Multiple choice questions are easiest, unless the questions are regarding deep matters of the heart.
Character tests are hard. Especially questions like, “Is my conduct worthy of Christ?”
To put that simply, do my actions add up to God’s standards? Of course not!
We all need the Lord. Romans 3:23 reminds us this, “. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
God is gentle. But, if I’m his witness, am I gentle?
Am I a peace-maker?
Do I desire to obey God’s way?
Do I give everyone what they deserve, or do I exercise mercy?
Do I have self-control and make the choice to be kind?
Do I have patience and endurance? Do I make other’s lives better?
We all need the Lord. We all fall short.
But the Pizza Note of goodness for us all is, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We can’t only view the goodness, we’ve got to make the choice to receive Him in our lives.
Perhaps, this is the primary test.
Today is the best day to receive Jesus in our life. He can make us new. And He promises to never leave us. Hebrews 13:5.
Oh, that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed I would wander far off Psalm 55:6.
Ever feel the need to breakout, but there are many urgent and needful occupations taking all our time? Psalm 55:6 speaks our heart.
“As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55: 16, 17.
We fight for solutions.
Jesus hears. The Bible promises this. And Jesus prays for those who put their trust in Him.
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world; but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You John 17:9.
All Mine are Yours, and all that are Yours belong to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them…And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your name [in the knowledge of Yourself] them whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We [are one] (John 17:10,11, Amplified).
Moments of discouragement come when tired and overwhelmed, and our thoughts tempt us to give up. We say things like,
“The prison bars will never open, I can’t be free.” And that is true if it has to do with me, but God . . .
For with God nothing will be impossible Luke 1:37.
With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26.
God is faithful to direct our steps, to give us grace through our work.
The question is, Do I want to be free in my heart? Am I willing to let go, “like a bird from prison bars have flown?”
God wants me to trust Him. To live by faith today and fly.
Jesus’s love never fails—He came through, He’s got the key to the prison.
His word speaks. Are we listening?
“I appeal to you . . . I beg of you in view of all My mercies,
decide today.
Present all you are . . . as a living sacrifice.
Be devoted.
Be set apart.
Be well pleasing to Me.
Don’t worry about fitting into this world.
Be changed.
Be set free from the bondage that this world puts you in.
Change your mind.
Get new ideas.
Put on a new attitude.
Your life will prove what is good and acceptable and perfect in the will of God.
(Paraphrased Roman 12:1,2).
Response?
“I will hear. I will receive. I will yield to Jesus with a thankful heart.”
He will be faithful to help each of us be set free in heart, to sing again.
Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away To a land on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly, I’ll fly away I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away To a land where joy will never end, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away When I die, hallellujah by and by, I’ll fly away.
“Tune up my heart strings, Lord.” She prays, as her heart beats in a flat, minor chord.
“All things are possible with You by my side,” she believes.
“Help my unbelief,” she asks ready to defeat the perfectionist, the giant enemy of thought.
“Change me. C-H-A-N-G-E me!” She pleads with the One who is able.
In stillness, a gentle voice reminds:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
Faith has new breath, and a word of direction: “Sing a new song. Praise God as the victory is won. Sing praise!”
A hymn comes to mind.
The hymn tunes the heart’s theme for hope.
With a prayer for mercy and power of God.
Read aloud. Yes, sing aloud:
Come thou fount of every blessing Tune my heart to sing thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet Sung by flaming tongues above
I’ll praise the mount I’m fixed upon it Mount of thy redeeming love”
Change happens in a moments time. God’s Word comes to mind:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;”Psalm 121,
Lifted. Transformed, through the speaking of a psalm.
What comes next? Her heart needs to know, she reads aloud:
The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
This is how the hymn is sung. By the help of the Living Word giving persevering strength to the weary saint.
Here I raise my Ebenezer Hither by thy help I come
And I hope by thy good pleasure Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger Wondering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger Interposed His precious blood
She receives the Spirit’s Comfort and Hope and thankfulness pours forth:
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, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
Victory is won in her heart this moment. A new song is sung. Prayers have been answered and change for good themes continues on . . .
Will we choose to read aloud and sing? “Yes, because ‘new’ is a glorious thing.”
