It is always fitting to praise Him

“Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” Thus sings the chorus from the 147th Psalm. 
There are times when it’s easy to praise God.  And there are times, when Oh, we don’t feel like praising Him at all.  It can be a sacrifice.
But He tenderly makes it possible when He beautifully paints the morning sky. Can you hear Him ask your heart’s eye,
“Did you see the colors I formed for you? I Am the Lord and I love you.”
He puts joy and delight in a young child’s eye. “The life in this child is a reflection of Me. Be still, take notice. Take time and breathe.”
We work and we toil and we plod along in our lives, we move forward but the rhythm doesn’t always flow real nice, then all of a sudden there is a surprise.
Could it be, we actually won the prize!
Perhaps a sacrifice of praise is the best medicine always. God knows that His children are happy when they hear what He says:
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” 
Breathed out by God, Psalm 147 just might be words to lift weary hearts high as the heavens:
“The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel.”
He doesn’t tear apart, He doesn’t divide. The Lord builds up, the Lord gathers, 
‘How good it is to sing praises to God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him.’ (emphasis, mine!)

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.“

These are words from the Lord God Almighty,  we can believe Him faithful always, even when we can’t see.

He is good and He is worthy of our praise, when the sun shines and when the skies are dark with rain. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He loved us yesterday, He loves us today.

“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”

We can’t come close to number the stars, yet He knows the name for each of us. He – knows  – whose  – we  – are.

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

He knows the good, the bad, the ugly. He knows our thoughts every minute.

“The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.”

God’s word reminds us that the ‘fear of the Lord is wisdom’. Trusting Him will make our whole being, sound.

 “Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp.”

Our vocal chords have strings. Let us be willing to look to Him and sing.

 “He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain
   and makes grass grow on the hills.
 He provides food for the cattle, and for the young ravens when they call.”

The word of God empowers the weak. Reading His words transform feeble knees. God’s word is light and living. Oh that we would heed it each morning and evening:

 “His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,
    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
 the Lord delights in those who fear him,
    who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”

Will you join me today to praise Him with out ceasing? He knows when the rhythm and rhyme isn’t flowing, but He is the One Faithful to keep you. He is all knowing.

“Praise the Lord.”

On the good days and the bad.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!”

Amen, amen, amen,  Amen!

 
 
 

How to 'just do the next thing."

What is it to ‘look to God’ when the eyes of the heart have been shattered? When the next breath brings excruciating pain and tears.
How can the next step be taken. How?
We are surrounded by witnesses, even as a great cloud. The Book of Hebrews breathed out by God says. People long gone and people in our view. We must be willing to watch them, somehow.
If we don’t have a willing heart, we need to ask God to give us one. That’s the start.
Doesn’t a runner focus, commit time to the race and train?  They’re at the track, enduring pain, restriction, even criticism, but they make the choice to even run in the rain.
To do the next thing …
when the breath has been knocked out, we must look to God and Jesus His Son. He sent Him that we might have all the witness we need.
Moment by moment , breath by breath, how did Jesus withstand the agony of the cross?
Eyes on the Father, His heart on us.  Jesus said, I AM willing. He laid down His life for us.
Who is this Man who overcomes, that we are to look upon?
“He is the image of the invisible God…” Colossians 1.
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible … All things were created through Him and for Him.” Colossians 1.
These are words written in the Book for all people, quietly sitting on the book shelf. But when opened and read, God again … becomes big.
“He came to His own and His own did not receive Him.” John 1:11.
Rejection and grief are not foreign to Jesus. A witness sufficient, He is alive evermore.
Jesus lifted His eyes to His Father when He prayed for all the people of the world:
“Father, the hour has come, …
“Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, …” John chapter 17, Jesus prays for us still.
As a child we remember Three in One, but somehow through time, perhaps we believe ‘me’ is part of the sum.
But this broken world comes to cut us and bring pain, and there’s nothing left in the ‘me’. Everything’s changed.
So we turn and knock and hope that it’s the right door.
“For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” Romans 10:11.
“Call us, ‘Whoever’ , Father God, we need You. Show us the Son and move in us by Your Spirit. Bring us each day to clearer vision.  Forever, always.  This is our prayer to our Father in Heaven, Your will be done, You be our vision.”
“My son, ( and daughters too), do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastened, and scourges every son ( and daughter), whom He receives.” Hebrews 12 verse 5and verse 6, extra nouns added to include all of us.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9.
In order to do the next thing, we must first breathe. Perhaps the Word of God is our very breath. And Jesus  will show us the way, and the path. He is the One who will get us through each step.

