Revival Great, one heart at a time, even today, let us believe in faith

This is my prayer, today and tomorrow, no matter what is happening, as the media goes wild. Proclaiming as news – stress, lies, and sorrow – my prayer is for the children, not just my own, but all the children in this tattered world, red, brown, black, white, and yellow:
“Jesus, draw Your children near to You, even today. That our hearts would sing and speak Your praise. That we would grow in trust as we move and be.
That we cast every care as they mount up as the sea. And our life would have a new melody: “Create a clean heart O God in me. (1) That I might tell others of Your great deliverance for me. That they in turn, see You and believe.
From my battle of ‘me’ to Thee, faith in You Jesus, brings the daily victory.”
“Oh that this would be the prayer of the children, one child at a time drawing near to You, with the main focus in living: would be to please You. To follow You, to walk with You daily, in Your pages. To experience Your Spirit lifting them above the filth and strife of wages. That in every occupation of life, Your children would go out and have joy, peace, and life – and with the glorious gifts You give, and Individually hand to each one, may they shine like a light,… that the lies will be drown.
Let us have praise in our hearts, because we have received salvation, not by our  own efforts, It’s His work that’s been done. Let us finally start living, as we lay it all at the cross, and rise up new creations, let us publish the Son!” Amen, Amen- would you agree and say: “Amen!” again? Dear Jesus, we anticipate revival within!
 
(1) Psalm 51:10,

Psalm 51:7-17: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right[b] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    and sinners will return to you.
14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,
    O God of my salvation,
    and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
    and my mouth will declare your praise.
16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;
    you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

 
 

When 'me' battles with Thee. But God brings victory

“Sea billows roar and foam! Fear and doubt that a crash will come! “Save us, O God, don’t You care at all!” This lack of faith overtakes my mind, often and at times, overall.
How can You love, continually, in my failure … to believe. Haven’t I heard? Don’t I know?  that You are faithful, You are mighty. Why do I fret? Do I forget?
” The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah. Pause and think calmly of that! (1)
Yes, I forget. From one moment to the next. 
But this moment is new. And “God Almighty, I choose to seek You. To call out Your name. I will not be ashamed.  Increase my faith, O God, on You I call –  Please, dear Lord, Don’t let me fall.”
“Walk me into Your peace… in believing. 
I go about on my own, ‘solo’. Forgetting You. Forgetting You!”
“Be still and know that I am God.”  Be STILL. And Know – I AM God. (2) Right now! Right here! Believe Me! My beloved, I Am here.”
“The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.” Pause and think calmly of that. 
Yes, I will pause. I will think calmly, of that!
“Jesus, draw Your children near to you today. That our hearts would sing, that we would speak Your praise. That we would grow in trust as we move and be. That we cast every care as they mount up as the sea. And our life would have a new melody: “Create a clean heart O God, in me. That I might tell others of Your great deliverance for me. That they in turn, see You and believe.”
From my battle of ‘me’ to Thee, and ultimately to Victory!
(1) Psalm 46:7.
(2) Psalm 46:10, Amplified. “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
 

Doing what's hard …

What’s hard? I’ll tell you what’s hard. It’s hard to say, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” Well, saying the words are easy, but meaning these words from the depth of the heart, –  now that’s a whole different story.
Think of the many beautiful things that could be, if we human beings could do what’s hard. But I’m not even talking about saying, “I’m sorry, I was wrong to a person nearby or far – even though that is needed so very much, and is also so very hard. But I’m talking about saying these words to God:  “God, I’ve missed the mark. I’ve blown it. I’ve done things wrong. I’m sorry. I’m not sure I can even do what’s right on my own. Can You help me now, get it right?  Is there forgiveness with You? Will  You give me a new start? 
Don’t think for a minute that God is like people! People don’t forgive easy. They put up a big fight. But Jesus …
God knows the beginning from the end. He is the Beginning and the End! The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, three in one at the creation. Eve was deceived. She ate the fruit. Adam followed suit and we’ve got this mess we’re in, over and over again. But what does Adam do? He blames the woman God gave to him. And she blamed the serpent, who led her astray. This was a very dark day, indeed. But God watches us play it over and over again, throughout his-tor-y!
Jesus is a gentle Man. Jesus is an Able Man. Jesus is a Willing Servant to take what we owe and pay it in full, “It’s been done, my friend. ”
Psalm 103:12, “as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Not only that, our wrongs, our sins have been buried at the bottom of the sea, Micah 7:19, “Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!”
Doing what’s hard? We don’t even come close. Jesus endured hatred and shame, pain, and humiliation . He was rejected, He was mocked, He was misunderstood but He had  only one thought…
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
“Father, forgive them, … can you and I even come close to comprehend that?
 

