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Monday, April 25, 2016

Crushed Souls/Broken Hearts

Lord tonight I come to You yet again bowed low.  So many need Your healing touch to reach clear to their souls.  It seems that the winds of the storm are huge for some and some are even right in the eye of that storm.  Lord tonight I just have to believe that You are in the eye of it with us and that you know that some have souls that feel crushed and have hearts that  have been broken.  Oh Father God I just have to believe...with all that I have left in me...that You are going to bring us out of this storm...this desert...this valley...and help us to stand again.  Help us to breathe in Your grace...Your mercy...Your calming strength...so that we can once again begin to live the life that You have planned for us.  You have done so much for me Lord and I won't believe that You would leave us in this place.  I know that You Lord can heal crushed souls and broken hearts...I give mine to You Lord and I pray that others I know will turn to You as well.  Thank You Lord for all You have given us...

In Jesus name...in Jesus mighty name...Amen

Morning Prayer

O' Lord I come to you this morning bowed down low.  I need You today so much...more than yesterday...and I know You know.  Lord you are aware of all my sufferings right now and You know what will come tomorrow.  Please...please...help me to find strength in You.  Help me just to know that no matter what I am feeling...all will be good.  I can do this...I can make it...with Your help. Please come with Your great power Lord...Your swift response...Your mighty love.  My soul is shaken...my heart broken...I so need You today.  Please come in with Your great power Lord and rescue me today. In Jesus name...In Jesus name...

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Lesson From Elijah

As of late I have been defined by my struggles...but that's not what I want to be known by.  I want others to know me by how God has changed me.  Not for accolades for myself but so others will know what God can do for them...how He works in lifes and does miracles in helpless...hopeless people...that's me.  How He changes hearts...heals you clear way down deep into your very soul...I want people to know and see that! 

Lately I have been praying a lot...I have much to talk to God about...much I need help with.  What is most amazing to me is this...

Even though I have not been stellar...great at...being what I need to be...God has not left me.  As for me...I never left either but I did back away a bit...I don't even know why.  You see I know that when things in life start to unravel the best thing I can do is to press in...not back off...but I increasingly backed away.  I recognize now that it was me...not God...that backed off.  (I am truly grateful that was pointed out to me.)  With that said...

This morning I simply said..."Lord, please show me something to read today that I need to hear."  And He did.  I have always liked this passage but today I learned something new in it.

1 Kings 19:9b-14

But the Lord said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

Elijah replied, "I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty.  But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You, torn down Your alters, and killed every one of Your prophets.  I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

"Go out and stand before Me on the mountain," the Lord told him.  And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain.  It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper (a gentle blowing).  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

And a voice said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

He replied again, "I have zealously served the Lord God Almighty.  But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with You, torn down Your alters, and killed every one of Your prophets.  I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too."

Okay...my study bible tells me that even though Elijah feels like he is the only one left...he is not.

What always stuck out to me before was that God doesn't necessarily speak to us in a loud booming voice.  No...many times...He speaks in just a whisper.  Sometimes in the stillness of your sleepless night...He speaks and you just know. 

What is pointed out to me now is this...After the storm God asks a question and Elijah answers with the same answer as before.  So we can see...nothing had changed for Elijah even though God did these mighty things to get His attention.  Elijah just stayed hidden in the cave...not really wanting to "see"...hear...what God was saying to him. 

For me...right now in my life...I get it.  God has allowed some big storms to hit me in the last few months...right up to very recently...and my world has been rocked!!...I am broken.  Like Elijah I have not "really" seen or heard.  I have not really "got it" up to this point.  I have just stayed hidden in my cave...going my own way...thinking that in the end it would all be okay.  But I was wrong.  Nothing is okay. 

So the scripture that comes to me now is...

Psalm 27:8
My heart has heard You say, "Come and talk with me."
And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming."

The great thing is...When we do "Come and talk", He listens and cares.


The Lord is good.  As I looked that up I saw reference to another verse...something I so need today...

Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, let's settle this," says the Lord.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
I will make them as white as snow.
Though they are red like crimson,
I will make them white as wool.

Thank You Lord!

Lord I just ask that You hear my heart today.  I come before You...bowed low...and ask You to make me whole.  Forgive me of all my thoughtless actions and sinful ways.  I only want to live for You Lord.  Help me to seek You in every part of my life.  Thank You for giving me chance after chance after chance.  I fail miserably most days yet You are willing to forgive and take me back if I will but bow low in repentance and come to You.  Help me Lord to always do that...sooner rather than later.
Thank You.  In Jesus name...in Jesus name...








Friday, April 22, 2016

Walls Of Salvation

This thought just hit me like a ton of bricks...

If we don't tear down the walls around our hearts and swing wide the gates of our souls...JESUS will never really be all...everything...to us.  He will be our Savior...if we have asked Him to forgive our sins...but we will still always be longing for something...never quite feeling like it is well with our soul.  

Last night as I was reading my Bible it seemed that every passage I turned to talked about gates...doors...walls.  I know that the Holy Spirit is speaking to me.  I know...because I know.  The gates of Heaven are only going to be opened to those that are righteous...to those living according to what is written in the Word of God.  We all fail at times.  Different areas for all of us but still yet...a fail is a fail...a shortcoming is a shortcoming...a sin...well...sin is sin no matter what else you label it.  The last scriptures I read before going to bed last night were these...part of a song to the Lord.


