Tag: a poem

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

Holding Fast. A Prayer for Today

“This world, this wilderness, this desert place— where You watch our steps, it’s ruthless and rough, scary and often-times, a disgrace. This world, O Lord, that You ‘so loved.’ You sent Your precious Son that the people might see  with their eyes, and experience Love.

But at each turn, moment by moment, for us, (and 2,000 years ago, for You, Jesus), there’s strife, accusing, and distrust. This world is broken with edges that are sharp. So often, Lord, our hearts are left bleeding all over the place.
You know all about that, and remind us: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. (1)

Pour out that ‘sufficient grace’, Lord. Give us ears open, for listening. Give our hearts increased understanding:
I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown. Revelation 3:11.

God, these words seem at times, foreign and distant. What do we have? How do we hold fast? Remind me of the crown. What’s the meaning of all this?
The old folks are weary, fighting to persevere. The children are caught in a cultural fast-paced race. Your Book is open. We will be still, and hear:

These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open.
Oh, Lord, in awe and reverence, we are listening, with the Book open in Revelation 3:

I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open, which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message, and have not renounced or denied My name. (2)

But God, You can see that I have not always kept Your Word. Please forgive me. You see my shame. Wash me new, today. Help my eyes acknowledge the work You have done for me:

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, Psalm 103. (3)

Yes, I see a door in my mind, open, with Your nail-pierced hands before me. You speak ever gently, Remember Me.
Flooding now in my memory from Your Word: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life . . . Psalm 23. (4)

And then a hymn comes cleansing me:

I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior
Oh, there are ten thousand charms (5)
Dear Lord, the Welcome mat to Your house of Love is often an Hymn from so long ago:
Come, ye thirsty, come and welcome
God’s free bounty glorify
True belief and true repentance
Every grace that brings you nigh
Come, ye weary, heavy-laden
Lost and ruined by the fall
If you tarry ’til you’re better
You will never come at all
He who overcomes [the world through believing that Jesus is the Son of God], I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God; he will most certainly never be put out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My [own] new name. 
 He who has an ear, let him hear and heed what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (6)
Today, as if it were my first. Today, as if it were my last:
I will arise and go to Jesus
He will embrace me in His arms
In the arms of my dear Savior
Oh, there are ten thousand charms (5)

(1) 2 Corinthians 12:9.
(2) Revelation 3:7-8.
(3) Psalm 103:2-4.
(4) Psalm 23:6.
(5) I Will Arise and Go To Jesus/ Joseph Hart/ 1759.
(6) Revelation 3:12,13.

A Blind Woman’s Calling was to Help the World to See

A blind woman could see much more than most of us dream. She couldn’t see color, or line, or form, but she had eyes to see the Lord.
Her heart would write scores of words to increase our vision and understanding of the Lord.

Fanny Crosby teaches devotion to God as we open old hymns and speak them and sing.

We weep on earth when loved ones pass, but in the LORD, hope continues on. Saved by Grace, 1891, Fanny’s chorus repeats confident and strong:

And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace; 
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace. 

Who is He that she longs to see. Our hearts long to read on and hear her words because we are born into this broken world, and in the midst of happy moments and and fun and life, there are great hurts. Great losses threaten to shadow all delight.

But God, He’s there. He asks quietly, “Do you believe?”

“Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.  Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You  must be born again.’  The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit,” John 3:5-9.

With God, at times it seems all mystery. But Fanny writes of her Lord to show us the end before the beginning:

Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!

This is hope. What does it all mean? Does God put this hunger in us all that we search for answers that we might see and know?

Some day my earthly house will fall,
I cannot tell how soon ’twill be;
But this I know-—my All in All
Has now a place in heav’n for me.

Can I know? Without a doubt? How can I know that I will see the Lord face to face. How could Fanny write with such confidence of God’s grace?

And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace.

We are born as a baby, but before our death, is there a birth that must take place? Is this the meaning of this mystery?
A day in our life, either early or late, we must look up to Jesus, God’s Son Whom He has sent. A second birth? It is on that day, we look up and choose to say, “I believe in all You did for me on the cross.”

“Take my sin and all my misery. Empty me that I might be filled with You. Give me new life today. Fill me with Your Spirit now, and for every day.”
Then the chorus Fanny wrote will be our song of hope that we sing with heart’s strong.

Some day, when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy-tinted west,
My blessed Lord will say, “Well done!”
And I shall enter into rest.

All because of the grace of God through Jesus.
Fanny wrote, that years later I could remain confident and sing until the very end:

Some day: till then I’ll watch and wait,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,
That when my Savior opes the gate,
My soul to Him may take its flight.

Amen, Amen. Fanny would have us speak joyfully her chorus again:
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—-Saved by grace.

Evidence of a Spirit-filled life? Singing? Dear God, fill me that I might sing again

Evidence of a Spirit-filled life?

Singing?

As I open, Then Sings My Soul by Robert J. Morgan, a hymnal-devotion, many a mornings to me, I acknowledge even in the first of the day, after moments to pray, that my song is lost to thorns and rocks hidden within the soil of my heart.

I read the hymn, In My Heart There Rings a Melody, written way back in 1923.  Elton M. Roth penned the words: I have a song that Jesus gave me, It was sent from heav’n above, There never was a sweeter melody, ‘Tis a melody of love. 
In my heart there rings a melody, . . .”

But God can clearly see, this morning, my heart is out of key.
But the Lord won’t give up on me, “O ye of little faith.” His voice rings out over and over again to the disciples throughout His Word, yet with such tenderness and grace. There is none like our Lord.

He knows my heart, which is sad, so many days. Worried, and heavy, “leaning on my own understanding.” He watches me wrestle and strain. The illustration of me, is Romans 7—completely. I confess. My heart is weeping:

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong.  I love God’s law with all my heart.  But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind.

This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (Romans 7:21-24).

Look at all those I’s! Truly, this is not to be ignored.

I thank God for the next words I read. May each word permeate my whole being, and Lord, please give me depth of understanding:

 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:25 ends only to bring me to Romans 8: 

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, . . .

Yes, I belong to Him.

the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you, . . .

That’s what I need to be reminded continually. I am like a sheep, forgetting God’s promise of the Spirit in me:
the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you,  from the power of sin that leads to death. 

 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature.
 So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 

 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

God declared an end to sin’s control . . .by giving His Son . . . the requirement of the law would be fully satisfied . . .
This, yes, this brings back to me a song!

So I look on again at that age-old hymn, and yes, these are the words of praise I sing:
I love the Christ who died on Calv’ry, For He washed my sins away; He put within my heart a melody, And I know it’s there to stay.

‘Twill be my endless theme in glory, With the angels I will sing; ‘Twill be a song with glorious harmony, When the courts of heaven ring. In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody with heaven’s harmony;

In my heart there rings a melody, There rings a melody of love.”

Thanks be to God. He will meet me today and work in my heart to trust in Him more. And lean on His Word, not my own understanding. To get rid of the “I’s” and look to the Lord!

Do we all agree with an Amen? “Amen.”

 

 

A change of perspective after a look at Psalm 50

The media points out destruction and pain with pictures of loss, and sadness. O, how our hearts break.
O, the mysteries.
Could it be that God allows these trials to gather His lonely people together, to pour out His grace.

God’s ways are true and righteous altogether.

How our hearts are touched with each story of rescue. The sacrificial care given, the present provision. How mankind moves to help the hurting, to provide counsel for the broken hearted, to bring water to the thirsty.

Shelters are opened, people open their doors, meals are prepared, work crews move, and so much more . . .

How our hearts are ultimately touched  . . . by God:

Gather together to Me My saints [those who have found grace in My sight], those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.

And the heavens declare His righteousness — rightness and justice; for God, He is judge. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! Psalm 50:5,6, Amplified.

Perhaps a Psalm, or words of an old hymn strike a chord of calm, and quiet within. Circumstances don’t change. Days are still troublesome and hard. But there has been an exchange.

The fret and anxiety has been given over to Him . . . Have we been seeking Him? His face? His daily word?

The mighty One, God the Lord, speaks and calls the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. 
Our God comes, and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and round about Him a mighty tempest rages. (Psalm 50: 1-3 Amplified). 

The Word of God instructs. The Word speaks. The Word helps our hard hearts and blind eyes to see.
He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that He may judge His people: Gather together to Me  My saints . . .

Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify to you and agains you; I am God, your God . . . Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving; and pay your vows to the Most High, And call on Me in the day of trouble . . . (Psalm 50: 7,14).

I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me . . .” (Psalm 50: 15).

And so I train my hands for war, so to speak, and open an old hymn of Fanny Crosby:

Pass me not, O gentle Savior; Hear my humble cry! While on others Thou art calling, do not pass me by.

Let me at Thy throne of mercy Find a sweet relief; Kneeling there in deep contrition, Help my unbelief.

Trusting only in Thy merit, Would I seek Thy face, Heal my wound-ed bro-ken spirit Save me by Thy grace. 

Thou, the Spring of all my comfort, More than life to me! Whom have I on earth beside Thee? Whom in heaven but Thee?

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry! While on others Thou art calling. do not pass me by. (Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior, Fanny J. Crosby)

The Psalms turn around my thinking. The hymns give me cleansing words as I pray with hope to believe.

Let’s praise God in the darkness.

Let us praise God in the storm.

Let’s have thankful hearts that God finds us worthy,

to be a light in the night, as we wait together for morn.

Let us proclaim the Comfort He has brought us.

He has renewed, refreshed. He has made us Re-born.

He has given us rest.

Pulling our treasure from The Church Hymn Book, 1867, page 53

Taking some time each morning to glean from God’s Holy Word and Spurgeon, it seems, that very old words from hymns loudly speak, in language poetic, rich, and . . . timely.

“Great God, I love thy sacred word/ What light and  joy its leaves afford!/Thy precepts guide my doubtful way/Thy fear forbids my feet to stray.

Thy threatenings wake my slumbering eyes/ And warn me where my danger lies;/ They show me all my guilt and shame/ And make me prize the Savior’s name.

May this blest volume ever lie/ Close to my heart and near my eye;/ Till life’s last hour my thoughts engage/ And be my chosen heritage.”

So, in the morning, early and dark, I went digging for treasure that Spurgeon’s Devotional Bible had sparked.

I found old words written that made me rejoice in the Lord. The Church Hymn Book from 1867, full of costly treasures, all can afford.

“God in the gospel of his Son/ Makes his eternal counsels known;/ Where love in all its glory shines/ And truth is drawn in fairest lines.

Here sinners of an humble frame/ May taste his grace and learn his name./ May read in characters of blood/ The wisdom, power, and grace of God.

Here faith reveals to mortal eyes/ A brighter world beyond the skies;/ Here shines the light which guides our way/ From earth to realms of endless day.

Oh, grant us grace, almighty Lord/

To read and mark thy holy word,/ Its truths with meekness to receive/ And by its holy precepts live.”

Before the words were read this morning, I awoke with struggles and stresses stirring. But God’s breathed out message, and these long lost words, have proved to revive and set me again, on a straight and narrow course.

Let’s open His Word. Let’s sing the old songs. Oh God, help us humble ourselves, be teachable, and with joy, carry on!

God, I have a prayer . . .

“God, I have a prayer,  for the little ones and the old. May  children wake up surrounded, not by evil thoughts that are cold, but let the Spirit breathe on them, even words from long ago, hear our prayer:  “Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, heal the sick, and lead the blind…” (1)

God, I have a prayer, that vision would be giv’n to things that are unseen, that our minds would think above, that our souls would be set free.
That the prayer of our heart and exclamation of our tongues would be:  “More than all, in Thee I find!” Let Your Spirit refresh and our tongue repeat: “More than all, in Thee I find!”
You, Lord Jesus are what we need. To seek Thee first, is the key.
Oh God, may the world see the colors in Your hue.
May our eyes be opened to the sunrise of Your face. May the children of the entire human race, see that Your color, Dear Lord, is Grace!
“God, my prayer is written in this old Wesley hymn,“Just and holy is Thy name; I am all unrighteousness… that these words would be ours, our proclamation to you:  “Just and holy is Thy name; I am all unrighteousness…
As easy as ABC, yet harder than any Chemistry – there is no need for ‘outside clean-up’ jobs, the main event’s gotta happen inside, where the heart of the child sees their own mess, and finally cries: “Just and holy is His name.
I am all unrighteousness.”
False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.”
That children young and old would know, the words to the hymn, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul!”
“ALL the children of the world must admit, each in his own unique time and space:
 “I am all unrighteousness!”
Oh God, may the world see the color in Your hue, may their eyes be opened to the color of Your face – and that in Your image You created the entire human race, Your face, our Prince of Peace is full of Grace.
For “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Your very own words, dear Lord God. Matthew chapter 5  – is full of the attitudes You, Yourself had spoken – to be remedy to the sadness, pain and cries. Be still, children. And, on God’s green sod, lie.
“The Kingdom of heaven is yours today, be poor in spirit and blessed you’ll be.” These are the words, the remedy. But not one man likes to hear words of this sound. Oh no,”poor in spirit?” that means “I have need.”
“God, I have a prayer that the children can say: “Other refuge have I none; hangs my helpless soul on Thee. Leave, ah, leave me not alone; Still support and comfort me!”
Dear Lord, that the children would sing, “All my trust on Thee is stayed; All my help from Thee I bring. Cover my defenseless head, With the shadow of Thy wing.”
Yes, God, I have a prayer that the children of the world that You laid Your life down for, would change their tune and sing an old song:
“Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high! Hide me O my Savior hide, Till the storm of life is past. Safe into the haven guide. Oh, receive my soul at last!”
That the children would trust as they rest in Your hand, and sing and sing, “Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, while the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.” “God I have a prayer, that the children of the world to YOU would direct their cry!”
“Thou, O Christ, art all I want; More than all, in Thee I find.” That revival would spread like a fire in the forest, the children would pray,
“Raise the fallen, cheer the faint, Heal the sick and lead the blind. Just and Holy is Thy name, I am all unrighteousness. False and full of sin I am; Thou art full of truth and grace.” Yes, this is my prayer for me and for them!”
“Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin. Let the healing streams abound . . .” I pray for the children, the children of the world, that they would turn around and speak this new ‘old’ song, “Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life, the Fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee …”Spring Thou up within my heart; Rise to all eternity.”
This is the prayer, this is it, I say, “Spring Thou up within my heart;” May revival around us speak louder than the lies, “Plenteous grace with Thee is found, Grace to cover all my sin . . .
“Thou of life the Fountain art, Freely let me take of Thee. Spring Thou up within my heart; Rise to all eternity!”
“Let it be. Amen, let it be. Amen. For the women, the men and all the children.
“Thou, O Christ, art all I want; More than all, in Thee I find … 
“Spring Thou up within my heart; Rise to all eternity!”

(1) a hymn by Wesley: “Jesus, Lover of my Soul”

It's not all good news…But God!

Today, I am speaking plain and hard.
For those who have heard news like: “You have cancer.” or “You need a kidney transplant.” or, “You need a new liver or you die.” or…Oh, my, I will not even type more words…but you, yourself- most likely have your own words of great loss, and pain- and have asked the tough and hard question, “Why!”
And quite honestly there is no comfort that human flesh can bring. Quite honestly, any words that I might say, bring about a ‘sting’. Except, perhaps, the words, “Just do the next thing!”
It’s just not always good news. And we may never know ‘why.’ But, we have the choice- to read what we will, to believe what we will, to do as we choose – you see, ‘in the beginning’ yes, if you are believing, ‘God created…’ all that makes YOU.
And there is no ‘love’ – without truth. There is ‘NO LOVE’ in a lie. Yet, we cling to the things that tickle our ears, yet, they actually ‘steal, kill and destroy’ and we don’t even notice what’s died!
We can turn the page, or click the remote – but God is God, He IS ABOVE -Above all things, whether we believe it or not- and He loves us MOST! He gave us CHOICE – so that we might choose from our heart to turn to our Creator and say, “Thank You! I acknowledge Your LOVE!”
“But how can a God of love cause all this pain?”
“Let us not forget the beginning again!” ” In the beginning, the fruit of the trees ALL, except the one… Thus, the fall…
He didn’t create us to be robots! He didn’t wire us to ‘HAVE TO’ love Him. NO! He gave us the choice to acknowledge His care, to see His provision, in everything that’s there! “The Lord is my Shepherd…” He’s a personal God, if we don’t call Him ‘MINE’ He waits…
…and He sometimes ‘MAKES us to lie DOWN…’ when it wasn’t part of our plan –
But He opens our eyes and we see…’He makes us lie down on pastures of green’ and ‘His grace taught our hearts to fear’ and what was blind now is seeing that HIS HAND… has a hold of me, even here.
So what might not be ‘good news’ in the beginning actually becomes ‘Good News’ in the end – because God our Father in heaven, has provided His Son and His grace, and all the bad and even the ugly, He somehow has dimmed, because He lifted my head and He touched my brokenness brought on by sin. Not with ‘itchy’ coverings sewn by myself, but by covering me with the blood of the Lamb and giving me peace and forgiveness of great wealth!
He made it all work together, ‘all’ work together, for good. The waves still go crashing, but He…
He’s got His Hand guiding my course, and He says, “You are Mine!  and I praise Him and thank Him and melt in His Hand and say, “Dear Jesus, I love you! I am completely Yours!”

A mamas poem…

On the mantle –  is a picture of you…a precious moment, a precious time. But so much more, a mama sees… she sees love so deep, and she ‘feels’ it too! A mama’s love is much like God’s you know – but yet it’s not – a ‘best-friend’ she may not be, but loving you most, next to God – THAT’s what mamas DO – on the mantle of her heart, is a picture of you.
I want you to know that if I could, I would- give you so many gifts, SO much, you know. If I could just wrap up a gift, just for you, so you could see, how very special you are to me…so unique, filled inside  – and  – out with SO much beauty. On the mantle of my heart is a picture of you, near or far, on this side of heaven or the other side…always and forever, your mama  – loves  – YOU!
Each day I have breath, I wake up to see, …that on my mantle is a picture of you. Do you know what else hangs on that wall of my heart?  Its a picture of a church with a steeple and all. You see, God is the beginning of ‘being alive’  in this life. Before I had Him, I was filled with fear and great strife.
I held it all together with my own feeble ways, until it all crashed, and I was all broken inside. I asked Him to come  in. “Jesus, who are You? I don’t know You at all. Please show me and heal me, forgive me of sin.” – So He came into my heart and He abides with me still, each and every day, for all eternity as well!
So I write you a poem from the depth of my heart,  just arranging  some words on a page. But they aren’t just words, and they aren’t just pictures, they are the heart beat of a hug even when there’s great distance.  A mamas heart is near beside you  – on those cold and hard days,  and when there is great happiness. You see, on the mantle of my heart is a picture of you, hold on to this truth, whatever you do.
So in thinking of the ‘best and most perfect gift’ a mama can give, I’ve come to this conclusion: That I paint for you a picture  that points to the cross, and I sing some notes that stay on your mind. I point to the King, because He loves you best! And I sing of His glorious love and forgiveness. On the mantle of my heart is a picture of you, near or far – on this side of heaven or the other side – trust in Him and seek His face – He loves you most – keep your eyes on Him as you run your race!
And as a comforter, (not as perfect as God’s, I must say), pull up to your chin when you feel sad and lonely, that on the mantle of mamas heart is a picture of you. I love you. Now go…and be a blessing to others!

"Pull the 'Comforter' to your eyes and rest!"

 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” (John 15:3).  Yes, I’ve heard, and yes, I’ve sung: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…I was lost, but now I’m found”
Yet, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love…” Fill me Lord with Your Holy Spirit. Remind me again what is true about You! Speak to my fearful heart what You’ve said, remind me again what You have spoken. I so easily forget! I’m so quick to fret!”
“Lord, I want to yearn for You, because this world has lied, and the clouds are dark. God, I’m so hungry and thirsty inside. Breathe on me, Holy Spirit. Fall fresh on me. Deliver me as I surrender. Make me new again.”
“Pull the Comforter to your eyes and rest. Hear Me speak, Abide in My love. “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you…Because I live, you will live also.” (John 14:18,19). Even now, Even now – if you only believe! Increase your faith, obey My word – remember Me – I loved you first!” (1 John 4:19).
“Remember My words to you and all the rest, “Blessed,…” (and in case you need a definition:)“Blessed: fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous [that is, in that state in which the born-again child enjoys My favor and My salvation]…
“Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit“, the fullness of Me! (Eph. 5:18). Speak the old lines of the hymns and the Psalms and discover the Comfort of truth and its power. “He who hates Me hates My Father also.” (John 15:23). I tell you the truth, run to Me, not away- My Father in heaven, loves you completely, but the deceiver, he hates you and wants you to die!” But put off your tears, and put on My love. Call out to Me, I AM Savior -that’s why!
‘Let Psalm 71 be the cry of your heart: “In You, O LORD, I put my trust;…incline Your ear to me, and save me…Let me never be put to shame. Be my strong habitation, to which I resort continually – You have given the commandment to save me,…”
“Save my life! Hear my cry“You are my rock and my fortress…In Your righteousness deliver me, and cause me to escape…O God, You have taught me, yes, taught me, from my youth;” And to this day I declare Your works of wonder…O God, who is like You?” (Ps. 71:19).
Your word is truth and You have said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,”(Matthew 5:6),
but even though that calls for pain and loss, You have comforted me and made me lie down, in pastures of green with Your word: “for they shall be filled!”  Yes,  Matthew 5 verse 6, I write with emphasis added! You’ve  Comforted me, Lord Jesus, with Your unmerited love! Your word has brought me rest, it revives. “Here’s my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above!”

O God I need You, I am the U.S. of A.

“There is a draught, O God, a great draught of heat and stubbornness and parched lives, but some don’t even know it. Some can’t even see.
“Rain down mercy LORD.” What else can we pray? “Merciful Lord, ‘not giving us what we deserve today.”
“Rain down Your Spirit Lord- “Not by might, nor by Power – Rain down Your Spirit Lord, Cleanse us this hour.”
“Turn the hearts that are stone, back to flesh…back to flesh. Remove the hands from the ears. We need to hear…let us hear.”
“There is a draught, O God. Great heat, fatigue and stubbornness. Rain down Your Spirit Lord, flood this dark world with Your Light. That the stains of arrogance and pride that make us ‘turn to our own way’  – would they be washed away… even washed away from all sight.”
“This is impossible with men, impossible it is. But O God, with You, all things are possible to come true. Dear Jesus, fill us with hope, and increase our faith. Our faith to believe that You can create – even new creations . Yes, today in our hearts, create in us a clean heart. Give us a new start.”
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, behold all things become new!” (2 Cor. 5:17). This is Your Word – ‘in You, this is True.’ “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”(John 23:34). This is Your prayer on the cross for us, and this, O God, must be our prayer …too. Forgiveness and humility, these were taught by You.
“God help us!” “God save us from ourselves!” Rain down mercy Lord, Mercy Lord, on us!” “Since You have paid our debts, complete and in full – even though our eyes can’t see…BUT, Your Spirit is able to accomplish all things. O that this ‘grain of wheat’ would fall into the ground and die, and would spring up ‘anew’ by the rain that has poured down,
and ‘spring up’ with beauty bearing fruit of love.” And, no matter what happens, even if we ‘go it alone’ we will now ‘set our minds on things above’. Our help comes from You, our Emanuel, God with us! You never left us. We left You, all of us.
“‘We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood!’ We wrestle against rulers of darkness that invade this desert place! So pour out Your Spirit, and remind us what’s true. Help us put off the old and put on You!
We love You because You first loved us! Shower us with Grace and Your great kindness. We don’t deserve on ounce of Your grace. but we humble ourselves and turn to Your face. You are the Lord, the bond of perfection. In each of our human hearts, be  our Resurrection!
Help us to know the Story You have written, and spend time to know our story as a nation. Without You … we are nothing. O God, help us turn around. Give us discernment of the lies and to know the speeches that are sound!
There is hope, one heart at a time. O God, O how I need You. I am seeking citizenship … in heaven.   Light this candle and let me pass it on, one by one, in this darkness – that it might multiply and illuminate hope and peace and life forevermore. It is good to be proud of the nation in which we live, but Dear Lord Jesus, secure my citizenship today, that in heaven I  might, in peace for always.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved!” John 3:16, 17).

Please, child, take My hand – and walk…

“Please, take hold of My hand. Please, child, take My hand…I’m not ‘cross’ like you think, you must know, I understand. I have taken your sin on Myself, I’ve paid the debt in full. The pain and agony of sin, yes, I KNOW, oh, how I know. My nail-pierced hand is reaching out to you. Take hold of My hand, yes, it’s scarred, but it’s healed. Be as a child, and as you seek My face, you will discover, as you do, I am alive and filled and overflowing with grace.”
“Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Do you remember that verse? Where were His eyes in that ageless Book?  They were on Me. I gave him instruction and guidance and courage and then, the story is told, I’m on every page, it’s all written down, Please, take time, take a look, and take notice. I love you my child, please take hold of my hand. Trust Me, and in time, you will understand…”
“The story is written, that you might believe – that God, the King, the I AM knows your need. I’ve provided not just words on a page, I’ve provided power through My Spirit to ‘whosoever’ calls out My name! “Jesus, Jeshua, Have mercy on me! Save me dear Lord, from myself and my sin!”
“‘Call unto Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you don’t even know’ (Jer. 33:3). Lean not on what you think you understand, trust in Me to lead you through this often rough and dry wilderness – land. I will give you grace, grace indeed in your need. This world I have created, once all things good- is now fallen and hard, yes,  you walk among the thorns, and yes, your feet now bleed,  and your heart is torn.”
But,“I know My plans  for you, yes, a future and hope.” (Jer. 29:11). My ‘hope does not disappoint’,(Romans 5:5). you will see, as you keep your eyes upon Me. My grace all sufficient will overwhelm you with strength, that you don’t have in and of yourself, it comes by My Spirit, wait on Him, (He is ME!)  you will see.”
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; As the Father loved ME, I ALSO have loved YOU.”Today, today, can you hear what I say? I love you, I love YOU! Yes, ME, “I do!” The God of the Universe,  the Three in One, the Creator of all things, the One who calls the stars by name, the One who is with you when you are alone and afraid. He who knows EVERY word that you say. Yes, the Father of Light’,  the Bread, and Living water, The good Shepherd – it is ME who is with you, the Immanuel, the Rock – do not fear my dear child, please take hold of My hand, I will guide you in Truth – please remember I AM!”
I meet you at the seat that is covered in mercy. I don’t give you what you deserve, I give you what you don’t. I give you grace, I give you grace, that sweet, and amazing sound – My grace all sufficient, My grace is alive. My Spirit like the wind, gentle and quiet -surrounds. Please, take hold of My hand my child. I will guide you with My eye. Read My word and stay near, you will then understand always, I AM nearby.”
“Take hold of My hand, My beloved, My bride. Walk with Me and a new song you will always sing, today, tomorrow and each day besides:
“I will rejoice in the LORD, yes, I will, ‘I do!”   And my soul will be joyful in God! He has clothed me with garments of salvation, and has  covered me with His robe. He took my old garments and covered me a-new, with His robe… His robe of righteousness.  He is as a bridegroom who decks Himself with ornaments of love, and as a bride I adorn myself with jewels of joy. As the earth brings forth its bud and the garden shines forth God’s glory, I will take hold of His hand, each day, each morning and sing praise to Him, now, and forever – THIS will be my story!” (my paraphrase of Is. 61:10,11).

It's gotta be more than 'Sunday-school answers'…

The Sunday school-teacher prays in the back before the colorful, playful children come in, “Oh Lord, help me make it real, the truth about You, so it’s more than fancy dress and what we do on this day, and later a family meal.”
“Yes, Jesus Loves me, the Bible tells me so…”
“I know all the stories!” the 6 year old proclaimed as she skipped in the room with ‘cute as a bug’ delight! “Yes, we know all the answers, we’ve got this one down. Jesus died on the cross and today He couldn’t be found. The tomb was empty, we know the whole thing- so what are we doing today during Sunday School – sing?”
“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so…”
“I think I have a story or two, you might not know,” the teacher shared to the class, praying that the Lord would send His Holy Spirit,  and FAST!” “Without Me you can do nothing,” was the teacher’s very next thought, “Lord, that’s so true, so don’t leave me hanging, empower me now with a supernatural kind,  “Hosanna, Hosanna! Save NOW, my dear Lord, I pray these kids SEE and HEAR, that they see and hear from their hearts – not just their minds!
“Jesus was in agony on that tree, on that cross. Did you know that others scoffed at Him then, even then in His pain?” “Oh yes, we know that,” but their faces looked lost. “Did you know it was yelled,’Save Yourself now,You saved others in the past, Can’t You do it again? Aren’t You the Son of God, at last?'”
“Why didn’t Jesus save Himself from the cross? Why didn’t He call down the angels from heaven, the whole heavenly host? Why didn’t He stop this whole dreadful thing? Why did He suffer such pain and such loss?”Why did Jesus stay nailed and pierced that horrible day?” Children, can you tell me, “What held Jesus there, can any of you say?”
“It was our sin!” “It was our sin,” they answered again. “It was our sin,” they all thought in their minds, that’s the answer. It’s a ‘Sunday School answer’, it’s quick and it’s right, but it was lacking 17 inches, 17 inches of insight…
“Children why did Jesus stay hanging on that cross on that day?” “It was our sin.” “Yes, our sin,” ALL the children said.
“Jesus could have called down a whole heavenly host to save Him, but He didn’t, He didn’t! Children,” (the teacher stopped to catch a breath and some Help), “Jesus stayed on that horrible cross on that day because…of His love. His love, that is all. He stayed nailed to that cross on that day for only one reason, because Jesus loves you and He loves me too, not just today, but throughout every season.
There was silence for a mere moment. The children didn’t know. It’s as if they’d never heard it, never heard it before. 17 inches from their mind, straight to their hearts…”It was His love that held Him there. It was for me, He didn’t part.
“Jesus loves me this I know…“,but can we really ‘know?’ We just just can’t understand it.  Our sin didn’t keep Him on the cross on that day … Time went slowly, the agony and pain, were endured because Jesus was thinking our names.
He didn’t save Himself, even though He could. He chose to suffer, so we would never be alone.“Jesus loves me, He who died. Heaven’s gate to open wide. He will wash away  my sin, let His little child come in…”
It’s gotta be more than the dress and the show. It’s gotta be more than ‘Sunday School answers’ you know. If they could just hear His heart… “If they could only understand it all, Father.” “My Son, My Son, We witness them growing. They SEE, they HEAR, and they will one day KNOW, and they will be like a seed, planted by flowing waters, We will watch them, as the years come, as the years go… yes, they will  grow.”
“Father, they are so beautiful, so beautiful to Me. I love each one, each and every child. Right now they have all the right answers, but oh, how I long, how I long for their hearts. Do You think they can see Me in that seed that they planted, in that little pot of soil? Bless all teacher’s toil!  They didn’t know that the seed had to die, but that’s what I did, so that they could have life!
“Jesus take this heart of mine, Make it pure and wholly Thine; Thou has bled and died for me, I will hense-forth live for Thee.”
“Yes, Father, as I’m the seed placed in the good soil. I came to die, but that’s not the end of the story! The seed then explodes with life and great beauty. I in them, and they in Me – the planting, the death yes, has to occur, but the promise of beauty and life is secure – forever, forever, forever-more!”
Jesus loves me! He will stay, close beside me all the way… It’s true, even if it takes years to ‘get it!’  ‘Jesus will stay’ and never give up, never, never a day! Because He showed us His love by staying on that cross. He died, but He shook up the earth in the process, and life everlasting is now the believer’s promise!
It’s gotta be more than a ‘Sunday-school answer’, it’s gotta be a Seed of love pressed in the soft soil! But oh when that happens, there is Joy evermore in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit and more – the angels rejoice and the earth quakes and the flower springs up with beauty and grace!
“Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so!”

He paints His presence daily…

Holy Father of Heaven and of Earth, draw me nearer, so much nearer to you, and the children, dear Lord, yes, draw the children too. Nearer to Thee, oh how we busy ourselves. We get moving so fast that we don’t take time to give You our ear. We don’t give You our eyes either, and notice the faithfulness in each rising sun and we forget it’s You… that painted the sunset as we run, here and there everywhere. Oh Father, draw us near!
Remind me again of the story that’s told of Pilgrim’s journey, written so long ago. How he ever so slightly, ever so slight began to keep walking a bit off the path. But in turn it lead him in chains and dismay as he found himself hopeless in ‘Giant Despair’s’ wrath! But in the scroll it is written, that there’s a Way of escape, a Table has been prepared in the presence of our enemies – yes, it’s a ‘cup of blessing’ and ‘bread that’s been broken’ – our Rescuer, our hope… may we see Him who’s been smitten.
But it’s a mystery so deep at times, we feel You’r so distant, so we journey along as time is insistent! Seasons come; the joys and sorrows of Christmas pass, New Year’s promises and the winter’s blast…grace is needed, ‘Want’ and need are the cries of Your sheep – there are no flowers, no songs and mountains seem so, so steep!
“Increase my faith! Help me believe! My unbelief overshadows and brings me down deep!” So ‘deep cries to deep’ my  Father of earth,where are You now? “Your kingdom come, Your will be done! I have trouble trusting! Trusting in and waiting on the Faithful One!”
How can that be? I just don’t know, but it’s true and it’s evident in my worry and fret. Winter comes, and sometimes winter stays, and a rut becomes comfort, but a rut brings regret! So, help me ‘do hard things’ , even to lift my eyes…give me courage to pray and to lay down ‘my rights’, that I might not be believing in things that are lies!
It’s hard to humble myself before You dear Lord, and  sometimes Your words are ‘just words’.  I, like a sheep hear… but don’t understand:’flee from idolatry’, and ‘resist satan’s roar’- Suddenly I find myself instead of ‘fleeing’ just standing there. Just like dear Pilgrim in ‘Giant Despairs’ grasp, now what? what do I do to stay on the path?
“Oh, search me O God, and know me through. Test me and know even my thoughts, I ask You. Is my heart hard as a stone, give me courage to face it, and God in Your great mercy, with ‘flesh’ will You replace it? Not a stone, but a heart soft as flesh, in Your mercy – grant me  Your grace and forgiveness.”
“You are the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, I humbly pray, into a vessel of honor, but can I be twice baked? You see I’ve been broken and set aside, can You use me again? Lead me and guide me in Your Self-Less Way, and when I wake each morrow-morn, may I be able to receive with humility,  just what You say.”
Winter – cold and hard, turns into spring. And in the sun and all the new color – we can see with our eyes that Your mercy never ceases and Your love, steadfast and true, is abounding in grace and kindness besides!  This is your plan that leads our dark hearts, to see once again, what is True, what is True! It’s true that You love me, it’s true that You care, it’s true that You are always, You are always there!
Summer comes, summer fun and warmth, but the enemy is lurking in our rest and recreation to ‘put off’ the narrow road, ‘oh, it’s  just for a season’. But we believe him, we do – and often forget, what God has to say: “Seek Me first, I’m loyal  and faithful and love at all times, come to Me you who are weary, I am the Way…”
satan’s a liar, (I can’t capitalize his name), he wants us all to believe that You are hard and demanding with a scowl on Your face, with You, nothing fun is thought to be OK. But You took all my garbage and all of my shame, so I could be free and have real life in me again! You say, “Do you love Me?” And it doesn’t really matter the words that I say, because dear Lord, You’re watching to see if I…simply obey.
But God, there is nothing ‘simple’ in obeying You Lord. But You led by example by walking that Via Delarosa. It reminds me of the cold fall winds that blow hard and strong… but they are needful, yes needful to bring us to our knees. When those cold winds blow, You know their purpose, it’s all good, even though they seem OH  SO WRONG!
Winter to spring, and spring into summer, and the fall winds blow all the old leaves away, but  the winds make us dig deeper to survive the cold…This is Your plan full of surprises, this is how You paint Your picture for us. New months, new weeks,  and with each new day, Your  faithful and early sun… rises.
“Can you see Me?” “Can you see Me?” your still small voice speaks and even sings in a song. Many don’t notice, but today I say, “I do!” Your Bride is preparing, your Bride is getting ready. “Help me in my weakness, help me stay on the path even when it’s seems so terribly long.”
Your face! Your face! As we ‘run this race! Through the journey we go in the beauty of Your presence! That’s how it is that the joy of the Lord is my strength, Because You are there, even in the valley of the shadows of darkness. You shine in the sky and the Evergreens, even the rocks, You are speaking, and You are Our Ever -present Fortress!
“I will never leave you nor forsake you,” You say. “I will direct your paths for the day.” “I love you with an everlasting love,” You whisper, but, sometimes I make some rough choices, and choose not to listen.  I don’t run to the Strong tower that is there, instead like Pilgrim, I think I’ve got it right, but the next moment I find I’m in Giant Despair’s prison!
Oh my! I still walk in circles it seems,  forgive me again, my Father of the earth as well as the heavens! And You do, You do, You never give up on Your child.  Your love is complete, it’s faithful as the winter that turns into spring, You make all things work together for good, even when I make a mess of things, when I’m head-strong and sometimes wild!
“I want to see You!” I cry. And You answer Me. “Can you see me in the sky I’ve painted for you? Can you see me when it’s dark or shining bright and blue? I am here, when you choose to humble yourself and surrender…I am with you now, abide in Me, FOREVER!”
“Teach me to abide, to You the Vine. I am the branches! Help me not forget! Teach me to abide in You my dear Jesus. Flow through my veins, may Your Spirit guide me yet! Help me from going off the path again, when winter comes, and I’m caught by ‘Giant Despair’, help me see that there is no death in Christ. That hidden inside those ‘dead’ looking  trees, is  life; Life that is greater than any enemy! Life for today, life for tomorrow. Life for all of eternity!
_____________
“Today you can see Me and feel that I’m near, but tomorrow when You can’t, please remember, I AM here.”
My response is the very first verse I learned when I was three: “I love You Jesus, because You first loved me. I love You Jesus…Because You first…loved me!”

perhaps I play a 1 stringed guitar

A little poem, and a hymn, and one message – again:
“Speak to yourselves, children young and old. Speak to yourselves in the hymns that are told. Over ages and ages, time after time, God’s word implores us to speak and hear truth, so through the trials of life, God Himself clears our minds. Through clouds and rain, His presence restores strength.  The dark clouds will come, but the Holy Spirit comforts and directs our fearful steps. In the name of Jesus, a forward march we make. His name is power and precious and salvation the same.”
Call unto Him. Call on Jesus by name. Discover yourself His Nature, His frame. He is gracious, and compassionate. He suffers long.
He waits for each of us, to again, sing His Song. He loves. Not like man. He loves unconditionally, in any state that we’re in.
Tired and grumpy, even messed up in sin.  He loves us completely. He waits for us to turn our face towards Him.
Remedy in a hymnal read out loud. Even though the melody may not be present, the words speak truth’s sound:
“I heard the voice of Jesus Say,

  1. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    “Come unto Me and rest;
    Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
    Thy head upon My breast.”
    I came to Jesus as I was,
    Weary and worn and sad;
    I found in Him a resting place,
    And He has made me glad.
  2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    “Behold, I freely give
    The living water; thirsty one,
    Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
    I came to Jesus, and I drank
    Of that life-giving stream;
    My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
    And now I live in Him.
  3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    “I am this dark world’s Light;
    Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
    And all thy day be bright.”
    I looked to Jesus, and I found
    In Him my Star, my Sun;
    And in that light of life I’ll walk,
    Till trav’ling days are done.
  4. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
    “My Father’s house above
    Has many mansions; I’ve a place
    Prepared for you in love.”
    I trust in Jesus—in that house,
    According to His word,
    Redeemed by grace, my soul shall live
    Forever with the Lord.

His work is complete. He waits to offer His forgiveness, His grace. He’s paid our debt on the cross.  The Story is the same, yesterday, today, forever. Year after year, we have opportunity to come to Him. Jesus is calling, even our very name, to draw near.
 

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