Read aloud. Today, right now. Be changed. Let faith flood in …

God speaks.
Read aloud His words.
Let the sound resonate deep.
Let God’s word wake us from our sleep. And for those who are awake, yet stricken with fear,
read aloud God’s word and hear: 
God the Judge of the Righteous and the Wicked. A Psalm of Asaph

Psalm 50. “The mighty One, God, the Lord, has spoken,
And summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting [from east to west].
2 
Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,
God has shone forth.
3 
May our God come and not keep silent;
Fire devours before Him,
And around Him a mighty tempest rages.
4 
He summons the heavens above,
And the earth, to judge His people:
5 
“Gather My godly ones to Me,
Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6 
And the heavens declare His righteousness,
For God Himself is judge. Selah.

7 
“Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you:
I am God, your God.
8 
“I do not reprove you for your sacrifices;
Your burnt offerings are continually before Me.
9 
“I will accept no young bull from your house
Nor male goat from your folds.
10 
“For every beast of the forest is Mine,
And the cattle on a thousand hills.
11 
“I know every bird of the mountains,
And everything that moves in the field is [b]Mine.
12 
“If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
For the world and all it contains are Mine.
13 
“Shall I eat the flesh of bulls
Or drink the blood of male goats?
14 
“Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving
And pay your vows to the Most High;
15 
Call on Me in the day of trouble;
I will rescue you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.”

16 
But to the wicked God says:
“What right have you to recite My statutes
Or to take My covenant on your lips?
17 
“For you hate instruction and discipline
And cast My words behind you [discarding them].
18 
“When you see a thief, you are pleased with him and condone his behavior,
And you associate with adulterers.
19 
“You give your mouth to evil
And your tongue frames deceit.
20 
“You sit and speak against your brother;
You slander your own mother’s son.
21 
“These things you have done and I kept silent;
You thought that I was just like you.
Now I will reprimand and denounce you and state the case in order before your eyes.

22 
“Now consider this, you who forget God,
Or I will tear you in pieces, and there will be no one to rescue [you].
23 
“He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me;
And to him who orders his way rightly [who follows the way that I show him],
I shall show the salvation of God.”

These are the words of Psalm 50, Amplified. 

This is the heart and opinion of God.
God’s word is truth.
Do we believe, or leave? . . .
I will choose God. I stand with Him, fearless, with courage, because He is faithful and just. Because He shows salvation to us.
He gave us His Son.
What will you do?
“Peace be still.” These are the words God has to say …
Shall we join together, with thanksgiving, and give Him honor?
We can then Be still and rest in His glory and power!
Be still my soul, and rest in Him, this day.
Jesus is the life and light and the way.

Speak in a hymn. "Be Still My Soul" Make melody in your heart to the Lord

“Be Still my soul … ” (1)
O God … How can it be? The reality? God help us see – that You are the Almighty. “Be Still my soul … Be Still my soul.” 
Words – are powerful. Let us speak old words together. With tears and pain, whether seen on the outside – it is raining within. Let us cry out with our whole heart  – “O God – increase our faith  – again.”
 Words penned in 1752, over 200 years ago, bring health to the soul, somehow. So, today, let us pray together, to our God Almighty and our Father in heaven, with old words, true, (yet first person is changed a few)-  that we might  comfort ourselves in You. Let us say together:    “Be Still my Soul.” 
“Be Still my soul, The Lord is on our side …
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to our God to order and provide;
In every change, You faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
“Dear God there is so much change. But You, O LORD remain. We draw near to You, and You draw near when we do. O God, help us, today in such darkness, take hold of Your light and believe and rest …
in Your faithfulness:
“Be still, my soul: Our God doth undertake
To guide the future, as You have the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
Your voice Who ruled them while You dwelt below.”
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, 
Then shalt we  better know Your love, Your heart,
Who comes to soothe our sorrow and our fears.
“Dear Lord, comfort the downcast with Your Spirit, we draw near.”
“Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with You Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”
“Dear Father in heaven, we bow our heads together. The most important change that needs be, is that which must be done, inside of me. Increase my faith, that I might stand, and follow You, as You take hold of my hand:
“Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing,  You, O Lord on high; to
Acknowledge You in all our words and ways,
So shall You  view us with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Son of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.”
Today. Today! This is what You have given us. Teach us to pray. To talk with You the words of this hymn rather than complaint. Be merciful to us.
Teach us to trust.
Help us to take hold of You – who are Love, and let go of all lust. Let us put off the fight, and the anger, and the strife …
and let us make harmony as we sing Your melody throughout the rest of our life.
We bow our heads, we pray to You. We end our words  and whole heartedly say:  “Our soul is still, as we set our minds on the hill, where You laid down Your life, as a perfect sacrifice, forgiving my failures, Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You.”
(1) “Be Still My Soul” by Katherine von Schlegel. 