“There will be a cost for this service,” notifies a computerized voice.
“Who can I call to help me clean the messy house . . . of my heart? Who will listen to me?”
Pizza Note #5, reminds us, “Don’t Panic!”
Jesus knows the condition of the house of our heart. Psalm 139 helps us understand that.
God is full aware of the tangles in our minds. He’s the de-tangler.
He understands the losses of our soul. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds Psalm 147:3.
God doesn’t want us to run away in shame and regret, but instead, He desires we turn, be still, and call on Him.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble Psalm 46:1.
Pick up the phone of prayer and call Jesus. His number is Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name Jeremiah 33:2.
There was a man with leprosy who called on Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
He knew the Lord was able to make him clean, but was He willing?
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him Luke 5:12,13.
Jesus is able, and He’s willing to clean our mess as well.
We must accept our need for a Savior,
believe on Him,
and call Him to help us in time of need.
No more excuses.
Do we want a heart-house where Christ is center?
Call Jesus. He answers. He transforms us by renewing our minds through the power of His Spirit to those who believe.
The best part about calling Jesus is, He cleans our mess and forgets, forever!
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1.
God gave the greatest gift to the entire world. We hear hymns of, Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. And we respond, as we choose gifts for those we love.
And we remember Easter. God’s greatest provision for us by sending His precious Lamb to earth, to die on the cross that He might pay our debt of sin, the debt we could never be free of on our own.
But we forget, He’s coming back again. And it is very soon.
We know how to clean up house for guests, but our we ready for the return and second coming of the King of Kings?
Jesus is coming soon.
We must let this awesome and fearful news wake us up and make preparations in our heart, mind, and spirit. Do we know Jesus? He came not to condemn the world, as John 3:17 reminds us, but Jesus came “in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Don’t forget: Jesus loves you. He’s on your side. Don’t be tempted to turn your back to Him. He will never do that to you.
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 Romans 13:11,12.
If your heart is touched by the soon arrival of the King of Kings, and you’re house is out of order, or you aren’t sure your door has been opened to Him, simply talk to Him, and pray a prayer from your heart, (along these lines, or perhaps not,) telling Jesus,
“I’m sorry for my sins. Forgive me of all of them.
Change me Lord.
Help me let go of my past hurts and losses, each and every one of them.
Help me believe You Jesus and know You more. Make me a new creation. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might have Your peace, hope, and resurrection power working in me to love in a true and real way.
Pizza notes are nuggets of truth from God’s Word to help nourish the young, old, and older soul with a energizing hope and everlasting good news.
#1) Pizza Note of Encouragement for Today:
Let’s get healthy in our thinking. We know that bad eating habits will ruin health and vitality of young and old alike, but bad thinking habits do the same.
When tempted to dwell on bad reports, hurts of others, etc.,
let’s focus on good things. God asks us to do this in Philippians 4:8,
if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
God wants the best for us. If we have trouble thinking of a good theme, He urges us to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8-10).
Cast all your cares on Him, 1 Peter 5:7. He’s God, we’re not. Then, look up.
God sets His glory in the heavens and we witness it with sunrise and glorious sunset: In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course Psalm 19:4,5.
The heavens speak.
The oceans roar.
The mountains boldly stand.
The Bible tells us, as well, that through the praises of children, He establishes strength: From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger Psalm 8:2.
We need to not only believe in the Lord, we were created to worship Him.
Praises to God from the lips of children and infants will silence the enemies of God.
Praises to God, from all the ages in between, . . . changes things, most of all, our outlook, countenance, and hope.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple Psalm 19:7
The decrees of the Lord . . . are more precious than gold, than much pure gold Psalm 19:9,10.
Taste and see, God cares for each of us. What’s our response?
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds Psalm 9:1.
Pizza Note #2 When loss leaves a child without appetite, there is a song, a lullaby, that stirs waters inside: “Jesus loves me this I know . . . “
God loves. He’s a giver. But we live in a broken world.
The enemy of God wants me to think that God only takes away. But that’s not true.
The Bible reminds us that God gave to me, (and every human being on this earth), His only Son, Jesus. He took my burden of sin, (and the sins of the entire world), upon Himself, and nailed them to the cross.
I believe, that “whosoever believes in Him” never dies.
