Sometimes an Anchor

Sometimes, it’s important to put down an anchor when the boat is fighting strong winds, turbulent waves, and moving off course.

We need anchors for our soul through turbulence, as well. Instead of reaching for something new, it’s powerful to reach for something old, tried, true through the course of time.

I’m talking about an old hymnal.

Voice of Praise Published 1947 by Broadman Press

I bought this old treasure at an antique store for $5.00. To me, it’s worth thousands or more.

Why?

Because each of these old spiritual songs and hymns has me think on things upright, noble, full of goodness, and true. These trustworthy thoughts wash my chaotic mind, . . . immediately.

Instantly, these songs of praise lift me above my circumstance, and hope and truth set me free.

Find a hymnal! Open its pages. Read aloud the rich, solid words.

When I open the pages and read titles and phrases, I’m changed.

Doxology & Crown Him with Many Crowns!

The first page of this treasure, Voice of Praise by Broadman Press, 1947 calms my raging mind with Crown Him with Many Crowns by Matthew Bridges and Doxology by Thomas Ken.

As the “nations rage and the people plot in vain” (Psalm 2),

We can regain focus on God through the rock, solid words of faith, hope, and truth in an old hymnal:

Crown him with many crowns,
the Lamb upon his throne.
Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns
all music but its own.

Immediate refocus on the King of kings this anchor of hymns brings:
Awake, my soul, and sing
of him who died for thee,
and hail him as thy matchless king
through all eternity.

It’s true, if I think about the world and all its affairs without the proper balance of meditation on the Lord, I’m sunk in despair, sadness, and gloom. But this hymn of praise anchors my soul to remember, my life, no matter what, is in His hands:

Crown him the Lord of life,
who triumphed o’er the grave,
and rose victorious in the strife
for those he came to save;

He came to save all who would believe in the name of Jesus Christ. And for all who receive His great love and salvation:


his glories now we sing
who died and rose on high,
who died eternal life to bring,
and lives that death may die.

What glorious assurance this hymn of praise brings, “the death” of death.

This is why every believer can sing the Doxology with all their heart in the power of the Spirit:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. (Thomas Ken.)

If you haven’t received Jesus in your life. He’s only a prayer away. He did the work on the cross. He paid each of our debts on the cross. You can be free and forgiven when you believe in Jesus. Talk with Him today. Open a hymnal, read the Bible and grow in His love and grace.

For those of us who believe, let’s keep our anchors in praise and focus on the Word of God.

Jesus is the anchor of our souls. Now. And forever. And, forever is a long time!

(My granddaughter had fun with some watercolors. I added some “notes” from my hymnal.)

“Dear Lord, keep of focused to praise You, in Jesus name. Amen.”

Toddler’s paint and notes to praise!

I pray today is the first day of the rest of your “eternal” life! Let someone know if you have asked Jesus to come into your life to make you new, today.

Faith First Then Comes Peace “Increase Our Faith, Lord!”

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ our Lord” 2Peter1:2.  

Today, how do we have peace? Multiplied measures of peace? Yes, this is what the human soul seeks—peace of mind.

It’s a focus of the heart issue.

God gives every human room to choose Him or not. First, in faith to believe what He says in His Word, to receive His saving grace of salvation, and then . . .

to follow Him, step by step, day by day, growing in knowledge and grace of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Faith comes first, then comes refreshing revelations, transformations, and peace.

This is not a works thing. God’s Word is plain:

 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast” Ephesians 2:8,9.

Peace is a result of believing God above all else, in any and all circumstances—with focus on Him:

“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

  let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

   For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:6-9.

Where is our heart’s focus today?

“When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies to the heavens” Proverbs 23:5.

Our faith can fly and disappear as well when we forget to focus on the Lord and walk with Him, in (faith) of Him, thankful for Him!

“Increase our faith, Lord!” This is our cry today.

God desires we turn to Him, daily, moment by moment. To receive His love, know Him, more and more.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled” Matthew 5:6.

Who doesn’t want to be filled? Who chooses to be empty? God is here:

“Be still, and know that I am God,” Psalm 46:10 reassures,  “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth“

 “Heaven is My throne, And earth is my footstool . . . But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word” Isaiah 66:1,2.   

“Give ear and come to me;
    listen, that you may live . . . Isaiah 55:3.  

 “ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2Timothy 1:7.

We must ask ourselves, “Do I have this spirit God gives? Not of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind?”

We need God’s Holy Spirit!

“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17. 

Jesus told a man who called Him, “Good Teacher,”

 “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God” Mark 10:18. 

Today, can we hear Jesus’ words? Only God is good!

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility” Ephesians 2:14. 

