Category: Articles

The Seed of Love is Jesus

Songs…touching  places that can’t be reached in common conversation. Poetry, songs, hymns and psalms plus some  added strings for vibration – and the waters of our soul are touched and what was without hope… is moved again, to believe. Oh, the songs that we sing…
The world can leave us bitter and torn all apart, and our mind will form its own truth as it recovers from a bleeding heart.  The words of a song have been written and some do know its tone:
“Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed
 Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed
 Some say love, it is a hunger an endless aching need…” (The Rose, Bette Midler),
but somehow, in the emptiness, in the coldness of it all -the Creator of the Universe, has created the answer in hidden places –  in pictures for us all. It might take a whole life-time, or perhaps as young as 5 or even 10 – but I change one letter of an old beloved song, and capitalize the ‘you’… to ‘You’ – it’s the birth of hope… again:
“I say love, it is a flower and You, it’s only seed”. (The Rose, capitalized the ‘you’, by me.)
Yes, I say Love, it is a flower, and You, it’s only Seed.
 The day we choose to believe, the day we choose to receive…each day upon another, step by step growing in Him the ‘Seed’ of hope for today, the ‘Seed’ of hope for tomorrow, we discover through the endless wait and the perseverance of time…that what He says is ‘true’ and the grasping of it all is HOPE DIVINE: (John 15:1-11):
“[]I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].4 Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. 5 []I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me]you can do nothing.”
This is the Word of God, which cleanses and makes you free.
 The rose, has incredible beauty… but there are thorns, oh yes, we know. His word pours forth beauty but there are thorns of warning – yes, ‘the Bible tells me so’:
 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
These are hard words, but perhaps these words will SAVE our lives!
Perhaps that’s why many reject His Truth, because they only look at the consequences of what it’s like if one never turns. But, oh, I pray so passionately, but not even close to His passionate prayers, that all would see Him as He is, willing to take the heat, be beat, take the thorns, take the scorn, walk the via Delorosa for lost souls like me, in pain beyond belief and weakness unimaginable…oh, I pray that the people of this world would finally see…
“It’s the heart, afraid of breaking that never learns to dance
It’s the dream, afraid of waking that never takes the chance
It’s the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give
And the soul, afraid of dying that never learns to live…” (the Rose by Bette Midler).
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live…
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that Love is only for the lucky and the strong…
“Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the Seed that with the Son’s love, in the spring becomes The Rose”. (the Rose by Bette Midler, with some capitals and letter changes, mine!)
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” (John 12:23), Jesus came, Jesus died, Jesus rose that we might live, He is the Rose of Sharon the Lily of the Valley, He is life in me, when in fact I choose to die:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12: 24). 
“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John chapter twelve verse 25.
The Seed of Love is Jesus. Oh, yes, the Seed has a very piercing point…but allow God to plant His Seed of Love in your hurting and broken heart. He is so beautiful and so powerful so great and so mighty, that you will be changed from sorrow to joy – yes, let Him touch and anoint!
 
“When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow…
Lies the Seed of the Son’s Love, in the spring becomes the Rose (the Rose by Bette Midler, modified to bring glory to the Creator and Lover of our souls, by me).
Today let Him abide in your heart, simply ask Him in. It’s easy, yet oh so hard for us humans…Jesus is patient and long-suffering!

 

He fills our hearts with songs of deliverance when tempted to be afraid!

‘He’, meaning God…  is The Conductor of all time, breathing songs written long ago, in the age old Book, the Bible. The words have been written, so music can pour from our hearts- yes, there is no fear in Love! He has songs of deliverance.
When the old pages of the timeless Book are opened, Power pours forth as His Spirit speaks what’s True, for all who have ears, whose eyes are wide open, for those who seek God-let us ask, is this me? is this you?
Paraphrased, a Psalm written by  David long ago, so the words can roll from our tongues and calm our souls with Psalm 64:
“Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; from the terror of the enemy-guard and preserve Your saint.”
(Now don’t let this hinder you from singing this song…a ‘saint’ is one whose been covered by His blood, whose sins have been forgiven by what JESUS DID, not us. We are simply asked to ‘believe’ and ‘receive’ all that has been offered to us!)
“Hide me from the secret counsel and conspiracy of the ungodly! From those who scheme evil to destroy those You love!” (Be it terrorists or fear or doubt or depression,) “Hide me Lord, hear our voice cry to YOU above!”
“They whet their tongues like a sword, they aim venomous words like arrows, they shoot from ambush at those who are blameless, without fear or reproach they shoot at us. They encourage themselves in an evil purpose; they talk of laying secret snares, and declare, “Who will discover us?”
“They think out acts of injustice, and say, “We have accomplished a ‘well-devised thing’; for the inward thought of each one is unsearchable, and his heart is deep.”
“But God!” “But God!” “But God”, it is written, “will shoot an unexpected arrow at them, and suddenly shall they be wounded!”
God’s words is written so we may sing this song with sound, and remind each other God is in control and ‘He is a present help in trouble’, He is Able, He is Willing, He gives us songs of deliverance and His grace DOES abound!
“Yes, God will shoot an unexpected arrow at them, and they will be made to stumble. Their own tongues will be against themselves, and all who gaze upon them will shake their heads and flee.”
(We will stomp our feet on the necks of our enemies! Be it terror or fear or doubt or depression! We will run this race with endurance and a song! God is with us – today -yes,  you and me!)
“And at that time, all men shall reverently fear and be in awe, and will declare the work of God! Yes, they will wisely consider and acknowledge, ‘This is His doing- it is God’s work after all!'”
“The uncompromisingly righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust and take refuge in Him. Yes, all the upright in heart shall glory in Him and offer Him from their whole being, whole-hearted PRAISE!”
Praise from a heart that has been delivered! Praise from a heart set free! Praise to the One who Loves completely! Songs of deliverance will flow from our lips as our eyes behold and our arms are raised!
(This is Psalm 64, Amplified, yet paraphrased so it would somewhat rhyme that I might share it with you all, that no matter what happens, ANYONE who trust in God, will stand FOREVER strong and tall, because songs of deliverance increase power and might because our minds are thinking of Truth which transcends all sight!)
Today, today -that is what we have. May we have increased faith as we walk with a song , A song of deliverance whenever we are afraid, thanking God all the while with whole-hearted praise!
 
