Let's Be Joyful

Psalm 100 

¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
²     Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.
³ Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.

Giving thanks....praising....worshiping the Lord....it is so important to be faithful in doing these things.  It's important for our own self and it's important for everyone we come in contact with.  When we do these things the Lord fills us with good things....good feelings....joy to share.  An inner joy that tends to spill out onto others.  At work/home there might be a lot of contention....disagreement....even conflict.  So much so that the days can sometimes just get overwhelming.  As Christians if we stay close to the Lord and let Him fill us with joy there is a good chance that some of it will rub off on the negative people we are around all day.  

Psalm 95:1

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  

If we do some singing and shouting we will be filled with joy.  It's time to start making a choice to be joyful no matter what circumstance we find ourself in.

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

God's Power

Earlier this month I made a renewed commitment to myself....yet more importantly to God....to spend time with the Lord on a daily basis.  Since doing that I have been finding all kinds of new things in His Word.  I'm sure that many of them I have read before but now I am seeing them with new eyes.  I'm thinking that I'm seeing more with the eyes He has been wanting me to see with for a long time now.  There are many parts of the Bible that I really haven't read since becoming a Christian.  For example, today I found this....Job 36:22 - 37:24.  I'm not going to put it all here but you can read it for yourself.  It is absolutely amazing.  The subtitle in my Bible says....Elihu Reminds Job of God's Power.  I'm not sure which verses I like best in this passage because they all speak of His mighty power....however, these seem to stand out to me more than the others.

Job 37:1-5

 “My heart pounds as I think of this.
    It trembles within me.
² Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
    as it rolls from his mouth.
³ It rolls across the heavens,
    and his lightning flashes in every direction.
⁴ Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
    the tremendous voice of his majesty.
    He does not restrain it when he speaks.
⁵ God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
    We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.

When I read this I just couldn't seem to get enough.  I read it as I highlighted each line.  Then I read it again....and now again.  It makes me think of another story in the bible when God covered Moses with His hand as He passed by because no one can look directly at His face and live.  How awesomely powerful He is!  It is hard to even imagine. The last two verses in this passage sum it all up nicely....

Job 37:23-24

²³ We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
    but even though he is just and righteous,
    he does not destroy us.
²⁴ No wonder people everywhere fear him.
    All who are wise show him reverence.”

I am so thankful that the Lord has been making His Word come alive to me.  Nothing can compare to Him.  He is awesome....mighty....powerful and He can do for us what no one else can.  At times it seems that we are just waiting and waiting for Him to answer us.  Sometimes we wonder where He is.  But the amazing thing is....when He does answer, you know beyond any doubt that it is Him.  Why?  Because you can't possibly change things the way He changes them.  You can't possibly change yourself....the way He changes you.  If you ever doubt the work that He has done in your life....just think back to your life before Christ....and remember.  

Thank you Blue Cotton Memory.  When I read your post today I turned to Job and read more.  

until we see JESUS....face to face

Thank You

This morning Lord we are completely dependent on you.  You give guidance....protection....provide for our needs and heal....body soul and mind.  Thank You Lord for all that You do.  Just like the shepherds of old as they watch over their sheep, You are always with us....bringing us back into the fold whenever we stray.  Thank You Lord for bringing us through the night and waking us up this morning....we are truly blessed.  Amen

Psalm 23

 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

He Must Be A Constant

I am beginning to realize that I do best when I am drenched in the Word.  Whether it be through talking with someone about the Lord....listening to music...reading His Word....or listening to anointed preaching....He must be a constant in my life.  I've thought about this before but this week I have really come to know this for sure. 

I begin my day at 5 a.m. this morning and started reading the Bible shortly after.  I took about two hours reading and writing and then decided I was ready to meet the real day that was waiting for me.  By 3 p.m. I knew I needed more.  I picked up a book called The Blood and the Glory.  Flipping to the last of the book I read about ten pages.  It was something I really needed to read today.  Just reading about the things that happened in peoples lives, because of the work of the Holy Spirit, refreshed me enough to finish my day on a good note.

Do you remember the V8 commercial that goes something like this....

There are people walking down the street of a city but instead of being upright they are tilted to one side.  Then someone hands one of them a can of V8....they drink it....and they instantly start walking upright.  The response from someone else that was tilted and saw this was....WOW....I should have had a V8!! 

Well, that reminds me of how I let myself get.  I was walking with a major tilt....almost ready to tip completely over.  I should have made myself drink from the well of the Lord.  Then I would have been walking upright and saying....WOW....there is nothing like drinking from the well of Living Water!  In my mind that is essentially the Believers V-8. 

What I'm trying to say is this....

