Category: Articles

Remembering Al Braca on Sept. 11th. A time when there was no debate.

I shared this Sept. 11, 2019. So much has happened since then. But so much is quite the same:

Today our world is overflowing with information of trouble and chaos. This breeds anxiety in hearts everywhere . . . and much debate.

But I can tell you a story where there was no debate.

September 11, 2001, World Trade Center.

There was a man named Alfred J. Braca who simply went to work—4th story from the top of a World Trade Center building. I knew him because he went to my church in NJ. Our sons were part of the same Boys Scout Troop.

He went to work on that day, but in a moment,  . . .

 great confusion and chaos made its entrance. There was no warning. No information.

The only debate was whether to stay put or to get out.

For the men and women on those upper floors, there was no way out.

Al Braca, had information.  The story’s told that he went into one of the big conference rooms, and he told everyone to gather everyone they could find to come into the room.

It is told, approx. 50 of his co-workers came into the conference room.

Al Braca knew the peace of God, the forgiveness of sin through Jesus and the power of salvation in His name.

He had information everyone needed to hear.

So, on that morning of September 11, 2001, this child of God stood up on a Conference table.

 This was a desperate moment. There was no good news about their circumstance. There was no way out.

Now was the time.

Al wasn’t worried about offending anyone. He wanted everyone to know what he knew. He wanted everyone to have life after this life was over.

Everlasting life. 

I don’t know the exact words he shared, but he told them about Jesus. How Jesus paid it all.

Jesus Christ came to this world and died on the cross to pay the debt that we each owe for our hard hearts against God, our stubbornness, our lies, our hatred, our impatience, cruelty, . . . our sin. 

Al knew Jesus personally. The risen Lord lived in him.

Al Braca was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes Romans 1:16.

There was trouble on every side. There was no time for debate.

The Bible has a verse that reads,

“Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus . . . ” well on this day, comfort came. Not through Titus, but through a man named Al.

“What must I do to be saved?” Acts. 16:30.

Al Bracca knew the answer,
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,…” Acts. 16:31.
On that day, people responded.

People on that day, were  like the criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus. The criminal who said to Jesus,
“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Luke 23:42

Do you remember how Jesus responded?
‘And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you,
today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43.

How did this story get told in the first place?

Many of the men and women that met in that conference room that morning, made phone calls to their families and told them. They not only said, “Good-by, I love you,” but they were able to say, “I will see you again soon.
I’m going to heaven to be with Jesus. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Alfred Braca wanted the truth to get out about eternal life when each turns his/her life to Jesus. So many didn’t know. There was so little time!

They needed to know Jesus:

“Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them until the end.” John 13:1.

Do we know Jesus? 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God,
believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:1,2.

When I see the memorial with two lights shining straight up to heaven, I think of all those people who called on the name of Jesus that dark day. They now live a life everlasting with the Lord in glory. 

Thank you Al Braca for being a witness to the light of Christ. Many had the opportunity to receive eternal life because you spoke up in courage and hope.

“God had demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Today, 20 years later, my heart breaks. But, I want to be like Al. He had a heart that broke for each and every person that didn’t know the hope and life in Jesus. In this world of strife and debate, . . . we’ve got to let the people know.

We need to tell them the truth about Jesus. What will we do when found in a moment of terror or crisis? Do we have the peace of God as Al did?

Jesus is the name that saves. There is no other. 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28.

Is today the day for salvation? Call on His name. Jesus will answer.

And if you do, let someone know, today. 

This is a heavy article, but it’s full of hope and good news that many, on that day of Sept. 11, 2001, received eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ.  Today, I share John 3:16 & 17, the great promise and truth of life in Christ with the voices of children. 

Forever, THIS is the Good News: 

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” John 3:16 & 17.

“He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all . . . “

“He saved me from my low estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, 1782.

When temptations rise to be afraid or heavy-hearted under life’s weight, the hymns immediately change my mind.

After-all, doesn’t the Lord tell me, (and you), in His Word to, “Fix (y)our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” Philippians 4:8, NLT.

And furthermore, to “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.“

The hymnal, (along with the Bible, of course), is a safe place to find excellent and praise-worthy thoughts:

He saw me ruined in the fall, Yet loved me notwithstanding all; He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, Loving-Kindness, 1782.

To wake and imagine my sweet Lord, patting the seat next to Him on the sofa,”Come a sit by Me.” So, I sit to be with the Lover of my soul as I open the hymnal:

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
He justly claims a song for me,
His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

(In the back of our minds, do we have the report from the doctor, or that call on the phone, or the piece of mail that recently arrived?)

The Lord in my heart, is near. He’s right here. And He reminds me today from this hymn long ago:

Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes,
Though earth and hell my way oppose,
He safely leads my soul along,
His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

The Comforter, the Holy Spirit speaks to me. He reminds me of a favorite psalm,

Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him Psalm 42:5.

When trouble like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He near my soul has always stood,
His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
His loving-kindness, oh, how good!

God’s Word is living water refreshing my soul. Word-picture perfect, Psalm 42 reminds me, “God knows.”

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God . . . My tears have been my food day and night,While they continually say to me,“Where is your God?” . . .

For I used to go with the multitude;I went with them to the house of God,With the voice of joy and praise, Psalm 42:1,3,4.