 
 

"O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink"

“O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink.” A hymn written by William H. Bathurst,  long ago. Recorded in a book of hymns, so I could open it up and glean, hundreds of years later, of its great power within:
“O for a faith that will not shrink, Tho’ pressed by ev’ry foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe!”
“That will not murmur nor complain, Beneath the chastening rod But in the hour of grief or pain, Will lean up on its God.”
“A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That when in danger knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt.”
“Lord give us such a faith as this; And then whate’er may come, We’ll taste even here the hallowed bliss, Of an eternal home.” (O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink, William H. Bathurst, 1831).
Reading aloud an old hymn as this, brings my heart to cry out, “Increase my faith. To know You more, that You would be big as You are. Creator, Designer, Protector, and Friend, that “whate’er may come,” we will “lean up upon our God.”
“O for a faith that will not shrink, Tho’ pressed by every foe, That will not tremble on the brink Of any earthly woe! . . . A faith that shines more bright and clear When tempests rage without; That when in danger knows no fear, In darkness feels no doubt.’ ( O For a Faith that Will Not Shrink). 

7th Century BC words…timeless, and written for today!

This is my prayer for all the children of the world, red, brown, yellow black, and white for they are all precious in His sight… today, yes today,… leaving the past behind, and the fears of tomorrow blind-that we choose to take a breath right now –
whether we can pay the electric bill or not, or whether the love of your life is fighting to live, perhaps you are alone so much of the time, or you are searching for work at this very time- no mater the circumstance,… ‘whatever befall’-
that we would surrender our hearts and our minds for even just a moment and let the Good Lord be our only Vision.   The Father in Heaven will give  you His ear, God’s word is True: “Draw near to God, and He’ll draw near to you.”(James 4:8).
Take a breath and speak or even sing, these timeless words written for you and me  – way back in the 7th Century BC. Don’t look at me like I’m crazy, make the choice to ‘put a new song in your mouth’, Psalm 40 verse 3! Just ‘do it’ and find the our Lord is Faithful and Able and Present at THIS time! He inhabits hearts that praise hIm, let us choose to PRAISE and give Him the whine!
God is Good, and He’s knows your name.Let us take a breath and speak words that change- sad hearts and weak knees to hope and strength and …peace:
“Be Thou my vision, Lord of my heart. Not be all else to me, save that Thou art! Thou my best thought, by day or by night. Waking or sleeping Thy presence my Light.”
“Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true Word. I ever with Thee, and Thou with me Lord. Thou my great Father, and I, Thy true son. Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee…one!”
“Be Thou my battle-shield. Sword for my fight! Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thou my souls shelter, Thou my High Tower. Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power, of my Power!”
“Riches I heed not. Nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine inheritance now and always! Thou and Thou only…First in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure, Thou Art!”
High King of Heaven, my victory won! May I reach heaven’s joys, bright heaven’s SON! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall…Still be my Vision, O Ruler of All!”
A hymn, and a Psalm…yes, this is the remedy for CALM:

Psalm 40. For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.

4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
    who have no confidence in the proud
    or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
    I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
    Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]—
    you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
    As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
    for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
    I have not been afraid to speak out,
    as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
    I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
    of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
    Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
    too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
    I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
    I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
    Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
    be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
    for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you
    be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
    repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
    let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
    O my God, do not delay.

Yes, we can say, “He has put a new song in my heart! I am changed for this moment. And then when I get fretful again, “Dear Lord, Be Thou my Vision, …time and time again!

Rejoice, there is no death in Christ!

