School that matters most …

Graduation is incredible! A time to celebrate. You did it! You finished! You completed the task!  So we stand, we clap,  and mama’s cry at the sight of your cap. But for some, mama’s not there to witness the cap and the gown. For some, papa is not present in attendance to be found,
But there is a Father who is always there for you. And the school that matters most, is your knowledge that that’s true.
The school of faith is what matter most. There are no alarms, no schedules, it’s all by choice you know. No need to rush or fret or worry about some answers on a test – it’s about knowing Your Father and His Son that He has sent.
The school that matters most, is that you know God loves you. Now don’t be too smart for this, keep on learning past today.  If God’s love were a coin, every coin has two sides, wouldn’t you say?
The one side  is merciful and suffers l-o-n-g, which is the theme of many a song. The other side is firm, demanding discipline. Remember always, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (1)
There is a choice that must be made, by you and everyone for that matter! School never ends if you want to be part of life everlasting. Life that never ends has a dictionary definition, “ This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. John 17 verse 3. But this was not written by Webster, this is written by God for all to see!
Grow in the Lord. Draw near to Him. Read His word. Give thanks to Him. This is the school that never ends, because life continues forever, for all eternity … in Him!
Set your alarm for time in His word. Ask the Holy Spirit daily to refresh and come in. Keep your hands together in prayer. Clap in praise to Him.  But this is not all ‘basket weaving ‘ you know. Because each day, God’s searching light will reveal things that have to go.
If you choose to let Him search and ask Him to. He will give you a cleansed heart, He will give you a new story! He will mold you, He will make you a vessel that brings Him glory.
This is school that matters most – your faith! It’s the victory that overcomes the world.
And in case you are not quite sure how you are to pray, Jesus gives the answer so we may always know the way:
“ Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
  Your kingdom come, Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
So ‘Let it be’ we will say, again and again. And as time goes by, again.  This is the schooling that never ends!
(1) Psalm 111:9,10. …”He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. The fear of the LORD  is the beginning of  wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.”
 

How do we let hurt feelings heal?

How do we let hurt feelings heal?
Don’t revisit! Don’t rekindle the flames! Don’t go back and let the enemy gain. ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His glorious face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’ (1)
We will pray from our whole heart, broken and torn. We will cry out for  greater faith to see Love through the thorns:
‘ In You O God, I seek refuge. I will put my trust. Let my hope in You not be disappointed. Deliver me in Your righteousness! Bow down Your ear, O God.  Speedily, deliver me!  My rock of refuge, my strong fortress – be!(2)
Do we have neighbor, friend, or even family write us off as evil? We will not be greatly moved by opinion – our prayer has been written. King David cries out to God in his song, Psalm 31, To the chief musician, A Psalm of David, written for us all:
“For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side! While they schemed together against me, they plotted to take my life. But I trusted, relied on and was confident in You. O Lord; I say, You are my God. My hope is in You. (3)
How do we let hurt feelings heal? We open God’s word. We cry out the prayers and the songs that have been written to a living God, “our Father in heaven,” …
“His kingdom come” – He is with you and me – “His will be done” – that we cry out to see, like blind Bartameus, open our eyes, “My times are in Your hand, dear Lord, deliver me from the hand of my foes and those who pursue and persecute me!” (4)
How do we let hurt feelings heal? We will not get our wisdom from philosophy of man, we will follow the King’s steps, we will ‘hide under the shadow of the wings’ of God – we we rest in the midst of God’s  – powerful – right – hand!
“Let the lying lips be silenced! Lips with pride and contempt! Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, or disappointed; for I am calling upon You! O how great is Your goodness” (5) … in my trouble I choose, in the chaos, in the dust, O God, I worship You!
We will be strong. We will let our hearts take courage. “O love the Lord, all you His saints; the Lord preserves the faithful,“(6), those faithful to seek cover in the blood of the Lamb who was slain in great punishment for all the sin of all men.
We will sing a new song, not a song of strife from the past. We will sing as the king, to the King of all Kings: “Oh soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness to see? There’s a light for a look at the Savior! And life, more abundant and free.”
“So turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth, …
will grow strangely dim, …
in the light of His glory and grace.”
Psalm 31 verse 5, our ending prayer: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth and faithfulness.” In You I find my rest –  Selah    (we will pause and consider all of this!)
(1) Hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Helen H. Lemmel.
(2) Psalm 31: 1,2. (paraphrased by me).
(3) Psalm 31:13-15, (with my paraphrase to make rhyme!)
(4) Psalm 31:15.
(5) Psalm 31:18, 17.