I will think on this today, “His loving-kindness, oh, how good:”

The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life . . .

Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God;For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God Psalm 42:8,11.

My eyes are up. My heart is tuned.

“He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

His loving-kindness, oh, . . .

how free!

Revive us Oh Lord. We speak aloud Your Word:

 “Sing, . . . Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes . . .
Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
   the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth . . .
Though the mountains be shaken
    and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
    says the Lord, who has compassion on you Isaiah 54:1-10.

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise.

“His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”

Loving-Kindness by Samuel Medley, 1782:

  1. Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
    And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
    He justly claims a song for me,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
  2. He saw me ruined in the fall,
    Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
    He saved me from my lost estate,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how great!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how great!
  3. Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes,
    Though earth and hell my way oppose,
    He safely leads my soul along,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
  4. When trouble like a gloomy cloud,
    Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
    He near my soul has always stood,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
  5. Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale,
    Soon all my mortal pow’rs must fail;
    Oh, may my last expiring breath
    His loving-kindness sing in death.
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness sing in death.
  6. Then let me mount and soar away
    To the bright world of endless day;
    And sing with raptures and surprise,
    His loving-kindness in the skies.
    Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
    His loving-kindness in the skies.
tonirypkema.com

It’s too much Lord. It’s just too much! We cry to our “Abba” Father together:

With broken hearts, we cry to the Lord. We cry for ourselves, our families, our communities, our nation, the entire world.

Remind us the power of prayer dear Lord. We pray the Word of God and think on You, as the “Joy of the Lord” is our strength.

“Our Father in heaven hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven . . . “Matthew 6:9.

I need my heart tuned. This world has brought it out of tune.

“Come, thou Fount of every blessing,
tune my heart to sing thy grace;“

streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise (Come Thou Fount, Robert Robinson, 1758).

Aloud, together, with the advancement of technology, people can be completely alone, and yet with many. We pray as a community. We remind ourselves of Your powerful truths and pray aloud, “Pour out Your sufficient grace on us, as You’ve told us:

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Dear Lord, can we “gladly boast in our weakness?” Not naturally. Not now. Only by the power of Your Spirit. We pray together and ask, “Pour out Your sufficient grace, “That Christ’s power may rest on (us).”

“This is my comfort in my affliction,” (Psalm 119:150), “Your word has given me life.”

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. 

I go to prepare a place for you. 

 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself;

that where I am, there you may be also. 

 And where I go you know, and the way you know”John 14:1-4.

Don’t let us forget the Way, Dear Lord.

You are “despised and rejected by men,“(Isaiah 53).

You were despised then, and You are now by many, but today, I consider You. You. Died. For me.

Is there anyone reading this today that “feels distant from God?”

Turn your face, your heart to Jesus: “He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:5.

Dear Lord, we don’t know the meaning of patience until we look at You:

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Peter 3:9.

The Bible tells us we’ve all sinned. Sin is what condemns us. (Romans 3:23).

All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

But Lord, You told us“where I go you know, and the way you know”John 14:4.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6.

Dear Lord, You’re either rejected completely because of this statement or received by it. Aloud we continue to be reminded of Your complete Word:

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”

 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; John 14: 7-9.

He was oppressed and He was afflicted,Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,So He opened not His mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment,And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken . . . Isaiah 53:7-9.

As Jesus is marked with the scars on His hands forever, we who call out to Jesus in faith to believe in Him to save us, we are marked in a way. The Holy Spirit seals us.

Have we forgotten the old hymn, “O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be. Let Thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.

Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it. Seal it for Thy courts above (Come Thou Fount, Robert Robinson, 1758.

God is faithful to seal our heart with His Holy Spirit.

I do not make (you) slaves so that (you) live in fear again, rather, the Spirit (we) received brought about our adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” Romans 8:15.

We thank You Lord, together for Your Word of comfort and truth to our broken hearts. We cry again, and again,

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father” Galatians 4:6.

As a child, in need to be lifted up, we raise our arms to You dear Lord. We raise our arms and cry, “Abba, Father!“

Jesus, Himself, cried out to His Father,

“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Then He came and found them sleeping Mark 14: 32-37.

 Dear Lord, we’re not sleeping. We’re awake, and we pray Your Word. We feel Your Spirit’s comfort.

Heal the pain of loss and sickness from many dear Lord, in Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

(If you prayed with me, or prayed to receive Jesus in Your heart, let me know. Amen! Yes, please if you took time to open Your heart to the grace and forgiveness of Jesus today, let someone know. You are a new creation in Christ!)

In Case You Were Wondering . . . It’s Time to Turn to Jesus

Need Good News?

No longer do we say, “When the storm comes.” It’s here now.

For the entire world. Do we all say, “It’s too much, Lord. It’s just too much.”

For those who have avoided spiritual things and always put off thoughts or decisions about Jesus Christ, are you wondering, “Is it time to get right with God?”

What kind of foundation have we laid for our lives? I’m not talking of bank security, nor our physical homes, even our physical bodies, but our eternal souls.

The Bible warns, “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10:28.

Jesus talked about hell in the Scriptures on many occasions. In Matthew 25, He gave a parable about wise and foolish virgins, a parable about talents, and then proclaimed Himself, (the Son of Man) as the judge of the nations.

