Tag: change

When it feels like a sacrifice to praise, praise anyway.

Is life so heavy that the song in our heart is gone? In this day and age, between pressing schedules, unbelievable news reports, and sudden moments of loss, a song is the last thing on our mind.

Even so, the Bible encourages:

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15

Through Jesus, trust in Him and His sacrifice for us, we are encouraged to offer to God a sacrifice of praise, continually.

Hymns are a great help to learn to praise. Everything created praises, according to All creatures of our God and King:

All creatures of our God and King, 
lift up your voice and with us sing 
alleluia, alleluia! (Paraphrase, William H. Draper. Author, St. Frances of Assisi, 1225).

Yes, the sun lifts its voice daily, the moon gives glory to God as the hymn brings melody to stir up heavy hearts with visions of hope and power:
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

We see these beauties everyday. They lift our eyes up above our earthly thoughts. This hymn ignites new direction of thought, vertical instead of horizontal.

From the weight of cares to praise to God. He is able to help in time of need.

We don’t have to be in church to worship God. We can praise God anywhere, but, there is added riches to efforts and investment of time when we come into the Lord’s house in a community, and

offer a sacrifice of praise.

We don’t always “feel” like praising God. Everyone walks through the doors of God’s house with individual pains and struggles, but a sacrifice of praise changes everything, especially . . . me.

Science has now proven the human brain functions in a more complete capacity when the thoughts and meditations are pleasant.

Praise to God brings supernatural change. The Creator of the Universe is near in our praise, that’s powerful.

We can praise God easily when things are going right, but can we praise before God “parts the Red Sea,” so to speak?

And when we make effort and sacrifice time to go to church, there is reward we don’t always see and don’t comprehend. God is found in hearts that seek Him. He draws near when we draw near to Him.

In church, the focus (should be) and is God. Not the other stuff that tries to take our thoughts, critique, distractions, etc.

He is the One who is able to do all things. Even if the song is not to our liking, we can make the willing choice to read it, speak it, and hear the truths.

With an open and willing mind, our hearts begin to see the common ground in the old hymn and admire it’s care to invoke praise through the trials:
Thou rushing wind that art so strong, 
ye clouds that sail in heav’n along, 
O praise him, alleluia! 

Yes, the winds are strong, the clouds are dark, God is greater and knows all things. O praise Him. Praise Him still.

Maybe, this is what, “be as a child means.” Children trust. Children believe.

And children are praisers. With their bright morning smiles and joyful eyes. With their energy and excitement, children bring praise.

The song of a child is pure and clear, much like the next verse speaking of the glorious sound of water:

Thou flowing water, pure and clear, 
make music for thy Lord to hear, 
alleluia, alleluia!

Everything gives praise, even warm fires and their glow, the hymn reminds that we watch praise to God wherever we go:
Thou fire so masterful and bright, 
that givest man both warmth and light, 
O praise him, O praise him, 
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 

What if the masses stopped to praise? Would we be a different people? Oh, wouldn’t God be pleased?

What would it look like if we would praise God more? Would we put down pointing fingers?

And all ye men of tender heart,
forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye, alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
praise God and on him cast your care,
O praise him, O praise him,
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Alleluia, God alone can change the heart.

God alone is near and able to comfort sufficiently, those with a broken heart.

It’s a season to give praise to God and join all creation whose already singing. Perhaps one heart at a time, tuned up and praising more, we will witness a changed culture. A culture that returns to walk through the doors of God’s glorious house , worship Him in humbleness, . . .

Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, three in one. 

This is how the world will be turned upside down, when His people offer a sacrifice of praise, in season, . . . and out.

O praise him, O praise him, 
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!




Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #248

Give a Gift of Song, With or Without Singing

December has begun, and people are . . . not all jolly. How do we overcome and move forward when life is filled with loss,

or sickness, or falls,

and pressures, and messes,

and great amount of cares?

Is there a rescue place? Well, those who believe in God take comfort in spending time and thinking on His love and sufficient gift in His Son.

But what about when the song is gone when the holiday season has begun? Like a tire gone flat? Where’s the lift?

I’m telling you, it’s in the hymn-book! One that’s opened and read aloud that is.

This is the one-stringed guitar that I play, so-to-speak: the hymnal has amazing power. But my favorite of all time are Robert J. Morgan’s Then Sings My Soul editions. 

