sweet memory as far back as you can, and sit in the warmth, to cheer up your soul.
Make thinking ‘on good’ be your new style. Sacrifice some time to offer to God a thankful heart for awhile.
Put off the dark colors for a minute and see, the light, the blues and yellows and pink. The Lord will cover you in His tenderness and get you through the  moments of great sadness.
Sacrifice thanksgiving, even though clouds still hang from the sky, somehow, miraculously,
you see the sun rise.
“He, (Jesus) said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Mark 10:13-15.
Can you see you are His child in His arms? He desires to touch and bless you, even now,
even today,
with His love charms of hope and grace always.
 “And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10: 16.
Let us make a ‘Thank offering.’ Oh how beautiful the Son is to our eyes.
“…Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-13.
 

Give God the fears, He gives His peace

“Give to the winds thy fears; Hope and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.” (Words by Paul Gerhardt from Germany in 1656, translated to English by John Wesley, 1737).
Time and again, I read these words aloud, “Give to the winds thy fears; hope and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.” My thoughts seek refuge and I find it in psalms and hymns.
I don’t have to come up with words. They’ve been written. The psalms speak my heart,
“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:5.
“You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.“
In the process of speaking these words aloud, and reading an old hymn written centuries ago, I am changed.
Remedy comes.
God abides in praise. He rescues me and changes me in the very act of my praise to Him!
Let us read aloud. And be changed from the inside out.
“Give to the winds thy fears; hope and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.”
“Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears thy way; Wait thou His time; So shall this night soon end in joyous day.”
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah  
“But You. O LORD are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.    Selah  (Psalm 3:3,4).
“Leave to God’s sov’reign sway to choose and to command; So shall thou, wond’ring, own that way, How wise, how strong His hand!”
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4. 

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Our “dismay” changes to “hope.”

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus . . . Philippians 4:5-7.
 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9.

“Let us in life, in death, Thy steadfast truth declare, And publish with our latest breath Thy love and guardian care.”
“Far, far above thy thought, His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought that caused thy needless fear.” 
“Leave to God’s sov’reign sway, to choose and to command; So shall thou, wond’ring, own that way, How wise, how strong His hand!”
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8,9). 
Do not fret…trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness…commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass…rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it only causes harm. (Psalm 37:1-8).
This is my choosing today, and prayerfully, everyday:
“Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments], making melody with all your heart to the Lord.” (Eph.5:19, Amplified).
Let all the children say, “Amen!”

Receive the gift of Jesus today. We must,
A: Admit our  fall.
B: Believe in His provision of forgiveness.
C: Confess and Call out to Him.

Let us say together, "I am His, and He is mine."

Waking, with the Father’s hand reaching out to me. I take it and I put my hand in His.
“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:11 on my mind first thing, as I choose to turn and kiss the King.
That is the meaning of worship, I have learned; to worship is to choose to turn and ‘kiss the King.’ So, this is the thing I will do each and every morning.
This is intimate. Completely, it’s true. But a covenant has been made, to me … and to you. CH Spurgeon wrote and I quote: One of the most sublime verses in the Holy Scripture is this, (Jesus talking), “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love.” John 15 verse 9. 
Spurgeon reminded me in the devotional Bible he compiled that, “the Father loves the Son without beginning, without change, without measure, and without end – and even thus does Jesus love us.”
Do we even come close to knowing with our brains, or our hearts, or our souls how much Jesus loves? There is no way. It is too grand, it is beyond us.
But each morning I wake, I choose to take of the Father’s hand, who brought me Jesus that I might see Him. The Spirit of God then helps me understand:
 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15 verse 10.
When I look deep inside, do I have joy? Where is it, then?
Oh, how I want Christ’s joy to be in me complete. I want this no matter what is going on in the streets. “Joy in the Lord, to be my strength,” is the prayer I pray for us all this day.
There is so much separation. So much division. I will look to God, not the world for wisdom:
 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “
these words are so deep, can us humans comprehend what all this means?
Spurgeon writes: “This is love’s law – her diamond rule.”  And God’s word continues, “You are my friends if you do what I command. ” John 15:12 and 13.
So I end my writing with Spurgeon’s poem, as he sums up John 15 in his Devotional Bible. Well, and I will add one more verse and a line of a hymn, because ‘faith is thinking right’ that we might walk in the Light:
“Come just as ye are, for Jesus invites Poor sinners to share substantial delights: Ye weary and burden’d who happy would be, And wish to be pardon’d, come listen to me. 
The ear of your heart if you will incline To you I’ll impart my fulness divine, Your souls by my Spirit made meet for the sky, The life shall inherit which never shall die.”
John 15 verses 14 and 15: ” You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” 
Make it known to usJesus. Show us the way. Help us understand when we open the word. “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word. Just to rest …
upon His promise, Just to know …,
“Thus saith the Lord.”
Our prayer today, together, in unity: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Thee. How I’ve proved Thee, o’er and o’er. Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus, O for grace to trust You more!”
 
