Tag: today

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

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

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

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

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

“For God so loved, “me,” . . .

Stop a minute and speak this aloud.

“He gave His only Son,. . . “

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What did Jesus have to say?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Amen.”

______________________________________

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

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

For God so loves . . . you!

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

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

Be My Vision, O LORD. Today

Jesus had no pointing finger—only arms stretched wide.
In silence.

Yielded.

His love letter to each of us was written with blood.

He rose from the dead. Ever-living.

In believing, we receive . . .

sight, salvation, freedom. Light. Hope.

Eternal life is given.

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.

Dear Lord, we remind ourselves today Your never changing Good News.

I Am the LORD, I “will fight for you; you need only be still,”Exodus 14:14.

I Am the LORD, I “give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak,” Isaiah 40:29.

I Am the LORD, those who “hope in Me will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint,” Isaiah 40:31.

I Am the LORD, “So do not fear, for I am with you,” Isaiah 41:10.

Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name. We choose You, we are Your sons and daughters.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Remind us. Holy Spirit imprint on our minds, a picture of Jesus and His nail-pierced hands reaching out for each and every one of our sins.
For the sins of the entire world . . .

You willingly paid.

Give us the ears to hear Your words, throughout our day “Follow Me.”

And we respond, “I will follow You.”

We wait with great expectancy . . .
We choose to worship You now, and watch our anxieties flee. We choose to worship You Jesus, Be Thou our Vision. Restore Peace to our restless hearts.
Let us exalt the Lord as we take time to meditate and speak:

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tow’r:
Raise Thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

If I lose the world, but have You, I have the King of Heaven as my friend. No one can take that away. You are an ever-lasting love and hope.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heav’n’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
Be Thou My Vision, Irish Hymn, c.8th Century

Manna Notebook Pages for Families: Page 4

“Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call on Him while He is near . . . “Isaiah 55:6,7.

What’s the greatest miracle of them all? Jesus healed the blind, He opened deaf ears. Jesus turned water to wine. Crippled people could walk and jump. The dead became alive again.

Jesus is the resurrected Lord, but none of them match this:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

There’s so many miracles in this very first verse of the entire Bible.

God is Creator of science. Here we have time, space, and matter. Let’s say it together: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” Genesis 1:1.

Do I believe this verse? To believe God is called “faith.”

Creator God, He’s all-knowing, all-powerful. God is love 1 John 4:8.

He gave us choice as one of His love-gifts. We can reject His Word or choose to believe and receive Him.

To love God is full of reward and promise to all who believe, (or have faith in Him).

We love rewards, don’t we? Guess what- when we draw near to God, and seek Him, He gives us eyes to see!

How do I know? The Bible tells us:

Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40.

Faith to believe God is a glorious miracle.

When we believe, we are as a blind man who can see. We become as one deaf who can now hear.

All of us have been hurt in this life and may have sad hearts that limp, yet the Lord’s love and miracle of faith help us to heal. He gives us power to stand again and walk forward today in good thoughts of His love and help.

The Bible tells us: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see Hebrews 11:1.

And when we believe, we get understanding,

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen Hebrews 11:3, NLT.

The Spirit of God was hovering over the darkness of the empty earth, in the beginning, and God said,

Let there be light” and there was light Genesis 1:3. We’re not talking about the sun here. This is light energy. This is the spectrum of color light energy.

Yes, God said let there be a spectrum of color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and all the shades in between!

At night when we look out, everything is a tint of gray. But in the day, color!

Blue skies, green grass, lots of colors found in flowers, brown tree trunks.

O LORD, how manifold are you works! In wisdom you have made them all: the earth is full of your riches Psalm 104:24.

The Gospel Huddle:

God said, “Let there be light.” How about you? Do you believe God and His Word?

This is a first step. God doesn’t want us to be in the dark. He doesn’t want our world to feel gray and full of dark shadows.

We feel that way at times. We feel separated and far from God.

Put your arms out far apart.

Yes, this is how we are to God, separated. But do you see your arms stretched far? That’s what Jesus did for you because He loves you so much.

Jesus willingly allowed men to stretch His arms out wide on the cross, even though He didn’t deserve any punishment. (Jesus had no sin). He took our punishment of sin on Himself as He was nailed to a cross and died for you and me.

