“Oh world, are you angry and troubled? Do you forget to walk careful with fear … not ‘fear’ as you listen to restless thoughts of man, but ‘the fear of the LORD’, which is the beginning of wisdom. (1)
“Look out!” they yell and seek their own view. “Look up!” My voice speaks. I give peace, hope, and understanding to you.
“The church has caused great pain and appears to have pointing fingers.”
“Don’t you see, it’s the sin of man that brings condemnation? I have come. I AM Savior. There is no condemnation to those who are in Me.”(2)
“Come, and let us reason together. Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (3) I was sent by My Father, and willingly died on a tree.”
But that could not hold Me. I rose from the dead.(4) Where do you set your mind? Where is your mind set? Look to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.” (5)
“I will show you great and mighty things that you know not yet. (6) I Am the LORD.”
Don’t look out toward the strife and the wars, Look Up to find wisdom to cope. “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the world…”(7)
“I didn’t leave you as orphans alone, (8) I left you with My Spirit and the Word. Receive Them. Don’t reject. “Be still and know that I Am God.” (9) Pull the Good Book from off of the shelf. Have an open heart and mind, and see …
for …
yourself.
I love you with outstretched arms forever. If I seem distant, I dwell in thankful hearts and praises.
Look up to Me. My name is Jesus.”
(1) Proverbs 9:10.
(2) Romans 8:1.
(3) Isaiah 1:18.
(4) Matthew 28:6.
(5) Matthew 11:28.
(6) Jeremiah 33:3.
(7) Colossians 3:2.
(8) John 14:18.
(9) Psalm 46:10.
Tag: Peace
Nevertheless God
We desire friendship with Happiness. We yearn for acquaintance with Joy. But often we find hidden around the corner, Distress and Restlessness.
Where is Rest?
Airwaves reveal that women “roar” and men “parade themselves.” Children very young and very old, and all the ages in between seek Refuge.
He reaches His hand out in the storm. He speaks, as “our bodies had no rest, . . . we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us . . .” (2 Corinthians 7:5,6. NKJV).
Refuge comes in the storm. His Word brings His companion, Calm. And Calm has a twin, who’s name is Song.
“O soul are you weary and troubled. No light in the darkness you see. There’s a light for a look at the Savior and life more abundant and free.”
Then Remember came to my rescue and offered some strong exhortation:
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38, NIV.
“O God,” I cry, “Remind me.” The mountains quake, the trials mount. When lying on my bed, my head cries, “There’s no way out!”
And a still, quiet voice speaks mysteriously deep:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46, from the Holy Book.
God speaks in the hymn of old, when weariness overtakes our soul, “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.”
So I run to the Word, His present help, and I turn to Psalm 46 to calm me back to sleep:
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
So, let us “turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face,” that we might seek refuge from the Lord and not men. That we might have Peace dwell deep inside, giving counsel and comfort to put anxiety aside,
that we might have an abundance of hope and joy and all the rest, because we have made God, The Almighty, Lord of All the Universe, our confidence.
Today, today – let us yearn to seek His face.
Eyes on the waves, "O for grace to trust You more!"
My eyes are on the waves, but I’m not at the beach. Only the trials and the lack can I see.
There is a battle waging inside between the choice of anxious thoughts or trusting the Lord.
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word …”
The struggle to think on what He has told me or all the needs whirling around in my head.
‘Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.”
“The Lord is my Shepherd,” Psalm 23. These are His words given to me.
The word is there to keep my eyes on Him, to see the reality – I have all I need. For today, right now – God’s word is sound. He’s faithful. He’s patient. His mercy abounds. His love never fails. His word is solid ground.
So I cry out to Him and ask, “Help me God to change my focus. The weeds of doubt and fear have me sinking. I can’t breathe, I can’t see. Fix my eyes on the heavens – right now – O won’t you please, help me!
Tune me up that I might not complain. Oh God that I might sing in harmony again. Perhaps the old hymn are the words I must speak:
“Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just from sin and self to cease,…”
“Jesus, if you walked through this temple today, you would find my fret and fear and dismay. I’m aware this is sin, this is not pleasing to You. I’m throwing out my past, …
forgetting those things that hurt, leaving fear of the present with You even now.