So much need, Dear Lord, I choose to exalt Thee …

“It’s too much…There is pain all around. There is loss, and unrest. The pressures mount. Deliverance and healing, and an outpouring of grace, is what I pray as  I seek Your face.
When my heart is overwhelmed, Dear Lord, lead me to the Rock.(1)
Help me not walk in circles, instead, Your name I will raise. For, ‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised.’ (2) At this very moment  I will exalt Thee, O God.
I will acknowledge my Father in heaven, I will proclaim You my King. I will lay down my burdens, and make choice to sing.
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised. Your greatness is unsearchable, it’s past finding out. The babies and infants praise You with joy, the children skip and sing of Your love ever more. I will speak of Your glorious majesty and honor. In my weakness and sorrow, I will rest in You-my strong tower.
Dear Lord Jesus, When I don’t know what to do, when my heart is overwhelmed-I will exalt You.
I will lift up prayer and requests all around, with words from this Psalm, My Jesus, hear our hearts sound:

 “I will exalt You, my God, O King,
And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 
Every day I will bless You and lovingly praise You;
Yes, [with awe-inspired reverence] I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 
Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,
And His greatness is [so vast and profound as to be] unsearchable [incomprehensible to man].
4 
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty and remarkable acts.
5 
On the glorious splendor of Your majesty
And on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.
6 
People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts,
And [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will tell of Your greatness.
7 
They will overflow [like a fountain] when they speak of Your great and abundant goodness
And will sing joyfully of Your righteousness.

8 
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
9 
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].
10 
All Your works shall give thanks to You and praise You, O Lord,
And Your godly ones will bless You.
11 
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
And talk of Your power,
12 
To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts
And the glorious majesty of Your kingdom.
13 
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 
The Lord upholds all those [of His own] who fall
And raises up all those who are bowed down.
15 
The eyes of all look to You [in hopeful expectation],
And You give them their food in due time.
16 
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 
The Lord is [unwaveringly] righteous in all His ways
And gracious and kind in all His works.
18 
The Lord is near to all who call on Him,
To all who call on Him in truth (without guile).
19 
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience];
He also will hear their cry and will save them.
20 
The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
21 
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless and gratefully praise His holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:, Amplified

 
 
(1) Psalm 61:2
(2) Psalm 145:1
(3) Psalm 145:2

Mind craze in the maze …

You and I live in a broken world. The attack, the battle, the unrest is in our minds. Playing havok with our peace, our thinking destroys us, even in our sleep.
There are pressures just to  survive. Our physical needs must be met or we’re weak, our emotional needs need met or we weep, our spiritual needs? There’s no time for that…
at least, that’s how we’ve been taught by professors to think.
Add to that, through the course of the day, media at our eyes notice constantly to say,  “You’re incomplete, you now  need this!” “You need more, and more – come out to our store!”
It’s like we entered the fairgrounds, striving to win the biggest prize. But it all seems twisted somehow –  impossible – and instead of that wonderful prize, (that we just saw with the other guy) –  we simply get the dollar-store size.
But out of nowhere, a ‘voice crying in the wilderness,’ says, “Turn around’. Where it came from, I’m not sure. I never heard a sound!
I’ve heard these words before, John the Baptist, we all know:  “Turn around , the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (1) But the mind brings the battle. Thoughts bring me down, when, unlike a child, I rebel and twist things around. The maze has me spinning, I feel I can no longer stand …
unlike a child, who simply takes the father’s hand.
“He was a weird dude, and his word went against what’s natural inside. Anyway, what would people think? The mind, the crazy games, the battles divide – “I’m not going to listen! This is judgement on his part. Who is he to tell me what I should do, beside!”
‘Turn around, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ …
“What if that’s true? Plain and simple. What do these words mean anyway? The craze continues, confusion follows through.”
“Today! Today! Come follow Me,
Turn around once for salvation and grace.
Make Me your Shepherd, that I might give you all you need. I AM the one who will make you to rest, to lie down on green pastures and lead you in what’s best… I am the One sent by the Father, I am the Son,
I have come that you might have life, abundant and blessed.”
“What makes me hesitate? What makes me stall? The battle rages – is this all there is to life after all?”
“Trust in Me and feed on My faithfulness. Delight yourself in Me, I am able to give you the desires of your heart.” “Today, today , I call you by name, I lead you out, I don’t drive you alone. Dwell in My pastures, I protect and provide, and I love you more than My life.”
“Follow Me through the gospels on the shelf.  Open it up and read it yourself. I am there, come with Me… ‘Today’ is the first day, of the rest of your life.”-Jesus
 
