Tag: a song

This is the way, walk in it.

Moving furiously to draw me away, from You, O God, I cry.

Distractions and needless attractions and vices move to catch my eye.

And what about Fear, who continuously lurks nearby?

And Doubt, his best friend who endlessly tempts me to trust only in me, myself, and I?

What a whirlwind of destruction and deception and such. In circles, ever appearing—giant waves of human-ness!

But God, He’s the same. There is none like Him.
He’s able.

His mercy has no end.

He loves not like men.

But I forget . . . unless His Word is on my table!

The stories, the history, God’s provision, the songs. God proclaims salvation from the beginning. His heart . . . so longs:

But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said,

“Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?”

Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea.

“Silence!” He commanded.

“Be still!”

And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.

“Why are you so afraid?” He asked. “Do you still have no faith?”

Mark 4:37-40, tells a story for me, and you? “Do you still have no faith? . . . Why are you so afraid?” 

“Forgive me O God. May I continually seek Your unfailing aid. Give me an ear to hear Your voice in the morning. May I, in awe and wonder, faith-fully  obey.
And may I remember You and Your powerful Word. May I not forget, time and time again, that You are ever with me, that You are,
my Lord.”

 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more;

with your own eyes you will see them. 

 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, . . .

“This is the way; walk in it,” Isaiah 30:20,21.

Snapshots of Thankfulness to God through my doubts and confusion

I am thankful. Thankful to God, because He hears our cries for mercy.

But first, I must confess a snapshot of yesterday morning.

One of disappointment, confusion, stress, and unrest.

Yes, ultimately, I wasn’t disappointed about circumstances or people, (but, consciously, I might of thought myself to be), but because I truly believe the Lord is in control and that everything that happens is “filtered through the Father’s fingers,”

I need to be flat out honest here, in all reality, my anger and disappointment was toward God.

I believe in God. But yesterday morning, every ounce of my being was in warfare. I was fighting a battle in my mind, and my heart, I suppose, as I woke to face a challenging day.

Just do the next thing, words I remembered from Elisabeth Elliot came to mind, so I opened God’s Word,  in Psalm 34 in my rough state of being:

I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; . . .

I couldn’t find a song. It’s as if it were lost. I felt I was dangling in an ocean’s depths with seaweed around my neck.

In this snapshot of  my moments of confusion and doubt, I felt as if trying to believe His word, but as in a dream, unable to reach the destination.

Trying to find some solid foundation,  but the seaweed of confusion had me sunk below the surface.

“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears, . . .” 
More like, ” I fought the LORD, and doubt had silenced my cry.”

I read on in Psalm 34, but I was unable to grasp anything to bring rest and peace to my heart.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!

There is no want to those who fear Him.
 The young lions lack and suffer hunger;

But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

Because of circumstance, I was sinking in unbelief. I later sent texts for prayer.
I called a family member who knows me—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Prayers to our God were given.

The next snapshot of the day, is the struggle to breathe in and out through activity and interaction, minute by minute, hour after hour.  And, all the while, fighting inside to find the air of Peace, and Truth, and Comfort, and Joy.

Just do the next thing . . . this thought, my only motivation.
But, in hectic and schedule, I walked through a door. His hand picked me up. His arms took hold of my weak flesh. He turned my lack into abundance.
God did.
The very One whom I was disappointed in before.

God reached out and touched my sinking heart by hands from . . . the Church. 
The Snapshot: People pooled together in energy ignited by the Lord, (because He did hear my cries. God does hear our voice.)  Out of the ocean’s depths of sorrow, I was picked up in an instant.

Immediately, lifted from heaviness to light was I.

So, this morning I write. “Thank you God for Your faithful love and grace. And Thank you Lord for Your hands touching me through the Church. Dear Lord, help us remember and believe past our unbelief:

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry . . .
 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all,

I believe You dear Lord, and I thank You for Your Word, and the loving hands of Your Church.

I sought the Lord, and He heard me,
And delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant,
And their faces were not ashamed. 

To Psalm 34, the Lord’s faithfulness, and the Love of the Church, I say this new morning, Amen.”

The Snapshot: Joy.

 

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!

Who is the LORD?

Who is the LORD? I thought I knew. But, like a flood, at times, the foundation of my mind becomes overwhelmed with weight and heaviness.
Do you know of this kind of stress?

What then do I do? Where do we go? What kind of witness is this?

If it’s true, that we’re not alone. And we’ve received the love of the Father and have believed on His Son.

If it’s true He promises to hear when we call, and is a present help in time of need,
what  do we do when it all seems to be swept away by a flood? Can you hear the still small voice whisper,

“Hear the word of the LORD.”

Not, “read” the word. But words sprinkled throughout the entire Bible remind us to also “hear” and “listen”  to word of the LORD.

“So then faith comes by hearing and hearing of the word of God,” Romans 10:17.

To hear the word it must be read and spoken. For those with no hearing, it must be signed.

So, here it goes, let’s put sound on our voice. Let’s take extra effort and read aloud, even though the carpet’s been lifted from under our feet. Even though the water is rising over our heads, let’s increase our faith by reading the Word, aloud.

Because God said.

So I open my Bible to Psalm 27.

I read aloud verse 7 first, as it fits my situation.
“Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When You said,”Seek my face,”

My heart said to You, “Your face LORD, I will seek.”

Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help; Do not leave nor forsake me. O God of my salvation. When my father and mother forsake me,

Then the LORD will take care of me.”

Power is given by the Lord our strength. Now let’s read on together aloud and strong every word from the 27th Psalm.

But, go to your Bible and open it up, and together we be changed by His Spirit of Love. Alone with the LORD,

Let’s make Him our trust. And hear our voice ring, and call Him today,
“Lord.”

How do we let hurt feelings heal?

How do we let hurt feelings heal?
Don’t revisit! Don’t rekindle the flames! Don’t go back and let the enemy gain. ‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His glorious face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.’ (1)
We will pray from our whole heart, broken and torn. We will cry out for  greater faith to see Love through the thorns:
‘ In You O God, I seek refuge. I will put my trust. Let my hope in You not be disappointed. Deliver me in Your righteousness! Bow down Your ear, O God.  Speedily, deliver me!  My rock of refuge, my strong fortress – be!(2)
Do we have neighbor, friend, or even family write us off as evil? We will not be greatly moved by opinion – our prayer has been written. King David cries out to God in his song, Psalm 31, To the chief musician, A Psalm of David, written for us all:
“For I have heard the slander of many, terror on every side! While they schemed together against me, they plotted to take my life. But I trusted, relied on and was confident in You. O Lord; I say, You are my God. My hope is in You. (3)
How do we let hurt feelings heal? We open God’s word. We cry out the prayers and the songs that have been written to a living God, “our Father in heaven,” …
“His kingdom come” – He is with you and me – “His will be done” – that we cry out to see, like blind Bartameus, open our eyes, “My times are in Your hand, dear Lord, deliver me from the hand of my foes and those who pursue and persecute me!” (4)
How do we let hurt feelings heal? We will not get our wisdom from philosophy of man, we will follow the King’s steps, we will ‘hide under the shadow of the wings’ of God – we we rest in the midst of God’s  – powerful – right – hand!
“Let the lying lips be silenced! Lips with pride and contempt! Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, or disappointed; for I am calling upon You! O how great is Your goodness” (5) … in my trouble I choose, in the chaos, in the dust, O God, I worship You!
We will be strong. We will let our hearts take courage. “O love the Lord, all you His saints; the Lord preserves the faithful,“(6), those faithful to seek cover in the blood of the Lamb who was slain in great punishment for all the sin of all men.
We will sing a new song, not a song of strife from the past. We will sing as the king, to the King of all Kings: “Oh soul are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness to see? There’s a light for a look at the Savior! And life, more abundant and free.”
“So turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth, …
will grow strangely dim, …
in the light of His glory and grace.”
Psalm 31 verse 5, our ending prayer: “Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth and faithfulness.” In You I find my rest –  Selah    (we will pause and consider all of this!)
(1) Hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Helen H. Lemmel.
(2) Psalm 31: 1,2. (paraphrased by me).
(3) Psalm 31:13-15, (with my paraphrase to make rhyme!)
(4) Psalm 31:15.
(5) Psalm 31:18, 17.