Give us, God's own handwriting

God has come  into the temple, in reading His Story as told by John in the eighth chapter of his Book.
And it is told, (in verse 6, if you happen to want to look at the story yourself), that He begins to write in the dirt.
“Wait a minute. When did God write in the dirt?”
Two thousand years before, it was the finger of God who wrote on stone tablets, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.”  Exodus 20.
The religious  leaders of the day  came as policemen asking  about the punishment this woman, caught in adultery, should receive.
“Now Moses, in the law commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” They asked Jesus.
Jesus didn’t answer right away. He stooped down instead and started writing in the dirt with His finger.
So, the scribes and Pharisees kept pressing for His answer.
Jesus raised Himself up and said, (New King James Version):
“He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” ( John 8:7).
So one by one, they slipped away, the Story is told.
The oldest leaving first, ‘even to the last.’ (vs. 9).
And Jesus was left alone with the sinner. “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”
This is the voice of the Lord.
And she answered, “No one, Lord.”
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
These are the words of God. This is His handwriting.
Do you think the woman lifted her head to look in His eyes?  Jesus comes today to forgive our sin.
Am I willing to hear Him and lift up my head? Am I willing to com to His feet, guilty, and receive his forgiveness. No more hiding in the night.
Adultery. Lies. Turning from God.  The Law is broken in one point it is broken it all. “He who is without sin, let him throw the first stone.”
We are all guilty. Everyone of us has broken the Law of God.
Are we choosing to love the Lord our God with all our hearts? Moment by moment, we love ourselves greater.
Oh, let us draw near to God, perhaps we were ‘brought to God’ in the midst of our sin.’
But shall we not hear the voice of the Savior this day:
” … where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you? “
“Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
This is the voice of the Savior of the world. This is His Story in the Book of John chapter 8.
“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.” Psalm 119:9.
He has written His word. The handwriting is His. Today, do we believe Him? Let us lift up our eyes to His and say, “yes Lord. I receive You.”
“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him. But …
As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become …
Children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:10-12.
 

Faithful amid unfaithfulness..

A poem written long ago by J G Deck and published in 1846, would be an appropriate prayer for many us today.
“Faithful amid unfaithfulness, ‘Mid darkness only light,
Thou didst thy Father’s name confess, And in his will delight.
Unmoved by threats or flatt’ring wiles, Or suffering, shame, and loss;
Thy path uncheer’d by earthly smiles, Led only to the cross…”
The poem is about  the Man, sent from God.
Jesus, whose name most know and have heard.  Yet His name is often thrown around, and used as in a curse. Yes, the name of the Man often banned in public circles, is the very name that when called – brings death to a reverse.
“Faithful amid unfaithfulness, ‘Mid darkness only light,
He’s misunderstood completely- from Love to Judge, thought to have a pointing finger – these things ought naught be so.
If  only the children of the world could know: “Faithful amid unfaithfulness, ‘Mid darkness only light,
Thou didst thy Father’s name confess, And in his will delight.
Unmoved by threats or flatt’ring wiles, Or suffering, shame, and loss;
Thy path uncheer’d by earthly smiles, Led only to the cross…”
We, so easily are moved by the multitude. Wake up dear people,  any dead fish can float downstream.
Wake up, Wake up and decide to stand – for the Man who for your deepest and ugliest sin, laid down His life, in your place, And stretched out His hands.
Consider and think . . .
Make this a day of decision, to swim upstream against the flow. J G Deck’s poem has a prayer for us all, to seriously ponder, and in our hearts make a home:
“Give us thy meek and lowly mind; We would obedient be; 
And all our rest and pleasure find In learning, Lord, of thee.”
Meekness is power under control. Others minded is the “lowly mind” needed so.
Peace, peace glorious peace we need. Peace, peace. Is this not what mankind seeks?
“Dear Lord Jesus, help us to yearn for more of You. Help us hunger and thirst for Truth. “Thy Word is Truth,” the Bible declares. “I am the way, and the truth . . .,” Your mouth proclaimed. O that You would receive the glory due Your name. In these last days, may mankind find that it is You that they seek. Increase faith in the land. Take away the world’s unbelief.”
“Jesus, Your name is high above all others. Draw the children, the fathers and the mothers. Encourage the grans, draw nigh to the grants. Pour out Your Holy Spirit. Bring a “river of life” running through. Make the “lame to walk,” the “blind to see.”
“Give us thy meek and lowly mind; We would obedient be;  And all our rest and pleasure find In learning, Lord, of thee.”
And if there be any heart that has never received, let them open the door and let You in. “Jesus, my Savior, Almighty God. Forgive me. Wash me, Empower me with Your Spirit. Give me faith that I might believe, now and for all eternity.
In the name above all names. The King of Kings. I Am. In Jesus name, Amen.”
 

