Tag: hope

Hymns written long ago, give us prayers to open our heart’s door.

The old hymnal on the shelf. Silent. Closed. Yet, the treasures are stored.

So I opened it today, to a hymn from not tarnished by the present mainstream air.

Do we suffer from guilt and regret? How can we be freed of it’s strangling grip?

We pray.

We pray, one time alone, for salvation of our soul.

Above the noise and our own stubborn plans, can we hear His knock at each of our heart’s door?

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole; I want Thee forever to live in my soul; Break down every idol; cast out every foe;

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

When the door of our heart is opened to Him, and He forgives all my sin, and yours. He offered His love to the whole world.

He did. He does.

He paid a great price that I might be born again. Not in the flesh, because, I’m still here and alive, but I became born of the Spirit, able to see . . . true Love.

I was no longer blind.

Somebody loves me, and I knew it fully, inside.

I prayed one time for my salvation, but each day for a wash.

My feet become dirty just living in this land. I’m prideful, covetous, naturally selfish and critical. My own stubbornness closes me daily from being free.

Who can help me from all this?

Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, and help me to make a complete sacrifice; I give up myself and whatever I know.

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

An open hymnal, read aloud, prayed from the heart, instructs the mind, refreshes the soul, and increases faith deep down inside.

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat, I wait blessed Lord at Thy crucified feet; by faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow;

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

He gave up His life to pay our great debt. Jesus is able to make all things right.

I must wait in faith. I need believe God now. I can’t trust in my feelings. He is a present help,

Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait; come now and within me a new heart create; To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst, “No;”

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. (Whiter Than Snow by James Nicholson 1872).

Let’s speak it alone, right here, right now. Believe God has cleansed and brought us near. He is our Savior who cleanses and renews. Today, everyday, we now make Him Lord.

We must tell someone else what Jesus has just done . . .

for you, for me, . . .

we’ve been washed . . .

completely.

Whiter Than Snow by James Nicholson 1872:

 G
1  Lord Je-sus, I    long to   be   per-fect -ly  whole;
2  Lord Je-sus, look down from Thy  throne in the skies,
3  Lord Je-sus, for  this I    most hum-bly   en -treat 
4  Lord Je-sus, Thou se - est  I    pa -tient-ly  wait;

  (G)        Em    D    G    (G9 G) D     (D6    D)   G
1  I  want   Thee  for -ev  - er to live   in    my   soul;
2  And help  me    to   make  a  com-plete sac - ri - fice;
3  I  wait,  bless-ed   Lord, at Thy cru - ci  - fied feet;
4  Come now, and   with-in    me a   new   heart cre -ate;

  (G)            G/B  C                              G
1  Break down ev-ery  idol,   cast    out    ev'ry    foe:
2  I  give  up   my - self    and    whatever    I    know
3  By faith, for my   cleans-ing, I  see  Thy  blood  flow;
4  To those who  have sought Thee, Thou never saidst "No;"

  (G)                          D    Em7/D D    G
   Now wash me, and I shall be whit-er    than snow.


Chorus:
   D                 Em          C    G
   Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;
  (G)                          D    Em7/D D    G
   Now wash me, and I shall be whit-er    than snow.

Time to ponder: Corrie Ten boon

Increased faith  is gained by reading biographies.

The Hiding Place, written by Corrie Ten boon is one such biography.  This is a hard, but unforgettable read.  The suffering was great, but the testimony of God’s faithfulness shines bright in the darkness:

“You will never know that Christ is all you need until Christ is all you have,” Corrie Ten boon.

In The Hiding Place, Corrie writes of her family’s  capture by the Nazi’s. Taken abruptly from their home, they became prisoners for hiding Jewish friends during World War II.

I share a portion of her story here in hopes to increase faith for our own days here and now.

