Category: Hymns

A New Day to Trust and Obey, Again

The past is the seasoned instruction manual.

Today is here. We often start well, and then, well . . . the night often takes away our song.

But the Word is good news to the weary soul. God’s love is higher than man’s. His love is steadfast with mercies that never end: 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness”Lamentations 3:22,23.

When our desire is to believe God greater, and know Him with more depth of understanding, seek Him with thirst and hunger, and experience His blessing,

are we surprised when we find ourselves, “poor in spirit,” or in a place of mourning? What did Jesus tell the multitudes on the hill that day? What is Jesus telling me, this day . . . Matthew 5, in a New Living Translation: 

“One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, and he began to teach them.”
 
(This day, I join an ancient crowd that gathered. Today, I ask God to help me hear what the Spirit says to me. Join me?)
 
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
 
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
 
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
 
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
 
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
 
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
 
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.
 
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs”  Matthew 5: 1-10.

 

We pray for His kingdom to come. We ask for mercy, comfort, vision.

But what of our hearts? The old hymn reminds us to sing:

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.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

But it’s not all sunshine and roses. The thorns line the stem of the flower’s glorious face. Jeremiah was a prophet of God. He did the good will of God and . . . wrote of his experience:

I am the man who has seen affliction
    by the rod of the Lord’s wrath.
He has driven me away and made me walk
    in darkness rather than light;
 indeed, he has turned his hand against me
    again and again, all day long.

 He has made my skin and my flesh grow old
    and has broken my bones.
 He has besieged me and surrounded me
    with bitterness and hardship.
 He has made me dwell in darkness
    like those long dead Jeremiah 3:1-6.

The desperate story continues, but something happens in the reading. All of a sudden, I can see more than Jeremiah and my own loss and toils, I see Jesus. Yes, He is the One I see . . .

 

He drew his bow
    and made me the target for his arrows.

 He pierced my heart
    with arrows from his quiver.

 I became the laughingstock of all my people;
    they mock me in song all day long.


 He has filled me with bitter herbs
    and given me gall to drink. Jeremiah 3:12-15.

If Jeremiah can remember the faithfulness of God through the hardship, and I see Jesus through the Word, how He suffered for me, and died for my shame, yet rose that I might have victory,

then the song, Trust and Obey now makes full sense. Yes, I can sing of His steadfast love because Jesus satisfied all that’s required of me.

“It is finished,” He said. I believe this today. Today, I’m complete, and my heart sings with greater understanding: 

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.

Today, I lay it all on the altar. And ask that He give me grace to trust and obey. And let us grow in our faith, as we sing along the way: 

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.

He is our hope, today, yesterday, forever.

In Jesus, we can be made new, even right now: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 1 Corinthians 5:17.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

 

 

Physical health? Working on it. Intellectual health? Growing daily. Spiritual, emotional health? . . . Open the Hymnal!

Quite honestly, the melodies are often outdated, but the promises in the old hymns must be resurrected.

Heavy hearts burdened by news, energy zapped by full schedules, life today can easily invite fatigue pain, where is an emergency pick-me-up?

Well, first in a relationship with the God of Creation. As simply as calling on the name of His Son. Asking Him to come in and wash and renew, Jesus does all this, but it’s not a one time adventure, it’s a life’s walk . . .

and the walk is crooked, sharp, and filled with ills! We increase mental awareness and physical strength as we journey on, but our spirit is starved and grieved by the constant darkness and lies.

The Word is God’s promise. Sixty-six Books to bring hope. But the hymnal . . .

(quick, and go find one,) it’s an immediate help.

As nourishing is good food to the body, the Word and the hymns bring vitality to our weary spirits.

If I write today and one person opens and reads the words of a hymnal, and is infused with hope to believe in a greater way, my labor is not in vain.

Our spirits grow weary. We have wrecks over time, but the cross of Christ brings comfort.

Read aloud this old hymn: In the Cross of Christ I Glory, by John Bowring, 1825.

In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o’er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

When the woes of life o’ertake me,
hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
never shall the cross forsake me.
Lo! it glows with peace and joy.

Perhaps this brings a hunger and thirst to discover the hope of the cross.