No-one needs to hear about what the Bible says. We need to have our entire being , our heart, mind, and soul reading and ingesting Truth. God alone is good, (Mark 10:18). His Word is truth, (Psalm 119:160).

More than 2000 years ago, John the Baptist proclaimed,

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” Matthew 3:2.

“Scroll past, this is another one of those . . . ” Is this your thought? Today, . . . DON’T SCROLL PAST. (Yes, all caps.)

Not that I have anything of importance to say with my words. What I’m saying is, it’s time to open God’s Word for yourself, (not for your mother, nor your sibling, not your anybody . . .).

If you honestly don’t know Jesus and the purpose of His coming to earth over 2000 years ago, or you only have a collection of “hear-say,” with man being judge over God, . . . (which makes man a god),

OPEN God’s HOLY WORD TODAY because . . . (Perhaps I’m shouting. It’s time!)

He wrote it for you. And for me.

And for every single person on this planet.

This is not the time to “follow the crowd.”

The Bible tells us about a wide way in the last days, Matthew 7:13,14.

Choosing Jesus, not choosing Jesus: This IS a life and death choice; an eternal life or eternal death decision.

At no other time is the Bible readily available. At a touch on the phone the Bible can be read aloud, in every Book and many translations. We are without excuse. Have we forgotten that the Word of God is light to our feet? (Psalm 1119: 105).

Do the heavens declare with each stunning sky, each morning sunrise, and glorious sunset, “Be still and know I am God . . . Psalm 46:10.

Yes, and if you find the verse in the Bible, it continues:
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

And God will. Whether we join Him or choose to remain separate for all eternity from Him, The Holy God of heaven and earth gave us choice.

For those who seek Him, God is not silent. Of His Counsels He says:

“When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. For the commandment is a lamp,

And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life” Proverbs 6:22,23.

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus commanded unclean spirits out of a man in the synagogue, He turned water to wine at a wedding feast in Cana, cleansed a leper, healed a paralytic, and all who were sick.

Crowds formed anywhere He went. “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things” Mark 6:34

Jesus wants to teach us many things. We have to open His Word. This is light and life to all men. God’s kingdom is at hand.

What did Jesus say of the coming kingdom when asked?

“When will the Kingdom of God come?”

Jesus answered, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs . . .

. . .  For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes . . .

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days, the people enjoyed banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat and the flood came and destroyed them all.

“And the world will be as it was in the days of Lot. People went about their daily business—eating and drinking, buying and selling, farming and building— until the morning Lot left Sodom.

Then fire and burning sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. Yes, it will be ‘business as usual’ right up to the day when the Son of Man is revealed . . .

If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour together at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.”

“Where will this happen, Lord?” the disciples asked Luke 17:20-36.

We ask now, “When will this happen?”

“It’s time to turn to Christ. The Kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

IF you have fear . . .

STOP . . . and talk with the Lord. Jesus tells us not to fear. We need to turn to Him. Receive Jesus today.

First, repent. He’s been there all along for each of us. He’s been waiting.

Turn your face to Him, (and not your back as before).

Ask Him to come into Your life. Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit of light and life.

He will.

He makes you His child. A child of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He makes you a new creation.

And Angels sing in heaven rejoicing that one sinner has turned to Jesus. I share some children singing like angels rejoicing in the new, good life we have in Christ:

God Bless you.

All Things New. John 1:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17. Kanagy girls.

Speaking together in a hymn “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”

“O soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see. There’s a light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

When I turn my eyes on Jesus, I can see Him praying.

The story was written that Jesus prayed and even sweat drops of blood.

He’s praying for you and He’s praying for me, even today.

There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,”John 17:1
Oh to have a heart like Jesus in this day:“Father, glorify Me that I might glorify You. Even if it means that my hands and my feet are nailed to the cross. I surrender, be glorified.”

“I have manifested Your Name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world” John 17:6.

I need to walk with Jesus today, through the Gospels. I need to see His face.

Jesus prayed to His Father before facing the cross, “Not my will, but Your will be done” Mark 14: 36.

It’s so, so hard for my human heart to surrender.

“Dear God, help me!”

Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conqu’rors we are!

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus . . . ”

His cousin died and He went away to be alone, only to be bombarded with hurting, sick, and injured people in search of healing. He had compassion on them and healed them all. (Matthew 14:13).

Jesus loved. He wept. He healed. He forgave sin. He resurrected the dead. He was compassionate, and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He willingly paid my debt I owed. He patiently waits for me.

“Holy Father, keep through thine own Name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are”

Jesus prayed for us: For “them also which shall believe on Me through their word” (John 17:20,21).

With great division in the atmosphere, we must turn our eyes on Jesus. He has prayed for those who believe. We will worship and receive His Spirit and wait expectantly:

“That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me” John 17:21.

His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Join me today? Let’s worship God in everything and . . . Turn (y)our eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Amen. Amen. And we thank the Father, the Son, and to the Holy Spirit we say, “Amen.”

Manna Notebook Pages for Families: Page 4

“Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call on Him while He is near . . . “Isaiah 55:6,7.

What’s the greatest miracle of them all? Jesus healed the blind, He opened deaf ears. Jesus turned water to wine. Crippled people could walk and jump. The dead became alive again.

Jesus is the resurrected Lord, but none of them match this:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

There’s so many miracles in this very first verse of the entire Bible.