Nevertheless God

We desire friendship with Happiness. We yearn for acquaintance with Joy. But often we find hidden around the corner, Distress and Restlessness.
Where is Rest?
Airwaves reveal that women “roar” and men “parade themselves.” Children very young and very old, and all the ages in between seek Refuge.
He reaches His hand out in the storm. He speaks, as “our bodies had no rest, . . . we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:5,6. NKJV).  
Refuge comes in the storm. His Word brings His companion, Calm. And Calm has a twin, who’s name is Song.
“O soul are you weary and troubled. No light in the darkness you see. There’s a light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free.”
Then Remember came to my rescue and offered some strong exhortation:
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38, NIV.
“O God,” I cry, “Remind me.” The mountains quake, the trials mount. When lying on my bed, my head cries, “There’s no way out!”
And a still, quiet voice speaks mysteriously deep:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”      Psalm 46, from the Holy Book.
God speaks in the hymn of old, when weariness overtakes our soul, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
So I run to the Word, His present help, and I turn to Psalm 46 to calm me back to sleep:

 “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

So, let us “turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face,” that we might seek refuge from the Lord and not men. That we might have Peace dwell deep inside, giving counsel and comfort to put anxiety aside,

that we might have an abundance of hope and joy and all the rest, because we have made God, The Almighty, Lord of All the Universe, our confidence.

Today, today – let us yearn to seek His face.

 
 

No rest in a storm, or is there?

No rest in a storm, or is there?
 “Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” This is found in the Book of Mark chapter 4 verse 38. It appears that Jesus sleeps in their storm.
And we often think that Jesus ‘sleeps’ through our storms as well. So, we set off to live our life without Him. And the Book, then, remains closed.
I write this blog,  with the theme , “He shows us His Hand.” As I visualize the picture painted years ago of crashing waves of a storm on a lone ship, yet with further notice, the waves form His Hand with a secure hold.
But – I didn’t believe at times, even as a believer,  I didn’t believe that God cared about the crisis and great ‘squalls’ of loss that came my way.
People with good intentions would say, “Just hold on.”
But there was no ‘holding on.’
There were words on my bedroom wall, passed often in the midst of each day, “For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11. And I would talk to God and say,
“I don’t believe You.”
But none of this changed the fact that He, God, the Creator of the Universe, the One who knew my name before I was  formed in my mother’s womb – none of my doubt changed the fact that – God had a hold on me.
So I write a blog with a ton of underlying rules, but I hear One voice, “Write for yourself, what I’ve shown you.” (Jer. 36:2),“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you …”
But, what if I truly gave up on God? What if I didn’t search for Him to show me something? What if I didn’t cry out to Him, “Jesus, don’t You care that I’m drowning?”
I don’t know. Because I did call. I called His name. I did.
“Jesus. Help me.”
So, the Book is open, to Mark chapter 4 and I read verse 9 a bit ahead of the storm:
Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
And I asked God right then, ‘to speak to me now.’ And in looking beyond verse 9 of Mark 4, Jesus explains a story that He told multitudes that day.
I will include the Word of God here, but I will say, God spoke. He wasn’t sleeping, He was near. Not because I could see Him or even know ‘something’ had changed, it hadn’t at all – but you see, He didn’t ‘give’ me peace because ‘He is Peace’. He is the Peace I seek. It’s in the calling of His name.
He’s not just a ‘fair-weather’ Friend. He’s a forever Savior through the thick and the thin.
So, way before Jesus spoke the words, “Peace, be still.” In Mark 4 verse 39, He spoke to them in a story, that they forgot once the waves had hit:
“Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown.