Fire burns. Fire purifies.

When fire comes and the flesh is burning, run Not,   or the fire will be fed to raging.
Stop and drop and look for a covering, to smolder the flames, and be still.  Let the help come to cover the burns, this is what as a child, we learn.
With time and tender compassionate dressing, with ointments that heal the wounds. The flesh heals, in time and long minutes,  yet the scars remain – that we remember, the pain, but the healing is greater still. The healing is greater still.
How do we know such things? The Bible tells us so:
Malachi 3:2-4: “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
“He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. “Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.…
The word of God, the precious, powerful word of God. Let it refine us as silver. Let us receive it to refine and purify. Let us give thanks this day, in our hurting, that because of the Lord’s mercies and loving-kindness, we are not consumed:
“It is of the Lord’s mercies and loving-kindnesses that we are not consumed, because His (tender) compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being; therefore will I hope in Him and expectantly wait for Him. The Lord is good to those who hopefully and expectantly wait for Him, to those who seek Him  – inquire of and for Him,…” Lamentations 3:22-24.
Praying a Psalm today. Praying Psalm 17.
“Hear a just cause, O Lord,
Attend to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

 3 You have tested my heart;You have visited me in the night;

You have tried me  …

6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand,
O You who save those who trust in You
From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye;
Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
9 From the wicked who oppress me,
From my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They have closed up their fat hearts;
With their mouths they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps;
They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey,
And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O Lord,
Confront him, cast him down;
Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
14 With Your hand … O Lord …”
15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”

Refine me as silver, purify me as gold. Today, in newness, I will walk, with Your hand to hold.

Rejection? Ask God, He knows all about it …

“What would the Lord have to say? About rejection, or anything for that matter? The answers can be found. Oh yes, they are spoken, they’re wide open, yet they are closed until the pages of The Book are read. The words are recorded here in the New Living Translation, simple and easy, yet from the Lord, heart-shaking.

The LORD is good that He shakes up our hard and stoney earth. His word is true. His word is power. He is able to break up the fallow ground that fruit might once again grow and we can again have hope to flower. But He leaves the choice completely to us. The Lord speaks of His rejection. Let us take time to hear His side of the story:

I am opening The Book to Jeremiah Chapter 2. The Lord gave me another message. He said, 2 “Go and shout this message to Jerusalem. This is what the Lord says:

“I remember how eager you were to please me
    as a young bride long ago,
how you loved me and followed me
    even through the barren wilderness.
3 In those days Israel was holy to the Lord,
    the first of his children.[a]
All who harmed his people were declared guilty,
    and disaster fell on them.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!”

4 Listen to the word of the Lord, people of Jacob—all you families of Israel! 5 This is what the Lord says:

“What did your ancestors find wrong with me
    that led them to stray so far from me?
They worshiped worthless idols,
    only to become worthless themselves.
6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord
    who brought us safely out of Egypt
and led us through the barren wilderness—
    a land of deserts and pits,
a land of drought and death,
    where no one lives or even travels?’

7 “And when I brought you into a fruitful land
    to enjoy its bounty and goodness,
you defiled my land and
    corrupted the possession I had promised you.
8 The priests did not ask,
    ‘Where is the Lord?’
Those who taught my word ignored me,
    the rulers turned against me,
and the prophets spoke in the name of Baal,
    wasting their time on worthless idols.
9 Therefore, I will bring my case against you,”
    says the Lord.
“I will even bring charges against your children’s children
    in the years to come.