 
 
 
 

What we believe, matters.

The call has come. There’s not much time.
We’ve all been taken captive, bound up by sin. Even though this word is not ‘politically correct’, we’re all bound; and deep down, we know it inside.
Just as the research for many, many years went out to discover that smoking ‘kills’. But the words that came to the public ears, written even on the boxes themselves: ‘smoking may be hazardous to your health.’
Did we not know – these words were just lies.
So, what if in fact, “truth is not what you make it?” But truth has been told -in the Book of old.
Does what we believe really matter at all? Does smoking actually, ‘kill’? Or simply give you a cough.
So much better than ‘good advice’ is the gospel message of Jesus Christ. You see, the chains will be broken.  Chains that have you stagnant and hurting.
There’s a wash inside-out, a free ticket home, and the power to breathe with God’s living hope.
Hey, The Book is the same from page one to the last. In the beginning God created. Many can’t get past that. You see, faith is required and what you believe really matters.
Believe in yourself, and see where you get. But keep your eyes on those who put their hope in the One, that each page of The Book was written about.
The whole Book, really, is about the Lamb. Remember Adam and Eve, making the choice for us all. (And don’t fret about it, if it were any of us,  we would’ve also made the fall).
We do, everyday. And in every way, we are like just them now:  “Do something! Let’s hide from God. Let’s cover ourselves in leaves that bring pain.
Now they knew they were naked. Just as we know we’ve messed up. They were anxious and afraid. The bottom line – they disobeyed their Love.
But what we believe matters. If we stop reading the story, we miss the full picture of the Hand of God reaching. A spotless lamb slain, that they might be covered at last, not by their own efforts and strain, but in softness and gentleness of wool of an innocent Lamb.
Yes, there was blood. Yes, there was death. But it didn’t come from them. It came in the Lamb that was sent. The only work for Adam and Eve to do that day in the garden, was to take off the old garments of prickly thorns they’d sewn on their own, and receive the covering that God offered them.
“No thank You God, we like the pain. You keep the Lambskin. I’m going my way.”
We all have a choice, to believe God, or not. To believe in His Son, to spend time in His word. To receive His great love, to walk in His Way, to accept new life and obey His truth.
God is in control. He created this world. But it’s broken and fallen. The Story is told. From beginning to end. Genesis to Revelation. The Lamb has come to ‘take away the sins of the world.’ In John 1 verse 29, it can be read in black and white,
but these words are living and even sharper than a sword. They cut to the heart, because you are loved by the Lord.
What we believe, matters. Everlasting life forever is offered to those, who take off the old and receive  – new life that’s given.
Lambs skin over thorny leaves … put on Christ, and see God’s Hand take the lead.
Please let someone know that you believe in the Son. But first, even right now, talk to God in your heart, or even better, out loud and make a new start. With God, nothing is impossible. He heals. He restores.
And He has a plan for you that is better than you can know. Keep your eyes up, and in His Love may we each day grow.
 

