Category: My Story

Praise + Prayer = Faith to Conquer Any Foe

Hebrews 11:6 & Isaiah 55:6-9.

Most days, I wake up with praise to God on my lips, but as the evening comes, I often am tempted to grow weary and discouraged.

When I say, “praise on my lips,” this means a “thank You” song or a psalm, hymn, or God’s Word on my mind, instead of situations, lack, or loss.

But when my body grows fatigued, my mind begins to dwell on the happenings of this world and life circumstances, faith flies away like a bird disrupted by a loud noise.

How we need reminders of good things and words of direction and help. God’s Word is our safe place to run. I often have kid’s voices in the back of my mind, singing the Bible songs God gave me, to help me throughout my day:

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Hebrews 11:6, NIV.

In the Book of 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat, king of Judah became informed of a huge army coming against them. Circumstances hit us like this.

Jehoshaphat . . . prayed to the Lord. He sought the Lord for His instruction, just as in Isaiah 55:6: 8&9:

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near Isaiah 55:6.

Jehoshaphat gathered the people. Then, he proclaimed a fast for all of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:3).  

Then Jehoshaphat stood up . . . at the temple of the Lord . . . and he prayed with all the people:

“Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.

Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you . . .

If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us” (2 Chronicles 20: 6-9).

We must, I must do the same. I must remind myself of who God is and cry out to Him in faith. The time is now.

 Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel . . . as he stood in the assembly.

 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you:

‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. 

God’s Word reminds us of truth, when we often believe we must work it out with our own thoughts, as the kids sing the verses:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
 As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:6,8-9.

 Tomorrow march down against them . . .

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’”

 Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20: 17-19).

 Early in the morning . . . Jehoshaphat stood and said,

“Listen to me, Judah and people of Jerusalem!

Have faith in the Lord your God and you will be upheld; have faith in his prophets and you will be successful.” 

 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:

“Give thanks to the Lord,
    for his love endures forever.”

 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:20-22).

The battle you and I face today is not our battle. It’s the Lord’s battle.

Let’s continue to infuse our minds and spirit with God’s truth. May kids from Toni & Kids Sing Bible restore faith, bring joy, and help us keep a song of truth in our hearts and minds today:

Thank you Irelyn and Noel for singing!

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him Hebrews 11:6, NIV.

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.

 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,
declares the Lord.
 As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts Isaiah 55:6,8-9.

Need joy? God Knows What we Need. Put yourself in God’s presence with Psalm 95:

It was a day, years ago, touched by the ever-living power of the Word of God, Psalm 95 had me pick up a pen and my slightly twangy guitar to put down a song.

The Lord put the gospel message on my heart as I meditated on His exhortation, “Come let us worship and bow down.

“Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” Psalm 95:6.

We all are created by God. And His greatest gift to us, He lets us decide whether to believe or not.

He desires we all “talk to Him,” seek His Word and spend time with Him. His love is so great. He is love.

Love came down.

Joy? It’s a gift of His Holy Spirit. When we turn our hearts to Him and call on Him (for who He is, the Savior of the world), we receive (His) love. His Spirit comes and washes our sins. He makes us a new creation, today, in Him.

God the Father gives us His love through His Son who paid our debt in full and gave us His Spirit as a guarantee.

We bow down, He turns the “light on” in our souls. He breathes in us His breath of life. We become whole, filled with joy.

And we must not forget, peace. Jesus takes all our garbage and sin and gives us new birth.

“In Christ,” we become new creations. Born a second time into life, here and now, and for all eternity.

His Spirit calls . . .

“Come, let us worship.”

Talk to the Lord, not half-hearted but with all your heart.

Is it time to make Him your God, who lives and dwells with you?

Let us worship and bow down before the Lord our Maker: Psalm 95

A Call to Worship and Obedience

Psalm 95 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
5 The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.

6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.

Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
10 For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

Make today, your day of salvation. Enter into the “joy” of the Lord!

And make sure you tell someone about your new-birth in Christ.

Who needs a moment of music therapy today? This is for you:

Before Covid, to help my own healing, I would walk into the nursing home and on occasion, the infusion room with the guitar and simply start to sing and recite scripture. There was nothing amazing about any of it, except the Lord would show up and His Spirit would revive us all.

This is for you, in need of comfort through the pain: (Cover The Joy of the Lord is my Strength by Twila Paris).

Music Therapy cover: The Joy of the Lord by Twila Paris

There is someone crying out to the Lord for mercy today.

