Don’t Forget Your Shoes!

We almost never forget to put on our shoes out the door, unless, well, we rush out without them:

Kids come bounding through my door for their music lesson, take off their shoes, and (hopefully) enjoy and learn something new on their instrument of choice, and walk right out to go home without their shoes!

When I put shoes on my bare feet, I think of the protection and freedom they give me as I head out the door.

“Dear Lord, today I take my right shoe and think of Your Word in Psalm 125:

“Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved but abides forever” Psalm 125:1.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.

“Increase our faith to believe You today. To us who struggle to believe, ‘Help my unbelief! ‘

To trust You is to let go, surrender! It feels like a free fall. Help me understand what all this means.”

Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever . . .

For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.

Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts Psalm 125:3,4.

“You, Lord, don’t ‘see the same way people see’ (1 Samuel 16:7), people look at the outside of a person, but You see the heart.

You don’t see good people and bad people. What about the story about the housebuilders? You didn’t talk about good and bad, but about wise and foolish: The wise man built his house on the Rock, the foolish man, upon the sand.

Help us today to take heart in You and the wisdom of Your Word, even when we don’t understand everything in the full depth of meaning at times:

You see the heart, dear Lord. Not good or bad people, but the foundation each stands on. There are those who trust You on a foundation of Rock, and those who don’t . . . on a foundation of sand (Matthew 7:24,27).

The wise and the foolish.

How can we trust You if we don’t know You?

The left shoe is put on in remembrance of You, Your nature, ‘compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in mercy, forgiving . . . ‘ (Exodus 34:6,7).

Every house needs to be built on a good foundation.

Dear Jesus, if there’s anyone who understands to be misunderstood, Lord, it’s You.

Your Word is often twisted to hurt and deny . . . You. You don’t talk of “good” and “bad” people, . . . You created us all good, but then Genesis 3 affected all of humanity.

But to the broken, the hurting, the critical, the rude, the angry, the proud . . . this is all of us (!) (Romans 3).

You alone are Love. You alone never give up on anyone. You alone are Savior, Redeemer, Deliverer:

“For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land of the righteous . . . “

Even though there are many deep layers to this verse, this thought comes to mind (to help me understand how this relates to me, broken, yet standing on You, the Rock as Mt. Zion):

“Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

Those who are good? Upright in heart? “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity.

Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 125.

You are Peace, Jesus. Come wash us clean and make us new. We’ve put on our shoes. One of trust in You, as to stand on the Rock which is You, and the other shoe to walk in grace through faith,

with each step:

“O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

We remember our hope:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

(Nothing but the Blood of Jesus by Robert Lowry, 1876.)

So, today, moving forward through this advent season, I liken the act to put on my shoes, (which are a huge help to my activities,) as to the act to “put my trust in the LORD,” for one, and for two, to rejoice and marvel in His compassion and mercy on me and you.

There is no One like our Lord. He alone is the Rock of our Salvation. Amen!

Those who trust in the LORD are like mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever Psalm 125:1.

Conversation with the One Enthroned in the Heavens Who Lives in Our Heart

Our Advent Prayer Walk, 2021

In a day where news clips and billboards seem to scream in our every direction, the Lord speaks in the sunrise of the morning and the sunset of the night sky, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth Psalm 46:10.

“As we walk forward, slow with the challenge of keeping steady, we pray and cry aloud to You ‘who are enthroned in the heavens!'”

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To you, I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens.

“Psalm 123 is our prayer, word for word, dear Lord,

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.

Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud.

“As empty gloves on the table become alive in our hands, help us put the promise of Your presence to give us strength now, for what comes today, to stand. Your Word is our comfort in our affliction,” (Psalm 119:50).

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go Joshua 1:9.

It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed Deuteronomy 31:8.

“Help us remember Lord, our weakness as in empty gloves. To agree with You is surrender, yet this is our hope for strength in the battles. We are nothing on our own without You. Your Spirit gives us life.

Your promise to be with us wherever we go is repeated more than 18 times. Obviously, You don’t want us to forget this foundational truth. Keep us looking up, not all-around at every voice that speaks.

Your voice is not heard unless we are willing to hear:

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?‘ Hebrews 13:5,6.

