Tag: God

God Talk with Kids #2

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me”? Jeremiah 32:17,27.

When you are young, you’re always learning and growing. We should always keep learning and growing even if we’re 90 years old!

Do you like to draw and put things together?

Do you like to ride a bike? Learning is an adventure.

And what about books and learning to read?

We love books. They take us to other places.

Can dogs sit and read with you or join you in your Lego or train play?

No way. They’re animals. They can’t learn to read.

In the Bible, the first Book is called Genesis, we can read that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).

God is all-powerful. He’s all-knowing. He’s Everywhere at one time. “My God is So big, so strong, and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do, for you.” This is true. Do you know this?

We learn this from our Bibles. It is truly Good News for all who will believe.

God created animals and man on the 6th day. But Adam, (the first man) and Eve, (the first woman), the Bible tells us were created

In His own image.
In the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them Genesis 1:27.

The image of God? What makes us different than the animals? As we already mentioned, we can build with Legos or read a book. We know that animals can’t join us in these things, except to get in the middle of it all and make a mess of it all.

We have eyes that can see, but we know an eagle can see much better than people. How about our noses? We love to smell pizza or homemade bread, but dogs can smell amazingly better than people.

What about our hearing? Well, it is found that the moth hears best of all created creatures, as well as the elephant. This makes sense because Elephants have huge ears, but moths? Yes, they hear the sound best of all the creatures.

But think about the human hand. Think of all the things you can do with your hands. Talk about them for a bit.

When we think of amazing hands, the Bible is a huge Book that reveals the greatest of hands, unlike any other. God’s hands. And God let us see His hands, even though we can’t see God,

God gave His only Son to us. He came from heaven to earth to show us God’s ways, to walk the earth with us. Do you know who I’m talking about?

Yes, Jesus came to earth to heal and to touch hurting people, but most importantly,

Jesus came to willingly pay a debt we owed. Do we owe a debt?

Yes, on the first 2 pages of the Bible, we learn the glorious beginnings of the creation of everything including Adam and Eve, (Genesis 1 & 2).

And God created all the beautiful plants for the animals and Adam and Eve to eat. In fact, they could eat from every tree in the garden,

except one. Or they would die. All the fruit is good for food, except the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. You can read it in the Bible:

But the LORD God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die Genesis 2:16-17.

But Eve was right there by the One Tree.

And who else was there? A serpent.

He asked Eve, “Did God really say you can’t eat from this tree?

Yes, God did say. But Eve didn’t know God’s Word well, and she was tricked by the serpent and she ate the forbidden fruit. And then, Adam outright disobeyed what God had told him and he ate too. (Read Genesis 3 for this complete story).

Then Adam and Eve realized, they were naked and they were ashamed. They never were ashamed before. They didn’t know they were naked. But now they do. And they hid from God.

Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat? Genesis 3:11.

Adam and Eve had covered themselves in some itchy leaves.

But God covered them. With the skins of an innocent animal, He covered their nakedness.

Right here in Genesis, the first Book of the Bible, God’s Word, we see a picture of Jesus and how He paid a debt and “covered” our sin. He is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” How do we know?

The Bible tells us so: John the Baptist in the New Testament, when he saw Jesus coming, said, Behold the Lamb of God!

Yes, He is more than a covering for the disobedience, shame, and guilt we all have. He paid our “Sin debt” in full.

Jesus willingly gave His life. He stretched out His hands for you and me. For everyone who will believe in Him, (an invitation to every person on this planet) will receive from the glorious hands of God, Eternal life. Life now and forevermore.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life..

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

Jesus is the Lamb of God who died in our place. He is God the Son. He didn’t stay dead. He rose again on the third day. This is the good news. There’s so much to learn in our Bibles.

Now we can better understand verse 2 of Jesus Loves Me:

Jesus loves me, He who died. Heaven’s gate to open wide. He will wash away my sin. Let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.

Faith is believing. Believing God.

If you don’t have faith, ask God to give you a willing heart to receive His invitation of love and grace.