I brought one of the editions into the infusion room many years ago when I was undergoing chemotherapy. The cancer patients in close vicinity to my voice were lifted immediately by the hymns and the stories of the writers. 

We were changed. A deep joy, courage, and most important, hope returned to our sick bodies.

Many were reminded that God’s gracious love never left their side, even though they had nothing to do with Him for long and past years.

Yesterday, I was thinking of my elderly neighbor while I was able to be at church on Dec. 1. She’s unable to get to church because of many reasons, and struggling in many ways. 

Thank you Robert. J. Morgan, for writing Then Sings My Soul Special Edition. I scooped up this book and went on my way to pay a short visit to my neighbor.

Coffee came first, but then pages were opened:

His Eye is on the Sparrow by Civilla D. Martin, 1905.

The Scripture of choice for this hymn was, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.

Always to the left was the hymn, to the right, a story. With no melody at all, just the words of the hymn read aloud, “Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely And long for heaven and home.

When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “

Yes, it’s true, the Word has been told us, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”) Matthew 1;23.

Isn’t this one of the most precious promises of God?
My eyes scroll up for verse 2 with anticipation of the thoughts: “Whenever I am tempted, Whenever clouds arise, When song gives place to sighing, When hope within me dies,

I draw the closer to Him; From care He sets me free; His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me . . . “

Hope is restored with the speaking, (or singing, if you choose) of a hymn. Change comes. The promises of God fill the mind instead of troubles and pain. For example,

“. . . God has chosen to make known . . .  the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

And then my eyes roamed to Morgan’s writing in regards to this hymn by Civilla Durfee Martin, and I was reminded of other verses regarding God’s faithfulness within this theme:

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will” Matthew 10:29.

“Do not fear . . . you are of more value than many sparrows” Luke 12:7.

What a wonderful gift this book is to me over and over again. Perhaps, this year the most meaningful gift you might give yourself, or others, is a Robert J. Morgan’s, Then Sings my Soul edition.

Faith-less? or Faith-full? Look up. Listen up!

We must remind each other, God is good, even though things don’t seem as they should.

“This is impossible,” we say in our hearts, or perhaps out-loud.

The Bible reminds us, God is able to make a way, . . . through the wilderness:

This is what the Lord says—
    he who made a way through the sea,
    a path through the mighty waters, . . .
 “Forget the former things;
    do not dwell on the past.
 See, I am doing a new thing!
    Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
    and streams in the wasteland . . . ” Isaiah 43:16-19.

We, who believe in God through His Son, (His great and perfect provision for us, Jesus), must not let our thoughts paralyze us. What are the promises? We must fight to think on these things and pray for increased faith.

“Eyes up, ears open. God speaks: “

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
    “and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
    and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
    nor will there be one after me.
 I, even I, am the Lord,
    and apart from me there is no savior.
 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
    I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
     Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
    When I act, who can reverse it?” Isaiah 43:10-13.

Am I a child of God? Perhaps that’s the first question.

God is good, the Bible tells us. The world is broken, dark, chaotic because of the fall. But God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” Gen. 1.

The account is written. Wise is the man who checks out the light of His Word daily.

God’s faithful love is dependent on nothing.

Love is who He is, . . .

the LORD:

For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43:3.

Is He my Savior? Am I a child of God trusting and relying on Him to save me for salvation, and give guidance and help for each day’s trials?

How can I trust Him greater? Am I relying on my intellect, my bank account, my careful plans to save me from my hour of peril or trial?

“Yes, that’s sensible. That’s logical.”

Even more than people to come and discourage our trust in a (so called) invisible God, our own hearts discourage us in our weakness.

This is the fight. This is the battle. We must as soldiers have a plain command: “Look up. Listen up.”

As soldiers in the lord’s army, are our eyes up? Hear God speak:

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
 When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze Isaiah 43:1-2.

Or are we faith-less this day:

“Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
    you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel . . . But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied me with your offenses” Isaiah 43:22, 24.

Today, one heart at a time, beginning with mine, I feel the need to repent. I need to believe God and pray. “Forgive me for my unbelief Lord, increase my faith, in Jesus Name, Amen.”

“I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions, for my own sake,
    and remembers your sins no more.
 Review the past for me,
    let us argue the matter together;
    state the case for your innocence” Isaiah 43: 25,26.

“Lord Jesus, the only innocence I have is the complete and sufficient washing of Your blood. ‘This is all my righteousness, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.’ And for that, I say, Thank You Lord.”

