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.)
It was a day of great sickness after chemo. I opened a hymnal on my bookshelf. It opened to Be Still My Soul by Kathrina von Schlegel.
In a horrible physical and emotional state, the words jumped off the page for me. Just for me. I felt the Lord unveil these words personally, to me. . .
Be Still my Soul. The Lord is on thy side . . .
After great trials and this physical pain, I honestly forgot, that the Lord I believed in and asked to come in my life, was “on my side.”
I struggled in my faith. But the hymn: Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Actively reading this phrase, I understood immediately, the Lord could see it all. Faith ignited in a second through the reading, (not even the singing) of this hymn.
(Quite honestly, I had no idea the melody. Old hymns weren’t regularly played at my contemporary Bible-teaching church.)
I read more:
Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”
And when you fight a cancer battle, it does come into the mind, “Am I going to make it?”
God knew I was asking and God answered me through a phone call, (though I will confess, God showed me other glimpses of my healing along the way until I finally believed completely).
A young 13-year old, Landon, (whom I had spent some moments with to get started playing his guitar), learned I was sick with breast cancer.
He not only prayed for me, but he sought the Lord in His Bible for answers and hope.
Landon called me, on August 23rd, 2010.
I didn’t hear the call. It went to voice-mail. I’m so glad it did. I replayed it over and over again. Here is the voice mail I saved: “Hello Ms. Toni, this is Landon. I just wanted to read you some scriptures that the Lord gave to me for you. It is from Psalm 18:
“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies . . .
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from the powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support . . .
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect . . . He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me Your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for the battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their back in flight, and I destroyed my foes.
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them- to the LORD, but he did not answer… The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!”
Yes, Landon read his Bible to me on the phone and he left this message.
“You made my enemies turn their back in flight, and I destroyed my foes . . . ” This was amazing.
The precious phone message, Psalm 18, and the hymn Be Still My Soul mean so much to me.
I share what I put down those many years ago as music therapy for myself in my cancer battle. I hope it brings peace and rest of mind for someone as they draw near to Jesus.
He promises to draw near: For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:13.
Music Therapy/ Painted Bible by legacystudio.co
Please feel free to share this with any friends or family unable to sleep or rest during a physical or emotional challenge. Thanks – toniryp
2 Be still, my soul; your God will undertake to guide the future as he has the past; your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know his voice who ruled them while he lived below.
4 Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on when we shall be forever with the Lord, when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still my soul; when change and tears are past, all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
“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.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call on Him while He is near . . . “Isaiah 55:6,7.
What’s the greatest miracle of them all? Jesus healed the blind, He opened deaf ears. Jesus turned water to wine. Crippled people could walk and jump. The dead became alive again.
Jesus is the resurrected Lord, but none of them match this:
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.
There’s so many miracles in this very first verse of the entire Bible.
God is Creator of science. Here we have time, space, and matter. Let’s say it together: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.
Do I believe this verse? To believe God is called “faith.”
Creator God, He’s all-knowing, all-powerful. God is love 1 John 4:8.
He gave us choice as one of His love-gifts. We can reject His Word or choose to believe and receive Him.
To love God is full of reward and promise to all who believe, (or have faith in Him).
We love rewards, don’t we? Guess what- when we draw near to God, and seek Him, He gives us eyes to see!
How do I know? The Bible tells us:
Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40.
Faith to believe God is a glorious miracle.
When we believe, we are as a blind man who can see. We become as one deaf who can now hear.
All of us have been hurt in this life and may have sad hearts that limp, yet the Lord’s love and miracle of faith help us to heal. He gives us power to stand again and walk forward today in good thoughts of His love and help.
The Bible tells us: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see Hebrews 11:1.
And when we believe, we get understanding,
By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen Hebrews 11:3, NLT.
The Spirit of God was hovering over the darkness of the empty earth, in the beginning, and God said,
Let there be light” and there was light Genesis 1:3. We’re not talking about the sun here. This is light energy. This is the spectrum of color light energy.
Yes, God said let there be a spectrum of color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and all the shades in between!
At night when we look out, everything is a tint of gray. But in the day, color!
Blue skies, green grass, lots of colors found in flowers, brown tree trunks.
O LORD, how manifold are you works! In wisdom you have made them all: the earth is full of your riches Psalm 104:24.
