Breaking news: The world system says, “OUT!” “Out with God that is! We’ve got a pen! We can write our own laws! Get those 10 commandments far removed from our eyes! We need no distractions, we are ‘wise in our own eyes!’ (Proverbs 3:7).
A call to believers in Christ throughout the world: It’s time for ‘Cross-fitness, to ‘Gird up the mind!”
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;…”(1 Peter 1:13).
And, not only that, the good word continues: “…as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…”
And, yes, there is more – and that is why you must get ‘fit’, in ‘truth and ‘the way’ because the enemy hates you and wants to destroy ‘the life’ that is in you – today, yes- TODAY! You must hear the call to believers, right now: “Gird up the loins of your minds”, it is high time you hear that ‘Cross-fitness’ is a matter of life and death, for the battle will be fierce!
So, take a big breath, and make the choice to ‘believe it’ and let’s take a bite of the word, ‘bitter-sweet’: “…because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” First Peter 1:16.
The sheep of the Good Shepherd: “O God, we hear Your voice as we sit on the hill, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”, yes, poor in spirit and ill! Help us! Help us, we are weak and unable – of ourselves to do anything that will move the mountains before us! Help us our Shepherd to ‘get into shape!”
The voice of the Good Shepherd: “Gird up your thoughts! “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand!” (Phil 4:5). “Think on things that are noble…” Remember the hymns, “Be Still My Soul, the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain…”
“Stay calm, don’t panic! Recite Psalm 43 right back to Me: “Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! for You are the God of my strength; …(Psalm 43:1,2).
Remember, “without Me you can do nothing!” (John 15:5).
Speak to yourself in the Psalms and the hymns, you will discover My Spirit, My peace, which passes all understanding: “Why so downcast, O my soul,…hope in God!” (Psalm 43:5). “Thy best, thy heavenly Friend – through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end!” (from Be Still My Soul.)
The sheep of the Good Shepherd: “My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak.” We are so tired, we just can’t do this, this really is too hard!”
The Good Shepherd to His flock: “Follow Me.” (Matthew 9:9). One step at a time. Follow your Savior, sing the old songs and the new and be filled with the Spirit, He will help and comfort you through. Gird up the loins of your mind and ‘get fit’! Think on what is a good report, sing back the old song: “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…”
My sheep hear My voice, and I’ve told you before, “In this world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33), so don’t be surprised, upset and overwhelmed, but instead remember and ‘be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Gird up the loins of your mind and ‘get fit’ “I am your refuge and your strength, a very present help in time of trouble! (Psalm 46:1, exclamation point Mine!). Sing songs, pray without ceasing, the victory is won when your mind is ‘stayed on Me’! ‘Cross-fitness’ will lead you right to the TREE: “Though Satan should buffet, and 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!”
“Be Still my soul!”, remind yourself over and over again! And then on top of all that proclaim with great boldness: “It is well with my soul! It is well, it is well with my soul! “I AM a help in time of trouble! My sheep hear My voice. I go before them, and My sheep follow Me. I AM not only a ‘help’ in time of trouble, I AM a VERY PRESENT HELP in time of need!: (Ps. 46:1). Gird up your thoughts and remember all these!
The Sheep of the Good Shepherd: “I am exhausted today! I will be so sore tomorrow, being brought to the cross and reminded to be ‘poor in spirit’! But the fact that “Christ has regarded my helpless estate, and He shed His own blood for my soul, this has inspired me to come back tomorrow, to ‘gird up my mind’! Cross-fitness I want!
The Good Shepherd of the Sheep who hear His voice:You will be fit as you ‘gird up your mind’ and take hold of what’s true no matter what comes through! This is the song that My sheep will be singing: “And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith!”(1 John 5:4).
The sheep of the Good Shepherd: “Increase our faith! In such times as this, Increase our faith!”
Would you like to be part of ‘Cross-fitness’ and be ‘fit’ for life eternal? There will be no more fear, save, ‘the fear of the Lord:’
“And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear;” (1 Peter 1:17),“knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” (1 Peter 1:19).
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world…Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4,5).
Category: Articles
From the First poems of Jared Rypkema 2007
“My child, you are mine, and nothing can change that.
So calm your heart my dear one. Though you may feel distant from my arms, they are holding you. Do not worry,I will not grow weary, and my arms will never let you down.
Be still my child. Be still. I know tomorrow. No, I will not tell you what it brings, the cares of today are enough for you. But this will give you peace: there is nothing in tomorrow that you will not be able to handle, with me by your side.
Hold on to me little one. When this world tears you apart, throws you down, and leaves you all alone. Hold on, and remember. I have been there. I know all your troubles, and I feel all your pain.
Remember, you are special to me, my beloved. Look. I’ve created the beautiful expanse of the heavens. To show you my awesome power I have laid the sands of the sea, and I know their number. But know, my thoughts of you exceed this number.
I am here for you my child. Ask and you shall receive. I am so much more than you’ve ever imagined, I am greater still
than you will ever dream.
Because you are mine there is nothing that can come between us. Only put your trust in me, my dear, precious child, and I will do the rest.
I am all you’ll ever need… Jesus
"Why not just 'bake the cake?'" "We must 'trust and obey!'
“Who do you think you are, not accepting our choices! You’ve caused us great distress! Even our blood pressure rises!”
“We are so sorry you are hurt by the denial of service, but you see these hands were made to bake cakes. We’ve been given a gift from God, our cakes are an offering of worship!”
“Those are your beliefs, they are not mine! You’re a bakery and we need a cake, we demand you bake, or we’ll take you to court. See how you feel after you’ve been presented a lofty and great fine!”
“You have your freedoms to make the choices you make, but won’t you respect ours? That in faith, because of those choices, we simply can’t bake!”
“You have brought our blood to the boiling point now!” You’re judge-mental, ‘holier than thou’- is this what you call love?’ You will be sorry! We will make sure of that, and HOW!”