Help us remember this. We are like sheep and forget the foundations of our faith.

Keep us faithful . . . to believe You . . . now, today!

…’ And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age‘ Matthew 28:20.

We know this, but we forget. Help us remember:

You were dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and Your name is the Word of God” Revelation 19:13.

If it had not been for the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us, . . . Our help is in the Name of the LORD who made heaven and earth Psalm 124. (Calligraphy, tonirypkema.com)

“Our prayers are Your Word, dear Lord:

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, Let Israel now say – ‘If it had not been the LORD who was on our side when men rose up against us;

Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.‘

Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth” Psalm 124.

And the hymns and spiritual songs are our meditations:

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me

Cevilla D Martin, His Eye is on the Sparrow

Renew.

Restore.

We walk with ears to hear Your voice today. In Jesus’ name.

Amen.”

A Walk of Praise and Prayer through Psalm 122

How glad we are to enter the house of the LORD!

“Pray the Scriptures for impactful prayers,” the exhortation is repeated time and again. Do we want prayer that has an impact? Today, Psalm 122 will direct our steps and thoughts towards the Lord.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Our feet have been standing Within the gates, O Jerusalem!

“What a powerful verse. Think of the sacrifice and courage exhibited for those able to get up and move their bodies in preparation to enter the doors to the house of the Lord in this present time.

The virtual church is wonderful, but the sacrificial act of “going into the house of the LORD” is majestic, glorious, powerful, intimate, . . . real.

Is there no safer house to enter than the house of the LORD?

How wonderful it is to hear of Your promises, of the prophecies fulfilled, and to watch Your Spirit move among believing people:

“But, as it is written, ‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—(1 Corinthians 2:9).

Dear Lord, increase our trust in You every day. Your Word tells us You
‘reward all those who seek You,’ Hebrews 11:6. When we are present in the house of the Lord, “virtual or live, in spirit and in truth, we’re rewarded. You, Lord, inhabit our praises!

Yes, ‘I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD.'”

Psalm 122 continues, Jerusalem is built. As a city that is compact together, Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD . . .

“You are the risen Lord. We can “see” You (in our hearts) when we gather and give thanks to You.”

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”

“Dear Lord, what is it we desire? Peace and prosperity. Yes, this is the desire You put into the heart of each human being. You show the way in these old songs:

– Look up and seek to trust You Lord, (Psalm 121).

-To cry out to You in prayer, (Psalm 120).

-To give thanks to the name of the LORD, (Psalm 122).

-And “pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

“For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, ‘Peace be within you.’ Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good”Psalm 122.

“Yes, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

“There’s confusion in the air, dear Lord. But in Genesis 12:3 You make Yourself clear. Those who love Israel will be blessed and those who curse the land will be cursed. (Genesis 12:3).

The entrance of Your Word gives light and understanding, Psalm 119 reminds us. You didn’t choose Israel or the Jewish nation because they were strong, great, and mighty. The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 7 that You loved them.

And “we love You because You first loved us,” (1 John 4:19).

From the Jewish nation, imperfect, but chosen by God to be His people, (just as each of us is called by Him). Israel, the Jewish nation was entrusted with Your Law, statutes, leading, and promises such as,

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” Isaiah 9:6.

“Give us a hunger for Your Word and give us understanding in it.

‘Peace be within you.’ Yes, Lord, we choose to open the door of our heart to You, the Messiah, Savior, the Lamb of God.

Let us come into Your house and in remembrance of You, meet You at Your Table. We will take the bread and break it. You were broken for me.

I will drink from the cup. I will receive the cleansing reminder of Your atoning sacrifice for me.

Make us new, today . . .

In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayer Walk for Advent 2021: First Steps

Psalm 120, A Cry in Distress A Song of Ascents:

Psalm 120.

“Keep moving forward.” This is a phrase of encouragement throughout history. And this is my heart, during the advent season, filled with uncertainties and change. I ask you to join me to ascend in the Psalms through the Song of Ascents, to speak aloud the Word and pray to God to be renewed in hope and the joy of the Lord.

Here we go:

In my distress, I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.

Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.

“Yes, Lord. This is a time of divisive and hostile words. Give us discernment to hear Your voice of truth.”

What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? Sharp arrows of the warrior, with coals of the broom tree!