(1) (Matthew 3:2, paraphrase, mine).

When a picture speaks every word …

About the art, the theme to my blog –
The Artist: Jonathan Rypkema/ The Hand of God. “My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, (2010) and it came as a shock to my whole family. Through these struggles the concept of this piece was discovered. The hand formed by waves is symbolic of the presence of God and how He is there with you through hard times, whether it may be sickness or the loss of a loved one.” – Jonathan
I needed this visual when going through my cancer fight years ago. I need this visual every day going through the ‘momentary light afflictions’ of each day.
Today. Today. Today …”Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5,6).
“How do I trust?” You might ask in your heart. “Call out to God! Have you received His Son?
‘For God so loved you, that He gave us Jesus. To all who believe, He gives life evermore. He forgives us our sin, He took it all on the cross. And He gives us power to forgive, to live a new, and to trust!
Ask Him in your life. Make Him center today, Today! He is only a prayer away. The Hand of God is there for you, for all who believe, for all who choose. He is not distant, He’s not far. He is with us. He’s given us His word and His Spirit. Draw near to Him, don’t delay one single minute. –toni

Psalm 40. For the choir director: A psalm of David.

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.

4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
    who have no confidence in the proud
    or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
    I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
    Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand[a]—
    you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
    As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
    for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
    I have not been afraid to speak out,
    as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
    I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
    of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
    Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
    too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
    I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
    I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
    Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
    be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
    be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
    for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you
    be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
    repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
    let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
    O my God, do not delay.”(Psalm 40, the Word of God).

Have you received God’s Son? Ask Him in your life. Talk to Him. Believe,  TODAY! He is only a prayer away.- I am alive, today – but best of all, I am alive forevermore!  -Toni 

 
 

"… Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all ."

“Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all!” (Eighth Century Irish Hymn).
The final words to one of the oldest recorded hymns ever written, are foundational…’whatever befall,still be my vision, O Ruler of all.’
The entire hymn, verse after costly verse build ‘stone upon stone’ a foundation in which, we, believers in Christ can build our ‘temples’ on : “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”(1 Cor. 6:19). And it is most important that we remember, to keep in our ‘vision’ the word of the Lord: “For you were bought at a price…” (1 Cor. 6:20).
For some, there is no time for ‘religious stuff’, and these words just bring strife. So focus is on the immediate, the urgent in  the day to day life.
For others there is too much busy-ness, even in   ‘serving the Lord’ to ‘rest’. What are the foundationsof our thoughts and actions? Do we desire to build relationship stone by stone, step by step?
Do we lose our focus in the whirlwind of life? Do we desire relationship with the Ruler of all and our Creator.
Did you know that the foundation of the Temple in Jerusalem was COSTLY?  “Beside the chief of Solomon’s officers which were over the work,”(of building the Temple of the Lord), “three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work. And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house…” (1 Kings 5:16,17).
Great and costly and hewn stones were brought in to lay the foundation.
I speak in the present tense.  I speak to myself. The cost is great in laying the foundation.  And really? Who would use ‘costly and precious stones for a foundation that’s not even seen?
Foundations are seen by One, and One only. God sees. His vision is clear.
Believing that God cares about all the parts of me that no one else knows, and know one else sees,that’s foundational. And when everything I can see, everything on the outside, starts falling apart- (our temples, our physical bodies),  then the FOUNDATION is all that’s left!
When this world rates us and scores us at ‘zero’ , God sees our faith and rates us as heroes!
So, what are great and costly stones? What are ‘hewed stones’ in the building of the temple of the Lord? in our own bodies? The Chief Cornerstone. Everything rests on the Cornerstone.
We discover the importance of ‘foundations’ and ‘focus’ when trouble comes and great brokenness. It’s not all bad – in that we cry out and hunger for increased faith and focus -God uses it for good.
“Be Thou my vision, Lord of my heart. Not be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought by day and by night. Waking or sleeping Thy presence, my light.”
“Be Thou my wisdom. Thou my true word. I ever with Thee and Thou with me Lord. Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son, Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.”
Costly stones are FAITH : “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”(Hebrews 11:1). It is costly to have faith. BUT, we must be reminded, “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.” We can’t ‘see’ faith, but we can see the evidence of it in the testimony, in the story! AND, it is recorded, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him,(God), for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! (Hebrews 11:6, exclamation point, mine!)
No one can see the great costly stones in the foundation, but God can, and God does! He’s got us in full view, and we best keep Him in full view as well, and then, we can stand on the Stone, the Chief Cornerstone no matter WHAT is going on in our world and sing with courage and trust:
“Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise. Thou mine inheritance now and always. Thou and Thou only, First in my heart. Thou King of Heaven my treasure Thou ART!”
“High King of heaven , my victories won. May I reach heaven’s joy, bright heaven’s SON. Heart of my own heart…
whatever befall… STILL BE MY VISION, Oh Ruler of all.” (Be Thou My Vision, 8th Century Irish Hymn).
The foundation? Faith – costly, sacrificial, precious faith – in the ‘High King of heaven’, my victories won. He wore a crown of thorns, so that one day…I can wear a shiny one. And that shiny crown I will receive, I will give it to Him and lay it at His feet!