Let’s believe God greater today, even in heartache, and sing a beloved song: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16.
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 3:17.
#2) Pizza Note of good news: God’s eye is on you, and me, and everyone.
We can’t see Him, but He sees us. He’s spirit. God doesn’t have a body. He’s everywhere, all at the same time. The Bible tells us so. In Psalm 139, the Bible reminds us that He knows when we sit down, stand, sleep, and He hears our thoughts and our words before we speak them. God sees and God knows . . . everything. He’s Omniscient.
I hope this Pizza Note makes us hungry to read Psalm 139. Take a few minutes to read aloud and let God’s Word speak.
I didn’t know God when I was young, but I believed in Him because of the natural beauty around me. But I wanted to know Him more. As time went on, I realized I could know Him by reading His Word. The Bible tells us that His eyes watch us grow before we’re born. He knows everything about us. God is love. His thoughts towards us are precious. God can have a one-on-one with me and you, and anyone who seeks Him in spirit and truth Psalm 139.
God isn’t who we make Him to be, He is Who He is.
He’s Holy. He’s righteous in all His ways. We aren’t. God knows we need help, (He sees and hears everything!) He sent His Son Jesus because He knows we need forgiveness and healing. Perhaps the prayer at the end will become our morning and evening portion:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:22-24.
The complete Psalm 139:
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shallfall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
I just weeded my garden last week? What’s up with the weeds?
Weeds in the garden are a visual of the battle of mind and heart attitudes within each of us on every given day.
We often work on cleaning things up, and before we know it,
we’re attacked with this, overwhelmed with that, misunderstood, sick in our stomachs, worn out, and . . .
weeds take over. Our heart’s garden reminds us of a nursery rhyme with Mary, Mary quite contrary. If we stay like this, our garden won’t grow.
So, we call out to God.
. . . you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: “Here am I” Isaiah 58:9.“
The Bible shines a light on everything and gives me hope and empowers me to believe:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardenerJohn 15:1.
God’s the gardener. I can look to Him for my help. Jesus will guide me, the Holy Spirit will remind me, and I can grow, moving forward.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitfulJohn 15:2.
“Cut it out!” Whatever and whenever God convicts, we must cut out the excuses for the thoughts and behavior.
Fear. Pull it out. And add the water of faith, hope, and love for the Lord.
Remember the hurts? Pull them out. The disappointments? Let them go. The frustrations aren’t worth an inch of our soil.
. . . Break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on youHosea 10:12.
God is worth hearing. God tells us that Jesus is the VineJohn 15:5.
Our gardens are cleaned up as we spend time in God’s Word because we are changed by the spade of His Word: You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you John 15:3.
But what has He said?
Let’s be anxious to know these things, before we check out any other news. Then, God promises that our gardens will be full of His amazing fruit of patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control.
Isn’t this how God loves us?
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love John 15:9.
I am loved by God the Father, the Creator of everything. He l o v e s me. He l o v e s you.
You and I need to stay in this position.
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete John 15:10,11.
Fruitful flower gardens? Yes, or no? We each have a choice.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I commandJohn 15:12-14.
Am I a friend of God?
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you John 15:15.
Let’s choose to know Him more. To be washed in salvation through belief in Jesus, and be cleansed daily by reading and obeying the things God shows us in His Word.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give youJohn 15:16.
“We ask that You help us rip out the weeds of the past and that You water us overflowing with Your Spirit, in Jesus’ Name.”
This is my command: Love each other.
Let’s see every flower garden as an exhortation to this command: Love each other.
Sow with a view to righteousness [that righteousness, like seed, may germinate]; Reap in accordance with mercy and lovingkindness. Break up your uncultivated ground, For it is time to seek and search diligently for the Lord [and to long for His blessing] Until He comes to rain righteousness and His gift of salvation on youHosea 10:12, AMP.
To God be the glory, great things He forever does!
Take time for a healthy snack of Scripture for today:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and of a sound mind 1 Timothy 1:7.
What am I thinking?
Today, I make the choice to think on a good theme.
Join me?
Let’s water the seeds of faith within our soul and watch us grow in healthy mind and heart with increased hope, joy, and peace.