No matter the circumstance on this terrestrial earth, a heart turned to the true and living God can take joy in all He is always,

because He alone is 

“able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 

to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” Ephesians 3:20,21. 

“Dear Jesus, I believe in You. Help me grow in grace and knowledge of You. Fill me overflowing with Your Spirit that I might have peace. Help my unbelief!” In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s take a minute to let a few kids remind us about faith today to help keep us focused on His Word with a melody. This is a remedy for peace for today:

Irelyn & Noel sing the Fatih Song on Bible Songs Alive 1

When I doubt, “Where is God?” I turn to old hymns to remind me, “He’s right here.”

An old hymn at the bottom of my C.H. Spurgeon Devotional Bible caught my eye today,

When trouble like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He near my soul has always stood,
His loving-kindness, oh, how good!

Though num’rous hosts of mighty foes,
Though earth and hell my way oppose,
He safely leads my soul along,
His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
He justly claims a song for me,
His loving-kindness, oh, how free!

In the late 1780s, Samuel Medley wrote this hymn originally called, Awake My Soul, to Joyful Lays in 1782, later titled Loving-Kindness.

Today I find these old phrases turn my gloomy thoughts to hope in God, without even knowing the melody.

The words speak faith. My heart is hungry to receive its truth. This is eternal life for the present moment, not some future day. Eternal life is to know Jesus and His present love here and now.

When we base all our hope and trust on what we can see, our hearts fail us and we become discouraged and in despair, but God . . .

He reminds us, not one time, not two, but four times: “The just shall live by faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38 each remind us, “the just shall live by faith!”

Faith is believing God. Period. But how can we believe God if we don’t know Him or listen to His voice?

Where is truth today? Who can we trust?

The Bible tells us:

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19.

We have to know, today, what God has said. It’s no longer a day for “hear-say” about God. We’ve got to open the Bible for ourselves and discover Him.

A tiny letter, an epistle in the Bible inspired by the Holy Spirit written by Paul the Apostle called Titus, opens rich and loaded with substance to chew on concerning God, His Word, and faith:

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ,

for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, 

which accords with godliness, 

in hope of eternal life,

which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began

and at the proper time manifested in his word

 through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; Titus 1:1-3.

Do these words give me an appetite to read more of what God has to say in His Word? As the hymn that caught my eye?

To fix my eyes on God’s Word and a God song, I must! We must!

“For the sake of the faith . . . and their knowledge of the truth, . . . in the hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised!”(Exclamation point, mine).

The old hymn puts God’s promise in a summary of what Jesus did for us:

He saw me ruined in the fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate,
His loving-kindness, oh, how great!

Jesus says in the gospels, “Follow me.”

Do I choose to follow Him? Today?

The Bible tells us, “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be SAVED through Him” (John 3:17).

Do we receive Jesus’ love and forgiveness? Do I forgive myself? Can I speak back the hymn in praise to God:

He saw me ruined in the fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate,
His loving-kindness, oh, how great!

No matter what is going on around, can you and I look up and agree, “His loving-kindness, Oh, how great!”

And can we trust the “death of death” for you and me who believe?

Yes, let’s take comfort in the hymn, with understanding in the life we live, eternally:

Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale,
Soon all my mortal pow’rs must fail;
Oh, may my last expiring breath
His loving-kindness sing in death.

Then let me mount and soar away
To the bright world of endless day;
And sing with raptures and surprise,
His loving-kindness in the skies.
Loving-kindness, loving-kindness,
His loving-kindness in the skies.

His loving-kindness is never-ending. I share Ella and Irelyn in “Lord, I’m in Your Hands,” by Tim Weeks:

Jesus never leaves us. No matter where we are, we can call His name.

“Our bodies had no rest, we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God,”

Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote in 2 Corinthians 7:4-7 of hard times when they came to Macedonia—outside conflicts, inside fears.

“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us . . . ”

We live in desperate times. Hearts around the world are broken and hurting today. Do we know the true and living God?

Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:4-6, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Do you believe in Jesus? Do you have faith in God’s Word?

These are everlasting life or everlasting separation-from-God questions. Yes, these are heavy and important questions for this day in which we live.

Open the Bible in the Gospels and walk with Jesus to see and know Him more. Draw near to Him. He will draw near to You. If you don’t know Him, cry out to Him, He will show you His paths of life.

He is faithful to hear the cries of whoever will call on His name in spirit and truth.

There’s an old hymn, “Anywhere with Jesus.” Written in 1887 by Jessie Brown Pounds. She had turned her eyes to Jesus and opened her heart to His love, salvation, and power of His Holy Spirit.

No circumstance could change her home, because her home was in Jesus.