Corrie writes of a time confined into a cell of solitary confinement with endless amounts of time, stripped of everything. However, before confinement, Corrie gave credit to God, who was present in a nurse, who only had seconds but asked Corrie,

“Quick! Is there any way I can help you?”

Corrie’s quick response, “Yes, Oh yes. A Bible! Could you get me a Bible? And a needle and thread. And a toothbrush. And soap!”

Well, later Corrie did receive 2 small precious bars of soap and not an entire Bible, but little books of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

“I stepped inside. The door clanged behind me. The bolt was slammed shut . . . six steps long, two wide, a single cot at the back.

I must not let my thoughts run wildly; I must be very mature and very practical. Six steps. Sit down on the cot. This one reeked even worse than the other: he straw seemed to be fermenting. I reached for the blanket: someone had been sick on it. I thrust it away . . . at that moment the light bulb in the ceiling went out.

The cell was bitter cold, wind hammered against the wall. In the morning my fever was worse.”

But God was with her, and she had received the gospels, the Good News. Here is what she writes:

“As my health returned, I was able to use my eyes longer. I had been sustaining myself from my Scriptures a verse at a time; now like a starving man I gulped entire gospels at a reading, seeing whole magnificent drama of salvation.

And as I did, an incredible thought pricked the back of my neck. Was it possible that this—all of this that seemed so wasteful and so needless—this war, Scheveningen prison, this very cell, none of it was unforeseen or accidental?

Could it be part of the pattern first revealed in the Gospels? Hadn’t Jesus been defeated as utterly and unarguably as our little group and our small plans had been?

But . . . if the Gospels were truly the pattern of God’s activity, then defeat was only the beginning. I would look around at the bare little cell and wonder what conceivable victory could come from a place like this.” (The Hiding Place, pg.139).

Four months later, Corrie had a trial with a Lieutenant Rahms. With his true National Socialistic mentality, he remarked about Corrie’s family’s humanitarian efforts,  “What a waste of time and energy! “If you want converts, surely one normal person is worth all the half-wits in the world!”

After reading the gospels for four months and keeping company with a few ants that came to eat crumbs through a crack in her cell, here is Corries response to a Nazi Lieutenant: “The truth , Sir, . . . is that God’s viewpoint is sometimes different from ours —so different that we could not even guess at it unless He had given us a Book which tells us such things.”

Did you know that instead of getting into more trouble, the following morning this Nazi Lieutenant himself unlocked her cell door and escorted her to her hearing.

She writes Lieutenant Rahms words, “I could not sleep last night, thinking about that Book where you have read such different ideas. What else does it say in there?”

“On my closed eyelids the sun glimmered and blazed, “It says,’ I began slowly, ‘that a Light has come into this world, so that we need no longer walk in the dark.’ Is there darkness in your life, Lieutenant?”

There was a very long silence.

“There is great darkness,” he said at last. “I cannot bear the work I do here.”

The Hiding Place uncovers many great testimonies of light in great darkness.

“When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do you jump out? Of course not! You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through . . .” Corrie Ten boon.

Taking a glimpse of this story invigorates faith in me today.  I hope you Agree.

Four other quotes among many in Quotes of Corrie Ten boon are:

“Do you know what hurts so very much? It’s love. Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain. There are two things we can do when this happens. We can kill that love so that it stops hurting. But then of course part of us dies, too. Or we can ask God to open up another route for that love to travel.”
“Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future. I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work he will give us to do. ”
“And our wise Father in heaven knows when we’re going to need things too. Don’t run out ahead of him.”
“Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.”
“Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man; was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him . . . Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness . . . And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that the world’s healing hinges, but on his. When he tells us to love our enemies, he gives along with the command, the love itself.”
Let us ask the Lord that He may give us His forgiveness and His Agape love.
“Help us Lord Jesus, we can’t do these things without You.
In Jesus name, we pray,
Amen

Bible Journal Along the way

Date: August 17, 2010

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

Doubts disappear when we look to Jesus

 

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. Irish Hymn, 7th Century.

