My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
Psalm 62:5-7 NLT
The world is full of movers and shakers - people who specifically set out to get things done. And they will move and/or shake whoever and whatever to make it happen. I must admit, at times I am a little envious of them because I don't think 'slip and slide' has the same connotation as 'move and shake'. However, not all movers and shakers are a good thing. Some are steam rollers meant to take you out or make you a mover and a shaker - moving you out of the way and shaking with fear!
However, yesterday I heard a great exhortation - Hold the Line! It doesn't matter what comes against you. Hold the Line! It doesn't matter what the world throws at you or what you're losing or who is leaving you or what bill needs to be paid or what the doctor said - HOLD THE LINE! If God is our Rock, how can we be moved?
Psalm 46:1-4 reads, God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even 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. Be the living epitome of 1st Corinthians 15:58 - Be stedfast, unmoveable!
There will always be movers and shakers - good and bad. Don't be moved - In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
Prayer:
Father,
My soul will wait silently for You alone, For my expectation is from You. You only are my rock and my salvation; You are my defense; I shall not be moved. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen
Monday, October 13, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Taken for Granted +
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 8:12 NKJV
I hate getting up in the middle of the night without a light. I've whacked my foot against the furniture so many times, my little toe is in a permanent "tuck or duck" position! How about when the electricity goes off during a storm and we're groping around for a flashlight or candles? Why is it we always want light more so when we can't get it? Is it that we take it for granted until it's gone?
It is written in 1st John 1:6-7 NLT, So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. With that, why would anyone choose to continue to walk in darkness when they can have the Light of Life? Why would anyone choose an eternity where they will be cast into outer darkness - where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30).
Do we think we have forever to make the choice to follow Jesus? Do we take for granted His mercy and grace and patience? Peter wrote, But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
Prayer:
Father,
We want to live in the light, as You are in the light. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to help others see and understand that if we follow You, our steps will be sure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
John 8:12 NKJV
I hate getting up in the middle of the night without a light. I've whacked my foot against the furniture so many times, my little toe is in a permanent "tuck or duck" position! How about when the electricity goes off during a storm and we're groping around for a flashlight or candles? Why is it we always want light more so when we can't get it? Is it that we take it for granted until it's gone?
It is written in 1st John 1:6-7 NLT, So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. With that, why would anyone choose to continue to walk in darkness when they can have the Light of Life? Why would anyone choose an eternity where they will be cast into outer darkness - where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth? (Matthew 8:12, 22:13, 25:30).
Do we think we have forever to make the choice to follow Jesus? Do we take for granted His mercy and grace and patience? Peter wrote, But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
Prayer:
Father,
We want to live in the light, as You are in the light. Your Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Help us to help others see and understand that if we follow You, our steps will be sure. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
* A New Dress Code
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Colossians 3:12-14 The Message Bible
I remember when schools in our area first went to a standard dress code of solid colored shirts with collars and they had to be tucked in to khakis which had to have a belt. Oh, how parents and students alike were up in arms over it! All kinds of excuses and grumblings - from unconstitutional to too much money - none of which was factual. Those who couldn't afford it were helped out by those who were willing to help, and once the parents and students realized we weren't kidding, they settled into it.
The results were amazing. Behavior improved, consideration for others increased, grades went up. Children walked with a new level of confidence. It was almost unbelievable what a new Dress Code could accomplish.
We get the same kind of results when we dress in the wardrobe that God has picked out for us. Oh, we may be up in arms to start with - Discipline? What's wrong with the way I do things? Humility? Second place? Where's me? Where's mine? Me me me... I can't do that. I can't wear that! I can't afford that! None of which is factual... The Truth is God has provided the wardrobe. He has given it to us to wear as He wears it. He paid for it. Dearly...
And once we realize, He's not kidding, and we put on our new things - our behavior improves, consideration for others increases, and we wait to hear "Good job! Well done!" We can walk with a new level of confidence because we're walking with Him and following in His footsteps. Our path is sure. The dress code is clear. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to wear with a sincere commitment to excellence these precious garments that Your Son bought and paid for with His own blood. Help us to do so with such grace and mercy and love that the world will know who we belong to by what we wear. Help us to forgive as quickly as You forgive us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Colossians 3:12-14 The Message Bible
I remember when schools in our area first went to a standard dress code of solid colored shirts with collars and they had to be tucked in to khakis which had to have a belt. Oh, how parents and students alike were up in arms over it! All kinds of excuses and grumblings - from unconstitutional to too much money - none of which was factual. Those who couldn't afford it were helped out by those who were willing to help, and once the parents and students realized we weren't kidding, they settled into it.