God is Creator of science. Here we have time, space, and matter. Let’s say it together: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

Do I believe this verse? To believe God is called “faith.”

Creator God, He’s all-knowing, all-powerful. God is love 1 John 4:8.

He gave us choice as one of His love-gifts. We can reject His Word or choose to believe and receive Him.

To love God is full of reward and promise to all who believe, (or have faith in Him).

We love rewards, don’t we? Guess what- when we draw near to God, and seek Him, He gives us eyes to see!

How do I know? The Bible tells us:

Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40.

Faith to believe God is a glorious miracle.

When we believe, we are as a blind man who can see. We become as one deaf who can now hear.

All of us have been hurt in this life and may have sad hearts that limp, yet the Lord’s love and miracle of faith help us to heal. He gives us power to stand again and walk forward today in good thoughts of His love and help.

The Bible tells us: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see Hebrews 11:1.

And when we believe, we get understanding,

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen Hebrews 11:3, NLT.

The Spirit of God was hovering over the darkness of the empty earth, in the beginning, and God said,

Let there be light” and there was light Genesis 1:3. We’re not talking about the sun here. This is light energy. This is the spectrum of color light energy.

Yes, God said let there be a spectrum of color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and all the shades in between!

At night when we look out, everything is a tint of gray. But in the day, color!

Blue skies, green grass, lots of colors found in flowers, brown tree trunks.

O LORD, how manifold are you works! In wisdom you have made them all: the earth is full of your riches Psalm 104:24.

The Gospel Huddle:

God said, “Let there be light.” How about you? Do you believe God and His Word?

This is a first step. God doesn’t want us to be in the dark. He doesn’t want our world to feel gray and full of dark shadows.

We feel that way at times. We feel separated and far from God.

Put your arms out far apart.

Yes, this is how we are to God, separated. But do you see your arms stretched far? That’s what Jesus did for you because He loves you so much.

Jesus willingly allowed men to stretch His arms out wide on the cross, even though He didn’t deserve any punishment. (Jesus had no sin). He took our punishment of sin on Himself as He was nailed to a cross and died for you and me.

We all deserve punishment because we all have sin. Every single one human being on this planet.

Sin is anything we think, say, or do that goes against His Word to us.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:23.

God wants us to see His great love gift-Jesus.

When we believe Him and receive His love, our eyes are opened. We see a whole spectrum of color for all things new. A life with Him, forever. In forgiveness and hope.

Perhaps the greatest miracle is God’s gift of faith to believe.

Talk to the Lord as you listen to God’s Word in song about faith in Him:

It’s Time to Seek the LORD Song: Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55: 6,8,9.

This Scripture Song invites your heart to seek the Lord.

God’s All. Man’s All.

Promises by Anneliese Rypkema
Watercolor by Anneliese Rypkema


Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1.

All that’s within me. Do I bless?

 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

Do I know some of His gracious gifts. Could I ever know them all?

What are the good reports?

 He forgives all our iniquities.

He heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3).

All? Bless the Lord because He forgive all my sin and failure?

What are our iniquities? How quickly we forget?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23. All of mankind has fallen short. All of man have gone their own way. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one Romans 3:10.

For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water Jeremiah 2:13.

Am I guilty of these evils. Will the Lord forgive my stubbornness?

Who is God that I should bless? Do I give ear to His Word?

He heals all my diseases? All my sicknesses? He heals in His time?

Do I scoff at this? Or am I willing to hear? Can I be still and know who is the LORD?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16.

In this day of justice, who will execute it? What does the Bible have to say about this?

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103.

Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down Psalm 146:7-9.

Do I bless the Lord for all of this? I have choice..

We all have choice.

Today. The choice is mine to make. This day.

Can I trust God? What are the benefits when I choose this path?

“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12.

All who receive and believe in Jesus become His children. God’s very own . . .

Do I believe? Have I received? These are the questions in these present dark ages.

Do I choose to walk it alone? Or do I choose to trust all to Him?

If faith is the victory that overcomes the world for whosover is born of God, (1John 5:4), then I can choose to strip my garments of stubbornness and strife. I can put on the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him. I can grow to know all He has done for me.

Or not?

The loss? All.

So, what’s my choice this day?

I surrender all.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name . . .

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.

Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:7-22.

So Many Questions. Do We Seek God’s Word for the Answers?

When the picture is dim. Futures look foggy. The ways of man seem right in their own eyes. (Proverbs 14:12).

God’s Holy Word stands alone, unchanged. (Numbers 23:19). 

What do we do?

Do we open His pages?

Do we call on His name? (Romans 10:13).

Do we believe He’s faithful? (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Do we thank Him? Do we give Him praise? (Psalm 148: 13).

Do we have comprehension? (Ephesians 1:13-15).

Are we growing in grace and the knowledge of Him? (2 Peter 3:18).

Who is the Lord? And what is His name? (Exodus 15:3).

His name is Jesus. There is none greater. There is salvation in none other. (Acts 4:12). 

He was, and is, and will always be. (Isaiah 43: 13-25).

There will be a day when all will eyes see. (Philippians 2).

He alone is in control. He is before all things. (Colossians 1:17).

He’s coming again. (Matthew 24:44). 

All eyes will behold, every knee will bow. (Romans 14:11).