So far away, yet the stars sing

One million, three-hundred thousand earths can fit in our sun. Our sun is big. However it is told, Antares can hold 64 suns. Antares is huge. But, not compared to Hercules, which can hold 100 million Antares.
Hercules is gigantic. Yet, Epsilon, the largest known star in the universe can hold 3 million Hercules. How do we know all this?
Some amazing magnification.
But back to earth, looking up to the sky, even our tiny, little sun, which can hold 1,300,000 earths – can be hid completely with only our thumb.
If we can hide the sun with our thumb, does that mean the sun’s not there?
“Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;” The light of God’s word is spoken to all of mankind. It is not hidden is some quiet place.
The sun rises in the morning and sets each night. “Day unto day utters speech.” Proverbs 19:2 proclaims. Do we block the words that God has breathed out for us, because this world and people have brought us pain?
Our eyes become dim. Our hearts, discouraged.
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1 verse 22, speaks with blunt eloquence. But quite frankly we can hide the sun with our thumb. We hide the Son with our thumb.
Shunning God’s word, doesn’t change it at all.
Dear children of the world, God offers life, and joy, and rest, and peace. Do we walk in the counsel of words at our tips. Do we stand in the path of ‘Do that and do this’?  Do we sit in seats with those who criticize God?
“Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.” Proverbs 1 verse 23. Do these sound like words of a God who’s angry?
The King speaks to His Bride, in words poetic and lyrical in the Song of all Songs by King Solomon. Words bright as Epsilon – so far away, but who can see …
unless one looks carefully. With purpose and determination. With a heart whose eyes are wide open. Almost too wonderful to have understanding. Great beauty exposed, in magnification:
“I slept but my heart was awake.
    Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
    my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night.”
The King is calling, but what is the response.
3 “I have taken off my robe—
    must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
    must I soil them again?”
The Song continues, faint to most ears:
4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
    my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved,
    and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
    on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened for my beloved,
    but my beloved had left; he was gone.”
This is Canticles V, verses 2-6, in the Book breathed by the King in the Song of Solomon.

  “My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
    I called him but he did not answer.
7 The watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
    they took away my cloak,
    those watchmen of the walls!
8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—
    if you find my beloved,
what will you tell him?
    Tell him I am faint with love.”

The Song of all Songs, verses 6 through 8. The Bride remembers and brings her King into focus, fearing it might be too late:

“He is altogether lovely.” Verse 16, chapter 5, Song of Solomon.

My Bridegroom is pure. Even His enemies can find no fault in Him. (John 18:38). He is ‘ruddy’,  strong and full of vitality. He is ‘the chiefest of ten thousand’ and stands superior to all the rest. His head is as the most fine gold’. He is all divine. (Song of Solomon 5:10,11).

How do I know? Because when you seek, you find.

He never changes.  ( Hebrews 13:8).

There is no shadow of turning in Him. (James 1:17).

“His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fitly set.” This is the Song chapter 5 verse 12. Eyes of a dove are gentle and compassionate. Doves eyes condemn not.

Is this really a book that should stay dusty on the shelf?

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
    is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
    and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
    and let his banner over me be love.
5 Strengthen me with raisins,
    refresh me with apples,
    for I am faint with love.”

The morning stars ‘sing’, I discover in God’s word. The Book of Job chapter 38 verse 7.  Let’s examine His thoughts more intently each day. And magnify His love, and hear His voice say:

“How beautiful you are, my darling!
    Oh, how beautiful! (Song of Songs 4 verse 1),  These are thoughts of the King towards me. “Oh come let us magnify the Lord, and exalt His name together, …”  Psalm 34 verse 3. Exalt the name of the Son. As stars, let us sing.

I believe God, no matter what

If things don’t work out, come through or open up as I thought.
I make the choice, right here, right now. In this present moment – I still believe God.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, …” Psalm 37:23 says. Perhaps the closed doors, the unanswered prayers, the dead ends are protections from harm. Or maybe not.
If we are to ‘walk by faith and not by sight’, perhaps God is exercising us to Olympic proportions that we win a race we set out at first.
God has a plan. God’s plan is for good. I choose to be stubborn for the Lord, and believe in His Word. Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims that God has thoughts toward me. Psalm 139 reminds me that they are more in number than the sand.
I can set my eyes upon good thoughts as this, or scoff and let my heart go amiss.
I can choose because God gave me choice. He desires my love for Him be a choice that I make. He desires that I choose Him.
Not just once, but made every day. “I look to the hills from whence comes my help.” Psalm  121 verse 1 sets me straight,  And I choose to believe that the Lord knows. I will trust Him always.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

Oh Lord God of heaven and earth, may I hear your word with my heart this day, may I choose to believe,… even though at times, I don’t understand.

 
 

God's hand … He had Jenny gently tucked inside.