But what happens when doubt comes to visit?

The stories are written. The Bible reveals that even John the Baptist had doubts and was found to be discouraged.
 
John the Baptist, the one who witnessed the heavens open, and the Holy Spirit descend like a dove and remain on the head of Jesus.
 
John the Baptist, whose own lips proclaimed,
Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, John 1:29.
 
John faced difficult times. He was faithful, he was steadfast, and he was put in prison:
And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the coming One, or do we look for another?”Matthew 11:2,3.
John had doubts. And we do too, at times. 
But Jesus . . .
 Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you heard and see.
The blind receive their sight and the lame walk; 
 
John was in prison. He had time to think on this.
 
The lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;
 
Lepers cleansed? Never before. Deaf hearing? “Tell John to think on these things.”
 
The dead are raised up. . . 
 
What was dead is now alive!
 
And the poor have the gospel preached to them.
 
Provision of life and hope is shared with the poor.
Are we as John on occasion? With doubts about the Lord?
Jesus offers even more for us to ponder in the face of difficulty:
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me Matthew 11:4,5.
 
We must stay focused. Eyes on the Lord. We must keep our hearts soft, our ears open, God’s Word nearby, and His song on our heart.
 

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my great Father; thine own may I be,
thou in me dwelling and I one with thee.

 
Just as John the Baptist, who had troubles along his faithful path, Jesus wanted him encouraged.
“Tell John the sick are healed, the blind see, the death hear. What was dead is raised to life again.
 
John most like rejoiced at these thoughts. But we have choice today to rejoice no matter what:
 

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

Encouraged and changed. Instead of doubt, we now have praise:

“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved . . . Ps. 16:7,8.
 

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.

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid, John 14:27.
I choose to believe Jesus. I do:
“Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision, O Ruler of all.”
 

A Snapshot of God’s Abounding Love

The King of King has proposed to His Bride. He stopped the world from busy-ness for a short time.
He presented His ring and asked,

“Will you be Mine?”

I had to take a snapshot of this heavenly image so the picture would impress daily the Lord’s point of view.

So, as I wake this new morning, knowing He sees and knows all my flaws, . . .

I rise with my heart taking hold of His hand, and my feet hit the floor as I think, “Lord, I do.”

“Lord, I’m amazed by You. How can You love me just as I am?”

“I AM WHO I AM, Jehovah God is My name. I am love. I love everyone. For all eternity I am the same.

I AM The LORD, merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

There is no Love greater. I AM the LORD. Faithful and True is My name.

But to all who receive Me and believe on Me, I give right to welcome into My family.
Will you be Mine? Today, and for all eternity? It doesn’t matter how you feel. My love is above all Love, “I will betroth you to Me.”

Hosea 2:20, Exodus 3:14, 1 John 4:7-12, and John 1:12, This is My Word. I love you, still.

With each step you take, on this day forward, will you be . . .”
“Yes Lord, I will!

You wore a crown of thorns so I can someday wear a crown of gold. I worship You with a thankful heart. I am Yours.

Here is my hand, I receive Your Love. I am thankful forever that You promise to keep me and hold, . . .

To keep me and hold. You, my Love have promised to never, ever,
let go.”

(And this is my Thanksgiving prayer, that I show off my “ring” in every remaining song I sing. Who will say, “Amen, and pray to join me?!)
Happy, Happy, Thanksgiving.

Exodus 3:14, God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”

1John 4:7-12, Beloved, let us love one another,

for love is from God,

and whoever loves has been born of God

and knows God.  

Anyone who does not love does not know God,

because God is love. 

In this the love of God was made manifest among us,

that God sent his only Son into the world,

so that we might live through him. 

 In this is love, 

not that we have loved God but that he loved us

and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

  Beloved, if God so loved us,

we also ought to love one another. 

 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another,

God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

John 1:12, But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Revelation 19:11-21, Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True,

and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 

 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems,

and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.  He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood,

and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.