We all deserve punishment because we all have sin. Every single one human being on this planet.

Sin is anything we think, say, or do that goes against His Word to us.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:23.

God wants us to see His great love gift-Jesus.

When we believe Him and receive His love, our eyes are opened. We see a whole spectrum of color for all things new. A life with Him, forever. In forgiveness and hope.

Perhaps the greatest miracle is God’s gift of faith to believe.

Talk to the Lord as you listen to God’s Word in song about faith in Him:

It’s Time to Seek the LORD Song: Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55: 6,8,9.

This Scripture Song invites your heart to seek the Lord.

God’s All. Man’s All.

Promises by Anneliese Rypkema
Watercolor by Anneliese Rypkema


Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1.

All that’s within me. Do I bless?

 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:

Do I know some of His gracious gifts. Could I ever know them all?

What are the good reports?

 He forgives all our iniquities.

He heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3).

All? Bless the Lord because He forgive all my sin and failure?

What are our iniquities? How quickly we forget?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23. All of mankind has fallen short. All of man have gone their own way. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one Romans 3:10.

For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water Jeremiah 2:13.

Am I guilty of these evils. Will the Lord forgive my stubbornness?

Who is God that I should bless? Do I give ear to His Word?

He heals all my diseases? All my sicknesses? He heals in His time?

Do I scoff at this? Or am I willing to hear? Can I be still and know who is the LORD?

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” 2 Timothy 3:16.

In this day of justice, who will execute it? What does the Bible have to say about this?

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed. Psalm 103.

Who executes justice for the oppressed,
Who gives food to the hungry.
The Lord gives freedom to the prisoners.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;
But the way of the wicked He turns upside down Psalm 146:7-9.

Do I bless the Lord for all of this? I have choice..

We all have choice.

Today. The choice is mine to make. This day.

Can I trust God? What are the benefits when I choose this path?

“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” John 1:12.

All who receive and believe in Jesus become His children. God’s very own . . .

Do I believe? Have I received? These are the questions in these present dark ages.

Do I choose to walk it alone? Or do I choose to trust all to Him?

If faith is the victory that overcomes the world for whosover is born of God, (1John 5:4), then I can choose to strip my garments of stubbornness and strife. I can put on the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in Him. I can grow to know all He has done for me.

Or not?

The loss? All.

So, what’s my choice this day?

I surrender all.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name . . .

He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward 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 pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,

To such as keep His covenant, And to those who remember His commandments to do them.

The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Bless the Lord, you His angels,Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word.

Bless the Lord, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion.

Bless the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103:7-22.

God’s Not Fair? Do We believe this?

“Listen to this message that the Lord has spoken,” the prophet Amos recorded for whosoever has ears to hear and eyes to see, “against you, O people of Israel—against the entire family I rescued from Egypt:

“Can two people walk together
    without agreeing on the direction?
 Does a lion ever roar in a thicket
    without first finding a victim?
Does a young lion growl in its den
    without first catching its prey?
 Does a bird ever get caught in a trap
    that has no bait?
Does a trap spring shut
    when there’s nothing to catch?
 When the ram’s horn blows a warning,
    shouldn’t the people be alarmed?
Does disaster come to a city
    unless the Lord has planned it?” Amos 3:3-6.

“That’s it,” many people shout in this present time, I refuse to believe in a God who is evil!”

 Yet, Amos the prophet continues, Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything
    until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7.

 The lion has roared—
    so who isn’t frightened?
The Sovereign Lord has spoken—
    so who can refuse to proclaim his message?
 Announce this to the leaders of Philistia
    and to the great ones of Egypt:
“Take your seats now on the hills around Samaria,
    and witness the chaos and oppression in Israel.

My people have forgotten how to do right,”
    says the Lord.
“Their fortresses are filled with wealth
    taken by theft and violence.
 Therefore,” says the Sovereign Lord,
    “an enemy is coming! Amos 3:8-11.

Paul the apostle recorded in Romans 9:7-16 the common belief that God’s not fair. Are we curious to hear the Scriptures on this point?

Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children. For the Scriptures say, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted,” though Abraham had other children, too. 

This means that Abraham’s physical descendants are not necessarily children of God. Only the children of the promise are considered to be Abraham’s children.For God had promised, “I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins. But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 

he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.” In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”

Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses,“I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it.

