Month: May 2020

Jesus prayed for us.

Been misunderstood? Is it hard to find a friend who understands?

There’s a Friend who understands everything. Every evil brought against us, Jesus knows first-hand.

In desperate times and days filled with hardships, we need to see with our own eyes a reason to hope. We look out at all that’s going on and we only see destruction and pain.

It’s at times like this, when a closed Bible on the shelf seems impossible to open. I don’t have the “want to.”

God must know we can’t do it on our own. The pages are too heavy. Every other App is shouting, “Open me!” But the Bible App remains closed.

But Jesus prayed for us.

His light can overcome any darkness. He accomplishes His will.

My will says “no,” but the spirit urges me to receive healing in its open pages.

The Gospel of John is opened.

Misunderstood? This is Jesus’ story from the beginning. He Created the very ground the people stood on, yet, he was not received.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, or of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” John 1:12.

What Good News is sandwiched in the middle of rejection. Choice is His gift.

The stories unfold.

Disrespected? Treated with cruelty? Hated?

The God of the Universe, the one who sees the heart of man, He knows.

He was spat upon. Beaten.

Jesus experienced it all. He suffered.

Are lies spread against you? The enemies of Jesus spread word that “by the ruler of the demons He casts out demons” Mark 3:22.

Let the reading of the Gospels, today . . . be our refuge. An open Bible gives sight to our blurred eyes and water to our discouraged and hardened hearts.

Living Waters move hard things. Through God’s Word, the mountains of anxiety in self-discovery are scattered to freedom in knowing Jesus came to earth for one purpose, to die on the cross to set us free.

Jesus walked this sin-cursed earth. He kept His eye on His Father. Jesus prayed for us. He prayed . . . that we would be one.

With God, all things are possible. He trusted the Father. So can we.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them”John 17:20-26.

God demonstrated His love. He suffered. He rose again on the third day. He will help us rise as well, through His glorious power and love, He will show us how to love.

He will.

“Satan thought he had won, but You rose again to give me life, to give me victory! I love You Jesus, because You first loved me.” -Lincoln Wright

Lincoln Wright, a missionary in Managua penned these words many years ago when our dear friend was very ill. They were both revived in spirit by Jesus’s love and sacrifice. I put music to the words for my two friends.

I pray this music therapy of the Gospel message becomes a response and remedy for healing and hope because we discover again or for the first time, . . .

Jesus loved us first.

Good Health? Who’s Voice Are we Listening to?

Who’s in charge? Who’s voice takes first place?

To safeguard good health we must wash our thoughts with God’s Word, outside and in. We must exercise ourselves in its truth.

Otherwise, we’re swirling in confusion by every newscast. We’re shaken up. We don’t recognize when people try to trick us with lies that sound like the truth.

Are we sheep cast down, confused, in harm’s way?

Yes, we are. The Bible tells us so:

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6.

The bad news is not the end. This trial of uncertainty can “make us lie down,” be still and hear the Shepherd’s voice:

“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.  The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice” John 10:1-5.

The gatekeeper, the Father God “who art in heaven”, opens the gate for him, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son . . . “

Who is Jesus? All sheep easily forget:

“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 

 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 

 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full John 10:7-10.

Can we hear Him? Have we acknowledged that the LORD laid all my failure, pride, and sin on Him at the cross?

The washing of the heart is the beginning of health. We need a one-time wash of our sin for salvation. We also need a daily wash of His Word to stay safe through this messy world.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 

 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 

 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” John 10:14-18.

This voice is Jesus, the Good Shepherd. We must choose to hear His Good News every day:

The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me,  but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 

 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one” John 10:25-30.

Have we decided to hear Him? It’s time. He fills us with a new song of assurance and safety, forever. Now this is Good News:

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 stay safe and healthy when we remain close to Him. We can clearly hear His voice above the noise of this world.

-just keep singin’.

Toni

“Thou art near.” Help us remember this.