10 “Go west and look in the land of Cyprus[b];
    go east and search through the land of Kedar.
Has anyone ever heard of anything
    as strange as this?
11 Has any nation ever traded its gods for new ones,
    even though they are not gods at all?
Yet my people have exchanged their glorious God[c]
    for worthless idols!
12 The heavens are shocked at such a thing
    and shrink back in horror and dismay,”
    says the Lord.
13 “For my people have done two evil things:
They have abandoned me—
    the fountain of living water.
And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns
    that can hold no water at all!

The Results of Israel’s Sin

14 “Why has Israel become a slave?
    Why has he been carried away as plunder?
15 Strong lions have roared against him,
    and the land has been destroyed.
The towns are now in ruins,
    and no one lives in them anymore.
16 Egyptians, marching from their cities of Memphis[d] and Tahpanhes,
    have destroyed Israel’s glory and power.
17 And you have brought this upon yourselves
    by rebelling against the Lord your God,
    even though he was leading you on the way!

18 “What have you gained by your alliances with Egypt
    and your covenants with Assyria?
What good to you are the streams of the Nile[e]
    or the waters of the Euphrates River?[f]
19 Your wickedness will bring its own punishment.
    Your turning from me will shame you.
You will see what an evil, bitter thing it is
    to abandon the Lord your God and not to fear him.
    I, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!

20 “Long ago I broke the yoke that oppressed you
    and tore away the chains of your slavery,
but still you said,
    ‘I will not serve you.’
On every hill and under every green tree,
    you have prostituted yourselves by bowing down to idols.
21 But I was the one who planted you,
    choosing a vine of the purest stock—the very best.
    How did you grow into this corrupt wild vine?
22 No amount of soap or lye can make you clean.
    I still see the stain of your guilt.
    I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!

Israel, an Unfaithful Wife

23 “You say, ‘That’s not true!
    I haven’t worshiped the images of Baal!’
But how can you say that?
    Go and look in any valley in the land!
Face the awful sins you have done.
    You are like a restless female camel
    desperately searching for a mate.
24 You are like a wild donkey,
    sniffing the wind at mating time.
Who can restrain her lust?
    Those who desire her don’t need to search,
    for she goes running to them!
25 When will you stop running?
    When will you stop panting after other gods?
But you say, ‘Save your breath.
    I’m in love with these foreign gods,
    and I can’t stop loving them now!’

26 “Israel is like a thief
    who feels shame only when he gets caught.
They, their kings, officials, priests, and prophets—
    all are alike in this.
27 To an image carved from a piece of wood they say,
    ‘You are my father.’
To an idol chiseled from a block of stone they say,
    ‘You are my mother.’
They turn their backs on me,
    but in times of trouble they cry out to me,
    ‘Come and save us!’
28 But why not call on these gods you have made?
    When trouble comes, let them save you if they can!
For you have as many gods
    as there are towns in Judah.
29 Why do you accuse me of doing wrong?
    You are the ones who have rebelled,”
    says the Lord.
30 “I have punished your children,
    but they did not respond to my discipline.
You yourselves have killed your prophets
    as a lion kills its prey.

31 “O my people, listen to the words of the Lord!
    Have I been like a desert to Israel?
    Have I been to them a land of darkness?
Why then do my people say, ‘At last we are free from God!
    We don’t need him anymore!’
32 Does a young woman forget her jewelry,
    or a bride her wedding dress?
Yet for years on end
    my people have forgotten me.

33 “How you plot and scheme to win your lovers.
    Even an experienced prostitute could learn from you!
34 Your clothing is stained with the blood of the innocent and the poor,
    though you didn’t catch them breaking into your houses!
35 And yet you say,
‘I have done nothing wrong.
    Surely God isn’t angry with me!’
But now I will punish you severely
    because you claim you have not sinned.
36 First here, then there—
    you flit from one ally to another asking for help.
But your new friends in Egypt will let you down,
    just as Assyria did before.
37 In despair, you will be led into exile
    with your hands on your heads,
for the Lord has rejected the nations you trust.
    They will not help you at all. (Jeremiah Chapter 2 in completion, emphasis added, mine).