The results were amazing. Behavior improved, consideration for others increased, grades went up. Children walked with a new level of confidence. It was almost unbelievable what a new Dress Code could accomplish.
We get the same kind of results when we dress in the wardrobe that God has picked out for us. Oh, we may be up in arms to start with - Discipline? What's wrong with the way I do things? Humility? Second place? Where's me? Where's mine? Me me me... I can't do that. I can't wear that! I can't afford that! None of which is factual... The Truth is God has provided the wardrobe. He has given it to us to wear as He wears it. He paid for it. Dearly...
And once we realize, He's not kidding, and we put on our new things - our behavior improves, consideration for others increases, and we wait to hear "Good job! Well done!" We can walk with a new level of confidence because we're walking with Him and following in His footsteps. Our path is sure. The dress code is clear. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Prayer:
Father,
Help us to wear with a sincere commitment to excellence these precious garments that Your Son bought and paid for with His own blood. Help us to do so with such grace and mercy and love that the world will know who we belong to by what we wear. Help us to forgive as quickly as You forgive us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Victory is the Lord's *
Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Romans 12:15 NLT
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 KJV
You may have followed my posts about Baby Asa - who just last month was declared cancer-free! Praise God! Tonight, his mother wrote about young Caroline, who next to Asa, is the one for whom she most requested prayer. Mimi Barreras is an incredible writer. Her blog site graceinspades.blogspot.com is just exactly that - Grace in Spades. I am sharing her post as the Promise for Today because what better promise do we have than Christ laid down His life to redeem ours and to set us free?
Prayer:
Father,
Comfort as only You can in times like these! Surround Caroline's family and circle of friends with Your love and Your peace. Cause the rest of us to be aware of those around us who need to feel Your touch through our hands extended. A fresh anointing of compassion, Father, this we pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen
Romans 12:15 NLT
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 KJV
You may have followed my posts about Baby Asa - who just last month was declared cancer-free! Praise God! Tonight, his mother wrote about young Caroline, who next to Asa, is the one for whom she most requested prayer. Mimi Barreras is an incredible writer. Her blog site graceinspades.blogspot.com is just exactly that - Grace in Spades. I am sharing her post as the Promise for Today because what better promise do we have than Christ laid down His life to redeem ours and to set us free?
Many of you who have been along for Asa’s big, long journey, know that there are a lot of sweet people, docs, nurses, volunteers, patients, and families that we have gotten to know along the way. You just can’t help it. We are very sad to report that our precious friend, sweet saint, Caroline, the one that we probably reported on most, requested prayer for most, lost her battle with leukemia yesterday. We celebrate in ways as she is free, free from the pain and torturous treatments, the ups and downs of chemo and pits of side-effects, finished forever with the days of trying to survive being a teen and living like a bubble kid, day after day of needing transfusions. We celebrate that she was born again and is with her Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ and enjoying every minute of a new and perfect body and all the freedom and joy in His presence. How exciting! We sorrow with her family who loved and encouraged her (and us!) so and fought so hard. Caroline’s presence influenced so deeply all of those who met her. She was a funny and delightful kid who just gleamed a holy content whenever you saw her, pain or not.
Clearly, we ask for prayer for Caroline’s family. I know families with cancer grieve as they go, but when cancer has been your life, when all is said and done, no matter the outcome, you are sort of left not knowing what to do. Please pray for Caroline’s family. I know they want her memorials to reflect Jesus. Pray for her siblings as they are released to the next thing in their lives. Pray for her parents, that they adjust back to civilian life well now that the battle is done. It’s hard, so hard. Pray long term. It’s a rest of the life, until eternity adjustment.
