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!
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:
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.)
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!'”
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.
“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.
“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.
tonirypkema.com
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.
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.
“He saved me from my low estate, His loving-kindness, oh how great! Samuel Medley, 1782.
When temptations rise to be afraid or heavy-hearted under life’s weight, the hymns immediately change my mind.
After-all, doesn’t the Lord tell me, (and you), in His Word to, “Fix (y)our thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable” Philippians 4:8, NLT.
And furthermore, to “Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.“
The hymnal, (along with the Bible, of course), is a safe place to find excellent and praise-worthy thoughts:
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! Samuel Medley, Loving-Kindness, 1782.
To wake and imagine my sweet Lord, patting the seat next to Him on the sofa,”Come a sit by Me.” So, I sit to be with the Lover of my soul as I open the hymnal:
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 back of our minds, do we have the report from the doctor, or that call on the phone, or the piece of mail that recently arrived?)
The Lord in my heart, is near. He’s right here. And He reminds me today from this hymn long ago:
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!
Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
The Comforter, the Holy Spirit speaks to me. He reminds me of a favorite psalm,
Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him Psalm 42:5.
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! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
God’s Word is living water refreshing my soul. Word-picture perfect, Psalm 42 reminds me, “God knows.”
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God . . . My tears have been my food day and night,While they continually say to me,“Where is your God?” . . .
For I used to go with the multitude;I went with them to the house of God,With the voice of joy and praise, Psalm 42:1,3,4.
I will think on this today, “His loving-kindness, oh, how good:”
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me—A prayer to the God of my life . . .
Why are you cast down, O my soul?And why are you disquieted within me?Hope in God;For I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God Psalm 42:8,11.
My eyes are up. My heart is tuned.
“He saved me from my lost estate, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise; He justly claims a song for me, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
His loving-kindness, oh, . . .
how free!
Revive us Oh Lord. We speak aloud Your Word:
“Sing, . . . Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes . . . Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth . . . Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you Isaiah 54:1-10.
Awake, my soul, to joyful lays, And sing they great Redeemer’s praise.
“His loving-kindness, oh, how great!”
Loving-Kindness by Samuel Medley, 1782:
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! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how free!
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! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how great!
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! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how strong!
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! Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, His loving-kindness, oh, how good!
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. Loving-kindness, loving-kindness, 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.
It’s not easy to get all the Ryps together these days, but we were all together in 2018. We’ve grown, changed, experienced great challenges in each of our lives, (as has everyone in the entire world).
We’ve added two amazing grandchildren to our number to bring unimaginable joy to all of us.
We are family.
The Ryps. Nick & Mandy. Carolyn & Patrick. Anneliese, Emily, Jared & Anastasia, Dave, Toni & Mike, Liz, Grace, Chris, Matthew, and Jonathan, (bottom).
And Christmas 2019:
Picture from Christmas 2019. Toni, Mike, Chris, Anneliese, Carolyn & Patrick, Liz, Matthew, Jonathan, Emily, baby Reese, Sarah, Dave, Grace, Anastasia & Jared, baby Emeril, minus Nick and Mandy.
This mom and dad are little in this world. But, we trusted God in the beginning, 35 years ago and continue to trust Him now.
Our testimony has moments of faltered faith through many battles, but God in His grace and compassion always remained and remains faithful. We believe God’s Word:
Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, “Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15.
We love family pictures because they proclaim the victory and goodness of God: Yahweh! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness Exodus 34: 6.
Trusting the Lord with our family was an unpopular thought, even back in the day, when our marriage began in 1986. To many it speaks of irresponsible behavior. “Get Mike a TV!” We would often hear as a joke, even amongst believers.
Each child was the Lord’s precious plan. God knew that Mike and I weren’t able, but “in Him,” all things are possible. Mike and I covenanted in marriage and in heart to the Lord. We were to trust Him, no matter what.
We didn’t want to be everything to our children, we wanted them to know Jesus, He is everything! We taught them in God’s Word and His way, and do our best to live as witnesses to His faithfulness each day:
“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:7-9.
Don’t we remind ourselves and live this as a testimony to our families?
Mike and I failed often, but God never did.
We were weak, but He had a hold of us: for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’Acts 17:8.
We’ve been through “better and worse, richer and poorer, sickness and health,” and we will see our marriage “’till death do us part.”
Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 15:57.
We will sing today as in the beginning, “In our lives Lord, be glorified, be glorified, today.”
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others . . . If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2 Corinthians 5: 11, 13, 14, 15.
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His Word; Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord!
“Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er; Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
Family.
Beautiful messes.
Each brings witness to God’s gracious message, “I loved you first,” love Jesus.
“Give us all a genuine encounter with You, dear Lord. That we might view our world through Your eyes. Help us not miss the glorious and precious. In Jesus’ name. Amen.“
Every rose bush has it’s thorns but we celebrate the beauty of the flower.
Focus is the key.
In our broken world, I have choice. You have choice. We all have choice to focus on the thorns or the rose.
I might start my morning strong in believing my Lord, but often, dark clouds of trial and hurt, pain and sorrow come quickly to cover the Son’s warmth and love by noonday.
The praise to God in my heart flies away leaving me flat and despairing.
I become cut up by the thorns of life and forget to be careful in my thoughts. I forget to enjoy the rose.
As a believer in Christ, I’m tested. We’re tested. We pray for this when we ask of God to:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 119: 23,24.
The Lord is faithful to answer my request. He shows me . . . Impatience. Inner destructive dialogue of myself and others. Stubbornness. Unbelief. Hatred.
The beauty of the Lord is: “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” 2 Timothy 2:13.
Let’s choose to change our mind when we’re flooded with troubles and tempted with thoughts that destroy, and instead choose to grow in the grace of our Lord and in knowledge of Him.
How? We’ll proclaim aloud His glory from His Word and grow in believing:
Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness Psalm 96: 13.
Do I believe He will? Do we believe God?
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary Psalm 96: 4,5,6.
Do I believe He is? Do we believe?
For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land Psalm 95:3.
He is the great King above all gods.
How can we despair in the midst of praise?
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Can we say together? Has our faith increased? Yes, we will:
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity Psalm 96: 7-10.
I will focus in the morning. I will re-focus at noon. Join me in desiring to have a song the whole day through:
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. Psalm 96:1-3.
Jesus is the rose:
“I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys” Song of Songs 2:1.
Can we help each other keep our eyes on the Rose? Together, we win.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care Psalm 95: 6.
Amen. Amen.
Let me know if you joined me in proclaiming, “In Jesus name, Amen.”
Because the LORD is Omnipotent in wisdom and power, I invite you to speak aloud His Word back to Him:
I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad Psalm 118: 21-24.
Together we pray to the LORD, Creator of heaven and earth His Word:
Listen to (our) my prayer, O God, do not ignore (our) my plea; hear (us) me and answer (us) me . . . Psalm 55:1.
Lord, confuse the wicked, confound their words, for I see violence and strife in the city. Day and night they prowl about on its walls; malice and abuse are within it. Destructive forces are at work in the city; threats and lies never leave its streets Psalm 55:9-11.
As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice . . . Psalm 55:16,17.
My companion attacks his friends; he violates his covenant. His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords Psalm 55:20,21.
God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God Psalm 55:19.
We unite in prayer and pour out our complaints to a Living God, Sovereign over all the affairs on the earth:
Your words were found, and (we) I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.
I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation. Jeremiah 15: 16,17.
The LORD spoke in regards to Jeremiah’s cry. What is the LORD saying to me? To you? To US? Let’s speak the Word of God aloud that we might have ears to hear and hearts as soft clay in the potter’s hand, that He might work in us,
Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, Then I will bring you back; You shall stand before Me; If you take out the precious from the vile, You shall be as My mouth . . .
And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you;
For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord. “I will deliver you from the hand of the wicked, And I will redeem you from the grip of the terrible” Jeremiah 15: 19-21.
Can we hear the cry of the LORD, “Will you come back to Me?”
Can we hear His voice over the noise, “You’ll be able to extract the precious from the vile.” “Come back to Me. I am able to make all grace abound. I make all things work together for good to those who are the call according to My purpose.”
Together, evening, morning, and at noon we will:
22 Cast (y)our cares on the Lord,
we recite together His faithful Word. We will seek His face forevermore:
. . . He will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. But you, God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of decay; the bloodthirsty and deceitful will not live out half their days
But as for me, I trust in you Psalm 55: 22,23.
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, (Eph. 3: 20).
To give thanks can be hard. Especially during times of loss or pain.
Children are a gift. They are our teachers. I share a lesson from a little child.
I heard about a very young boy who never knew his dad. His mom got very ill and died.
Relatives and friends expressed sadness around the boy.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months where the boy felt bad because everyone around him had unhappy faces.
He was sick of being sad and decided to do something about it. “People are happy when they get presents,” he thought, “I need to give presents.”
At first, he found things around the house and handed them to his relatives and neighbors saying, “This is a gift for you.”
The boy was changed, forgot his sadness and began to see smiles again.