“Dear Lord, Today I pray to you, and perhaps others join in too, to ask that You would water the seed of faith that we have in our hearts. Increase our faith in You. Help us desire to know You more through our day. Today we give you more time than the weather, the news, and the amount of “likes” on our posts. In Jesus’s Name we pray, Amen.
I need thee every hour Stay thou nearby Temptations lose their power When thou art nigh
I need thee, oh, I need thee Every hour I need thee Oh, bless me now, my Savior I come to thee
An empty glove can’t move. But with a hand in it, the glove is fluid to move in marvelous ways.
What’s natural in human nature, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy” (Matthew 5:43), is evident all around.
But “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you?” this is hard stuff in Matthew 5:44.
What if Jesus could sit with us this morning and have our ear and our whole heart for a bit: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous Matthew 43-45.
Is there evidence of God in Christ Jesus in us? Are we “children of our Father in heaven,” (Matthew 5:45).
Do we love those who love us? Naturally, yes. This is easy. The Bible tells us that even tax collectors do that.
But God calls us to impossible standards: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48.
There’s no way, nada. Especially if we’ve been deeply hurt, there is often no willingness.
We can’t naturally love our enemy. We’re much like the glove with no hand.
Jesus said multiple times, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believes” Mark 9:23.
“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27.
Who’s ready to believe big with me? Unity is what Jesus desires. Oneness of the Body of Christ, and salvation to the lost souls of the world.
Time is short. Jesus is coming back again.
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—
I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the worldJohn 17:21-24.
I want to believe God to work miracles of unity that “the world will know” that God sent His Son, and see that God loves everyone. His desire is that all should know Him and receive Salvation and grace in His name.
I want to believe in a revival of love and forgiveness one person at a time.
This is big, but not too hard for God.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace Ephesians 1:7
If I don’t have a heart willing to forgive, God sees and He understands the struggle. He’s been hurt more than any human being through all of time, as He laid His life down at the cross.
Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” Luke 23:34.
How can we get to such a place?
“Christ in us is our hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
He rose from the dead. Jesus is alive.
Christ in me. . . my only hope to love in a “perfect” way.
The Potter adds the water of the Spirit and repairs dried-up clay to create a vessel fit for the Master’s use.
What’s impossible in ourselves, is possible in Him.
Let’s go to God for our “impossibles.” His hand in our empty gloves = possibility of amazing grace and His love spread in all dark places.
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:9-13.
“We pray dear Lord, ‘let there be peace and love on this earth, and let it begin with me. You are our only hope. Christ in us, our hope of glory.’ In Jesus Name, Amen.”
The old hymnal on the shelf. Silent. Closed. Yet, the treasures are stored.
So I opened it today, to a hymn from not tarnished by the present mainstream air.
Do we suffer from guilt and regret? How can we be freed of it’s strangling grip?
We pray.
We pray, one time alone, for salvation of our soul.
Above the noise and our own stubborn plans, can we hear His knock at each of our heart’s door?
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole; I want Thee forever to live in my soul; Break down every idol; cast out every foe;
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
When the door of our heart is opened to Him, and He forgives all my sin, and yours. He offered His love to the whole world.
He did. He does.
He paid a great price that I might be born again. Not in the flesh, because, I’m still here and alive, but I became born of the Spirit, able to see . . . true Love.
I was no longer blind.
Somebody loves me, and I knew it fully, inside.
I prayed one time for my salvation, but each day for a wash.
My feet become dirty just living in this land. I’m prideful, covetous, naturally selfish and critical. My own stubbornness closes me daily from being free.
Who can help me from all this?
Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, and help me to make a complete sacrifice; I give up myself and whatever I know.
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
An open hymnal, read aloud, prayed from the heart, instructs the mind, refreshes the soul, and increases faith deep down inside.
Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat, I wait blessed Lord at Thy crucified feet; by faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow;
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
He gave up His life to pay our great debt. Jesus is able to make all things right.
I must wait in faith. I need believe God now. I can’t trust in my feelings. He is a present help,
Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait; come now and within me a new heart create; To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst, “No;”
Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. (Whiter Than Snow by James Nicholson 1872).
Let’s speak it alone, right here, right now. Believe God has cleansed and brought us near. He is our Savior who cleanses and renews. Today, everyday, we now make Him Lord.