My friend Jenny couldn’t move. Not anything. Not her hands, not her arms, she couldn’t wiggle her feet. She couldn’t bend her knees or her legs. She couldn’t move her arms. She could only turn her head. She couldn’t brush her hair the way she liked it. She couldn’t brush her teeth, she couldn’t blow her nose when she cried.
My friend Jenny couldn’t bring a sip of water to her lips when she thirsted. My friend Jenny couldn’t  do anything.
So much was taken away from this woman at 35 years of age, mysteriously one day, within a 24 hour period. Was it a virus of the spine? Or, other mysteries past finding out. The end result would leave her powerless -to move, and even breathe on her own without the help of her respirator. Jenny was completely paralyzed.
This all happened the same week I suddenly became stricken with Rheumatoid Arthritis many, many years ago- which was traumatic for me …until I learned of Jenny’s plight.
From the beginning, the Lord was using Jenny in my life to keep things in perspective. The Lord is using Jenny’s witness in my life, even today.
Jenny remained close to my mind and heart as I prayed for her during this crisis in her life, and as I dealt with my trifle trials, in comparison.
Our common ground? We were both moms, and ‘swim moms’ with kids swimming at the Y. God knit my heart to Jenny right from the start, and days moved on to months and months moved on to years . Our families separately, went through huge crisis , emotional, financial,  and spiritual-but Jenny and her family – ‘huge crisis’ was almost an understatement when considering the moment by moment …
God gave us choice. God gives us choice. Jenny chose to believe God.
Jenny was a witness to me. My eyes were open and I watched her ‘move’! It was her faith. It was her hope. It was her love.
Why do I share this story about my friend. Why do I expend energy in writing and wrestling with words in her honor? Because ultimately I am honoring a God who lived so abundant in her. If you try to convince me there is no God because you can’t see Him- I will say,
“God can be seen. By and through lives who are yielded and trusting in Him. God can be seen, if one opens their eyes.”
God opened my eyes to see one of His most beautiful diamonds, one of His most courageous champions.  Jenny.
Wouldn’t you think there would be extreme amounts of bitterness and anger after  having survived this way for 5+years?
None of that could be found in her.
And I write that sentence on it’s own line. This attitude of faith when ‘nothing was going her way’ is notable. This is a gold medal winner champion of faith.
And an attitude of complaint? It was not found in her. Yes, at times, discouraged in what seemed to be unanswered prayers, yet, she hoped and believed God even in the hardest and darkest times. Her cry went out to her Jesus – and I ‘saw’ with my own eyes, multiplied measures of ‘sufficient grace’ abounding in her.
God gave me this friend. God knew I needed her.
I needed to witness the life of God in my friend. I was battling with hurt and loss, and lack of faith. It seems I was always ‘trying’ to let go, always ‘trying to forgive.’
I had suffered loss in my own life, but Nothing compared to Jenny. I hadn’t suffered anything.  Spending time with Jenny ignited my faith. And helped me ‘let go’ of the junk.
I miss my most amazing friend. She still lives. And especially in my heart.
‘If Jenny could, then I could too.’ This was my inspiration. “If Jenny did, then I can too.” This is my motivation.
I used to wake up in days of trial and think, “Remember Jenny.”
She Believed God and waited on His healing and held on to God, even though she couldn’t ‘hold on’ to anything.
When I began spending time with Jenny, it was like witnessing Ps. 18:“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield…”
Jenny couldn’t hold anything but she had a firm grasp on her shield of faith and her sword – her ears could hear: ‘I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward.'” Gen. 15:1.
 Jenny Believed God.
Today, I choose to “Remember Jenny.” And, ‘Believe God.’
“A river reaches places which its source never knows…
 “He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
 ‘This is the work of God, that you believe…’ John 6:29.”
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” Ps. 46:4,5.
‘This is the work of God that you believe’.  God is working and is working still, ‘this is the work of God that you believe.’
We will be tempted to give up on faith.  But Jenny chose to believe in God. And today I choose as well.
 “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb 13:5,6).  