A Shelter in the Time of Storm

  ‘A Shelter in the Time of Storm’.
A hymn written by Vernon J. Charlesworth sometime in the 1880’s, has power to change worry to calm. Oh the power of the hymn, if we only knew these words as they did back when:
A Shelter in the Time of storm: “The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide, A shelter in the time of storm; Secure whatever ill betide, A shelter in the time of storm.”
“O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A Shelter in the time of storm.”
“A shade by day, defense by night, A shelter in the time of storm; No fears alarm, no foes affright, A shelter in the time of storm.
“The raging storms may round us beat, A shelter in the time of storm; We’ll never leave our safe retreat, A shelter in the time of storm.”
“O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm; Be Thou our helper ever near, A shelter in the time of storm. O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A shelter in the time of storm!”
Thank you Vernon J. Charlesworth for your pen, that chose to write, way back when, so my heart and mind can think of this, and speak these words that bring about peace.
A hymn, so powerful to bring a calm. Rich in truth and and a healing balm. God’s word, a sword against our foe, can be our help when the storm rages so:  “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” Psalms 32 verse seven. Do I make the choice to receive this in faith? Do I take hold of the truth, so that I might finish the race?
God gave us choice. What then? Do we stop and be still so we can hear Him? Oh, the struggle. Oh, the fight. Our very natures resist being still! We want to ‘get back’ we want to ‘be right!’
‘Pause and think quietly upon all of this.’ “Selah” is the remedy for quiet bliss: Psalm 32 verse seven is written, that I might open it up to seek God’s face in heaven.
‘Even though we may walk in the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil,’ because ‘in Him’ we reside.  He is a Shelter in the Time of storm, and  – in Him – we hide!
“Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you ,again” and again,  “it is a safeguard for you.” (Philipians 3:1, emphasis, mine.)
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”  (Let us choose to cling to God’s word at this time), Philippians 4:4, is our key to remember that the Lord is watching, the Lord can hear, the Lord knows everything – and yes, He is near!
‘He knows our frame. He knows we are dust’ (1). He knows we need forgiveness. He knows all the mess. He is Sovereign, …
He is Omniscient, …
He is Omnipotent.
Turn to Him,  for salvation, One time is enough, but moment by moment, draw near to Him – for power and strength and a refuge in the storm. He is Love, He is Able, He is the LORD.
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -… 
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things… and the God of peace will be with you.” Phillipians  Four, 8 and 9. God’s word, and hymns and Psalms are divine, full of supernatural strength for all time.
Today, do you choose to take refuge in Him? Moment by moment, call out His name. He hears, He guides, and He calls you to come, to take refuge under the shadow of His loving arms. “Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28; God’s word, a refuge for us.
“The raging storms may round us beat, A shelter in the time of storm; We’ll never leave our safe retreat, A shelter in the time of storm.”
“O Rock divine, O Refuge dear, A shelter in the time of storm; Be Thou our helper ever near, A shelter in the time of storm. O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land, A weary land, a weary land; O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land; A shelter in the time of storm!”
May these words become well-worn. Thank you Vernon J. Charlesworth for ‘A shelter in the time of storm’. But most of all, thank you Jesus, for Your righteous right arm!
(1) Psalm 103:14.