“Lord, help us know and remember Your eyes and ears are open to everything. We only see portions, but You are a witness to each unspoken and spoken word, each motive, every action of humankind., worldwide. You are God Almighty. Together we cry out to You. The One able to move mountains.”

Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war Psalm 120, NRSV.

“We think of the day You walked on this earth, Jesus. You came in love, yet You were ‘despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . . we hid, as it were, our faces from’ . . . You. (Isaiah 53: 3.)

In this dark age we live in, we cry out for Your hope and light.

We give praise to You for Your Word reminds us:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55: 8-9.

Amen and amen!”

And through the Songs of Ascents, we will continue:

I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth Psalm 121:1,2.

Is this not the testimony of faith through the ages?

“Lord, help us get our eyes off the circumstances, great frustrations, and misunderstandings and fix them on You.”

Where will we be if we turn from the true and living God to trust in man’s wisdom alone?

Your Word tells us, ‘. . . the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men‘ 1 Corinthians 1:25, ESV.

Thank You, Lord, that the open Word brings light to our steps:”

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night” Psalm 121: 3,4.

“Amen, dear Lord. You are my Keeper. You’re our Keeper! We walk on the solid ground of faith in You.

You’re Immanuel, God with us. To all who choose to receive Your love and gift of salvation. You’re a giver. You were willing to lay down Your life for all lives, all people, all nations, all tongues.

Nails were driven into Your hands for me.

In a world where love is defined in many ways, Your Word defines love for us:

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath] 1 John 4:10, AMP.

To know You, Lord, is to believe Your promises:

The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore! (Psalm 121: 7,8. Emphasis mine.)

Amen. Amen! (Emphasis mine.)

The LORD will preserve those who trust in Him from all evil, from this time forth, and even forevermore.

P.S. Renewed in mind, heart, and soul is the reward in time aloud in God’s Truth! In response, I share a song I wrote from Psalm 95, which I plan to record with the voices of children, The Lord is a Great God:

(For anyone who has read this far, can I ask for prayer as I complete the writing of a 5-Day Huddle in Genesis / Creation?

This song will need to be re-recorded with the voices of children! If you are local to me and have a child who loves to sing and is looking for opportunity, please contact me (PM).

In time, I pray this offering to the Lord will be a resource for churches and Christian schools for simple and powerful ministry to kids! And prayerfully, I can keep putting together 5-Day Huddles throughout Genesis.)

Let me know if you’re praying! -Toni Rypkema

“Dear Lord, give us . . .

What is our request before the Lord?

Do we pray for earthly blessings and relief from trials or from the physical discomforts alone?

Or do we talk to the Lord because He is God, worthy of honor and glory? Do I pray to give Him thanks and praise, with no request?

What do we want? How do we talk to the Lord?

I have trouble sitting still. Will God be OK if I move around a pray? Yes.

And, today, I share Fanny Crosby’s old hymn of 1875, “Draw Me Nearer.”

Fanny Crosby is a wonderful teacher. Many of her hymns were prayers. I share this to be spoken (or sung) with vocal cords vibrating.

To me, it’s therapy to the soul:

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith,
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.

O the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God,
I commune as friend with friend.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side . . . Fanny Crosby 1875

Today I ask the Lord, “Help me have a holy lifestyle. One fully pleasing You.”

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“Dear Lord, teach me to give the wholehearted prayer. Not to pray for relief from trials only, but to give You glory and praise.

Help me surrender to Your will. That I might be willing to hear Your voice in Your Word more than my necessary food or the list of things to do, or the loud call of the worldly news.

Give me fruit in my life of love: . . . (which I can’t do unless I cling to You.) You’re the Vine, I’m the branch.

Keep me connected to You that I might have joy when hearts are very heavy. Peace when fear is everywhere. Patience in hectic moments.

Kindness when it’s hard. Goodness, when I’m tempted not to what’s right.

Faithfulness when I don’t feel like doing something.

Gentleness when it’s impossible without the power of God in me.

Self-control when the last choice I want to make is self-control.

“There are depths of love that I yet may know
Ere Thee face to face I see;
There are heights of joy that I yet may reach
Ere I rest in peace with Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer, blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Thank You, Lord that You are a gracious God, patient to wait for us to “be still.”