Someone is hurting physically, feeling alone, and not sure about what to do next.

Someone has been harmed by others and is left in pain, isolated, and presently feels abandoned.

Are you far from home and feel displaced?

I share music therapy today with you in hopes the vibration of strings lifts your heart and mind to praise God and draw near to Him, as He then promises to be near to you (James 4:8).

Jesus came to reconcile us to the Father and has “put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, a guarantee” when we open our hearts to Him (2 Corinthian 1:22).

In this world of perfect sound and production, we don’t have the opportunity to experience the simplicity of six strings and a moment of therapy with raw vocals with the sole purpose to comfort and refresh.

May you experience the “joy of the Lord” as your strength today.

– Toni

If you have received comfort from the Lord today, let me or someone know. If today is the day you opened your heart to receive the love of Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation that He gave on the cross, tell your whole world. Tell everyone, the angels in heaven are celebrating today your new-birth-day!

The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” Zephaniah 3:17.

Cancer Hope: A Hymnal and a Phone Message

It was a day of great sickness after chemo. I opened a hymnal on my bookshelf. It opened to Be Still My Soul by Kathrina von Schlegel.

In a horrible physical and emotional state, the words jumped off the page for me. Just for me. I felt the Lord unveil these words personally, to me. . .

Be Still my Soul. The Lord is on thy side . . .

After great trials and this physical pain, I honestly forgot, that the Lord I believed in and asked to come in my life, was “on my side.”

I struggled in my faith. But the hymn:
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain

Actively reading this phrase, I understood immediately, the Lord could see it all. Faith ignited in a second through the reading, (not even the singing) of this hymn.

(Quite honestly, I had no idea the melody. Old hymns weren’t regularly played at my contemporary Bible-teaching church.)

I read more:

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.”

And when you fight a cancer battle, it does come into the mind, “Am I going to make it?”

God knew I was asking and God answered me through a phone call, (though I will confess, God showed me other glimpses of my healing along the way until I finally believed completely).

A young 13-year old, Landon, (whom I had spent some moments with to get started playing his guitar), learned I was sick with breast cancer.

He not only prayed for me, but he sought the Lord in His Bible for answers and hope.

Landon called me, on August 23rd, 2010.

I didn’t hear the call. It went to voice-mail. I’m so glad it did. I replayed it over and over again. Here is the voice mail I saved:
“Hello Ms. Toni, this is Landon. I just wanted to read you some scriptures that the Lord gave to me for you. It is from Psalm 18:

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies . . .


He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from the powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support . . .


As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect . . .
He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.


You give me Your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me;
I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.

You armed me with strength for the battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet. You made my enemies turn their back in flight, and I destroyed my foes.

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them- to the LORD, but he did not answer…
The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!”

Yes, Landon read his Bible to me on the phone and he left this message.

“You made my enemies turn their back in flight, and I destroyed my foes . . . ” This was amazing.

The precious phone message, Psalm 18, and the hymn Be Still My Soul mean so much to me.

I share what I put down those many years ago as music therapy for myself in my cancer battle. I hope it brings peace and rest of mind for someone as they draw near to Jesus.

He promises to draw near: For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” Romans 10:13.

Music Therapy/ Painted Bible by legacystudio.co

Please feel free to share this with any friends or family unable to sleep or rest during a physical or emotional challenge. Thanks – toniryp

 2 Be still, my soul; your God will undertake
to guide the future as he has the past;
your hope, your confidence, let nothing shake;
all now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
his voice who ruled them while he lived below.

4 Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on
when we shall be forever with the 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.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #847

Notebook Praises Plus (a bit of) My Cancer Story

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men,” (people). “The Lord is at hand” Philippians 4:4,5.

tonirypkema.com

Today.

Yesterday.

Moving forward.

I can take joy in the Lord. I can’t always have joy in my circumstances, the weather, my location, or my past, but I can always take joy in the Lord.

He alone is good.

He’s holy. Perfect in all His ways. He’s the lover of our souls. Patient, gracious, slow to anger, kind. The Lord God Almighty.

He’s completely trustworthy, yet at times, hard for me to trust. If it wasn’t for His Word, my thoughts would believe He’s the opposite of all He is.

He allows great trial, confusion, pain.

Do I believe Him when everything falls apart?

His Word tells me He knows my name. Do I believe this in the moments when I can barely remember my own?

He hears the worries I have, my cries, my tears.