“And when I think, that God, His Son, not sparing – sent Him to die. I scarce can take it in. That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing. He bled and died to take away my sin …” (How Great Thou Art)

Today. Today. I turn to the Lord and say: “I am yours dear Lord, and You are mine. Don’t ever let me leave You. Let my heart be tender to You all the days of my life. Let me sing and You abide in my praises, “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art. How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, My Savior God to Thee:

How Great Thou Art! How Great Thou Art!”

 

‘Eye’ will not worry, this time, again!

We love a picture, so we hang it on the wall to view over and over again. We love songs and listen time and time again. Well, I have a speech that moved me and inspired me and so, I put it down, so I can read it anytime, over and over again, when I get overwhelmed or worried. Are you prone to worry? Here is a speech given at a pinning ceremony of a nursing graduate; Wh-eye worry?
“Did you know that there are 47 different structures that make up the human eye that all have a unique function? Did you know that there are 6 extra-ocular muscles, 4 cranial nerves, and 1.2 million nerve fibers in each optic nerve.
Did you know that when light waves touch my eye, without even thinking about it, I blink to protect them from too much exposure.
And when that amount of light changes, my pupillary light response reacts without a thought, so that only the right amount of light is let into my eye.
Did you know that there are four-out of the twelve- cranial nerves that work specifically for the eye, so that they can not only allow me to focus on an object and read it, but also so that they can move in different directions.
There are 9 different structures that all play a specific role in receiving light messages before they even get to the brain. And it is not until those messages get to the occipital lobe of the brain that I can interpret what I am actually seeing.
The eyes receive millions of light waves and messages everyday, but my brain has a specific area that lets only the important and significant messages through so that the brain doesn’t get over-stimulated.
And did you know…
that the God who told me to cast all my cares upon Him, and that He will never leave me nor forsake me, that I should be anxious for nothing, was the very one who designed this whole system and hundreds like it! So that we can live and move and breathe every second.
And did you know that He didn’t have to lift a finger,
and He didn’t sweat a drop to think of it.
He just breathed on one man, and He knit us together and formed us in our mother’s womb
before you were even a thought in her mind.
And now tell me,
What are you worried about?
What will you be worried about when you come up to those hurdles that are bound to cross your path?
I want you to think of your EYE! and tell me,
that your situation, your problem, your worry is too big
for the God who created you and the world you live in
to handle.”
A young graduating nursing student  gave this speech on her mom’s birthday.  “What are you worried about? I want you to think of your eye!”
We can’t hang it on our wall, but we can read it over and over and over again. And share it with others that we might not be tempted…ever again, to worry.
Thank you Carolyn, my ‘song of joy’. I pull out these words when I’m tempted to worry! God’s got this! He has a plan. We can trust God always. He loves greater, so much greater than any man. Well, any man besides Jesus, the Son He has sent. That we might receive Him and His forgiveness and be new forever and ever, and ever again!
 