  • * * * *

 
 

A song of my miseries? No, only discoveries "What a Friend we have in Jesus"

The Songs to Choir Master, the Psalms to the Chief Musician written and penned by the hand of David, the man. Breathed and expressed by God – who made him. When the Book is opened, when my heart fails, I almost think the song is my wail.

But then something happens when the words are read again, suddenly, I realize, This is Jesus, my Friend:

“Save me, O God!
    For the waters have come up to my neck.
2 I sink in deep mire,
    where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
    and the flood sweeps over me.
3 I am weary with my crying out;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
    with waiting for my God.

4 More in number than the hairs of my head
    are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
    those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
    must I now restore?” Psalm 69 verses 1-Four.

Sorrows, deep sorrows rushed in like a flood. Jesus, He knows what its like when bitter griefs steal the heart.

Sometimes, I’m so concerned about ‘me’ that I fail to see that the whole entire mess and sin was nailed upon the Tree.

“Twas not the insulting  voice of scorn So deeply wrung his heart; The piercing nail, the pointed thorn, Caused not the saddest smart: 

But every struggling sigh betray’d a heavier grief within, how on his burden’d soul was laid the weight of human sin.

O thou who hast vouchsafed to bear, Our sins’ oppressive load, Grant us thy righteousness to wear, And lead us to our God.” (A poem  in response to the Psalm 69,  by Spurgeon in his devotions,  this morning, now mine).

So today, I choose to leave my devotions with a song that I can sing in my heart, or with voice speak and say:

“Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble everywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a Friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.”

“Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge! Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do Thy friends despise, forsake Thee? Take it to the Lord in pryer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield Thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.”

“What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!”

 “What a Friend we Have in Jesus,” written  by Joseph Scriven in 1855, but today, these old words will take residence in my heart and give me peace and help my soul revive! (I sing it even with emphasis, mine.)  Will you also choose a hymn, or a new song instead, of worry and fret – let us choose ‘faith’ instead!

 

The world: "Consider strife." The Word: "Consider Christ!"

“Jesus loves me this I know…” we sing as children sure and fine, yet after time and trial and education,  do we choose to forget our true foundation?
We cry out, “Help Lord!” And then there seems to be no reply.
We hear words from press at our fingertips. We hear media’s clamor and the popular opinion.
But God – He waits, and watches. His love is patient and kind. His love is not like yours or mine.
“Consider … Jesus Christ.” (1) Says His word to hearts hurting.
What are we considering in the course of our day? What you eat, what you wear, what so – and –  so has to say.
“Consider …Jesus Christ.” Thus saith the Lord. This is His way.
He was appointed by God the Father from heaven above. Whether we believe it’s true, doesn’t affect His love. (2) He is the Creator, the builder of the house, (3) He’s the beginning and the End, (4)  He is silent when accused. (5) He is faithful and true.
“Consider …Jesus Christ.”
This is God’s response when we cry out to Him. When we cry out for deliverance, for rest, for quietness.
He’s given us choice. Do we listen, do we turn away from the noise? Let’s not wait for the ground to be shaking. Or when darkness is thick, we can’t see our own way. (6)
“Help Lord!”
He hears our cry. He doesn’t need to ask the question, ” Why? Or What? He’s been watching with His eye. (7) He knows if we caused our own pain. He knows if we’ve been wronged again. He knows the tears that fall from our face. He knows, and He covers us.
He laid down His life in our place.
“He is a very present help in time of trouble.”(8) He reveals, He delivers, He mediates, He heals.
His name is Jesus and died on a cross on the hill. So familiar, yet so unknown. So forgotten until the day we groan.
Consider Christ Jesus. He is unlike any other. He is mighty in action and in His word. He is the Son of God. He comes to bring peace, He also comes to bring a sword-
A surgical scalpel to cut away growth of critical spirits, and pride and the rest. He brings division simply in His name. To those who believe He pours out peace and compassion.
“…let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”(9) These were His words to the ones who sought damage. To the accusers who cared of rules above love. Who seek after themselves and the reputations they manage.
Consider Jesus: Hardly noticing when others do Him wrong. Never keeping a record of all the damages done. (10) There is none like Jesus, no not one. He is worthy of every love song.
Bowing in our hearts when we see Him as He is.  He reaches His hand down to take mine, to take yours,  and He says with His voice written in words on the page,  ” Don’t be afraid, only believe.”  (11) “I am yours, and you… you belong to Me.”
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so …”
(1) Hebrews 3:1. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.”
(2) Romans 5:8. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