Jesus declared,“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink and out of his innermost being shall gush forth torrents of living water.” (John 7:37,38)

"Hear, … for the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 1:2)

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken: I have nourished and brought up sons (and daughters), and have made them great and exalted, and they have rebelled against Me and broken away from Me.”  This is the word of God in Isaiah 1 verse 2. This is the Word of God, Amplified for me and for you.
Are we hearing? Do we care? Are our ears dull from the lies that  prominently swoon in the air. The heart of God breaks as His creation turns their backs to Him. He has spoken. Who has ears?
“The ox instinctively knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel does not know or recognize Me [as Lord], My people do not consider or understand.” This is the Word of God, Isaiah chapter 1 verse 3.
“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken:” Who is it that  has ears that are open?
(Holy Spirit, I pray for the children, all the children of the world – ‘red, brown, yellow, black and white, they are precious in Your sight.’ Open their ears, dear Lord. O God, I plead, Give them sight. I write my hearts prayer in parenthesis.)
As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. This is the Word of God in Matthew 24, verses 37-39. These thoughts are not written for opinion and critique. These words were written for this very time.
Don’t be convinced that your truth is yours and my truth in mine. God is God. His Word is truth. He created the expanse and your heart. Find out if these things are right. This is a test you want to pass – this is a matter of death or life.
“It is God Who sits above the circle of the earth, ” these ancient words, in Isaiah from long ago, were written when men believed the the earth to be flat. Isaiah chapter 40 verse 22 dispelled all that.
But only the men that were reading God’s word knew the earth to be round. But they were put in asylums long ago, and  were believed their minds were unsound.
So, today, today there are some with feet beautiful, ‘that bring good tidings of good, (yes, it’s written just as this, and it should – in the Amplified version of Isaiah 52, in verse 7: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation …”
Have I made you curious? Have I brought a hunger inside, to check out God’s Word, to see and hear what’s inside?
The question is asked in Isaiah 53, “Who has believed our report?” Who has believed and trusted in the One who has ‘borne our griefs, our sickness, our weakness, and distress.’  Who has ‘carried our sorrows and pain’ and taken the punishment we deserve, on Him.
Who has believed?
It is me.
And how about you? “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for us, was upon Him,” Isaiah 53:5, is all about Jesus on the cross. I believed, and He has made me alive.
Will you hear today, and give Him your heart? God’s Word is precious. There is one message: The Son was sent by God the Father to make all things right and to give us all a new start.
Believe in the Son. Seek Him today. He will be found.
And as your ask to understand His Word as He speaks, He will hear and will answer, and make your life sound.
Read Isaiah 40. Read the Book of John. Read of the Creation. Discover the Son!
 

Thinking on a good theme: This is my Father’s World

“This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears; all nature sings and round me rings, the music of the spheres.” (1)

Can you hear the music?

Nature sings.

The culture around us clangs.

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

Do you join me in this thing?
Let’s fight to hear it – for the peace we’re so hungry for.  Our ‘listening ears’ hear so much noise at this time: disasters of the natural kind. Fights abounding and lies surrounding. Natural laws being changed by the mind, protectors of cities in danger of their lives. Political voices saying, “There is peace.” when there is no peace. 
But the old song, which seems so foreign and far, sings, “This is my Father’s world …”
Stop right there.
Let’s wait one precious second. This just might be our first mistake – we thought is was all ours. All mine, all yours. We believe that ‘this world was your land, and this world was mine! (exclamation point needed).
Join me as we attempt to ‘cheer up’ inside and remind ourselves: “Lift up your eyes. Lift up your eyes.”

121 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121 verse 1,and 2, King James Version, at that. This is my hill. Fancy words and all -God’s word helps me ‘be still.’

“He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.” (2) Our Father in heaven is ever present and great. He knows, just as ‘Israel,’ we wrestle and strive. So He allows a ‘dislocation’ of sorts in our lives,

but in the agony and weakness within,  He becomes clear as the sky, as He opens our eyes.

This may sound crazy, but next, we will close our eyes He has opened, and rest in our battle.(!) Now this is the kind of fight I like best. Where we bow the  knee and seek the King, and all the Power and the glory of ‘our Father.’

 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night. Psalm 121 verses 5 and 6, somehow give me ‘power’ that I might relax.

The song, the music, my ears begin to hear: “This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair, In the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.”

 “The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.” The hill of God’s word, even in closed in 4 walls, will be my refuge and fortress. A very present help in trouble.

Let our hearts sing together, today. Take a breath and even out loud say: “This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world; The battle is not done; Jesus who died, shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.”

Jesus who died, shall be satisfied, …and earth and heaven be one.”

Let us not forget to look to the hills of the psalms and  hymns and sing. Join me today, in our battle array?

(1) This is My Fathers World by Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901.
(2) Psalm 121:3-4.
1 
2 This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
3 This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

Love 'suffers long and is kind?