As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 1

8 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Peace is in agreeing and accepting what God says. Even when you don’t understand and your heart even bleeds, Jesus is our Peace – for now … and always.

Call Him, He answers. Jesus is His name.

 
 
 
 
 
 

"Say to them … of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not:"

“Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4, KJV.
This is the Word of God, King James Version where some words are spelled differently today. But recompense has the same strong meaning according to an old Webster’s definition:  REC’OMPENSE, verb transitive
1. To compensate; to make return of an equivalent for any thing given, done or suffered; as, to recompense a person for services, for fidelity or for sacrifices of time, for loss or damages.
Do you believe God’s word? Many can say, “Yes, God I do.”
But it seems this world has become a wilderness.
As the busy-ness takes our eyes away from the Mount on which we must look to for courage and hope.
Isolated, yet surrounded by voices everywhere, our eyes are not up – but looking about as if on a fairground,  we in turn feel barren and alone, even dry and parched as a desert place.
There are enemies of God. The foes of God are many. They are loud. They lie. They murder. They deceive. They manipulate. They hate behind smiling faces.
Followers of God are to hate only one thing: “Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9.
But what are the children to do? They are lied to continuously. The children of this world are being taught that loss, suffering, sickness, and pain come from a ‘hard-hearted’ God, and it’s all His fault. Or they prove God is ‘dead’ over and over inside their heads.
Anger abounds in the hearts of the children of the world. The anger has brought on violence and fear and strife and tears.
The thirsting of the people have cause them to seek all else but God.
But Your Word, You – Who are from the Beginning, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega, call Your children to You softly,… :
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3. 
“I will speak comfort, and courage, and hope. I will enlighten the darkness of each day. Will you hear My words? Right now? This day?
Then you may think for yourselves instead of following the crowd. That you might help lift others out of the pit they are in, or perhaps offer living waters to those who are thirsty and be a friend.  Call to Me, I am love. I am here, I alone, am good. Search my Word, discover hope for yourself and breathe:”
I do not come with the pointing finger. I do not accuse and condemn. That is the job of My enemy. Hear My Words and stop listening to him:”

“Strengthen the weak hands,
    and make firm the feeble knees.
 Say to those who have an anxious heart,
    “Be strong; fear not!
Behold, your God
    will come with vengeance,
with the recompense of God.
    He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
    and streams in the desert;
 the burning sand shall become a pool,
    and the thirsty ground springs of water;
in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,
    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

 And a highway shall be there,
    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it.
    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;
    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[a]
 No lion shall be there,
    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
   Isaiah 35:3-9, NIV.

This is the Word of God. These aren’t some pretty words for some far away future heaven – these words breathe a reality of peace in the midst of the sorrow, in the midst of the fight.

Jesus is an ever present help in times of trouble. He is the Word.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5.

“Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.” Romans 12:9, NLT.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.

‘Full of grace and truth …’ hold tightly to Me. I am Jesus. ‘Be strong and don’t be afraid.’ I am your Savior:

  “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return
    and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
    they shall obtain gladness and joy,
    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 35:10, NIV. 

 

Why 'give back?' Because, I've been 'given!'

Writing, homegrown. Thoughts – rich with thankfulness. Yes, I am thankful. I believe a thankful heart is the beginning and the end of healing. I love the Lord because He saved me from myself and loved me from all over the place! Yes, I can see the Lord in others, yesterday – and I will make the choice to see Him loving and working through others’ today.