The Gospel Huddle:
God said, “Let there be light.” How about you? Do you believe God and His Word?
This is a first step. God doesn’t want us to be in the dark. He doesn’t want our world to feel gray and full of dark shadows.
We feel that way at times. We feel separated and far from God.
Put your arms out far apart.
Yes, this is how we are to God, separated. But do you see your arms stretched far? That’s what Jesus did for you because He loves you so much.
Jesus willingly allowed men to stretch His arms out wide on the cross, even though He didn’t deserve any punishment. (Jesus had no sin). He took our punishment of sin on Himself as He was nailed to a cross and died for you and me.
We all deserve punishment because we all have sin. Every single one human being on this planet.
Sin is anything we think, say, or do that goes against His Word to us.
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:23.
God wants us to see His great love gift-Jesus.
When we believe Him and receive His love, our eyes are opened. We see a whole spectrum of color for all things new. A life with Him, forever. In forgiveness and hope.
Perhaps the greatest miracle is God’s gift of faith to believe.
Talk to the Lord as you listen to God’s Word in song about faith in Him:
It’s Time to Seek the LORD Song: Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55: 6,8,9.
This Scripture Song invites your heart to seek the Lord.
I earnestly prayed, “Increase my faith,” and it seems in answer to my request, God ordered a stress test of trials and circumstance.
I had a Bible reading plan in Psalms, Proverbs, OT, and NT for each day’s reading. God spoke a similar message through each Book one day.
I was given exhortation from His Word in Proverbs, If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small. (1)
Then my reading in Jeremiah proved a similar message,
“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?”(2)
“Is this encouragement? I wondered. It’s a if I could hear the stampede.
I turned to Proverbs 3 for some wisdom, My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loath His reproof, For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights . . .
My NT reading for the morning in Hebrews 12: 2-4 brought me instruction in my dilemma,
Therefore, 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.
“Let go of it all, and focus on Me!” God spoke so clear to me.
Eyes up!” was God’s exhortation.
Discipline is good. For my growth and renewed faith and strength, I must be taught through it.
I was reminded:
Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (3)
“Eyes up!”
God’s Word speaks right to the heart.
“Let go of the garbage. Continue on your race unincumbered with all the loss and hurt. Let Me in . . . “
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. (4)
Who will join me today and start a new day with a new skip in our step because in the process of the walk with Him, He increases our faith!
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. (5)
I can’t run this race without the Spirit of the Lord. I try on my own, but in my own strength, I’m worn down and fail.
With each new day, let’s run this race with lifted hands and strengthend knees, with a walk forward with increased faith and eyes up on the author and finisher of our faith,
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.
Oh, but we don’t feel Him near at times. So, we keep reading as if reaching for the lifeguard’s rescue buoy.
“Thou art near where’er I move, And though sense would fain conceal it, Faith oft whispers it to love.
When our mind swirls with thoughts that pull us down, devotions to God, hymns, spiritual songs, and Scripture act as a lifeguard that has put out a float.
This poem was found in my Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible. The reading on page 256 was highlighted with Scripture: “Thou shalt guide me with they counsel.”
The devotional of 1 Samuel 23 tells of David, banished from worship, persecuted in his own country, with King Saul of Israel out to kill him. But enemies of his homeland came to invade. Should he fight and protect the people?
“David enquired of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 23:2, “And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”
His men were afraid.
“Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand” 1 Samueal 23:4.
Who did David listen to? The fearful men or the LORD? David turned to God for his direction.
Today, we all need counsel from the Lord, but the voice of men is loud. Will we pray? Will we be still to listen. Each of these are doing hard things!
“Dear Lord, guide us with Your counsel. Help us through the darkness of this day. Enlighten our path, show us Your way!”
As Holy comfort, this old poem sings:
Then, my soul, since God doth love thee, Faint not, droop not, do not fear; Though his heaven is high above thee, He himself is ever near!”
He will hear the prayers of His people. He will answer. Do we know the Lord? His character, His name? We’re as sheep, we forget so quickly. We need old phrases to call faith back again:
Not what I am, O Lord, but what Thou art; That, that alone, can be my soul’s true rest; Thy love, not mine, bids fear and doubt depart, And stills the tempest of my tossing breast.