“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit…” (Romans 1:9). We know that “…that the LORD, He is God; It is He who made us and not we ourselves;” Psalm 100:3). We have vowed in our hearts to live faithful to Him, even to 212 degrees, to the ‘boiling point’ if you may, to be concerned with what God says- not be swayed by man! The bottom line is: there is a God, and we choose to walk in His Way!”
“Well, you are free to worship how you may in your churches, but when you are in schools or in town or in business, you must obey the law which has changed, don’t you know? Who do you think you are, denying this service? We wanted a cake, and you outright said, “No!”
“It is because God loves you and me both that we must refuse. We must take a stand for God, it’s a matter of ‘life and death’ -we ALL need the Good News! We got on our knees before the bakery doors opened, and we asked our Father in heaven to help us to ‘walk in the light’. That the sweet cakes we bake would give glory to Him, so, each day He gives us, we bake and give thanks, that ‘the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin!'” (1John 1:7). And that includes you, ‘there’s none righteous, no not one’ (Rom 3:10), that is why God sent His only Son!
“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5). ‘There is a way, to a man that seems right,… but its end is the way of death.” (Proverbs 14:12). We all need a Savior, ‘all we like sheep have gone astray…!’ (Is. 53:6) Our hands do the baking, but the product speaks of His love. We lay down our lives, as He did for us, even, above the law (that seems to change each day), in full, whole-hearted surrender, “Yes, Jesus – in You, we ‘trust and obey!'”
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will Trust and obey.”
“Not a shadow can rise, Not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away! While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will Trust and obey.”
“But we never can prove The delights of His love, Until all on the altar we lay; For the favor He shows, And the joy He bestows Are for them who will Trust and obey.”
“There is fellowship sweet We will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way; What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go, Never fear, only Trust and obey” Trust and obey, for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, But to trust and obey.” (Trust and Obey John H. Sammis, 1887).
“Why not just bake the cake?” “Because we have made the choice to ‘Trust and obey’ that others may come to His light and pray!”
"Pull the 'Comforter' to your eyes and rest!"
“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3). Yes, I’ve heard, and yes, I’ve sung: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…I was lost, but now I’m found”
Yet, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love…” Fill me Lord with Your Holy Spirit. Remind me again what is true about You! Speak to my fearful heart what You’ve said, remind me again what You have spoken. I so easily forget! I’m so quick to fret!”
“Lord, I want to yearn for You, because this world has lied, and the clouds are dark. God, I’m so hungry and thirsty inside. Breathe on me, Holy Spirit. Fall fresh on me. Deliver me as I surrender. Make me new again.”
“Pull the Comforter to your eyes and rest. Hear Me speak, Abide in My love. “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you…Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:18,19). Even now, Even now – if you only believe! Increase your faith, obey My word – remember Me – I loved you first!” (1 John 4:19).
“Remember My words to you and all the rest, “Blessed,…” (and in case you need a definition:)“Blessed: fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous [that is, in that state in which the born-again child enjoys My favor and My salvation]…
“Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit“, the fullness of Me! (Eph. 5:18). Speak the old lines of the hymns and the Psalms and discover the Comfort of truth and its power. “He who hates Me hates My Father also.” (John 15:23). I tell you the truth, run to Me, not away- My Father in heaven, loves you completely, but the deceiver, he hates you and wants you to die!” But put off your tears, and put on My love. Call out to Me, I AM Savior -that’s why!
‘Let Psalm 71 be the cry of your heart: “In You, O LORD, I put my trust;…incline Your ear to me, and save me…Let me never be put to shame. Be my strong habitation, to which I resort continually – You have given the commandment to save me,…”
“Save my life! Hear my cry“You are my rock and my fortress…In Your righteousness deliver me, and cause me to escape…O God, You have taught me, yes, taught me, from my youth;” And to this day I declare Your works of wonder…O God, who is like You?” (Ps. 71:19).
Your word is truth and You have said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,”(Matthew 5:6),
but even though that calls for pain and loss, You have comforted me and made me lie down, in pastures of green with Your word: “for they shall be filled!” Yes, Matthew 5 verse 6, I write with emphasis added! You’ve Comforted me, Lord Jesus, with Your unmerited love! Your word has brought me rest, it revives. “Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!”
a child's question: "Are you rich?"
“Are you rich?” is the question brought to my attention. “Yes, I am rich with a full and thankful heart!”
The child probably thinking of a nice house and vacations, yet the answer flowed quickly, “Yes! I am rich!” He turned with a start.
“Don’t you know that a thankful heart makes one rich through and through?” You become rich when you stop living for the future, and in your present moment, learn to say, “Thank you!”
“Remember today is a gift we’ve been given, and when choosing to be thankful, for every little thing, your ‘richness’ increases with each breath you take. The people around you, the flowers, the sounds – a heart full of thanks makes riches abound!”
“Don’t be deceived by the houses and cars and the outside appearance when in fact, the heart is starved! Riches are ours, today-right now, when we ‘give thanks’ for the breath we are breathing and the songs that we hear and the taste of the fruits and the smiles that are near.”
Give it a try, just for today, why not! Think on what is good and give thanks and pray. Cast those heavy cares to Your Father above. Talk to Him often, without ceasing, that is. Draw ever near and He draws closer to you. In His presence is joy, the joy of the Lord. “Are you rich?” “Yes I am!” and you’ll discover it is true that a thankful heart is riches – for me and for you!”
“I am rich because the Lord loves me. I am rich because He washed my sins away. I am rich because He gave me breath. I am rich because He’s given me a song to sing. I am rich because He is mine and I am His. I am rich because I need not fear anything!
I am rich because the Lord is my Shepherd! I am rich because He loves his lambs. I am rich because no matter what happens…I am held with love and compassion, and gentleness and care in the Hands of the Almighty! Yes, I am, Yes, I am!”
Is 'tolerance' just a one-way street?
When a young child ignorantly walks off the path into the street, a parent or guardian says, even sternly at times, “Get off the ROAD! Get those feet off the street!”
