Tag: light

Psalm 95 with Gospel Power!

Psalm 95 An invitation to remember God is greater than everything going on.

Play the song from this Soundcloud link and read along with the lyrics:

You will begin to learn and sing Psalm 95 and remember the gospel message as well.

Psalm 95 with Gospel Power

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

 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
 For He is our God . . .

(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:
 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion . . .

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16,17).

For the Lord came down from heaven to earth for us.

He laid down His life, that we might have new birth.

The Babe in the manger, He is Creator of the earth.

The Babe in the manger, He is . . . that we might have new birth.

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

 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
 For He is our God . . .

For the Lord came down from heaven to earth for us.

He laid down His life, that we might have new birth.

The Babe in the manger, He is Creator of the earth.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
 For He is our God !


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!

Prayer Walk for Advent 2021: First Steps

Psalm 120, A Cry in Distress A Song of Ascents:

Psalm 120.

“Keep moving forward.” This is a phrase of encouragement throughout history. And this is my heart, during the advent season, filled with uncertainties and change. I ask you to join me to ascend in the Psalms through the Song of Ascents, to speak aloud the Word and pray to God to be renewed in hope and the joy of the Lord.

Here we go:

In my distress, I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.

Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.

“Yes, Lord. This is a time of divisive and hostile words. Give us discernment to hear Your voice of truth.”

What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? Sharp arrows of the warrior, with coals of the broom tree!

“Lord, help us know and remember Your eyes and ears are open to everything. We only see portions, but You are a witness to each unspoken and spoken word, each motive, every action of humankind., worldwide. You are God Almighty. Together we cry out to You. The One able to move mountains.”

Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war Psalm 120, NRSV.

“We think of the day You walked on this earth, Jesus. You came in love, yet You were ‘despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief . . . we hid, as it were, our faces from’ . . . You. (Isaiah 53: 3.)

In this dark age we live in, we cry out for Your hope and light.

We give praise to You for Your Word reminds us:

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: 8-9.

Amen and amen!”

And through the Songs of Ascents, we will continue:

I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth Psalm 121:1,2.

Is this not the testimony of faith through the ages?

“Lord, help us get our eyes off the circumstances, great frustrations, and misunderstandings and fix them on You.”

Where will we be if we turn from the true and living God to trust in man’s wisdom alone?

Your Word tells us, ‘. . . the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men‘ 1 Corinthians 1:25, ESV.

Thank You, Lord, that the open Word brings light to our steps:”

He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night” Psalm 121: 3,4.

“Amen, dear Lord. You are my Keeper. You’re our Keeper! We walk on the solid ground of faith in You.

You’re Immanuel, God with us. To all who choose to receive Your love and gift of salvation. You’re a giver. You were willing to lay down Your life for all lives, all people, all nations, all tongues.

Nails were driven into Your hands for me.

In a world where love is defined in many ways, Your Word defines love for us:

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath] 1 John 4:10, AMP.

To know You, Lord, is to believe Your promises:

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 on and forevermore! (Psalm 121: 7,8. Emphasis mine.)

Amen. Amen! (Emphasis mine.)

The LORD will preserve those who trust in Him from all evil, from this time forth, and even forevermore.

P.S. Renewed in mind, heart, and soul is the reward in time aloud in God’s Truth! In response, I share a song I wrote from Psalm 95, which I plan to record with the voices of children, The Lord is a Great God:

(For anyone who has read this far, can I ask for prayer as I complete the writing of a 5-Day Huddle in Genesis / Creation?

This song will need to be re-recorded with the voices of children! If you are local to me and have a child who loves to sing and is looking for opportunity, please contact me (PM).

In time, I pray this offering to the Lord will be a resource for churches and Christian schools for simple and powerful ministry to kids! And prayerfully, I can keep putting together 5-Day Huddles throughout Genesis.)

Let me know if you’re praying! -Toni Rypkema

Notebook Praises: God said, “Let there be . . . and it was so.”

tonirypkema.com

We give praise and glory to God because He IS GOD.

His Word is “perfect, refreshing the soul,” Psalm 19 reminds us: “The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.

The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.

By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward” Psalm 19:7-10.

Are we going through a great trial? Yes, most people are challenged today, some are in crisis.

How is gold purified? Yes, fire.

And, there are times the Lord allows great trials that feel like a fiery furnace.

We must keep our eyes on Jesus, He draws near to the brokenhearted.

May we receive His Word and rejoice – even in hard times.