It is Thy perfect love that casts out fear; I know the voice that speaks the It is I, And in these well-known words of heavenly cheer I hear the joy that bids each sorrow fly. By the Lord’s Love by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889).
Let’s promise ourselves to make God’s Word well known. That we might rise above anything that comes to steal His peace from our hearts and minds.
Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever Psalm 73:25,26.
May a prayer written over a hundred years ago be fresh on our lips today:
’Tis what I know of Thee, my Lord and God, That fills my soul with peace, my lips with song; Thou art my health, my joy, my staff, my rod; Leaning on Thee, in weakness I am strong.
More of Thyself, Oh, show me, hour by hour; More of Thy glory, O my God and Lord; More of Thyself in all Thy grace and power; More of Thy love and truth, Incarnate Word.
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 nomelody 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.
Hard times for Charles A. Tindley, a prominent, but persecuted American-African in the 1850’s, proved to move his pen to write, not in anger or hate, but in faith and love:
“We are often tossed and driv’n on the restless sea of time, rolling clouds and howling tempests oft succeed a bright sunshine;
In that land of perfect day, when the mists have rolled away, We will understand it better by and by. By and by.”
C. Tindley didn’t point a blaming finger, he didn’t ask the question why? He sought instead the Lord and His ways, and wrote a song, that we sing today,
By and by when the morning comes, . . . We’ll tell the story how we’ve over-come; And we’ll understand it better by and by, by and by.”
Mr. Tindley was a man of faith. How can we have an overcoming faith? The Word of God is our sword and help. Jesus said to the people,
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world John 16: 33.
We might not understand all the trial and pain we endure now, but with eyes up, we ask, where’s my help coming from?
Our help comes form the Lord who made heaven and earth Psalm 121: 1,2.
And the Lord gives us a trusting faith and we sing, “We will understand it better by and by. By and by.”
“Trials dark on ev’ry hand, and we cannot understand, All the ways that God would lead us to that blessed promised land;
But He’ll guide us with His eye, and we’ll follow till we die, We will understand it better by and by, by and by.”
Eyes fixed on Him and minds and hearts in His Word, this is a recipe for faith, every time.
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good Romans 12:21.
For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith 1 John 5:4.
The song and the Word create inner courage to those who believe. Charles Tindley’s response to pain and hurt speaks loud today. He over-came.
And we will over-come too.
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high Psalm 3:3.
Step by step, eyes on the Lord, This man is a witness, among many for us, let us proclaim together,
“We’ve over-come; And we’ll understand it better by and by, by and by.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us Hebrews 12:1.
When the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story of how we’ve over-come; And we’ll understand it better by and by, by and by.”
For you, for me, and all the trials we live through and see, we’ll understand it better, by and by, and in the meantime, we’ll keep trusting God for each new sunrise.
We’ll Understand it Better By and By , Charles A. Tindley, 1905.
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.
Today I was diagnosed with an invasive lobular, 5×7 cm- estrogen positive cancer tumor of the breast.
I have breast cancer.
In the evening, I opened my Bible to one of my favorite verses so I could see it on the page:
Jeremiah 33:3, Call unto Me and I will answer, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not of.
So, I decided to go off my Bible schedule and read Jeremiah today.
While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him a second time:
“This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name:
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know’ Jeremiah 33:1-3.
The Bible tells us that “the word of the LORD came to him a second time.” I’m encouraged. Jeremiah heard these words not once, but twice, from the Creator of the Universe, the Most High God, the LORD:
“Call to me and I will answer you. . .”
“I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
My ears are open. It seems in great affliction, the heart is ready to hear. I kept reading:
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege ramps and the sword in the fight with the Babylonians . . .
“ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security'”Jeremiah 33:4-6.
This was the word to Jeremiah concerning Judah and Israel, but on a day when you find out you have cancer and you open God’s word that speaks of a tearing down against an enemy,
This is good news to my heart. My soul found breath again.
I can trust God. If He can do this for Judah and Israel, I can believe God to heal me.
I need faith for this battle. The Word of God will help increase my faith.
“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.”
“Dear Lord, I call to You. Show me great and mighty things through this trial. Give me understanding to Your Word. Help me believe! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good; his love endures forever.” For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the LORD. 12