Isaiah 26:1-4
In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song;

Our city is strong!
We are surrounded by the walls of God's salvation.
Open the gates to all who are righteous;
allow the faithful to enter.
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in You,
all whose thoughts are fixed on You!
Trust in the Lord always,
for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

In life we have lots of trouble...much stress.  But if we live for the Lord and let Him be our anchor...supported by Him...dwelling in Him...listening only to Him...things of life will not shake us to the point of being uprooted out of our life for Him.  We will be surrounded by His love...held in His arms...sheltered by Him.  We will have peace in Him.  We must keep our thoughts on the Lord trusting only in Him.  I really like the last line of verse one...We are surrounded by the walls of God's salvation.  That is how I want to feel at all times.  As if there are literal walls surrounding me...walls that I know are put around me by God Himself !  I could even think that the feeling may be...being held by the arms of Jesus.  Soft and gentle...yet...strong and mighty!!  Where nothing but good can penetrate. 

Father God do a mighty work in me.  Help me to tear down the walls of my heart and swing wide the gates of my soul so that Your Holy Spirit can enter in and do the work only HE can do within me.  I want to live fully and completely in Your will.  Thank You for allowing me to see things in me that I need to let You change.  Only You Lord...only You can help me and change me.  Thank You for the work You have started in me and for the work You are going to finish. 

In Jesus name...In Jesus name...



Thursday, April 21, 2016

Nothing Held Back

This morning it was so hard for me to leave for work.  All I wanted to do was sit here and talk with the Lord and write the things down that I was feeling.  It is hard for me to explain but I felt such a great peace like I haven't felt in way too long.  It was an abiding peace...sustaining peace...a peace I so needed to feel.  I so want...no...I need to be in His presence.  More and more...and more. 

When I got home I opened up my bible not knowing what to read...but read I must...it is essential for everything in me.  My life...my everything...I know it...failing is not what I want to do again...ever.
So...I turned to Psalms and just started looking.  Psalm 23...my old standby...I read...something more was needed.  Psalm 24 and 25...I will only put some verses here but it is all good.

Psalm 24:3-6

Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
Who may stand in His holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
who do not worship idols and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord's blessing,
and have a right relationship with their God and Savior. 
Such people may seek You
and worship in Your presence, O God of Jacob.

O, Lord once again I ask for forgiveness...for a clean and pure heart.  Help me Lord to trust You.  Help me Lord to come into a right relationship with You.  I seek You more and more and long to worship in Your presence Lord all the days of my life...and after my life is done.

Psalm 24 7-10

Open up ancient gates!
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty;
the Lord, invincible in battle.
Open up, ancient gates?
Open up, ancient doors,
and let the King of glory enter.
Who is the King of glory?
The Lord of Heaven's Armies
He is the King of glory.

When I read this I was truly excited.  I can just picture the people...the children...running to the gates and swinging them wide to let the King of Glory in!  Can't you just see it now...The King of Glory...of all Heaven and earth...coming through the gates.  Everyone bowing at the Kings feet...worshiping...praising the King of all Glory!!  And then another thought came to mind...

The door of my heart...the gate to my soul...and me...finally swinging it open wide letting the King of Glory in with nothing held back from Him!  No inhibitions...no fear of the unknown! 

Nothing. Held. Back.

With all of my worship and all of my praise going to the One who saved my soul...who saved my life!   Oh, open up worn out doors of my heart...open up, heavy ancient doors to my soul.  Let the King of Glory enter to do what He wills in my life. 

Psalm 25:1-2a

O Lord, I give my life to You.
I trust in You, my God!

Tonight I am so sorry and yet...so very thankfulThere is a bit of an excitement building within for things to come.  I don't know what those things will be but I am oh so ready for some change to take place. 

Heal me Lord and let me see
All the good inside of me
Touch me Lord and let me be
Consecrated Lord to thee
Heal me
Touch me
Move in me
Fill me Lord with more of Thee

I love the song...Holy Spirit Thou Art Welcome

Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Holy Spirit Thou art welcome in this place
Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace
Thou art welcome in this place

For me the place is within me...my heart...my soul...my mind...my whole life.  I believe that full and complete healing will happen.  Holy Spirit I am ready...willing...waiting...

In Jesus name...In Jesus name...come





 







Broken

Lord...today...I come broken before You...I couldn't get anymore broken than I have become the last couple of weeks...I am literally sick from all of the breaking.  Forgive me Lord...please Lord forgive me.  Give me another chance to show you...and others...that I am worth saving...that I am worth having around.  Lord...I just want to place myself in Your sweet hands...The nail scarred hands of You...my Savior.  Please make me whole...please make me new.  You Lord are the Potter...I Lord am the clay...mold me and make me in anyway You want me to be.  I so desperately need Your help today.  Your soothing and calming to my soul...my innermost being...my mind.  Heal me spiritually...I don't even care about my physical body anymore...but my spiritual self...the part of me that brings me close to You Lord...the part of me that others see as it comes through...because of You Lord...only because of You.  Keep me in Your presence today as I go.  I need Thee O. I need Thee...every hour I need Thee...O bless me now my Savior...I come to Thee.  I bow before thee Lord today...keep me Lord...along my way...In JESUS name...In JESUS name...

New Morning Thoughts

Your mercies are new every morning...Your grace is sufficient for me...You are my Shepherd...The Lord of my life.  O, Lord...wash over me with Your love and mercy...Your truth and grace this morning.  Make me new...make me clean...make me whole.  I need You more and more...right now...today.  Please forgive me...make me clean.  Wash me clean in the rivers of Your love.  Let me dip in the streams of Your mercy.  Drown me in Your living water and cleanse me...help me to feel Your love.  I will praise You...I will praise You...Praise the LAMB for sinners slain...O Lord.  Keep me safe in You today.  Thank You Lord for saving me.  Thank You Lord for keeping me.  Thank You Lord for saving my soul...Thank You Lord for making me whole...Thank you Lord for giving to me...Thy great salvation so rich and free.  In Jesus name...In Jesus name...amen...amen.