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Notebook Praises 4 What is Truth?

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Today definitions are changed. But God?

The God of the Bible is . . . who He says He is.

There’s no shadow of turning with Him, (James 1:17). Not ever.

God is patient. Kind. Most people think this about God, but are we hungry to know Him?

Familiar words often become blurred, but to chew on the Bible’s account of God’s nature brings a prick to every heart:

God’s love doesn’t envy.

God’s love doesn’t boast. He’s not proud. 

God doesn’t dishonor others.

God’s not selfish. He’s not easily angered.

God does not keep a record of wrongs.

God takes delight in truth, not evil.

God always protects. God always trusts. God always hopes.

God perseveres through everything.

God’s love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13.)

“God is love” 1 John 4:8.

Do we (really) want love?

We must seek the true and living God!

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” John 17:17.

We’ve got a choice to make. To believe or not to believe the Holy Bible proclaimed to be the truth of God.

And who’s Jesus?

From Genesis to Revelation, God speaks a Scarlet thread to tie and hold each Book together.

To open the Bible is to hear God’s heart. His story. His plan. His promises. Everything about life for humankind is written.

What happens when the Book is closed? We can see this, today the truth is what you make it. But is this true?

We believe many things. The human mind, heart, emotion is expressed in words—communication. Words have power.

We follow words . . .

how can we hear the true voice of God?

Faith. ” . . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” Romans 10:17.

The testimony of every believer in God is summed up in the first four verses of the Bible. I’ll share an example with my testimony:

God created me. Then my life was dark and empty, (because of sin). “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters,” (Genesis 1:3). (My body consists of 73% water. My interpretation.)

The Spirit of God was patient to wait as His presence remained and . . .

Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” Genesis 1:4.

Many testimonies speak of chaotic beginnings, brokenness, darkness, emptiness, pain, and hurt. Then, . . . the Rescuer came.

Chaos turned to light. Old became new.

Do believers have perfect lives after Christ? No way, but directed by the Spirit of God, the Word of God, the Father of Light who delights in His children—yes! Perfectly covered by His blood. Renewed in His love.

Jesus:

“He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God” Revelation 19:13.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” John 1:1-4.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” John 14:6.

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” Revelation 1:1,3.

Truth? Jesus said, “I Am.”

Let the little children sing about “All Things New:”

P.S. Please spend some time talking with the Lord today. This day, may you ask Him in your life and say, “I’ve made Him mine!”

Notebook Praises: God said, “Let there be . . . and it was so.”

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We give praise and glory to God because He IS GOD.

His Word is “perfect, refreshing the soul,” Psalm 19 reminds us: “The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward” Psalm 19:7-10.

Are we going through a great trial? Yes, most people are challenged today, some are in crisis.

How is gold purified? Yes, fire.

And, there are times the Lord allows great trials that feel like a fiery furnace.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, He draws near to the brokenhearted.

May we receive His Word and rejoice – even in hard times.

Why? Because God is faithful. He hasn’t left us, orphans. He is speaking. We must take time to talk to Him.

When we open His Word, we’re allowing Him to speak to us. What does He say about hard trial:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” 1 Peter 1:6,7.

“Lord help us hear Your voice and block out all others. Give us ears to hear what You have to say to us. We need to know You more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Today, I pray that the Lord keeps us “rejoicing in Him” no matter what! God said, . . . and it was so! We CAN trust Him for what concerns us today! Amen!

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Notebook Praises Plus (a bit of) My Cancer Story

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men,” (people). “The Lord is at hand” Philippians 4:4,5.

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Today.

Yesterday.

Moving forward.

I can take joy in the Lord. I can’t always have joy in my circumstances, the weather, my location, or my past, but I can always take joy in the Lord.

He alone is good.

He’s holy. Perfect in all His ways. He’s the lover of our souls. Patient, gracious, slow to anger, kind. The Lord God Almighty.

He’s completely trustworthy, yet at times, hard for me to trust. If it wasn’t for His Word, my thoughts would believe He’s the opposite of all He is.

He allows great trial, confusion, pain.

Do I believe Him when everything falls apart?

His Word tells me He knows my name. Do I believe this in the moments when I can barely remember my own?