The heart may stop beating and the final breath on earth is breathed, but IN Christ is life and breath forevermore!
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us…” ( Ephesions 1:7).
God’s word is perfect, converting the soul; His word, the Bible – ‘the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple…'(Psalm -9:7,8).
When someone dies whom we love so deeply, there is none other than God who can comfort. Only God. His word is gentle and sure and provides the next breath for those who suffer so painfully …loss.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ” (2 Corinthians 5:16).
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at things that are seen, but at things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”( 2 Corinthians 5:17,18).
“For we know that if our earthly house, this tent is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”(2 Corinthians5:1).
God’s word. Truth. God’s word, alone- our comfort.
May this be a song we sing and have abiding in our thoughts at this time: (Psalm  91). “He who dwells in the secret place if the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of th Almighty.”
“I will say of the LORD,”He is my refuge and my fortress. My God, in Him will I trust.”
“Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His truth shall be your shield and your buckler.”
“You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday…”
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all His ways…”(Psalms 91:1-6,12).
The voice of Jesus is the only comfort in this great time of trial:”Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him…”(psalm 91:14-15).
And we must remember, ‘long life’ IS everlasting life for eternity with the One who loves perfectly – our Husband, Jesus!
And the Lord will speak the final words :” …with long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation!”( Psalm 91:16, exclamation point, mine!)
Amen! The truth sets us free and comforts deeply.
“The judgements of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” (Psalm -6:10)!
This is comfort from the Lord.

People! People! There is an Instruction Manual, you know!

People! People! There is an Instruction Manuel, you know!
If you are tired of walking in circles there IS a place to go!
Don’t turn on the news to find out the plan – that Bible on the shelf and the one you saw on the back of the pew, it proclaims all you need for instruction and especially some MUCH NEEDED Good News!
Yes, I write as a child, but quite frankly we’ve been misdirected! We’ve gotten ‘smart in our own eyes’ to think that we can ‘Go it without God’ – that we’ve ‘evolved’ through eons of time to become, oh, so wise!
So, we build high towers that reach to the heavens and men and women in suits meet in conference rooms and fill it with endless BABBLE!
And we witness in our ‘smartness’ lots of energy and sparks over VOCABULARY!… It’s as if we’re all playing a wild game of SCRABBLE!
“Stop it!” “Stop it!” Our hearts cry inside! “The children are confused. The children are hurt. The children are abused…  ‘TURN AROUND!’ Be confused no longer! The kingdom of heaven is coming so soon!
God has a plan and it’s written and sealed… with His blood told in the Book He breathed out  for us. It is written so we could know from the first page to the last – there is a scarlet thread of hope, the Lamb of God given.
God is love. He didn’t leave us orphans! People! People! There’s an Instruction manual, you know! – The Immanuel is come! He is able to deliver us, He is able to forgive. He shed His blood that we might be covered and ‘transfused!’ This is the gospel, for such a time as this! THIS  IS the Good News!
He has breathed His word to His children that we might know forever what He is like! And if any other, calls himself ‘god’, and doesn’t behave in love – please know, dear children, he’s not god at all –  he’s simply the devil, the author of LIES!
Don’t you know God is patient? Don’t you know that God is  kind? He is not jealous or boastful or proud in any way.  He doesn’t parade Himself! He is not rude to mankind! (my paraphrase of the New Living Translation of 1 Corinthians 13: 4).
He doesn’t demand His own way. He is not provoked or  irritable. He doesn’t keep a record of the wrongs done to Him.  God never rejoices about injustice that is done. God rejoices when  truth wins out. (1 Corinthians 13: 5-6). This is God the Father who gave His only Son.
‘The heavens declare the glory of God’ (Psalm 19:1)…but God’s word will unfold for you the hope of Redemption!
He is the One who makes us lie down at times. He ‘allows’ trouble and loss and pain in this broken place we abide, but open your eyes and you will see, He has made you lie down and the pastures are green! Yes, it’s hard and painful to be ‘made to lie down’, but God works it all for good – so in circles you no longer walk around…and instead… you discover, He’s –  right –  there! And His grace ABOUNDS!
God’s love never gives up on you, or me, or the children of the world.  God’s love always believes the best, and hopes and endures through every circumstance. God is love. He is the Light of the world. But don’t be mistaken, there is a time to hate. There are Instructions that have been breathed out by God and given to His children:  “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10). And it is found in other places beside:  “Hate evil, love good.” (Amos 5:15). Well, God is good! May we ‘cling to Him!’ May we hope in Him, may we grow to know HIM!
God loves and gave His Son and, He came to earth as baby Jesus, it’s true. But let this age old story speak new things to your heart, don’t be ‘too smart for all this childish stuff’, the story is rich, the story is deep:  Jesus was with God in the beginning – and I pray you are so hungry and thirsty you begin to drink from the ‘Living Waters’ yourself!   And discover a-new,  that He is Creator of all, and His most precious creation… is you.
He has a plan, and His plan is for good. Open the Book and go to the very end! Yes, start at the end, (it’s as if God knew we would).
You can read the words breathed out from heaven: “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts, “Come!” It’s an INVITATION!
Perhaps, today, you will pray, and become a ‘new creation’ by receiving Jesus in your life, and in a sense, become ‘His bride’, (the church) as He meant it to be. In Him, In love, in unity!
And perhaps we’ve received Him, yet we need filling every day. So, this morning, we come as His children with hearts open, we ask “Holy Spirit fill me with living waters overflowing! Fill us to the brim with forgiveness and new life and hope and direction! May the word of God dwell in our hearts richly that we might have joy – joy, precious and rare!
While the news of the world is dark and makes us weak, may we seek You God, for You are Good, that the joy of the Lord, yes, so precious and rare-  would flow through us – COMPLETELY – and that we would then be empowered to ‘splash Your love’ … EVERYWHERE!
In Jesus name, this is my prayer.”
 