Wait . . . I AM here. . .

When you’re ready  . . .
when you’re ready to know.
I wait, patiently. My ways are not like man’s ways you know.
The blind seem to be leading the blind somehow.
so much knowledge, yet, so little care.
So much violence, everywhere.
Are you broken and hurting inside? I AM compassion. Bow your head, I will abide. Selah. Pause and think quietly on this:
I AM the same, yesterday, today, forever.  I patiently endure. I AM here.
I bring Comfort in time. I bring rhythm and rhyme – but not now,
while your cut-heart bleeds . . .
There is a time to grieve. There is a time to mourn with sadness. But the tears will stop, your face will see.
I overcome what you can’t. My ears hear. I hear hearts. I hear tears.
Do you rememberI have engraved, on the palms of My hand, your name?
You have heard. It’s been told you before. The words always sound the same. But, this time, can you hear My knock on your door?
“I Am faithful. I AM True. I give eternal life to all who call, . . . to you.
They shall never perish, those who believe. There is no sin, it has been covered. I was willing, . . .
do you receive?
Greater than all, is My Father in heaven.
We are one, My Father and Me.
We are one. Yes, I, Jesus, I tell you – truly.
No one can snatch them or you, out of His hand. Our Father in heaven, He is Almighty, whose  name is so great you will never comprehend. And know this,
yes, this you must hear, let these words ring clear in your ear:
‘No one’ can snatch you out of His hand.   No trouble or tragedy or persecution or pain, no hunger, or danger, not even death can ever separate you from Him. God is love. Me and My Father are one. No one can separate you from Me.
I wait ’till the day you understand. I have your name engraved in the palm of My hand.
I love you forever. I wait each new day. My knock will not cease, I have prepared for you My Table of Comfort and Peace.
The tears will end.  My song will return.  Watch and be free. Rejoice in Me.
 
Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Psalm 23:4, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” (NLT)
Isaiah 49:16, “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”
John 10: 28,30, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”
Romans 8:31-39,  “What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?  Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?  Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.  Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.
 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
 

I know a man who believes God is who He says He is!

Happy 30th Anniversary Mike! You are a faith – full man! Faith is your gift – trusting God always and forever – and I will prayerfully keep growing in faith- oh yes, I have faith, but not the ‘gift of faith’ like you! It is because you trust God that we have 11 amazing children who color our world and add song to each of our days, as we bow our knees and seek God in praise and prayer each day. I love you Mike Rypkema!

My story? your story? like the man blind from birth? O God I'm out of tune . . .

John 9:1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.