In our human cry for fairness, we are tempted to believe God is unfair. But Paul continues in Romans 9:18-23.

So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.

Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 

When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 

In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 

“God, give us hunger for the Word of God,” a daily prayer on our lips. For such a time as this, we must thirst for the Living Waters of God’s Word, continually praying for wisdom and understanding in His ways:

Concerning the Gentiles, God says in the prophecy of Hosea,“Those who were not my people, I will now call my people. And I will love those whom I did not love before.”

And,“Then, at the place where they were told,‘You are not my people,’there they will be called ‘children of the living God.’”

And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out,“Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved. Romans 9: 25-27.

The LORD is a gracious God, compassionate, slow to anger the Bible proclaims. We must turn from the words of man and hear the testimonies of God:

For the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth quickly and with finality.”

And Isaiah said the same thing in another place:“If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”

What does all this mean? Even though the Gentiles were not trying to follow God’s standards, they were made right with God. And it was by faith that this took place. 

But the people of Israel, who tried so hard to get right with God by keeping the law, never succeeded. 

Why not? Because they were trying to get right with God by keeping the law instead of by trusting in him.

They stumbled over the great rock in their path. Romans 9:28-32.

Jesus is the rock of stumbling: “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. 1 Peter 2:8.

We have choice. Will we choose Jesus?

Amos 4, consider. This is the Word of the Lord, NLT. Is it time to turn and trust in the Lord?

Listen to me, you fat cows
    living in Samaria,
you women who oppress the poor
    and crush the needy,
and who are always calling to your husbands,
    “Bring us another drink!”
The Sovereign Lord has sworn this by his holiness:
“The time will come when you will be led away
    with hooks in your noses. Amos 4:1,2. (This is how they treated their enemies).

Every last one of you will be dragged away
    like a fish on a hook!
 You will be led out through the ruins of the wall;
    you will be thrown from your fortresses,[b]”
    says the Lord.

 “Go ahead and offer sacrifices to the idols at Bethel.
    Keep on disobeying at Gilgal.
Offer sacrifices each morning,
    and bring your tithes every three days.
 Present your bread made with yeast
    as an offering of thanksgiving.
Then give your extra voluntary offerings
    so you can brag about it everywhere!
This is the kind of thing you Israelites love to do,”
    says the Sovereign Lord.

 “I brought hunger to every city
    and famine to every town.
But still you would not return to me,”
    says the Lord.

“I kept the rain from falling
    when your crops needed it the most.
I sent rain on one town
    but withheld it from another.
Rain fell on one field,
    while another field withered away.
 People staggered from town to town looking for water,
    but there was never enough.
But still you would not return to me,”
    says the Lord.

 “I struck your farms and vineyards with blight and mildew.
    Locusts devoured all your fig and olive trees.
But still you would not return to me,”
    says the Lord.

“I sent plagues on you
    like the plagues I sent on Egypt long ago.
I killed your young men in war
    and led all your horses away.
    The stench of death filled the air!
But still you would not return to me,”
    says the Lord.

 “I destroyed some of your cities,
    as I destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.
Those of you who survived
    were like charred sticks pulled from a fire.
But still you would not return to me,”
    says the Lord.

 “Therefore, I will bring upon you all the disasters I have announced.
    Prepare to meet your God in judgment, you people of Israel!”

 For the Lord is the one who shaped the mountains,
    stirs up the winds, and reveals his thoughts to mankind.
He turns the light of dawn into darkness
    and treads on the heights of the earth.
    The Lord God of Heaven’s Armies is his name!

Can we hear the word “return?” Do we choose today in humility to return, to “repent” for the kingdom of heaven,

is.

at.

hand.

God is gracious to receive those who chose to believe in the Son He graciously gave to pay our debt in full on the cross at Calvary.

“Today, today . . . ” the Good Shepherd calls His sheep. Do we turn to Him? The choice is ours.

An Old Prayer. Today, our heart’s prayer and desire? #3

Ravi Zacharias spoke from the Book of Nehemiah to a group of missionaries many years ago.

His final encouragement, a memorized prayer written in the 1700’s by Charles Wesley, became my primary take-away:

O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire t’ impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

There let it for Thy glory burn
With inextinguishable blaze,
And trembling to its source return,
In humble prayer and fervent praise.

Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
To work and speak and think for Thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up Thy gift in me.

Ready for all Thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat,
Till death Thy endless mercies seal,
And make my sacrifice complete.

Today, I’d like to work on memorizing this outstanding prayer, that it remain in my remembrance.

As we walk through a world-wide pandemic together, each has their own set of circumstance, yet we all have grief of loss. Each of us, are pressing through loss.

Shall we not walk up to Jerusalem, the city of our God, so to speak, with the song of Ascents, with newly kindled hearts?

I lift up my eyes to you,
    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.
As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the Lord our God,
    till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us, Psalm 123:1-3.

The Living Words revive us by giving us a place to look outside ourselves, our governments, our world.

Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith Hab 2:4. 

Apart from God we’re nothing. He graciously, through the blood atonement of His Son, grants mercy to those who believe.

Can we hear the voice of John the Baptist crying in the wilderness of our hearts today,

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Today . . .

Behold with me? Shall we confess our sins, each quietly to Him?

“And trembling to its Source return in humble prayer and fervent praise.”

“Jesus confirm my hearts desire to work and speak and think for Thee. Still let me guard Thy Holy Fire and still stir up Thy gifts in me.

Ready for all Thy Perfect will, my acts of faith and love repeat, ’till death Thy endless mercy seal and make my sacrifice complete.

May we open God’s Word and proclaim A Song of Ascents together:

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.
 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
 The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy.

 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them Psalm 126.

O Thou Who camest from above,
The pure celestial fire t’ impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Give a Gift of Song, With or Without Singing

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

or sickness, or falls,

and pressures, and messes,

and great amount of cares?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Coffee came first, but then pages were opened:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In stillness, a gentle voice reminds:

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

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

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

With a prayer for mercy and power of God.

Read aloud. Yes, sing aloud:

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

Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above

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

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

Lifted. Transformed, through the speaking of a psalm.

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

 The Lord watches over you—

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

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

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

Here I raise my Ebenezer
Hither by thy help I come

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

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

He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood

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

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

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

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

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

New heart strings, and ultimately, a new me.

Will you also agree?

Come Thou Fount, hymn by Robert Robinson

Pizza Note #5 Jesus says, “Call Me”

“What? An automated response?”

“There will be a cost for this service,” notifies a computerized voice.

“Who can I call to help me clean the messy house . . . of my heart? Who will listen to me?”

Pizza Note #5, reminds us, “Don’t Panic!”

Jesus knows the condition of the house of our heart. Psalm 139 helps us understand that.

God is full aware of the tangles in our minds. He’s the de-tangler.

He understands the losses of our soul. He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up our wounds Psalm 147:3.

God doesn’t want us to run away in shame and regret, but instead, He desires we turn, be still, and call on Him.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble Psalm 46:1.

Pick up the phone of prayer and call Jesus. His number is Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

“This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name Jeremiah 33:2.


There was a man with leprosy who called on Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

He knew the Lord was able to make him clean, but was He willing?

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him Luke 5:12,13.

Jesus is able, and He’s willing to clean our mess as well.

We must accept our need for a Savior,

believe on Him,

and call Him to help us in time of need.

No more excuses.

Do we want a heart-house where Christ is center?

Call Jesus. He answers. He transforms us by renewing our minds through the power of His Spirit to those who believe.

The best part about calling Jesus is, He cleans our mess and forgets, forever!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1.

Give me five slices of this excellent pie:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

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

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

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

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

 For You formed my inward parts;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I want to be on Your side, dear Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prayer and Encouragement: Be Still My Soul

“Be Still my soul  . . .” The  old hymn reminds. 

How do I “be still?”

This is the question as the clock continues to move time.

Fears flood in an instant.

Stresses press on our back.

Pain wears down the weary body. There are tears on the inside, like rain no one can see.

We’re in this marathon race. It’s not how we start, it’s how we finish.

We must finish. We must finish well. But “How?”

With unity. Not isolated and alone. That spells defeat and loneliness.

Reminding each other to remind ourselves:

Be Still my Soul. The Lord is on thy side . . .
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.

Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”

We must remember God is King over everything.

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:22-25.