(3) Hebrews 3:3,4. “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. “
(4) Revelation 22:13. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.”
(5) Isaiah 53:7. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
(6) Revelation 19:11.  “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.”

(7)  Proverbs 15: . “The eyes of the Lord are on every place keeping watch on the evil and the good.” 
(8) Psalm 46:1. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.’
(9) John 8:7.
(10) 1 Cor. 13:4-7,  4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5 or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6 It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7 Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
(11)Mark 5:36, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.” (Holeman Christian Standard Bible).
 

My prayer is already written

Psalm 51. To the Chief Musician…

“Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
    and your judgment against me is just.
5 For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
6 But you desire honesty from the womb,
    teaching me wisdom even there.

7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
    you have broken me—
    now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins.
    Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
    Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
    and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and make me willing to obey you.
13 Then I will teach your ways to rebels,
    and they will return to you.
14 Forgive me for shedding blood, O God who saves;
    then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness.
15 Unseal my lips, O Lord,
    that my mouth may praise you.

16 You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
    You do not want a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
    You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
18 Look with favor on Zion and help her;
    rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then you will be pleased with sacrifices offered in the right spirit—
    with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings.
    Then bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.”

This is my prayer to my Chief Musician as well.

Calculations …

Abraham Lincoln told stories that have survived generations. Here is one that contains calculations: If a tail of a dog is counted as a leg, tell me now, how many legs have the dog?’  The answer would then be proclaimed, ‘Five.’ Yet, the response by the tall man with a smile was given , “No, Four – because calling the tail a leg, doesn’t make it a leg.”
What do you say?
Calculations are made by man, but does it matter? People develop conclusions from outside appearances, but God …He’s got the whole picture, He knows the whole plan. (1) God knows the beginning from the end. (2)God knows everything within.(3)
Man can devise his own math problem, proclaiming: “Every man’s way is right, tolerance of all things is true. And those that hold to standards of old, must be moved out of the way, for it’s time for ‘equations-anew’.
So we have math problems being made, all new indeed, but actually the same as it’s been from the beginning of history. It is the battle with , “I, myself, and me.”
Forgetting, … (for some),  that there is  – a “Father,  a Spirit, and  a Son.” Yet, God’s word makes it quite clear that “there is none, righteous. No, not one.” (4)
We live in a world of circus-type atmosphere, but there are some, whose vision remains clear. Just as good -‘ol Abe and his story from long gone, we have a tried and true solution.  God, the Father who sent His Son to take our failures and nail them to the tree, His shed blood clears the  debt account in full, for all those who believe.
When the ancients were shouting, “The world is flat!” some monks were reading of the ‘circle of the earth’(5) from the ‘ol Book as they sat. They spoke of an earth that was round – they were scorned and ridiculed and told to not speak a sound!
So calculations are made in the whims of the age. Words of man spoken and written out on the page. People adding 1+1= Me. They have ‘I’, and ‘myself’, and  well, I’ve heard it said, some follow the trinity of stupidity! Don’t be offended. Math is a perfect science. If at first you don’t succeed … Seek, ask and knock, and you will soon see.
The Bible,  penned by many authors through a long period of time, inspired and breathed upon by the breath of God – Holy and Divine. By faith many believe He is able to do all things,
even by the Word of His mouth. He’s Creator of all we see – North, East, West and South.
Let us calculate which is best for others? 1 + 1+ 1 = 3, requiring faith to grasp the great mystery. God the Father, who sent His Son, to shed His blood for everyone, and dying, yet rising, leaving the Holy Spirit to seal, each and every heart that believes He is and He will give us life forever, for all eternity still!
“You don’t understand. We’re too smart for all this. You take your faith in God, and we will trust our Science.” These are the words that we often hear today, but the man of God goes home  and prays. He opens ‘ol pages and reads words in the Holy  Bible – for wisdom and understanding and knowledge for survival!
Yesterday, today, forever the same. No matter what man says, God is God, He is God the same!
If the tail were a leg? How many legs have a dog? King Solomon wrote, “the conclusion of the whole matter, …
is “Fear God!”
“Fear God and keep his commandments: this is the whole duty of man.” For God will bring every work into judgement, every secret thing, good or bad. God will expose every secret thing, this is God’s word in Ecclesiastes 12:14.
Do the math. It’s best to trust God and to obey Him – this in turn produces …
happy children!
 