Why? Because God is faithful. He hasn’t left us, orphans. He is speaking. We must take time to talk to Him.

When we open His Word, we’re allowing Him to speak to us. What does He say about hard trial:

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” 1 Peter 1:6,7.

“Lord help us hear Your voice and block out all others. Give us ears to hear what You have to say to us. We need to know You more. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Today, I pray that the Lord keeps us “rejoicing in Him” no matter what! God said, . . . and it was so! We CAN trust Him for what concerns us today! Amen!

tonirypkema.com

The Light in Darkness. Always, God’s Holy Word

Christians must know the LORD and His Word more and more. We must Know HIM to have armor to stand against the schemes of the enemy, and having done all, to stand!

Read the Warnings. God has spoken:

“Don’t be misled;

remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it:

a man will always reap just the kind of crop he sows!

If he sows to please his own wrong desires, he will be planting seeds of evil and he will surely reap a harvest of spiritual decay and death;

but if he plants the good things of the Spirit, he will reap the everlasting life that the Holy Spirit gives him.

And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:7-9).

As Christians, when we’re confronted with a pointed finger telling us we are oppressors, arrogant, ignorant, and defensive because of our faith in the Holy Word of God, we must stand our ground, in love (as the Lord gives us His Spirit, as we continue to walk in His grace and power),

and we must speak our heart’s desire: To please the Lord and to obey His Holy Word. What does God’s Word say?

“Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many” Hebrews 12:13-15.

Also, this is the heart of the Christ follower,

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord” Romans 12: 17-19.

And in this day of debt-free living, as believers in the risen Lord, we are exhorted:

“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

(The Day Is Near) And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” Romans 13:8-14.

Thus saith the LORD.

“Today.”

“Today.”

Can we hear the warnings and instruction from the Lord and walk in it?

“Dear Lord, help Your people, God’s people, red, brown, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in Your sight, fill us with Your Spirit that we might glorify You in this noisy, dark world. In Jesus name. Amen”

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.”

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?

Man’s word. God’s Word.

Justice?

Peace?

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

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

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

We are restless.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

These are words of hope.

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

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

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

with your own eyes you will see them.

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

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

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

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

Show us our attitudes that must go.

Reveal to us Your ways, unlike ours.

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

Help our unbelief!

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.”

 

Broken Path? Look up. Start over.

Our path on the picture in our minds is often straight. We don’t envision the bends and the breaks along the way. Though we don’t know the beginning from the end, it is comforting to know that God does . . .

So, instead of a continual cry over “spilt milk,” after a time of grief of loss, it’s time to look up.

The Bible is opened again, with a prayer and hope for comfort and a plan.

“What does God have to say? I open up to the beginning:

Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God . . .”

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep,” (Gen.1:1,2).

How many of us can say, “Yep, this says it all for me.

“There’s void. There’s darkness on the face of my heart, deep.”

Is this what life feels like now? And you wonder, How? Words like ‘void’ and ‘darkness’ describe all you are inside – so deep and painful.

The clock ticks on, responsibilities for the day don’t stop, but the heart inside cries like a never ending rain.

“God, revive me again,” is the cry through this night, and God speaks:
” And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.”

The Spirit of God was hovering. The Spirit of God is here,  hovering over my tears.
Gen.1:3, Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

God said, “Let there be light.”

Somehow, my spirit is stirred, as if for the first time.

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it, John 1:5,

Here I thought the Bible was telling me of stories long ago, but somehow, these words are only for me, right now.

You better believe, I don’t understand God when it’s dark and cold all around. But somehow, today, I’m willing to look up and see His light.

Even though I don’t understand all that goes on each day, I know He is faithful and loves me. I’m not happy in storms and my feet are torn by rough terrain, but somehow, today,

I’m sick of the failures. I’m tired of the night. I have to believe again.

Do you join me in this fight? Together let’s reap a new harvest and allow

God’s Word to speak:

Haven’t you known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning?” Isaiah 40:21.

We forget so easily, especially when our path has been severed and cut. We pray:   “God speak again and fill me with hope.”

Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
    and his understanding no one can fathom.
 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV.

God’s Word. Read aloud, with heart soft and willing, hovers over the void and darkness and says, in the midst of the mystery, “Let there be light.”

Let’s turn around and find day. We’ve had enough night:

Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

3 A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord[a];
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken,” Isaiah 40.

The mouth of the Lord has spoken, and He has given me light. And you?