Also found on Toni & Kids Sing Bible Youtube.

I hope you know even better how Jesus really, truly loves you, especially you.

God Time with Children #1

Help for parents, grandparents, elementary school teachers, and more to talk to kids about God, His Word, and the Gospel message.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14.

What Does God Say About Children?

A small team of ours at present goes into the public schools for an Afterschool Good News Club.

A little kindergartener came into the room and the first words out of her mouth were, “I love God!”

Spending time with children is healthy and good for us all. We watch their joy, confidence, and curiosity. It makes us happy. It’s as if they sense God loves them before anyone tells them. The Bible tells us,

We all need to become like children and believe in God’s love. If you’re a child, be thankful to God! All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace on your children Isaiah 54:13.

Young children and old alike learn and know well one particular song by the time they’re 2. Can you guess what that song might be?

Yes, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”

Take a minute and sing this favorite song. Think of these words. Do you believe this is true?

To believe takes faith. Children have faith from an early age.

Jesus spoke of children and their faith in the Bible,

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them.  Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.  So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven Matthew 18:1-3.

I want to enter the kingdom of heaven, do you? We must be as a child. Why does Jesus say this? And what does this mean?

Because children believe Jesus loves them. This they know. The Bible tells them so! Children have faith. They believe in God. And they love to sing, Jesus loves me! These elementary things are the foundation that keeps our “house” steady and secure.

Here is something God wants us to know about children:

“Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!
    He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates” Psalm 127: 3-5.

This is God’s Word. Parents and children are encouraged by it. Children are important. To God, especially!

It’s good to look in the Bible to find out what God says about something. God’s Word might be quite different from the attitudes and opinions of others.

Let’s continue to sing the old favorite song:  “Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me.”

Do you and I believe this? We know we are weak at times, but do we believe God is strong?

This makes me think about another foundational favorite “little kids” song: “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do. For you!”

We should never outgrow needing to think about how great and strong our God is. As adults, our troubles and trials become so large we forget God.

God is strong and mighty, He is God the Creator of the world and everything in it. He is Spirit. He’s everywhere at every minute of the day.

 Faith is believing in God. He is and can do impossible things, the Bible tells us so.  

I faced a very scary and life-threatening sickness, and God reminded me, that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith.

Yes, to believe God is faith. I asked everyone I knew to pray. We asked the mighty and powerful God to heal me completely, in Jesus’ name. It wasn’t overnight, but He did impossible things. He guided me in His word, He directed me, and He healed me!

Jesus loves us, and this we must know. The Bible will help us grow. It’s God’s love letter of hope and rescue for all His children, young and old.

Ella sang this for me. I think it’s a great way to end our 1st God talk. And I added Created to praise Him as well.

It reminds us, we are His special creation. Knit in our mother’s womb, created to praise Him. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Happiness and joy are being like a child to know that very well!

See you next time.

SONG: My God is so Big.

My God is So Big Toni & Kids Acoustic Bible Songs
Created to Praise Him: Toni & Kids Sing Bible

Praise + Prayer = Faith to Conquer Any Foe

Hebrews 11:6 & Isaiah 55:6-9.

Most days, I wake up with praise to God on my lips, but as the evening comes, I often am tempted to grow weary and discouraged.

When I say, “praise on my lips,” this means a “thank You” song or a psalm, hymn, or God’s Word on my mind, instead of situations, lack, or loss.

But when my body grows fatigued, my mind begins to dwell on the happenings of this world and life circumstances, faith flies away like a bird disrupted by a loud noise.

How we need reminders of good things and words of direction and help. God’s Word is our safe place to run. I often have kid’s voices in the back of my mind, singing the Bible songs God gave me, to help me throughout my day:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Hebrews 11:6, NIV.

In the Book of 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah became informed of a huge army coming against them. Circumstances hit us like this.

Jehoshaphat . . . prayed to the Lord. He sought the Lord for His instruction, just as in Isaiah 55:6: 8&9:

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near Isaiah 55:6.