 

Praying for Paris

Praying for Paris… “Lord, that You would lead the hurting people ‘beside still waters, and restore their souls.’ Lord, that the tear filled eyes and bleeding hearts look to Your face and see Your Heart of mercy and grace, ‘that the Table prepared before our enemies…The broken bread, the wine , brings a Communion of hope in Remembering You came – for each one of us, no matter what nation, race or creed- we are all the thief next to Jesus on the cross… But You came to save us from death by Your blood… we pray for revival, we pray for those lost, we pray for those who need healing, we pray , “Jesus, You are the Son of God, heal us and protect us!” You are the gift sent from God… “Hear our cries! We believe! ‘ That ‘the Lord would be my Shepherd, we have such need! We have need!’ And to the thief on the cross, You did say, “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” And those are Your words to all who call on Your name, ‘Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with Me’. Today we pray for the world. That it turns away no longer from Jesus, and each heart and all eyes turn TO Him, He is our refuge, our Comfort, a very present Help and Friend.” In Jesus name amen.

Adversity? '…that the works of God might be revealed' in us!

Small things can come into our day and suddenly everything else has to stop! What about if you get a grain of sand in your eye or a piece of dirt? The pain becomes our primary focus and no matter what is going on, it is priority to get it out!
Jesus passed by a man who was born blind from birth. The story is found in John 9:1-9: “His disciples asked Him, saying , “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (John 9:3).
Today, I imagine taking this walk with Jesus. Watching Him pass by this man who was born blind… but He didn’t just ‘pass him by..’
“So then Jesus speaks these words: “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” (John 9:4,5).
When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.” (John 9:6).
He allowed… a painful trial, and a painful solution! An ‘anointing’ of spit and clay in the eye! Oh my!
John 9:7, ‘And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated , Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
‘So, he went and washed and came back seeing! (Exclation point, mine!)
Jesus said, “Go wash in the pool of Sent!”
Because of pain and great irritation, we can be sure that the blind man went straight to the pool he was sent to! Spit and clay rubbed in the eye! … So, oftentimes for us as well, pain sends us to – His Word!
“What’s going on?” We ask God! “How can this be?” “This is hard and painful!” we cry to God! Pain then brings us to open the pages in the plain black and boring cover only to discover…
Treasure of living water… He washes away all the dirt and suddenly we can see the Light of the world!
Jesus has said, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3,)
This ‘blind man’s world was forever changed one day, because Jesus put some spit and clay in his eye and Sent him to a pool.  God is being glorified today as we read this story because…our  ‘darkness’ and ‘walk in this dark world’ can be forever changed as well-when the pain of it all…sends us to the Comfort and Power and Truth and Life and ‘Light’ of God’s word!
‘While it is day…’ He is working! ‘While it it day’…may we simply ‘trust and obey’. Even perhaps, He has allowed pain and even ‘spit and clay’ as a solution! But may we go to where He has Sent us…“This is my comfort in my affliction, Your word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50).

"Let every heart prepare Him room!"

 We know these words, we’ve heard them before. They come from the Christmas hymn “Joy to the World.” (Isaac Watts).

Well, there is going to be a lot of ‘noise’ going on…in the stores, in the malls, EVERYWHERE! But it will only be ‘clangy noise’ to the souls of men because the intent is to remind them: “It’s ‘holiday’ time and you have to be about buying presents!’
BUT right here, and right now – Let us ‘be a light’ and  choose to remember ONE THING – the Gift is God, He has brought ‘Joy to the World’! The King of Kings has come and ‘let every heart prepare Him room!’ As the ‘tinny and clamorous music plays, may we ‘gird up the loins of our minds’ and take courage and ‘buy up every opportunity’ we can to  remind others that ‘Joy has come’ into this dark world, and it is TIME that we ‘prepare Him room!
Let us be a ‘light!’ We don’t have to cover our houses,(even though it brings great joy to do so!) but let us also ‘prepare our hearts’ and be ‘illuminated’ and ‘filled’ with all the fullness of Christ: “…the true light…the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light – that illumines every person. ” (John 1:9, Amplified).  He is ‘…a light to the nations, and His salvation will extend to the end of the earth.’ (Isaiah 49:6).
Let us ‘sing a new song’ this year! “How many ways can we say, “Amazing Grace!” “How many ways can we sing “Halleluiah!” So let us sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” Yes! “Let us sing, “Joy to the world!” (toni’s new Christmas chorus!)
Truly, we can ‘keep our heads about us’ as the world goes topsy-turvy! This is nothing new to God! “He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him – (and) did not know Him.” (John 1:10, Amplified).
This was written so long ago in the Gospel of John. We must not be discouraged: “He came to that which belonged to Him, -to His own [domain, creation, things, world] – and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.” (John 1:11, Amplified).
But here is the good news! We must ‘prepare our hearts’ to receive this awesome news: “But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority power,privilege,right] to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in -adhere to, trust in and rely on -His name!” (John 1:12, Amplified, exclamation point, mine!)