 
 
(1) Jermiah 29:11, ” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace  and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Romans 3:10,11 “As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God.…”
(2) Revelation 22:13, ” I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and Last.
(3) 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
(4) Romans 3:10, 11, “as it is written, ‘ There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God…”
(5)  Isaiah 40:22 “It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in;”
(6) Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.

Appearances … we often hide the inside.

We wake. We put on a face. We present ourselves all together and lovely. God alone knows the heart of man.
Oh, how sad, and sick and full of sin, is the human heart that lies within.
So, we grow  in circumstance and receive education, but the viper’s poison still remains, even when it imparts no sting. Our hearts are dark within.
The sin of one man destroyed us all. (2) Adam, in the beginning, in the fall. But grace is as a great blot of ink, because the thought of blood is hard to think … yes, grace blots out and covers in full. The blood of the Lamb, shed to cleanse mankind all –  red, brown, yellow, black, and white – The name of Jesus makes ‘crimson’, white as snow.(3)
It all sounds like ‘religious stuff’ but in fact it’s knowledge that leads to hope. It’s words written on a page of history forever, for all eternity changed.
“We were lost, but we are found,” reads a song of hope in Spurgeon’s poem,
“Dead, but now alive are we;” the poem reads in simplicity.
“Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God:” (3)
“As by the offence of one, judgement came to all men to condemnation, even so by the righteousness of one came the free gift upon all men unto justification.” (Romans 5:18, almost too good to believe!)
“Dead, but now alive are we;” We were sore in bondage bound, But our Jesus sets us free.”
“Strangers, and he takes us in, Naked, he becomes our dress. Sick, and he from stain of sin, Cleanses with his righteousness.”  These are words of a Spurgeon poem, that lead the way to peace and home.
Where is home? Where is home? Sometimes it’s hard to understand and know. God help us to shed the dark heart within, that we might have a new countenance, outside … and first, in.
Give me back a smile upon my face in knowing that You love me and have given me grace. O God, restore me again and give me inner joy. Lift up Your countenance on me Lord, let it be evident on my face.
Then I will say aloud the words on the page, as if they are my own, from my own heart the same:
“Therefore will I sing his praise, Who his lost ones hath restored, Hearts and voices both shall raise 
Hallelujahs to the Lord.” 
May my countenance be changed moment by moment, breath by breath, as I seek the Lord and His righteousness. There is no righteousness in me, except in believing that He IS HE! Today, today let my prayer be, and old Spurgeon poem written just for me:
“Lord, from anger purge my heart, Bid all enmity depart; New-created from above, Let my very life be love. 
Quench in me each evil fire, Envious thought or false desire. Flame from heaven upon me fall! Love of God be all in all!” (5)
 
(1) Jeremiah 17:9-10, (NLT) “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts
    and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
    according to what their actions deserve.”

 Mark 7:21, For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness …”

(2) Romans 5:15, “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.”
(3)  Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
(4) Romans 5:18, “ Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”
(5) Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible pg. 8,10.

His Gospel song. (Believe Me now.)