Our prayer to Jesus: “There is so much change. But You, O LORD remain.

We draw near to You, and You draw near when we do.

O God, help us, today in such darkness, take hold of Your light and believe and rest . . .
in Your faithfulness.

“Be still, my soul: Our God doth undertake
To guide the future, as You have the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.

We pray in a hymn, dear Lord.

Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
Your voice Who ruled them while You dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears, 
Then shalt we  better know Your love, Your heart,
Who comes to soothe our sorrow and our fears.

Dear Lord, comfort the downcast with Your Spirit, we draw near.

“Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with You Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.

Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.”

Dear Father in heaven, we bow our heads together. The most important change that needs be, is inside of me—Increase my faith, that I might stand, and follow You, as You take hold of my hand.

“Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing,  You, O Lord on high; to
Acknowledge You in all our words and ways,
So shall You  view us with a well-pleased eye.

Be still, my soul: the Son of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.”

We bow our heads, we pray to You. We end our words  and whole heartedly say:  “Our soul is still, as we set our minds on the hill, where You laid down Your life, as a perfect sacrifice, forgiving my failures, Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You.“
(1) “Be Still My Soul” by Katherine von Schlegel. 

Sometimes an old speech for the nation needs to be heard again:

This man was flown in to speak words to a nation of broken and bleeding hearts, Sept 14, 2001. In light of terror in a Florida High School, Feb. 14, 2018, and many other tragedies since that event in 2001—in honor of Billy Graham, in remembrance of his simple, yet courageous messages, I pray his words bring comfort and hope.
I am comforted, and am thankful for they words of the hymn he encouraged us with: Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

After our nation was attacked with horrific terror, with many innocent lives lost, the choice was made to have Rev. Billy Graham speak on Sept. 14, 2001.
Allowance was made that a sole aircraft fly that day.

Today, I look back at the words Billy Graham had to say, in that, still today, hearts continue to be shattered with news of terror and loss. How do we continue? How do we find a way?

Billy Graham stood before the nation,
“We come together today to affirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political background may be. The Bible says that He is ‘the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.’
No matter how hard we try, words cannot express the horror, the shock and the revulsion we all feel over what took place in this nation on Tuesday  morning . . .
But today we come together in this service to confess our need of God. We’ve always needed God from the very beginning of this nation. But today we need Him especially. We’re involved in a new kind of warfare. And we need the help of the Spirit of God.

The Bible says, ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’
But how do we understand something like this? Why does God allow evil like this to take place? Perhaps that is what you are asking. You may even be angry at God. I want to assure you that God understands these feelings that you may have.

We’ve seen so much that brings tears to our eyes and makes us feel a sense of anger. But God can be trusted, even when life seems at its darkest.
What are the lessons we can learn?
First, we are reminded of the mystery and reality of evil. I have been asked hundreds of times why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that I do not know the answer.  I have to accept, by faith, that God is sovereign, and that He is a God of love and mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering.
The Bible says God is not the Author of evil. In 1 Thessalonians 2:7 the Bible talks about the mystery of iniquity. the Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah said, ‘The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.’

The lesson of this even is not only about the mystery of iniquity and evil, but second, it’s about our need for each other.
What an example New York and Washington have been to the world these past few days! None of us will forget the pictures of our courageous firefighters and police, or the hundreds of people standing patiently in line to donate blood . . .
Finally, difficult as it may be for us to see right now, this event can give a message of hope—hope for the present and hope for the future.
Yes, there is hope. There is hope for the present because the stage, I believe, has already been set for a new spirit in our nation.

We desperately need a spiritual renewal in this country, and God has told us in His Word, time and time that we need to repent of our sins and return to Him, and He will bless us in a new way.
There also is hope for the future because of God’s promises. As a Christian, I have hope, not just for this life, but for heaven and the life to come. And many of those people who died this past week are in heaven now. And they wouldn’t want to come back. It’s so glorious and so wonderful. That is the hope for all of us who put our faith in God. I pray that you will have this hope in your heart.

This event reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life. We never know when we too will be called into eternity. I doubt if those people who got on those planes or who walked into the world Trace Center or the Pentagon on Tuesday thought that it would be the last day of their lives. And that’s why we each must face our own spiritual need and commit ourselves to God and His will.