 Let us, who have ‘received Him’ let others know: “Joy to the world! The Savior reigns!”
God is on the throne! He is in control! He knows what’s going on and He cares. He is compassionate in our suffering. He is refuge in times of trouble. He is a very present help!
“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!” (Joy to the World, Isaac Watts).
“Your faithfulness is from generation to generation; You have established the earth, and it stands fast. All [the whole universe] are Your servants; therefore they continue this day according to Your ordinances. Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget  Your precepts; [how can I?] for it is by them You have quickened me -granted me life. ” (Psalm 119:90-93, Amplified).
“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word…” (Psalm 119:114).
“How many ways can we sing, “Amazing Grace!” How many ways can we sing, “Halleluiah!” So let us sing, “Joy to the world the Lord is come! Let us sing, Joy to the world!”
Yes, this Christmas, as ‘adopted children of the King’ we will proclaim what’s true: “He rules the world with truth and grace. And makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love!” …and wonders of His love: “But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us but the fact that…
“While we were yet sinners Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One, died for us.” (Romans 5:8, Amplified).
So dark may be the seasons and times, and a clangy sound be made, let us buy up every opportunity to remind each other that the Light has come! And when that ‘Light and Love’ in the person of Jesus Christ is received then: “…If God be fore us, who can be against us – Who can be our foe, if God is on our side? “
“He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?”
“…Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution, or hunger, or destitution, or peril, or sword? Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long, we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter…
…Yet amid all these things…
we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us!” (Romans 8:31,32,35,36,37, Amplified, exclamation point mine!)
“How many ways can we say, “Amazing grace!” How many ways can we sing, “Halleluiah!”, So let us sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let us sing, Joy to the world!”
 
‘Unless Your law had been my delight, I would have perished...”For I am persuaded beyond doubt – am sure – that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, Nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38,39, Amplified! )
exclamation point…MINE! “ So let us sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come…”
Let this be the best Christmas ever: Let Jesus in to your life! Prepare Him room that you might have joy and eternal life!
“Let us sing, “Joy to the world!”

"Comfort, Comfort…He is ready to rescue!"

 
At times my thoughts go up and down like a farris -wheel. “Speak Lord, your servant hears…” 
I need to hear Your words! Your truth. “The truth shall set me free,”…the Bible tells me so!
“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.
Selah   “I will feed my flock and lead them to rest, says the Lord God. I will search for the lost. I will bring back those that were scattered. I will put bandages on those that were hurt. I will make the weak strong…
So I will save my flock. they will not hurt anymore…
Selah   “I will break the bars of their captivity.
And I will save them from the power of those who made them slaves. They will not be led captive…again.”
Ezekiel 34:15,16,22,27.
“Who is this King of glory?” “He is ready to rescue. He is ready to resurrect life and beauty and hope. “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the king of glory shall come in…”(Ps. 24:7). And for all who believe and receive, “He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Ps. 24:5). 
“The Lord is my strength and my song… “As I went down to the river to pray, studying about that good ‘ol way, and who shall wear His Robe and crown, Good Lord, show me the way…”
“Oh sinners, let’s go down,let’s go down, come on down. Oh sinners let’s go down, down  to the river to pray.”(Alison Krauss, As I Went Down to the River). COME,“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! And lift them up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:7-9).
Let’s ask God, “open the gates! Take my filthy clothes, cover me with Your Robe. Let my eyes behold Your glory.
“Oh sinners, let’s go down, let’s go down, won’t you come on down? Oh sinners, let’s go down, down to the river to pray…“Dear Jesus in brokenness I come. I put off the old, that I may ‘Put on, YOU.’
And He says, “My word is truth:

“The Lord says, “You are my servants, I have chosen you, and I have not turned against you. So don’t worry, because I am with you.”Isaiah 41:10.

Selah   “I will feed my flock and lead them to rest, says the Lord God. I will search for the lost. I will bring back those that were scattered. I will put bandages on those that were hurt. I will make the weak strong…
So I will save my flock. they will not hurt anymore…
Selah   “I will break the bars of their captivity.
And I will save them from the power of those who made them slaves. They will not be led captive…again.”
Ezekiel 34:15,16,22,27.
“Who is this King of glory?” “He is ready to rescue. He is ready to resurrect life and beauty and hope. “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the king of glory shall come in…”(Ps. 24:7).
Today, we choose to believe and receive: “He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Ps. 24:5). 
“Oh sinners, let’s go down,let’s go down, come on down. Oh sinners let’s go down, down  to the river to pray.”(Alison Krauss, As I Went Down to the River).

A wrestling match…

“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!”(John 16:33, KJV).

…when the heart is bleeding and one is overcome with sorrow,
And pain and hurt is the everyday meal, the feet become heaven , the countenance falls, and God’s word is not eve heard at all:

 “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). 
Jesus speaks. Oh that our ears would be willing to hear His gracious and compassionate truth…but sometimes the darkness seems to envelope all of the light!

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33NIV).