We must tell someone else what Jesus has just done . . .
for you, for me, . . .
we’ve been washed . . .
completely.
Whiter Than Snow by James Nicholson 1872:
G 1 Lord Je-sus, I long to be per-fect -ly whole; 2 Lord Je-sus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, 3 Lord Je-sus, for this I most hum-bly en -treat 4 Lord Je-sus, Thou se - est I pa -tient-ly wait;
(G) Em D G (G9 G) D (D6 D) G 1 I want Thee for -ev - er to live in my soul; 2 And help me to make a com-plete sac - ri - fice; 3 I wait, bless-ed Lord, at Thy cru - ci - fied feet; 4 Come now, and with-in me a new heart cre -ate;
(G) G/B C G 1 Break down ev-ery idol, cast out ev'ry foe: 2 I give up my - self and whatever I know 3 By faith, for my cleans-ing, I see Thy blood flow; 4 To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst "No;"
(G) D Em7/D D G Now wash me, and I shall be whit-er than snow.
Chorus: D Em C G Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow; (G) D Em7/D D G Now wash me, and I shall be whit-er than snow.
“Don’t bring Jesus here. Don’t include Him in there,” growls the Public School System and the Public Squares.
“His name offends. Leave it out altogether. It’s time for tolerance,” exclaims the media’s voice.
Where is the wise man (philosopher)? Where is the scribe (scholar)? Where is the debater (logician, orator) of this age? Has God not exposed the foolishness of this world’s wisdom? 1 Corinthians 1:20.
Are we tolerant of everything except Jesus? Can we not discern the double standards?
There is no mystery. God’s Word explains:
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God 1 Corinthians 1:18.
Jesus. Foolishness to those who are perishing.
But God . . .
He allows in this broken world, the blessing of brokenness in the lives of man, that the heart of man might have vision, in due time, to finally see Jesus, as the Passover Lamb, who’s blood was shed that our lives might be saved.
And we are “being saved” after we finally admit we are “perishing” in our own wisdom and strength, and we pray for the first genuine time, “I need You Lord.” I need a Savior to deliver me from myself and sin. Forgive me and give me life again.”
And to us who are “being saved” we know Jesus, as the name who resurrects what was dead and brings it to life.
We know Jesus to be the Light for the steps we take in this dark world.
We know Jesus to be a flowing river of deep abiding joy and peace. Jesus becomes our “better than” wine.
God is Spirit. He’s everywhere. He’s in the Public School, whether they know it or not. God is in the Public Square, He’s in the history stories and science book.
God is in control.
What have we done with Jesus?
That’s a personal question. God works one-on-one.
Jesus waits.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe 1Corinthians 1:21.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength 1 Corinthians 1:25.
The Report has gone out.
Privately, one-by-one, Jesus waits when we realize we are perishing after going astray, and grace enters full-view, and we see He died for just me,
only me.
And our minds open wide and we bid Him invitation.
He’s gracious. He’s compassionate. He knows we are but sheep:
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 53:6.
Have we invited Him in? Anywhere is fine for the Lord. The public square, the school library. He dwells in hearts of praise. Let’s believe Him today.
Isaiah 53:1-5: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Please talk to someone if you asked Jesus in your heart today! Angels in heaven rejoice when a heart receives salvation. God bless you, for all eternity with life abundant.
The Hiding Place, written by Corrie Ten boon is one such biography. This is a hard, but unforgettable read. The suffering was great, but the testimony of God’s faithfulness shines bright in the darkness:
“You will never know that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have,” Corrie Ten boon.
In The Hiding Place, Corrie writes of her family’s capture by the Nazi’s. Taken abruptly from their home, they became prisoners for hiding Jewish friends during World War II.
I share a portion of her story here in hopes to increase faith for our own days here and now.
Corrie writes of a time confined into a cell of solitary confinement with endless amounts of time, stripped of everything. However, before confinement, Corrie gave credit to God, who was present in a nurse, who only had seconds but asked Corrie,
“Quick! Is there any way I can help you?”
Corrie’s quick response, “Yes, Oh yes. A Bible! Could you get me a Bible? And a needle and thread. And a toothbrush. And soap!”