He hears the worries I have, my cries, my tears.

But doubt sometimes floods my being to bring me down as a sickness.

My faith fails, (past, present, and future), yet God remains faithful and true. No matter what.

“You’ve got cancer.”

My diagnosis, not someone else. This was trial number three, not one.

I lost faith, became afraid, yet in the fight, my sister told me, “Toni, the people who keep faith do best.”

Where else could I go? I looked to the Lord.

He helped me through my failures and gave me the strength to trust Him, (one day at a time) with eleven healthy, full-term births, and four miscarriages along the way.

The Lord upheld my marriage, year after year for better, worse, sickness, health, richer, and poorer.

The trials opened my eyes to the presence of the Lord, His keeping power and grace. Only one set of footprints could be found in the sand. Jesus carried me with compassion, grace, and love that bore all my “stuff.”

He brought “prayer warriors,” from all over the map. Food, gifts for the kids, desserts, cards, phone calls . . . the Lord was a present help. He was with me. He brought family, friends, songs, hymns, His Word.

I put all my eggs in one basket. The Jesus basket.

Cancer opened my eyes to many failures and sicknesses in my heart. When we pray prayers like, “Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting,” you better believe, God will answer. (Psalm 139:23,24).

Cancer gave me more than it took away, it gave me an increased faith in the true and living God.

After my third chemo treatment, I came home feeling very sick. The sickness was to begin in a day and a half, not an hour and a half. The kids were spending time with a neighbor.

Laying down on the couch, eyes closed, I felt death in my bone marrow.

My body was rocked hard with the chemo. It wasn’t used to anything meds, ever. Not even for childbirth! But, fighting cancer, . . . I did the chemo.

Did they give me too much Adriamycin?

Shouldn’t I be seeing lights? It’s so dark. I thought I was going to die. Darkness was there, but then . . .

I had a vision. (I know you’ll think I’m crazy,) but a door opened in the darkness and light came through.

Two, healed, but nail-pierced hands stretched out of the open door. Then words (which I had read thousands of times from my favorite children’s book by Glen Keane), came to mind:

“Not all know Me as their King.”

That was it.

This was huge!

I had the assurance I was to live. But even more.

The Lord enlisted me in His army. He gave me work to do.

Weeks later, when I was strong enough to return to church, a guest Missionary pastor highlighted on the screen a verse from Philippians 1:25,26.

“And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ . . . “

Again, the Lord was speaking, “Toni, you’re going to make it through this horrible sickness and multiple trials, but you will now share joy and faith in My name with others.”

Yes, “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I will say, rejoice!”

I will never be ashamed to share the Good News of the One who has saved my life for salvation and every continuing day on this thorny earth.

While I have my being, I’m living for Jesus. He’s the only One Who truly, completely, perfectly Loves. (Period).

Jesus loves me, you, every human being on this planet. We all need Him.

This is not a religion. This is life, hope, peace, and love. This is what the world needs . . .

Do you know Jesus as your King? Perhaps the time is now.

Notebook Praises Day 2

“Make His praise glorious . . .

Sing out the honor of His name; . . .

Say to God, “How awesome are Your works!

. . . All the earth shall worship You ” Psalm 66.

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When I speak aloud the Word of God, I’m renewed with hope. We can rejoice in the LORD always because God is who He says He is!

He doesn’t change whether we believe Him or not. God is God.

If there is any doubt in your heart whether you belong to the Lord, . . .

make this day, the moment you seek Him. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will. The Bible is His love letter. Jesus. Loves. You. And me. And every single person on this planet.

Period.

Ask the Lord to help you understand. Ask the Lord to speak in regards to your pain and loss.

The gospel message is the same. The Good News of God makes no changes, ever.

The Lord is a faithful God. Psalm 66 reminds us to sing out the honor of His name.

The Bible helps us focus on the grand power and goodness of God. God’s Word is living, soul transforming. The Word of God lifts us above anxious thoughts. We can’t worry and speak a dozen names of God at the same time.