“But what do I do?” “How can I go on?”
‘In this world you will have troubles, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world…” Jesus speaks. We are weak and tire, ‘in this world’ but we cry out- “Help me choose to hear what is true! My anxious heart struggles, but I cry out, Help me: “Be still and know that You are God.” Ps. 46:10.
“I cried out to God with my voice – to God with my voice;  And He gave ear to me. ” Psalm 77:1.
“Help me to not turn in anger against the One who is able to Comfort! Help me Lord in this time of trouble:
“In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.” Selah. Psalm 77:2.
“This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD.”(Psalm 77:10,11). 
“Help me to remember what is true! “Lead me not into temptation, but delver me from evil.” (The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6).
“Lord, we come boldly before the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16.
I run to Your word. Your word is truth. For many, this is a time of need! We cry out for ‘help!’ Moses prayed in anguish, and God, you answered Your servant when he asked to see Your glory – that is what we need, “O Lord, to see Your glory!” As you answered Moses long ago in his desert:
“I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name.” Exodus 33:17.
So, just as Moses asked, we will ask too:
“Please show me Your glory.”Exodus 33:18.
And Jesus, You, Yourself even told Mary and Martha when they were grieved over the death of their brother:
“Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” John 11:40.
Oh how we need to see Your glory dear Lord. These are times of loss and great darkness. “Oh God, show us Your glory!” This is our cry!
“Heal Your afflicted one!”
The words of Jesus, written for us: “Your brother will rise again.” John 11:23. 
Our answer is just as the sister: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”John 11:24.
But this doesn’t take away the pain and the heart remains bleeding…
(NEVERTHELESS God… in the word that is read amidst tears and confusion  and pain’), Jesus speaks: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
So…we are asked. Even in this moment of great sadness and struggle. What is our answer? Today… “Dear Lord, increase our faith! May our answer be: “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” John 11:27.
Our hearts ache, we pour out our complaint to You, “Lord, heal Your afflicted !” And for many of us, ‘we’ are the afflicted!
And, Jesus told us already that we would have trouble, and trouble has come, BUT He  has overcome the world! – not a people, but a philosophy, a system of thinking apart form God.  And Jesus prayed for us! Jesus prays for us:

“I have revealed You to those whom You gave me out of the world….For I gave them the words You gave Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me.
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours…I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You.
Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name – the name You gave Me – so that they may be one as we are one.”
“I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world,
so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”(John 17:6-).
”For I gave them the words You gave me and they accepted them.” Is this true, today, for the afflicted? Did we ever imagine the ‘trouble’ that would come and the ‘struggle’ to believe?
O what a wrestling match it seems to be at times!
‘We are given choice. Do we receive this? Do we believe the words of the One in Whom the Father has sent for His people?
Well, what were some of the words?
Well, the Father allowed the Son to be led into the wilderness by the Spirit. (Matthew 4:1) Into a desert, Jesus was led.
Are you in a wilderness? Do you feel that you are in a desert? This is when the tempter will come.
In the world is the lust of the flesh.
“The tempter came to him(Jesus) and said,
“(Since)If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus: “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Have you been led into the wilderness? The tempter will tempt as he did the Lord, the temptation of ‘the pride of life’,
“Since You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written,
“He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
Jesus: “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Have you been led into a desert by the Spirit? The tempter will come, he will tempt with ‘the lust of the eyes’.
He tempted Jesus, (Matthew 4:8) “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’”
Jesus: “Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”
Then the devil left Him and the angels came and attended Him.
“Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!”
REVELATION 3:21,22, “To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Did you know, that to him who overcomes, Jesus Himself will give right to sit with Him on His throne?!
He has given us the Word. We can overcome! May we have a ‘full measure of His joy within us’!
Today, in victory we receive: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world! Jesus!”
 

This is a fallen world- by You GOD are Faithful…

“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life…” Ps. 63:3.
When one’s life is taken, or when one suffers loss,  it is hard to ‘see’ the lovingkindness of the Lord.
‘There are some lives that were so yielded to God, that they left imprinted in our minds  a lived out’  view of God’s word:“Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.” Ps. 63:3,4.
Somehow, they were the very image of this verse, somehow they knew in the center of their being that ‘even better than life is the lovingkindness of the Lord.’
So, God has let me see this  with my own eyes. And maybe He has done this for you as well.  He doesn’t leave us in the dark about His lovingkindness.  In full view He shows Himself, His love and His greatness, through often-times, broken but yielded lives.
I don’t know all the stories, and I haven’t seen all the pictures, but I can share a few. I have seen a picture of a 4 year old little girl  sitting on a hospital bed with no hair and at a very weak point in her battle with cancer, lifting her hands up to God, in praise and adoration. Truly she is showing us, that ‘even better than life is the lovingkindness of the Lord.’ God had touched the heart of a very young child, and thus left a picture for us see her response, “my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.”
It is in the stories that we see the beauty of the Lord, and the lovingkindness of our God. It is not  only in a beautiful mountainscape view or magnificent sunset- or something grand, but  it is seen even more in the deep dark crevices of a cave that the diamonds are found.
In  a  fierce battle against the little ‘c’ cancer, God had touched a yielded life so intimately, that the big ‘C’ Christ was his very breath.  Words of hope, “I’m healed already!” always came from his lips. He was a visual of the verse, “My soul shall be satisfied as with the marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You  with joyful lips”…Even better than life, is the lovingkindness of the Lord.

