He Just Was

John 1:1
In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.

John 1 is such a powerful chapter!  The excitement I feel as I am reading it this morning I can't even explain!  Just powerful to my soul!  Before I was a Christian it was important to me that I know where God and Jesus came from.  How they "were" so to speak.  No one could ever give me an answer.  They always said, "They just always existed.  They just were and are."  That was never good enough for me.  I needed to know.  Well, I am now a Christian and all I know is, "They just already existed.  God just is and always was."  Then the Word...Jesus...well verse two explains that...

John 1:2
He existed in the beginning with God.

He just is.  And you know what?  Today that is good enough for me.  Why?  Because somehow that is enough.  My finite mind doesn't know where they came from, or really understand it.  But...in my heart somehow...I just get it and it is exciting!!

The whole first chapter of John is so exciting to me.  So many nuggets of truth...

John 1:14
So the Word became human and made His home among us.  He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.  And we have seen His glory, the glory of the Fathers one and only Son.

Jesus.  He became human.  He came here and lived to sacrifice Himself for us so that we can live with Him forever.  Gods one and only Son came to earth and lived as a man so that He could die for each and everyone of us...that we might live! 


John 1:29b
..."Look!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Ohhh...what a proclamation from John the Baptist.  John telling everyone who Jesus is and why He came.

As I said...powerful chapter!  There is so much more and it is so exciting.  If you let it happen...The Word...will just reach out and grab hold of you...and you will never be the same!

Ever Thankful

This day...today...has been an amazing day.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  There was nothing special about this day really...and yet...it was special.   Why?...because even though I slept very little I woke up alive...feeling light and good...knowing that whatever the day held it was going to be ok.  Why?  Because Jesus was with me.  I know...that no matter what...He is faithful and will never abandon me.  He lets me know over and over again that regardless of what's going on around us...if we are trusting in Him then He is right there...surrounding...holding...protecting...loving.  And for me personally...when things get crazy in my world all I have to do is whisper...Jesus I need you now...or...Jesus help me...and He comes with this amazing peace.  Really it's as if He just drops it on me.  I don't even always notice the moment peace takes over but as I'm working I realize that everything is good and I'm calm.  It's an amazing thing! 

I. Am. Ever. Thankful. and I. Am. Blessed.

Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 28:6-7
Praise the Lord!
For He has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust Him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

It is a feeling that is hard to describe that the Lord has filled me with tonight!  Joy...surges of happiness and comfort...unending.  I believe that at times the Lord blesses us with these times so we can share it with others.  To let others know that no matter how bad things may seem...if we are walking with the Lord our God...He is with you and helping you always. 

Give Him thanks
Give Him praise
Give Him your all
and He will give you His best
Then you will know
Yes
You will know

Our Safe Place

Today I have been drawn to Psalm 61 and 62.  They are about security and assurance.  Letting us know that we can place all of us...our broken selves...in His hands.  That we can trust Him with us...He hears our prayers...whether we speak them out or breathe them silently.  He is always there...always listening...always holding His arms out to us.  Life is hard...many times it breaks us...we have no one to turn to but Him...and He is enough.  Even when you're not sure He hears...or really cares...He is faithful and He has not abandoned us. 

He. Is. Our. Safe. Place.

I'm not sure if what I have shared next is a prayer or just a pleading from within...but it is what I want...no...what I need.


Today my heart...my soul...needs to be filled up with You Lord...so please...

In my life Lord lead me.  Lead me to the Rock...You Lord...that is higher than my thoughts...my feelings...my hurts...my struggles...my pain.  When I am totally overwhelmed with all that life is...when my heart has been breached...fold me into the safety of Your wings.  Shelter me where the storms can't whip around and pummel.  Place me in Your fortress where Your light is ever shining and Your grace is all I know.  Lead me...fold me...shelter me...placed forever in Your arms of love.   

Psalm 62:1-2

I wait quietly before God,
For my victory comes from Him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Just As I Am

Just as I am today Lord
I come
With all my torn and tattered places Lord
I come
With all my bruises and breaks Lord
I come
Just as I am Lord
I come
With all my wounds Lord
Just as I am
I come

Just as I am today Lord
Tired
Worn out
Empty
Sick
And yes Lord
Sometimes even lost
Feeling alone
Scared
Sorrowful
Just as I am
I come

Just as I am today Lord
I come
Longing to be as I should
I come
Trying to be bold
To just let go
To fall at Your feet
To lean against You
To feel Your arms around me
To bask in Your love
Just as I am
I come

Just as I am today Lord
I come
Leaving myself behind
I come
To you Lord
Only You Lord
I give my all
Just as I am today Lord
I come
With my hands held high
With my heart surrendered to only You
I come
Just as I am

A Prelude

Yesterday when I opened my bible it was to Psalm 107.  What I saw written on the pages took me back a few months when the Lord allowed me to be broken beyond words and then begin a healing process in me that is still ongoing today.  My story...like many of yours...is a journey filled with struggles and victories...pain and healing...and much grace from a Savior whom I am believing has more love for me...for us...than any of us can even imagine.  And if I'm completely honest with you here...there are minutes...days even...that it is oh so hard to really understand all of that.  That is where faith has to step in and I have to allow the Holy Spirit to take over and renew my thoughts.  Because you see, if I don't allow the Holy Spirit to take over then doubt takes over...and then the struggle.  Yet the Lord is faithful to help us...and I am ever thankful!