Bowring penned his own experience in his hymn published in 1825. With 2020 approaching, can we glean from wisdom of old to help replenish our soul?

When the sun of bliss is beaming
light and love upon my way,
from the cross the radiance streaming
adds more luster to the day.

It’s as if spending time in meditation of these words brings us to an ocean’s shore where we feel the power of God to restore.

Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
by the cross are sanctified;
peace is there that knows no measure,
joys that through all time abide.

For me, this hymn brings me to a present place. To a beach and the warm sun, where God shows me His power, and in the vast beauty, His love.

Today, let’s let God take us beyond where we are. Let’s let Him encourage our sadness with His great arm of compassion, let us believe our God’s present help and direction, right now, restating:

In the cross of Christ I glory,
towering o’er the wrecks of time;
all the light of sacred story
gathers round its head sublime.

Finding myself at the cross today, I turned to, At the Cross, from Isaac Watts, 1701, as well. Revived and happy, I am filled and restored. Take time to read this aloud:

At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For sinners such as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
’Tis all that I can do.

Words: Isaac Watts (1707)

This is how I can glory in nothing but the cross of Christ. The hymnal heals my soul with immediate reminders of God’s love for me, you, . . . and the whole world.

May God bless you.


 

How sweet to hold a newborn baby . . .

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone . . .
The great He? He’s Jesus!

Soon to hold my precious newborn grandson with anticipation and great joy, I give abounding, bubbling, and tripping over thanks to God.

Baby Emeril safe and content in his mama’s arms.

Do you also think of the familiar Bill Gaither hymn when reading the title phrase?

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Not only, this new-born child, but all ages that hold this precious gem . . . Yes, “this child” can face uncertain days, because the LORD Lives.

There has been much toil leading to this moment in time for us, yet, one thing stands secure,

The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe Proverbs 18:10.

No matter what! (And no-one could have told me all the whats that would happen in our Michael Rypkema family life up to now), and also in yours, I’m sure,

but can you, and will you join me, to proclaim this constant:

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth Psalm 121:2.

And for all of us who believe this with every ounce of our being, no matter what, we proclaim to choose, to the best of our abilities, with the help of the Lord, to:

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal Psalm 26:4.

You and I, we witness much loss in our own lives, and those around us.

Great battles rage.

Storms, sickness, and loss as a result of living in this fallen world often leave our hearts broken and bleeding.

But we remind each other, The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

These are God’s Words, not our own. God is close to the broken-hearted. When the Bible is opened Psalm 34:18 comforts with truth.

The hymns, the Psalms, God’s Word . . . our joy and rejoicing. Our comfort in pain. Our compass in darkness.

Our life.

Our steady song.

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

A new-born child. It’s time to celebrate.

Actually, at all times, we can celebrate the Lord.

And each new day we can celebrate new birth as we surrender and put our trust in God.

We rejoice in the Lord for the wondrous good in life. And we also choose to praise Him through the trials.

A heart willing to praise increases faith in our day to day. To God be the glory for His goodness at all times.

Today . . . Join me in speaking aloud:

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever Psalm 145:21.

This is our hope, that all flesh will bless His holy name, now and forever, with hearts tuned to praise Him, always.

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

Let all the children say, “Amen.”

Re-charge with an old hymn to increase faith

Dead phones need a charger. Weary souls need a re-charger too. Paul Gerhardt knew about the need to be encouraged, so in 1656, he penned these words:

“Give to the winds Thy fears; Hope and be undismayed;

God hears Thy sighs and counts Thy tears,

God shall lift up Thy head.” Hymn by Paul Gerhardt, translated by John Wesley, 1656.

 Some old hymns need to find their way back in today’s busy minds.

A 1656 hymn speaks volumes, plain and clear for today, “hope and be undismayed.”

John Wesley is a familiar name. He’s the brother of Charles  Wesley, one of the 19 children born of  Samuel and Susanne Wesley. John was four years older than Charles, and  they both were used mightily by God.

But John Wesley had sighs and fears. All of human race has sighs, tears, and fears.

However, God lifts up our head. When we believe, our heads rise. 

“Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears Thy way; Wait Thou His time; So shall this night soon end in joyous day.”

Faith helps us wait for His time. Ecclesiastes 3:17 reminds us: 

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

This night will soon be over into a joyous day.

“Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD” Ps. 27:14.

God is God, we’re not. He is a Sovereign God, He knows the beginning from the end. But waiting on the LORD is hard. Our hearts become weak and weary. 

We struggle to trust Him. How we need to know Him and His love deeper and wider.

He knows everything about us, yet He loves us with tender-mercies.

There is no one like God. But do we know Him?

When we spend time with Him. He will strengthen our heart.

Faith is believing God. Wanting to know His Word, His Ways, His wisdom.

“Leave to God’s sov’reign sway To choose and to command; So shall thou, wond’ring, own that way, How wise, how strong His hand!”

 He desires my best, not my own wandering ways.

When I don’t fully understand, do I believe still?

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ Romans 10:17.

Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind Job 12: 9-10.

“How can tragic loss, disease, and strife bombard our lives as it does?”

We ask, we wonder, we doubt God’s love,

Yet His Hand remains to hold ours as we walk among thorns in this broken sin-cursed world.

There’s always hope, as long as there’s God.

“Let us in life, in death, Thy steadfast truth declare, And publish with our latest breath Thy love and guardian care.

God’s Word, a voice of love and care and steadfast truth: 

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 
 
He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 
 
 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 
 
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. 
 
 “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 
 
 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name.
 
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing Isaiah 40:21-26.

 

“Far, far above thy thought, His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought, that caused thy needless fear.”

  He supernaturally lifts us to carry on . . .

Until that day,

He calls us home.

“Give to the winds thy fears. Hope and be undismayed.

God hears they sighs and counts thy tears.

God shall lift up thy head.”

Change my countenance Lord, let Your light shine instead

“I hear the Savior say,
Thy strength indeed is small,
child of weakness
Watch and Pray-
find in Me – thine all in all.”
“I hear the Savior say,…”

My prayer to God is “Change me, Lord. My countenance is hard and pained.

Help me remember the foundations:

“I will never leave you or forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.

“I am the Lord… (You are ) precious in my sight… and I have loved you.” Is. 43:3,4.

Help me remember the exhortations:

“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14.

I must turn around and pray.

“May my hard countenance be changed. Christ shine on me. In Jesus’ name.”

Child of weakness, watch and pray.

 Find in Me,

thine all in all.

Battles rage inside my mind, and voices speak: “You don’t have what it takes.”
“Give up now. Things will never change.”

But like a dream flowing in circles, the Holy Spirit shows me the way, again, and again:

” . . . Thy strength indeed is small, child of weakness watch and pray. Find in Me, thine all in all.

“Hear Me, listen, receive My Spirit. Be filled, and be changed.”

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel.

Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful . . .
Come, let us go up to Zion to the LORD our God.” Jeremiah 31:3,4.

“Jesus paid it all!
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain – He washed it white as snow!”

A song of peace, rest, and truth from the Lord brings to remembrance God’s true Word:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 
 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 
 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 
 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep John 10:11-13.
“You Lord, chose to be true to us, Your children. You didn’t run away. You committed to each of us, You faced the cross and taught us love.
Help us speak the hymns aloud and find a countenance that’s light:

“Lord, now indeed I find, Thy power and Thine alone, can change a lepers heart and melt a heart of stone.”
“Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe.

Sin had left a crimson stain
He Washed it White as Snow!”

Your sacrifice and offering are the vision and focus we need, to bring us joy.

Yes, we choose to abide and dwell in praise and thankfulness. Our countenance is changed to shine Your gentleness.

You remind us, we’re simply passing through. We will look up and sing, and have a washed heart and joy:

“And now before the Throne, I stand in Him completeJesus died my soul to save, my lips shall still repeat,

“Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain
He Washed it White as Snow.“

Praise will change my countenance moment by moment, today!

I will . . . be free, in Him.

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.

I’ll Fly Away, Albert E. Brumley in 1929

The win in a hymn, defeat to fear: Praise God Forever

“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.”

New heart strings, and ultimately, a new me.

Will you also agree?

Come Thou Fount, hymn by Robert Robinson

Cancer with a little “c” helped me SEE Christ with a capital “C”

   

(God’s Hand painting: JonathanRypkema, 2010.)

I didn’t begin to write until my cancer fight.