Almighty God – The Anointed One

(Lord my) Banner – (Giver of) Counsel

Compassionate God – The Chosen One

A Crown of Glory – A Costly Cornerstone

Deliverer – Elohim

El Elyon (God Most High) – Exalted One

Hungry for more? The simple reading of a few names of God makes us hungry to read more:

Jesus is:

Enthroned in rainbow colors – Faithful

Forgiver – The First

Friend of Sinners – Fountain of Life

Gracious God – Glorious

Giver of the Spirit – Great Reward

Holy – Healer

Change happens. We were created to worship God and when we do, we have peace. He is the Prince of Peace.

Can we “Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works!”

His greatest work is His sacrifice on the cross for each of us. He became the Passover Lamb, (another one of His wonderful names). By believing in His work of death on the cross, our sin is put on Him:

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Talk to Him today. He knows your heart already. He can cleanse and make all who believe a new creation. His other outstanding work is His resurrection. Each is great. Miraculous. Jesus rose from the dead.

He helps us rise to new life.

Yes, all who come to Jesus and believe in the sacrificial love He gave on the cross will be saved. Born again with living hope.

The Bible tells us so!

Let the sound of children minister the glorious gift Jesus gives when we believe in Him:

John 1:12 / 2 Corinthians 5:17


Psalm 66: Say to God,
“How awesome are Your works!
Through the greatness of Your power
Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.
 All the earth shall worship You
And sing praises to You;
They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah

 Come and see the works of God;
He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
 He turned the sea into dry land;
They went through the river on foot.
There we will rejoice in Him.
He rules by His power forever;
His eyes observe the nations;
Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

 Oh, bless our God, you people!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard,
 Who keeps our soul among the living,
And does not allow our feet to be moved.
 For You, O God, have tested us;
You have refined us as silver is refined.
You brought us into the net;
You laid affliction on our backs.
 You have caused men to ride over our heads;
We went through fire and through water;
But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

I will go into Your house with burnt offerings;
I will pay You my vows,

 Which my lips have uttered
And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble.
 I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals,
With the sweet aroma of rams;
I will offer bulls with goats. Selah

 Come and hear, all you who fear God,
And I will declare what He has done for my soul.
 I cried to Him with my mouth,
And He was extolled with my tongue.

 If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear.
But certainly God has heard me;
He has attended to the voice of my prayer.

 Blessed be God,
Who has not turned away my prayer,
Nor His mercy from me!”

Talk to someone about what you’ve received from the Lord, today!

A Month of Thanksgiving to God Creator of Heaven and Earth

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Who will join me, (along with many from my church) in a month of an “Attitude of Gratitude?”

This month, let’s make the choice to deny our flesh and ask the Lord to grow us in Him, His grace, His love, His forgiveness: His Holy Spirit, our Comforter, and present help in trouble.

Help us put off our “self” and put on Christ and His Spirit of love by believing in Him and His great sacrifice He made for us.

Jesus took all the pain on the cross that we, who believe receive great gain.

Can we think about His sacrifice and deny our flesh in some way? Join me to hunger more for Him and ask to “eat” time in His presence, hope in His strength, and be empowered by His grace.

“O how restless is the foe Jesus’ kingdom to overthrow.

Shall not we as zealous prove to proclaim redeeming love.

Let us publish saving grace, scatter life in every place . . .

Dare the world and satan’s frown – turn his kingdom upside down!” (Words penned hundreds of years ago, author unknown):

We are thankful dear Lord that You are on the throne!

Help us know Your Good News above the news of this day:

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

We believe in Your Word. Help our unbelief!

A “Still Small Voice” in the Garden Today

Snapshots of life, hope, rest, and peace.

“Glory to God!” Speak these flowers in silence and beauty.

Soon, actually, in two short weeks, they’ll be brown and dried up.
Their “still small voice” speaks to me from their beauty.

“Today Toni. Stay in the present. Don’t waste time in a fret. Look up.”

My flowers remind me, God is greater than anything going on.

They trust, they wait, they shine. Flowers speak:

“Slow down and enjoy the LORD. Think on His Word and not the headlines of the day. Take delight in His creation. Be kind and listen to others’ stories. Let His glory shine through you.”

I need this reminder from my flowers. I get ahead of myself. I forget what’s important . . . people, this moment, the Word of God, (not in that order, however).

God created us for . . . do we know? The Bible tells us, our purpose is . . . His glory.