  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, 

were following him on white horses. 

 From his mouth comes a sharp sword

 with which to strike down the nations,

and he will rule them with a rod of iron.

 He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

  On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Romans 11:33, Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

And to the Word, powerful and rich, we speak in an audible voice, “Amen.”

Our Valentine Promises

The true Valentine keeps promises to His own.

To all who receive Him, He makes their heart His home.

He is the Vine, our Valentine.

He asks that we abide and unite with His Word and fruit will come forth bringing glory to the Lord:

Speak aloud age-old hymns and be revived in the soul. Actively respond, and discover, it is so:

“Quicken’d by thee, and kept alive, I flourish and bear fruit; My life I from thy sap derive, My vigour from thy root. 

I can do nothing without thee; My strength is wholly thine: Wither’d and barren should I be, If sever’d from the vine. (1)

He is faithful. That we might trust Him more and more.

Faith grows as we hear His Letters of love. Ears that hear, with souls refreshed, as words are read of Jesus’ faithfulness:

“Come just as you are, for Jesus invites Poor sinners to share substantial delights: Ye weary and burden’d who happy would be, And wish to be pardon’d, come listen to me.”

“The ear of your heart if you will incline To you I’ll impart my fulness divine, Your souls by my Spirit made meet for the sky, The life shall inherit which never shall die.” (2)

Valentine comfort. Valentine hope. This is Jesus, to all whose heart will take hold.

“My precious Lord, for thy dear name I bear the cross, despise the shame; Nor do I faint while thou art near; I lean on thee; how can I fear?

No other name but thine is given To cheer my soul in earth or heaven; No other wealth will I require; No other friend can I desire.”

Yea, into nothing would I fall For thee alone, my All in All; To feel thy love, my only joy; To tell thy love, my sole employ.”(3)

He makes beauty from ashes. Will you join me in praise? His Name together, with thankful hearts, raise!

(1) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

(2) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

(3) From Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible

Picture Credit: LegacyandCo

#4 God Reveal: 7 Reasons to Believe God Created

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God loves. He speaks each day through His creation.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Hope for 2020. Where does our help come from?

https://seekthingsabove.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/4595177604_49db06e213.jpg

As our world enters a new decade, 2020, do we often feel like pilgrims in a foreign place?

Do our heart’s long for a homeland of peace and truth? Stepping up to hope for our upcoming year is found in our own personal, active worship to the LORD.

I won’t use the word god, because in this day, as in the Bible days, there were many gods among the people.

In ancient Israel, the people would travel in companies up to Jerusalem three times a year to worship the LORD, YHWH. They would sing pilgrim’s songs, marching songs to the true, eternal God, defined as the Creator of heaven and earth.

The songs are recorded for us in the Psalms of ascent.

The early steps of the journey, step by step, began with a company of singers proclaiming their heart.

Tell me, does your heart not cry out these phrases?

I took my troubles to the Lord;
    I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
 Rescue me, O Lord, from liars
    and from all deceitful people . . .
 

How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
    It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
 I am tired of living
    among people who hate peace.
 I search for peace;
    but when I speak of peace, they want war! Psalm 120 NLT.

But as Christmas decorations get put away, in this new year of 2020, we must be diligent to keep our Jesus in full view, for this world is a battle zone.

“I search for peace;
    but when I speak of peace, they want war!”

Many words are spoken by the people and leaders around. But only God knows the heart of man.

Some words have been shoved aside because they’re offensive, but when someone has an invasive cancer, the attack is often bitter treatments. Our world is sick with a cancer.

The original word of this particular sickness, (which needs to be resurrected to make sense of this upside down world) is . . . sin.

The heart of people, all people, is deceitful. We are all prone to war in our minds. All have sin. (Romans 3:23).

None of us escape this condition, but thanks to the Lord, He gave us Jesus.