But, I had to write, if only for myself.

God placed on my heart to write that I might remember good themes while facing the battle before me.

Cancer changes you. For me,  it was for good.

I had many cancers of thought and attitude as well, growing in my heart after “life happens,” in other words,  great affliction and testing.

Through a flood of trial, thought patterns of fear, anger, and uncertainty came over me through the course of a day and the battle felt too great to overcome, yes, even in the Lord. 

Yes, “My flesh and my heart,” did fail, but “God was the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Psalm  73:26. 

The physical battle of cancer kicked me into a renewed faith to live, abide, and trust in God, moment by moment.

Has your life been rudely interrrupted by something tramatic and painful? 

God did not “cause” this cancer, but He is in control and He most certainly “allowed” this trial in my life. 

It’s as if I ws “blind” to many wonderful things about God, and He allowed me to “SEE HIM” in my agony like never before.

So much so, I became what some might say, a “Jesus Freak,” so to speak!

How will we know God is All-sufficient until we’re allowed to be in a place where we have no sufficiency in ourselves.

After the cancer diagnosis, I grew strong through the Word of God by day,  but, I admit,  at night, fear would come rushing in to envelope me.

I recited aloud scriptures I had memorized. They permeated deep inside me, increasing my faith in a God I couldn’t see, but I believed was drawing near to me, personally, individually, intimately.

I prayed the name of Jesus, over and again. Victory of anxious thoughts was won moment by moment.

Weeks before the cancer diagnosis, I was feeling pains in my pelvic bone and excessive fatigue. After the diagnosis, before the scans, I feared the cancer had spread to my bones. Would I have a fourth stage diagnosis?

One particular night I felt compelled to get out of bed, to literally fall prostrate before the Lord.

I prayed,

“Lord God, I’m afraid this cancer has  metastasized to my bones. Please heal me. Heal my bones.”

I went back to bed. The verse in 2 Kings came to mind, “Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
I felt the crazy desire to pray in this manner, seven times. 

So, I prayed on my face that night seven times.

I prayed in Jesus’ name for mercy and healing of my body. 

Weeks later, my bone scan results were clear.  However, a large cancer tumor, remained in my breast. What to do?

My father, Dr. Ernst E. Born, M.D. had passed away some years before.  He was an oncologist/surgeon in Arizona. 

As I grew up,  Poloroid pictures of tumors, surgically removed  that day lay on our kitchen counter.  This was a great encouragement for me to take vitamins and strive to be healthy.

I was a natural and alternative medicine person through and through.

After the tests and the diagnosis, my schedule was filled quickly with surgeon and oncology visits. 

The woman behind the surgeon’s office counter was from church.  A Christian song  played from the speaker in the room as I waited. 

I heard a voice, not audibly, but impressed upon me, from behind saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” as I walked in to meet the oncologist. 

“This is the way, walk in it,” chemo, surgery, traditional medicine, but I had a peace that passed all my understanding. God was with me. 

Part of the  chemo I had to endure was nicknamed by my oncology nurse, The Red Devil, because it was red and it kills cancer. (Adriamycin was used decades before by my dad to fight cancer. He would’ve been happy.)

Chemo has it’s good, I suppose, and it’s bad, and ugly.Chemo was the hardest thing I had ever been through in my life, and I birthed eleven children, completely natural.

After my third treatment, my dear friend drove me home after I was loaded up with the prescribed chemo for that day. Within an hour I was sick. My body wasn’t used to such invasion.

I laid down after my friend Andrea had prayed for me. She reluctantly left me to have some rest while my sweet neighbor Estelle had the kids for a bit. With my eyes closed, I felt I could feel death in my bones.

Anyway, I started talking to God with fear,  “Lord, I think they misjudged the amount of chemo.”

I thought I was dying. I was looking for lights or brightness.  I saw none.

Anyway, I saw darkness. But suddenly there was a door.

It was open. There was light shining out of the door. Then I saw His hands, palms side up. Scarred, but healed.

“Not all know Me as their King,” (words from Glen Keane’s children’s book, Adam Raccoon and the Mighty Giant,  I read thousands of times), were the thoughts that I heard clearly in my heart.

I knew right then, I was going to live. God gave me marching orders for my future.