Well, later Corrie did receive 2 small precious bars of soap and not an entire Bible, but little books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
“I stepped inside. The door clanged behind me. The bolt was slammed shut . . . six steps long, two wide, a single cot at the back.
I must not let my thoughts run wildly; I must be very mature and very practical. Six steps. Sit down on the cot. This one reeked even worse than the other: he straw seemed to be fermenting. I reached for the blanket: someone had been sick on it. I thrust it away . . . at that moment the light bulb in the ceiling went out.
The cell was bitter cold, wind hammered against the wall. In the morning my fever was worse.”
But God was with her, and she had received the gospels, the Good News. Here is what she writes:
“As my health returned, I was able to use my eyes longer. I had been sustaining myself from my Scriptures a verse at a time; now like a starving man I gulped entire gospels at a reading, seeing whole magnificent drama of salvation.
And as I did, an incredible thought pricked the back of my neck. Was it possible that this—all of this that seemed so wasteful and so needless—this war, Scheveningen prison, this very cell, none of it was unforeseen or accidental?
Could it be part of the pattern first revealed in the Gospels? Hadn’t Jesus been defeated as utterly and unarguably as our little group and our small plans had been?
But . . . if the Gospels were truly the pattern of God’s activity, then defeat was only the beginning. I would look around at the bare little cell and wonder what conceivable victory could come from a place like this.” (The Hiding Place, pg.139).
Four months later, Corrie had a trial with a Lieutenant Rahms. With his true National Socialistic mentality, he remarked about Corrie’s family’s humanitarian efforts, “What a waste of time and energy! “If you want converts, surely one normal person is worth all the half-wits in the world!”
After reading the gospels for four months and keeping company with a few ants that came to eat crumbs through a crack in her cell, here is Corries response to a Nazi Lieutenant: “The truth , Sir, . . . is that God’s viewpoint is sometimes different from ours —so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things.”
Did you know that instead of getting into more trouble, the following morning this Nazi Lieutenant himself unlocked her cell door and escorted her to her hearing.
She writes Lieutenant Rahms words, “I could not sleep last night, thinking about that Book where you have read such different ideas. What else does it say in there?”
“On my closed eyelids the sun glimmered and blazed, “It says,’ I began slowly, ‘that a Light has come into this world, so that we need no longer walk in the dark.’ Is there darkness in your life, Lieutenant?”
There was a very long silence.
“There is great darkness,” he said at last. “I cannot bear the work I do here.”
The Hiding Place uncovers many great testimonies of light in great darkness.
“When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not! You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through . . .” Corrie Ten boon.
Taking a glimpse of this story invigorates faith in me today. I hope you Agree.
Four other quotes among many in Quotes of Corrie Ten boon are:
“Do you know what hurts so very much? It’s love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill that love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.”
“Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work he will give us to do. ”
“And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things too. Don’t run out ahead of him.”
“Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.”
“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him . . . Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness . . . And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.”
Let us ask the Lord that He may give us His forgiveness and His Agape love.
“Help us Lord Jesus, we can’t do these things without You.
Today I was diagnosed with an invasive lobular, 5×7 cm- estrogen positive cancer tumor of the breast.
I have breast cancer.
In the evening, I opened my Bible to one of my favorite verses so I could see it on the page:
Jeremiah 33:3, Call unto Me and I will answer, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not of.
So, I decided to go off my Bible schedule and read Jeremiah today.
While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time:
“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name:
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ Jeremiah 33:1-3.
The Bible tells us that “the word of the LORD came to him a second time.” I’m encouraged. Jeremiah heard these words not once, but twice, from the Creator of the Universe, the Most High God, the LORD:
“Call to me and I will answer you. . .”
“I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
My ears are open. It seems in great affliction, the heart is ready to hear. I kept reading:
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword in the fight with the Babylonians . . .
“ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security'”Jeremiah 33:4-6.
This was the word to Jeremiah concerning Judah and Israel, but on a day when you find out you have cancer and you open God’s word that speaks of a tearing down against an enemy,
This is good news to my heart. My soul found breath again.
I can trust God. If He can do this for Judah and Israel, I can believe God to heal me.
I need faith for this battle. The Word of God will help increase my faith.