But doubt sometimes floods my being to bring me down as a sickness.

My faith fails, (past, present, and future), yet God remains faithful and true. No matter what.

“You’ve got cancer.”

My diagnosis, not someone else. This was trial number three, not one.

I lost faith, became afraid, yet in the fight, my sister told me, “Toni, the people who keep faith do best.”

Where else could I go? I looked to the Lord.

He helped me through my failures and gave me the strength to trust Him, (one day at a time) with eleven healthy, full-term births, and four miscarriages along the way.

The Lord upheld my marriage, year after year for better, worse, sickness, health, richer, and poorer.

The trials opened my eyes to the presence of the Lord, His keeping power and grace. Only one set of footprints could be found in the sand. Jesus carried me with compassion, grace, and love that bore all my “stuff.”

He brought “prayer warriors,” from all over the map. Food, gifts for the kids, desserts, cards, phone calls . . . the Lord was a present help. He was with me. He brought family, friends, songs, hymns, His Word.

I put all my eggs in one basket. The Jesus basket.

Cancer opened my eyes to many failures and sicknesses in my heart. When we pray prayers like, “Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting,” you better believe, God will answer. (Psalm 139:23,24).

Cancer gave me more than it took away, it gave me an increased faith in the true and living God.

After my third chemo treatment, I came home feeling very sick. The sickness was to begin in a day and a half, not an hour and a half. The kids were spending time with a neighbor.

Laying down on the couch, eyes closed, I felt death in my bone marrow.

My body was rocked hard with the chemo. It wasn’t used to anything meds, ever. Not even for childbirth! But, fighting cancer, . . . I did the chemo.

Did they give me too much Adriamycin?

Shouldn’t I be seeing lights? It’s so dark. I thought I was going to die. Darkness was there, but then . . .

I had a vision. (I know you’ll think I’m crazy,) but a door opened in the darkness and light came through.

Two, healed, but nail-pierced hands stretched out of the open door. Then words (which I had read thousands of times from my favorite children’s book by Glen Keane), came to mind:

“Not all know Me as their King.”

That was it.

This was huge!

I had the assurance I was to live. But even more.

The Lord enlisted me in His army. He gave me work to do.

Weeks later, when I was strong enough to return to church, a guest Missionary pastor highlighted on the screen a verse from Philippians 1:25,26.

“And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ . . . “

Again, the Lord was speaking, “Toni, you’re going to make it through this horrible sickness and multiple trials, but you will now share joy and faith in My name with others.”

Yes, “Rejoice in the Lord, and again I will say, rejoice!”

I will never be ashamed to share the Good News of the One who has saved my life for salvation and every continuing day on this thorny earth.

While I have my being, I’m living for Jesus. He’s the only One Who truly, completely, perfectly Loves. (Period).

Jesus loves me, you, every human being on this planet. We all need Him.

This is not a religion. This is life, hope, peace, and love. This is what the world needs . . .

Do you know Jesus as your King? Perhaps the time is now.

Give me a safe place, dear Lord. You, alone, O Lord, make me dwell safely:

 “We will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah (Psalm 46). We will pause and think calmly of the Name above all names, Jesus: Lord Omnipotent, Sovereign, LORD over all the earth.

“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.


 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth” Psalm 46:10.
 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah Psalm 46:11.

Today. This day. We, “Pause and calmly think of that!”

“O God, give me noble and praise-worthy thoughts. I will speak a hymn and a psalm and immediately be changed from fear to faith:

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

Keep my thoughts on things above, not on things of the earth.

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

The only separation from me to You, Holy God of the Universe, is my sin. My unbelief, my pride to think I am enough without You. There is not a person on this planet able to escape evil thoughts, covetousness, selfishness, and lies.

I can never be good enough to come into Your presence. But Christ Jesus bridged the gap as He stretched out His arms for me on the cross.

Your Word is truth:

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word

I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with thee one

Am I separate from God, or am I His “true son?” Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” Romans 10:13.

Call on Him, Today.

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

From the kingdom of darkness I’ve escaped, in the name of Jesus, to the Kingdom of Light. My inheritance is Love. Joy, peace, patience, kindness are empowered in and through me by the power and gift given to me of the Holy Spirit.

I’ve inherited the faithful, keeping hand of God to hold me for all eternity. I have reason to be thankful in every circumstance. I am a child of God. He has made me victorious in faith in Him!