The young boy asked if he could go to the dollar store to buy things he might give away to people.
“This gift is for you,” he would say to strangers in the park and hand them a little treasure. Smiles and thankfulness he received which made him very happy. Everyone he met was filled with thankfulness as they received his gift.
God holds out a gift, in this present, sad and dark day.
Our Father in heaven, Almighty God gave to whoever would receive:
For God so loved the world that he gave . . .
his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Can we hear Him with our eyes and hearts? Can we see His hands spread wide, “This gift is for you.”
Are we critical of the gift? Are we wise in our own eyes?
It’s time to learn from the children:
Jesus said: Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me Matthew 18:1-5.
Children. Believe. God.
We suffer loss, stress, pain. Today, . . . can we see the gift that the Lord holds out to us? His Word is Living. Comfort. Life. Hope. Peace.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Psalm 91: 1-8.
Is it time to decide to turn from the sadness? Is it time to turn to the Lord and let Him cover us in His love?
I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly John 10:9,10.
It’s time for life, and that more abundant. Jesus gives . . .
His arms are wide.
The Gospel message is this: We’re all separated from God. Sin has ravaged all of human kind.
. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23.
But God, sent His Son Jesus to die in our place.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Romans 6:23.
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all Isaiah 53:6.
As John the Baptist spoke as the messenger to “prepare the way in the wilderness,” Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near Matthew 3:2.
Eternal life begins the moment we believe:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.But ahireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming andleaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
I am the good shepherd; andI know My sheep, andam known by My own.As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father;and I lay down My life for the sheep.Andother sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice;and there will be one flock and one shepherd John 10:11-16.
Is today the first day of the rest of your life receiving the gift from the Son? Pray to the Lord. Do we have the Lord, but continue in stubbornness and pride?
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.
Ask for His forgiveness in that we have all gone astray. Receive the cleansing of the blood of Jesus. And the Lord tells us we be new:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17.
If you have prayed to the Lord to receive His gift of salvation, let someone know! Amen.
“Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and who keep the things which are written in it [heeding them and taking them to heart]; for the time [of fulfillment] is near” Revelation 1:3, Amplified.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Do I believe it? Do you believe it? Why does this matter?
If God’s Word is truth, as Jesus Himself proclaimed in His prayer for those who follow Him in John 17:17, Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth,
then, I must understand there is blessing in hearing and receiving the Book of Revelation along with the entirety of the Bible. This is the revelation of Jesus.
Jesus is the Word. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called 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 . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth John 1:14-15.
Everyday I need revelation of Jesus Christ. I need to see His glory. How about you?
The Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Am I separated to Him that I might receive His amazing grace, one time for salvation, everyday for light in the midst of a dark world.
Let our hearts sing, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.”
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:16-17.
“Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved . . . “
Am I separated to receive the fullness of His grace? Grace is His unmerited favor on my life. Jesus offers sufficient grace and forgiveness. Am I in a place to receive this?
Happy, blessed, and safe are those who read and hear, who keep these words in our heart, who choose to believe and follow the prophesy. From the first Book of Genesis to the final Book of the Revelation of Jesus.
Where do I stand? Where do you stand. Are we separate unto the Lord?
Can we sing, “How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.”
What does it mean to be sanctified?
Why would I want to be separated to God? Will He take away my life’s desires? Does fear keep me from receiving God’s love and life eternal through His Son Jesus Christ?
Am I half-hearted or set apart?
Jesus was all in:
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit John 19:28-30.
Jesus gave all when our backs were turned to Him: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8.
The revelation of Jesus is grace and truth. “And of His fullness we have all received grace for grace.” We receive because he gave us what we didn’t deserve. This makes me want to be on His side, no?
Read in Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828, the definition of sanctify:
SANC’TIFY, verb transitive . . .
1. In a general sense, to cleanse, purify or make holy.
2. To separate, set apart or appoint to a holy, sacred or religious use.
God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3 . . .
5. To cleanse from corruption; to purify from sin; to make holy by detaching the affections from the world and its defilements, and exalting them to a supreme love to God.
Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.
To sanctify God, to praise and celebrate him as a holy being; to acknowledge and honor his holy majesty, and to reverence his character and laws. Isaiah 8:13.
God sanctifies himself or his name, by vindicating his honor from the reproaches of the wicked, and manifesting his glory. Ezekiel 36:23.
Is this not safety? In a day where so much expense and time is being spent on safety are we safely set apart to God, the keeper of our souls?
Am I a lost soul? or am I sanctified to the Lord, the One who is able to save us to the uttermost:
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them Hebrews 7:25.