Here in this majestic National Cathedral we see all around us the symbol of the cross. For the Christian, the cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for He took them upon Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. From the cross God declares, ‘I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pain that you feel. But I love you.’

The story does not end with the cross, for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the cross to the empty tomb. It tells us that there is hope for eternal life, for Christ conquered evil and death and hell. Yes, there is hope.
I’ve become an old man now, and I’ve preached all over the world. And the older I get, the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago.
Several years ago at the National Prayer Breakfast here in Washington, Ambassador Andrew Young closed his talk with a quotation from the old hymn, ‘How Firm a Foundation.’

This week we watched in horror as planes crashed into the steel and glass and the World Trade Center. Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations, were examples of prosperity and creativity. When damaged, those building plummeted to the ground, imploding in upon themselves. Yet, underneath the debris, is a foundation that was not destroyed. Therein lies the truth of that hymn, ‘How Firm a Foundation.’

Yes, our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost. But now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation; or to choose to become stronger through all of this struggle, to rebuild a solid foundation.

And I believe that we are starting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God. And in that faith, we have the strength to endure something as difficult and horrendous as what we have experienced this week. This has been a terrible week with many tears.

But it also has been a week of great faith. In that hymn, ‘How Firm a Foundation,’ the words say, ‘Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.’

My prayer today is that we will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us and that as we trust in Him we will know in our hearts that He will never forsake us.
We know also that God will give wisdom and courage and strength to the President and those around him. And this will be a day that we will remember as a day of Victory.
May God bless you all.”

(2 Cor. 1:3-4, Ps. 46: 1-2, Jeremiah 17:9)
This man was flown in to speak words to a nation of broken and bleeding hearts, Sept 14, 2001. In light of terror in a Florida High School, Feb. 14, 2018, and many other tragedies since that event in 2001—in honor of Billy Graham, in remembrance of his simple, yet courageous messages, I pray his words bring comfort and hope.
I am comforted, and am thankful for they words of the hymn he encouraged us with: Fear not, I am with thee; O be not dismayed, For I am thy God, and will give thee aid; I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
He’s got a hold on us. In Him, we must trust. Amen.

A Present Help During the Storm/God’s Hand



During times of a storm, great waves bring on fear and distress. Loss brings about heartbreak and pain brings about loss of breath. How do we ride above the waves? What does the Word of God have to say?

“Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things,” Philippians 4:8.

What’s true? What’s noble? Where is the good report?

There is only One who stands and rises above this test. He is Jesus. He is the One who is lovely. He is valiant and noble. He is a giver of life.  He offers His Spirit to minister to us.

Call on His name. Weep in His arms. He is able to bring violent waves to a still and calm. How? I don’t know. But He is faithful. He has touched me in the past, and He is here right now.

I write so I can remember, even in times of darkness,  “Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves you. Yes, Jesus loves. Yes, Jesus.”

My eyes and my ears, become flooded with worldly realities, and my thoughts repeat them back to myself. Stress and distress is only magnified, until I cry out His name, and wait.

He is here. He is there. By my side. He’s with us now. That is why I love Him so much. Yesterday, and today, and no matter what comes. He is present. He is all powerful. He knows everything.  His love is supernatural.

So, I look for words, and He reminds my restless heart, “Look at old hymns and Psalms.” I open the hymnal, with barely the desire, but I obey, because He is my Lord.

And He lifts me out of my dark thoughts, and He lifts me out of doors:
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.

This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought.

He’s opened my eyes to see the wonder of His skies, and somehow my heart is intent to read on, and stop thinking of earthly things that prove to break me down:
This is my Father’s world:

The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:

He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.

My Good Shepherd has presently “made me to lie down.” Not in terror and darkness but on a pasture of green. He is present. He is with me.

He warned us. He did. But did we have any idea that “tribulation” would look like this? In this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).

I read aloud the words that flow next:

This is my Father’s world:
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world,
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

There is only One that is good, and that is God. Oh, how we need Him now. To flood our thoughts and help our hearts beat. He is the Lord. I can rejoice in Him.
Jesus said, in His love letter for us, knowing that we would face trouble and loss: 

 “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

John 11:25 and 26, are beyond our comprehension. But with every ounce of my being, I reply, “Yes, Lord. I believe this.”