2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.
8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”
9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.”
He said, “I am he.”
10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”
11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of  Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”
12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”
He said, “I do not know.” (John 9:1-12).
“While it is day.” Jesus passed by the way. He saw me in my darkness. All the people had their opinions, but He  quieted their thoughts. “While it is day,” . . . He spat on the ground, and began to make clay.
Clay in the eyes?! Only pain is my thought! How can He be so mean? How could He allow such pain? 
My story has noise and whining and doubt. My story of darkness has  an attitude and pout. 
But Jesus, Who knows the end from the beginning, His will be done. His heart and mind are higher than mine. He allows for clay in the eye that I might see and not be blind.
“Go to the pool, that is called Sent.” 
Choices, choices . . . This just doesn’t make sense! But I have no choice. Great pain I am in. “O God, I’m a mess. There’s anger and stress!”
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Begunning and the End. I am the First and the Last.” (1) I sit on the throne, I’ve paid your debt. ” I make all things new. Write these words, they are faithful and true.”(2)
But I still struggle. I don’t yield with grace. I fight and grown and turn away from His face. The notes in my song are flat and out of tune …
But He waits in His loving  silence until I’m all through. Then somehow the light comes into my heart, and I have again in me breath and I have in me hope. 
How are you so happy? Why write with exclamation points? Trust me, I don’t . But He’s making me new. Even right now , He’s as the morning dew.
Jesus loves me, sometimes I don’t know how. But He loves me and loves you, and while it is day, we best stop our fussing and choose to thank Him. Yes, I choose.
So I’ll sing this morning a song that is old. And let the Light shine in me, His  amazing grace be told:
1 To God be the glory, great things he has done;
so loved he the world that he gave us his Son,
who yielded his life an atonement for sin,
and opened the lifegate that we may go in.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
and give him the glory; great things he has done.
(1) Revelation 22:13.
(2) Revelation 31:5.

True riches …

So precious the little girls, how they love tiaras and gowns. And the boys how they make the everyday sticks into a swords protecting all around.
Oh, there is much clamor about how this isn’t true. But, silently, some know not to listen, to listen to all the noise.
To breathe in the beauty of the sky above and marvel at it’s breathtaking brilliance and  magnificent poise.
Some choose to hear the music in the everyday sounds. To know that God is. To sing His praise and own riches of inner peace, casting off cares and sleeping sound.
He is fairer than the sons of men, so much fairer is He. He is a Rock, a fortress, a buckler, tis true, but He’s also the Rose of Sharon.
He’s the Lily of the Valley. He is gentle in beauty. He brings joy greater than any man’s wine, and best of all, He’s mine.
And He can be yours too.
May a song sing and your heart dance when your ears hear His voice at last.
This is no ‘dream’ to  follow. There is substance and power. There is lasting hope, there is beauty – never fading. This is faith in believing.
Believing and becoming part of the Bride, (both men and woman together),  the church – for Christ is by our side.
“She lives in a bubble. She’s messed up in the head. She’s been brainwashed to believe!” these are the thoughts of those around. But what have I lost, by believing in the Son? What have I lost?
Faith is believing. God is Spirit. He’s in everything around.
“My Beloved came to His garden, and He knocked on the door in the night, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is covered with dew. . .
but I was tired and just wanted sleep and couldn’t move from my bed. But when I came to my senses and opened the door, He was nowhere to be seen, so far out of sight.
So I went searching and asking all around, “Have you seen the one I love?” And it was then, in my search that I found the One . . .
This is written in the Song of all Songs, the words of this ready writer’s pen. Like a wedding procession, He stands and sings over us, His Song:
“Behold, you are fair my love! Behold you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil…(1)
You are fair my love, and there is no spot in you… You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart…”
This is the heart of God towards me, this is the heart of God, towards you!
But the clamor, the noise … movement never ending. “Be Still and know!” He calls in the night. He makes us lie down. But we put up such a fight.
“Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.” (2) He is the Lily of the Valley among the thorns He came down…
He calls, I will follow. Can you hear His voice in the night? – I am His ‘lily’, His lily among the thorns – sick and torn. Even despised in some’s sight. But, He’s got hold of me, He’s got a hold of my heart.  (3) He calls your name too. He waits for your answer. He has a still small voice – He won’t shout and flail His arms. He is the Lord.
He is God.
He stretched out the heavens. He has power to open blind eyes. He is our peace. He doesn’t fret. He is not anxious at all. He loves with an everlasting love. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is first and He is last.  He has broken down every wall. (5)
“But now in Christ Jesus you[Gentiles] who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:13-18 RSV)
 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 28-30.
What do you say? come out of the night? He will show us the way … moment by moment, one step at a time. He is our Husband, our Maker. He is with us. His love is better than wine!
 
(1)Song of Solomon 4.
(2) Song of Solomon 1-3.
(3) Isaiah 41:10
(4) Song of Solomon 5.
(5) Ephesians 2:14. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”

O God, I need You! I am the U.S. of A.