It is not our way, God’s ways are higher than ours, He shows us His glory at times in a suffering servant. Why? we might ask. God doesn’t answer the ‘Why’, but He shows us His lovingkindness through these lives yielded to Him as Job did, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation.” Job 13:15.
Have you witnessed a  yielded life? One who cries out to God and trusts even when nothing makes sense?  “O God, You are my God; …My soul thirsts for You My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” Ps. 63:1.
And yes, you and I have seen with our own eyes, broken people chosen by God to magnify His light,  to be a living sanctuary, tried greatly, yet true, true to exemplify for each of us that ‘even better than life, is the lovingkindness of the Lord.’  Thus yielding a response of praise and a lifting up of his hand to the Lord.
We have pictures. We can see the lovingkindness of God, but we need comfort.
Comfort your people Lord.
“Comfort, yes comfort My people!” Says your God. Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended…Prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God… the crooked places shall be made straight, and the rough places smooth;
The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all eyes shall see it together.” Is. 40:3,4,5.
“I’m healed already!” “Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You.
Your right hand holds me up.” Ps. 63:7,8.
“Let us run our races Lord, with our hearts and eyes on You, trusting and believing that You care and You know.Even when all ‘looks’ bad with the sight of our eyes, help us to ‘know’ Your love and faithfulness with the eyes of faith. Help us to put off our doubts and our fears and close our ears to the lies! Because Your lovingkindness dear Lord, is better than life!”

"My dear friend, when grief presses you to the dust, worship there!"

“My dear friend, when grief presses you to the dust, worship there!”
C.H. Spurgeon wrote these words. These words were penned and written among a field of thousands of sermons. These gems are gleaned and shared for you and me in the book: Beside Still Waters, Words of Comfort for the Soul,C.H. Spurgeon/ Editor Roy H. Clarke.
When I was in great need of comfort, a friend sent me this book. For this I am forever grateful. God was watching over me. He is always in control. Old words written were now opened to help restore my soul.
Thoughts run here, there, and everywhere – especially when one is going through a crisis-and there are times when we need Help from Someone to lead us “beside still waters.” (Psalm 23).
I share words that have been written many years past:
“My dear friend, when grief presses you to the dust, worship there! Remember David’s words, ‘Pour out your heart.’ But do not stop there; finish the quotation. “Pour out your heart before Him.” Turn your heart upside down, empty it, and let every drop run out. “Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:8).(Beside Still Waters, pg.49, Yet Will I Trust Him)
Spurgeon continues: “When you are bowed down beneath a heavy burden of sorrow, worship and adore God there. In full surrender to His divine will, say with Job, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him” (Job 13:15). This kind of worship subdues the will, arouses the affections, stirs the whole mind, and presents you to God in solemn consecration…”
This last sentence, I circled with stars and even wrote it again at the bottom of the page: “This worship sweetens sorrow and takes away its sting.”
So, in turn, Spurgeon encouraged me to run to the songs.
I received air in my lungs and breath again from words of an old hymn. I opened to the light “Be Still My Soul.”
Worship Him there, in restlessness and pain. Worship Him and speak aloud, “Be still my soul.”
“Be still my soul. The Lord is on Thy side, bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain. Leave to Thy God, to order and provide. In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still my soul, thy Best and Heavenly Friend -through thorny ways- leads to a joyful end.”( Katherina A. von Schlegel 1752).
It’s the books that refresh. Not a shopping trip or vacation. It’s old words on some pages. It’s the word of God and hymns and devotional phrases.
The old words. I opened them up. And today, let us open them again. Let us read aloud hymns and devotions and be lifted up. At a turn of the page, I share another hymn:
 I Will arise and Go to Jesus.
” Come, ye sinners, poor and needy, Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love and pow’r.
A devotional and hymn book are a living remedy to a broken heart. Words that live begin to remind me, it might not be well with my life or my even my broken heart, but because the Lord loves me,
“It is Well With My soul.”
God, the Creator, the Lover of my soul – He is in control. The words remind me what I had forgot:
“When Satan does buffet, and trials do come. Let this blessed assurance control: That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and He’s shed His own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul.
 It is well, it is well with my soul.” 
Oh how words comfort and restore. Yesterday, today, and until the final test. God has not left us, He draws near. His word and the hymns caress.
“When grief presses you to the dust, worship Jesus there!
Thank you C.H. Spurgeon for reminding me that “This worship sweetens sorrow and takes away the sting.”
“The Lord is my strength and my song, and He is become my salvation!”(Exodus 15:2).
Let us go on, with our eyes up, not out on the broken horizon, and let us sing a song that will carry our heavy feet onward.
It might not be well with our circumstances and our hearts, but in Jesus, He’s covered us and washed us and loved us complete. We can take a breath, and bring a sacrifice of sound and sing, “It is well, it is well with my soul.“