Today, we will go out with joy and be led forth in peace because the Spirit of the living God has fallen afresh on us. Together we pray,

“Jesus, fill us with Your Spirit. Refresh us today.”

Together in faith, we say,  “Amen. God is with me, and He’s guiding me. He knows all that concerns me. He’s protecting my way.”

 

Word Weavers International. A Wonderful World of Word Wrestling to Bring God’s Way and Glory Back into Light

Has God put on your heart to write? And specifically, to the glory of God?  If the answer is yes, check to see if there is a local Word Weavers chapter in your area.

There is in mine.
I love the name, “Word Weavers.” However, for me, (and perhaps you), preparing for the casual meetings to gather with local writers with a piece of no more than 1500 words, “Word Wrestler” is a more appropriate name.

Word Weavers will inspire, instruct, and encourage. No one goes home crying. However, you might feel the need to go home and wrestle.

After our time together with “cold-sandwich” critique, (meaning, after your piece is read), words are spoken of what’s “sweet,” then they get to the “meat” and a bit of “let us” too, with some wrapping up without leaving you pickled.

Word Weavers is community. It provides homework, produces commitment, and offers a calendar of opportunity.
Check out to see if there’s a local Word Weavers in your area. What was the purpose for my little “commercial?”

Well, if it be true that we are created in the image of God, and it’s apparent that something’s terribly wrong. And blaming God or others doesn’t bring constructive change.

Then those who treasure the Word breathed by Him, must take courage and declare God’s glory with their pen-or their keys, or etc. (You know what I mean.)

What if it’s true that we’re in the “last days?” And the warnings of God were never read because of man’s rage?
Let’s do it. Let’s write. God Himself has stirred us up.
If there be but one Door. (1) (Which often angers men and brings out their worst.) Let’s proclaim what’s written, and give God back His voice. Then those who take a minute to read, . . .
might find themselves transformed by a “renewing” of the mind.(2)
“His will be done, not yours, not mine.
Do you have a story that brings glory to God? A novel. Fiction, non-fiction, devotions. Poetry, Children’s stories and picture books too. Word Weavers will welcome you in a world of “weaving” and “wrestling” for some.
Join us.
Let’s write.
And enjoy a “cold-sandwich” or two.
In obedience and courage, we will proclaim light.
God gives us choice. (A great love-gift from Him.)
But, it’s time to persuade man to turn back to God, because “as in the days of Noah,” the door was closed tight.
I’ll end my rough poetry with Matthew 24. And I hope I’ve encouraged you to enter a Word Weaver’s door:
 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,but only the Father.
 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
 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;  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.
 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.
 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? . . .“(3)
Faithful and wise?
Food for thought, for you and me, always.
I hope to see you at the next local Word Weaver’s meeting.
 (1) John 10
(2) Romans 12:2
(3) Matthew 24: 36-46

In restlessness – He is peace.

Where is God in all this “restless-ness?” Wars going on outside and in. The struggles, the hardships, the anger, the hate. The words that go back and forth without restraint.
A prophet of old wrote in his letter: O LORD, “How long?” “How long, … must I call for help,” Habakkuk 1:1. This is how Habakkuk felt, yes, open it up – God’s word, and see for yourself.
“Why?” you might ask. Because, today, we “feel” the same way.
Habakkuk writes freely his complaints: “Oh LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, …” (emphasis added), “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, your cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? …”(1) Questions, questions – these are the same questions we daily ask ourselves.
We’re fighting for some peace, we’re yearning for a song.
And for me, in my house – (that is, in my heart and mind,) He came to rescue. He came to my help. He gave me His Song, Psalm 23:1.”The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
But in great need, and stress and fret, I spoke the full Psalm, from beginning to … “and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord, forever,” the end. And I thought, “forever” is a very long time.
Then the question, “Where am I dwelling, right now, in this moment? Am I dwelling in His house, or have I let “faith” walk out His Door?” “Without faith, it’s impossible to please God.”(3) Was this the lesson for Habakkuk as well?
He invited me in, to come into His house, that I am “forever to dwell.” But He knows, I go astray, each and every day. But He offers “peace” unlike the world, “His peace,” He so graciously gives, even though I mess up, and sin …
so very often.
A song, an old hymn came to my mind just then, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”(4) 
It can’t just be “God” and “heavenly thoughts.” I called and I cried to “Our Father in heaven,” and He drew near to me, and reminded me “hallowed be His name.”
He can’t be what my small brain makes Him, He must be Who He is. And “Holy is His name.” But more amazing still, His “grace is sufficient.”(5).
So, to conclude this whole matter of restlessness and stress, and my mind running in circles, (can anyone relate?) May I learn from God’s help that He “presently” sent. And remember as Habakkuk had learned as well) …
I put some breath on the strings, that He, Himself has given (to each of us, no less), and I made the choice to sing, …
to sing praise for His glory, as I was (and seem to be always), in a battle of wills to trust God, it seems.  I sang and I prayed, and a “present” peace I received. But “today”, and “tomorrow” (if God will’s be mine) may I remember to put sound on the strings He designed.
Let us humble ourselves and praise His name “forever.”
“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.” 2 Chronicles 20:21.
(1) Habakkuk 1:12,13.
(2) Psalm 100.
(3) Hebrews 11:6.
(4) Hymn: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.
(5) 2 Corinthians 12:9.
 