“There is a draught, O God, a great draught of heat and stubbornness and parched lives, but some don’t even know it. Some can’t even see.
“Rain down mercy LORD.” What else can we pray? “Merciful Lord, ‘not giving us what we deserve today.”
“Rain down Your Spirit Lord- “Not by might, nor by Power – Rain down Your Spirit Lord, Cleanse us this hour.”
“Turn the hearts that are stone, back to flesh…back to flesh. Remove the hands from the ears. We need to hear…let us hear.”
“There is a draught, O God. Great heat, fatigue and stubbornness. Rain down Your Spirit Lord, flood this dark world with Your Light. That the stains of arrogance and pride that make us ‘turn to our own way’  – would they be washed away… even washed away from all sight.”
“This is impossible with men, impossible it is. But O God, with You, all things are possible to come true. Dear Jesus, fill us with hope, and increase our faith. Our faith to believe that You can create – even new creations . Yes, today in our hearts, create in us a clean heart. Give us a new start.”
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17). This is Your Word – ‘in You, this is True.’ “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(John 23:34). This is Your prayer on the cross for us, and this, O God, must be our prayer …too. Forgiveness and humility, these were taught by You.
“God help us!” “God save us from ourselves!” Rain down mercy Lord, Mercy Lord, on us!” “Since You have paid our debts, complete and in full – even though our eyes can’t see…BUT, Your Spirit is able to accomplish all things. O that this ‘grain of wheat’ would fall into the ground and die, and would spring up ‘anew’ by the rain that has poured down,
and ‘spring up’ with beauty bearing fruit of love.” And, no matter what happens, even if we ‘go it alone’ we will now ‘set our minds on things above’. Our help comes from You, our Emanuel, God with us! You never left us. We left You, all of us.
“‘We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood!’ We wrestle against rulers of darkness that invade this desert place! So pour out Your Spirit, and remind us what’s true. Help us put off the old and put on You!
We love You because You first loved us! Shower us with Grace and Your great kindness. We don’t deserve on ounce of Your grace. but we humble ourselves and turn to Your face. You are the Lord, the bond of perfection. In each of our human hearts, be  our Resurrection!
Help us to know the Story You have written, and spend time to know our story as a nation. Without You … we are nothing. O God, help us turn around. Give us discernment of the lies and to know the speeches that are sound!
There is hope, one heart at a time. O God, O how I need You. I am seeking citizenship … in heaven.   Light this candle and let me pass it on, one by one, in this darkness – that it might multiply and illuminate hope and peace and life forevermore. It is good to be proud of the nation in which we live, but Dear Lord Jesus, secure my citizenship today, that in heaven I  might live in peace for always.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved!” John 3:16, 17).

Who knows agony of spirit?

Who knows agony of spirit?
For some it comes in an instant. Sudden loss and trauma roll in like thick clouds. They don’t move, the thick darkness. It simply stays around.
For some there is heaviness of feeling, being abandoned and alone. Being rejected and forsaken, and Confusion makes a home.
“My God, My God. Why have You forsaken Me.” (1) These are the words of Jesus, the Lord.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” (2)
This is the word of God. Oh, how it reads like a poem.
The enemy of God wants to destroy faith in His name. The enemy, and our flesh destroy, But God remains the same. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever . . . (3)
Who is like God? He was. He is. He is to come.
“In the beginning God,  . . . and darkness was on the face of the deep . . . and the Spirit of God was hovering over the  . . . waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.” (4)
Who knows agony of spirit? We all do.
But Jesus does most.
Beyond the depth of our darkness, He has walked. We cry out, “Jesus.”
He understands.
This is the will of God. That we turn to seek Him.
Hear Him.
Follow Him. Know Him.
There is no One like God.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but in order that the world might be saved through Him. (5)
“Let there be light.”
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear …” these are the words that we must hold on to, as Jesus endured hours on the cross. “But of power and of love …” there is hope. God will restore – His word is alive even now, in each of us, ever more.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (6)
God restores and gives us, “sound mind.”
 Right now.
Step by step, and hour after hour.
Does He know we are in agony of Spirit? Oh, yes. He knows.
He is with us.
“Jesus.” we call.
A new creation, a resurrection from the dead, this is what He gives. We wait. We trust.
His name is Faithful.
His name is True.
His eyes remained on the Father, and that is what we  . . . will choose to do.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”
Could it be? Could it actually be? That this present darkness we are in, will be a comfort for someone else, some day, some when? When we can hold their hand and listen, and cry with them too, and say, “Oh yes. Jesus knows exactly what you are feeling. He knows, through and through.”
And somehow, in a way mysterious, where pain and beauty meet, we are drawn to the Savior, like never before, again and again, we worship Him, complete.
 