Jehoshaphat gathered the people. Then, he proclaimed a fast for all of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:3).  

Then Jehoshaphat stood up . . . at the temple of the Lord . . . and he prayed with all the people:

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.

Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you . . .

If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us” (2 Chronicles 20: 6-9).

We must, I must do the same. I must remind myself of who God is and cry out to Him in faith. The time is now.

 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel . . . as he stood in the assembly.

 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you:

‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 

God’s Word reminds us of truth, when we often believe we must work it out with our own thoughts, as the kids sing the verses:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
 As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:6,8-9.

 Tomorrow march down against them . . .

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20: 17-19).

 Early in the morning . . . Jehoshaphat stood and said,

“Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem!

Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 

 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”

 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:20-22).

The battle you and I face today is not our battle. It’s the Lord’s battle.

Let’s continue to infuse our minds and spirit with God’s truth. May kids from Toni & Kids Sing Bible restore faith, bring joy, and help us keep a song of truth in our hearts and minds today:

Thank you Irelyn and Noel for singing!

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Hebrews 11:6, NIV.

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
 As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:6,8-9.

Has a “fiery trial come on you?”

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” 1 Peter 4:12,13.

I’m surprised. Perhaps you’re experiencing a great trial as well. Our minds are in a battle to focus on faith in God, our physical bodies are taxed beyond understanding. But God is greater than anything we can face.

“My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing our God cannot do!” I pray God enables us to stand in faith and not enter fear.

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

Join me to fight this battle on our knees.

What is our comfort in this time? Psalm 119:50 tells us, “Your Word has given me life.”

I share an hour’s worth of prayer to meditate on so we can think on “things above, not on things of the earth,” and because we have believed in Jesus, and have “died” to this world, “our life is now hidden with Christ in God” Colossians 3:3. 

Together, today, all who are in great trial, we choose to:

“Therefore humble (y)ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

casting all (y)our care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Peter 5:7-8.

But God is greter. We will seek His presence and choose to think on His truth.

“This is the voctory that overcomes the world, even our faith” 1 John 5″4.

Jesus alone is our peace. Our hope. Our everything.

Let’s keep our minds in a safe place, “rejoiocing in hope, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us” 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 & 17.

Prayers for our souls to take comfort when our heart is overwhelmed

Need joy? God Knows What we Need. Put yourself in God’s presence with Psalm 95:

It was a day, years ago, touched by the ever-living power of the Word of God, Psalm 95 had me pick up a pen and my slightly twangy guitar to put down a song.

The Lord put the gospel message on my heart as I meditated on His exhortation, “Come let us worship and bow down.

“Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” Psalm 95:6.

We all are created by God. And His greatest gift to us, He lets us decide whether to believe or not.

He desires we all “talk to Him,” seek His Word and spend time with Him. His love is so great. He is love.

Love came down.

Joy? It’s a gift of His Holy Spirit. When we turn our hearts to Him and call on Him (for who He is, the Savior of the world), we receive (His) love. His Spirit comes and washes our sins. He makes us a new creation, today, in Him.

God the Father gives us His love through His Son who paid our debt in full and gave us His Spirit as a guarantee.

We bow down, He turns the “light on” in our souls. He breathes in us His breath of life. We become whole, filled with joy.

And we must not forget, peace. Jesus takes all our garbage and sin and gives us new birth.

“In Christ,” we become new creations. Born a second time into life, here and now, and for all eternity.

His Spirit calls . . .

“Come, let us worship.”

Talk to the Lord, not half-hearted but with all your heart.

Is it time to make Him your God, who lives and dwells with you?

Let us worship and bow down before the Lord our Maker: Psalm 95

A Call to Worship and Obedience

Psalm 95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
5 The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Make today, your day of salvation. Enter into the “joy” of the Lord!

And make sure you tell someone about your new-birth in Christ.

Who needs a moment of music therapy today? This is for you:

Before Covid, to help my own healing, I would walk into the nursing home and on occasion, the infusion room with the guitar and simply start to sing and recite scripture. There was nothing amazing about any of it, except the Lord would show up and His Spirit would revive us all.