A judgement is made, oh yes, by the wise- what is ‘safe’ and what is not! Walk out into the street, you can get hurt and even die!
The warning labels are on the side of some products, so we teach the children (and even ourselves),’stay away! stay away! This stuff could cause great sickness – even to say, “Be smart and remember, be very careful when you use it, the chemicals inside, can even bring death!”
These ‘judgements’ are not ‘matter of opinion! “Don’t be ridiculous!” So, what are you saying?”
Well, the children they grow and by number of years, deemed ‘adult’. Yet some say, “Don’t give me instruction! Who do you think you are? Let me be my own judge on what I think is right!”
“You keep your own opinions! You must remain silent. Don’t say a word – for me, I, myself – I did my assignments! They taught me in school there was a Big-Bang, millions upon millions and billions of years ago. My life happened by chance. I can ‘have it my own way. So move your ‘opinion’ – it’s a brand new day- haven’t you heard? There’s no Providence! Please, don’t even speak! Don’t ‘share’ your opinion! Stand back and ‘shut-up’! Your ways are old-fashioned!”
“Does that mean that tolerance is just a one way street?…
Today man’s great knowledge and ‘tech-know’ ability has lifted him up, up, up so high and lofty. It’s as if again to say, “Nothing, no nothing will sink this great ship!” So my fingers hit the keypad of this computer today, just for myself, because my heart is even close to not beating with sadness. Because God got hold of my cold, dark and hard heart- when I was stubborn and ‘knew it all’ but I was really all torn up inside. He took me and lifted me from a deep,dark,cold pit and He breathed in me His Way, His Truth and His Life.
You see, ‘faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,’ (Romans 10:17). But if we are silenced because we are thought to be ‘intolerant’ today, how can the poor children that just ‘don’t know’ and are following the crowd, how can they ever come to know the true meaning of Love? How can they know that in ‘taking a stand’ we actually are saying “God loves you. Don’t add to His words, or disregard them either! Don’t push them away! What will happen if the ship ends up sinking?”
“Don’t we all know that ‘not letting’ a child have his own way when he only wanted candy and milk shakes and soda- was actually love and caring and good parenting! So, we want to point others to the ‘Father, who art in heaven, and Holy is His name. HOLY is His name.”
“Is tolerance just a one-way street? Can we let God speak? You’ve spoken your part! Take the hands from your ears, and just keep breathing…tolerate for a brief moment and hear from God’s word, just a few verses from Proverbs, from Wisdom Himself:
“Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scoring, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my reproof; Surely I will pour out my Spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. “
“Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, When your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.”(Proverbs 1:20-27.
To those who ‘don’t believe’, what if these words are true? ‘Believers in God’ don’t believe in their own way, they simply believe God means what He says! What if God’s word is true? There is a serious warning within. Can you just keep breathing, to hear out this proverb? Keep your hands off your ears, God’s love suffers long. Can you ‘tolerate’ this for just one moment?”
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, They would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies.”
“For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:28-33).
Proverbs 1:20-33, Wisdom calls aloud to all who will hear.
I am so thankful that God called my name, even when my life was so full of shame. He called, and I heard and I turned my head to look. And He loved me, forgave me, and filled me inside – with all of His fullness, all of His grace. He said, to me,
“Child, never cease to seek My face. I will keep you in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Me. Teach your children, and others who will hear My stories and never cease to sing My songs too. Then they’ll sing them to others, and each little light will shine with simple brilliance through and through – so when the times are changing so fast and so dark, my children will find that I inhabit their praises and light up their dark.”
“There is no fear in God, I am with you forever. The words that I speak are true and faithful. Your sins were as scarlet I make them white as wool. Now go, and speak wisdom to all who will hear. And for those who refuse, yes, my heart is broken still. It is not my will that any should perish, but that all should come to life in My name. Go my dear child, rejoice in Me always, Go in My grace and in My compassion. Then there will be a day, when I will call you home. Yes, to be with Me, face to face, in your mansion in heaven, forever, forever, for all eternity – my dear child you will always be with Me!”
Dependence on God is Independence Indeed!
“Dependence on God is independence indeed! My children, ‘be still, and know’ please don’t fret! Don’t let your hands become feeble with fear, lift them in prayer and praise – I Am near! ‘I Am the Alpha-Omega, the Beginning and End’ (Rev. 22:13).”
“My word is true, (Rev. 19:9), I AM anxious for nothing! I speak. I wait, I suffer… I ‘let’:
“Let the little children come unto Me and forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14).
“My children, don’t fret! Dependence on Me is independence indeed! Be still and know even if you are in the midst of ‘Nebuchadnezzars furnace’, (Dan. 3:19). I Am with you, Yes, Immanuel, “Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare Him room’! I inhabit your praise and brake the prison bars! I give you a song while those whose hearts are still dark and yell loudly and push and fight and devour. “Be still and know that I AM is with you! Put on My peace, not as the world gives, I give,’ this very hour! (John 14:27).
“Give me my rights!” I deserve what I want!” This is the deadly shout of those who ‘don’t know’. My children, my children, be still and pray hard, for because of the fall, mankind has dark hearts. Yours were just like them – until I washed them a-new and breathed in you My Spirit of Life and Truth. You were the same until you stopped in your tracks and turned your direction, to look unto Me, to guide you and lead you and show you the Way. I AM the resurrection!
“My children, please pray to My Father in heaven. He loves the world. His love never fails, God is love – yesterday, today and forever!”“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before…” (John 15:18).“A servant is not greater than his master,’ (John 15:20). Prepare for battle, I Am speaking the truth: “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you.” (John 15:20).
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit.” (John 15:16). A heart that ‘bears fruit’ surrenders completely! I inhabit the heart that turns, I make it clean. I am joy and strength to those that give thanks and praise My name.”
“I am near to the brokenhearted, I know all their ways. My Spirit is present, My peace I bring, even in the fire of great affliction! My Spirit of grace and truth is all sufficient. Dependence on Me is independence indeed! Do not fret, my dear children, let Me be your affection.”