(1) Mark 15:34
(2) Isaiah 40:28-31.
(3) Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
(4) Gen. 1:1-3.
(5)  John 3:16,17
(6) 2 Tim. 1:7.
(7) Psalm 46:1

Without faith, no One's happy …

Do we wake up and go about our morning without a thought of the One who has given us our breath? Do we really believe that the eyes we open to the spectrum of color and light and the ears that hear the morning birds sing- that these all a result of chance?
The children are smarter than all of this.
“In the beginning God created …” (1) This makes sense to the child who’s looking … at the expanse of the sky and the puffs of the clouds shaped as cats and dogs and sometimes as a storm going wild.
“Without faith, it’s impossible to please God …” (2)
And, even in view of the thoughts of the world and the news of the day and the struggles we face, ‘without faith it’s impossible’ to be happy, to have hope, to find a strength that lies deep within, to smile …
But, the children? The children have faith, the children have hope. The children will show us once again how to love. They run to the one who’s arms are open wide, who’s words are comfort and truth. Who provides the needs and food.
“Without faith it’s impossible to please God. For whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists. And He rewards those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. 
Without faith, no one’s happy. We ain’t happy. God’s not happy.  Do we seek to be happy? Find yourself a child to hang out with for a bit. And think about the wonders of the little guy’s eyes and nose and, well, and …even his spit!
The Bible says, that even before this little one was formed in the womb of his mama, God knew him. (3) Yes, and set the little one apart – and loves them through the years, even, if and when, they depart … because God -never gives up on anyone. God believes the best. God endures the faithlessness … And He waits and  He knows,  and He loves the children so.
Today … what will we do? Shall we stop, and breathe, and consider all of this! 
John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
(1) Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
(2) Hebrews 11:6.
(3) Jeremiah 1:5.

Today, is new!

Today, I wake up turned around in my thinking. Today is a new day. The enemy of God hates me and my family, but God … O how He watches over our way.
Do you believe? The lies of the enemy or the truth and strength and hope of our Lord? The liar, the accuser fills us with doubt and fear for the day and even hatred and pride and words that destroy.
Do we hurt inside and then turn to hurt those beside us? Let us let go of what’s past and take hold of today, that God might breathe new hope and life for tomorrow. Let us stop. Let us be still – and … hear the voice of the Lord:
“Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD.” reads Psalm 27:14.
The truth of the matter, is after going it ‘my own way,’ I am left weak, weary, and lean. That’s when we must take courage in God, and know what He has to say. Because the accuser, the hater of God and of man is quick to speak in our ear, “God wants nothing to do with you, my friend.”
“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.  This is what the Lord says:

“Those who survive the coming destruction
    will find blessings even in the barren land,
    for I will give rest to the people of Israel.”

 Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
    With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
 I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
    You will again be happy
    and dance merrily with your tambourines.
Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria
    and eat from your own gardens there.”(1)

This is the word of the Lord for the one, who no longer does things in his own schemes, but makes the choice to be ‘Governed by God!’ That is what the name Israel means. We no longer have to be weak, weary and lean. We can take courage when we put our eyes on the Lord.

Do you see Him? He laid down His life for all who are bitten. And for that matter, we all have been – there has been none that has escaped! So what do we do? We open our ears to hear. We STOP. We, ‘Be Still’ and hear the voice of the Lord:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (2)

 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (3)
Today can be your first prayer of salvation, or just a refreshing of what we have in us still: For God so loves you, He laid down His life, and He is with you now, and forever will.
“Psalm 40:1 For the choir director. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me and heard my cry.” 