God hates lies. God hates evil. (Proverbs 6:16-19, Amos 5:15).  

The enemy of God is the father of lies. (John 8:44).

Satan comes to deceive and  accuse. (Luke 22:31).

Satan seeks to destroy . . . me and you. (John 10:10).

As Moses in the wilderness with a multitude of faithless complainers, against God and His ways. Serpents were sent among all the people. 

The serpents bit. People were afraid.(Numbers 21:4-8).

What happened next?

God instructed Moses. Make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole. Lift it in the camp. All who look on the bronze serpent will be healed.

What will we choose? Do we look up? Do we look away?

Do we bow today?

Or do we wait for some other day?

 His Word is Love. (1Corinthians 13).

What do we believe?

This is a life or death question. What answer does the Bible give:

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.

 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:14-21).

What is sweeter than the grace of God? 

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory! Ephesians 1:13-15, emphasis mine.

If you want to receive Jesus in your life. Simply bow your head and heart and ask His forgiveness for sin. He washes all the past shame and sin away. Then ask Him to fill you with His love. He will flood your heart with His sweet love. Accept His love and forgiveness and ask Him for the Holy Spirit to help you to grow in His grace and knowledge. He is faithful. he will surely do it!

Then tell someone. Tell the whole world that you are a new creation in Christ. And find other believers to grow with in a Bible teaching church.

Rejoice in Him. Worship Him. He alone is able to accomplish all that concerns all who seek Him, today.

In Jesus name, Amen.

As We Walk Through a Desert Place, We Will Praise

When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;

Do we live in a desert place at this time? With a breeze of heat, discouragement, and pressures all around.

Let’s open God’s Word for a present help. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit as rushing wind to blow through our being. And let’s put on a garment of praise and take off our heavy attire.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it” Isaiah 30:21.

“Walk in my Word. Breathe in your dry bones, My Spirit and life,” God ministers to my weary heart through His Spirit alive in me. I must receive it. And I will . . .

because,

I can wake up from a night’s sleep completely discouraged. Before my feet touch the ground, I have to put off garments of discouragement and put on faith.

The battle begins before I get out of bed in the morning!

Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. Psalm 119:49,50 are my kick out of bed to face a day with faith not dreariness.

This world is not my home. I have to remember that. God’s Word is a complete guide to all my needs, this moment and for all my days. My problem is, I must walk in the Truth of the God’s Word and be filled with His Spirit.

“Wake up, sleeper,
    rise from the dead,
    and Christ will shine on you.”

 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:14,15.

This is my intro to a heart of praise.

“Wake up and rise. Allow Christ to shine on you.” I have a choice to do this or not. Am I to look at the desert terrain or the heavenly sky of hope?

Life giving counsel from God’s Word exhorts:

 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 

 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, . . . Ephesians 5 continues to instruct me in the way I must go for peace and joy in this day:

 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. 

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, (Ephesians 5:17-19).

Am I moaning my dry prayers to the Lord? Yes. But can I sing a refreshing hymn of comfort as well?

Yes. Today, from 1905, Cevilla D. Martin’s Eye on the Sparrow. Let’s speak, (or sing) it aloud. Yes, aloud:

Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Now it makes sense. The Word of God must be obeyed. We can’t only read God’s Word on the page, we must act on what it speaks to me and you.

So today, I will think on a theme of hope. Speak a psalm or hymn.

Jesus is my portion. A constant Friend is He. His eye is on this sparrow. I know He’s watching me.

That’s how I can:

 Always give thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

No matter what the circumstances might be, whether we are on a dry and tough trail, His Word is comfort and refreshing, as a drink of life to me:

“Comfort, Comfort my people, speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem. Tell them that their time of warfare is ended…This is a voice of a man who calls out:
“Prepare in the desert the way of the Lord. Make the road in the dry lands straight for our God . . . ” Isaiah 40 1-3.



 

A special man. Big Vision. Faith in a Mighty God.

For the three people in the whole world who can call this man, Dad,

I dedicate this post to you.

Dear Ella, Caroline, and Jeremy,

To you—his children, his special treasures, his pride and joy, the apples of his eye, I share a grand memory from years past.

First: a Bible verse.

There’s a Bible verse that quickly brings my mind to your dad. I’m sure you can name it right away, but I must repeat it because it’s big, wonderful, rich, and full of grand vision and faith, like your dad:

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see.
    For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you Isaiah 60:1.

Yes, this verse and more.

Your dad loved the Lord, and the Lord gave him moving passion to gather and unite youth, families, and entire communities together.

Your dad had a huge vision. And he moved on it in the strength and Spirit of the Lord and encouraged all those around him to do the same.

Isaiah 60:2 states, Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth,
    but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you.

“Let’s go!” Much like the heart of Caleb in the Bible, was the character of your dad, Shea Willis. “Let’s go and shine God’s light . . . this was your dad’s heart, every place God directed him.

When my kids were in youth group, God gave your dad a vision to bring “the glory of the Lord” to the old, forgotten town of Allendale, SC.

“What’s Allendale?” We would ask. Your dad gathered people and brought minds together to discuss the needs of the sad and depressing town.

Suddenly, because of a big vision, and huge faith in God and God’s great provision, leading, and Spirit, your dad inspired people in the body of Christ to arise.