Beginnings

New years. New months, new days, new moments. Refreshing beginnings. All things new.
Do we open the Book? Will we glean something new?
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1.
What’s it all about? What does this have to do with me? I have so much to do, and don’t we already know what this Book says. But my eyes keep reading the very next verse,
And the earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep.
Void and darkness already? Isn’t God in control of all things? Didn’t He create and everything was magical and perfect? How in the world was there void and darkness even before verse 3? Do we read and have questions like these?
Is God aware of my questions and doubt?
All I know is, it seems words like void and darkness could be used to describe me. Well, not when I’m putting my best foot forward, but the real me inside. This is me, as I feel void in my natural sense.  I sense darkness in my nature. What do you think? All I know, is, it seems at times, that there’s no escape.
So, my eyes continue reading the words on the page.
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1 verse 2. The Spirit of God moved.
God moved. Even without any other doing. In the midst of emptiness and darkness, He initiated a move. Apparently, He wasn’t in need of anything.
Today, as I read these words and I think, of my brain and my heart being 73% water, with emptiness and darkness caught up in the mix, (But), And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters … 
And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light; and there was light.”
Today, this day, I’ve read from the Beginnings. I didn’t get far, but I felt something stir within me. Could this Book be more than black and white on a page? For you and for me, the Spirit of God moved.
I will speak for myself, I hear Him speak to me: “Let there be light; and there was light,” on that day. Thousands upon thousands of years ago then, but also today, hope has lifted her head, and my eyes and my heart have chosen to receive.
If this is the first day of the rest of my life, then I will choose to take some time to read this Book daily. I will ask God to shine light on my emptiness and fill up the void.
So, in curiosity, I looked up Jesus as light, and John 8 verse 12, is recorded 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.”
God initiates. Do I choose, moment by moment, to follow?
 
 

Struggling to see light this Christmas . . .

“O soul are you weary and troubled. No light in the darkness you see. There’s a light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free.” (1)
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, a hymn quite familiar to many, speaks compassion and comfort for the brokenhearted and lonely. God says, “Speak of the hymns,” in His Book of Ephesians. So, speak we will, seeking a light for a look at the Great Physician.
Others are praying in this time of great pain. Prayers going out during this dark of night. But greater still – Jesus is praying – He, the giver and keeper of Life itself.  The King greater than all other Kings, He’s praying for us. The prayers, “Through these tears – “O Lord,Give us sight, through this  darkness and night.”
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. (2)

“Behold the Lord God shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him, Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like as shepherd; He will gather His lambs in His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.” this is Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 10 and 11. These are words breathed out straight from heaven.

Chapter 30 verse 5 in the Book of Psalms:  “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

“Oh Lord God, give us sight. Give some relief as we wait and are tempted to wonder, ‘why.‘ Open our eyes for spiritual things. We are weak, our mouths are so dry . . .

“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.” The LORD speaks, He is our Immanuel, yesterday and today. He is near, forever.

“Comfort, yes, comfort My people!” Says your God. “Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD’s hand Double (forgiveness) for all her sins.” (3) This is the word that will not fail, this is the Word of our Immanuel.

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the LORD; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, And every mountain and hill shall be made low …” (4)

Oh, how we need to be reminded that God, the Creator of the Universe – He’s in control.

“The crooked places shall be made straight, And the rough places smooth; The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, And all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”(5)

These are promises given for our hearts to take hold. When there’s darkness and pain and endless oppression, we must remind ourselves, ‘the mouth of the LORD has spoken.’