my life unfolds at the Potter's house …

Walking around much like Eeyore at times, Pooh comes beside and says, “Lets check out this house! Perhaps there is something sweet inside!” Eeyore replies, “I can’t find my tail. I just want to hide.”
Characters tell our stories time and again. And it helps us chuckle and get back on the horse again!
Today, I accept the invitation from ‘Pooh’ and go for a visit to the House of the Potter. I open the door and I see with my eyes, and hear with my ears, the Potter, Himself, talking to me. (1)
“I, the Potter, am creating from clay, (originally something common and worth very little). I will make it useful, above any price. I will make this vessel, even more than just useful, I will make this vessel, Beau – ti – ful! I AM able, I Am all wise. (2)
“Yes, I, the Potter, make beautiful things out of earth. I raise it up to express all that I AM. I make all things beautiful in time, I AM able. This is My work. (3)
So, I watch and I listen with the wheel spinning around. Around and round. The Potter throws the clay –  and I must say, “This is my life!” Going around in circles and again, and feeling ‘bruised’ by the Artist, but as I watch it all becomes clear that my thoughts are marred, as I watch the Potter and the clay, they soon became one in His hands this day.
“What’s going on?!” My life goes on in circles, it seems. I’m heading no-where right now! “Get me off this wheel! I want to get off!” We look for all the ways somehow.
Unfortunately, unlike the lump of clay on the wheel, we have choice to steel away and not seek God’s will.
But the picture before me: the Potter at the wheel with a thrown down lump of clay being made to be still. Even amidst the turning and moving around and around, pressure is applied and the lump seems sound. So, I think of the pressures and problems and struggles of life, oh if we be but clay and ‘be still’ and not strive!
But we throw ourselves off the wheel of the Potter, landing on what we think is adventures evermore. But then we find we are stepped on and walked on and beaten and broken, and we cry out, “O God, pick me up. I am hurting and sore!” (4)
And He does! He does! The Potter picks the clay up again, and throws it center on the wheel to be a new creation!
The clay does no more demanding. The clay is yielded and softens as the water is brought to its hardness by the Potter’s hand’s touch! (5)
As I watch, I can see so clearly what is so hard in life; to trust the Potter, to completely yield – this is what’s best! He makes beauty out of hard old dirt. He has a plan, He can be trusted. ‘Be Still’, let us pass this test! (6)
Who is the Potter? Who is the Lord? As the Master Craftsman applies pressure and water, and lovingly makes a vessel of honor, to give honor to Him, the One who is good, the one who is patient, forgiving and so very kind. He chose us when we were rebelling. He chose to pick us up after our fall.
He is the Potter and He has saved this broken and hurting lump of clay! And a new (old) song I sing each day:
“When I think about the Lord, how He saved me, how He raised me, how He filled me up with the Holy Ghost! How He healed me to the uttermost! When I think about the Lord, How He picked me up, He turned me around and He set my feet, on solid ground!’ It makes me want to shout, “Halleluiah!” Thank You Jesus, Lord You’re worthy of all of the glory, all of the honor, all of the praise! …” (When I think about the Lord).
How do I know the Potter loves me so? The Bible tells me so:
(1) “Go down to the Potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.” So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.” Jeremiah 18:1,2.
(2) He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10.
(3) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10.
(4)  But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make. Jeremiah 18:4.
(5) “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? Romans: 9: 20,21.

(6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:6-10.

make my heart new. O God, I need You …

I’m setting my goals high. I’m changing my course. I now set my eyes on Jesus. I’m making the choice.
Forsaking the lies. I now choose to die, that I might live and love and be completely new inside.
God, You love the poor. You love the needy. You love the maimed. You love the ugly. You love higher than my brain can comprehend …
Will You lift me above this rude, painful earth? That I might know You and Your love — bring in me a new birth.
I’m tired and weary, life’s yoke is so heavy. Building my house on sand has made me unsteady.
The waves are crashing down hard upon me. God Almighty have mercy on me! Lift me Lord  that I might see once again. Lift Me God with Your powerful right Hand!
I give you my unforgiving, hard and stubborn heart. Will You exchange it, Father in heaven, and give me a new start? Teach me Agape. It is high, I cannot attain it.
Fill  me – with  – Your  – Spirit!
Teach me, dear Lord, today … I ask that You show me the way!
Unconditional love is not found on this earth. It is from the heavens far above the dust and thorns. I’ve been torn. I have been running, in the dark, in the night. I turn my direction, guide me with Your light.
Forsaking the past, believing now with each step. I  receive. I respond to Your love now completely. That I might move in this world with a Love like Your own –with faith, abiding,
in You alone.
I set my goal on Agape love. I will fail, I know …  Help me forgive others their failures as I go.
I’m changing course. I talk hold of Your hand. Lord Jesus, will You be just that, my Lord and Savior. I am  completely Yours!

To overcome is to write a new song.

To overcome. That is our song.
We overcome by lifting our eyes and having conversation with God.
 