I confess this mess to You this very moment. Thank You, for they are forgiven and cleansed by the power of Your blood and Your love in surrender. I go now, in faith victorious and new. I leave from Your presence taking, yes, taking from You:
“Just from Jesus simply taking Life and rest and joy and peace. Jesus, Jesus how I trust You ! How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er. Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust You more!”
“Just from Jesus simply taking,… I must repeat, for I am likened as a sheep: “Life and rest and joy and peace.”
This time with You dear Lord has changed me, completely. Until the next wave that crashes before me … I love how You are so patient with me!”
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus by Louisa M. R. Stead
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
- Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
- Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood! - Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace. - I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.
True riches …
So precious the little girls, how they love tiaras and gowns. And the boys how they make the everyday sticks into a swords protecting all around.
Oh, there is much clamor about how this isn’t true. But, silently, some know not to listen, to listen to all the noise.
To breathe in the beauty of the sky above and marvel at it’s breathtaking brilliance and magnificent poise.
Some choose to hear the music in the everyday sounds. To know that God is. To sing His praise and own riches of inner peace, casting off cares and sleeping sound.
He is fairer than the sons of men, so much fairer is He. He is a Rock, a fortress, a buckler, tis true, but He’s also the Rose of Sharon.
He’s the Lily of the Valley. He is gentle in beauty. He brings joy greater than any man’s wine, and best of all, He’s mine.
And He can be yours too.
May a song sing and your heart dance when your ears hear His voice at last.
This is no ‘dream’ to follow. There is substance and power. There is lasting hope, there is beauty – never fading. This is faith in believing.
Believing and becoming part of the Bride, (both men and woman together), the church – for Christ is by our side.
“She lives in a bubble. She’s messed up in the head. She’s been brainwashed to believe!” these are the thoughts of those around. But what have I lost, by believing in the Son? What have I lost?
Faith is believing. God is Spirit. He’s in everything around.
“My Beloved came to His garden, and He knocked on the door in the night, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is covered with dew. . .
but I was tired and just wanted sleep and couldn’t move from my bed. But when I came to my senses and opened the door, He was nowhere to be seen, so far out of sight.
So I went searching and asking all around, “Have you seen the one I love?” And it was then, in my search that I found the One . . .
This is written in the Song of all Songs, the words of this ready writer’s pen. Like a wedding procession, He stands and sings over us, His Song:
“Behold, you are fair my love! Behold you are fair! You have dove’s eyes behind your veil…(1)
You are fair my love, and there is no spot in you… You have ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; you have ravished my heart…”
This is the heart of God towards me, this is the heart of God, towards you!
But the clamor, the noise … movement never ending. “Be Still and know!” He calls in the night. He makes us lie down. But we put up such a fight.
“Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.” (2) He is the Lily of the Valley among the thorns He came down…
He calls, I will follow. Can you hear His voice in the night? – I am His ‘lily’, His lily among the thorns – sick and torn. Even despised in some’s sight. But, He’s got hold of me, He’s got a hold of my heart. (3) He calls your name too. He waits for your answer. He has a still small voice – He won’t shout and flail His arms. He is the Lord.
He is God.
He stretched out the heavens. He has power to open blind eyes. He is our peace. He doesn’t fret. He is not anxious at all. He loves with an everlasting love. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is first and He is last. He has broken down every wall. (5)
“But now in Christ Jesus you[Gentiles] who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:13-18 RSV)
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 28-30.
What do you say? come out of the night? He will show us the way … moment by moment, one step at a time. He is our Husband, our Maker. He is with us. His love is better than wine!
(1)Song of Solomon 4.
(2) Song of Solomon 1-3.
(3) Isaiah 41:10
(4) Song of Solomon 5.
(5) Ephesians 2:14. “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”
"There is a river…", "Shall We Gather at the River?"
There are times when I wake, that I wake up feeling very ‘little’, very ‘small’. There are mornings when I wake up feeling, even in those first moments of the day, like I dwell in the energy and the franetic-ness of Times Square in NYC.
And each morning I need to have God ‘make me lie down’ and He brings me to ‘green pastures’, but today to a river… He illuminated a verse I have always loved, Ps. 46:4. “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God…”
Do you ever wake up feeling that your life is like a bustling city? “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High God is in the midst of her;”
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High God was in the midst of the children of Israel, and THAT is where God dwelt THEN, and today the Bible says that those who believe on Him that the Father has sent, (yes, that ‘Him’ is Jesus), that WE are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in us. (1Cor. 3:16.)