“All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, …but the word of our God stands forever. O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain, . . . You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities, . . . “Behold your God!” (6)

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (7)
There’s a light for a look at the Savior . . . His word shall not fail you, He’s promised . . . Over us sin no more hath dominion – For more than conquerors we are!
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (8)
The light has been given, the weak hands that hang down, are strengthened to hold the sword of God’s word. Nothing has changed, save the spirit inside us, now transformed and encouraged to hope and have faith and to love – Victorious!
 There’s a light for a look at the Savior. A light, so abundant and free : God’s love never fails … For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. (9)
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
 (1) Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

(2) John 10:11

(3) Isaiah 40:1,2.

(4) Isaiah 40:3,4a.

(5) Isaiah 40:4b,5.

(6) Isaiah 40:6-9.

(7) Romans 8:34.

(8) Romans 8:37-39.

(9) 1 Corinthians 13:8,12).

" darkness…(but) And the Spirit of God moved…"

“…and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” (Gen. 1:2b). “And the earth was without form and void…” (Gen 1:2)
There is darkness! This earth is empty and void! This is the second verse in the whole of the Bible! We know this today, we can see it –  there is darkness – just listen to the news!
Yes, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is the very first verse of the very first Book of the Bible.But then…”and there was darkness?” The mysteries, the questions! But God answers them all, if we only ask and seek and knock. God promises to open the mysteries of His word to us who ask! He does! We’ve got to keep asking, seeking and knocking.
You see, in my life, originally I had  an eating disorder – believe me, ‘darkness was upon the face of the deep’ because no one could see it. I had, (and still have, a compulsive, impulsive personality. But with God the tiger is tamed, (OK, my husband and kids can all say that the ‘tiger’ is let out on occasion!) But, for the most part, with God all things are possible, and my impulsive and compulsive and ‘self-destructive’ and ‘dark’ personality are ‘tamed!’
The war of good and evil has been going on a l-o-n-g t-i-m-e, even from between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 1:2! (This mystery has always fascinated me, and God chose Isaiah  and Ezekiel to give us some light to this early war that has affected us greatly even today. Read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, it’s all there!) If there is an argument about exactly WHEN this occurred, does it really matter to argue, but we can all agree, the war took place! Hey, how did the serpent get there in that tree to meet Eve?! I think we can all agree, that serpent was out to get both Adam and Eve and you and me!
The earth was ‘without form and void’ and there was darkness. BUT... the word of God uses the word, ‘AND’…”And the Spirit of God moved…”(Gen. 1:2, (!) exclamation point, mine!)
Yes, there is darkness, (BUT) “And the Spirit of God moved…”
That is good news right from the beginning! You see, you and I and everyone that wakes up today faces a world that is ‘without form and void’ in some respects, and ‘darkness is upon the deep places’. We all feel it, we know it, we experience it everyday – But, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Gen. 1:2.
I didn’t know ‘how to eat’, or ‘how to think’ and I was ‘caught up’ in what ‘everyone else’ wanted me to be – and I was a mess, BUT, “And the Spirit of God moved…” The Spirit of God moved…me.
But God moved in my life. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Gen 1:2).
The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, much like an ocean wave, washing away with great power and strength all my sin and doubt and insecurity. The Spirit of God moved upon me like an ocean wave  with His word and set me free and gave me hope, and teaches me and reminds me and helps me because…
this world is empty and poor, without form and void.
Only when writing about God can you speak in the past and the present the same! He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. This earth is still filled with darkness, and without form and void – (BUT) “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters!” The Spirit of God moves upon HIS WORD. If you don’t believe me, just like showing off God’s amazing ocean in a beautiful picture, ‘suffer me’ (an old Bible term), allow me to show you…
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, (the river is the ‘Spirit of God’ which’ moves like a river),the holy place of the tabernacle of the most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah    (pause and think calmly on that!) (Psalm 46:1-7).
Yes, there is darkness. We all agree on that. However, God is in the midst, the Spirit of God is moving…OH, that  we all believe and agree on that!
So, compulsive obsessive? yes, still am…but my theme song now? “Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Give me one glorious ambition for my life, to know and follow hard after Thee! To know and follow hard after Thee. To grow as Your disciple in the Truth.
This world is empty, pale and poor, compared to knowing You, my LORD, lead me on and I will run after You…
lead me on, and I will run after You.” (Magnificent Obsession,song).
Darkness? yes, in the world. But, “Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”(Ps. 139:12). Oh, the mysteries, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters!” Mysterious? Keep asking, seeking and knocking. God will unfold His truth in you.