Consider Jesus today if you feel your steps are only harsh, dark, and without hope. Consider these words of truth from 150 years ago.

With the Spirit of God abiding in our heart, no matter the circumstance, we can proclaim:

Anywhere with Jesus, I can safely go;
Anywhere He leads me in this world below;
Anywhere without Him, dearest joys would fade;
Anywhere with Jesus, I am not afraid.

Refrain:
Anywhere! anywhere!
Fear I cannot know;
Anywhere with Jesus, I can safely go.

Anywhere with Jesus, I am not alone;
Other friends may fail me, He is still my own;
Though His hand may lead me over dreary ways,
Anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise. (Refrain)

Anywhere with Jesus, I can go to sleep,
When the darkening shadows round about me creep;
Knowing I shall waken never more to roam,
Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home. (Refrain)

Together, let’s speak in a hymn and keep a heart of praise, because “Anywhere with Jesus, I am not alone, . . . Anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.”

If you need prayer today, please communicate with me. We can cast all our care on Jesus because He cares and He’s able to help in all times of need.

Toni

toniryp@gmail.com

TODAY: When Words to Pray Cannot be Found, Believers Pray the Psalms & Hymns: Psalms 11 & A Mighty Fortress is Our God

Dear God, together in heart and unified in mind, we pray aloud Your Word, we speak Your truth back to You. Hear our desperate prayers and cries:

Psalm 11

The Lord Is in His Holy Temple

 To the choirmaster. Of David.

  In the Lord I take refuge;

how can you say to my soul,

“Flee like a bird to your mountain,

   for behold, the wicked bend the bow;

they have fitted their arrow to the string

to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;

   if the foundations are destroyed,

what can the righteous do?”

  The Lord is in his holy temple;

the Lord’s throne is in heaven;

his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

  The Lord tests the righteous,

but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

   Let him rain coals on the wicked;

fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup.

   For the Lord is righteous;

he loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold his face Psalm 11.

Today is the day to turn to Jesus, Lord God, Savior. He is the One who saves. He is Redeemer.

Today is the day to call on His name, God of heaven and earth. His dwelling place is in a heart who praises Him in spirit and truth.

Today can be the first day of the rest of your eternal life when you call on the name of Jesus.

Who will join me today, to gather in heart, unified, to praise and march on with Martin Luther’s hymn, A Mighty Fortress is our God from 1529:

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing.
Our helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe.
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing,
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He.
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him.
His rage we can endure,
For lo, his doom is sure.
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers
Not thanks to them, abideth.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also.
The body they may kill,
God’s truth abideth still.
His kingdom is forever. ( A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Martin Luther, 1529.)

Who will agree our hearts are changed and infused with increased faith and hope by taking time to speak God’s Word and an old hymn?

“Dear Lord, help us walk in Your truth and allow You to be our strength and our song throughout this entire day,

in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Put on Praise
Today we speak together in psalms and hymns and we are changed by God’s indwelling Spirit

If you are not sure you have ever received Jesus’ love and salvation, simply talk with Him now. Pour out your heart to Him. Let Him take your sin and failure and receive His forgiveness and power to new life in Christ. Tell someone you have become a new creation in Christ today. (2 Corinthians 5:17.)

I share children’s voices ringing in God’s truth of becoming a new creation with “Everything New” by the Kanagy girls:

Help Me Remember You, LORD

Jesus told us in His Word we would face trouble in the last days. He told us beforehand so we won’t be caught off guard.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” John 16:33.

Do we remember what else the Lord told us? Three hundred sixty-five times in the Bible, God says, “Don’t be afraid!”

God’s Word is living. It speaks to our souls when we open our hearts to the Lord to speak to us personally. Listen to His voice:

But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43:1-3

God doesn’t condemn us, He gave us a Redeemer. He gave us His only Son, Jesus who stretched out His arms wide on the cross to take our failures of sin.

He offers His salvation to anyone who will believe. He is God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior . . . ?

Yes? Let today be the day of salvation for you. You then will hear Him say, “You are Mine, I have called you by your name.”

And, today, even with great trial and sorrow, you can sing:

“Lord, I’m in Your hand. Lord, I’m in Your heart. In Your thoughts, in Your plans, never on my own.

Lord, I’m in Your hands. Lord, I’m in Your heart. In Your thoughts, in Your plans, never left alone.

When the darkness closes in and fear begins to rise, help me to remember You’re always by my side.

When the darkness closes in and fear begins to rise, help me to remember, You’re always by my side.”

Thank you Ella & Irelyn and Tim Weeks for your awesome song!

Will Jesus Find Us Watching?

Fanny Crosby 1875 

Blind to the light of the day, Fanny Crosby couldn’t see, but crystal clear was her heart’s vision of spiritual truth.  