Where does our help come from?

Did we not sing the song this Christmas?

“Hark the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
“Christ is born in . . .

our hearts today?

Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!

Yes, we must lift our eyes and worship aloud. The heaven-born Prince of peace abides in a heart of praise. Do we need peace? Do we need light?

We must receive this Prince of Peace. We must believe He loves us and came to heal each of us individually.

This new year can we put sound to the words? Do we dare sing aloud the never aging words of hymns and psalms. We must receive in order to . . . receive:


Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth

We live in a world that needs help, . . . one person at a time. Help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.

I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth! Psalm 121.

The wise men came to worship the New-born King. Do we take time to worship Him. Do we go out of our way to give Him praise? This is a New Year. We will answer,

“Yes!”

“Thank You Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You Lord, for making me whole. Thank You Lord, for giving to me, Thy great salvation so rich and free.”

God’s provision of the Babe come down to later die on the cross that Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners reconciled.”

We say, “Amen. Let it be in me.”

Jesus is our gift for each day of this new year.

Let’s worship the Prince of Peace, in the assembly of the congregation, stepping up with community that we might live with renewed courage every waking day.

Speak, sing, mumble, grown, to the LORD it’s glorious if it’s praise and adoration to Him, the Creator of heaven, earth, and the incredible life we see.

Our help comes from the LORD.

Yes, we lift up our voices exalt His great Name:

 He will not let you stumble;
    the one who watches over you will not slumber.
 Indeed, he who watches over Israel
    never slumbers or sleeps.

 The Lord himself watches over you!
    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
 The sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon at night.

 The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.
 The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
    both now and forever Psalm 121.

“Praise be to our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, forever.”

 Hark the Herald Angels Sing. 1739, Hymns and Sacred Poems, Charles Wesley and George Whitefield.



Joy comes with the decision to praise!

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

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

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

I am changed.

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

Only moments ago, my earthly thoughts had me overwhelmed,

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

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

Jesus, You willingly shed Your blood for me.”

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

Just for me! God is an intimate God.

I am brought to a place to give Him praise:

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

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

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

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

But God:

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

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

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

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

He makes us gloriously new!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Remember Me,” says a still quiet voice.

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

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

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

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

God’s will is that I come,

to be a sacrifice for all isn.

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

I have come down,

to be cut off,

to be thirsty,

to bleed on the cross.

To rise again in glory.

I understand all things.

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

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

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

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

I wait for that day, when My gift,

is whole-heartedly received.

Forgiveness and grace, and promise to someday see Me,

face to face.

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

I hear Your love. “Yes, I receive.”

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

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

First Things, Along the Way

A look out the window or a walk out the door and a word about creation can be simple as a breath. But what’s simple might not be easy, especially when it comes to talk about the Lord.

There are so many words that have evolved through time. Opinions, books, nature shows, and more, but there is a Word of power, life, and truth,

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, (1) . . . 

This Word is said to be living and able to transform death to life.

And today, for those who have faith, as we walk out the door, with young or with older, as we experience troubles and pressures on every side,

we can overcome darkness by speaking of the Light.

We can reveal or remind that in the beginning the earth was a formless mess. Empty and dark, told in the second verse of God’s Holy Book. God didn’t leave us alone in despair, in the same verse it continues,

and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (2)

Good news was present in the dark, formless story. And the Spirit of God moves over our empty, dark hearts as well.

God is here. God was there. God’s Spirit is moving over the waters of our being, this moment, as well.

And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.”(3)

God moves first. God’s Word of power changes things.

God saw that the light was good. (4)

Safety, peace, warmth, pleasure, and glory are given by God through His Word. “Let there be light.”

We agree with God when we say true Light is good.

And he separated the light from the darkness. (5)

God’s Word proclaims.

We need to know that we’re all separated from God. Each of us has a dark, empty, and cold heart.

We’re all selfish, insecure, and impatient, naturally.