Giving thanks at the Table

Giving thanks.
For traditions of old that help us to stop all the work. To prepare to spend time around a table of sorts.  To breathe the same air, for some, to sit and watch sports.
And for others, busily creating great aromas from the oven and stove.
Giving thanks for time to tell the stories of great things – that have happened, and … are happening still.
The story is told that the King at his Table, puts His invitations out, each day of the year. And He waits and He watches and He loves deep and constant. His grace is sufficient and high above all others. The King of all Kings has called out your name, my name, and the one that you are so angry with.
Remember the story, 2 Samuel chapter 9? It might do us well to make this story, mine.
You see, David was king of Israel at the time, and he remembered his friend Jonathan, who was son of King Saul, (who spent year after year seeking to kill David, whose main desire was to chop off his head.)
But for Jonathan’s sake, and a promise that was made, David asked, ‘Is there any that are left of the house of Saul, that I might show kindness?’
‘Yes, Jonathan’s son is alive after all.’
‘Mephibosheth. He’s lame and can’t walk on his own two feet. He lives in a barren and deserted type street.’
Bring him to me, to the palace of the king. This is the story in 2 Samuel chapter 9. But keep your heart soft, don’t close the door on this thing.
So, here in verse 6, pay very close attention, Mephibosheth came to David and gave him honor as the king, and…
“David said, “Mehibosheth!”
 The king spoke his name.
You and me, we are ‘lame’ as well. We live in deserted places, ‘crippled’ from life. But the King invites us to His Table today, and not only that,
He calls you, and me, (and possibly your enemy), … by name.
But not only that, King David said to him, ‘Fear not, for I will show you kindness … and restore you the land of your inheritance. And you will eat bread at my table, continually.’
Did you hear that? What do you think Mephibosheth said, “Thank you king, but I like my deserted place with stale bread and hopeless tomorrows.”
No. He bowed himself to the king and asked, “Why do you even look at someone like me?”
Mephibosheth was still lame, but he was not the same. He was now at the kings table. Restored and refreshed and healed from within.
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says …” Revelation 2 verse 29.
Perhaps we make our name ‘Mephibosheth’ from now on, for all time.
Here is some of the conversation from the King. He has called us – you, me, and whosoever is listening.  Do we come, that we might hear His voice ring:
Jesus invites us to Come to His Table: ” … and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 1 Corinthians 11:24,25.
Jesus was broken that we might be whole.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me.” Revelation 3:20. This is all written in the invitation of old.
A treasury of hope and words from our Lord: “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten– the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm …” Joel 2:25.
Jesus came that we might come alive.
The story is written that we might know, that Jesus loves me. And this I know:
 “When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor.
David said, “Mephibosheth!”
“At your service,” he replied.
7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”
8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?” 2 Samuel 9:6-8.

Did you see the Son rise today?

Perhaps your body hurts with too much pain.
Or your heart is broken, there’s so much strain.
The sadness has caused your eyes to close.
“Jesus loves me …” in this day, who knows?
The clouds are too thick. Is there a Son rise?
Forever, yes. And not as far as you think.
If you stop, and be still … and open your mind.
Put off the doubt, and a young child do find.
If you are able, sit with a youngster or just watch, the wiggles and squeals for a short while or else:  think back of a sweet memory as far back as you can, and sit in the warmth, to cheer up your soul.
Make thinking ‘on good’ be your new style. Sacrifice some time to offer to God a thankful heart for awhile.
Put off the dark colors for a minute and see, the light, the blues and yellows and pink. The Lord will cover you in His tenderness and get you through the  moments of great sadness.
Sacrifice thanksgiving, even though clouds still hang from the sky, somehow, miraculously,
you see the sun rise.
“He, (Jesus) said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  Mark 10:13-15.
Can you see you are His child in His arms? He desires to touch and bless you, even now,
even today,
with His love charms of hope and grace always.
 “And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10: 16.
Let us make a ‘Thank offering.’ Oh how beautiful the Son is to our eyes.
“…Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9-13.
 