God has ears that hear the voice that call out His name. Don’t let the enemy have any more gain. Call out to Jesus … “Indeed, none of those who wait for Him, will be ashamed…” (4)
“For God so loved you, that He gave His only Son, …” (5) Remember today, remember tomorrow, the song you sang as a young one: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little one’s to Him belong, they are weak,…
but He is strong.” 
Today is new. I am changed inside. “Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.”
(1) Jeremiah 31:1-5.
(2) John 3:14,15.

(3) John 3:17.
(4) Psalm 25:3.
(5) John 3:16.

Today, let the children come …

Children are a gift from God. Have you been around a child today? Let us stop and take notice then, that they are excited about simple things, they often skip as they go! They are happy to see you, if you simply greet them with a smile. And if you take even a bit more time, you can see Jesus in their eyes.
Children are our teachers, Lord. Children show us over time, things about ourselves, we would rather not know.
I remember a day, when I felt ‘surrounded’ by little ones.  ‘They’ did this, ‘they’ broke that, ‘they’ just pushed my buttons!  I remember in desperation crying, “Lord, where is the love? God, where is the love?!” I had all the ‘how-to’ books, but I knew something was missing! “God, I have no love!”
“Toni, I AM love. Keep your eyes on Me. Keep finding the meaning of ‘love’ by taking a walk each morning, with My word on your lap.   In the ‘in-between’ time, make the most of your time. Follow Me in the stories, watch Me,  and not mere men, who often ‘love’ by condition, that is not who I AM.”
“My love is not based on any condition at all. My love is based completely on My Name. My name is Gracious, Compassionate, Slow to Anger, and more.  Put your eyes on Me, you will discover one thing, when you seek for My face, you will discover that I walk in love …not as the world or even the philosophers at that, I walk, each step in My Father’s will, I walk with the Spirit of God.”
“Yes, grace is getting what you don’t deserve.” You deserve justice, but I give you favor instead. “How and Why”? You think in your head, but I will tell you, My ways are past finding out, the wiggle and squirm and all the loud noises, are only to show you what you are like to Me! Can’t you see it? It is true, but My mercies are new every morning, yes new every day. I love you My child, ‘let the children come’, I say!”
“Ask and I will give you the good and perfect gift of My Spirit. My power is made perfect in weakness, seek Me while it is day. I AM able to give you out of My fullness, one grace after another.”
Today, Lord, let the children come, and let them teach us about You. Children are Your gift! They make us ‘poor in spirit’, yes, we see our need for grace!  We thought we knew love, only to discover we had none at all- Jesus, fill our hearts with Your love, revive us here, revive us there, revive now and everywhere:
“Revive us a gain; Fill each heart with Thy love; May each soul be rekindled With fire from above. Hallelujah! Thine the glory! Hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory! Revive us again!” (Revive Us Again, William P. Mackay).
 “For out of My fullness, out of all My abundance, I will pour out My Spirit to My sheep who have young, even as the years go by and the vessel feels broken, I will restore the years that the locus has eaten. I will, I am willing, to give to My children blessing upon spiritual blessing.  Even favor upon favor, and gift [heaped] upon gift’.( John 1:16, Amplified). I AM able, I AM able, I AM, and I will!”
“We praise Thee, O God, For the Son of Thy love; For Jesus, who died And is now gone above.” “We praise Thee, O God, For Thy Spirit of light, Who has shown us our Savior And scattered our night.” “All glory and praise to the Lamb that was slain, Who has borne all our sins and hath cleansed every stain.” 
Hallelujah! Thine the glory! Hallelujah! Amen! Hallelujah! Thine the glory! Revive us again!” (Revive Us Again, William P. Mackay).
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” John 1:16, 17).
“Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.” Mark 9:33-37).
“Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17).
“Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?” But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 
 
 

Child of weakness, watch and pray. You will be changed.