The kids understand, they know, they see, how easy it is to want to hide, and fear, and want their own way. Adults might want to look the other way.

But we can share our story of beginnings, when our darkness of heart was touched by the Light.

No one can debate the story we have inside.

In the beginning, when we received God’s Word. Power was given. A new creation was born. God the giver of Light came to shine in our empty, formless life.

Jesus the Man took hold of my sin and the guilt all died, with Him.  He breathed His last, on the cross. After three long nights, He rose again.

It’s time to share the stories to this generation today.

Many books could be written throughout the history of man, if each new creation in God told how he was touched by the Light, and it was no longer night.

God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. (6)

Is your heart burning within you? Has darkness the guilt of night seen it’s final hour?

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12.

God has given His Son for you and me.

He who believes and receives Jesus today, becomes a new creation. Today can be — your very first day.

While it is day, join me in reminding others of the true Light?

 

 

(1) Genesis 1:1

(2) Genesis 1:2

(3) Genesis 1:3

(4) Genesis 1:4

(5) Genesis 1:4

(6)Genesis 1:5

 

 

The Greatest “Along the Way” Story Ever Told, Again and Again.

In our fast-paced days in this culture, I hope to help us learn to change gears and bring in some whole-hearted conversations about God as we go along the way.

Many people understand and agree The Bible to be the Word of God.  Making time to seek God in His word is a daily challenge. And talking about the things of God a whole other test.

We face hardship and brokenness,

but in this greatest of all stories, “along the way,” perhaps we can be strengthened to see Jesus, not in our heads, but 18 inches lower, in the retelling of it:

News stories are often the talk of town, but there is one that had everyone in town talking.

Two men left Jerusalem sad and weary after a prophet of dynamic works and word, blessed by God and all the people around, known as Jesus the Nazarene had been betrayed and sentenced to death. They were talking and a stranger joined them,

“What’s the conversation about?”

They had no clue it was Jesus. They didn’t recognize Him, so one of them answered,

“Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?” (1)

“The One about to deliver Israel is dead. It’s been three days. And not only that, some women said they couldn’t find his body and they saw an angel that said, ‘he’s alive.'”

“And there were some friends that went and said they found it empty as the women did, but they didn’t see him.”

As they talked along the way, the stranger said to them, 

“How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (2)

Can you imagine a 5-7 mile walk with Jesus sharing Himself in all of the words of Moses and the Prophets? The Alpha and Omega speaking the stories himself.

But even greater is when they saw it was He:

 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. (3)

Let’s keep our eyes and ears open and may the Lord give us help to see Him as these two men did:

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. (4)

We too, go along our way, not recognizing Jesus, but, as the bread is broken, God allows brokenness in our lives. It is then that our eyes are willing to see Jesus. Our hearts are opened to  the blessings of God, far exceeding anything we can comprehend or attain on our own.

Children face times of discouragement and brokenness as well. How beautiful to retell this story where Jesus broke the bread and blessed it.

When we invite Jesus in to heal our broken state, He blesses us.

Our hearts begin to burn, and a hunger and thirst is kindled within us to know him more.

 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (5)

Yes, our hearts burn, and we go to tell the story to anyone who has ears to hear, like these two men on their journey after Jesus had died.

They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together  and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 

 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (5)

Jesus is the broken bread. He’s been poured out for us. His blood on the cross is what allows for our healed lives.

Can you see Jesus break the bread and bless it?

His Word is our healing, peace, and rest. His Story is Love for all who ask.

(1) Luke 24:18, The Message

(2) Luke 24:25-27, NIV

(3) Luke 24:28-29, NIV

(4) Luke 24: 30-32, NIV

(5) Luke 24: 33-35, NIV

A Repeated Song of Thanks and Love, from mom

A giver of gifts, not my specialty.

Empty wallet, distant feet, words that struggle to leave my heart to speak.