“Let Me be your dwelling place. (Ps. 90:1). “Let others shout as they will, but My children, remember Me and be still: ‘Before the mountains were even brought forth or I even formed the earth and the world, Even from Everlasting to everlasting, I AM, I AM” (Ps. 90:2).
“I Am the Beloved of the Father! My Father so loved the world and He sees its great darkness. And He was willing to give His most precious possession- His one and only Son….Remember the story, My children, my friends? Remember the picture on every am-bu-lence?”
“The LORD had sent ‘fiery serpents’ to bite the people who, against God, spoke in anger! Remember the story, Numbers 21:5? Yes, many, many people of Israel died! He that has ears to hear let him hear My story! They give great understanding and increase faith as well, that the children who choose to listen might ‘rest’ and ‘be still!’
“Therefore”, the story continues in Numbers 21, “the people came to Moses,” (this is after many had died…), “We have sinned! For we have spoken against the LORD, against you; pray the LORD God Almighty take the serpents from us!” So Moses prayed for the children who were at one time, angry and fighting against God, and I said to the children:
“Hear Me now: ‘Make a bronze fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and it shall be ‘whosoever’ is bitten and lifts his head to look -everyone who is bitten and looks to the ‘bronze serpent on the pole’… shall live, no longer poisoned, but instead – will be made whole!”
“Look unto Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I Am God, and there is no other.” (Is. 45:22). “I have come that they may have life and that more abundantly,” (John 10:10).
“Children, don’t fret, it only causes harm, but remember the story of the children and bronze serpent – “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,…”and so it was, for ‘whosoever had been bitten that day, if he willingly looked up at the ‘curse’ on that pole – he was healed, he was saved! Still today , I Am the way. I Am the Way.”
“Your road may be rough, the seas of your voyage may be tense, ‘in returning and rest you shall be saved; be still and know ‘in quietness and confidence.’ (Isaiah 30:15). “Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden…”(Matthew 11:28), “I no longer call you servants, I call you friends, (John 15:15).”
‘Whosoever’ Believes ‘all’ have been bitten, and ‘all’ must turn to see! Mercy and grace and compassion and forgiveness have been provided …I willingly gave My life on the tree, for all of mankind. All may be My children, if they only receive…Me ”
“Trust Me and pray, without ceasing in this day. Rejoice always, in everything give thanks. Let love fill your heart. Some will look up to receive God’s great love, yet others will not… just keep your eyes on My face.”
“Be still and know that dependence on Me is independence indeed! Put on your helmet, carry your sword. Watch and pray and be careful in your steps. It is time to fight, but remember, the battle is Mine! Write in a book for yourself the things I have told you in My word,’ (Jer. 33:1), this is your shield, this sharpens your sword.”
“Moses came with the law. I came in grace and truth, and of My fullness you have all received, grace for grace’, (John 1:17). Unmerited favor upon unmerited favor… ‘Not as the world gives, give I unto thee’, (John 14:27),”Peace I leave with you…Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
“I pray the Father and He gives you Help, that He may abide in you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him,” (John 14:16,17), but My dear children, you know Me and you know My name. “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also, forevermore, forevermore!
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” (Revelation 22: 16). Depend on Me, it’s your independence day! “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”(Rev. 22:17). I am Faithful. Hear my final words: “Surely, I am coming quickly.”
“I am coming quickly! “The just shall live by faith.” (Hab. 2:4). “I came to My own, and My own did not receive Me.” (John 1:11). “ Receive Me. Believe Me, I took the world’s sins on Myself! Looking to be independent are you, today? Yes, I, Jesus have come to set you free. Call out My name, it is for you…I died on that tree.
O God I need You, I am the U.S. of A.
“There is a draught, O God, a great draught of heat and stubbornness and parched lives, but some don’t even know it. Some can’t even see.
“Rain down mercy LORD.” What else can we pray? “Merciful Lord, ‘not giving us what we deserve today.”
“Rain down Your Spirit Lord- “Not by might, nor by Power – Rain down Your Spirit Lord, Cleanse us this hour.”
“Turn the hearts that are stone, back to flesh…back to flesh. Remove the hands from the ears. We need to hear…let us hear.”
“There is a draught, O God. Great heat, fatigue and stubbornness. Rain down Your Spirit Lord, flood this dark world with Your Light. That the stains of arrogance and pride that make us ‘turn to our own way’ – would they be washed away… even washed away from all sight.”
“This is impossible with men, impossible it is. But O God, with You, all things are possible to come true. Dear Jesus, fill us with hope, and increase our faith. Our faith to believe that You can create – even new creations . Yes, today in our hearts, create in us a clean heart. Give us a new start.”
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17). This is Your Word – ‘in You, this is True.’ “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(John 23:34). This is Your prayer on the cross for us, and this, O God, must be our prayer …too. Forgiveness and humility, these were taught by You.
“God help us!” “God save us from ourselves!” Rain down mercy Lord, Mercy Lord, on us!” “Since You have paid our debts, complete and in full – even though our eyes can’t see…BUT, Your Spirit is able to accomplish all things. O that this ‘grain of wheat’ would fall into the ground and die, and would spring up ‘anew’ by the rain that has poured down,
and ‘spring up’ with beauty bearing fruit of love.” And, no matter what happens, even if we ‘go it alone’ we will now ‘set our minds on things above’. Our help comes from You, our Emanuel, God with us! You never left us. We left You, all of us.
“‘We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood!’ We wrestle against rulers of darkness that invade this desert place! So pour out Your Spirit, and remind us what’s true. Help us put off the old and put on You!
We love You because You first loved us! Shower us with Grace and Your great kindness. We don’t deserve on ounce of Your grace. but we humble ourselves and turn to Your face. You are the Lord, the bond of perfection. In each of our human hearts, be our Resurrection!