“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,…”
What is it that I hear the Savior say today?
Through the years, words I have memorized:
“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.
I also hear exhortations speak to me,
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Ephesians 5:14.
Child of weakness, watch and pray.  Find in Me, thine all in all.
Voices in my heart, “You don’t have what it takes.”
“Give up now. You  don’t . . . have . . .”
This is a fight for my heart and my mind. To know what’s true and what’s a devil’s lie.
I can’t see anything at all. But I will sing the old words.
” . . . Thy strength indeed is small, child of weakness watch and pray. find in Me, thine all in all.
Hear Me. Hear Me, today,
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!”
I hear my Comforter minister to me with thoughts of peace, and rest, and truth:
This is hope. With hope, you will not be ashamed in My name. Your enemy desires that you lose hope.
Hope in Me, I am your God, and I with you.
Let My rod and My staff comfort you my dear lamb.
I have laid down My life for the sheep.
I am Jesus. Call Me by name, and I will answer you. I have prayed for you.”
I can sing, these words are mine. I will sing and rejoice, for He, the Lord God Almighty,
is mine: “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!”
I pray to my God who is Life everlasting. Let me be abounding in Spirit.Give me a deep, solid joy. If you abide and dwell in praise and thankfulness, let me take a breath and rest in Your holiness.
“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.“
 

We are, just as, the children of God …

As we journey, just as the children, the children of God,
who had been slaves – but after the blood was put on the door – the angel of death, passed over. The Lamb had been slain, the children obeyed –
Everlasting life, life forever miraculously given and never ending…as we journey just as the children, the children of God.
The enemy is after us, just as the children, the children of God.
But the Red Sea is parted, time and time again, … as we journey, just as the children, the children of God.
He leads us out and He feeds us His food, just as the children, the children of God – but they are thirsty on the way, yes, we are thirsty as we journey on, just as the children, the children of God.
But the Rock has been struck, and the living waters satisfy … but the next thing we know, as the children journey on, yes the next thing we know, the children speak out against God and their leader, Oh, they complain:  “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die?” These were the children, the children of God who were fed each and every day the bread from the skies and given what was needed at the sound of their cry.
We journey on forgetting – the parting of the Sea and the food sent from heaven, and the Rock that was struck which poured out the waters, the Hand of God and the scars that remain, we forget, we forget …  O how He is longsuffering.
we journey on discouraged, doubting His faithful Hand. And plod on hopeless in the wilderness-land.  Around and around, if it weren’t for His mercy, we would have been lost, and completely defeated!
We are as the children, yes,  just as the children – the children of God!
What is the story? Tell it again, what happened on that day they complained, in that land. The Lord sent fiery serpents, with deadly venom to bite- yes, the children were bitten, the children of God – but what child loved very deeply by their father, is not disciplined promptly, promptly to save; to save from destruction in going the wrong way?
So they cried out to Moses, back in that day, “We have sinned, We’ve spoken against our great Lord! Pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and save us from this pain. Pray the Lord save us, save us this day. We have turned and not pleased the Lord in our ways.”
We’ve all been bitten in some form or another – just as the children, the children of God. We cry out “Mercy”, we cry out together!
So, God said to Moses, “Make a serpent out of brass and set it on a pole. When the children look up, they will be forgiven, healed and whole.” These were the words to the children, “Thus saith the Lord.” These were the words to the children, the children of God.
“Just look to the serpent lifted on the pole-that is your cure!” instructed the Father to the children, the children of God. For all the children bitten by the poison that day, “look up and behold!” I bring healing, I Am the way.
We’ve been bitten by sin, All of mankind, but God has provided deliverance complete and sure, when we admit we’ve been bitten, when we believe there is hope. When we call out to Jesus. He then makes us whole.
We are just as the children, the children of God. Yes, we are children, bitten and poisoned, but cleansed, and delivered, and healed, and new. We believe Jesus and now have life – for now and forever, life forevermore!
Let us believe, and be as His child. Just as His child, a child of God.
“And Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should no perish, but have eternal life. for God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into  the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:14-17, KJV,)
Let us ‘turn our eyes upon Jesus’, let us ‘look to Him who was pierced’. We’ve been bitten, death is coming, let us look full in His glorious face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.’