The hands that were stretched out in the vision had the scars from the nails.

Jesus knows all about scars . . . because He laid down His life for each one of us. Especially me. Especially you. Everyone.

And, as best I can, being in this fleshy human body, with many weaknesses and temptations, I would like to lay down my life for Him. 

One day at a time. Moment by moment.

God allows us trial. He has us enter battles of emotion, physical weakness, spiritual fatigue. But God,. . . 

He faithfully brings us through. He brought me through. I was carried by the prayers of the saints, through His Word, and , one more point to my story,

He brought me to the hymns. I’m a guitarist. I came to know the Lord in a contemporary church. But He allowed trial. And, for someone who doesn’t sit well, He allowed great stillness.

 That same afternoon, after the third chemo treatment, after the vision,  I opened a hymnal on the shelf to Be Still My Soul:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Its as if I never knew this truth, and it was for me, right then: The Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

The Spirit of the living God fell afresh on me and ministered a breath of restoration and hope in me.

I could go out in peace and  the courage of God.

He loved me through my times of doubt and fear, and He loves us still through our struggles. He meets us there when we seek Him.

God encouraged me, “Draw near to Me, and I’ll draw near to you.” 

I learned Be Still My Soul on the guitar and sang it to myself often. It’s recorded with parts of Psalm 18, to be music therapy for me, and hopefully someone else going through trial.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds shall know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel

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Let me know if my story brings comfort in any way. It makes it all worth it. Every bit of it.

Honey Bite for Today

1 Timothy 1:7

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

I Need Thee Every Hour by Annie S. Hawks, 1872.

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Hymns written long ago, give us prayers to open our heart’s door.

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.

Knowing God through Worship, Everyday

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!

Full of Joy? Guaranteed, after spending time with the Lord.

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!)

Doubts disappear when we look to Jesus

 

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught 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. Irish Hymn, 7th Century.

But what happens when doubt comes to visit?

The stories are written. The Bible reveals that even John the Baptist had doubts and was found to be discouraged.
 
John the Baptist, the one who witnessed the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descend like a dove and remain on the head of Jesus.
 
John the Baptist, whose own lips proclaimed,
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, John 1:29.
 
John faced difficult times. He was faithful, he was steadfast, and he was put in prison:
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the coming One, or do we look for another?”Matthew 11:2,3.
John had doubts. And we do too, at times. 
But Jesus . . .
 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you heard and see.
The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; 
 
John was in prison. He had time to think on this.
 
The lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;
 
Lepers cleansed? Never before. Deaf hearing? “Tell John to think on these things.”
 
The dead are raised up. . . 
 
What was dead is now alive!
 
And the poor have the gospel preached to them.
 
Provision of life and hope is shared with the poor.
Are we as John on occasion? With doubts about the Lord?
Jesus offers even more for us to ponder in the face of difficulty:
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me Matthew 11:4,5.
 
We must stay focused. Eyes on the Lord. We must keep our hearts soft, our ears open, God’s Word nearby, and His song on our heart.
 

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.

 
Just as John the Baptist, who had troubles along his faithful path, Jesus wanted him encouraged.
“Tell John the sick are healed, the blind see, the death hear. What was dead is raised to life again.
 
John most like rejoiced at these thoughts. But we have choice today to rejoice no matter what:
 

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise;
thou mine inheritance, now and always;
thou and thou only first in my heart,
high King of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Encouraged and changed. Instead of doubt, we now have praise:

“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved . . . Ps. 16:7,8.
 

High King of heaven, my victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, John 14:27.
I choose to believe Jesus. I do:
“Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.”
 

Our Valentine Promises

The true Valentine keeps promises to His own.

To all who receive Him, He makes their heart His home.

He is the Vine, our Valentine.

He asks that we abide and unite with His Word and fruit will come forth bringing glory to the Lord:

Speak aloud age-old hymns and be revived in the soul. Actively respond, and discover, it is so:

“Quicken’d by thee, and kept alive, I flourish and bear fruit; My life I from thy sap derive, My vigour from thy root. 

I can do nothing without thee; My strength is wholly thine: Wither’d and barren should I be, If sever’d from the vine. (1)

He is faithful. That we might trust Him more and more.