Arise . . . Let your light shine for all to see.
    For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you.

-Prayer walks were scheduled around Allendale. Many, and often. Suddenly, youth were spending time walking neighborhoods to pray for families, individuals that walked by, the local businesses and churches. Parents joined in. Families were praying together for others.

This was because your dad had a vision from the Lord and the courage to move others out in it.

Oh, yes. This was a special man.

-Interviews took place with pastors of neighboring churches to help bring unity to the town. Time was invested to listen to their hearts and concerns. Pastor and people in Allendale became excited and hopeful.

-A house was secured for many youth and mentors to stay in.

-A chef was designated and many sous-chefs for the planning and organizing to feed the crowd for morning breakfast, lunches, dinners, drinks, and desserts. People in the church that had culinary skills were now volunteering for service.

-Sign-ups were made for families to get involved to help provide food and donated paper products, etc.

-Vans secured, man power found, music opportunities granted.

-Servants volunteered time to help with the children at the local VBS.

-Bible studies were planned for morning devotionals and night studies.

-Designated yards and grounds were chosen to repair.

-Poison Ivy medicine and a proper first-aid station were packed.

Faith was increased.

Fellowship happened.

Prayers took place.

Laughter was found.

Friendships were made.

Healing occurred.

Worship of God transformed hearts.

First aid was applied.

Salvation came.

Physical ground was changed.

Lives were forever impacted.

All because God gave a man a vision, and he said, “Let’s go!” This was your dad.

The Lord looked down from heaven and was pleased. The body of Christ was breathing in Jesus and breathing out in healthy service to God, not always knowing the next step but agreeing in prayer each step the Lord to lead.

We felt the glory of the Lord rise. Yes, the Lord is good. This is only one story. There are many adventures your dad led and brought the light of Christ to arise and shine.

Your dad’s celebration day on March 21st brought people together and over 250 watching online.

We sorrow with you in your loss. We will never cease to pray for God’s continual comfort on each of you.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit Psalm 34:18.

We take great comfort in His Word. Your dad encouraged the kids when they were down, lonely, and needed a friend, that in reading through the Gospel of John they should put themselves right there to walk with Jesus.

As you grow, and have an aching heart missing your dad, I pray that when you read through or listen to the Book of John, you experience an adventure with Jesus, and your dad, who’s with Him now, and your broken-heart feels comfort and healing.

And, with love, I share this memory with you, dear Ella, Caroline, and Jeremy.

Isaiah 60 will always remind me of your special dad.

In His love and grace,

-Mrs. Toni , (and the five Rypkemas that were touched by your dad, your mom, and each of you: Liz, Grace, David, Anneliese, and Matthew).

No longer will you need the sun to shine by day,
    nor the moon to give its light by night,
for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.
 Your sun will never set;
    your moon will not go down.
For the Lord will be your everlasting light.
    Your days of mourning will come to an end.
All your people will be righteous.
    They will possess their land forever,
for I will plant them there with my own hands
    in order to bring myself glory.
The smallest family will become a thousand people,
    and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation.
    At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen Isaiah 60:19-22.

The Light in Darkness. Always, God’s Holy Word

Christians must know the LORD and His Word more and more. We must Know HIM to have armor to stand against the schemes of the enemy, and having done all, to stand!

Read the Warnings. God has spoken:

“Don’t be misled;

remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it:

a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!

If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death;

but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him.

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:7-9).

As Christians, when we’re confronted with a pointed finger telling us we are oppressors, arrogant, ignorant, and defensive because of our faith in the Holy Word of God, we must stand our ground, in love (as the Lord gives us His Spirit, as we continue to walk in His grace and power),

and we must speak our heart’s desire: To please the Lord and to obey His Holy Word. What does God’s Word say?

“Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many” Hebrews 12:13-15.

Also, this is the heart of the Christ follower,

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord” Romans 12: 17-19.

And in this day of debt-free living, as believers in the risen Lord, we are exhorted:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

(The Day Is Near) And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” Romans 13:8-14.

Thus saith the LORD.

“Today.”

“Today.”

Can we hear the warnings and instruction from the Lord and walk in it?

“Dear Lord, help Your people, God’s people, red, brown, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in Your sight, fill us with Your Spirit that we might glorify You in this noisy, dark world. In Jesus name. Amen”

Beautiful Messes bring Gracious Messages

God is good. All the time.

It’s not easy to get all the Ryps together these days, but we were all together in 2018. We’ve grown, changed, experienced great challenges in each of our lives, (as has everyone in the entire world).

We’ve added two amazing grandchildren to our number to bring unimaginable joy to all of us.

We are family.

The Ryps. Nick & Mandy. Carolyn & Patrick. Anneliese, Emily, Jared & Anastasia, Dave, Toni & Mike, Liz, Grace, Chris, Matthew, and Jonathan, (bottom).

And Christmas 2019:

No photo description available.
Picture from Christmas 2019. Toni, Mike, Chris, Anneliese, Carolyn & Patrick, Liz, Matthew, Jonathan, Emily, baby Reese, Sarah, Dave, Grace, Anastasia & Jared, baby Emeril, minus Nick and Mandy.

This mom and dad are little in this world. But, we trusted God in the beginning, 35 years ago and continue to trust Him now.