We seek a city out of sight …

“My rest is in heaven, my rest is not here, Then why should I tremble when trials are near? Be hush’d my dark spirit, the worst that can come But shortens thy journey, and hastens thee home. It is not for me to be seeking my bliss, Or building my hopes in a region like this; I look for a city that hands have not piled, I pant for a country by sin undefiled.” (CH Spurgeon, Devotional Bible).
‘Heaven has a foundation. The earth has none.’ Didn’t God speak through the broken and inspired vessel of Job, wisdom for all  the ages: “He hangs the world upon nothing.” (1)
Some seek a city out of sight, a better country with foundations, whose builder and maker are God Almighty. ‘ Father Abraham had many sons. Many sons had father Abraham – I am one of them, and so are you, so let’s just praise the Lord…’ –But are we all sons of Abraham? “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (2)
‘Abraham looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (3)
What are we looking for? Are we looking beyond this world for our portion? Or are we like the multitudes in the Dark Ages who believed the world flat?
What are we looking for?  Do we see beyond our eye’s view, and set our passion on eternal, heavenly things? Without faith, we see only hopelessness and pain…but think again! Think again!
Is Abraham our father? “ He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;  And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
He is the father of the believing! ‘Many sons had father Abraham. I am one of them,  and  -how about you? Perhaps, this is the day to consider faith in God the Father who has provided redemption through His Son and has sent His Holy Spirit to remind of things that are true. Perhaps it is time to turn off CNN and to open up the Good News.
“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 power, in love and purity.”
“Open our hearts, dear Lord. Wash the hardness away. Turn the light on, dear Jesus, that I might breathe again. Increase my faith! Help me not fear. Open my eyes to see Your face, and draw me near, draw me near! The words to the old hymn, let them teach me again. That I might be renewed by the power of truth:
1. 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!
2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
3. 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 power, in love and purity.
4. 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.
“Yes, Lord. We seek a city out of sight, whose builder and maker is You, the God of all creation. You, who alone, build heaven with foundations of Solid Rock and our precious Cornerstone!” ‘Father Abraham had many sons…I am one of them, and so are you! So let’s just praise the Lord! Amen!’
(1) Job 26:7.
(2) Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6 and Romans 4:22.
(3) Hebrews 11:10.
 
 
 

His Story, His song …(and an old hymn)

Is there a new song from the old words written? Yes, when the report is heard that was given. When the arm of the Lord is revealed at last. When  the message rings true and is held steadfast.
He’s not much to look at. No flair, undesirable. He’s despised. He’s rejected. He’s full of sorrow and griefs. We turn our eyes away- and all else we seek.
The Eternal Father, out of love, sent His Son – to be dishonored and shamefully treated by His human creation.
This is His Story. This is His song. Yet, He prays for us all, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’ve done. They don’t know that their griefs and their sorrows I have taken all on Myself. With great stripes I was beaten, but My Story grows old on the shelf.
I was wounded for their sins. Despised and rejected and spit upon and mocked. The punishment for all of it, Dear Father, I take. That they may heal and one day have peace, when the veil is lifted, and they see the light of My face.
They’ve all gone astray. There’re none good, not one. I’m afflicted, I’m oppressed, Father God, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
I bow My head. I surrender My will. “It is finished.” It is done.
Sins debt’s been paid in full by the Son.
Do we turn and walk away with each new day? Or do we acknowledge Him and bow at His feet.  There is nothing beautiful about that old wooden cross, until one believes the report that’s been given, and finally stops … and sees how amazing love and sorrow meet:

  1. When I survey the wondrous cross
    On which the Prince of glory died,
    My richest gain I count but loss,
    And pour contempt on all my pride.
  2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
    Save in the death of Christ my God!
    All the vain things that charm me most,
    I sacrifice them to His blood.
  3. See from His head, His hands, His feet,
    Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
    Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
    Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
  4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
    That were a present far too small;
    Love so amazing, so divine,
    Demands my soul, my life, my all.   (Isaac Watts, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross).