Multiple choice questions are easiest, unless the questions are regarding deep matters of the heart.
Character tests are hard. Especially questions like, “Is my conduct worthy of Christ?”
To put that simply, do my actions add up to God’s standards? Of course not!
We all need the Lord. Romans 3:23 reminds us this, “. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
God is gentle. But, if I’m his witness, am I gentle?
Am I a peace-maker?
Do I desire to obey God’s way?
Do I give everyone what they deserve, or do I exercise mercy?
Do I have self-control and make the choice to be kind?
Do I have patience and endurance? Do I make other’s lives better?
We all need the Lord. We all fall short.
But the Pizza Note of goodness for us all is, Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We can’t only view the goodness, we’ve got to make the choice to receive Him in our lives.
Perhaps, this is the primary test.
Today is the best day to receive Jesus in our life. He can make us new. And He promises to never leave us. Hebrews 13:5.
Oh, that I had wings like a dove! For then I would fly away and be at rest. Indeed I would wander far off Psalm 55:6.
Ever feel the need to breakout, but there are many urgent and needful occupations taking all our time? Psalm 55:6 speaks our heart.
“As for me, I will call upon God, And the LORD will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55: 16, 17.
We fight for solutions.
Jesus hears. The Bible promises this. And Jesus prays for those who put their trust in Him.
I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world; but for those You have given Me, for they belong to You John 17:9.
All Mine are Yours, and all that are Yours belong to Me; and I am glorified in (through) them…And [now] I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep in Your name [in the knowledge of Yourself] them whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We [are one] (John 17:10,11, Amplified).
Moments of discouragement come when tired and overwhelmed, and our thoughts tempt us to give up. We say things like,
“The prison bars will never open, I can’t be free.” And that is true if it has to do with me, but God . . .
For with God nothing will be impossible Luke 1:37.
With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26.
God is faithful to direct our steps, to give us grace through our work.
The question is, Do I want to be free in my heart? Am I willing to let go, “like a bird from prison bars have flown?”
God wants me to trust Him. To live by faith today and fly.
Jesus’s love never fails—He came through, He’s got the key to the prison.
His word speaks. Are we listening?
“I appeal to you . . . I beg of you in view of all My mercies,
decide today.
Present all you are . . . as a living sacrifice.
Be devoted.
Be set apart.
Be well pleasing to Me.
Don’t worry about fitting into this world.
Be changed.
Be set free from the bondage that this world puts you in.
Change your mind.
Get new ideas.
Put on a new attitude.
Your life will prove what is good and acceptable and perfect in the will of God.
(Paraphrased Roman 12:1,2).
Response?
“I will hear. I will receive. I will yield to Jesus with a thankful heart.”
He will be faithful to help each of us be set free in heart, to sing again.
Some bright morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away To a land on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away
When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away Like a bird from these prison walls I’ll fly, I’ll fly away I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away When I die, hallelujah by and by, I’ll fly away
Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away To a land where joy will never end, I’ll fly away
I’ll fly away, oh glory, I’ll fly away When I die, hallellujah by and by, I’ll fly away.
“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.”
“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.
God gave the greatest gift to the entire world. We hear hymns of, Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King. And we respond, as we choose gifts for those we love.
And we remember Easter. God’s greatest provision for us by sending His precious Lamb to earth, to die on the cross that He might pay our debt of sin, the debt we could never be free of on our own.
But we forget, He’s coming back again. And it is very soon.
We know how to clean up house for guests, but our we ready for the return and second coming of the King of Kings?
Jesus is coming soon.
We must let this awesome and fearful news wake us up and make preparations in our heart, mind, and spirit. Do we know Jesus? He came not to condemn the world, as John 3:17 reminds us, but Jesus came “in order that the world might be saved through Him.”
Don’t forget: Jesus loves you. He’s on your side. Don’t be tempted to turn your back to Him. He will never do that to you.
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 Romans 13:11,12.
If your heart is touched by the soon arrival of the King of Kings, and you’re house is out of order, or you aren’t sure your door has been opened to Him, simply talk to Him, and pray a prayer from your heart, (along these lines, or perhaps not,) telling Jesus,
“I’m sorry for my sins. Forgive me of all of them.
Change me Lord.
Help me let go of my past hurts and losses, each and every one of them.
Help me believe You Jesus and know You more. Make me a new creation. Fill me with Your Spirit that I might have Your peace, hope, and resurrection power working in me to love in a true and real way.
Pizza notes are nuggets of truth from God’s Word to help nourish the young, old, and older soul with a energizing hope and everlasting good news.