High King of heaven, my victory won
May I reach heaven’s joys, O bright heaven’s sun

Heart of my own heart, whatever befall

Still be my vision, O ruler of all

Psalm 46, Amplified:

God is our refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable],
A very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains be shaken and slip into the heart of the seas,
 
Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains tremble at its roaring. Selah.

(Pause and think calmly of that!)


There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
 
God is in the midst of her [His city], she will not be moved;
God will help her when the morning dawns.
 
The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered and were moved;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.


Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has brought desolations and wonders on the earth.
 
He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow into pieces and snaps the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
 
“Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
 
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold [our refuge, our high tower]. Selah.

Pause and calmly think of that!

Remember the prisoners as if chained with them–those who are mistreated–since you yourselves are in the body also. 

4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 

5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” 

7 Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. 

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:3-8.

“Be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.”

In any present darkness, a breath to praise brings the Lord’s presence of light.

“Be still my soul, the Lord is in thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide. In every change, He faithfully will remain.

Be still my soul, thy best and heavenly friend, through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.”(Hymn, Be Still My Soul by Katharina von Schlegel).

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, My God, my strength, in whom I will trust . . .

He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support.

He brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me . . . For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect . . . The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock!

It is God who avenges me . . . Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD . . . And sing praises to Your name” Psalm 18.

I recorded Be Still My Soul with portions of Psalm 18 in the midst of my cancer battle 10 years ago. Bald, sick from chemo, weak, anxious about finances, and school lessons and schedules, kid’s health, etc., yet speaking and singing hymns was God’s living and breathing therapy for me.

He lifted me. The LORD God, Creator of the heavens and earth and everything in it held me up. The prayers of family and the saints far and wide were heard by the Lord.

His hand was on our family. He gave exceptional gifts to my kids. God was faithful, (even in my faithlessness at times). What a gracious, compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in mercy and forgiveness, (Ex. 34:6,7).

Yes, I believe God’s Word. He touched me physically, emotionally, and spiritually and kept me during a very dark time, and continues each and every day continuing.

“I LOVE the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live . . . ” Psalm 116:1,2.

And of my days, there will be no end. All because of Jesus taking all my failure on the cross. He forgives me. He cleansed me. He gives me hope today. He is risen, and He continually raises me up and rescues me.

And He stretches His arms out and offers this to all who will believe. “Yes, Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. Increase my faith.”

If there is one person this blesses, it’s enough for me -Toni

Heart Broken, Not Offended over News of Intolerance

This is nothing new, yet deep sadness comes when Christians, who are forced in this culture to tolerate so much, witness closed doors to groups who want to share the Good News to those who will hear.

True believers, believers in the God of the Bible, aren’t offended by this news, we’re heart-broken.

God’s greatest gift to the entirety of mankind is His gift to choose.

How sad, that people are afraid of a different opinion than the god of the culture. What if the God of the Bible is the true and living God?

Should we only be tolerant of the god of the intellect and modern world and not check out the Word of the Ancient of Days? We study hard for many tests in life, should we not consider reading God’s Testimonies for understanding instead of “hear-say” about them?

Who’s close-minded? Do we want to be found deceived in the end?

Shouldn’t people be exposed to both views? God allows choice, should we not as well?

When I was young, I went my stubborn way, making god into what I believed he should be. A distant God. While I went on to discover me.

But the “me” I was discovering had a story much like Humpty Dumpty who had a great fall. Broken in pieces, hurting, unable to put myself together on my own, I felt desperate and afraid with no where to turn.

But God was watching over me. And now my true search for God began.

Friends in high school, who I believe were part of Young Life, (also part of the Key club at our school), gave me a Bible.

It didn’t mean much to me then, but God knew, there would be a perfect time when I needed to know God.

At that time, my life depended on it.

I opened the Bible given to me years before and found the name of Jesus mentioned everywhere. Curiosity and deep hunger had me reading the Bible like a new best-seller, (which it is by the way, only, not new).

My heart was finally open to receive Jesus as God, Lord and Savior of my life.

He created everything with His Word. He’s provided His-story. He’s patient and kind. God is love. He doesn’t insist on His own way.

He’s the giver of life, breath, love. He’s Creator God.

And, He gives choice to each man to believe. He allows, He lets . . . man to choose Him or reject.

Why be afraid to let other voices be heard?

What if the Word of God is what it says it is, the truth: Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth John 17:17.

This news report of no surprise to God. It’s written:

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him” John 1:10,11.

Younglife and many Christian organizations want the overwhelmed, restless, and guilt-ridden world to know the Good News, the God of the Bible.