Give God the fears, He gives His peace

“Give to the winds thy fears; Hope and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.” (Words by Paul Gerhardt from Germany in 1656, translated to English by John Wesley, 1737).
Time and again, I read these words aloud, “Give to the winds thy fears; hope and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.” My thoughts seek refuge and I find it in psalms and hymns.
I don’t have to come up with words. They’ve been written. The psalms speak my heart,
“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Savior and my God.” Psalm 43:5.
“You are God my stronghold.
    Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
    oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
    let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
    to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
    to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
    O God, my God.“
In the process of speaking these words aloud, and reading an old hymn written centuries ago, I am changed.
Remedy comes.
God abides in praise. He rescues me and changes me in the very act of my praise to Him!
Let us read aloud. And be changed from the inside out.
“Give to the winds thy fears; hope and be undismayed; God hears thy sighs and counts thy tears, God shall lift up thy head.”
“Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears thy way; Wait thou His time; So shall this night soon end in joyous day.”
“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, “There is no help for him in God.” Selah  
“But You. O LORD are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill.    Selah  (Psalm 3:3,4).
“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!”
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4. 

“God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Our “dismay” changes to “hope.”

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus . . . Philippians 4:5-7.
 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9.

“Let us in life, in death, Thy steadfast truth declare, And publish with our latest breath Thy love and guardian care.”
“Far, far above thy thought, His counsel shall appear, When fully He the work hath wrought that caused thy needless fear.” 
“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!”
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Is. 55:8,9). 
Do not fret…trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness…commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass…rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret – it only causes harm. (Psalm 37:1-8).
This is my choosing today, and prayerfully, everyday:
“Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments], making melody with all your heart to the Lord.” (Eph.5:19, Amplified).
Let all the children say, “Amen!”

Receive the gift of Jesus today. We must,
A: Admit our  fall.
B: Believe in His provision of forgiveness.
C: Confess and Call out to Him.

Let us say together, "I am His, and He is mine."

Waking, with the Father’s hand reaching out to me. I take it and I put my hand in His.
“In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid.” Psalm 56:11 on my mind first thing, as I choose to turn and kiss the King.
That is the meaning of worship, I have learned; to worship is to choose to turn and ‘kiss the King.’ So, this is the thing I will do each and every morning.
This is intimate. Completely, it’s true. But a covenant has been made, to me … and to you. CH Spurgeon wrote and I quote: One of the most sublime verses in the Holy Scripture is this, (Jesus talking), “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love.” John 15 verse 9. 
Spurgeon reminded me in the devotional Bible he compiled that, “the Father loves the Son without beginning, without change, without measure, and without end – and even thus does Jesus love us.”
Do we even come close to knowing with our brains, or our hearts, or our souls how much Jesus loves? There is no way. It is too grand, it is beyond us.
But each morning I wake, I choose to take of the Father’s hand, who brought me Jesus that I might see Him. The Spirit of God then helps me understand:
 “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15 verse 10.
When I look deep inside, do I have joy? Where is it, then?
Oh, how I want Christ’s joy to be in me complete. I want this no matter what is going on in the streets. “Joy in the Lord, to be my strength,” is the prayer I pray for us all this day.
There is so much separation. So much division. I will look to God, not the world for wisdom:
 “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “
these words are so deep, can us humans comprehend what all this means?
Spurgeon writes: “This is love’s law – her diamond rule.”  And God’s word continues, “You are my friends if you do what I command. ” John 15:12 and 13.
So I end my writing with Spurgeon’s poem, as he sums up John 15 in his Devotional Bible. Well, and I will add one more verse and a line of a hymn, because ‘faith is thinking right’ that we might walk in the Light:
“Come just as ye 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.”
John 15 verses 14 and 15: ” You are my friends if you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” 
Make it known to usJesus. Show us the way. Help us understand when we open the word. “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word. Just to rest …
upon His promise, Just to know …,
“Thus saith the Lord.”
Our prayer today, together, in unity: “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Thee. How I’ve proved Thee, o’er and o’er. Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus, O for grace to trust You more!”
 
 
 
 
 

What we believe, matters.

The call has come. There’s not much time.
We’ve all been taken captive, bound up by sin. Even though this word is not ‘politically correct’, we’re all bound; and deep down, we know it inside.
Just as the research for many, many years went out to discover that smoking ‘kills’. But the words that came to the public ears, written even on the boxes themselves: ‘smoking may be hazardous to your health.’
Did we not know – these words were just lies.
So, what if in fact, “truth is not what you make it?” But truth has been told -in the Book of old.
Does what we believe really matter at all? Does smoking actually, ‘kill’? Or simply give you a cough.
So much better than ‘good advice’ is the gospel message of Jesus Christ. You see, the chains will be broken.  Chains that have you stagnant and hurting.
There’s a wash inside-out, a free ticket home, and the power to breathe with God’s living hope.
Hey, The Book is the same from page one to the last. In the beginning God created. Many can’t get past that. You see, faith is required and what you believe really matters.
Believe in yourself, and see where you get. But keep your eyes on those who put their hope in the One, that each page of The Book was written about.
The whole Book, really, is about the Lamb. Remember Adam and Eve, making the choice for us all. (And don’t fret about it, if it were any of us,  we would’ve also made the fall).
We do, everyday. And in every way, we are like just them now:  “Do something! Let’s hide from God. Let’s cover ourselves in leaves that bring pain.
Now they knew they were naked. Just as we know we’ve messed up. They were anxious and afraid. The bottom line – they disobeyed their Love.
But what we believe matters. If we stop reading the story, we miss the full picture of the Hand of God reaching. A spotless lamb slain, that they might be covered at last, not by their own efforts and strain, but in softness and gentleness of wool of an innocent Lamb.
Yes, there was blood. Yes, there was death. But it didn’t come from them. It came in the Lamb that was sent. The only work for Adam and Eve to do that day in the garden, was to take off the old garments of prickly thorns they’d sewn on their own, and receive the covering that God offered them.
“No thank You God, we like the pain. You keep the Lambskin. I’m going my way.”
We all have a choice, to believe God, or not. To believe in His Son, to spend time in His word. To receive His great love, to walk in His Way, to accept new life and obey His truth.
God is in control. He created this world. But it’s broken and fallen. The Story is told. From beginning to end. Genesis to Revelation. The Lamb has come to ‘take away the sins of the world.’ In John 1 verse 29, it can be read in black and white,
but these words are living and even sharper than a sword. They cut to the heart, because you are loved by the Lord.
What we believe, matters. Everlasting life forever is offered to those, who take off the old and receive  – new life that’s given.
Lambs skin over thorny leaves … put on Christ, and see God’s Hand take the lead.
Please let someone know that you believe in the Son. But first, even right now, talk to God in your heart, or even better, out loud and make a new start. With God, nothing is impossible. He heals. He restores.
And He has a plan for you that is better than you can know. Keep your eyes up, and in His Love may we each day grow.
 

So far away, yet the stars sing

One million, three-hundred thousand earths can fit in our sun. Our sun is big. However it is told, Antares can hold 64 suns. Antares is huge. But, not compared to Hercules, which can hold 100 million Antares.
Hercules is gigantic. Yet, Epsilon, the largest known star in the universe can hold 3 million Hercules. How do we know all this?
Some amazing magnification.
But back to earth, looking up to the sky, even our tiny, little sun, which can hold 1,300,000 earths – can be hid completely with only our thumb.
If we can hide the sun with our thumb, does that mean the sun’s not there?
“Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
    she raises her voice in the public square;” The light of God’s word is spoken to all of mankind. It is not hidden is some quiet place.
The sun rises in the morning and sets each night. “Day unto day utters speech.” Proverbs 19:2 proclaims. Do we block the words that God has breathed out for us, because this world and people have brought us pain?
Our eyes become dim. Our hearts, discouraged.
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
    How long will mockers delight in mockery
    and fools hate knowledge? Proverbs 1 verse 22, speaks with blunt eloquence. But quite frankly we can hide the sun with our thumb. We hide the Son with our thumb.
Shunning God’s word, doesn’t change it at all.
Dear children of the world, God offers life, and joy, and rest, and peace. Do we walk in the counsel of words at our tips. Do we stand in the path of ‘Do that and do this’?  Do we sit in seats with those who criticize God?
“Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.” Proverbs 1 verse 23. Do these sound like words of a God who’s angry?
The King speaks to His Bride, in words poetic and lyrical in the Song of all Songs by King Solomon. Words bright as Epsilon – so far away, but who can see …
unless one looks carefully. With purpose and determination. With a heart whose eyes are wide open. Almost too wonderful to have understanding. Great beauty exposed, in magnification:
“I slept but my heart was awake.
    Listen! My beloved is knocking:
“Open to me, my sister, my darling,
    my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
    my hair with the dampness of the night.”
The King is calling, but what is the response.
3 “I have taken off my robe—
    must I put it on again?
I have washed my feet—
    must I soil them again?”
The Song continues, faint to most ears:
4 My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening;
    my heart began to pound for him.
5 I arose to open for my beloved,
    and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh,
    on the handles of the bolt.
6 I opened for my beloved,
    but my beloved had left; he was gone.”
This is Canticles V, verses 2-6, in the Book breathed by the King in the Song of Solomon.

  “My heart sank at his departure.
I looked for him but did not find him.
    I called him but he did not answer.
7 The watchmen found me
    as they made their rounds in the city.
They beat me, they bruised me;
    they took away my cloak,
    those watchmen of the walls!
8 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you—
    if you find my beloved,
what will you tell him?
    Tell him I am faint with love.”

The Song of all Songs, verses 6 through 8. The Bride remembers and brings her King into focus, fearing it might be too late:

“He is altogether lovely.” Verse 16, chapter 5, Song of Solomon.

My Bridegroom is pure. Even His enemies can find no fault in Him. (John 18:38). He is ‘ruddy’,  strong and full of vitality. He is ‘the chiefest of ten thousand’ and stands superior to all the rest. His head is as the most fine gold’. He is all divine. (Song of Solomon 5:10,11).

How do I know? Because when you seek, you find.

He never changes.  ( Hebrews 13:8).

There is no shadow of turning in Him. (James 1:17).

“His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fitly set.” This is the Song chapter 5 verse 12. Eyes of a dove are gentle and compassionate. Doves eyes condemn not.

Is this really a book that should stay dusty on the shelf?

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest
    is my beloved among the young men.
I delight to sit in his shade,
    and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 Let him lead me to the banquet hall,
    and let his banner over me be love.
5 Strengthen me with raisins,
    refresh me with apples,
    for I am faint with love.”

The morning stars ‘sing’, I discover in God’s word. The Book of Job chapter 38 verse 7.  Let’s examine His thoughts more intently each day. And magnify His love, and hear His voice say:

“How beautiful you are, my darling!
    Oh, how beautiful! (Song of Songs 4 verse 1),  These are thoughts of the King towards me. “Oh come let us magnify the Lord, and exalt His name together, …”  Psalm 34 verse 3. Exalt the name of the Son. As stars, let us sing.

I believe God, no matter what

If things don’t work out, come through or open up as I thought.
I make the choice, right here, right now. In this present moment – I still believe God.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, …” Psalm 37:23 says. Perhaps the closed doors, the unanswered prayers, the dead ends are protections from harm. Or maybe not.
If we are to ‘walk by faith and not by sight’, perhaps God is exercising us to Olympic proportions that we win a race we set out at first.
God has a plan. God’s plan is for good. I choose to be stubborn for the Lord, and believe in His Word. Jeremiah 29:11 proclaims that God has thoughts toward me. Psalm 139 reminds me that they are more in number than the sand.
I can set my eyes upon good thoughts as this, or scoff and let my heart go amiss.
I can choose because God gave me choice. He desires my love for Him be a choice that I make. He desires that I choose Him.
Not just once, but made every day. “I look to the hills from whence comes my help.” Psalm  121 verse 1 sets me straight,  And I choose to believe that the Lord knows. I will trust Him always.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

Oh Lord God of heaven and earth, may I hear your word with my heart this day, may I choose to believe,… even though at times, I don’t understand.