Remembering Him…much needed – always

In remembering Jesus we are to ‘Do this in remembrance of Me’, He said. So, we take a broken piece of unleavened bread and we eat it. Then we sip the juice. That is what we do. The Broken Bread, He is. The poured out blood, He did.
Broken, poured out…He knows this.
And we do too, so I think of words of an old hymn: “Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blessed assurance control, “that Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and He’s shed His own blood for my soul!“Nobody knows the pain and the anguish that is warring inside you or me.  But there is One who knows – Jesus.
He knows. And it is true, ‘Christ has regarded – yours and mine, ‘helpless estates’ and He’s shed His own blood for our souls! ‘It is well with my soul.’ Right now, no matter what is going on, ‘It is well, it is well, with my soul when I Remember Him!
In remembering Him, I realize He knows...He walked the Via Dolorosa. Words were written and sung, that we might never forget. Perhaps we need to be reminded again and again:

Down the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day
The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street
But the crowd pressed in to see
A Man condemned to die on Calvary

He was bleeding
from a beating, there were stripes upon His back
And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head
And He bore with every step
The scorn of those who cried out for His death

(chorus)
Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King,
But He chose to walk that road out of His love
For you and me.
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Por la Via Dolorosa, triste dia en Jerusalem
Los saldados le abrian paso a Jesus
Mas la gente se acercaba
Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz

Por la Via Dolorosa, que es la via Del dolor
Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey, Señor
Y fue El quien quiso ir por su amor
Por ti y Por mi
Por la Via Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir

The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men
Made its way to the heart of Jerusalem.

Down the Via Dolorosa called the way of suffering
Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King
But He chose to walk that road out of His love
For you and me
Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.

Remembering Him, makes our hearts sing with hymns:”Christ has regarded my helpless estate. And He’s shed His own blood for my soul!” I am encouraged. I am no longer fret-full…

 “In returning and rest you shall be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength…”(Is. 30:15).

“And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,”(Is. 30:20).“But your eyes shall see your teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it…” (Is. 30: 21).
“It is well with my soul” when I Remember Him! When I remember He has regarded my helpless estate, and He’s shed His own blood for my soul!
I can go on, for He has made me whole! It is well with my soul!
 
 

"Therefore,…we do not get discouraged!"

“Therefore,…we do not get discouraged!” (2 Corinthians 4:1). How do we not get discouraged? What’s the ‘Therefore?’ We must ‘lift up our feeble hands that hang down’ and we must ‘take up’ our ‘Swords’ – of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
What’s the ‘Therefore?’ It is this: “Therefore we do not become discouraged – utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear. Though our outer man is (progressively) decay-ing and wasting away, yet our inner self is being (progressively) renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16, Amplified).
And there is more in the ‘therefore, we do not become discouraged: “For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory – …” (THIS is just a portion of the ‘therefore, we do not become discouraged!) “For our light, momentary affliction… is preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory – beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!” (2 Corinthians 4: 17, Amplified!)
And this is only ‘part’ of the ‘therefore!’ There is more reason we do not become discouraged: “Since, (we, the you, the me, the he, the she that choose to BELIEVE), Since “we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting!” (2 Corinthians 4:18, Amplified, Exclamation point, mine!)
Believers in Jesus,  Who willingly, before we even turned our eyes in His direction, He laid down His life on the cross that the sins of the whole world, (that is the sin of every human being on this earth), was laid on Him. “All we like sheep have gone astray, but the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53: 6). And that ‘All’ includes  ‘all’ the you’s, and the me’s and  the ‘he’s and the she’s. But to those who believe-we do not become discouraged BECAUSE:
The “God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as (to beam forth) the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God…” (2 Corinthians 4:6), and that is not all:
“We, believers in God who said, ‘Let light sine out of darkness, which shines in our hearts so as to beam forth the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God ‘as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ the Messiah!’ (2 Corinthians 4:6, Amplified, Exclamation point, MINE!)
We do not become discouraged because we are focused on His face which is full of love and grace. And Our Good Shepherd is with us as we even must ‘walk in the valley of the shadow of death.’
No! We believers will not become discouraged: “For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 4:5:1). Right now, we live in ‘tents’, in heaven our houses are mansions, Jesus said Himself! (Johne 14:1).
So, today “We are hedged in (pressed) on every side – troubled and oppressed in every way; but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;…”
” We are (persecuted and hard driven,) pursued, but not deserted- to stand  alone; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed…”
“Always carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered,…”
“So that the (resurrection) life if Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.”( 2 Corinthians 4:8-11, Amplified.)
This is why we don’t become discouraged, even if God might have us walk through the valley of the shadow of death. “Now He Who fashioned us for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the (Holy) Spirit as a guarantee!” This is the Word of the Lord in 2 Corinthians 5:5! 
“So then, we are always full of good and hopeful and confident courage…”(2 Corinthians 5:6), because we are staying focused on our Jesus and His powerful, amazing, life changing, flowing , and living Word! ( Amplification mine!)
Shall we, who choose to believe, even if just right now, say “Amen!”
We will not become discouraged because Jesus loves us and is with us – always and forever…
” Therefore whether we are at home ( on earth away from Him), or away from home(and with Him), we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be well pleasing to Him!” (2 Corinthians 5:9, Amplified, exclamation point, MiNE!)