God’s Word reminds us that “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

I will think of this snapshot of my vibrant, colorful flowers today to remember to look up and think up. The flowers speak:

“The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever” Isaiah 40:8.

“So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12 NKJV.

And, “whether you (or I) eat or drink or whatever you (we) do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NIV.)

Where is the still small voice in the Bible? God’s Revelation to Elijah, 1 Kings 19:11-13 New King James Version:

 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake;  and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Prayer huddle: Dear Lord, Give us hunger in Your Word that we might know You more. Give us understanding. Fill us with wisdom. But most of all dear Jesus, fill us with Your love that we might glorify You today as the flowers of the field. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Stay Safe? I will Hide in Thee!

Lyrics by William Cushing, melody by Ira D. Sankey 1876.

“Be safe.”

Do we hear this often?

The hard part is, our physical is not all that we human beings are. What about the spiritual, emotional? How can we be safe in this day?

Charles Spurgeon wrote devotions in “Beside Still Waters,” to minister in all trials of this day:

“The mind can descend far lower than the body, for in it there are bottomless pits. The flesh can bear only a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can bleed in ten thousand ways, and die over and over again each hour.”

C. H. Spurgeon was a man of God’s Word and ended many a devotion with the words, “Increase my faith dear Lord.” What a great encouragement he is to us today.

We live with an overload of stress, change, uncertainties, crisis, and loss. As the power of God’s Word through the void and darkness, “Let there be light,” hymns of old minister power and light when we read them aloud and link our heart to their chorus:

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
Alone I would perish, undone would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Chorus:
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its pow’r;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee. Hymn by William Cushing , 1876.

There is solid and sure refuge when we run to the Lord in His Word. Sixty-six Books of life and repose with one common thread, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must make it a pattern in our lives in these last days. A pattern of faith to run to this Rock that is higher than ourselves.

Oh, to know His Word in our heart, to sing His glory and might. There is no one like our God. He is our refuge. We must cling to Him like never before.

“Today.”

“Today.”

Do we hear the Lord’s call?

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my Refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

Is this the choice we make it the hardest of times? Faith in God.

Today, yes, let’s choose to hide in our refuge of truth and power and

“look forward to and await the coming of His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus Who personally rescues and delivers us out of and from the wrath . . . which is coming . . . and draws us to Himself [that is invests us with all the privileges and rewards of the new life in Christ, the Messiah]” 1 Thessalonians 1:10, Amplified.

We can trust our Lord and Savior, the Messiah of the world.

Let us abide in His love, right now, this hour:

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Our trials will prove fruitful with purpose as we cling to the Rock. May this be our story:

“Brethren, for this reason, in [spite of all] our stress and crushing difficulties we have been filled with comfort and cheer about you [because of] your faith—

the leaning of your whole personality on God in complete trust and confidence. Because now we [really] live, if you stand [firm] in the Lord” 1 Thessalonians 3: 7,8.

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Remembering Al Braca on Sept. 11th. A time when there was no debate.

I shared this Sept. 11, 2019. So much has happened since then. But so much is quite the same:

Today our world is overflowing with information of trouble and chaos. This breeds anxiety in hearts everywhere . . . and much debate.

But I can tell you a story where there was no debate.

September 11, 2001, World Trade Center.

There was a man named Alfred J. Braca who simply went to work—4th story from the top of a World Trade Center building. I knew him because he went to my church in NJ. Our sons were part of the same Boys Scout Troop.

He went to work on that day, but in a moment,  . . .

 great confusion and chaos made its entrance. There was no warning. No information.

The only debate was whether to stay put or to get out.

For the men and women on those upper floors, there was no way out.

Al Braca, had information.  The story’s told that he went into one of the big conference rooms, and he told everyone to gather everyone they could find to come into the room.

It is told, approx. 50 of his co-workers came into the conference room.

Al Braca knew the peace of God, the forgiveness of sin through Jesus and the power of salvation in His name.

He had information everyone needed to hear.

So, on that morning of September 11, 2001, this child of God stood up on a Conference table.

 This was a desperate moment. There was no good news about their circumstance. There was no way out.

Now was the time.

Al wasn’t worried about offending anyone. He wanted everyone to know what he knew. He wanted everyone to have life after this life was over.

Everlasting life. 

I don’t know the exact words he shared, but he told them about Jesus. How Jesus paid it all.

Jesus Christ came to this world and died on the cross to pay the debt that we each owe for our hard hearts against God, our stubbornness, our lies, our hatred, our impatience, cruelty, . . . our sin. 

Al knew Jesus personally. The risen Lord lived in him.

Al Braca was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes Romans 1:16.

There was trouble on every side. There was no time for debate.

The Bible has a verse that reads,

“Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus . . . ” well on this day, comfort came. Not through Titus, but through a man named Al.

“What must I do to be saved?” Acts. 16:30.

Al Bracca knew the answer,
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved,…” Acts. 16:31.
On that day, people responded.

People on that day, were  like the criminal hanging on the cross next to Jesus. The criminal who said to Jesus,
“Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” Luke 23:42

Do you remember how Jesus responded?
‘And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you,
today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:43.

How did this story get told in the first place?

Many of the men and women that met in that conference room that morning, made phone calls to their families and told them. They not only said, “Good-by, I love you,” but they were able to say, “I will see you again soon.
I’m going to heaven to be with Jesus. I’ll be waiting for you.”

Alfred Braca wanted the truth to get out about eternal life when each turns his/her life to Jesus. So many didn’t know. There was so little time!

They needed to know Jesus:

“Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them until the end.” John 13:1.

Do we know Jesus? 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God,
believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”John 14:1,2.

When I see the memorial with two lights shining straight up to heaven, I think of all those people who called on the name of Jesus that dark day. They now live a life everlasting with the Lord in glory. 

Thank you Al Braca for being a witness to the light of Christ. Many had the opportunity to receive eternal life because you spoke up in courage and hope.

“God had demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8.

Today, 20 years later, my heart breaks. But, I want to be like Al. He had a heart that broke for each and every person that didn’t know the hope and life in Jesus. In this world of strife and debate, . . . we’ve got to let the people know.

We need to tell them the truth about Jesus. What will we do when found in a moment of terror or crisis? Do we have the peace of God as Al did?

Jesus is the name that saves. There is no other. 

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28.

Is today the day for salvation? Call on His name. Jesus will answer.

And if you do, let someone know, today. 

This is a heavy article, but it’s full of hope and good news that many, on that day of Sept. 11, 2001, received eternal life by believing in Jesus Christ.  Today, I share John 3:16 & 17, the great promise and truth of life in Christ with the voices of children. 

Forever, THIS is the Good News: 

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” John 3:16 & 17.

Give me a safe place, dear Lord. You, alone, O Lord, make me dwell safely:

 “We will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah (Psalm 46). We will pause and think calmly of the Name above all names, Jesus: Lord Omnipotent, Sovereign, LORD over all the earth.

“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.


 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.
 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah Psalm 46:11.

Today. This day. We, “Pause and calmly think of that!”

“O God, give me noble and praise-worthy thoughts. I will speak a hymn and a psalm and immediately be changed from fear to faith:

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

Keep my thoughts on things above, not on things of the earth.

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 6:23.

The only separation from me to You, Holy God of the Universe, is my sin. My unbelief, my pride to think I am enough without You. There is not a person on this planet able to escape evil thoughts, covetousness, selfishness, and lies.

I can never be good enough to come into Your presence. But Christ Jesus bridged the gap as He stretched out His arms for me on the cross.

Your Word is truth:

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

Am I separate from God, or am I His “true son?” Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” Romans 10:13.

Call on Him, Today.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise
Thou mine inheritance, now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven, my treasure thou art

From the kingdom of darkness I’ve escaped, in the name of Jesus, to the Kingdom of Light. My inheritance is Love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness are empowered in and through me by the power and gift given to me of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve inherited the faithful, keeping hand of God to hold me for all eternity. I have reason to be thankful in every circumstance. I am a child of God. He has made me victorious in faith in Him!

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

Psalm 46, Amplified:

God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.

(Pause and think calmly of that!)


There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
 
God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved;
God will help her when the morning dawns.
 
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.


Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.
 
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

Pause and calmly think of that!

Remember the prisoners as if chained with them–those who are mistreated–since you yourselves are in the body also. 

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” 

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:3-8.

“Be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.”