When sorrow runs deep. And there’s no place to go from the pain that pierces the heart so …so dis-heartening, this world, this moment in time.  But God, somehow, in His preciousness, speaks to man’s soul, your soul and mine.
“I know suffering, rejection and pain. Even at only the mention of My name. Creator of all things, yet forgotten by most. The blue sky so brilliant, with puffs of white. The clouds rolling in, bringing rain to delight. The seed that is planted in the ground all around, to produce fruit that nourishes and brings joyful sounds.
“I AM with you. ‘I AM with you always.’ (1) ‘I Am the Rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.'(2)
Through the mess, the sickness, the loss, the shame – from before you were formed, I knew your name.(3)
Much of mankind has turned it’s back to Me. But I AM above all you can think or see. I AM God Almighty.”
“Even when you were ashamed of my name, I stretched my hands wide, and I was nailed to a tree. (4) My blood was shed to wash you, clean. Completely. I laid down My life, so you might be free.”
“Will you be willing to believe Me now? The angels sang over My Creation in the beginning, (5) but I sing over you songs of new mornings. (6) I sing over you, the greatest of  truths, that My grace is sufficient to make you new!”(7)
“They were just words in the past, but now the words are My tender touch. My nail pierced hands –  will you let them teach, will you let them lead you to believe in My  forgiveness? 
I love you forever. I love you right now. Shed from your heart, the heavy sorrow. I have risen. I’m alive forevermore. I Am here, Follow Me now.”
An exhortation: If we only choose to listen, to give ear, not our backs, to the One who cares most, the One where there is no lack.  If we only choose to lose ourselves and let Him fill us to the full. Finally admitting our hearts are dark, believing in hope He can make them white as wool.
A Response: “At this present hour, this moment in time, God we sense You, drawing us to Your powerful Spirit, Divine. We take off old garments and receive now from You, a garment of praise, a garment of joy – ’cause you took all our ashes and our failures and sin, and in Your merciful, loving kindness, have let us begin again.
Out with the old, in with the new. Jesus, Your name now, I proclaim as my Savior, and my Bridegroom.  “I do!”
(1) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew  28:20.
(2) “I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys.” Song of Solomon 2:1. 
(3) “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5.
(4) “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.
(5)”When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy…” Job 38:7.
(6)”The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17.
(7) ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Impossible possibilities

Rejoice Always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will in Christ Jesus for you.

Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Acts 17:28.

 

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do, for you.

A child’s song. Perhaps it’s so much more than we ever imagined.  It could be the spark that lights up a new flame. One that had been quenched.

“Is God in control?
The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms;  He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’” Deut.33:27.
This is hope. God – a refuge. God – with everlasting arms.God – able to destroy our enemies.
“But I can’t see Him. How can I have hope?” You might say?
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us…”
Hope does not disappoint, when you and I hope in God.
You see, when you and I hope in God, the Holy Spirit begins to minister His unfailing love to us – not once and for all – but moment by moment when we keep all that we are, heart, soul, and mind , on Him.
But we think, “But what about tomorrow?”, “How am I going to pay this bill?”, or “How am I going to get through college?” or “How will I ever…?”, or,  “What do I do with this child?”, or  “What about this  seemingly hopeless situation?”
What did Peter tell us in 1Peter 1:13? “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest you hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”
“Gird up! Rest your hope fully”… so I am to take all my hope and rest it on the grace that is brought to me at the revelation of Jesus Christ. I am to take whatever hope I have and rest it on the unmerited favor that God has for me revealed in Jesus.
“Well, then, I need revelation, and I need it now!”
God’s spoke to Job out of the whirlwind after he was instructed to ‘Gird up’ or ‘prepare himself like a man’ Job 38:3. Today, I need to hear Him:
“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place, That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?…”Job 38:12,13.
“Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?  Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.”Job 16,17.
Job has lost all his belongings, his wife left him with no comfort,  each of his children have died, his friends are judgmental and harsh, and Job is suffering with boils and extreme  pain! How is God speaking to him?
He is reminding Job, “I am in control.”
“Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail, Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war? By what way is light diffused. Or the east wind scattered over the earth?” Job 38:22-24.
God is Sovereign. Are you in need? “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4). 
“Then I need more faith,” you might say. “Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17).
Faith is increased in the hearing and believing in this: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy pace of the tabernacle of the Most High, God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn…The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
“Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the ends of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah   Psalm 46.
God is in control, and He has calmed and quieted my heart by His transforming word. “Lord, though ‘the earth be removed’, so to speak, and ‘waters roar and are troubled’, the river of life that You have placed in my heart, the Holy Spirit, has reminded me, today, once again, as a ‘very present help in trouble’ that You, the God of Jacob are my refuge.  I do not need to be afraid. You are in control. Yes, Lord,
 “You, will keep me in perfect peace Whose mind is stayed on You, Because I trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD is everlasting strength.” Is. 23:6.

And that is how we can ‘rejoice in the Lord, always’, He’s got us in His everlasting, ever-loving arms, and He knows those who trust in Him. We can ‘be still’ because we know… He knows.