This past weekend I went to my son’s college choir concert. It was a hymn concert in 4-part+ harmony, featuring many old classics and their histories, standing room only with overflow out of the concert hall. I was struck by the truth of it all. I have a partiality to old doctrinal hymns, even though I learned that some in particular were scandalously modern when they were written. I think they bleed timeless into history though, even the boat-rocking ones, because they are just so chuck full of restated Scripture. Mid-concert, the choir sang Spafford’s “It Is Well with my Soul.” As I stood in the back, just outside the door of the hall, I thought of Caroline.
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
I knew it was close. The end. The new beginning. Even with good reports, we all knew. You are weighing in one hand the need for the unheard of miracle, the Master’s touch and in the other, the truth of Psalm 116:15, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” You don’t really know how the scales will weigh. You are not out of time, but stuck in the dead present, thinking you know the best solution, and, quite simply, we don’t.
We only get the last two lines. We have been regarded by the Maker of heaven and earth, the Savior of the world. That’s all we’ve got. All anybody has. All anyone can rejoice in, that we have been regarded and bought with His precious blood.
So, for today, we sorrow, but we can also easily and joyfully state that it is well with Caroline and for that, we are truly grateful and even excited. Praise the Lord, Oh my soul!
If you are not familiar with “It is Well with my Soul,” the full lyrics are here:
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/It_Is_Well_with_My_Soul/ And better yet, if you don’t know the history behind this hymn, check it out here. What a story! http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/it-is-well-with-my-soul-the-song-and-the-story.html
Prayer:
Father,
Comfort as only You can in times like these! Surround Caroline's family and circle of friends with Your love and Your peace. Cause the rest of us to be aware of those around us who need to feel Your touch through our hands extended. A fresh anointing of compassion, Father, this we pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen
Monday, October 6, 2014
Hell to Pay +
They will answer, “We will come back, because you are the Lord our God. On hilltops, we worshiped idols and made loud noises, but it was all for nothing— only you can save us."
Jeremiah 3:22b-23 CEV
I don't know if you've ever done this before, I just know I have. I'm talking about trying to convince God why He should let me have my own way in something He knows is not the best for my life. In reality, I would know it, too, or I wouldn't have tried to rationalize it.
However, the Truth is that more than likely, we will do it anyway, and try to convince ourselves it's all good...until it's not. You see sometimes, it's as though God says, "Go ahead..." He knows we're going to anyway. It's not His will, but just like a child, before you get understanding, sometimes you have to incur the consequences.
Oh, and there will be consequences! Christ has already paid the price for us, but if we don't come back at His invitation, there WILL be hell to pay. Literally.
Prayer:
Father,
O that we would recognize the futility and the sheer stupidity of arguing with You over what is best for our lives. Just like Your Word says, our hearts are deceitfully wicked and will lead us astray. Apart from You we cannot know what is good and right and holy. Remove the blinders from our eyes, the hardness of our hearts and break our stubborn wills as we submit to Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Jeremiah 3:22b-23 CEV
I don't know if you've ever done this before, I just know I have. I'm talking about trying to convince God why He should let me have my own way in something He knows is not the best for my life. In reality, I would know it, too, or I wouldn't have tried to rationalize it.
However, the Truth is that more than likely, we will do it anyway, and try to convince ourselves it's all good...until it's not. You see sometimes, it's as though God says, "Go ahead..." He knows we're going to anyway. It's not His will, but just like a child, before you get understanding, sometimes you have to incur the consequences.
Oh, and there will be consequences! Christ has already paid the price for us, but if we don't come back at His invitation, there WILL be hell to pay. Literally.
Prayer:
Father,
O that we would recognize the futility and the sheer stupidity of arguing with You over what is best for our lives. Just like Your Word says, our hearts are deceitfully wicked and will lead us astray. Apart from You we cannot know what is good and right and holy. Remove the blinders from our eyes, the hardness of our hearts and break our stubborn wills as we submit to Yours. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Shut him Up
10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV
Oftentimes, phrases such as "Power in the Blood," "Blood of the Lamb," "Plead the Blood," are heard and maybe even used, but many times without true understanding. I wonder what would happen if we truly understood the power in the shed blood of Jesus the Christ.