Jesus lifted my eyes and gave me ears to hear again. His amazing grace, how sweet the sound. He saves me from myself daily.

Are you a child of God? He is only a prayer away. Call on the name of the Son that God the Father has sent to pay each of our debt in full for our sin and shame. Yes, believe in Jesus, and ask Him to empty you of all the old, and fill you a new with the Holy Spirit.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall 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.

If you have prayed and asked Jesus to come into your life to cleanse and make you new, please tell a trusted friend that today is the day of salvation for you!

 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Amen! (Exclamation point, mine).

I will . . . be free, in Him.

Oh, that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed I would wander far off Psalm 55:6.

Ever feel the need to breakout, but there are many urgent and needful occupations taking all our time? Psalm 55:6 speaks our heart.

“As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55: 16, 17.

We fight for solutions.

Jesus hears. The Bible promises this. And Jesus prays for those who put their trust in Him.

I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world; but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You John 17:9.

All Mine are Yours, and all that are Yours belong to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them…And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your name [in the knowledge of Yourself] them whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We [are one] (John 17:10,11, Amplified).

Moments of discouragement come when tired and overwhelmed, and our thoughts tempt us to give up. We say things like,

“The prison bars will never open, I can’t be free.” And that is true if it has to do with me, but God . . . 

For with God nothing  will be impossible Luke 1:37.

With men  this is impossible, but with God all  things are possible.  Matthew 19:26.

God is faithful to direct our steps, to give us grace through our work.

The question is, Do I want to be free in my heart? Am I willing to let go, “like a bird from prison bars have flown?” 

God wants me to trust Him. To live by faith today and fly.

Jesus’s love never fails—He came through, He’s got the key to the prison. 

His word speaks. Are we listening?

“I appeal to you . . . I beg of you in view of all My mercies, 

 decide today.

Present all you are . . . as a living sacrifice.

Be devoted.

Be set apart.

Be well pleasing to Me.

Don’t worry about fitting into this world.

Be changed.

 Be set free from the bondage that this world puts you in.

Change your mind.

Get new ideas.

Put on a new attitude.

Your life will prove what is good and acceptable and perfect in the will of God.

(Paraphrased Roman 12:1,2).

Response? 


“I will hear. I will receive. I will yield to Jesus with a thankful heart.”

He will be faithful to help each of us be set free in heart, to sing again.

Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away
To a land on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away
To a land where joy will never end, I’ll fly away

I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away
When I die, hallellujah by and by, I’ll fly away.

I’ll Fly Away, Albert E. Brumley in 1929

The win in a hymn, defeat to fear: Praise God Forever

“Tune up my heart strings, Lord.” She prays, as her heart beats in a flat, minor chord.
“All things are possible with You by my side,” she believes.

“Help my unbelief,” she asks ready to defeat the perfectionist, the giant enemy of thought.

“Change me. C-H-A-N-G-E me!” She pleads with the One who is able.

In stillness, a gentle voice reminds:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord you God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9.

Faith has new breath, and a word of direction: “Sing a new song. Praise God as the victory is won. Sing praise!”

A hymn comes to mind.
The hymn tunes the heart’s theme for hope.

With a prayer for mercy and power of God.

Read aloud. Yes, sing aloud:

Come thou fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above

I’ll praise the mount I’m fixed upon it
Mount of thy redeeming love”

Change happens in a moments time. God’s Word comes to mind:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
 He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;” Psalm 121,

Lifted. Transformed, through the speaking of a psalm.

What comes next? Her heart needs to know, she reads aloud:

 The Lord watches over you—

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

This is how the hymn is sung. By the help of the Living Word giving persevering strength to the weary saint.

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come

And I hope by thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wondering from the fold of God

He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

She receives the Spirit’s Comfort and Hope and thankfulness pours forth:

O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be!
Let thy goodness like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.

Victory is won in her heart this moment. A new song is sung. Prayers have been answered and change for good themes continues on . . .

Will we choose to read aloud and sing? “Yes, because ‘new’ is a glorious thing.”

New heart strings, and ultimately, a new me.

Will you also agree?

Come Thou Fount, hymn by Robert Robinson

#4 God Reveal: 7 Reasons to Believe God Created

Today I take time to look at creation, to be open to hear a Word that was spoken.

Not by men and their gathered thoughts, but by God sprinkled throughout His 66 Books.