Yes, God is love, but He is also Holy. God is just.

We’ve all sinned. Meaning, we’re all separated from God. The mystery is revealed in the pages.

That’s why He sent Jesus. His perfect blood shed on the cross is the atoning sacrifice. The “at one” with God sacrifice.

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God John 1:12,13.

I received Jesus. I’m not perfect, but He made me new then, believing on Him for salvation, and each day He graciously accepts me, because I’m washed, cleansed, believing Him as my Savior and Lord.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Why be afraid to have Young Life on the campus? When the God of the Bible is the most liberating and freeing God ever:

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,  that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation 2 Corinthians 5:18,19.

God was in Christ reconciling the lost and broken world to Himself. God alone can put us back together again.

To keep people from choice, is a huge crime to Jesus. Do people want to be found guilty for causing others to stumble:

Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come, but woe to anyone through whom they come.  It would be better for them to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.  So watch yourselves John 17:1-3.

Do we want to be a people closed to invite Groups that believe in the God of the Bible because it might speak against a cultural idea?

I wasn’t open when I received my Bible to hear its Word, but God knew there would be a day.

And He patiently allowed me to go my merry way, until I was open to hear. I’m thankful for the boldness that came from kids from a Young Life group. In the end, the Lord used them to be a part of putting my broken pieces together.

I’m thankful for Young Life. And I’m broken-hearted that there might be a broken soul that now is unable to be touched by the Good News that Young Life brings.

Are you still in question who Younglife actually is and what their message actually is:

 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him 2 Corinthians 5:20-21.

Young Life will continue. Young Life remains. Believers in Christ pray and we watch God move, whether the world will open their doors or not. God touches hearts that seek after Him.

God’s love never fails 1Corinthians 13.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby . . .

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone . . .
The great He? He’s Jesus!

Soon to hold my precious newborn grandson with anticipation and great joy, I give abounding, bubbling, and tripping over thanks to God.

Baby Emeril safe and content in his mama’s arms.

Do you also think of the familiar Bill Gaither hymn when reading the title phrase?

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Not only, this new-born child, but all ages that hold this precious gem . . . Yes, “this child” can face uncertain days, because the LORD Lives.

There has been much toil leading to this moment in time for us, yet, one thing stands secure,

The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe Proverbs 18:10.

No matter what! (And no-one could have told me all the whats that would happen in our Michael Rypkema family life up to now), and also in yours, I’m sure,

but can you, and will you join me, to proclaim this constant:

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth Psalm 121:2.

And for all of us who believe this with every ounce of our being, no matter what, we proclaim to choose, to the best of our abilities, with the help of the Lord, to:

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal Psalm 26:4.

You and I, we witness much loss in our own lives, and those around us.

Great battles rage.

Storms, sickness, and loss as a result of living in this fallen world often leave our hearts broken and bleeding.

But we remind each other, The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

These are God’s Words, not our own. God is close to the broken-hearted. When the Bible is opened Psalm 34:18 comforts with truth.

The hymns, the Psalms, God’s Word . . . our joy and rejoicing. Our comfort in pain. Our compass in darkness.

Our life.

Our steady song.

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

A new-born child. It’s time to celebrate.

Actually, at all times, we can celebrate the Lord.

And each new day we can celebrate new birth as we surrender and put our trust in God.

We rejoice in the Lord for the wondrous good in life. And we also choose to praise Him through the trials.

A heart willing to praise increases faith in our day to day. To God be the glory for His goodness at all times.

Today . . . Join me in speaking aloud:

My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD, And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever Psalm 145:21.

This is our hope, that all flesh will bless His holy name, now and forever, with hearts tuned to praise Him, always.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

Let all the children say, “Amen.”

Will I? . . . Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His mouth

 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
    for your love is more delightful than wine Song of Songs which is Solomon’s 1:2.

Will I allow the Creator of all that I am, come near me?

Even so personal, and intimate as a kiss.

And not on the cheek.

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,” sings the Song of Songs.

Is this the Song above all others?

The greatest song our hearts can sing?

The ultimate song of surrender?

Can I believe that the Creator God of all the Universe and all that’s in it, desires time with me?

Only me?

Intimate and concerned with . . . me?

Perhaps doing hard things in life are more than huge tasks and difficult adventures.

Doing hard things might be . . . simply letting God love us.

You.

Me.

Being still to receive.

Will I?

Allow, authorize, commission, license, accede to, agree to, consent to . . .

God and His precious love for me?

Will I concede, grant, endure, and tolerate . . .

the kisses of His mouth, to my lips?

Will I?

It’s natural for my hurting heart to turn from, or hinder, impede, obstruct, censure, deny, disallow, disapprove, refuse, reject, revoke, suppress, and withhold.

Hurts permeate our souls. We’re broken.

Weak, with no energy to fight, God’s love endures. He patiently breaks through.

He suffers long through ages of time and rejection.

God’s love rises above envy and pride. He’s never provoked or rude as we so often are.

How can He bear all things?

How does He believe the best in each one He sees?

How can He hope all things for me? He remains steadfast. He never gives up on anyone. (1)

There is none like God. (2)

“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters” Song of Solomon 2: 1,2.

He gave His precious life, a red rose of Sharon, a tender lily among thorns of the cross.

Before I knew the beauty of the Lord, His love surrounded me.

“Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair, thou hast doves eyes” Song of Solomon 1:15.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” Jeremiah 1:5.

He knows me. The good, the bad, the ugly.

He knows you too. Yet, He reaches out His arms to us.

“His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me” Song of Solomon 2:6. 

In His arms of love, there is no other place of peace.

“The voice of my beloved, behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills” Song of Solomon 2:8.

Mountains of trouble and strife are everywhere, but  he comes leaping on them, skipping up the hills.
Yes, He’s lover of my soul, and you?

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
For your love is better than wine”

“Your name is ointment poured forth; . . .
Draw me away!” Song of Solomon 1:2,3,4.

Can we hear Him call?

“Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come” Song of Solomon 2:10,11.

Yes, . . . we will.

(1) 1 Corinthians 13

(2) 2 Samuel 7:22

Cancer with a little “c” helped me SEE Christ with a capital “C”

   

(God’s Hand painting: JonathanRypkema, 2010.)

I didn’t begin to write until my cancer fight.

But, I had to write, if only for myself.

God placed on my heart to write that I might remember good themes while facing the battle before me.

Cancer changes you. For me,  it was for good.

I had many cancers of thought and attitude as well, growing in my heart after “life happens,” in other words,  great affliction and testing.

Through a flood of trial, thought patterns of fear, anger, and uncertainty came over me through the course of a day and the battle felt too great to overcome, yes, even in the Lord. 

Yes, “My flesh and my heart,” did fail, but “God was the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Psalm  73:26. 

The physical battle of cancer kicked me into a renewed faith to live, abide, and trust in God, moment by moment.

Has your life been rudely interrrupted by something tramatic and painful? 

God did not “cause” this cancer, but He is in control and He most certainly “allowed” this trial in my life. 

It’s as if I ws “blind” to many wonderful things about God, and He allowed me to “SEE HIM” in my agony like never before.

So much so, I became what some might say, a “Jesus Freak,” so to speak!

How will we know God is All-sufficient until we’re allowed to be in a place where we have no sufficiency in ourselves.

After the cancer diagnosis, I grew strong through the Word of God by day,  but, I admit,  at night, fear would come rushing in to envelope me.

I recited aloud scriptures I had memorized. They permeated deep inside me, increasing my faith in a God I couldn’t see, but I believed was drawing near to me, personally, individually, intimately.

I prayed the name of Jesus, over and again. Victory of anxious thoughts was won moment by moment.

Weeks before the cancer diagnosis, I was feeling pains in my pelvic bone and excessive fatigue. After the diagnosis, before the scans, I feared the cancer had spread to my bones. Would I have a fourth stage diagnosis?

One particular night I felt compelled to get out of bed, to literally fall prostrate before the Lord.

I prayed,

“Lord God, I’m afraid this cancer has  metastasized to my bones. Please heal me. Heal my bones.”

I went back to bed. The verse in 2 Kings came to mind, “Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
I felt the crazy desire to pray in this manner, seven times. 

So, I prayed on my face that night seven times.

I prayed in Jesus’ name for mercy and healing of my body. 

Weeks later, my bone scan results were clear.  However, a large cancer tumor, remained in my breast. What to do?

My father, Dr. Ernst E. Born, M.D. had passed away some years before.  He was an oncologist/surgeon in Arizona. 

As I grew up,  Poloroid pictures of tumors, surgically removed  that day lay on our kitchen counter.  This was a great encouragement for me to take vitamins and strive to be healthy.

I was a natural and alternative medicine person through and through.