Help us to know the Story You have written, and spend time to know our story as a nation. Without You … we are nothing. O God, help us turn around. Give us discernment of the lies and to know the speeches that are sound!
There is hope, one heart at a time. O God, O how I need You. I am seeking citizenship … in heaven. Light this candle and let me pass it on, one by one, in this darkness – that it might multiply and illuminate hope and peace and life forevermore. It is good to be proud of the nation in which we live, but Dear Lord Jesus, secure my citizenship today, that in heaven I might, in peace for always.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved!” John 3:16, 17).
"Abide with me! Fast falls the even-tide…"
“Abide with me! Fast falls the even-tide. The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide!” This is a cry of Henry F. Lyte in 1847. This is a cry of ours besides: “When other helpers fail And comforts flee, Help of the help-less, O abide with me!”
“Swift to its close, ebbs out life’s little day. Earth’s joys grow dim; Its glories pass away. Change and decay In all around I see; O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!”
“I need Thy presence Every pass-ing hour. What but Thy grace Can foil the temp-ter’s power? Who, like Thyself, My guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.”
“I fear no foe, With Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, And tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
“I triumph still, If Thou abide with me.” (“Abide with Me, Henry F. Lyte).
“But Lord, there is death, there is destruction, there is hate and trouble all around…”
God hears the cries of the people! God’s word speaks to the broken hearts of His children. As we ‘cry out’ the very words of the hymn “I need Thy presence Every passing hour! What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?…”
God’s powerful word speaks. ‘Hear, the word of the Lord’:
“The thief comes only in order that he may steal and may kill and may destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance– to the full, till it overflows.” (John 10:10, Amplified). “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18).
“Abide with me! Fast falls the even tide. The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me!”
“Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master — is not superior to him. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.” (John 15:20), Amplified).
“But they will do all this to you — inflict all this suffering on you –because of [your bearing] My name, and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me.” (Johne 15:21, Amplified).
“I need Thy presence Every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like Thyself, My guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.”
“But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.” (John 15:25, Amplified).
“So, ‘speak to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs, make melody in your heart to the Lord.'” (Eph. 5:19), Don’t run away, take courage and stand: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Eph. 6:10,11).
“Don’t run away in fear! ‘Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,…( Eph 5:18).
“But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener) comes Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself} will testify regarding Me. But you also…
But you also…
But you also... will testify and be My witnesses…” (John 15:26,27, Amplified, emphasis, mine).
“I have told you all these things so that you should not be offended — taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away, and to keep you from being scandalized and repelled. They will put you out of the synagogues –expel you. But an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think and claim that he has offered service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father nor Me. But I have told you these things now so that when they occur you will remember that I told you of them. ” (John 16:1-3, Amplified).
“I fear no foe, With Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, And tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, If Thou abide with me!” (Abide with Me, Henry F. Lyte, 1847).
The song empowers, the song restores, the Psalms, the hymns, the spiritual song is a what my heart must continually…adore – to keep me standing in the midst of the battle! “Praise before the battle, yes Praise brings back the breath! Then the words, “Rejoice Always. Pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God… begins to make sense! (1 Thes. 5:16-18) …Yes, these are the words I will hold on to as I pray, for brothers and sisters who suffer so greatly today. Dear Jesus, pour out Your grace, pour out Your mercy on these difficult – most dark and confusing, and dreadful (at times), LAST days.
And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy . . .
(Joel 2:28)
A song was written by a son, and today, it is prophesy to many a broken heart…today:
How long O Lord will You be silent? Will You forget me?
How long O Lord, will You be silent? Will You hide Your face from me?
I thought I knew You better than this. So why can’t I hear You?
I thought I knew You better than this, so I’m crying out to You.
“Bring me to my knees until I breathe, until I hear You, and take me to my face until I break – “I’m lost without You!”
I thought I knew You better than this, so why can’t I hear You? I thought I knew You better than this…
(Bridge) The night is dark and cold, but still the morning comes. The night is dark and cold, but still the morning comes…”Bring me to my knees until I breathe, until I hear You. Take me to my face, ‘till I break, I’m lost without You!
“But in this day, I will rejoice, knowing I will breathe again. But in this day I will rejoice, and I will love You more.” (Bring me to my knees, by Chris Rypkema)
He knows the pain you are feeling:
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted . . .(Isaiah 53:4,5)
He understands all suffering:
(Isaiah 53:5)” He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
Jesus knows what a dark, cold night is: (Is. 53:7)”He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth.”
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told yoiu from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?”
“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing;”
“He makes the judges of the earth useless.” (Is. 40:21-23).
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He give power to the weak, And to those who have no mighty He increases strength.”
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;” (Isaiah 40:28-29).
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary...”( Is. 40:30), “I thought I knew You better than this. So why can’t I hear You?
I thought I knew You better than this, so I’m crying out to You.
“Bring me to my knees until I breathe, until I hear You, and take me to my face until I break – “I’m lost without You!”
“And the young men shall utterly fall…” Is. 40: 30), “But those who …
wait on the LORD…”
Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31).
Just as the sons and daughters prophesy: “But in this day, I will rejoice, knowing I will breathe again. But in this day I will rejoice, and I will love You more.”
Yes, even today: “But in this day, I will rejoice, knowing I will breathe again. But in this day I will rejoice, and I will love You more!”
“
A time to be silent…but God?
Considered one of the wisest men. One called to pen wise words of God, Solomon wrote, “To everything there is a season, a time for very purpose under heaven…”(Eccl. 3:1).
“A time to be born, and a time to die.”(Ecc. 3:2).
But it doesn’t make sense. There is silence. There is stillness. There is emptiness. There is void. But everything else around just keeps moving on and on and on.
People get up, people have jobs or school. Cars go down the road. Coffee is still being served along with lunch and dinner, and on and on…
But, there is ‘a time to be born, and a time to die.’ “It’s not fair!” “It’s not fair!” is all a hurting heart can cry!