It’s told Fanny loved God’s Word and memorized five chapters each week, as well as the study of poetry and the writing of prose.  

Fanny wrote more than 9,000 hymns! 

Today, I want to bring to our heart’s focus, Fanny’s hymn, Will Jesus Find Us Watching?  

When Jesus comes to reward His servants, 

Whether it be noon or night, 

Faithful to Him will He find us watching, 

With our lamps all trimmed and bright? 

Refrain: 

O can we say we are ready, brother? 

Ready for the soul’s bright home? 

Say, will He find you and me still watching, 

Waiting, watching when the Lord shall come? 

“What will we be watching for?” The disciples asked in Matthew 24. 

Do we remember Jesus’ answer?  

  1. Don’t be lead astray. “Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray’ (Matthew 24:5). 
  2. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Don’t be alarmed. 
  3. Nation will rise against nation.
  4. And kingdom against kingdom.
  5. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 
  6. All these are the beginning of the birth pains. (Matthew 24.) 

Will Jesus Find Us Watching? Are we watching for the kingdom of heaven? 

Jesus continued to tell us what we would see in Matthew 24:

7. You will be delivered up to trials and put to death.

8. You will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 

9. Many will turn from following Me and betray one another . . .

10.  and hate one another.  

 11. False prophets will arise and lead many astray.  

12. Because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.  

Jesus told us before, so we would know. He gives His promise to those who believe:

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”  

 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” Matthew 24: 9-14. 

If, at the dawn of the early morning, 

He shall call us one by one, 

When to the Lord we restore our talents, 

Will He answer you, “Well done?”  

Jesus told us in Matthew 25 of ten virgins who took their lamps to meet the bridegroom. Five were ready with their lamps filled with oil, but as the bridegroom delayed,  

They all became tired and slept.  

But the call of His arrival came suddenly in the night. The wise virgins with their lamps filled with oil were unable to give to those who had no oil. Each had to receive oil for themselves.  

While the foolish virgins went to buy oil, the bridegroom came.  

“And those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the 

the door was shut . . .

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour Matthew 25:10-13.  

Let us decide this day, to wake from our sleep! Let us together be ready for His coming. It’s as faithful as the morning.

Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching, 

In His glory they shall share; 

If He shall come at the dawn or midnight, 

Will He find us watching there?  

There is time to turn and call on the name of Jesus. He will answer our call. He will faithfully forgive all our sins. In our emptiness, we must ask Him to fill us overflowing with the oil of His Holy Spirit.

I’m thankful Fanny Crosby, wrote with ink her heart visions so many years ago to open our eyes to God’s truth.

Jesus is coming again, . . . soon, and very soon.

O can we say we are ready, brother? 

Ready for the soul’s bright home? 

Say, will He find you and me still watching, 

Waiting, watching when the Lord shall come? 

TODAY is the day of Salvation. The invitation from Jesus is for all of mankind:

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price . . . Revelation 22:16,17.

TODAY, we will be ready.

 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen” Revelation 22:20, 21.

Blessed are those whom the Lord finds watching, 

In His glory they shall share; 

If He shall come at the dawn or midnight, 

Will He find us watching there?  

“Yes, Oh yes, He will find us watching there!”

She Watched. She Cried Out. She Worshiped. Jesus Healed.

 A woman in the Bible whose child was sick must have been following Jesus and watching Him for some time.

She was a Gentile woman but when she called out to Jesus she spoke with the Jewish dialect, unlike her own,

“Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

But He answered her not a word.

“And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us” Matthew 15:22,23.

Jesus was silent, and the followers of Jesus were cold-hearted,  impatient, and more. But the desperate woman knew something, deep down—Jesus was her only hope.  

Then, Jesus spoke, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Are these sharp words of Jesus worse than silence?

Jesus broke His silence, but the words for this desperate woman seem far from compassionate: “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  

My eyes read on as I prayed for understanding . . .

 “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” Matthew 15:25.

This Gentile woman was not offended by His words.  

She most likely had watched Jesus previously when he was in the presence of the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the house of Israel.

Jesus spoke sternly to the Pharisees:  “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me” Matthew 15:7-9.  

This desperate, gentile woman sought Jesus, not with the right words, but with her whole heart, and she worshiped Him.  

 “But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15:26).   

Israel is God’s chosen nation, but Israel means, “one who strives with God.” This woman, with all her heart, believed Him to be her only hope. She believed Him to heal her daughter and she worshiped Him. She asked for help—as a lost sheep striving with God:

  “True, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from the Master’s table” Matthew 15:27. 

 In other words, “Lord, I know I’m a Gentile, but even the crumbs from Your table will be enough for me.”  

Jesus wasn’t silent to be cold-hearted. Jesus didn’t reply to offend but He revealed her heart.

Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.”And her daughter was healed at that moment Matthew 15:28.  

I’ve heard it presented of whole-hearted worship to God brings healing to our souls. Do we praise God as this poor and needy woman? Do we believe Jesus is our only hope?

Together let’s speak or sing the words of this age-old hymn:

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy

Author: J. Hart (1759)

Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,
weak and wounded, sick and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
full of pity, love, and power.

Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome,
God’s free bounty glorify;
true belief and true repentance,
ev’ry grace that brings you nigh.

Let not conscience make you linger,
nor of fitness fondly dream;
all the fitness he requireth
is to feel your need of him.

Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
lost and ruined by the fall;
if you tarry till you’re better,
you will never come at all.

I will arise and go to Jesus!
He will save me from my sin.
By the riches of his merit,
there is joy and life in him.


“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise” Jeremiah 17:14

“Help us Keep Focused Lord!” (Be Thou My Vision)

I have trouble with focus. I struggle with many directions of thought. Do you?

God is a gracious help when it comes to focusing. He basically says,

“Stop. Think of Me!”

In Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

There’s so much going on. “Outside there are conflicts, inside there are fears,” much like in Paul’s day as he wrote of his time in Macedonia in 2 Corinthians 7:5.

“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us,” Paul continues, and He comforts us today.

Where’s my focus? I need to remember to spend time with God.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Psalm 37:7. 

God’s allowing trials in all our lives. He warned us in His Word we would have tribulation, but to rejoice because He has overcome, He is our victory, (John 16:33).

When words to our prayers feel weak, I speak the words of this favorite ancient 8th Century hymn:

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light

When we speak to one another in hymns and psalms, we put on the spiritual armor of faith and truth, to gird ourselves for battle.

Be Thou my wisdom, and 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

In Christ, “in Him,” we have salvation and security. He is our peace. In His presence is fullness of joy, the Bible tells us. And, ” . . . in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

The hymn reminds us of this. He is with us!

Be Thou my battle shield, sword for the fight;
Be Thou my dignity, Thou my delight;
Thou my soul’s shelter, Thou my high tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power.

Together, we must stay focused on the battle. The Word of God must be our sword of thought to overcome:

” . . . since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us

 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12: 1,2.

This is easy to read. Hard to do. But with God, all things are possible. His Word is a double-edged sword:

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still” Exodus 14:14.

To quiet the mind is a challenge. But to spend time with God is to be still.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my treasure Thou art.


Ancient Irish, 8th-century hymn

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Let’s be equipped for battle, focused on the Lord, in His Word, speaking the hymns. When we get our focus on Him we remember we are His and He is ours.

We pray, “Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, . . .

still be my vision, O ruler of all.”

(If you have trouble resting, listen to this hymn on my Music Therapy Souncloud and go from fretful to restful and assured sleep.)

Cancer Hope: A Hymnal and a Phone Message

It was a day of great sickness after chemo. I opened a hymnal on my bookshelf. It opened to Be Still My Soul by Kathrina von Schlegel.

In a horrible physical and emotional state, the words jumped off the page for me. Just for me. I felt the Lord unveil these words personally, to me. . .

Be Still my Soul. The Lord is on thy side . . .

After great trials and this physical pain, I honestly forgot, that the Lord I believed in and asked to come in my life, was “on my side.”

I struggled in my faith. But the hymn:
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Actively reading this phrase, I understood immediately, the Lord could see it all. Faith ignited in a second through the reading, (not even the singing) of this hymn.

(Quite honestly, I had no idea the melody. Old hymns weren’t regularly played at my contemporary Bible-teaching church.)

I read more:

Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

And when you fight a cancer battle, it does come into the mind, “Am I going to make it?”

God knew I was asking and God answered me through a phone call, (though I will confess, God showed me other glimpses of my healing along the way until I finally believed completely).

A young 13-year old, Landon, (whom I had spent some moments with to get started playing his guitar), learned I was sick with breast cancer.

He not only prayed for me, but he sought the Lord in His Bible for answers and hope.

Landon called me, on August 23rd, 2010.

I didn’t hear the call. It went to voice-mail. I’m so glad it did. I replayed it over and over again. Here is the voice mail I saved:
“Hello Ms. Toni, this is Landon. I just wanted to read you some scriptures that the Lord gave to me for you. It is from Psalm 18:

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies . . .


He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from the powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support . . .


As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect . . .
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.


You give me Your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me;
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.

You armed me with strength for the battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their back in flight, and I destroyed my foes.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them- to the LORD, but he did not answer…
The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!”