Lamentations 3:22-23
 The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
²³ Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.


This post is just a place to begin...a prelude if you will with more to come.  

Hidest Thou Me

Hidest thou me in the refuge of You
Hidest thou me in the storm see me thru
Hidest thou me where my soul can find rest
Hidest thou me in Your comfort I am blest



While sitting and reading tonight I am reminded that I am lost without Jesus.  Oh how I need Him more and more!  Lately I find myself asking Him to just be with me...to help me in all I do.  Many times I wake up with the simple thought of...Jesus...I need You.  It's not a plea...a bargaining chip...or even a sign of weakness.  No...I just realize that to get through my moments in life...my day...I just really need Jesus to be with me always.  I believe He gave me the words to that poem to remind me  that when no one else is here He still is.  And that through it all...I am always and forever hidden in Him.  He won't leave.

His Solace

Noticing lately that putting my thoughts into words is a good thing...yet finding it's not so easy turning the feelings into sharable words.  But...none the less...something I need to do.  I am sharing this for those that struggle to find the light in their day...in their mind and down deep into their souls.  It truly is possible to do this with the Lord...when you surrender to Him and leave it all at the cross...covered by His blood.


Scriptures read that led me to a good beginning of my day;

Psalm 73:25-28 NLT
Psalm 108:1-5 NLT
Psalm 57:7-11 NLT

Solace:  Comfort...alleviation of distress.  For me I think of it as alleviation of "soul distress".
The word the Lord gave me that reached into my thoughts and then my heart.  Why...because I needed only what He can give...

10-6-2016 6:17 a.m.
So far this morning it's been a rough day.  Up about 3:45 a.m.  Finally at about 6:15 my thoughts are starting to clear...to be positive.  As I begin to reach out and touch the Lord with my thoughts my soul begins to lighten...to rise...and find a calm solace in Him...His Word.  Where I was feeling loneliness and separated...peace is now starting to infiltrate and fill me up.  As I begin to read the scriptures, my heart and soul begin to lighten and be lifted up with the reminder that through it all...He is here!  In the early morning hours we may wake with a heaviness and not understand why.  But, it is in times like these that we need to persevere...drop our heads and lower our thoughts about things on earth...then raise our heart and soul to the Lord and things of Him!  Know that as we awaken our hearts to Him...think on His faithfulness to us...we can put away the stresses of life and unravel ourselves in Him.  His unfailing love is reaching out to us...holding on to us as we reach out and hold on to Him.  His love for us is as high as the heavens.  As we reach up searching for His hand...He reaches down and takes hold with sureness.  Not only taking our hands but grabbing our souls as well...filling our hearts and minds with His amazing and bountiful grace, mercy and love for us. He will truly become the strength of our body, mind and soul.  Desire Him more than anything...then in your weakness He will make you strong.

After thoughts...

The Lord is amazing yet I have found once again that it does take a full surrender on my part before I can actually reach out and touch Him.  It's not Him holding back for He is always there...waiting...calling...longing for my surrender to Him.  I am sometimes just slow to grasp how easy it is to find my peace in Him.  As the song says...you will find He's not to busy to hear your hearts cry. 

Learn to keep pushing through until you find the light of His love. 


Psalm 57:8-11

Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
I will thank You, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

From My Journal

John 16:33

³³ I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

A few weeks ago I wrote some things in my journal.  At that point it was for me but now...maybe for you as well.  I'm not going to clean it up in anyway.  I'm just going to write it as I penned it down that day.  Here goes...no re-writes.

When you feel storms approaching press in closer...harder...with more fervency than normal.  Let Jesus hold and calm you.  Though the waves be high around you...if you are in the eye of the storm with Jesus you will be at peace because you are safe.

When we find ourselves in a storm...because life happens for all of us...do your best to get in the eye of the storm with Jesus.  He will keep you safe there.  Though the eye of the storm is the hardest place to be...it is the safest place to be.  When you look out from the center of anything you can see in all directions.  Your perspective from the middle is completely different from those that are looking from the outside in.

Jesus has told us that in this life we will have many troubles.  Thunder and lightening will definitely abound!!  But take heart...if you're in the middle of it all with Jesus His arms are around you giving you that peace that surpasses all understanding!  You don't need to be filled with an all consuming fear because you know the all consuming God has got you!  

There is perfect peace in the eye of the storm.

Shelter me Lord under Your wings

keep me in Your shadow at all times

Be my shelter in the storm

my refuge where I hide

Keep me safe and cover me

from the onslaught on the enemy

Cover me with Your love Your protection

Hide me Lord in You

as I pursue You wholeheartedly

Okay...there it is.  Uncut and in the original form...as intended.