A grieving heart, bleeds. A grieving heart…just bleeds – even though it knows, “to everything there is a season… a time to be born, and a time to die.”
‘Yes, a time to be born, but it’s too soon, and the one who suffers loss asks, “Why?” So many questions, so many “Why’s”.
But there is only silence. Silence inside. But there’s all this action that keeps going on. Can’t the world just STOP! For even a few minutes! Can’t the world stop, so the hurting can get off?
“A time to plant, And a time to pluck up what was planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to cast a way stones, and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,…
and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate;
A time of war, and a time of peace.” (Ecc. 3:2-8).
To everything there is a season. But God, He speaks comfort, even in the silence. Yes, He speaks His love to the broken hearted, even by… just,
His breath:
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
“In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you.
“And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1,2,3).
"Be Thou my Vision" brings a collection of thought
“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 vision.” What do I see? Father, Son, Holy Spirit. One God only – yet three. The Father sent the Son because of man’s fall, to crush the serpent’s head. Thy word tells us all.
“Thou my best thought by day or by night.” Yes, Jesus came. Yes, Jesus died. But He didn’t stay on the cross – He rose from the dead in resurrection – death brought life, not loss.
“Be Thou my wisdom, 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.”
“How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…”, says, Thou true word. “And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” “According to the Scriptures,” You draw pictures when read:
Even in Leviticus, dreadful reading at times, You hide great treasures and portraits for Your children to find. Portraits of the resurrection, portraits of Your Son. How is a leper cleansed? It is spelled out in verse one of Leviticus 14. Leviticus 14:1.
Spelled out in Scripture, is a priest and two birds. One bird is killed over running water, then put into an earthen jar, not pretty, but true. And the second bird with cedar wood, scarlet and hyssop is dipped in the blood of that first dying bird, then released and set free – into the sky, an illustration of that brings glory to You.
“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.”
The vision is clear. As an ugly bulb is put into the ground, in the fall to simply die. But it doesn’t stay there, dead forever. It springs up into life with color and favor.
“Be Thou my wisdom, 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.”
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4. Just as Christ was raised from the dead. And, “Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee, one.” Unified together. Victory is won.
“Be Thou my battle -shield. Sword for my fight! Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight. Thought my souls shelter, Thou my high tower, Raise Thou me heavenward, O power, of my power!”
The sword of Your word tells me the “old man” was crucified. That my “body of sin” is done away. I no longer have to be a slave to the brokenness within. (Rom. 6:6)
“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.”
“And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called…” (Romans 9:23). “Vessels of mercy?” We were allowed to be broken, first. Then mercy was granted. Not giving us what we deserve. Loving us when we didn’t love back.
That someday, we might make known the riches of Your glory. Standing tall and proclaiming with sound on our own lips: “Thou and Thou only, First in my heart, High King of Heaven, my treasure, Thou art.”
“High King of heaven, our victory won. May I reach heaven’s joy, bright heaven’s Son. Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.”
To as we think on these things, great and mighty, we may trust and obey and follow Him more united. “Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, . . . O Ruler of All.”
“Hallelujah, Amen.” Let us make these words “new” every time we sing them.
God, make our life a portrait of Your resurrection. Once dead, but now alive. Alive in You dear Jesus, for now – in good, and bad, in all that life brings, and forever, for the long haul, for all eternity.
"Tell the people to sit down…:
The story is told, and it would be good to imagine the pictures in our mind, that ‘a great multitude was coming toward Jesus’. (John 6:5). (How I pray that this would again be the case, today, that the hearts of men, in a ‘great multitude’ would come toward Jesus).
But before ‘a great multitude was coming toward Jesus’, the words are written, “After these things…”(John 6:1).
After ‘what’ things? we might ask. After – Jesus had changed water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana. After – Jesus had given the promise of eternal life to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, After – Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water, only later to tell her about her life’s decisions, and she speaking of the Messiah who will tell them ‘all things’ and Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”, (John 4:26), and then she went out and told her whole city about Him! After- Jesus healed a ‘nobleman’s son’ from a distance, a paralytic was healed and made well by the pool of Bethesda. And after speaking to the Jews who sought to kill Him because “He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18). “After these things… ‘a great multitude was coming toward Jesus!”(John 6:1,5).
Word got out about Jesus! People were talking about all His wonderful works!
Back to the story: “And Jesus went up on a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. (John 6:3). “He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for all these people to eat?” John 6:5.
What would you say if you were Philip?
We would probably say just what he said: (my paraphrase), “a half a years pay wouldn’t be able to buy enough bread for this many!” But the brother that always had to be known as ‘Simon Peter’s brother, (Andrew) said, “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”John 6:8.
There is SO much in this story! The Bible is the most amazing living Book! But today, for me, I write what is magnified on the page. I write the words that totally knocked me over:
Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” (John 6:10).
The Bible tells us that it was a very grassy place and that there were about 5,000 men who sat down there. But there were women and children there as well, so we are looking at close to 10,000 people perhaps.
Have you ever tried to tell even just fifty children to sit down? It is an effort. Now imagine telling 5,000 men plus more women and children – to sit down! I don’t think they had a megaphone, and we know that they did not have a microphone!
“Make the people sit down.” Jesus said.
These were His words,…for me. Are they for you too?
Today in this society we see the words, “Stay calm and …” Well, here in this story, Jesus doesn’t say, “Send them away to get their own lunches! He planned on having them sit and watch Him take the bread and give thanks to His Father and give them to His friends who then fed the crowd, and the same with the fish! (John 6:11).
Often times,obeying the Lord is hard. Often times, obeying the Lord doesn’t make any sense at all.But EVERY TIME it is good to ‘trust and obey’ the Lord!
“Make the people sit down.”(John 6:10)…. This makes me think of Psalm 23, “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me to lie down in green pastures…” (Ps. 23:2).
God’s word against the reality – often times leaves us with a struggle – the struggle to trust and obey! Just to ‘be still’ and read His word and a hymn these days is hard…but Jesus spoke to me this morning, and I feel instructed to ‘make the people sit down’, including myself, after this is all typed and written – yes, we will ‘sit’ and be fed, by Him – by a hymn.