“Give me revelation,” we pray in this dark day. We need to know truth. Let’s read aloud the Amplified version of His grace upon grace for those who choose Him today:
Grace [be granted] to you and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being], from Him Who is [existing forever]
and Who was [continually existing in the past]
and Who is to come, and from the seven Spirits that are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful and trustworthy Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth.
To Him who [always] loves us and who [has once for all] freed us [or washed us] from our sins by His own blood (His sacrificial death)—
and formed us into a kingdom [as His subjects], priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the power and the majesty and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Behold, He is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see Him,
even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes (nations) of the earth will mourn over Him [realizing their sin and guilt, and anticipating the coming wrath].
So it is to be. Amen. Revelation 1: 4-7.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:8.
Separated to God? Yes!
Let’s proclaim together: “I will be careful and safe, making the most out of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Today, we ask to be cleansed and emptied of ourselves and filled with the Spirit of God, that we might have lives that bear much fruit. That God’s love and joy and peace would permeate from our lives because we choose to be separate to Him.
That we might have patience in all things. That we might have the fullness of self-control and gentleness.
We ask for a filling of His Spirit over and again. That we would be faithful to read and hear the revelation of Jesus Christ through the entirety of His Word.
He has given us a new song. Today we will choose to make music in our heart to the Lord.
Let’s continually give thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His love, He has made glad, me, you, and those we are around!
PS: If you’ve never asked the Lord Jesus in your life, . . . do it now.
Simply bow your head and talk to Him. Ask forgiveness for your stubbornness and hardness of heart. Ask Him to wash, cleanse, and purify.
He will. He will sanctify you.
Ask the Lord to fill You with His Spirit and understanding in His Word, in the revelation of Jesus.
He will. He looses the stronghold of every chain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And tell someone that you have opened your heart to Love.
For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face Psalm 11:7.
Psalm 11 is a powerful Word for today.
When “the foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”
Seven verses of promise found in Psalm 11 prove to be a present help for those who trust in the Lord when the arrows of the enemy are set against us.
We need grace and help in our time of need. Where are the words for our prayer?
Psalm 11:
I trust in the Lord for protection.
So why do you say to me,“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?”
But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth.
The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous Lord loves justice.The virtuous will see his face. Psalm 11: 1-7.
We’re to speak to one another in Psalms and hymns. What would an appropriate hymn be? A Mighty Fortress is our God by Martin Luther. Let’s challenge ourselves to speak these words aloud to be as a vitamin for increased faith this day:
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 Sabboth, 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…
The Word and the Hymnal empower us to have melody.
It’s not how we start but how we finish. Now that’s the hard part. We start getting in shape and thinking of healthy new beginnings, but continuing in it is the struggle.
Exercising our spiritual is as much, if not more important than our physical.
Tests have proved this. Reports have come out and science has proven that attitudes of faith bring about hope in our minds and help us to better function and maintain good health.
In the midst of heavy concerns in this world, how can we remain hopeful and thankful?
The Word of God is a safe and reliable refuge of comfort. God’s Word reminds us immediately of His faithfulness and truth, which in turn nourishes us with increased faith and new strength to hope, and even greater, to love.
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come 1 Timothy 4:8.
Daily time in the Word changes us.
It seems, many years ago, Isaac Watts struggled with a title to one of his hymns or spiritual songs. It is found to be Hymn 73: Doubts Scattered; or, Spiritual Joy Restored.
How wonderfully expressive is the immediate change of heart and mind when our ears hear what the Spirit says to us. Our Doubts are scattered. Our spiritual joy restored:
Darkness and doubts had veil’d my mind, And drown’d my head in tears, Till sovereign grace with shining rays Dispell’d my gloomy fears.
O what immortal joys I felt, And raptures all divine, When Jesus told me, I was his, And my Beloved mine.
In vain the tempter frights my soul, And breaks my peace in vain, One glimpse, dear Saviour, of thy face, Revives my joys again. Doubts scattered; or, Spiritual joy restored by Isaac Watts.
For God so loves me and you that He gave.
God gives.
Presently. Jesus loves.
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.
He chose me. And He chose you too. And today, we choose Jesus. Because He first loved us, each individually.
So today, I nourish my heart, soul, and mind with a work-out in 1 John 4:1-12:
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us 1 John 4:1-12.
This is a spiritual work-out of 12 rich bites of 1 John 4.
We’re changed because today, we could hear Jesus say, “I was his, And my Beloved mine.“
To give thanks can be hard. Especially during times of loss or pain.