Faith is the key, I must confess. We need faith to receive what the Bible does tell. But it takes faith in the wisdom of man to believe every word the public arena does sell.

We hear the world’s message loud and clear, but for the children’s sake, should we stop, and at least, take some time to hear?

What does the Bible say? Do we know? Will we be as a Berean back in ancient days? It is told they had open minds, to listen eagerly, and to search for answers day . . . after. . . day. (1)

Let’s open the Book and view the wonder of God’s love on display:

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3. 

This living Book, The Bible was written for you and me, and for ever it will be. (2)

God understands the difficulty to trust and believe. He gives His Word and waits as we receive:

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell . . . ;
 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
    or let the fish in the sea inform . . .
 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?
 In his hand is the life of every creature
    and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:7-10. 

Oh, would it not be amazing to stop and ask our animal friends.

God is gentle, kind, patient, and true. His glorious creation is His daily gift to human-kind, the whole earth through.

You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased, Revelation 4:11, this is the Master Artist’s creation.

Psalm 95:4-5,In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
    and his hands formed the dry land.

God’s Word is Living. Ask Him. He gives grace to understand!

The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1. How vast is His expanse. How grand is His Hand. He deserves praise each day for the warmth of the sun.

God loves. He speaks each day through His creation.

How many are your works, Lord!
    In wisdom you made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures, Psalm 104:24. 

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

Is the Word not powerful and glorious? Ask God to reveal Himself and give you understanding!

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse, Romans 1:20. 

These are seven Scriptures that gently speak of God the Creator of everything. Are we curious and hungry for more? The Bible has answers for more, and plenty!

Take time to follow God in His Word. He will give you peace. He is the LORD.

(1) And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth, Acts 17:11.

(2) Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens, Psalm 119:89.


Joy comes with the decision to praise!

Joyful, Joyful we adore Thee, God of glory Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Opening to the sun above. 

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!

Making the choice to read aloud words penned by Henry van Dyke in 1907, allowing the strings of my vocal chords to vibrate the waters within my flesh,

I am changed.

Not completely at first, but my spirit is lifted from the hard, stale place it was, to a new and lifted height.

Only moments ago, my earthly thoughts had me overwhelmed,

But the melody of Beethoven and the rich poem add a breath and flight to my night terrors and fright.

“Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away.” Yes, Dear Lord, Almighty God of heaven, only You have supernatural power to do this for me.

Jesus, You willingly shed Your blood for me.”

The words I struggle to pray are enclosed in this glorious hymn,

Just for me! God is an intimate God.

I am brought to a place to give Him praise:

All the works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heaven reflect Thy rays; Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise . . .

Thou art giving and forgiving. Ever blessing, ever blest, Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!

The daily battle to go astray and forget to put off fret and put on a garment of praise.

My daily battles bring defeat when I become a victim of life’s circumstance. Confused, critical, provoked, and faith-less.

But God:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble,” Psalm 46:1.
 
God’s word invokes praise. 
Praise, increases faith.
Increased faith brings victory and rest.
 

Mortals join the mighty chorus, Which the Morning Stars began. Father love is reigning o’er us, Brother love binds man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife; Joyful music lifts us sunward, In the triumph song of life.

Yes, let’s be changed from sadness and doubt. Let’s believe God’s promises and by a filling of His glorious Spirit, let’s shine bright.

Joyful, adoring our Christ Who saved our self destructive, anxious, sinful life.

He makes us gloriously new!

Let the Christmas Tree Speak (when the mood might be bleak)

Not in the mood for the Christmas cheer? Think on Jesus. He’s the reason we bring in the tree each year.

Some might not know it, some might not care, but the Christmas Tree has a speech from it’s core to share.

Imagine with me and listen down deep. Let God show you His gift. He changes things . . . supernaturally.

Open the door and bring it on in. Don’t be boggled down with origin.

Simply bring in the tree and get it right, in quiet or noise, and wrap around the light.

Place an ornament or two, three, or more, and bring back old memories from Christmases before.

Have a seat. Rest, and listen after the task,

“Listen?” With my ears, you might ask.

“Yes, but with your soul and heart,” I pray. “The annual Christmas Tree has so much to say.”

Untangle your thoughts.  Unweave your mind. Withdraw from all schedule for a moment of time.

The Christmas Tree lights reflect off colored spheres, much like the moon, that draws our gaze near.

“Remember Me,” says a still quiet voice.