“Thou art near; yes, Lord, I feel it, . . .

Oh, but we don’t feel Him near at times. So, we keep reading as if reaching for the lifeguard’s rescue buoy.

“Thou art near where’er I move, And though sense would fain conceal it, Faith oft whispers it to love.

When our mind swirls with thoughts that pull us down, devotions to God, hymns, spiritual songs, and Scripture act as a lifeguard that has put out a float.

This poem was found in my Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible. The reading on page 256 was highlighted with Scripture: “Thou shalt guide me with they counsel.”

The devotional of 1 Samuel 23 tells of David, banished from worship, persecuted in his own country, with King Saul of Israel out to kill him. But enemies of his homeland came to invade. Should he fight and protect the people?

“David enquired of the LORD.” 1 Samuel 23:2, “And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.”

His men were afraid.

“Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand” 1 Samueal 23:4.

Who did David listen to? The fearful men or the LORD? David turned to God for his direction.

Today, we all need counsel from the Lord, but the voice of men is loud. Will we pray? Will we be still to listen. Each of these are doing hard things!

“Dear Lord, guide us with Your counsel. Help us through the darkness of this day. Enlighten our path, show us Your way!”

As Holy comfort, this old poem sings:

Then, my soul, since God doth love thee, Faint not, droop not, do not fear; Though his heaven is high above thee, He himself is ever near!”

He will hear the prayers of His people. He will answer. Do we know the Lord? His character, His name? We’re as sheep, we forget so quickly. We need old phrases to call faith back again:

Not what I am, O Lord, but what Thou art;
That, that alone, can be my soul’s true rest;
Thy love, not mine, bids fear and doubt depart,
And stills the tempest of my tossing breast.

It is Thy perfect love that casts out fear;
I know the voice that speaks the It is I,
And in these well-known words of heavenly cheer
I hear the joy that bids each sorrow fly. By the Lord’s Love by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889).

Let’s promise ourselves to make God’s Word well known. That we might rise above anything that comes to steal His peace from our hearts and minds.

Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever Psalm 73:25,26.

May a prayer written over a hundred years ago be fresh on our lips today:

’Tis what I know of Thee, my Lord and God,
That fills my soul with peace, my lips with song;
Thou art my health, my joy, my staff, my rod;
Leaning on Thee, in weakness I am strong.

More of Thyself, Oh, show me, hour by hour;
More of Thy glory, O my God and Lord;
More of Thyself in all Thy grace and power;
More of Thy love and truth, Incarnate Word.

In Jesus’ name. Amen, and amen.

Who is praying with me?

Help for the Restless Spirit: Be Still My Soul / Psalm 18

Music therapy, vibration of strings to move fretful waters of heart and mind plus the reading of God’s Word = rest, refreshment, revelation, revival.

When we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.

Take 3 minutes to meditate in a hymn and a psalm and discover the transforming hope and help of the Lord. He abides in our praise. Praise Him actively, today.

I write this for myself. I pray there is someone else that will be renewed in spirit and mind this day by actively meditating on the great and precious promises of God through these gems of the past:

When the restlessness of mind, body, and spirit overwhelms, there is power in the hymns and psalms. Be Still My Soul & Psalm 18 are heart and mind transforming.

This is recorded for one purpose alone, therapy. Do you know someone who might be feeling alone? Restless? Confused? Overwhelmed?

Consider sharing this meditation of hymn and psalm.

Be renewed, now. Meditating on the word and God’s truth rescues us.

Psalm 18.

I will love You, O Lord, my strength.
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The Lord thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered [e]the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O Lord,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the Lord was my support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.

28 For You will light my lamp;
The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have [i]subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the [j]nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners [k]submit to me.
45 The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The Lord lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.

“Today, today.” I hear Jesus call. Let’s hear His voice and take hold of all He is, (our Everything), and actively give Him praise that we might celebrate the victories He has for us, now and forever.