For each of my children, if you could take an imaginary ride through my veins, you would witness my mind reciting thankful strains,

a heart bulging with inexpressible love,

and through each vessel, your name resounding in your mama’s blood.

My child, you are knit to me.

With lack, and loss, and struggles, and pains, I seek to think on an abundant theme:

God the Father, Jesus, His Son, and the Holy Spirit—God is love.

He’s the Beginning, He’s the End. He saved me, remade me, fills me new, time and time again.

He’s my “same old” song on my one-stringed guitar. He’s my note that hammers and slides, with added harmonics.

The bread, His body, broken for me, the blood that was shed on Calvary, He bid me to come to His Table one day, that I might leave with Him every guilt and every stain.

The Table is where I gave Him my all.

He faithfully re-created me. He told me, “I will not let you fall.”

Following His grace notes, He’s added more strings.

God is blessed with family. The struggle for unity, harmony,  and joy each one knows.

I give you Jesus. He’s the wine never ending, the Bread, the beauty a Rose.

The invitation comes from the King of all Kings. His word is true, He’s hope. He’s life. He’s deliverance. He’s rest.

“Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–” (1)

Jesus is the name above every name. He never changes, never leaves, He forgives, He believes, . . .

in you.

Always.

He is faithful. Of Him only, this is true.

He’s your keeper, your healer. He breaks down every wall. He’s present. He’s patient.  He’s  power, and  peace.

He was spat on, beat, abused. He was hated.  He knows your every thought, good, bad, and weighted. He accepts you. He’s perfect,

so the best gift I could ever give to you my daughters and sons, (apart from the first birth, many years ago), I can offer you Jesus, for a new birth, right now, right here,

that daily we can share His world together with new eyes and new ears, and we grow in His grace and His knowledge for all eternity’s years.

Talk to Him now, read His word daily. Love floods in like a symphony’s song . . .

I love you forever, my sons and daughters, oh, but He loves you most, more than any other,

for now and forever,

I am a thankful mom.

(1) John 1:12

 

 

Read your Bible, Pray Everyday, and you grow, Grow, Grow.

When we walk into a dark room, we search for the light switch.

Our world is a dark room. Where can we find the Light to warm our weary and restless hearts? But on that note, the light reveals the dirt and the junk.

Do we really want the Light on?

Common and broad is the media escape. Lights down low, time ticks on. Forgetting the day, and flying off in everyone else’s other world.

But there’s an inner fight and struggle. “I want more than this,” we cry inside. Where’s the Light switch. I need to draw near to God.

The Word is opened, fatigue overwhelms. Eyes can barely stay open, the battle rages on.

Psalm 103: 

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits–
Praise is a remedy to begin to restore breath.
I want strength and hope.
So, deep cries out to deep, and the best I can do is: “Dear God, You are good.”
Baby steps, perhaps, but I want medicine for my weary soul, so I continue to read:
. . . who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
God forgives my impulsive impatience today. God forgives all my sins. And He heals all my diseases?
What about the disease of worry and fret? What about self-righteousness? What about all the wrong things I say and do?
When I turn to see that God does, in fact, forgive and forget, I wonder, am I willing to do this for others. Forgive, and forget?
To give the other side a break? To let go, to forget?
God’s Word is sweet, but bitter all at the same time.
I have a choice, to close the Book and nod off, or
do I dare request from God to search and know my heart?
Well, yes, He already does. But by me asking, I’m giving Him permission to show me the stuff I keep hiding from myself.
God’s aware of everything.
He still loves. He’s showing me things.
He waits. I read on:
. . .who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
How can God do this? He’s not like anyone we see. He is above our greatest of thoughts. He loves beyond our comprehension.
Am I willing yet, to rest in His love?
To let go of the junk He’s revealed to me?
and then to put out my hands to receive?
. . . who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
I want so much to be satisfied with good things. I need energy.
But the big question is, do I want to be renewed?
Could it be, I have to let go of all my misery? Forsake my un-forgiveness?
This invades my identity. Can I let go of that?
Now, the verse about denying myself is coming to my mind:
 “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me, Luke 9:23.
Could it be that all I want can be gained through me, . . .
losing?
Can I trust Godlike that? The world says, “NO!” “You have to trust yourself. Propel yourself forward.  Get up and go!”
 God’s solutions seem backward at best? If I lose myself, will I find life and rest?
Trust God? Psalm 103 says, “Yes.”
. . . The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

The Light switch is easy to find, but hard to maneuver:

It’s Surrender.

Jesus says, “You will have trouble in this world. Trust Me.”

Turning on Light, brings a cost to ourselves. There is a battle over and over again. But . . .

God laid His life down, that we might see, He is our present help, Psalm 103 reveals, it’s all His great doing, not me:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children–
with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts . . . Psalm 103.
I gain all I desire, in surrender. I have choice. Moment by moment.
Over and over again. But now, I want Light:
“I surrender Lord.”
Repeated five times in the Bible, the Light switch is located all through the Gospels. “Where’s the Light switch?”
God answers:
“Those who love their own life will lose it; those who hate their own life in this world will keep it for life eternal” John 12:25.
“Those who try to gain their own life will lose it; but those who lose their life for my sake will gain it” Matthew 10:39.

“For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it,” Matthew 16:25.

 “For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for me and for the gospel, you will save it” Mark 8:35.

“For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it, but if you lose your life for my sake, you will save it” Luke 9:24.

It’s time to surrender. It’s time to be all God wants me to be. It’s time to turn on the Light. (Constantly!)

Join me?

Why Write?

I felt as if God woke me up and put on my heart, “Get up and write.” Not only last night, but after the cancer diagnosis.

“You’ve got cancer,” were the words from the Doctor eight years ago.

As many of you know, these words change your lives forever.

The urgency to write came. And, yes, even if the words were written primarily for me. God wanted me to write.

I didn’t know then that I would see eight years out, as I am today. During treatments, everything’s a blur.

I wrote to keep my vision as clear as possible of the Lord.

And, many of you know, I didn’t always have clear vision. Often, my view became distorted, warped, foggy. I needed help staying on course.

I’ll never forget a phone call with my sister Susie after a handful of treatments. I was more than under the weather. I felt thrown under the bus. (I will be blunt and honest,

I’m a believer in Jesus. He has washed my horrible sins away. He gave me His Holy Spirit to convict, convince, and reveal Christ . . .

I was hurting and completely without strength. I wanted to go home!  To heaven, home. Yes, exclamation point).

My sister Susie said the best words I needed to hear that day. They don’t seem like much, but they were the perfect reminder I needed to hear:

“Toni, people that keep faith do better in their battle.”

That was it. I had to keep faith.

Immediately, I had the will to live return. God does the changes in our heart that we can’t do ourselves.

That’s why I write. To remind myself Christ is the Rock. Cancer is not a podium to stand on, no, Jesus must be lifted up because He’s the giver of life after death. Jesus is the hope of heaven.

Jesus is our everything. We don’t realize it until someone gives you a death sentence.

The one truth in life, that is often pushed out of sight out of mind, is the fact that 100% of us will die. At some time or another, each of us will face death.

But I write because I don’t have to face death. This is the glory of it all. Our resurrected Lord, will resurrect us to be with Him in paradise. We only graduate to our home.

But we need each other. To spur us on for love and good works. My sister spurred me on to the best work I could ever do in my whole life: Keep believing God. Always.

When we don’t have strength to hold on, He’s got a hold on us.

Don’t condemn yourself for becoming weary and faithless. He is faithful. And, while it is today,

I will write, to the glory of God, I will.

“Where, O death, is your victory?

    Where, O death, is your sting?”[i]

 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” 1 Corinthians 15:55-58.

God is good. All the time.