Jesus declared,”If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink and out of his innermost being shall gush forth torrents of living water.” (John 7:37,38) But wait, why are we so thirsty Lord? Fill me Lord, Fill us Lord with Your Holy Spirit! How we need a filling of the ‘river whose streams make glad the city of God. ”God is in the midst of her; She shall not be moved.” There is a hymn that moves my feet right to the river:
“Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God?”“Yes, we’ll gather at the river.The beautiful, the beautiful river. Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.” (Shall We Gather at the River? Hymn by Robert Lowry, 1864).
Shall we gather at the river, even though we just got out of bed? Yes, in our minds, let Him take us, Oh Lord, transport us from the chaos of our thoughts and cause us to hear Your lovingkindness , to hear You speak, “Come to the waters and drink, for there is a river…God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”
“On the margin of the river, Washing up its silver spray, We will walk and worship ever, All the happy golden day, “ (well, I think there are times when I would like to change the wording, so the verse actually reads, “We will walk and worship ever, even in the ‘hectic’ frantic day!)
Can you hear the voice of Jesus speaking to you personally, even today, calling out your name, calling out my name, “Come to the rivers of water and drink… ‘there is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, (and that) God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”
Yes, we’ll gather at the river – sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, sinners young and sinners old-“Ere we reach the sining river, Lay we every burden down. Grace our spirits will deliver, And provide a robe and crown. Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river. Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.”
“Soon we’ll reach the shining river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease, Soon our happy heart will quiver With the melody of peace. Yes, we’ll gather at the river…”“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.” (Ps. 46:4-6).
“The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah, (pause and think calmly of that!)“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah”(Ps. 46:10,11). (pause and think calmly of that).
Shall we gather at the river? Oh, yes, Oh yes, we find our peace in the midst of ‘hectic’ there – because ‘God is in the midst of her’,“Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.” (Robert Lowry, 1864).
Do you ever wake up feeling that your life is like a bustling city? “There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High God is in the midst of her;”
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High God was in the midst of the children of Israel, and THAT is where God dwelt THEN, and today the Bible says that those who believe on Him that the Father has sent, (yes, that ‘Him’ is Jesus), that WE are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in us. (1Cor. 3:16.)
Jesus declared,”If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink and out of his innermost being shall gush forth torrents of living water.” (John 7:37,38) But wait, why are we so thirsty Lord? Fill me Lord, Fill us Lord with Your Holy Spirit! How we need a filling of the ‘river whose streams make glad the city of God. ”God is in the midst of her; She shall not be moved.” There is a hymn that moves my feet right to the river:
“Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod; With its crystal tide forever Flowing by the throne of God?”“Yes, we’ll gather at the river.The beautiful, the beautiful river. Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.” (Shall We Gather at the River? Hymn by Robert Lowry, 1864).
Shall we gather at the river, even though we just got out of bed? Yes, in our minds, let Him take us, Oh Lord, transport us from the chaos of our thoughts and cause us to hear Your lovingkindness , to hear You speak, “Come to the waters and drink, for there is a river…God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”
“On the margin of the river, Washing up its silver spray, We will walk and worship ever, All the happy golden day, “ (well, I think there are times when I would like to change the wording, so the verse actually reads, “We will walk and worship ever, even in the ‘hectic’ frantic day!)
Can you hear the voice of Jesus speaking to you personally, even today, calling out your name, calling out my name, “Come to the rivers of water and drink… ‘there is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, (and that) God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.”
Yes, we’ll gather at the river – sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers, sinners young and sinners old-“Ere we reach the sining river, Lay we every burden down. Grace our spirits will deliver, And provide a robe and crown. Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river. Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.”
“Soon we’ll reach the shining river, Soon our pilgrimage will cease, Soon our happy heart will quiver With the melody of peace. Yes, we’ll gather at the river…”“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.” (Ps. 46:4-6).
“The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah, (pause and think calmly of that!)“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah”(Ps. 46:10,11). (pause and think calmly of that).
Shall we gather at the river? Oh, yes, Oh yes, we find our peace in the midst of ‘hectic’ there – because ‘God is in the midst of her’,“Yes, we’ll gather at the river, The beautiful, the beautiful river, Gather with the saints at the river That flows by the throne of God.” (Robert Lowry, 1864).