This is for you, in need of comfort through the pain: (Cover The Joy of the Lord is my Strength by Twila Paris).

Music Therapy cover: The Joy of the Lord by Twila Paris

There is someone crying out to the Lord for mercy today.

Someone is hurting physically, feeling alone, and not sure about what to do next.

Someone has been harmed by others and is left in pain, isolated, and presently feels abandoned.

Are you far from home and feel displaced?

I share music therapy today with you in hopes the vibration of strings lifts your heart and mind to praise God and draw near to Him, as He then promises to be near to you (James 4:8).

Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father and has “put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, a guarantee” when we open our hearts to Him (2 Corinthian 1:22).

In this world of perfect sound and production, we don’t have the opportunity to experience the simplicity of six strings and a moment of therapy with raw vocals with the sole purpose to comfort and refresh.

May you experience the “joy of the Lord” as your strength today.

– Toni

If you have received comfort from the Lord today, let me or someone know. If today is the day you opened your heart to receive the love of Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation that He gave on the cross, tell your whole world. Tell everyone, the angels in heaven are celebrating today your new-birth-day!

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17.

Satan Trembles Before the Spirit’s Might!

“Lo Satan trembles and gives place

Before the Spirit’s might!

The power of reconcilable grace

Puts all his demons to flight.

His kingdom falls, and his spells and charms

By Jesus are o’erthrown,

The Spirit wields victorious arms,

And holds the field alone.

– Author Unknown

God is on the throne. Yesterday, today, and forever:

“Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.  Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.  And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” Acts 9: 1-9, emphasis mine.

GOD is on the throne.

This Saul, who breathed out threats and set out to destroy “believer’s in Christ” was met by none other than Jesus Himself.

“O Spirit of the Lord, prepare
All the round earth her God to meet;
Breathe thou abroad like morning air,
Till hearts of stone begin to beat.

Baptize the nations; far and nigh
The triumphs of the cross record;
The Name of Jesus glorify,
Till every kindred call him Lord” (Original Trinity Hymnal, #253, Mendon).

“Dear Lord, give us more and more grace to “trust You more.” You alone are worthy. You alone are able. We believe. Help our unbelief! In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Choose an Upward Song Not a Worldly Whine!

As we walk through our day, does our “song” (or attitude of our heart) become a whine? There are many voices through the course of our day, and often, the voices in our own heads speak and sing the blues.

There’s a battle to choose thoughts of the “highway,” as we trudge through this dry and parched, prickly, and thorny land of our day.

A simple turn to God, and His truth, with each step we takeHeartfelt surrender to His grace and gift of His Son changes everything.

Are you walking in circles? Are you tired of the whine? Give it all to God.

(And for the believer, each and every day.) We need a filling of the Holy Spirit.

Trust Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and allow the Holy Spirit to lift your thoughts to be songs of heartfelt praise, no matter what is going on in the terrestrial path you walk.

We can’t choose the “highway,” on our own. We need to open our hearts and lives to the Shepherd of our Soul. The One who loves us most, and more, and beyond deserved. It’s time to cry out to God and ask Him in,

in Jesus’ name,

“Let it be, amen.”

Yes, thanks be to God . . . His Voice, His Word is greater and good news for all who believe. He alone is able to transform our whine into a “new song,” because He gives us His Spirit when we receive Jesus.

Yes, Jesus.

He alone has power to give us a new song:

But thanks be to God . . . His Voice, His Word is greater and good, and able to transform our whine into a “new song,” over and over again.

Put sound on this glorious song:

“Sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
    proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous deeds among all peoples” Psalm 96:1-3.

Do we choose to live as Noah in his day, focused “up” on the eyes of the Lord, finding grace and goodness? Noah “proclaimed salvation day after day” to unbelieving people who mocked and enjoyed the joke of his build of the ark and his message.

4 For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
    but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
    tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
    he will judge the peoples with equity.

In my distress I cried to the Lord, and He answered me. Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips and from a deceitful tongue . . .

Woe is me, that I sojourn with Mesheck, that I dwell beside the tents of Kedar [as if among notoriously barbarous people]!

My life has too long had its dwelling with him who hates peace. I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” Psalm 120: 1,2,5,6,7.

The ancient Word speaks as if written today. They prove to be an accurate prayer from our heart at present.

We have not experienced anything the Lord has not walked through and experienced. The old hymn,”O Sacred Head, Now Wounded,” makes this clear in our mind’s eye:

“With grief and shame weighed down. Now scornfully surrounded With thorns Thine only crown; How pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!

Our Jesus, how He knows our sadness and losses, our persecutions, and abuses. He took all our shame and failures on Himself, on the tree:

“What Thou, my Lord hast suffered Was all for sinner’s gain; Mine, mine was the transgression, But Thine the deadly pain;

What is our response when we view so clearly His willingness to face our curse?

Do we take a hard look? Do we see Him now?

“Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place; Look on me with Thy favor, Vouch-safe to me Thy grace. (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded. Based on Medieval Latin poem. Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux.)

Together, we speak aloud the next Song of Ascents as we press forward into 2021. We won’t lean on our own understanding, but boldly proclaim in an ever-growing faith:

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, . . . From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made Heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber Psalm 121: 1-3, Amplified.

We can trust the Lord in all things. We remind ourselves these things:

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

He.

Will.

Keep.

Your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and for evermore. Psalm 121: 7,8. A Song of Ascents.

Laws are made by man to protect the people, but move to close the doors of God’s house.

God is Spirit. His Church is not a building. The hearts of His people speak in confidence continuously, . . .

despite the location:

“I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord! Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem . . . Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

May they prosper that love you [the Holy City]! Psalm 122: 1,2,6.

“We pray for the peace of Jerusalem dear Lord!”

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 

 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, Ephesians 2:14,15.

He is our peace? Our peace isn’t good circumstances. Our peace is a Person! What is His name?

God saves us once from sin and death for salvation in Jesus. And to all who receive Him and believe in His name, He calls us His children. Children of God.

He saves us daily from our “natural selves.” Our brokenness, our anxieties, doubts, jealousies, hatreds, and our rage. Jesus calms the wind and the waves. He can tame our flesh. In Christ alone . . .

  That He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity . . .

 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father Ephesians 2: 16,18.

We’re not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. We have access by the Spirit of God to the Father. These are not mere “positive thoughts.” God’s Word, the Gospel message is the power of God to salvation.

Step by step, breath by breath we speak, meditate, pray His Word, and become more and more empowered and hopeful:

[Earnestly] remember the former things which I did of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like Me.

Declaring the end and the result from the beginning and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying,

My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose. . . Listen to Me. . . Isaiah 46: 3,9.

He, Jesus, keeps us in perfect peace when we keep our minds on Him! (Is. 26:3.)

Psalm 123. A Song of Ascents. Unto You do I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in heaven . . .

Instead of worry, we worship and wait in ever-growing faith in God, the Creator of the Universe, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the lover of our souls:

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless. Psalm 84: 10,11.

We speak aloud and are changed from glory to glory being transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ:

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
    they make it a place of springs; . . .
    They go from strength to strength,
    till each appears before God in Zion Psalm 84: 5,6,7.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because He lives.

We can rest in our Jesus. He is our hope and stay. Do you join me in an “Amen?”

Amen!

Who Can We Believe? Only God’s Word is Truth!

God cannot lie. The Bible is the only truth to stand on. (For all eternity, to be exact.)

If you have a Bible on your shelf or can open an app on your device, it’s time to hear God’s voice instead of man’s highest wisdom.

I sound so dramatic, don’t I? And I’m a nobody. I have no large platform. “Oh, Toni’s always telling us to read our Bibles. Isn’t that just like her?”

NO! I’m not just talking flowery, or “religious” words! I’m talking about truth with a capital T and life, hope, and the only Love out there:

“For God so loved, “me,” . . .

Stop a minute and speak this aloud.

“He gave His only Son,. . . “

But God isn’t only Love, He’s just! He’s holy. Jesus came. He died on the cross, as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” John 1:29.

His blood was shed to wash our lies, our impatience, our envy, our pride, our anger, our hate . . . all our sin away.

It’s time to believe in Him, the Rock of our salvation, and stop building our “houses” of our souls on fear and unstable foundations that continue to change, crumble, and fall.

It’s time to humble ourselves and agree with God, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16.

The endless lies and “new” definitions about Jesus, family, humankind, marriage, babies, freedoms, justice . . . the Bible speaks on all of this in Genesis, Revelation, the Book of John, the Book of Proverbs, in all of the 66 Books of the Bible. Open The Book and hear it for yourself, not “hearsay!”

I spent my whole summer meeting up with children and bringing them the story of Noah in Genesis 6-8.

Can you believe, for 120 years Noah worshiped God, built an ark for a huge rain that no one believed would come, and told the people, “Come through this door and you will be saved from the destruction!”

No one listened. Everyone laughed and mocked, except his immediate family.

Noah wasn’t talking about the “end of the world,” he was talking about a saved life in a new earth. Noah was inviting people for safety, security, provision, protection, covering—

Year after year, month after month, day after day. Noah loved and obeyed the Lord.

The worldwide flood did come. We can go to the zoo and thank Noah he obeyed God and remained faithful to build the ark with the help of God’s Spirit and instruction. (Genesis 6-8).

As in the days of Noah, Satan is working overtime. Are there lies? Is there violence, stealing, and hatred in our world? What does the Bible have to say about Satan:

 “. . . He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” John 8:44.

What did Jesus have to say?

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” John 10:10.

Jesus told us He is life. We can read it ourselves when we spend time individually, intentionally, and whole-heartedly with Him.

As Noah, we are to “build each other up,” (not be tearing each other apart,) and talk of the wonderful works of God.

Today, I talk about God’s greatest work. His gift of Jesus. He is the “Door,” to deliverance from evil, salvation, and life. He is the Good Shepherd. He is our only hope:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 

My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 

 I and My Father are one” John 10:27-30.

Do you feel the Lord tug on your heart? Is your soul thirsty for Living Water? Do you feel the need to turn around to the Lord of love?

We are at the last hour. There was a day when God said, “Noah, get on the ark.” And only days later, God shut them in. The time is short.

Do it today. Make today the first day of the rest of your “eternal life,” and pray to Jesus,

“Dear Lord, You have touched my heart. I need a Savior. I need to turn back to you. You alone can help me. Take my anger, my critical spirit, my hurts, my pains, my brokenness. Heal me, Jesus.

Take my life and come in to make me new. I need “new.” Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name,

Amen.”

______________________________________

Please tell someone if you have asked the Lord in your life. Pick up a Bible and make it yours. If you don’t have a Bible, ask the church if they have one for you.

Look up John 3:16,17 and yellow it in!

For God so loves . . . you!

Take a moment to let the sound of kids sing God’s Greatest Gift Song: John 3:16 & 17 to fill your heart with the joy of the Lord as you rejoice in His great love:

Original by Toni John 3:16 & 17 with Irelyn & Graham

A Paragraph of Praise:

In Need of Healing:

When I take a moment to worship the Lord, where I am, in my state of imperfection, the Lord’s presence infuses me with immediate peace and inner joy. His light shines on me and brings relief in a (slow) process of healing me from pains from this world.

The hard part—is to choose praise in pain.

But the just shall live by faith, (Habakkuk 2:4).

“Dear Lord, It’s true, ‘faith comes in the hearing of the word of God,’ so keep my ears open to hear what You have to say, . . . “

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Isaiah 30:20-21
And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

” . . . I believe Lord and praise You now. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Just One Light Then Two, then Gloriously New!

What the world needs now . . .

Have you ever been to a “Candlelight Service?” The darkened room is changed by one lit candle. The light is then shared with another, then another.

Within a minute, the darkness is overcome by the light that continues to expand to transform the atmosphere into glorious!

Any description is shallow and flat, as a picture’s view of the ocean’s edge or a two-dimensional firework display.

To be present and witness the absence of light then the growing glow of illumination is like “seeing” Love with the eyes and all the senses.

Immediately, the heart is touched by the solution. “Yes, what the world needs now is Love.”

Child-like faith is ignited. Hearts melt. Eyes witness darkness to light. Hope shines in the atmosphere.

The true and living God is our only hope.

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light” Genesis 1:2,3.

God’s Word sparks faith. Faith is sight to God’s grace poured out in the light.

The voice of Jesus is heard in each open heart. Without a sound, only expanding light.

“Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God” Mark 10:27, NLT.

First, the darkness.

But one lit candle speaks: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord,” Luke 2:11.

And the reminder:

But, “He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem” Isaiah 53:3.

Jesus suffered and died.

For me. He took all my sin, failure, and guilt on the cross and suffered my punishment.

But as light fills the room, the nature of God sings: “The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness” Psalm 103:8.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

The expanding light is as a voice we can hear, “I am the light of the world” John 8:12.

God’s Word is illuminated to all who are open to His Spirit, “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen” Matthew 28:6.

The dark atmosphere transformed to light gives the opportunity and choice to respond,

“Yes, Lord, God. I receive Your light, Your love, Your grace, Your life. Your kingdom come into my life today. Take my hard, selfish heart and give me a new soft and tender heart. Transform me. I desperately need You!”

In Jesus’ name, our hope and light of the world.

Tonirypkema Bible Songs 1. Thanks, Irelyn and Graham!

When in doubt, pray. When you can’t, praise. Wings as eagles will lift your weary soul to faith, hope, and love.

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up” Luke 18:1.

Billy Graham. PRAY.

Perhaps, this is one of the greatest teachings of Billy Graham for this dark hour we live. This old picture speaks to me to “be still.” To hear God’s voice immediately changes me from fret and fear to faith.

He says, “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.

The surrender to agree, at such a time as this, yields hope in me. This picture speaks the glory of surrender in me.

tonirypkema.com

Yes, I will be still. I will pray and cry aloud. I will hope in God who is able, I will seek His face. Join me to read aloud the transforming hope and light of God’s Word:

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be exalted
    above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
    I will sing and make music to the Lord.

 Hear my voice when I call, Lord;
    be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
    do not turn your servant away in anger;
    you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
    God my Savior.


Though my father and mother forsake me,
    the Lord will receive me.


Teach me your way, Lord;
    lead me in a straight path
    because of my oppressors.
 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
    for false witnesses rise up against me,
    spouting malicious accusations.

 I remain confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living.
 Wait for the Lord;
    be strong and take heart
    and wait for the Lord Psalm 27:4-14.

Our eyes look up, our ears are eager to HEAR Your voice.

Speak Lord, your servants hear. As Habakkuk in his day with questions, “Where are You, Lord,” we will pray and hear:

“I will stand my watch
And set myself on the rampart,
And watch to see what He will say to me,
And what I will answer when I am corrected” Habakkuk 2:1, NKJV.

Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.

 “Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith Habakkuk 2:2-4.

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?
    Or an image that teaches lies?
For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;
    he makes idols that cannot speak.
 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’
    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’
Can it give guidance?
    It is covered with gold and silver;
    there is no breath in it.”

 The Lord is in his holy temple;
    let all the earth be silent before him” Habakkuk 2:18-20.

picture by Pete Fierro


“But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint” Isaiah 40:31.

Dear God, help us walk in a manner that fully pleases You. Keep us praising You in the spirit. This is where we find You close by, in a heart of praise.

This is my Bible song of encouragement today, as I ask the Lord to fill me with His great love and grace in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation:

“Being confident of this very thing that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it . . . Philippians 1:6. For He who is in you is greater than he that is in the world 1 John 4:4.

Watercolor by G of Legacy Studio & Co.

Just keep praying and singing. God’s in control.

If you are encouraged today, let me know!

News Alert: IT’s NOT Love to Applaud God’s Beloved Creation Who Walks on a Failed Bridge!

It is NOT love when a believer in the LORD applauds God’s beloved creation who walks on a failed bridge.

Love is to proclaim, “TURN AROUND!”

In a day where words are re-invented, God’s Word tells us what love is:

“This is LOVE. Not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to take away our sins” 1 John 4:10, (emphasis mine).

Noah, in his day, proclaimed “A storm is coming. You need to come in through this Door or destruction will come!”

NO ONE listened.

The Bible tells us, in the last days, it will be like Noah’s day.

Aren’t you glad Noah had faith in God and obeyed His Word?

The Book of Proverbs gives a warning: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death” Proverbs 14:12.

We should not be offended by warnings of danger. We receive them daily about germs, safety, and caution during a storm. It’s time we all turn around and agree with God. 

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 
All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. 
They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 
 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; 
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full"John 10: 7-10.

This is love: Jesus.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” John 10:11. 

"As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man" Matthew 24: 37-39.

Do you need to turn around?

The time is now. Jesus is coming soon!”

“Make me sing!” Kids can help!

As a children’s worship leader for many years, I’ve experienced the arms crossed, “Make me sing,” attitude at the start of a children’s church hour.

Oh, yeah. Children are our best teachers. They are a picture of our own hearts at times.

“It’s not a good time to sing,” we convince ourselves, “there’s too much to worry, I mean, be concerned about right now!”

God is good to keep me in a place to keep a song in the hearts of kids. He knows, this “older kid” needs to keep a “good song” on my mind at all times. I can go out of tune mighty quick.

The Lord tells us to pray and not lose heart. But there are times we would rather cross our arms in the front of our chest than pray!

Jesus helped us with our prayers by giving us, what we call, the Lord’s Prayer.

I wrote a Lord’s prayer with a bit of a Lalala of the struggle to keep praising in my Lalala Lord’s Prayer. Kids sing this and make my heart pray and hope and remember the “Lalala” through the “dum dum dum” of the day!

Who’s struggling to find the song today? Give these kids a 2-minute listen. To meditate on the deep truths in the Lord’s prayer brings healing and hope.

Let me know if you did. I hope you have a hope-filled prayer song on your heart for the day:

We are being fed our daily bread, singin’ “lalalalala la!”

Children are Gifts from God for Strength and Courage. Let’s Agree with God Today

When human beings are in a dangerous place where a young child is present, most gather strength and courage to protect and do “whatever” has to happen to find a “safe place.”

Children are a gift to the human race.

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him” Psalm 127:3.

Gifts.

I’ll speak for myself, my children helped show me I didn’t have patience on unending nights of crying when they were sick or huge messes too gross to write about.

And the hardest part of all, when siblings argued and fought! My children brought me closer to God than I could ever be before.

My children helped me mature and “act” as a grown-up because I had no choice, I was the grown-up!

Yes, children are our help to see our personal need for the Savior of our world. Children bring us to God, our Father, to see Jesus’ great sacrifice for us, and call out for the Holy Spirit to help us, guide us, to fill us with His love.

Children are our gift to realize, that without the Lord, there is no power to love!

Even with the Lord, I struggled at times to find love. I wasn’t a perfect parent, but I always tried to say, “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” And made effort to share–Jesus is perfect love.

God’s Word is our comfort and instruction guide. He never changes. He is faithful always.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ”Matthew 19:14.

The kingdom of heaven belongs to the little children. They are our gift to help bring back the “child” in us. We need the children.

God says, “suffer” the little children, or “let, allow” the little children.

Take a moment to “hear” this child sing God’s Word:

Created to Praise Him, by Toni Rypkema with Logan

Pray for children. They are every adult on this planet’s, gift. What the world needs now is to agree with God in our hearts about children.

“Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always so that it might go well with them and their children forever!”Deuteronomy 5:29.

“Dear Lord, pour out Your Spirit upon this world and give all people ears to hear the children sing praises to You.