Untitled

I don't write about my past much anymore but I found out recently that just because it's my past....it can still become my present very quickly!  So I'm going to share a little of whats been going on with me because somehow sharing helps get me back where I need to be with the Lord.  I believe it also helps others who struggle with things in their life.  So even though it's not easy to let the world into my life here we go....

You know....satan is a liar.  He steps into our life to bring fear....to cast shadows of darkness over us....to destroy us.  Satan wants nothing good for us.  He wants to bind us and imprison us to where we feel as if we are suffocating.  Recently I have been in that state of mind.  It all started a couple of weeks ago....

Since becoming a Christian I don't recall drinking any alcohol.  It's not that I didn't want to because many many times....I wanted to!  But for me....it would have been the wrong thing to do.  I liked how it made me feel Way. Too. Much.  So for a long time....I struggled with that issue.  Finally one day I turned it over to the Lord and I've been good without it since.  Then two, maybe two and a half weeks ago, it popped into my thoughts....You need to get something to drink.  You know....just a subtle little suggestion.  Immediately I thought....What?!  Where did that come from?  Then off and on for a couple of weeks that thought would just happen.  I would push it away and sometimes even say....satan leave me alone.  I don't need a drink!  Well a few days back I went to a party.  Not a "party" party but one where there was alcohol.  I walked in and immediately noticed that 85 % of the people were all walking around with some of the biggest drinks I had ever seen....at least in my mind!  Honestly, I had no idea I would be bothered so much by it.  I just kept thinking how I really wanted a drink.  Then I would think....why am I thinking that?  Drinking is the last thing I want to do!  The funny part was....many people there know I don't drink but they were teasing me and asking me if I wanted one.  Then others that don't know were honestly asking me if they could get me a drink. By the time I left that was all I could think about....even though I knew I couldn't.

Something else that I used to always struggle with was nightmares.  Well....they have been happening a lot recently as well.  Last night I went to sleep for just a little while and then woke up with a start.  I opened my eyes and was sure I saw something staring down at me.  Immediately I started trying to hit it but it was so tall I had to really stretch to even come close to it.  As soon as I got my wits about me I grabbed the light and turned it on....there was nothing there. 

Finally I have realized that this has been an attack from satan.  It was this last nightmare that helped me to know this.  So I was looking in my bible for something to read before bed and all the scriptures I saw have something in common.  Here's a couple of them....

Psalm 28:7a
The Lord is my strength and shield,
I trust Him with my whole heart.

Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives His people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.

Psalm 31:24
So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord.

Psalm 16:8
I know the Lord is always with me.
I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.

Psalm 4:8
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

I know that whatever I'm going through the Lord really is always with me.  He loves me more than I can even imagine.  He loves you more than you can  imagine too.  If you are struggling tonight because satan is trying to throw up road blocks to keep you away from Jesus....don't listen to him.  Only listen to the voice of the Lord.  There is a chapter in Psalms that always comes to my mind in these times.  I like it in the amplified version when I'm really having a hard time. 

Psalm 23

¹ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

² He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

³ He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake.

⁴ Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

⁶ Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

"until we see JESUS....face to face"

 

1 Corinthians 10:13(NKJV)

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

You have to never quit.....never give up.  Keep trusting that God has got it and He has got you....telling yourself that you can make it through anything as long as you have the Lord.  Then believe it.

"until we see JESUS....face to face"

I Know You're There

At times confusion
leads astray
It overtakes
can't find the way
I'm Searching...
Searching...
in the fog
O Lord please help me
from this bog
My minds a muddle
can't get a grasp
Hold on to anything
just have to last
It's like the quicksand
of days gone by
O dear Lord
why oh why
I know You're there
waiting still
Wanting me
to come and kneel
But sometimes Lord
the battles fierce
The enemy
he's hard to quench
I'm Fighting...
Fighting...
for just one breath
To say that prayer
one more request
I know You're there
waiting still
To break that chain
to help me feel
The calm
the quiet
the peace...
Your perfect rest

"until we see JESUS....face to face"

More and More of Him

I was just listening to a great chorus and yes....it's an old one....

Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
You'll find He's not to busy to hear your heart's cry.
He's passing by this moment your needs to supply.
Just reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

This weekend I was reminded that if we will just simply reach out to the Lord....He will always reach out to us.  What is so awesome about that is....He will touch us in ways we can't even begin to imagine or describe! 

For me, I long for more and more of God in anyway He wants to make Himself real to me!  More and more and more of Him....

More of You Lord that's what I long for
Please fill me up with more of You
Make my heart an open vessel
For You to cleanse and fill anew
More of You yes more of You Lord
You're who I live for everyday
Come and fill me to overflowing
With Your Spirit Lord I pray
More of You Lord You're who I long for
Everyday just more of You
Let Your fire burn within me
As You cleanse me through and through

Let the Lord transform you from the inside out.  He can....will....if you will ask Him too.

John 3:30 NIV
He must become greater,
I must become less.

"until we see JESUS....face to face"

It Will Be Worth Everything

It will be worth it all
when we see Jesus!
Life's trials will seem so small 
when we see HIM.
One glimpse of His dear face,
All sorrows will erase.
So, bravely run the race
till we see Christ.

This is the chorus to the old hymn; It Will Be Worth It All.  Don't you just love these words?!  The day we see JESUS....in all HIS power and glory....nothing that we have been through in this life will matter.  All we are going to think about is HIM!  It will be an amazing day when HE wipes away all of our tears and sorrows....when sickness and death is behind us and life everlasting is what's in front of us!  Can you only imagine what that will be like?  Which reminds me of this song...

I Can Only Imagine

Surrounded by YOUR glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you JESUS?
Or in awe of YOU be still?

Will I stand in YOUR presence?
Or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah?
Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine
I can only imagine

On the day I see JESUS face to face I don't have any idea how I'm going to react.  It's hard to imagine what the feelings will be when we stand in the total light of HIS presence....HIS glory....HIS love!  What....oh what....is that going to feel like?!  To me I don't know how we will be able to contain what we will feel....how to even grasp the enormity of JESUS!  How could we do anything but fall on our face and worship the KING OF KINGS....our KING OF KINGS and our LORD OF LORDS!

We are now in the Easter season and what comes to mind is that hill where JESUS walked up....beaten and bloodied.  Some say HE was forced to go up on Golgotha....HE had no choice accept to let them nail HIM to that old rugged cross....but that's not true.  JESUS chose to have that crown of thorns driven down into HIS head....HE chose to be nailed to that cross....HE chose to hang there in agony....JESUS chose to let them spit on HIM and drive the spear through HIS side.  JESUS chose to let all of that....and more....be done to HIM so that one day we could choose to accept or deny HIS sacrifice....HIS love for us.  Because that's what really drove HIM to the top of that hill.  HIS love for us is what really caused HIM to choose to let those guards do everything vile to HIM that they did that day.  HIS love for us is why HE hung on that old rugged cross until HE had breathed HIS last breath and then said loud enough for all creation to hear....

Luke 23:46

⁴⁶ Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

JESUS went through unimaginable things and then gave up HIS life for you and me.  The question is what are we going to do with that fact?  For me I have made my choice....I am going to live for HIM and then one day soon I'm going to spend eternity with HIM.  If you want to make that choice today just simply tell HIM you're sorry for the way you have lived.  Ask JESUS to forgive you and come to live inside of you.  Then find a church that believes JESUS is the only true and living LORD and SAVIOR and be there Easter morning.  Then live for HIM like there is no tomorrow because you never know when your tomorrows on earth will end.

"until we see JESUS....face to face"