Yes, Landon read his Bible to me on the phone and he left this message.

“You made my enemies turn their back in flight, and I destroyed my foes . . . ” This was amazing.

The precious phone message, Psalm 18, and the hymn Be Still My Soul mean so much to me.

I share what I put down those many years ago as music therapy for myself in my cancer battle. I hope it brings peace and rest of mind for someone as they draw near to Jesus.

He promises to draw near: For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:13.

Music Therapy/ Painted Bible by legacystudio.co

Please feel free to share this with any friends or family unable to sleep or rest during a physical or emotional challenge. Thanks – toniryp

 2 Be still, my soul; your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past;
your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he lived below.

4 Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on
when we shall be forever with the 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.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #847

The Day I Was Diagnosed With Cancer

After my cancer diagnosis, I began to write. This is from August 17, 2010. I’m thankful to be alive and give praise to the Lord today.

His Word helped keep me . . . this day . . . thankful. And He brought the help I needed with each and every moment, through my anger, my doubts, my fears, my sickness . . . He did.

On the day I found out I was to face a cancer battle, this was the Word of the Lord to me.

I hope this will be an encouragement to anyone going through some difficult times:

Bible Journal Along the way

Date: August 17, 2010

Today I was diagnosed with an invasive lobular, 5×7 cm- estrogen positive cancer tumor of the breast.

I have breast cancer.

In the evening, I opened my Bible to one of my favorite verses so I could see it on the page:

Jeremiah 33:3, Call unto Me and I will answer, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not of.

So, I decided to go off my Bible schedule and read Jeremiah today.

While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time:

“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name:

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” Jeremiah 33:1-3.

The Bible tells us that “the word of the LORD came to him a second time.” I’m encouraged. Jeremiah heard these words not once, but twice, from the Creator of the Universe, the Most High God, the LORD:

“Call to me and I will answer you. . .”

“I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

My ears are open. It seems in great affliction, the heart is ready to hear. I kept reading:

For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword in the fight with the Babylonians . . .

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security” Jeremiah 33:4-6.

This was the Word of God to Jeremiah concerning Judah and Israel, but on a day when you find out you have cancer and you open God’s Word . . .

it speaks of a tearing down against an enemy!

This is good news to my heart. My soul can breathe.

I can trust God. If He can do this for Judah and Israel, I can believe God to heal me.

I need faith for this battle. The Word of God will help increase my faith. 

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”

“Dear Lord, I call to You. Show me great and mighty things through this trial. Give me understanding to Your Word. Help me believe! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD. 12

I am a survivor. The Lord has done great things for me, and I praise Him each day for life today.

Please let me know if you are going through a great trial so I can be praying for you.

Thanks,

Toni

Do Your Kids Need: To Learn the Lord’s Prayer?

Kids teach each other the Lord’s Prayer with song

Many adults have the Lord’s Prayer, (Matthew 6:9-13) memorized and through time developed a good understanding of each phrase, but what about the kids?

For me, in the course of a day, I’ll recite these Words of God many times. Kids today will benefit greatly to have this great treasure of Scripture hidden in their hearts and mind.

Give a listen. Commit to share it with the kids and grandkids and sing along with them.

To commune with God draws us near to Him. He draws near to us as we seek Him in spirit and in truth.

He meets us right where we are.

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” Jeremiah 29:13.

This is an excellent and essential use of our time. Spurgeon is quoted:

 “If there be anything I know, anything that I am quite assured of beyond all question, it is that praying breath is never spent in vain.”

Today, let’s take a moment and let a child’s voice speak Jesus’ model to talk to God. Let the melody and the Word stir up an attitude to speak with our Maker in an all-inclusive way, and not fret, worry, or lose heart over anything.

May the melody to the Lord’s Prayer with kids bring us refreshing and rescue, this day and every day.

“Just keep singin'” to Jesus and cast all our cares on Him. 

“For His is the kingdom, the power, and glory, forever. “

Amen. 

P.S. Let me know if your kids enjoy learning the Lord’s prayer with Kally, Graham, and Irelyn!

I’m working on a Bible Songs Alive Resource for Christian schools, churches, homeschools, and families to pull up kids singing wonderful Scripture memory songs. 

Please pray for the Lord’s leading and blessing in this project I’ve been working on for over 10 years! — Toni 

 

 

The Time is Now to Turn to the King, Psalm 128

tonirypkema.com

The king had a gold statue made and set up in the middle of the large city. Every leader and official of the province gathered for its dedication.

A loud voice announced, “People of all nations, races, and languages! You will hear the sound of the trumpets, followed by the playing of . . . lyres, and harps; and then all the other instruments will join in.