The purpose is to cleanse us from ALL our sin and unrighteousness - to proclaim God's authority in our lives and over our lives. How do we have victory over the accuser of the brethren? By the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus shed His Blood on the cross for us) and the word of our testimony. In other words, we declare the Truth about the redemptive work of Christ's Blood in our lives! We are forgiven. We are set free. KNOW WHO YOU ARE in Christ - a NEW creation!
We can shut the mouth of the accuser by the power of the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus), because by the Blood of the Lamb, we won't be giving the enemy of our soul anything to talk about! Let's shut him up!
Prayer:
Father,
Open our spiritual eyes of understanding to see and to know the Truth of the power in the shed Blood of Jesus. Remind us to daily apply it to the doorposts of our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Revelation 12:10-11 NKJV
Oftentimes, phrases such as "Power in the Blood," "Blood of the Lamb," "Plead the Blood," are heard and maybe even used, but many times without true understanding. I wonder what would happen if we truly understood the power in the shed blood of Jesus the Christ.
The purpose is to cleanse us from ALL our sin and unrighteousness - to proclaim God's authority in our lives and over our lives. How do we have victory over the accuser of the brethren? By the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus shed His Blood on the cross for us) and the word of our testimony. In other words, we declare the Truth about the redemptive work of Christ's Blood in our lives! We are forgiven. We are set free. KNOW WHO YOU ARE in Christ - a NEW creation!
We can shut the mouth of the accuser by the power of the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus), because by the Blood of the Lamb, we won't be giving the enemy of our soul anything to talk about! Let's shut him up!
Prayer:
Father,
Open our spiritual eyes of understanding to see and to know the Truth of the power in the shed Blood of Jesus. Remind us to daily apply it to the doorposts of our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
* Proper Use of OMG!
You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
Exodus 20:7 The Amplified Bible
God is serious about His Name... It would behoove us to be serious about His Name, too. I cringe every time I hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain - every time someone uses "OMG!" as a frivolous response to someone else's drama of the moment/hour, every time I hear "OH MY GAWD!" in the same vein as "Are you kidding me?!?" or "Are you serious?!?"
God IS serious about His Name... actually, He's serious about all of them. They represent the very nature and character of who He is. They are designed to be called upon and they correspond to our needs and dependence on Him.
Elohim - Strength, power, greatness, and glory
Yahweh (or Jehovah) - I AM
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Adonai - Master, Lord
Jehovah-Jireh - God will provide
Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - God who sanctifies
Jehovah-Shalom - God is peace
Jehovah-Nissi - God our banner
Jehovah-Raphah (sometimes spelled 'Rophe') - God our Healer
Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God our righteousness
The proper use is in acknowledgement and affirmation of who He is. Calling His Name in faith, confirming who He is and who we BELIEVE He is, not in unbelief at someone's trivial pursuit. Selah
Prayer:
Father,
We pray as Ezra prayed, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has mounted to the heavens. Open our hearts to receive Your Truths, open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Forgive us, O God, we pray. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Exodus 20:7 The Amplified Bible
God is serious about His Name... It would behoove us to be serious about His Name, too. I cringe every time I hear someone take the Lord's Name in vain - every time someone uses "OMG!" as a frivolous response to someone else's drama of the moment/hour, every time I hear "OH MY GAWD!" in the same vein as "Are you kidding me?!?" or "Are you serious?!?"
God IS serious about His Name... actually, He's serious about all of them. They represent the very nature and character of who He is. They are designed to be called upon and they correspond to our needs and dependence on Him.
Elohim - Strength, power, greatness, and glory
Yahweh (or Jehovah) - I AM
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Adonai - Master, Lord
Jehovah-Jireh - God will provide
Jehovah-M'Kaddesh - God who sanctifies
Jehovah-Shalom - God is peace
Jehovah-Nissi - God our banner
Jehovah-Raphah (sometimes spelled 'Rophe') - God our Healer
Jehovah-Tsidkenu - God our righteousness
The proper use is in acknowledgement and affirmation of who He is. Calling His Name in faith, confirming who He is and who we BELIEVE He is, not in unbelief at someone's trivial pursuit. Selah
Prayer:
Father,
We pray as Ezra prayed, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads and our guilt has mounted to the heavens. Open our hearts to receive Your Truths, open our eyes to see and our ears to hear. Forgive us, O God, we pray. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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