Let Me in, I bring calm and peace in the day’s noise.

The Tree is a symbol of what was, what is, what is to come. I represent God, His nature, His glorious Kingdom.

I AM the Vine, I Am Light. I AM beauty. I AM the Bright and morning Star. I AM the Beginning of Christmas, the angels proclaimed from afar,

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to all men.”

God’s will is that I come,

to be a sacrifice for all isn.

The tree points up, to heaven above, yet it sits on the ground to remind you,

I have come down,

to be cut off,

to be thirsty,

to bleed on the cross.

To rise again in glory.

I understand all things.

I came for you, to provide salvation. Let this Evergreen Tree speak revelation.

I came that I might die on a tree. That you might believe, and rise as Me.

Talk to the children about My everlasting beauty. Look at the Tree. It’s a symbol of Me.

Tell them I give. I gave. I Am all this world needs.

I wait for that day, when My gift,

is whole-heartedly received.

Forgiveness and grace, and promise to someday see Me,

face to face.

O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!
How richly God has decked thee!
Thou bidst us true and faithful be,
And trust in God unchangingly.
O Christmas Tree! O Christmas Tree!

I hear Your love. “Yes, I receive.”

O God, You have come down to set us free!

“O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.”

“Spirit of God, drown the doubt. Renew in me a happy condition.

“I’m not able to do this,”

speaks my heavy spirit.

Hope, kept deep inside fights back,

“But thanks to God, He can.”

“I can’t get it right,” spoke discouragement who found a seat in my heart.

The Spirit inside stands with the fact,

“Thanks to God He did.”

A war takes place. I read the Word, because I’m encouraged to do so. I turn to Psalm 42, and discover my feelings and soul are weighted with woes as the Psalmist so many thousand years ago, ”

     Why, my soul, are you downcast?
     Why so disturbed within me?
     Put your hope in God,
     for I will yet praise him,
     my Savior and my God . . .  

     Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and                     breaker have swept over me.” 

The heaviness won’t leave. Fretfulness bombards every cell. I continue to read,

      I say to God my Rock,
     “Why have you forgotten me?
     Why must I go about mourning,
     oppressed by the enemy?”
     My bones suffer mortal agony
     as my foes taunt me,
     saying to me all day long,
    “Where is your God?”

     Why, my soul, are you downcast?

     Why so disturbed within me? Psalm 42:9-11.

The open Book breathes my own inner turmoil. The Living Word pleads,

       “Put your hope in God,
         for I will yet praise him,
         my Savior and my God”

As if I was handed, from the Spirit of God a personal prescription against the flood of fear and doubt. This Psalm invites me to seek the Spirit of God that I might sing in the rain.

The Book cries aloud, words I hold deep. Flooding over even to the next chapter.

     “Vindicate me, my God,
     and plead my cause
     against an unfaithful nation.
     Rescue me from those who are
     deceitful and wicked.
     You are God my stronghold” Psalm 43:1-2.

I imagine the Psalmist making a change, becoming secure and calmed until I continue reading aloud, only to discover the continued doubt and reminder of hurt.
    

     Why have you rejected me?
     Why must I go about mourning,
     oppressed by the enemy?

One phrase of exaltation and yet three thoughts of drowning pain. All in the same verse.

But, then I think, maybe I’m not crazy.  The psalmist penned this up and down sequence which, at this time, mirrors me, exactly. This might simply be common occurrence of all mankind.

 I know God as my stronghold and defense, yet I wrestle. I fight.

“Am I praying at all? What’s prayer anyway?”

“What’s God’s will when everything seems so wrong?”

“What’s going on?”

“Am I ‘trying’ to worship?”

“Is there meaning to the agony and unrest?”

Is it simply to turn to the One Who is Able and discover, He’s already at work on getting me through this test.

Living waters then spill out solutions for the darkness and the sudden attack of doubt,

     “Send me your light and your faithful care,
     let them lead me;
     let them bring me to your holy mountain,
     to the place where you dwell.

God dwells in praise, but praise seems so difficult. “Spirit of God, drown the doubt out of my way. And as the psalmist, I will follow through;
         

     Then I will go to the altar of God,
      to God, my joy and my delight.
      I will praise you with the lyre,
      O God, my God.”

A change does happen. Supernatural change. Psalm 43:5 has my soul speaking it’s consolation,

    Why, my soul, are you downcast?

    Why so disturbed within me?
   Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God.”