Our testimony has moments of faltered faith through many battles, but God in His grace and compassion always remained and remains faithful. We believe God’s Word:

Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15.

We love family pictures because they proclaim the victory and goodness of God: Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness Exodus 34: 6.

Trusting the Lord with our family was an unpopular thought, even back in the day, when our marriage began in 1986. To many it speaks of irresponsible behavior. “Get Mike a TV!” We would often hear as a joke, even amongst believers.

Each child was the Lord’s precious plan. God knew that Mike and I weren’t able, but “in Him,” all things are possible. Mike and I covenanted in marriage and in heart to the Lord. We were to trust Him, no matter what.

We didn’t want to be everything to our children, we wanted them to know Jesus, He is everything! We taught them in God’s Word and His way, and do our best to live as witnesses to His faithfulness each day:

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.  Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:7-9.

Don’t we remind ourselves and live this as a testimony to our families?

Mike and I failed often, but God never did.

We were weak, but He had a hold of us: for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’Acts 17:8.

We’ve been through “better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health,” and we will see our marriage “’till death do us part.”

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:57.

We will sing today as in the beginning, “In our lives Lord, be glorified, be glorified, today.”

Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others   . . . If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.  

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5: 11, 13, 14, 15.

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!

“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

Family.

Beautiful messes.

Each brings witness to God’s gracious message, “I loved you first,” love Jesus.

“Give us all a genuine encounter with You, dear Lord. That we might view our world through Your eyes. Help us not miss the glorious and precious. In Jesus’ name. Amen.“

God says to the anxious and panic-stricken heart, “Be strong, fear not!” Do I believe Him?


Encourage the exhausted, and make staggering knees firm.

Say to those with an anxious and panic-stricken heart,
“Be strong, fear not!” (Isaiah 34:3,4).

“I don’t feel strong,” we might say.

“Fear not!” The Bible tells us with an exclamation point.

Indeed, your God will come with vengeance [for the ungodly];
The retribution of God will come,
But He will save you.”

The eyes of the blind will be opened
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped . . .

These are words of hope. The Bible is the Good News to those who believe. But when I look left and right I see chaos and violence. How about you. We must fight to look up and believe God:

A highway will be there, and a roadway;
And it will be called the Holy Way.
The unclean will not travel in it, But it will be for those who walk on the way [the redeemed];
And fools will not wander on it . . . (Is. 34).

How offensive this might sound to the natural ear, mind, and heart. But those who have tasted and seen the goodness and forgiveness of the Lord in His willingness to take all our sin on the cross, we’re reminded time and again,

“This is all my righteousness, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

But just as winter turns to spring, work must be done:

Sow righteousness for yourselves,
    reap the fruit of unfailing love,
and break up your unplowed ground;
    for it is time to seek the Lord,
until he comes
    and showers his righteousness on you Hosea 10:12.

It’s time to return.

And the ransomed of the LORD will return . . .
They will find joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing will flee away Isaiah 34: 3-5,8, 10, Amplified.

My open Bible changes me. It is true as Psalm 19: 7 proclaims:

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    reviving the soul; (Psalm 19).

I’ve found revival for my weary soul in only a short reminder in God’s Word. Is anyone else being revived in the process of turning to the Lord in His Word for help?

The testimony of the Lord is sure,
    making wise the simple; 

But I wrestle with God. “What about this? How is this going to work out? What am I supposed to do?

Do we wrestle with God? Yes. We’re broken. We have stories and testimonies in our Bible pages of this.

But God never changes. He’s the same, yesterday, and forever. We can grow to trust Him more if we spend time with Him:

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
    enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether Psalm 19: 7-9.

If this is what God says will bring rejoicing in my heart, then I will seek Him now, with my whole heart . . .

join me in this need to know Him more?

“Dear Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief!”

Putting On Armor for the Battle- We Become Equipped Together (Pt. 1)

“Will you follow Me? Together we can journey.” Do we answer, “I will!”

“Get strong in the Lord,” we hear from our pastors. We’re exhorted daily, “It’s time to know the Word.”

So, let’s go then. On a walk, moving forward in The Song of Ascents, Psalm 120-123, Amplified.

The Lord gives words for our prayers and power to heal what’s been dislocated from His Word of truth.

Who is God except the Lord? And Who is the rock on which we stand? We do best to know Him more and more fixing our eyes up, neither left or right.

A prophesy was given in 2019 that the year 2020 would be as Psalm 120:

In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue . . .

Woe is me, that I sojourn with Mesheck, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]!

My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” Psalm 120: 1,2,5,6,7.

The ancient Word speaks as if written today. They prove to be an accurate prayer from our heart at present.

We have not experienced anything the Lord has not walked through and experienced. The old hymn,”O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” makes this clear in our mind’s eye:

“With grief and shame weighed down. Now scornfully surrounded With thorns Thine only crown; How pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!

Our Jesus, how He knows our sadness and losses, our persecutions, and abuses. He took all our shame and failures on Himself, on the tree:

“What Thou, my Lord hast suffered Was all for sinner’s gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain;

What is our response when we view so clearly His willingness to face our curse?

Do we take a hard look? Do we see Him now?

“Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, Vouch-safe to me Thy grace. (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. Based on Medieval Latin poem. Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux.)