This hymn written so long ago, is for today, timeless, forever powerful:Trust and Obey, by John Sammis in 1887:
But before ‘a great multitude was coming toward Jesus’, the words are written, “After these things…”(John 6:1).
After ‘what’ things? we might ask. After – Jesus had changed water into wine at a wedding feast in Cana. After – Jesus had given the promise of eternal life to a Pharisee named Nicodemus, After – Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water, only later to tell her about her life’s decisions, and she speaking of the Messiah who will tell them ‘all things’ and Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”, (John 4:26), and then she went out and told her whole city about Him! After- Jesus healed a ‘nobleman’s son’ from a distance, a paralytic was healed and made well by the pool of Bethesda. And after speaking to the Jews who sought to kill Him because “He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5:18). “After these things… ‘a great multitude was coming toward Jesus!”(John 6:1,5).
Word got out about Jesus! People were talking about all His wonderful works!
Back to the story: “And Jesus went up on a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. (John 6:3). “He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for all these people to eat?” John 6:5.
What would you say if you were Philip?
We would probably say just what he said: (my paraphrase), “a half a years pay wouldn’t be able to buy enough bread for this many!” But the brother that always had to be known as ‘Simon Peter’s brother, (Andrew) said, “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”John 6:8.
There is SO much in this story! The Bible is the most amazing living Book! But today, for me, I write what is magnified on the page. I write the words that totally knocked me over:
Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” (John 6:10).
The Bible tells us that it was a very grassy place and that there were about 5,000 men who sat down there. But there were women and children there as well, so we are looking at close to 10,000 people perhaps.
Have you ever tried to tell even just fifty children to sit down? It is an effort. Now imagine telling 5,000 men plus more women and children – to sit down! I don’t think they had a megaphone, and we know that they did not have a microphone!
“Make the people sit down.” Jesus said.
These were His words,…for me. Are they for you too?
Today in this society we see the words, “Stay calm and …” Well, here in this story, Jesus doesn’t say, “Send them away to get their own lunches! He planned on having them sit and watch Him take the bread and give thanks to His Father and give them to His friends who then fed the crowd, and the same with the fish! (John 6:11).
Often times,obeying the Lord is hard. Often times, obeying the Lord doesn’t make any sense at all.But EVERY TIME it is good to ‘trust and obey’ the Lord!
“Make the people sit down.”(John 6:10)…. This makes me think of Psalm 23, “the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He makes me to lie down in green pastures…” (Ps. 23:2).
God’s word against the reality – often times leaves us with a struggle – the struggle to trust and obey! Just to ‘be still’ and read His word and a hymn these days is hard…but Jesus spoke to me this morning, and I feel instructed to ‘make the people sit down’, including myself, after this is all typed and written – yes, we will ‘sit’ and be fed, by Him – by a hymn.
This hymn written so long ago, is for today, timeless, forever powerful:Trust and Obey, by John Sammis in 1887:
- When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.- Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
- Refrain:
- Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey. - Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey. - But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey. - Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.” And we’ve even got leftovers to share!
Is there a 'MAPS App' for my 'life directions?
“Where is the MAPS App for my steps today? Is there a voice that can just ‘speak’ and direct me step by step?
“I AM here to those who have ears to hear. Do I have your ear?”
“Well, who are You that I would consider putting trust in You?”
“I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying,’My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” (Is. 46:9,10).
“Do you know My name? “Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for a light by day and the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea’s roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar; the Lord of hosts is His name.” (Jer 31:35).
“Do you think you can trust Me? I lead the North Star?”
“How do I have peace and joy instead of striving and a sense of competitiveness? What are the steps I take?”
“Quite honestly, ‘truly, truly’ I say to you, you will not be free of this completely until you ‘abide in Me.’ But My speech is a mystery to you. “Stay close to Me, abide in Me,cling to Me.‘I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, and about your body, what you will put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent’ than clothing? Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth more than they?(Matthew 6:25,26, Amplified).
‘Great is My Faithfulness to them and to thee!’ Look at the plants, or the flowers on display, “I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity and grace) was not like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely cloth you, O you men with little faith?”(Matthew 6:29,30).
“I’ve heard all that before. ‘bla,bla,bla…it’s just words and no more!”
“And you are so right in what you say. ‘The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.'”(1 Cor. 2:14).
“So, the first steps to ‘abiding’ or clinging to You I have to DO something too? Is there a password or something irritating?
“Simply ask…”Father, fill me with Your Spirit, and even more than that, ’empower Me with Your Spirit!’ “Teach me to abide in You!” “If you live in Me – abide vitally united to Me – and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7, Amplified).
“Seek first My Kingdom and My righteousness and all these things (Matthew 6:33), -all the direction, all the wisdom, all the understanding, all the courage, all the help you need – you will find in Me and in the power of My Spirit.”
“RIGHT NOW! What do I do RIGHT NOW?”
“Be still and know that I am God.”(Ps. 46:10). Put away ‘distilled spirits’ with their adventurous,smiling billboards dripping with deceit, “Do not get drunk with wine…but ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit!” (Eph. 5:18).
“HOW?!”
“Just ask!(John 15:7). And as you ask, “Rise, pick up your bed and walk!”(John 5:8). Make no provision for failure.”Great is My faithfulness, for now, for tomorrow, for all eternity. ‘At all times and for everything give thanks‘ (Eph. 5:20), in My Name to God the Father, and you will discover a power a-new and a song and great confidence too. “You are My beloved and I AM yours.(Song of Songs, (2:16). My banner over you is LOVE!”
“And let Me remind you again and again, HOW: “...if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11). That’s HOW!”
“Take comfort in ‘step by step’ instructions now that you’ve connected to MAPS: Mighty And Powerful Spirit – but it’s even easier than an App, simply Follow Me:“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17).And don’t forget to keep an ear open to My voice at all times, It is, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 4:6).