The Seed of Love is Jesus

Songs…touching  places that can’t be reached in common conversation. Poetry, songs, hymns and psalms plus some  added strings for vibration – and the waters of our soul are touched and what was without hope… is moved again, to believe. Oh, the songs that we sing…
The world can leave us bitter and torn all apart, and our mind will form its own truth as it recovers from a bleeding heart.  The words of a song have been written and some do know its tone:
“Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed
 Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed
 Some say love, it is a hunger an endless aching need…” (The Rose, Bette Midler),
but somehow, in the emptiness, in the coldness of it all -the Creator of the Universe, has created the answer in hidden places –  in pictures for us all. It might take a whole life-time, or perhaps as young as 5 or even 10 – but I change one letter of an old beloved song, and capitalize the ‘you’… to ‘You’ – it’s the birth of hope… again:
“I say love, it is a flower and You, it’s only seed”. (The Rose, capitalized the ‘you’, by me.)
Yes, I say Love, it is a flower, and You, it’s only Seed.
 The day we choose to believe, the day we choose to receive…each day upon another, step by step growing in Him the ‘Seed’ of hope for today, the ‘Seed’ of hope for tomorrow, we discover through the endless wait and the perseverance of time…that what He says is ‘true’ and the grasping of it all is HOPE DIVINE: (John 15:1-11):
“[]I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have given you [the teachings which I have discussed with you].4 Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. 5 []I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me]you can do nothing.”
This is the Word of God, which cleanses and makes you free.
 The rose, has incredible beauty… but there are thorns, oh yes, we know. His word pours forth beauty but there are thorns of warning – yes, ‘the Bible tells me so’:
 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken off] branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
These are hard words, but perhaps these words will SAVE our lives!
Perhaps that’s why many reject His Truth, because they only look at the consequences of what it’s like if one never turns. But, oh, I pray so passionately, but not even close to His passionate prayers, that all would see Him as He is, willing to take the heat, be beat, take the thorns, take the scorn, walk the via Delorosa for lost souls like me, in pain beyond belief and weakness unimaginable…oh, I pray that the people of this world would finally see…
“It’s the heart, afraid of breaking that never learns to dance
It’s the dream, afraid of waking that never takes the chance
It’s the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give
And the soul, afraid of dying that never learns to live…” (the Rose by Bette Midler).
And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live…
When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that Love is only for the lucky and the strong…
“Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the Seed that with the Son’s love, in the spring becomes The Rose”. (the Rose by Bette Midler, with some capitals and letter changes, mine!)
“The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified.” (John 12:23), Jesus came, Jesus died, Jesus rose that we might live, He is the Rose of Sharon the Lily of the Valley, He is life in me, when in fact I choose to die:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. (John 12: 24). 
“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” John chapter twelve verse 25.
The Seed of Love is Jesus. Oh, yes, the Seed has a very piercing point…but allow God to plant His Seed of Love in your hurting and broken heart. He is so beautiful and so powerful so great and so mighty, that you will be changed from sorrow to joy – yes, let Him touch and anoint!
 
“When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow…
Lies the Seed of the Son’s Love, in the spring becomes the Rose (the Rose by Bette Midler, modified to bring glory to the Creator and Lover of our souls, by me).
Today let Him abide in your heart, simply ask Him in. It’s easy, yet oh so hard for us humans…Jesus is patient and long-suffering!

 

"I will sing a new song to You, O God;" (Psalm 144:9)

“Please pray! This thing is going on!” “Please pray!” “Please pray!” So today…
God put on my heart, “I give you a new song, to sing back to Me, to remind you I AM, and I AM able to do exceedingly abundantly ABOVE all that you ask of Me…”
“Make melody in your heart, with words I have already written, that you might be strengthened in your inner man to know, that though mankind has been bitten, there is a ‘ bronze serpent that has been lifted on a pole’, and NO, this is NOT SCIENCE – but to look on Him, you will be made WHOLE!” ( Oh, if I could just put sound on this melody God gave me -but in casting on Him the prayers,  He turned the water into wine, by speaking His word and giving melody divine!)
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? From the foundations of the earth, have you not known? Have you not heard? ”
“It is He who sits above the heavens! The Creator God, He rules the earth! Have you not known? Have you not heard – the Everlasting God never faints or is weary – He gives power…to the weak. He gives them strength.”
“They that wait on the LORD – shall renew their strength! They shall mount up with eagle’s wings – they shall run and not be weary – they shall walk…and not faint!”
“And as you journey along the ‘thorny paths’ of this earth, speak My Psalms…you shall walk, and not faint:”
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
“The LORD is your keeper;”
“The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night.”
“The LORD shall preserve you from ALL evil; He shall preserve your soul.”
“The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth and FOREVERMORE.” (Psalm 121, emphasis mine!)
(end with song and melody): “They that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength…”

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!”