Together, we speak aloud the next Song of Ascents as we press forward into 2021. We won’t lean on our own understanding, but boldly proclaim in an ever-growing faith:

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, . . . From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber Psalm 121: 1-3, Amplified.

We can trust the Lord in all things. We remind ourselves these things:

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

He.

Will.

Keep.

Your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 121: 7,8. A Song of Ascents.

Laws are made by man to protect the people, but move to close the doors of God’s house.

God is Spirit. His Church is not a building. The hearts of His people speak in confidence continuously, . . .

despite the location:

“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

May they prosper that love you [the Holy City]! Psalm 122: 1,2,6.

“We pray for the peace of Jerusalem dear Lord!”

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 

 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, Ephesians 2:14,15.

He is our peace? Our peace isn’t good circumstances. Our peace is a Person! What is His name?

God saves us once from sin and death for salvation in Jesus. And to all who receive Him and believe in His name, He calls us His children. Children of God.

He saves us daily from our “natural selves.” Our brokenness, our anxieties, doubts, jealousies, hatreds, and our rage. Jesus calms the wind and the waves. He can tame our flesh. In Christ alone . . .

  That He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity . . .

 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 2: 16,18.

We’re not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. We have access by the Spirit of God to the Father. These are not mere “positive thoughts.” God’s Word, the Gospel message is the power of God to salvation.

Step by step, breath by breath we speak, meditate, pray His Word, and become more and more empowered and hopeful:

[Earnestly] remember the former things which I did of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like Me.

Declaring the end and the result from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,

My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose. . . Listen to Me. . . Isaiah 46: 3,9.

He, Jesus, keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him! (Is. 26:3.)

Psalm 123. A Song of Ascents. Unto You do I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in heaven . . .

Instead of worry, we worship and wait in ever-growing faith in God, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the lover of our souls:

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84: 10,11.

We speak aloud and are changed from glory to glory being transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ:

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs; . . .
    They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion Psalm 84: 5,6,7.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives.

We can rest in our Jesus. He is our hope and stay. Do you join me in an “Amen?”

Amen!

“Let us sing ‘Joy to the World the Lord is Come'”

A song can bring hope. Let a song bring healing and light in the dark spaces.

 

Classic Christmas hymns are memorable. They’re powerful with their clear and focused doctrinal lyrics.

They also can fall into the danger of being over familiar, where the words aren’t heard anymore. They become as elevator music to a hearing ear. 

Isaac Watts penned Joy to the World in the 1700’s for Christmas. Hundred’s of years later, these lyrics are rich in wisdom and carry remedy for our hearts in turmoil, sadness, and fear.

“Joy to the world the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing.”  

Hearts are burdened and weary. Believers in Jesus, His birth, death, resurrection can be tempted to doubt, forget the good, and lose the song of His grace and new mercies for each new day.

Let’s prepare Him room. The dark world around us needs a God song. Let heaven and nature sing, and let’s take a breath and join this chorus in our attitudes and willingness to shine for Him. 

Christians need their lives to sing for the Lord at this time. 

People of all ages, the young, the elderly, everyone in this troubled day are in need to hear heaven and nature sing. There’s  power and refreshing of outside crisp air, the cover and color of evergreens, the cloud’s formations. A change of space brings revival. 

I’ve thought about changes in melody and song. Think of the classic lyrics, Amazing Grace how sweet the sound.

They’re sung in many melodies. Each brings the deep truths alive. 

How about “Hallelujah“? Oh, the many different melodies we sing those glorious words of praise.

I ventured to put a new twist to Joy to the World to bring out the lyrics of some fantastic verses: 

“No more let sin and sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found.”

How glorious are these thoughts. We receive Him, and we don’t have to let sin and sorrow grow, we can walk in newness of life and He fills us with His Spirit. 

Simply to speak these words lift a weary soul.

Jesus comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found. He is able. He is Savior of the world. He is a gracious, compassionate, slow to anger. He  abounds in mercy.

Jesus comes to bring forgiveness to whosoever will believe in Him.

To this we sing Hallelujah. So let us sing, “Joy to the world the Lord is come”!

The soil of our heart can become parched and dry as the day’s minutes pass by.

The winter winds of loss and outside fears bring a sting of pain. 

But hear the good news: He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The light of His righteousness
And wonders of His love . . . 

Hallelujah. Let earth receive her King!

Prayer: 

“Dear Lord, give us Your strength to sing: 
“Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ . . .”  

You’re the One who asks of us, “Do you have ears to hear? Do you believe I am He? Have you prepared your heart for Me?

You tell us, ‘I’m your peace.’

‘I’m your healing.’

‘I’m your rescue.’

‘I’ve come to bring salvation and grace.’

It’s time I agree with You, Lord. Do I believe You Lord? Help me receive Your love.

Yes, I receive. Yes, I believe. 

I pray now, help my unbelief. Bring Your joy to my world.  In Jesus name, Amen.” 

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—John 1:12. 

How many ways can we sing, “Amazing Grace”? How many ways can we say “Hallelujah”!

So, let us sing, “Joy to the World, the Lord is Come.”
Let our lives sing as we focus on Him as He lets His blessings flow .

 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Hebrews 12:11-13.

“Let us sing, Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”

Merry Christmas to you all, 

Toni