Altered at the altar, I look to speak a hymn that can flood my insides with a happy condition:

Free from the law, O happy condition, by Philip Bliss, 1834. 
Jesus hath bled, and there is remission;
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall,
Grace hath redeemed us once for all.

Chorus:
Once for all, O sinner, receive it,
Once for all, O friend, now believe it;
Cling to the cross, the burden will fall,
Christ hath redeemed us once for all.

Now we are free, there’s no condemnation,
Jesus provides a perfect salvation;
“Come unto Me,” O hear His sweet call,
Come, and He saves us once for all.

[Chorus]

“Children of God,” O glorious calling,
Surely His grace will keep us from falling;
Passing from death to life at His call,
Blessed salvation once for all.

[Chorus]

Why so downcast, O my soul?

“Spirit of God, You supernaturally have answered my call.”

 

 

 

Because of His new mercies, my meditation is a song.

A Psalm of David, so long ago, was penned and written for the Chief Musician.

Psalm 139, I pray will stay close to my heart as I take hold of His hand.

Before my feet hit the floor, may I meditate on who He is, and by His help better understand.

My walk is as a messy poem, but God in His great mercy never leaves me alone:

 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
 You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.
 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.

 For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

 You have hedged me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.

 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is high, I cannot attain it.

If these words be true, (You have pronounced Your Word as truth), help me today to believe.
Help me remember . . .You.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth, John 17:17 states.
So, in knowing and seeing it all, You can see clearly, I often make many mistakes.
You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. John15:3.
I don’t completely understand, but I receive a washing in the morning as  I read.
Let this Word be a continual song I sing:

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

 If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

Yesterday’s pain, struggle, and loss feel like heaviness falling on me, but if even the night shall be light about me; . . . and the night shines as the day;

I receive Your Word that I don’t completely know, but when I look at a candle, only light surrounds it, so . . .

I can see that You are with me, and light even my night.

You are greater than all of my anxiety, ugliness, and fright. Your Word, the powerful sounds, are healing the doubt that so often surrounds.

 For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.
 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

 My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.

Deep calls to deep. These thoughts are not as man’s. These Words pierce me through. My days you write in a book? Truly from beginning to end? I clearly see, I want more faith, more faith each day to trust You!

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!
 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.

Clearly, a lifetime it will take to comprehend such thoughts. Give me wisdom and knowledge. Help me understand the price You paid on the cross.

A Love so real. You laid down Your life for me. Even though You knew how wretched many of my steps would be.

I want to be on Your side, dear Lord.

Please keep me from being an enemy. With doubt, and unbelief. Making excuses to sin.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119.

Get my eyes in Your Word, more and more, dear Lord.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

This is a hard prayer to pray in the morning, and even more so, at night.

Dear Lord Jesus, I thank You for covering my sin with Your blood. I thank You for showing me You walk with me and know, every step that I take, and every word I speak, and even the thoughts that I think. And You still love . . .

You knew me in the beginning and promise to know my end days as well. Today, let me be new, tear down, rebuild, clean up and move.

Help me walk more closely. Help me let You lead. Let this be my song that I continually sing,
making the choice each day, to acknowledge You,  King:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
 And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

In Jesus Name, I, and all who believe ask, “Let it be, yes, let it be. Amen.”

A Run of Refuge to the Psalms

Let’s devote time to run.

To run to the refuge of the Psalms.

Let’s get up and do it. Let’s move our hands to progress. To move our mind from chaos. To choose to run to the Songs.

Do these Words, so ancient speak today of a present situation? Whose words are these anyway?

Psalm 55, Amplified. These are Words penned by David, inspired by God:

Listen to my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my supplication! Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint, and must moan; 

[I am distracted] by the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression and threatenings of the wicked; for they would cast trouble upon me, . . .

Can any of us identify with the cry?

God knows. He’s breathed these words: To the Chief Musician, with stringed instruments. A skillful song, . . .

My heart is grievously pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling are come upon me; horror and fright have overwhelmed me. 

And I say, O that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest, Yes, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah
[pause, and calmly think of that]!

Is this a state we find ourselves in? Selah

Pause.

How challenging it is to do that!

When we read these living words aloud, we no longer feel alone.

Why do we wait to run to the shelter in the storm?

Destroy [their schemes], O Lord; confuse their tongues; for I have seen violence and strife in the city. Day and night they go about on its walls; iniquity and mischief are in the midst. 