After the tests and the diagnosis, my schedule was filled quickly with surgeon and oncology visits. 

The woman behind the surgeon’s office counter was from church.  A Christian song  played from the speaker in the room as I waited. 

I heard a voice, not audibly, but impressed upon me, from behind saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” as I walked in to meet the oncologist. 

“This is the way, walk in it,” chemo, surgery, traditional medicine, but I had a peace that passed all my understanding. God was with me. 

Part of the  chemo I had to endure was nicknamed by my oncology nurse, The Red Devil, because it was red and it kills cancer. (Adriamycin was used decades before by my dad to fight cancer. He would’ve been happy.)

Chemo has it’s good, I suppose, and it’s bad, and ugly.Chemo was the hardest thing I had ever been through in my life, and I birthed eleven children, completely natural.

After my third treatment, my dear friend drove me home after I was loaded up with the prescribed chemo for that day. Within an hour I was sick. My body wasn’t used to such invasion.

I laid down after my friend Andrea had prayed for me. She reluctantly left me to have some rest while my sweet neighbor Estelle had the kids for a bit. With my eyes closed, I felt I could feel death in my bones.

Anyway, I started talking to God with fear,  “Lord, I think they misjudged the amount of chemo.”

I thought I was dying. I was looking for lights or brightness.  I saw none.

Anyway, I saw darkness. But suddenly there was a door.

It was open. There was light shining out of the door. Then I saw His hands, palms side up. Scarred, but healed.

“Not all know Me as their King,” (words from Glen Keane’s children’s book, Adam Raccoon and the Mighty Giant,  I read thousands of times), were the thoughts that I heard clearly in my heart.

I knew right then, I was going to live. God gave me marching orders for my future.

The hands that were stretched out in the vision had the scars from the nails.

Jesus knows all about scars . . . because He laid down His life for each one of us. Especially me. Especially you. Everyone.

And, as best I can, being in this fleshy human body, with many weaknesses and temptations, I would like to lay down my life for Him. 

One day at a time. Moment by moment.

God allows us trial. He has us enter battles of emotion, physical weakness, spiritual fatigue. But God,. . . 

He faithfully brings us through. He brought me through. I was carried by the prayers of the saints, through His Word, and , one more point to my story,

He brought me to the hymns. I’m a guitarist. I came to know the Lord in a contemporary church. But He allowed trial. And, for someone who doesn’t sit well, He allowed great stillness.

 That same afternoon, after the third chemo treatment, after the vision,  I opened a hymnal on the shelf to Be Still My Soul:

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Its as if I never knew this truth, and it was for me, right then: The Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to your God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: your best, your heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

The Spirit of the living God fell afresh on me and ministered a breath of restoration and hope in me.

I could go out in peace and  the courage of God.

He loved me through my times of doubt and fear, and He loves us still through our struggles. He meets us there when we seek Him.

God encouraged me, “Draw near to Me, and I’ll draw near to you.” 

I learned Be Still My Soul on the guitar and sang it to myself often. It’s recorded with parts of Psalm 18, to be music therapy for me, and hopefully someone else going through trial.

Be still, my soul: your God will undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds shall know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

 Katharina Amalia Dorothea von Schlegel

.

Let me know if my story brings comfort in any way. It makes it all worth it. Every bit of it.

The Greatest Graduation Speech Ever

“I would like to say that now that we have our degree, we will not run into problems that we can’t handle.

Truthfully, no matter the type of degree, the number of years of experience, no matter the location, support groups, family, or friendships,

there will always come a time when we just don’t know the answer. It’s inevitable.

So, I want to encourage you with a little anatomy lesson:

Did you know that there are 47 different structures that make up the human eye that all have a unique function?

Did you know that there are 6 extra-ocular muscles, 4 cranial nerves, and 1.2 million nerve fibers in each optic nerve?

Did you know that when light waves touch my eye, without even thinking about it, I blink. 

I blink to protect my eyes from too much exposure.

And when the amount of light changes, my pupillary-light response reacts without a thought, that only the right amount of light is allowed into my eye.

Did you know there are four of twelve cranial nerves that work specifically for the eye? They allow me to focus on an object, read it, and also move in different directions.

There are 9 different structures that all play a specific role in receiving light messages before they even get to the brain!

And not until those messages get to the occipital lobe of the brain that I’m able to interpret what I’m actually seeing.

The eyes receive millions of light waves and messages everyday, but my brain has a specific area that let’s only the important and significant messages through so that the brain doesn’t get over-stimulated.