Faith grows as we hear His Letters of love. Ears that hear, with souls refreshed, as words are read of Jesus’ faithfulness:

“Come just as you are, for Jesus invites Poor sinners to share substantial delights: Ye weary and burden’d who happy would be, And wish to be pardon’d, come listen to me.”

“The ear of your heart if you will incline To you I’ll impart my fulness divine, Your souls by my Spirit made meet for the sky, The life shall inherit which never shall die.” (2)

Valentine comfort. Valentine hope. This is Jesus, to all whose heart will take hold.

“My precious Lord, for thy dear name I bear the cross, despise the shame; Nor do I faint while thou art near; I lean on thee; how can I fear?

No other name but thine is given To cheer my soul in earth or heaven; No other wealth will I require; No other friend can I desire.”

Yea, into nothing would I fall For thee alone, my All in All; To feel thy love, my only joy; To tell thy love, my sole employ.”(3)

He makes beauty from ashes. Will you join me in praise? His Name together, with thankful hearts, raise!

(1) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

(2) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

(3) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

Picture Credit: LegacyandCo

Need Rest. Got Jesus?

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust” Palm 91:1,2.

A secret place of rest, “yes.” That is what we desire.

Right here, right now, no matter the circumstance, no matter the geography, we can place our heart and mind in a position of praise to the El Elyon-the Most High God.

Paul and Silas were attacked for being servants of the Most High God. They were ordered to be stripped, beaten, and severely flogged and then thrown into prison. (Acts 16:23,24.) These were not happy circumstances for believers in the true and living God.

How can this encourage us? How can this bring rest? Have you heard what happened to Paul and Silas?

These were ordinary men, like you and me, but perhaps not ordinary in their faith and lifestyle: . . . the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” Acts 16: 24-31.

Do we dwell in a place of praise? There’s a difference if we do. There’s a difference in our moment to moment response. There’s times of faltering and discouragement, yes, but when we live a lifestyle of faith and worship, as Paul and Silas, we be changed.

The chains break off. The jail is opened. And our witness can be genuine and fruitful. Even if we find ourselves in difficult times.

Can we say, “The Lord is my refuge?”

Psalm 91 feeds new courage and hope within our souls:

If we make the Most High our dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.

But that doesn’t mean the trials won’t come. Paul and Silas were beaten and put in jail.

What it does mean is, we call on the Most High God and praise Him for His Love, and He changes things.

How do we have a lifestyle of praise? We must fight our battles with faith in our heart. Faith comes by reading (aloud) God’s living Word.

Today, right now, I mean what I say, for you and me both, every day, we must read aloud, straight from His Word.

Ask Jesus in. Ask the Spirit to minister deep within.

Like a musician who plays, we will read what His Word says:

 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?a

Has it not been toldb you from the beginning

Have you not understoodd since the earth was founded?e

 He sits enthronedfabove the circle of the earth,

and its people are like grasshoppers.g

He stretches out the heavensh like a canopy,i

and spreads them out like a tentj to live in.k

 He brings princes to naught

and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.m

 No sooner are they planted,

no sooner are they sown,

no sooner do they take rootn in the ground,

then he blowso on them and they wither,p

and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.q

 “To whom will you compare me?r

Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.s

 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:t

Who createdu all these?

He who brings out the starry hostv one by one

and calls forth each of them by name.

Because of his great power and mighty strength,w

not one of them is missing.x

 Why do you complain, Jacob?

Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is hidden from the Lord;

my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know?

Have you not heard?z

The Lord is the everlastinga God,

the Creatorb of the ends of the earth.c

He will not grow tired or weary,d

and his understanding no one can fathom.e He gives strengthf to the wearyg

and increases the power of the weak.

 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young menh stumble and fall;i

 but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.k

They will soar on wings like eagles;l

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:21-31.

God’s ministering Spirit. God’s precious Word. All glorious.

If you don’t know Jesus, He’s a prayer away.

After you’ve asked Him to come in, receive forgiveness and grace, and he will give you the power to offer it to all that you meet.

He is God. He is able to help our souls soar on wings like eagles where ever our bodies might be.

Amen. Please tell someone if you’ve received Jesus for the first time.

Angels rejoice in heaven.

And your soul receives . . . rest.