#1) Pizza Note of Encouragement for Today:
Let’s get healthy in our thinking. We know that bad eating habits will ruin health and vitality of young and old alike, but bad thinking habits do the same.
When tempted to dwell on bad reports, hurts of others, etc.,
let’s focus on good things. God asks us to do this in Philippians 4:8,
if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
God wants the best for us. If we have trouble thinking of a good theme, He urges us to taste and see that the Lord is good. (Psalm 34:8-10).
Cast all your cares on Him, 1 Peter 5:7. He’s God, we’re not. Then, look up.
God sets His glory in the heavens and we witness it with sunrise and glorious sunset: In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course Psalm 19:4,5.
The heavens speak.
The oceans roar.
The mountains boldly stand.
The Bible tells us, as well, that through the praises of children, He establishes strength: From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger Psalm 8:2.
We need to not only believe in the Lord, we were created to worship Him.
Praises to God from the lips of children and infants will silence the enemies of God.
Praises to God, from all the ages in between, . . . changes things, most of all, our outlook, countenance, and hope.
The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple Psalm 19:7
The decrees of the Lord . . . are more precious than gold, than much pure gold Psalm 19:9,10.
Taste and see, God cares for each of us. What’s our response?
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds Psalm 9:1.
Pizza Note #2 When loss leaves a child without appetite, there is a song, a lullaby, that stirs waters inside: “Jesus loves me this I know . . . “
God loves. He’s a giver. But we live in a broken world.
The enemy of God wants me to think that God only takes away. But that’s not true.
The Bible reminds us that God gave to me, (and every human being on this earth), His only Son, Jesus. He took my burden of sin, (and the sins of the entire world), upon Himself, and nailed them to the cross.
I believe, that “whosoever believes in Him” never dies.
Let’s believe God greater today, even in heartache, and sing a beloved song: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16.
God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him John 3:17.
#2) Pizza Note of good news: God’s eye is on you, and me, and everyone.
We can’t see Him, but He sees us. He’s spirit. God doesn’t have a body. He’s everywhere, all at the same time. The Bible tells us so. In Psalm 139, the Bible reminds us that He knows when we sit down, stand, sleep, and He hears our thoughts and our words before we speak them. God sees and God knows . . . everything. He’s Omniscient.
I hope this Pizza Note makes us hungry to read Psalm 139. Take a few minutes to read aloud and let God’s Word speak.
I didn’t know God when I was young, but I believed in Him because of the natural beauty around me. But I wanted to know Him more. As time went on, I realized I could know Him by reading His Word. The Bible tells us that His eyes watch us grow before we’re born. He knows everything about us. God is love. His thoughts towards us are precious. God can have a one-on-one with me and you, and anyone who seeks Him in spirit and truth Psalm 139.
God isn’t who we make Him to be, He is Who He is.
He’s Holy. He’s righteous in all His ways. We aren’t. God knows we need help, (He sees and hears everything!) He sent His Son Jesus because He knows we need forgiveness and healing. Perhaps the prayer at the end will become our morning and evening portion:
“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” Psalm 139:22-24.
The complete Psalm 139:
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.
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 shallfall 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.
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.
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.
Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain. Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.
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.
“Have I not commanded you be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God spoke to Joshua in His Word, and He speaks to me as well.
How about you?
I seek to look away from the distractions of this world and look to the One Who loves me, and you, (and every single human being on this planet, for that matter), with a perfect love, our Jesus, there is no fail.
Because God’s love never fails.
Join me?
Let’s join the choir to sing joyful songs of thanksgiving to our King. It’s time for a wedding song: Psalm 45:1,
For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies . . .” A wedding song. My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
There is a time for everything. Today, I will, you will, we will persevere and overcome as we humble ourselves and adore our King and give Him the glory due His name.
“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli (Isaiah 54:11).
God will rebuild us. We can trust Him. He is faithful and true. The good theme is His Word:
I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones (Isaiah 54:12).
Will we hear the Word of the Lord? Will we let His Word encourage and heal?
All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace (Isaiah 54:13).
I will . . .
believe God.
In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.
If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to youIsaiah 54: 11-15.
We can count on Him. Only God can make all things good for those who love him: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose Romans 8:28.
Today, I will point to Jesus. He’s all I need.
Jesus is the name above every name. The name we can count on. He keeps all His promises.
Let’s spend time each day knowing full well each and every promise He has given to us.
“Tune up my heart strings, Lord.” She prays, as her heart beats in a flat, minor chord.