Did you know that the God who told me to cast all my cares upon Him,

and told me He will never leave me nor forsake me,

and that I should be anxious for nothing,

was the very One who designed this whole system and hundreds like it so that we can live and move and breathe every second.

Did you know that He didn’t have to lift a finger and didn’t sweat a drop to think of it?

He just breathed on one man,

and He said that He knit us together and formed us in our mother’s womb before you were even a thought in her mind.

So, what are you worried about? 

What will you be worried about when you come up to those hurdles that are bound to cross you path?

Think of your eye and tell me, that your situation, your problem, your worry is too big for GOD who created you and the world you live in.”

 

This Best Graduation Speech was presented by Carolyn Rypkema at the Lamplighting Ceremony at PBAU, May 3, 2012.

I’m the proud mama, and not only that, May 3rd, the day of the greatest speech ever, was my birthday.

 

My dear Carolyn, the oldest daughter of our large family, I love you more than you will ever know. I am more proud of you than you can conceive in your very smart mind. I am so thankful of the unifying spirit within you, the encouraging spirit, the brave and courageous spirit  that you possess. You are an amazing person. 

I have failed as a mom so many times, but I have succeeded in one point, pointing you, and each my kids to the One Who Loves perfectly, the One Who knows everything, and the One Who never leaves us or forsakes us. 

Isn’t God amazing? Thank you Carolyn for reminding me through your wonderful graduation speech that God’s watching and keeping us under His careful and perfect eye.

He will continually guide each of us continually with His eye!

I love you forever,

mom

Knowing God through Worship, Everyday

Many years ago, sitting high above the row of seats in the sanctuary in a small, separated “new mom’s room” with a window. I was alone with a new baby. Jesus and me and a new-born. It was my fourth child.

Worship was in progress.

My heart was over-flowing with thanks to God for a healthy baby, for a safe delivery, for energy to be at church with a one-week old.

Holding a new little miracle, (as all children are), I came to the house of worship to give thanks to God.

I will confess, when I first found out I was expecting, again, . . .  my heart and mind didn’t take hold of celebration, but instead, fear and anxiety, “Who has four kids?”

“I’ll probably never play the guitar again.”

God could see my selfishness in the beginning, but, He had a plan.

God patiently loved me still. He turned my heart completely.

He changed me.

I came to worship Him.

Who is God besides our Lord?

There is no love like God’s love:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.

God endured all for me, and you.

God’s love believes in me, and you.

God’s love hopes all things for everybody.

“God’s love never fails.”

My mind couldn’t (and can’t) fully comprehend the width and depth of God’s love.  But holding this knew baby, somehow, my spirit knew the language to speak,

“Worship Him.”

This was an extra-ordinary day, but what about the ordinary? What if we make the choice? Today. To have a heart of praise.

Let’s worship God. Let’s lift up spiritual words with the sound of our voice to meet the Lord in a quiet place. That He might meet us here, and pour out His grace:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

A worshipful heart has no room for complaint or lack. God’s presence dwells in praise. He brings peace to experience His love.

He is our Father in heaven. He is holy. He alone is Love:

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

The Father gave, the Son obeyed, the Spirit reminds me, “Worship the King.”

And in the very act of worship,

we believe Him purer, understand Him greater, sense His love deeper.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

Oh, to have a heart of worship this day. Not just those precious moments, but the ordinary days as well.

“Oh, that we would know You greater, God of Love and grace. Empty us of ourselves and fill us with Your praise:

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Evolution of a Writer. New Focus. A New Day

In the beginning, I was stirred to write after I read the words of Jeremiah 30:1-2, “Write in a book all the words which I have spoken to you.”

What a mess of a beginning, but I’m happy to have a beginning and to fumble along the way, and then join a local Word Weaver’s writing critique group, and discover the more I know, the more I know I don’t know.

So, I wrote basically a series of Bible thoughts and meditations that I would call God’s Hand.

Today, I change the face, the direction, and purpose of my blog writing. I want the focus to be Help in talking about God along the way that hunger would be stirred to know Him more.

 

 

A Repeated Song of Thanks and Love, from mom

A giver of gifts, not my specialty.

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

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

a heart bulging with inexpressible love,

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

My child, you are knit to me.

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

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

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

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

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

The Table is where I gave Him my all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

in you.

Always.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

for now and forever,

I am a thankful mom.

(1) John 1:12

 

 

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