As a believer, you just can't keep going strong without including the Lord in your day.  You need to talk to Him and you need to stay in His Word.  You will eventually die....spiritually....if you don't eat from the table of the Lord.  Your soul needs to be fed just like your body does if you want to survive.  So many good things happen when we spend time with the Lord.  One of the verses I really like talks about how we will find rest for our souls....freedom from our burdens....healing and peace with God....if we will just spend time with Him.  I now that is true because it has happened for me just this week. 

Matthew 11:28-29

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all 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."

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

Get Up And Keep Going

This past week God has used people to remind me, and His Word to remind me, of many things.  I am thankful because I can't always get myself out of the pit I allow myself to get into.  You see I had let many things get my attention off of the Lord and my life with Him.  Events in life can get you down....people in life can get you down.  But most of all for me....what I see as my own defects....for lack of a better word....can really get me down.  One thing I hope I have learned from this time is....

These things should never pull me away from God.  They should always push me closer to Him.  I was reminded this week that whatever circumstance you find yourself in....when you think you just can't keep going....you have to, and you can, because of the Lord....because He is with you and won't leave your side.  One thing that was hard for me was to read the Word.  I stared at it....finally read it....got nothing from it.  In fact it was just like a blur of words.  But I was also reminded that I must read it anyway....no matter how it made me feel or not feel.  I tried it.  Good advice.  At first nothing much had changed but eventually the blur went away and the Word started to break through....the Lord started breaking through.  So I am making a new habit in my life....

This week I have started taking a Bible to work with me and I am reading at lunchtime.  It's a good time because by then I need to hear something good and positive. 

I was also reminded that you have to work out your own salvation.  No one can do that for you.  I like the way the Amplified Bible says this verse.  I don't always understand so this one explains to me....more fully....exactly what the verse means. 

Philippians 2:12-13

¹² Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

¹³ [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

I am thankful for faithful Christian friends that God has placed in my life.  God speaks amazing things through them.  We just have to listen and be willing to accept the words He has given and then act on them.  

Most of all I thank the Lord for the grace and forgiveness He gives us.  He forgives us....loves us....and is for us.

until we see JESUS....face to face

Come and Talk With Me

There has been a war going on within me for days now.  Today this one question kept coming to my mind....Am I really any different than I use to be?  At times I would think no....at other times the answer would be yes.  Satan has been working overtime with me to get me to doubt.  To get me to give up.  To get me to run the other way. Run from the Lord instead of towards Him when things just aren't going well. 

Then tonight many things happened.  It seems that whenever I try to sleep lately, for one reason or another, I can't.  But tonight, I went to sleep.  About 45 minutes later I awoke....I became scared....anxious....and sure I wasn't going to make it.  I'm not trying to be dramatic but my heart was acting up again.  Anyway....there was prayer and eventually I was some better.  I went to my desk and started reading my Bible.  Long story short....

I started praying.  I had a long conversation with the Lord....lots of prayer....then knew I needed to write.  Then I started reading the Bible again.  I turned to....

Psalm 27:7-8 and 14

7. Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
Be merciful and answer me!
8. My heart has heard You say, "Come and
talk with me."
And my heart responds, "Lord, I am
coming."
14. Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

These verses fit so well because I have heard Him tell me....so many times lately....to talk to Him.  To come to Him.  To spend time with Him.  The Lord longs for us to spend time with Him.  He will help us through everything if we will just go to Him.  I know this!  All the sickness....all the problems....He might not take them away but He will help me to get through them.  Jesus will help us all.  Jesus loves us more than we can comprehend.

I don't know how this is all going to turn out but I do know that I can't make it without the Lord.

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

 

Prayer

O Lord we call on You right now Jesus
Bring the healing in Your wings
There is no other like You
Cover us afresh in Your love
Let Your healing oil flow over us right now Lord
Bring Your peace
Rain Your peace down all over us tonight Lord
We call on Your name Jesus to comfort us
We call on Your name Lord Jesus to heal us
You are the Healer
You are mighty and You are powerful
You Lord Jesus are all we have
You are the One we cling to in times of sickness and trouble
You are Mighty
You are Glorious
You are Healer
You are Comforter
You are our everything
All that we need Lord is wrapped up in You
And now we ask Lord that You wrap Your mighty arms of grace around us
Hold us close right now
Never let us go Lord
Let us know that You are right here with us
Whatever is going on Lord just apply Your healing touch
Jesus....Jesus....Jesus
Your name is the sweetest name we know
There is none other like You
Thank You Lord Jesus for hearing us
Thank You Lord Jesus for touching us
Thank You Lord Jesus for always being right beside us
Walking with us on our journey
Thank You for hearing and answering our urgent cries tonight Lord
In Your name we have come to You
Amen