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
“Dear Lord, I call to You. Show me great and mighty things through this trial. Give me understanding to Your Word. Help me believe! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD. 12
Many years ago, sitting high above the row of seats in the sanctuary in a small, separated “new mom’s room” with a window. I was alone with a new baby. Jesus and me and a new-born. It was my fourth child.
Worship was in progress.
My heart was over-flowing with thanks to God for a healthy baby, for a safe delivery, for energy to be at church with a one-week old.
Holding a new little miracle, (as all children are), I came to the house of worship to give thanks to God.
I will confess, when I first found out I was expecting, again, . . . my heart and mind didn’t take hold of celebration, but instead, fear and anxiety, “Who has four kids?”
“I’ll probably never play the guitar again.”
God could see my selfishness in the beginning, but, He had a plan.
God patiently loved me still. He turned my heart completely.
He changed me.
I came to worship Him.
Who is God besides our Lord?
There is no love like God’s love:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
God endured all for me, and you.
God’s love believes in me, and you.
God’s love hopes all things for everybody.
“God’s love never fails.”
My mind couldn’t (and can’t) fully comprehend the width and depth of God’s love. But holding this knew baby, somehow, my spirit knew the language to speak,
“Worship Him.”
This was an extra-ordinary day, but what about the ordinary? What if we make the choice? Today. To have a heart of praise.
Let’s worship God. Let’s lift up spiritual words with the sound of our voice to meet the Lord in a quiet place. That He might meet us here, and pour out His grace:
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
A worshipful heart has no room for complaint or lack. God’s presence dwells in praise. He brings peace to experience His love.
He is our Father in heaven. He is holy. He alone is Love:
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee, who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
The Father gave, the Son obeyed, the Spirit reminds me, “Worship the King.”
And in the very act of worship,
we believe Him purer, understand Him greater, sense His love deeper.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see, only thou art holy; there is none beside thee perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Oh, to have a heart of worship this day. Not just those precious moments, but the ordinary days as well.
“Oh, that we would know You greater, God of Love and grace. Empty us of ourselves and fill us with Your praise:
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty! God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
The rains that come before sunny spring days can make life feel cold, stagnant, and grey. But, we know this will pass and the sun will shine. We must wait, without fret.
We can trust in the Lord.
The sun is hidden behind the clouds, but we know it’s there, continuing it’s daily course:
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth Psalm 19:4-6.
The clouds and rains are good for the ground. The seed is broken and soon will sprout. We can trust in God, and grow in Him, if we spend time in His word each day:
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul Psalm 19:7.
How can we know if we don’t take time to seek God? We need refreshing of the soul—whether we are young or old.
We must first consider, am I His child? Ask Him to fill your life. Receive His Son, His forgiveness, His hope. In Jesus’ Name, thank Him for new life.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple Psalm 19:7.
Worthy of our trust, the Bible says of God’s Word. Wisdom from God will fill our simple minds.
Yes, and we can know that God hears our prayers. The Bible tells us so, time and again. When we call on His name, He is Faithful and True.
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart Psalm 19:8.
Taking time for what’s good and right. The Word of God will give joy to our heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes Psalm 19:8.
The sun shines in our heart as we witness the goodness of God.
God does the work. We must trust, know Him more and more, and seek to obey. The seed of love will grow.
As we adore Him, the hymn proclaims: “Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!
Speak aloud old words of praise and our hearts are refreshed as sun that appears after a rain.
The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous Psalm 19:9.
We can trust our God. He is right in all He does. We must seek Him when we are tempted and afraid. He is only a prayer away.
Our faithful God, the Light of the Lord, abides in our praises. Let’s speak Henry J van Dyke’s words of praise:
Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, All who live in love are Thine; Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus, Which the morning stars began; Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife, Joyful music leads us Sunward In the triumph song of life.
(Tell me, if the peace of God touched your heart as it did mine, speaking aloud God’s hymns and Psalms!)
“Tune up my heart strings, Lord.” She prays, as her heart beats in a flat, minor chord.
Increased faith is gained by reading biographies.
Many years ago, sitting high above the row of seats in the sanctuary in a small, separated “new mom’s room” with a window. I was alone with a new baby. Jesus and me and a new-born. It was my fourth child.