As soon as the music starts, you are to bow down and worship the gold statue the king has set up” (Daniel 3, GNBUK).

The warning for anyone in rebellion to the king’s order would immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.

What if this was you or me in this situation? Would we fear the king or the King of Kings who gave His command through Moses?

Fear of the king would bring people to bow down and worship the statue.

What is the command of the King of all kings given through Moses?

Those who knew this King’s command had a decision to make.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego remembered the Word of the Lord,

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me . . . You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, . . . showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20: 2-6).

“And so, as soon as (the people) heard the sound of the instruments, the people of all the nations, races, and languages bowed down and worshipped the gold statue which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. “

It was told the king, “There are some Jews whom you put in charge of the province of Babylon — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — who are disobeying Your Majesty’s orders. They do not worship your god or bow down to the statue you set up.”

Daniel 3:4-18 proclaims the ancient story: The king “flew into a rage and ordered the three men to be brought before him.” They were given another chance to bow to the statue, or, “you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.”

The king asked a very good question to the three, “Do you think there is any god who can save you?”

This day is now. Who is our king, or King? Of whom do we worship and bow?

“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you” Psalm 128.

Do we know this King of Love? Do we know His Son? Who is this King of glory? Higher than all kings of the earth, what is His nature? His character whom we should trust?

“The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth . . . ” (Exodus 34:6,7). Do we know this King the Bible proclaims?

Let’s take a look at king Nebuchadnezzar:

He “. . . lost his temper, and his face turned red with anger at Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. And he commanded the strongest men in his army to tie the three men up and throw them into the blazing furnace. So they tied them up, fully dressed — shirts, robes, caps, and all — and threw them into the blazing furnace.”

What character did the king of the day possess? “My rule or the fire?”

What is the character of the King of Kings?

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD (Psalm 128).

Let’s witness in Daniel 3 the actions of the King above all kings:

The king asked, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the blazing furnace?”

They answered, “Yes, we did, Your Majesty.”

“Then why do I see four men walking about in the fire?” he asked.

“They are not tied up, and they show no sign of being hurt — and the fourth one looks like an angel.”

Is not the King of Kings faithful to His Word always? Has the LORD promised,

“I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13: 5, AMP.

Do we know the Lord as these three men? Their position was as Psalm 118:6, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

The Lord loves each of us. However, we’re ALL separated from Him because of our sin. Yes, every single person in the world.

That is why He loved us so much to give us His Son, and to all who believe on Him, everlasting life is given from this time and forevermore.

Do we fear the LORD, Jesus? Turn to Him today, He is not only “Faithful and True,” . . . It is also said of Jesus,

“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” Revelation 19:16.

The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Tell someone, (or me) if today is the day you gave your life to the KING of KINGS!

tonirypkema.com

A Song of Ascent, Psalm 127

Psalm 127 by toniryp.com

The Bible tells us the children of Israel journeyed as families and ascended three times a year up to Jerusalem to gather for a week to celebrate the Feast of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

They would sing the Songs of Ascents beginning from Psalm 120 through Psalm 134.

The songs lift the eyes of the heart to the LORD and God’s Word gives understanding to the soul, step by step, of the heavenly Father’s love toward His people.

The message was sent from God to everyone—the whole earth, every tongue, nation, tribe. What does God tell us?

“What about Psalm 127?” You ask.

“Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.
 It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep Psalm 127:1,2.

“Let Me lead.” The Lord says basically, “Don’t fret about yesterday, don’t worry about tomorrow, let Me in. I make all things new.

Step by step I’ll direct your steps. I’m not saying, sit and let Me move, I’m saying ‘follow Me,’ I’ll show you the way.”

Opposite to our natural need to remain in control, God speaks and reveals:

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.
 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the children of one’s youth.
 Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate” Psalm 127:3-5.

God’s ways are not like ours. Children are a lot of work, but God reminds us they are our heritage, our reward, our greatest blessing.

We want to make plans without hassle and difficulty, yet the Lord knows the “man is blessed whose quiver is full of children!”

We don’t want to have to trust God. We want to trust in ourselves. We want to “build our own house,” so to speak.

God says,
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:9.

God speaks to tell us His love, power, help, and hope. He didn’t leave us here as orphans to figure everything out on our own.

He allows everyone to make the choice to believe Him or not. Oh, yes. His ways are l-o-n-g . . . s-u-f-f-e-r-i-n-g. and gentle.

It’s like the ark of God with its door open wide, (there was only one door). (Yet only a family of eight walked in?) Amazing grace . . .

According to the Genesis account, everyone else stayed outside the door . . . and laughed.

To follow God will be the hardest decision of our lives. But the most rewarding.