And for that reason I can, right now, presently, in the midst of waves and darkness,”Rejoice in the Lord.”

Phil. 3:1 reminds me that, this “is a safeguard for you.”
“Speak in psalms and hymns,” God’s word says, so aloud I speak the greatest of all comfort songs:

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

We might not be happy about the current affairs, but we can always find refuge in the presence of our Lord. I will quiet my restless heart and stop to rejoice, in the King of my heart, and the lover of my life.

Together in weakness we might be, but He will give us breath. He is our Victory. He brings day in our dark night.

This is My Father’s World, Maltbie Babcock.
Psalm 23. The Holy Bible.

In Brokenness, The Lord’s Prayer, a Hymn.

“Our Father in heaven, holy is Your name, . . .” May I come to You with pure motives.

So many times I don’t.

I come for myself. You already know.
May I draw near to seek Your holy face.

But God, our Holy Father, you see when I only seek Your hand of blessing, without a thought to give You praise.

My thoughts aren’t Your thoughts. My ways aren’t like Yours.

May I seek to worship now. Thank You for Your everlasting love. You see my heart, Your know my thoughts, You know . . .

I have failed to stop and remember, of what You’ve already done. You’ve carried the cross up that steep, rugged path. You willingly suffered nails in Your hands.

You loved me first. You love me last. You love beyond the farthest star in the Universe.

I am held in Love’s grasp.

I love You Jesus. I draw near to You. And You draw near because Your name is Faithful and True. Not because of anything about me. You died on the cross.
“Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, . . .” in this heart, right now. Cover me with the blood of Your Son.

You rose from the dead.

May I come to know the power of Your resurrection.

“Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us, . . .” from our natural ways.

All to Jesus, I surrender, all to Him I freely give, 
let me do whatever lies before me as if it were for You Lord.
For You Lord, may my work be my praise. May this hymn be my song, all of my days:

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live. 

I surrender all,
  I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
    I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23.

May I praise with all that I do, today. In Jesus name, Amen.

He Still Changes Water to Wine


“Read the Bible.” We hear people say.
But even when opened, do the words feel dry on the page?

It’s OK. God must know, because the only thing He gets at times from me at best, is a moan.
But, in the end, I can still say, “Thank You Lord. Thank You Lord, for putting up with me. Oh God, I’m confused and feel alone. Will You help me?”

So, the Word seemed dry, not moving me at all, but my eye caught focus at the bottom of the page of a short Spurgeon poem:

“Lo, Moses scatters plagues of wrath, A ministry of fire and death, But our Immanuel cometh forth, with life and love in every breath.
He turned their water into blood, for vengeance was his dread design: But, thanks to our incarnate God, He turned our water into wine.” (1)

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17.

Jesus is unlike all the rest.

Five minutes in devotion to God, with an opening of His word with a few Spurgeon thoughts, I am changed from a whine to hope.

Jesus still changes water to wine.

Water is necessary. Like food and roof over our heads. We have school, or work. We all are under some authority.

We move quickly, we plan out our day, and we grab a water bottle as we go our way.

Water sustains.

The Holy Spirit is likened as water in the Word.  It’s God’s Word that refreshes, the Holy Spirit directs us to be touched by Jesus. He changes us and gives us a song:

And when I think, that God His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died, to take away my sin. 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. How great Thou art. How great Thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, How great Thou art,
How great Thou art.

Jesus still changes water into wine. For me, my whine to a song, that I might rejoice and experience His fullness of grace and truth, this day.
Let us celebrate today. We’re simply passing through. Let’s let others know about our eternal home:

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation, and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. Then I shall bow, in humble adoration, and then proclaim, 
“My God how great Thou art!” 

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. How great Thou art. How great Thou art.
God is love. “Dear Lord give me understanding to know Your Name. Faithful and True, Merciful, Gracious, and Above all names:

“Lo, Moses scatters plagues of wrath, A ministry of fire and death, But our Immanuel cometh forth, with life and love in every breath.
He turned their water into blood, for vengeance was his dread design: But, thanks to our incarnate God, He turned our water into wine.”

Keep me singing dear Jesus, and drawing close to You that You might heal me and help me the entire day through:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee. How great Thou art! How great Thou art. 

Poem taken from C.H. Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible. Hymn: How Great Thou Art.