 
O God,  You know …
what a mess I can be …
pour out Your grace.
Undeserved, it’s true, but I ask Lord Jesus, Forgive me. Touch me. Heal me inside. You can see every part of me, I will no longer hide.
I want to move past where I am today. Never to look back. Never. For always.
In Your mercy, dear Jesus, fill me with Your love. That with each step forward  I move like You – unconditionally, without conditions, with every breath I take, high as the heavens, Your love conquers all, these are the steps I now make.
This world is a rude place. I’ve been part of its rudeness. But today is all new, You’ve cleansed my dark heart. Thank You Lord Jesus, for giving me my breath. I breathe in new. I breathe in life. I breathe in hope.
In You I rest, I lay down my strife.
This is my prayer of brokenness today, that the light of Christ might shine like the dawn, in my broken but redeemed life  in some way. “Today, Today!” That is Jesus call.
“I come Lord Jesus! I come, after all.”
 

Blessed are the peacemakers …

“O tame my tongue to peace … ” I read a Spurgeon poem this morning.
“And tune my heart to love; “ continues the eloquent piece.
I believe this power can only come from God.  Only God can tame the tongue and have power to tune hearts.
This morning I read a poem, but it’s so much more than that. It’s a prayer to the God Almighty. Without faith, it’s impossible to please Him. So, I read this poem as if it were my very own, a prayer from my very own heart. And I believe in a God Who is able to help, and today,  I make a start:
“O tame my tongue to peace, And tune my heart to love;
From all reproaches may I cease, Made harmless as a dove.
Faithful, but meekly kind; Gentle, yet boldly true; 
I would possess the perfect mind Which in my Lord I view.” (1)
Join me today? This poem our prayer? I want to be happy in this broken, sorry earth. Perhaps we choose peace. Peace and love others can see:  ‘Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin … with me.’
“Blessed — enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous [that is, with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions] — are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!” (Matthew 5:9, Amplified. Words of Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount.)
 (1) C.H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible.

and God weeps and waits …

“The Lord is good, a strength and stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows  — recognizes , has knowledge of and understands — those who take refuge and trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7, Amplified.
When enemies of difficulty and discouragement and dis-unity surround, we easily make excuses, “It’s not time to turn around.”
We have our own righteousness that we choose to stand on, and God weeps and waits, for the day we change our tune. We go on each day, singing our own dreary song, and our Father in heaven watches, each day, and brings about rainbows, and flowers of all colors and hues, and stars in the evening to say, “I  – love –  you.”
‘The time is not now that the Temple be built,’ words from an old Book, Haggai 1:1 it is told. ‘God’s house can wait! It’s not the priority on this particular date!’ and God weeps and waits, He’s on the throne, in control. He knows the heart, and above all, He knows the date.
But the Story is written, and the words can be seen, the words of the prophet: “Thus saith the LORD.” 
‘Is it time for you to dwell in your freshly paneled houses? And let this House sit barren and lie in waste? Now, therefore listen,’  says the voice of the LORD, “Consider your ways.” Consider your ways! Hagai  chapter 1 verses 1-7! (Exclamation point mine, because these words come from heaven!)
Are you looking to happy? Seek the Creator, Your 1st Love. He came down from heaven, He’s the One sent from God. His name is Jesus, He gave instruction. The words in the plain Old Black Book. His love never ends, even when you want it to. He abounds in mercy and compassion and forgiveness as well. The Story has been written. God weeps and waits that you ‘Be still, and know … ‘  that you turn around, and read His good Book.
His Word is alive and true and filled with great power. He sat on a hill with a great multitude of people and He spoke about happiness while they all sat there still.
‘To be happy, my child, is to be ‘poor in spirit.’ A paraphrase of Matthew 5, it is true, but the message is simple, yet painfully hard; to agree with God … to agree with God …
that there’s no love in myself – I try. And I try, and I try once again, but there’s simply no power to do it!
But by faith in believing, and a surrender in your soul, and a lift of the eyes and your hand — I the Creator of heavens and earth,the One who made your dear heart, I will take your hand and help you to stand because I paid your large debt in full.
“My name is Jesus, and I want you to know, that I – love – you. I love you. I Do, love you so.”

God uses broken vessels.