Violence and ruin are within it; fraud and guile do not depart . . . 

How in the world are these words even a reality in our heart? But they are a reality. Our hearts bleed from all the hurt.

For it is not an enemy who reproaches and taunts me; then I might bear it; nor one who has hated me who insolently vaunts himself against me; then I might hide from him. 

But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my familiar friend; We had sweet fellowship together, and used to walk to the house of God in company.

Psalm 55:16, Amplified is giving us a place to start:

As for me, I will call upon God; and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice.

He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], . . .

I run to the One who created the sun, the moon, the stars, and every place. Who abides in praise and hears the broken heart.

He hears our voice. Our thoughts are written.

Let us shower and cleanse ourselves continually in His word. And draw near to Him. Asking for increased faith in believing, He is the LORD.

That is how we will get up again, and again. We can face today as we asked to be filled to overflowing with His Spirit. Rain down on us Your sufficient grace, dear Lord.

We lift our eyes to You, we speak Your Psalms back to You, and we praise You. This is our victory. This is our Peace.

You alone are Peace.

 The Scriptures used are from Psalm 55. Amplified. To God be the glory. May His Word be our continual guide.

Man’s word. God’s Word.

Justice?

Peace?

The media of this day is filled with . . . words, words, and endless words of man. Our hearts feel oppression of lies, cruelty, hate. Confusion comes and every evil thing.

The Bible says, “if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” James 3:14-16.

This describes our day. People are confused. Out-of-order is the loud message of many people with microphones of this day.

We are restless.

Those who believe God is greater than all this, pray.

We seek His Word. Be amazed as He speaks in  Isaiah 29:

Woe to those . . .
who do their work in darkness and think,
    “Who sees us? Who will know?”
 You turn things upside down,
    as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
    “You did not make me”?
Can the pot say to the potter,
    “You know nothing”? . . .

Professional people today are ruthless with each other, they are mockers of good. They, “with a word make someone out to be guilty, . . . with false testimony deprive the innocent of justice” Isaiah 29:13-21.

But believers in an Almighty God Who sees and knows, pray.

We ask God to encourage our hearts. We read His Word and He is faithful to speak and comfort:

“Therefore this is what the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, says to the descendants of Jacob:

“No longer will Jacob be ashamed;
    no longer will their faces grow pale.
 When they see among them their children,
    the work of my hands,
they will keep my name holy;
    they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy One of Jacob,
    and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
 Those who are wayward in spirit will gain understanding;
    those who complain will accept instruction” Isaiah 29:22-24.

These are words of hope.

The Word of God is filled with woes and stories hard to understand, but the spirit of man is fed and encouraged when the Spirit of God is invited in.

“Lord, give us hearts soft and ears open to receive and understand Your Word:”

“People of Zion, . . . you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.  Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more;

with your own eyes you will see them.

 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”

He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful . . .  The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted” Isaiah 30:19-26.

“Speak, Lord. Your servants are hungry for Your Word. We have read.

Show us our attitudes that must go.

Reveal to us Your ways, unlike ours.

We wait and believe You are able to accomplish all that You say to Your people who believe.

Help our unbelief!

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.”

 

Hymn Therapy for an infusion of faith and renewed strength and direction

Hymn Therapy awakens the quiet spirit in the senior folk and they tap their feet and sing each word from memory when I, on occasion have to look at the lyrics to get them right.

Oh, the joy. And even more than that, what power.

Music has power. And add the doctrine and truth of the hymns and you’ve got healing, life, and energy being birthed before your eyes. Everyone in ear shot of the sounds are changed.

In need of breaking through a stressed and restless spirit, an increased tempo is played and then the story. This is actually Christian testimony, universal.

And I must admit, this medley is individually my Christian story.

You see, there comes that day when the heart is touched by the Lord and the decision is made to follow Jesus.

Choosing to give our back to the world and face to the cross gives us courage and strength against the temptations that come every day.

Pressing in closer to God and growing in His grace and knowledge of His precious Son brings relationship unlike any other we can obtain here on earth.

Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, (Proverbs 18:24).

What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

Talking to Him through the day becomes a common occurrence.

But I will confess at this time, I fail often. I have let circumstance, and the reactions and responses of others to move me, especially in my home. I get discouraged, tired, and what seems, faith-less.

O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!

How we need infusion of hymn therapy at times like this.