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others,  I’m told in 1 Corinthians 13:1, New Living Translation, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 
My question is,  “What do I do when I come in contact with the ‘noisy gong’ who doesn’t care they’ve messed with my song?
I need  new revelation – To keep me breathing, to keep me sane. “O God -They’re difficult, they’re hard, they don’t bend, they don’t hear. Things just aren’t ‘going my way’, help me remember what You have to say.
Your word, in the Book of James, chapter 1, in verse two: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,…”

I will say it right here, “I’m not having fun. What’s going on? All I want to do naturally, is … Run!
I pray, ‘Our Father in heaven,’ I run to Your arms. ‘Holy is Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,’ Help me now. This moment in time – give me transformation.
Difficult people chase the ‘love’ right out the door. I search and find, the ‘patience box’ empty -de nada, there is simply, no more.
Forget about the ‘yellow’ card, to give warning there’s a problem. But with solution to work it out that it might again be set and in order,
This is the ‘red card’ brought to the table, no solution in sight. But it’s brought to You, God Almighty, who sees me inside and out. You know my thoughts and my weaknesses, (plural) …
‘O God, help me now. You clearly see, I’m not counting it ‘all joy’. My heart is on fire – You see the mess. I look for patience, and can’t find it on hand. There is none, no reserve –
Give me patience, dear Lord Jesus, and now,  I insist!“
People watch – when a believer in Christ suffers trial, so … I open up Spurgeon, (he’s like a grandpa to me) and I thumb through the pages and then stop to read:
He writes: “After much crying, the child is weaned.”(1)
“Patience enables us to bear ill-treatment, slander, and injury without resentment. We feel it keenly, but bear it meekly. Like our Master, we don’t open our mouths to reply; we refuse to return shout for shout. We give blessing in return for cursing, …”
This truly is wisdom, but I desperately need some rehearsing.
“…like the sandalwood tree that perfumes the axe that cuts it.”
“I keep thinking, ‘Why can’t they stop fighting? Will they ever stop? “Why can’t she … Why can’t he …?”
Then I hear Your still small voice, “Because I’m doing a great work of patience … in thee.”
And suddenly I see my Savior walking the road to Calvary, with a cross on His back, and realize, …
He did this for me.
 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way.
My ears are open Lord. Let me hear You speak:  “Dear brothers and sisters,
when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
 If you need wisdom, ask your generous Father, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. This is James 1:2-5. 
OK, Lord, I ask for wisdom, and transformation. That I might have Your heart in mine. Help me put on Your love, and take off my vengeful garments, that I might ‘suffer long and be kind.’
 God’s love is ‘not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It doesn’t rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
 God’s  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13, familiar, yet today, so new. This is written for me. I receive it, but I seek  You God to carry it through.
Jesus keep working on me, give me wisdom, give me Your power,  for each coming day, but especially, this hour.”
If you join me today in your struggle and trial, Spurgeon encourages with this: “If the grace of God by trial will work this in you, then you have gained a solid weight of character.”
so let us say, “Amen, Amen.”  And rejoice in our pain because God is working for us great gain. And we, all know, we will be tested, again, and again, and … until heaven – Haleluiah
(1) Beside Still Waters, CH Spurgeon, page 324.

Who would've thought something so bad could work out so much good?

Aug. 10, 201o I heard the words, “You have an invasive cancer of the breast.”
 