God can use everything. Even broken vessels and frayed tapestries …
God uses broken things.
Did Jesus not us a small lunch from a willing child. Did He not first bless it. But then broke it. And again, and again – was the bread not broken that it might feed a multitude of men? (Matthew 14).
Didn’t God use clay pots to put torches in, as the story goes in Judges 6-8, to then be broken at a specific point in time to allow the light of the torch to shine that the enemy would be scattered? The victory plan included the breaking of clay pots.
A broken vessel is spoken of in Mark 14:6. An alabaster box of very costly oil was brought to anoint the head and feet of Jesus. The box was broken that the precious oils could pour out. Oh, there were those who were scoffing at the waste of costly oils, but Jesus spoke, “Let her alone… she has done a good work for Me.”
A vessel was broken that worship be given.
Shall we rejoice in becoming a broken vessel? Shall we choose victory over hunger, and battle, hardship, and sadness? Shall we watch and wait on the work of the King of all kings. For He knows all things.
If I accept that I am clay in the hands of the Potter. If I be broken in heart and even shattered. Can I worship the One who is able to accomplish a new work in me, even when I can’t see?
 
 
 
 
 
 

Today…

I’ve been given life today and choices free to make. Choices of destruction, or choices of hope and grace.
Looking at yesterday, it ties my heart in knots…today, I wake and finally make the time, to  pray… “O God, not my will – but Thine!”
The chaos turns to calmness. The agony and strife, to peace – as God Himself hears my prayer and He, Himself speaks:
“Can you think on the good things? Is there a good report – then see it. (1) Choose to give favor – even undeserved…that is what I give you, even though from Me…your heart has swerved… (2)
Don’t be offended, listen and hear My word:
‘All’ have ‘swerved’ and turned in heart! ‘All’ have missed My glory! (3) ‘All’ the souls that I created -struggle to read My Story!
There is none good but God. (4) Look everywhere –  you won’t find it – But I AM waiting for you to call My name, and I will  –  freely pour – out –  My Spirit.” (5)
Are you willing to let die…the past and all you hold on to? And lift your hands – yes, physically – and lift your eyes to ME and cry: “Abba Father come restore and rescue me!” (6)
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God,… never faints nor is weary,…He gives power to the weak – those who wait on Him… He gives strength to them. (7)
I sympathize  with your weakness. I was tempted as you yet without sin,  Come to My throne of grace. Obtain from Me mercy and gracious help in your time of need…I AM! I AM able to restore you again. (8)
Come to My house, I invite you. To eat at my Table of  broken bread and drink of the vine.  I invite you to come dine  to Remember Me. That you might see, My sacrificial love… for Thee.”(9)
Come to My house, I invite you. Will  you come or will you refuse? Look to Me, instead of the sheep – for I AM humble and lowly, yet… I AM King of all Kings. (10)
Come to Me, all you who are weary and are without hope. Come to Me, Follow Me, I will dwell in you and you with Me, and you will ask what you will – I will set you free.” (11)
Today, today, today…today, children, if this was my very last day, I would want you to know that I love you so, but there is One who loves you exceedingly abundantly – more than you can even understand.  Today I write, my story, my song…my story, my song is the Man Jesus- ‘yes, Jesus loves me. yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me… come, be willing to sing along –
“The Bible tells me so!”
* * * * *
(1) Philippians 4:8, Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.” (World English Version).
(2) Romans 5:8, “…but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (ESV).
(3) Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
(4)Luke 18:19, “And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.”  Romans 3:19, ‘as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;”
(5) Revelation 3:20, “Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me.” (Living Bible).
(6) Mark 14:36, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6, “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
(Romans 8:15), For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
(7)  Isaiah 40: 28-31, “Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.”

(8) Hebrews 4:14-16, “But Jesus the Son of God is our great High Priest who has gone to heaven itself to help us; therefore let us never stop trusting him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses since he had the same temptations we do, though he never once gave way to them and sinned. 16 So let us come boldly to the very throne of God and stay there to receive his mercy and to find grace to help us in our times of need.”
(9) 1 Corinthians 11:23-25, “For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
(10) Zechariah 9:9, ” Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”
(11) Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” John 15:7, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Mark 1:17, “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”