The very act of singing the hymn gives opportunity for the heart to confess to God our weaknesses, which He already knows,

and  our spirit is quickened again to what’s most important—faith that is pleasing to the Lord.

Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Yes, we are.

Precious Savior, still our refuge.

Oh, how we forget, especially drowning under the load of care.

What happens? What do we do?

Take it to the Lord in prayer, In His arms He’ll take and shield us.

He leads us to the cross.

His willingness, His surrender, His gentleness.

Can we find a friend so faithful? Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Then our faith returns, we are healed in heart and God can once again use us to bear fruit.

I may fail, but my Lord is perfect. He is my help in times of trouble. Jesus knows our every weakness, we can take it to the Lord in prayer.

Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? Will you decide now, to follow Jesus? No turning back, no turning back.

Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony.

 Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 

 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 

 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life  1John 5:10-12.

If you decide now, to follow Jesus, simply talk with Him about washing away your sin. He’s paid the debt in full.

Ask Him to fill you with His Spirit. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there.

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sin and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.

Joseph M. Scriven, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, 1855.

Source Unknown, Folk Melody from India, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.

 

 

Crushed grapes to wine is as brokenness to joy

When Jesus sat on a hill and spoke to the multitudes of people, He spoke words contrary to man’s natural inclination,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:3.

Another translation  puts it this way, “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” (The Message).

In ancient Bible times, crushed grapes produced wine. There is much argument about this topic, levels of fermentation, etc. but today, I seek to focus on the Bible’s symbolism of wine for joy.

A large scale mural has been painted by Aniekan Udofia in Ivy City, Washington D.C. *

When we’re crushed, (when we face the pressing trials of each day), do we produce wine? or whine?

“He who believes in Me,” Jesus said, “out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” John 7:38.

Being tried and crushed through the everyday pressures, how do we produce wine? Out of our hearts is flowing . . .

rivers of living waters? Where’s the joy?

God tells us a story. John 2 explains,

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,  and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water;” so they filled them to the brim.

Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so,  and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Then he called the bridegroom aside  and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

“Do whatever He tells you,” Mary said to the servants.

These are hard words. It’s hard work to fill six 20 to30 gallon jars with water.

As a branch surrendered to the Vine, (who is Jesus), I will discover the ability to produce fruit. Fruits of love are: joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

John 15: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.  If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.  My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.

Are we abiding, surrendered to the Vine?
Then much fruit will come.

What are we listening to? Fear? or God’s Voice? Let’s STOP and hear:

“Trust Me now.” I hear a still small voice speak. “Trust.” When the waves are huge, and blinded eyes can’t see.

“Trust Me.

Put on faith’s glasses, take off  fear’s clouded goggles, and . . .
B-R-E-A-T-H.

Don’t panic.

Remember, I walk on the turbulent seas.”

Don’t caress thoughts that are sharp and dark. Don’t linger in pits of past regrets—STOP.

Speak instead, faith thoughts.

Let—suffer, allow, the Holy Spirit to sing in your heart.

So I open the Hymn book at the Spirit’s prompt.  It opens, Doxology, page 1:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

And I think right away,

“Oh God, how can You patiently watch my faith so quickly, fly away?

With an envelope from the mail. With a headache in the morning. With the world’s events spinning. Each and everyday, dear Lord, You watch my faith take flight. As if it’s always night, and never day.

Oh God,  . . .

lead me to P-R-A-I-S-E.”

So I turn in the hymnal to Page 2. If only I could always remember this hymn proves time and again to be a “faint heart’s” rescue.

Fanny Crosby, though blind, could see. Spiritually, her words help my weary heart sing:

All the way my Sav-ior leads me; What have I to ask be-side? Can I doubt His ten-der mer-cy. Who thro’ life has been my guide?

Heav’n-ly peace,

di-vin-est com-fort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell For I know what-e’er be-fall me,

Je-sus do-eth all things well;

All the way my Savior leads me;

Cheers each winding path I tread.

Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living bread:

Tho’ my weary steps may falter, And my soul a thirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me, Lo! a spring of joy I see;

Thank you Fanny for your pen and song. My eyes are lifted from the earth to the Son.

All the way my Savior leads me; Oh, the fullness of His love! Perfect rest to me is promised In my Father’s house above . . .

Will you join me in entering God’s rest? Can we seek accountability to trust.
We can rise above earthly trials. Trusting that our Savior leads the way.

And while we wait, we praise our Savior. And He fills our hearts and minds with His peace.