Oh – how I would believe that deep down, but on the surface there was no understanding to that sound. But, the fact that I can’t “see it” or “feel it” at any given moment, doesn’t change God. Back then, and now.
There’s a “keeping power” with God that I can’t even take credit for.
There’s no “hold on” ability. Some of us can admit that. There is no “holding on to anything” in our great weakness.
But God. He does it. He’s there.
Time proves. And His steadfast love appears. Even when our hearts failed and our faith disappeared. He shows up.
That is the grace that the Bible talks about.
“His grace is sufficient.”
We hear them. Hang down our heads during the trial. We can’t “feel” anything.
But somehow, God remains alive inside. Even though in anger and confusion, we turn our backs to HIm for a time.
howing up, even with no strength to “take hold” at times. But my heart can “hold on”, even if only by a thread. “Jesus loves me so.” Isn’t that what faith is? Believing when we can’t see. And believing even when we can’t feel. -toni
Job, a man who honored God, went through trial, and more trial and even more trial. But after a great amount of time, the Lord did speak. The Lord did answer Job: “The LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Gird up thy loins now like a man:”(KJV).
Oh, the mystery of God’s word, but so worth the effort to discover it’s meaning!
God used cancer in my life to be that whirlwind, to wake me up to LIFE.
You see, my vision was horizontal, yes, I had the Lord, but I was heavy-hearted and focused on troubles more than focusing on the Lord. The fruit in my life was being ‘choked’ because of the weeds of worry and the thorns of sorrow and loss.
My Father in heaven, in the midst of this cancer fight spoke in His word, to me personally,(even though originally they were written for Job). On this day, the word was opened, my body was sick and broken, my emotions were shot and I was anxious, but God, my loving Father spoke directly to me:
“Gird up!”, “Get up!”
Peter uses the ‘gird up’ expression in 1 Peter 1:13,
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober,
and rest your hope fully
upon the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Well, one meaning of the word ‘gird up’, is ‘to cinch up the robe you are wearing to allow you to move with agility and purpose.’
But, ‘gird up the loins of your mind’?
Perhaps it helps to read the verse from the Amplified Bible,
“So brace up your minds; be sober – circumspect [morally alert]; set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is revealed.”1 Peter 1:13.
God was revealing His Son, Jesus Christ to me. Not like any beautiful building could, or perfect environment or location, No, God chose to reveal who He was through…a huge trial!
‘Jesus Christ the Messiah’ is revealed through God’s word, and God had a word for me on this dark and cold ‘day’ in my life! I turned to Psalm 73:1, and very plainly, it spoke:
“Truly God is good.” Psalm 73:1.
This basic truth was my battle! Did I or did I not believe this? Could I ‘brace up my mind’ and set my hope on all that Jesus is, even in loss and suffering?
The lie of the enemy says: ” How can a good God allow this?” “God will take stuff away.” Or, “Isn’t God trying to keep you away from fun? Isn’t God trying to hold something back from you?”
But the word of God in Psalm 73:1, says, “Truly God is good.”
Do we agree with the word, or do we argue and disagree with God and say in our hearts, and even believe:
“Obviously in all this trouble, God does not care.”
There is enough stubbornness in me(then and now!) that I made the choice to ‘brace up my mind…and set my hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace that is coming to us…’ What if none of this is true? What if what I believed was all in my head? What did I lose?
I made the choice to believe God’s word and agree with God’s word and guess what?
I began to be restored. I was being restored in my soul. Just like the Bible says: “the law of the LORD is perfect restoring the soul;”Ps. 19:7. It is powerfully, amazingly alive and true. God’s word restored my soul!
When troubles and loss occurred, even before my diagnosis to cancer, did I panic? Even with the Lord, yes. I was afraid and struggled with fear. Did I panic? Did I doubt? Yes, all of that.
But I knew where to run! And run I did: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe!” (Proverbs 18:10). ‘Gird up’ your thoughts Toni, take every thought captive and think truth! This was God’s loving exhortation! He didn’t discipline me and let me go- NO, God began restoring me because His name is: ‘Gracious and Compassionate and Slow to Anger and Abounding in Truth and Forgiving iniquity and sin and extending mercy to generations’ (thank you Gayle Erwin for your wonderful breakdown of Exodus 34:6,7). That is the name I ran to, the strong tower from my enemy. When the world turns a cold, dark cloud your way, God remains, even in the great darkness.
I made the choice to believe God’s word and let the revelation of the goodness of God transform me.
This is what God’s word says about affliction:
“This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50)
‘Gird up’!
“Thank you Lord, for the brokenness and pain and even the suffering, because you came down and answered me out of the whirlwind. I’m giving You praise, Lord, today.”
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph. 5:14,15).
God woke me up! He used the cancer in my life so that I could ‘gird up’ and start really ‘believing’ what I always believed! Yes, God is good, He makes all things work together for good!
Cry out to Jesus. He hears. He’s alive. He came down then, He comes down now and He says, “It is I, do not be afraid.”
Believe in Jesus. He is able to accomplish all that concerns you…today.
How do I know? Because He did and He continues to do all this for me. My part? Is simply to believe and receive…not just once and for all, no, but for every waking breath and moment. May God richly bless you as He reveals His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the author and the finisher of our faith!  And He is good, yes, God is good. Amen.