“So, step by step, “be filled with the Spirit’ and ‘speak to one another in a Psalm and a Hymn…’Have you not made melody in your heart in a long time? It is time, it is time…
“Pardon for sin and a peace than endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness – morning by morning, new mercies I see! All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided…
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto Thee!”(Great is Thy faithfulness, Thomas O Chisholm).
“OK, OK! I hear, I see! My MAPS is God’s Mighty And Powerful Spirit! I will pray I connect each moment of my day!
How do we pray for the afflicted? Remind me again.
Trouble has come for many in this day- our hearts break for the hurting, our minds are silent. It is as if in a moment’s time the Lord allows many to experience an unexpected darkness.
And, often,there are no words when praying over the afflicted. Times like this, it seems like the Bible on the shelf weighs 100 pounds. It is just too heavy to pull off the shelf.
Yet, I have heard that for those who have lost their sight and live in physical darkness, they have ears that hear far above those that see light.
THAT is how I will pray. That the afflicted will HEAR during this time of darkness. That they can now hear God singing over them. Where is that verse? What verse is that? The weight of the Bible just decreased and there is a willingness to get it off the shelf.
Zephaniah 3:16,17, “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, let not your hands be weak.
The LORD you God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you in His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Can you hear the words of an old Hymn? Reminding you:
“Through every change, He faithful will remain.”
Through EVERY change, He faithful WILL remain. That is true,
it’s in His Holy Word, maybe reading the Bible today isn’t so hard –
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Everything may have just changed, but He remains the same.
“Through every change, He faithful will remain, Be still my soul…”
Perhaps the prayer of the afflicted today looks like Ps.6:6-8,
“I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.
But the song: “Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake.”
We are shaken! We become moved! But there is a Psalm, it’s in there about being moved – it’s Psalm 62. Perhaps this Psalm needs to become as familiar in our day as Psalm 23:
Ps. 62:1,2,
“Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.”
so we remember the song and sing in our time of weakness and fear,
“Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake…”
And we pray for the afflicted, “Lord give them grace to ‘wait silently for God alone.’
Lord, that they hear Your song of faithfulness and that they wait on You as they heal:
Ps. 62:5-7,
“My soul, wait silently for God alone.
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.”
Yes, this is a time of darkness,
the Hymn reminds us of that, “All now mysterious”…
So we pray that they may be strengthened to:
Ps. 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him; and that they would know that,
God is a refuge for us. Selah
All now mysterious – most certainly:
Ps. 62:9,10, “Surely men of low degree are a vapor,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed in the balances,
They are altogether lighter than vapor.
Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them.
God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.”
We are reminded yes, “All now mysterious” BUT they “shall be bright at last.”
We pray for ourselves and the afflicted,
“Be still my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them
while He dwelt below!”
Lord, our prayer for the afflicted is increased hearing during this time of darkness, an increase in hearing of Your song over them, hearing of Your Psalms and Hymns to enable them to Be still and know that
“God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy…”Psalm 62:11.
Lord, that this would be their response to Your song:
“In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.”
“In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
And may we continue to speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs so that we can let light in our hearts through the darkness of this world.
Yet, I have heard that for those who have lost their sight and live in physical darkness, they have ears that hear far above those that see light.
THAT is how I will pray. That the afflicted will HEAR during this time of darkness. That they can now hear God singing over them. Where is that verse? What verse is that? The weight of the Bible just decreased and there is a willingness to get it off the shelf.
Zephaniah 3:16,17, “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, let not your hands be weak.
The LORD you God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you in His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Can you hear the words of an old Hymn? Reminding you:
“Through every change, He faithful will remain.”
Through EVERY change, He faithful WILL remain. That is true,
it’s in His Holy Word, maybe reading the Bible today isn’t so hard –
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Everything may have just changed, but He remains the same.
“Through every change, He faithful will remain, Be still my soul…”
Perhaps the prayer of the afflicted today looks like Ps.6:6-8,
“I am weary with my groaning;
All night I make my bed swim;
I drench my couch with my tears.
My eye wastes away because of grief;
It grows old because of all my enemies.
But the song: “Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake.”
We are shaken! We become moved! But there is a Psalm, it’s in there about being moved – it’s Psalm 62. Perhaps this Psalm needs to become as familiar in our day as Psalm 23:
Ps. 62:1,2,
“Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense;
I shall not be greatly moved.”
so we remember the song and sing in our time of weakness and fear,
“Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake…”
And we pray for the afflicted, “Lord give them grace to ‘wait silently for God alone.’
Lord, that they hear Your song of faithfulness and that they wait on You as they heal:
Ps. 62:5-7,
“My soul, wait silently for God alone.
For my expectation is from Him.
He only is my rock and my salvation;
He is my defense;
I shall not be moved.”
Yes, this is a time of darkness,
the Hymn reminds us of that, “All now mysterious”…
So we pray that they may be strengthened to:
Ps. 62:8, “Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him; and that they would know that,
God is a refuge for us. Selah
All now mysterious – most certainly:
Ps. 62:9,10, “Surely men of low degree are a vapor,
Men of high degree are a lie;
If they are weighed in the balances,
They are altogether lighter than vapor.
Do not trust in oppression,
Nor vainly hope in robbery;
If riches increase,
Do not set your heart on them.
God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.”
We are reminded yes, “All now mysterious” BUT they “shall be bright at last.”
We pray for ourselves and the afflicted,
“Be still my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them
while He dwelt below!”
Lord, our prayer for the afflicted is increased hearing during this time of darkness, an increase in hearing of Your song over them, hearing of Your Psalms and Hymns to enable them to Be still and know that
“God has spoken once,
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God.
Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy…”Psalm 62:11.
Lord, that this would be their response to Your song:
“In God is my salvation and my glory;
The rock of my strength,
And my refuge, is in God.”
“In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
And may we continue to speak to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs so that we can let light in our hearts through the darkness of this world.