The open Word is as a door to the soul when the Spirit of God is given entrance to move by faith. God calls:

“Today, if you will hear My voice, do not harden your hearts . . . “

To believe God is as . . . to walk through the Door.

Jesus, Himself said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out 

and find pasture” John 10:9.

“Yes, today. I want to “go in and out and find pasture.”

Today, I will follow Jesus. Not with one foot in and one foot out. I will enter the door. I’m in.

And you?

 “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out 

and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. 

The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” John 10:9-11.

(Start your year and read the Book of John as if you join Jesus on each page. Decide for yourself. God gives no mandates, only grace for those who choose to believe.)

 

“Those Who Sow in Tears Shall Reap in Joy” (Psalm 126, Song of Ascent)

There are times when God seems cruel and distant. Circumstances, trials, loss can speak confusion, doubt, and fear in our lives, yet God in His Word, ministers life and hope to all who hear His voice and receive His love.  

He gives understanding and wisdom to His ways in His Word, (Proverbs 2:6). Instead of being cruel, we learn and experience,  

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient . . . not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance 2 Peter 3:9. 

Here at Advent, approaching the day we celebrate the birth of our Immanuel, we seek Him and cry out as the hymn cries:  

“O come, O come, Immanuel, 
and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here 
until the Son of God appear” (Translator: J. M. Neale). 
 

Today, in our pilgrimage through the Song of Ascents, as the children of Irael journeyed up to Jerusalem to take time to celebrate the Lord’s faithfulness and deliverance, we look at Psalm 126,  

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, 

we were like those who dream. 

Israel was held captive seventy years in Babylon. But throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, we see the stubbornness of His people, disobedience and pride which brought about punishment under evil rulers.  

And we also witness throughout Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1st and 2nd Samuel, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and more, the great faithfulness of a gracious and compassionate God. 

The Lord is gracious, compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in mercy, forgiving iniquity and sin . . . (Exodus 34:6,7). 

However, all sin must be punished. The land of Israel had no Sabbath year rest for a total of seventy years. 

God warned the people. They were held captive exactly 70 years. His land had rest. The people? They remembered.  

Psalm 137 is a song in their anguish:  

By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept 
    when we remembered Zion. 
 There on the poplars 
    we hung our harps, 
 for there our captors asked us for songs, 
    our tormentors demanded songs of joy; 
    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 

How can we sing the songs of the Lord 
    while in a foreign land? 
 If I forget you, Jerusalem, 
    may my right hand forget its skill . . . Psalm 137:1-5. 

And God is faithful and true to His Word:  

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, 

and our tongue with shouts of joy; 

then they said among the nations, 

“The Lord has done great things for them.” 

   The Lord has done great things for us; 

we are glad Psalm 126:1-3. 

Time in God’s Word gives answers, understanding, and comfort through the “Why’s” and the dark days.  

“Dear Lord, we’re broken-hearted. We suffer great loss. Affliction. Trial.  

You give warning in Your Word. You give promises. You are faithful to them both.  

You are both merciful and just.  

You are both Holy yet forgiving. There is none like You.  

You are drawing all people to You and Your great name-sometimes through  

Help us to hear You every day, the warnings, 

“If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions (Deuteronomy 28:58). 

Help us remember Your promises as well. 

Help us have ears to hear and hearts to understand You and Your ways and Your love:  “We love him, because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19.  

 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, 

like streams in the Negeb! 

 Those who sow in tears 

shall reap with shouts of joy! 

 He who goes out weeping, 

bearing the seed for sowing, 

shall come home with shouts of joy, 

bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126. 

“Dear Lord, we weep, but we look up and rejoice in You.  

You never abandon Your people. We need Your law written on our hearts, yes, You accomplished all we could never do.  

We can never be right, just, true, in and of ourselves.  

The arrival of the Messiah was what the people were looking forward to. We are looking to You, our help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!” 

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, 

whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;  

who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, Hebrews 1:1-3, NKJV.  

“Yes Lord, help us acknowledge You in all our days, in all our decisions.  

Though we may “walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for You are with us” (Psalm 23).  

Help us trust You, the faithful and gracious Lord to be our hope this day and forevermore. You, Jesus, dwell in my heart, and the hearts of all who believe on You: 

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God” (Revelation 21:3). 

Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy . . . The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad Psalm 126. Watercolor by Grace Rypkema / Legacy Studio 

Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.

O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain

 Those who sow in tears 
Shall reap in joy. 
He who continually goes forth weeping, 
Bearing seed for sowing, 
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, 
Bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126. 

Let us climb this mountain rejoicing: Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel (O Come, O Come, Immanuel Translator: J. M. Neale (1851).