"Abide with me! Fast falls the even-tide…"

“Abide with me! Fast falls the even-tide. The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide!” This is a cry of Henry F. Lyte in 1847. This is a cry of ours besides: “When other helpers fail And comforts flee, Help of the help-less, O abide with me!”
“Swift to its close, ebbs out life’s little day. Earth’s joys grow dim; Its glories pass away. Change and decay In all around I see; O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!”
“I need Thy presence Every pass-ing hour. What but Thy grace Can foil the temp-ter’s power? Who, like Thyself, My guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.”
“I fear no foe, With Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, And tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? 
“I triumph still, If Thou abide with me.” (“Abide with Me, Henry F. Lyte).
“But Lord, there is death, there is destruction, there is hate and trouble all around…”
God hears the cries of the people! God’s word speaks to the  broken hearts of His children. As we ‘cry out’ the very words of the hymn “I need Thy presence Every passing hour! What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?…”
God’s powerful word speaks. ‘Hear, the word of the Lord’:
“The thief comes only in order that he may steal and may kill and may destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance– to the full, till it overflows.” (John 10:10, Amplified). “If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18).
“Abide with me! Fast falls the even tide. The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me!”
“Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master — is not superior to him. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word and obeyed My teachings, they will also keep and obey yours.” (John 15:20), Amplified).
“But they will do all this to you — inflict all this suffering on you –because of [your bearing] My name, and on My account, for they do not know or understand the One Who sent Me.” (Johne 15:21, Amplified).
“I need Thy presence Every passing hour. What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who, like Thyself, My guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.”
“But [this is so] that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause.” (John 15:25, Amplified).
“So, ‘speak to one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual songs, make melody in your heart to the Lord.'” (Eph. 5:19), Don’t run away, take courage and stand: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Eph. 6:10,11).
“Don’t run away in fear! ‘Do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,…( Eph 5:18).
“But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener) comes Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself} will testify regarding Me. But you also…
But you also…
But you also... will testify and be My witnesses…” (John 15:26,27, Amplified, emphasis, mine).
“I have told you all these things so that you should not be offended — taken unawares and falter, or be caused to stumble and fall away, and to keep you from being scandalized and repelled. They will put you out of the synagogues –expel you. But an hour is coming when whoever kills you will think and claim that he has offered service to God. And they will do this because  they have not known the Father nor Me. But I have told you these things now so that when they occur you will remember that I told you of them. ” (John 16:1-3, Amplified).
“I fear no foe, With Thee at hand to bless; Ills have no weight, And tears no bitterness. Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory? I triumph still, If Thou abide with me!” (Abide with Me, Henry F. Lyte, 1847).
The song empowers, the song restores, the Psalms, the hymns, the spiritual song is a what my heart must continually…adore –  to keep me standing in the midst of the battle! “Praise before the battle, yes Praise brings back the breath!  Then the words, “Rejoice Always. Pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God… begins to make sense! (1 Thes. 5:16-18) …Yes, these are the words I will hold on to as I pray, for brothers and sisters  who suffer  so greatly today. Dear Jesus, pour out Your grace, pour out Your mercy on these difficult –  most dark and confusing, and dreadful (at times), LAST days.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy . . .

 (Joel 2:28)

A song was written by a son, and today, it is prophesy to many a broken heart…today:

How long O Lord will You be silent? Will You forget me?
How long O Lord, will You be silent? Will You hide Your face from me?
I thought I knew You better than this. So why can’t I hear You?
I thought I knew You better than this, so I’m crying out to You.
“Bring me to my knees until I breathe, until I hear You, and take me to my face until I break – “I’m lost without You!”
I thought I knew You better than this, so why can’t I hear You? I thought I knew You better than this…
(Bridge) The night is dark and cold, but still the morning comes. The night is dark and cold, but still the morning comes…”Bring me to my knees until I breathe, until I hear You. Take me to my face, ‘till I break, I’m lost without You!
“But in this day, I will rejoice, knowing I will breathe again. But in this day I will rejoice, and I will love You more.” (Bring me to my knees, by Chris Rypkema)

He knows the pain you are feeling:

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted . . .(Isaiah 53:4,5)
He understands all suffering:
(Isaiah 53:5)” He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”
Jesus knows what a dark, cold night is: (Is. 53:7)”He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth.”
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told yoiu from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?”
“It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing;”
“He makes the judges of the earth useless.” (Is. 40:21-23).
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. There is no searching of His understanding. He give power to the weak, And to those who have no mighty He increases strength.”
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength;” (Isaiah 40:28-29).
“Even the youths shall faint and be weary...”( Is. 40:30),  “I thought I knew You better than this. So why can’t I hear You?
I thought I knew You better than this, so I’m crying out to You.
“Bring me to my knees until I breathe, until I hear You, and take me to my face until I break – “I’m lost without You!”
“And the young men shall utterly fall…” Is. 40: 30), “But those who …
wait on the LORD…”
Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40: 31).
Just as the sons and daughters prophesy: “But in this day, I will rejoice, knowing I will breathe again. But in this day I will rejoice, and I will love You more.”
Yes, even today: “But in this day, I will rejoice, knowing I will breathe again. But in this day I will rejoice, and I will love You more!”
“

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).

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!”

" darkness…(but) And the Spirit of God moved…"

“…and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” (Gen. 1:2b). “And the earth was without form and void…” (Gen 1:2)
There is darkness! This earth is empty and void! This is the second verse in the whole of the Bible! We know this today, we can see it –  there is darkness – just listen to the news!
Yes, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This is the very first verse of the very first Book of the Bible.But then…”and there was darkness?” The mysteries, the questions! But God answers them all, if we only ask and seek and knock. God promises to open the mysteries of His word to us who ask! He does! We’ve got to keep asking, seeking and knocking.
You see, in my life, originally I had  an eating disorder – believe me, ‘darkness was upon the face of the deep’ because no one could see it. I had, (and still have, a compulsive, impulsive personality. But with God the tiger is tamed, (OK, my husband and kids can all say that the ‘tiger’ is let out on occasion!) But, for the most part, with God all things are possible, and my impulsive and compulsive and ‘self-destructive’ and ‘dark’ personality are ‘tamed!’
The war of good and evil has been going on a l-o-n-g t-i-m-e, even from between Gen. 1:1 and Gen. 1:2! (This mystery has always fascinated me, and God chose Isaiah  and Ezekiel to give us some light to this early war that has affected us greatly even today. Read Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, it’s all there!) If there is an argument about exactly WHEN this occurred, does it really matter to argue, but we can all agree, the war took place! Hey, how did the serpent get there in that tree to meet Eve?! I think we can all agree, that serpent was out to get both Adam and Eve and you and me!
The earth was ‘without form and void’ and there was darkness. BUT... the word of God uses the word, ‘AND’…”And the Spirit of God moved…”(Gen. 1:2, (!) exclamation point, mine!)
Yes, there is darkness, (BUT) “And the Spirit of God moved…”
That is good news right from the beginning! You see, you and I and everyone that wakes up today faces a world that is ‘without form and void’ in some respects, and ‘darkness is upon the deep places’. We all feel it, we know it, we experience it everyday – But, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Gen. 1:2.
I didn’t know ‘how to eat’, or ‘how to think’ and I was ‘caught up’ in what ‘everyone else’ wanted me to be – and I was a mess, BUT, “And the Spirit of God moved…” The Spirit of God moved…me.
But God moved in my life. “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Gen 1:2).
The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, much like an ocean wave, washing away with great power and strength all my sin and doubt and insecurity. The Spirit of God moved upon me like an ocean wave  with His word and set me free and gave me hope, and teaches me and reminds me and helps me because…
this world is empty and poor, without form and void.
Only when writing about God can you speak in the past and the present the same! He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. This earth is still filled with darkness, and without form and void – (BUT) “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters!” The Spirit of God moves upon HIS WORD. If you don’t believe me, just like showing off God’s amazing ocean in a beautiful picture, ‘suffer me’ (an old Bible term), allow me to show you…
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, (the river is the ‘Spirit of God’ which’ moves like a river),the holy place of the tabernacle of the most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah    (pause and think calmly on that!) (Psalm 46:1-7).
Yes, there is darkness. We all agree on that. However, God is in the midst, the Spirit of God is moving…OH, that  we all believe and agree on that!
So, compulsive obsessive? yes, still am…but my theme song now? “Give me one pure and holy passion. Give me one magnificent obsession. Give me one glorious ambition for my life, to know and follow hard after Thee! To know and follow hard after Thee. To grow as Your disciple in the Truth.
This world is empty, pale and poor, compared to knowing You, my LORD, lead me on and I will run after You…
lead me on, and I will run after You.” (Magnificent Obsession,song).
Darkness? yes, in the world. But, “Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”(Ps. 139:12). Oh, the mysteries, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters!” Mysterious? Keep asking, seeking and knocking. God will unfold His truth in you.

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