Psalm 29 - Strength and Peace

I love this picture…it is so beautiful!  The entire Psalm 29 reads….

Psalm 29

A psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is majestic.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
    Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord strikes
    with flashes of lightning.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert;
    the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaks
    and strips the forests bare.
And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord is enthroned as King forever.
11 The Lord gives strength to his people;
    the Lord blesses his people with peace.

"….worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."  Woo hoo!  Praise His Holy Name!  I love to think about how great He is!  He amazes me on the things He does for us…I am sure there are many things we don't even know about.  What a promise is found in the very last verse of this passage.  "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace."  Amen!  It is so awesome to have His strength and peace as I go throughout my days.  There is no better way to spend life than in a life filled with Him.  When I think about hearing His Voice for my direction, I get the Holy Spirit goosebumps!  Woo hoo!  Knowing I am hearing Him and following His lead gives me His strength and peace.  As I minister to people, there is a correlation with those who know Him and have His peace.  It doesn't mean life is always easy for them but it does mean that life is easier to handle when He is on the throne in their life.  I pray for more people to come to know His peace.  I'm reminded of the saying often seen on church signs…"No God, No peace; Know God, Know peace"  Amen!  

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your Peace.  I think of yesterday and how hard of a day it started out being.  Yet You gave me Your Peace and the day was bearable.  I also think of the many who I have ministered to today who knew Your peace and the ones who didn't have that knowledge.  Lord, I pray for Your peace for all.  Thank You Jesus for being My Strength and My Peace.  Amen.

Various Scripture - My First Born

When I woke up this morning having one of my "green" mornings, I had to chuckle.  I always say when I have them it's like how I felt when I was pregnant.  As soon as I said I was having a "green" morning I thought about how thirty-three years ago I gave birth to my first son.  I had sooooo many of those mornings during my pregnancy with him.  The first four and a half months was full of them.  I was so blessed at the end of that nine months with a healthy baby boy.  The thing I didn't know until after the fact was he and I almost died in the birth process.  He was feet first and I was scheduled for a c-section the Monday after Thanksgiving.  He had other plans.  After eating a huge Thanksgiving dinner and even doing some shopping I went into labor.  In today's world with the technology as it is they would have known the cord was wrapped around his neck.  But thirty-three years ago I didn't even have an ultra sound.  When we got to the hospital, I was already at a 10 and wanting to push!  He was determined to come into this world.  Thankfully through a lot of prayers and the wisdom of Dr. Bowman our little man was born and within a few minutes was breathing on his own.  What a blessing!  Today as I think back on the last thirty-three years I think about all of the "firsts" with Paul.

He was the first one to give me the privilege of being a Mommy.  When I was growing up and asked what I wanted to be in life, my answer was a Mommy and a Secretary.  LOL

The first time Paul was sick he did it up right.  Fever over 105!  We ended up in Doctor's Hospital for five days with him having meningitis at the age of eleven months.  I was so young and had a hard time handling that and was thankful for my Mom who was there to support me…especially when it came time for a spinal tap on my baby.

I remember his first day of kindergarten (he didn't go to pre school).  Oh my, how hard it was to put him on that big school bus but he was so ready.  I was the one with the tears flowing that day…my little boy was growing up and I wasn't sure I was ready for it.  Of course, when we moved him into Akron U on his first day that was another story.  The tears once again flowed but there was a difference.  I knew my little boy was going to thrive in life and I was once again blessed with that knowledge.

He gave me my first "daughter" through his marriage to my Lizzy.  I've always heard horror stories about mother/daughter in-law relationships but when he married Lizzy he blessed me in abundance with a friend.  

I think one of the most blessed events that I was so thankful to be a part of was seeing Paul hold his first born.  The love flowed from him in abundance.  Miss Bella was a miracle that we weren't sure we would have but the Lord provided.  

The day we moved Paul and Lizzy into their first home was so tiring yet so rewarding to see the pride he took in that step of life.

As I look back over these "firsts" I try to remember the very first time I prayed for Paul.  I don't know how old I was but probably early elementary age.  I started then praying for "my babies and their spouses and their babies"….wow….God is so amazing in how He hears our prayers.  I didn't even know who my spouse would be yet I prayed for my babies.  I wonder how many thousands…millions of prayers I have said for my babies….  

Dear Jesus,
I pray blessings upon Paul today.  I ask that You continue to guide his path Lord.  I pray for him in all areas of his life.  Spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically, financially….all of his being.  Lord, I thank you for the godly man he is.  I thank You for his faith and his love for You.  Open his eyes Lord to what You desire of him.  Thank You Father for my first born, Paul!  I praise You Lord for being His Savior.  Amen.

Praying For The Children

Acts 19:20.........I thank you Father that Your Word prevails over our children.
Isa 54:13...........That they are taught of the Lord and continue to be
Prov 13:1.......... the fruit of godly instruction and correction.
Isa 54:13...........Great is their peace and undisturbed composure.
Prov 2:6............ Father, give us counsel and wisdom in bringing up our children.
1Pet 1:14.......... I say they are obedient, not conforming to the things of the flesh,
1Pet 1:15.......... but holy, in all conduct.
1Pet 2:2........... desiring the pure milk of the Word that they may grow thereby.
Jas 1:19............That they are swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.
Heb 13:5.......... Their conduct is without covetousness,
Heb 13:5.......... and they are content with what they have.
Heb 13:16......... They do not forget to do what is right and to share.
2Pet 3:18.......... I pray that they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,
1Thes 4:1......... and abound more and more in how they should walk and please You.
1Pet 5:5........... That they submit to their elders, and to one another,
1Pet 5:5........... being clothed with humility.
1Pet 5:7........... That they cast their cares upon You, Father, for You care for them.
Jas 1:22............I thank You that they are doers of the Word, and not hearers only,
Ph'm 1:6...........effectively sharing their faith.
2Tim 1:7 ..........not having a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.
2Tim 1:9...........Father, You have saved them and called them with a holy calling,
2Tim 1:9 ..........not according to works, but according to Your own purpose.
2Tim 4:18.........Deliver them from every evil work and preserve them.
John 10:5 ........They will by no means follow strangers, not knowing their voices.
2Tim2:22 .........They abide with others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart,
Jas 3:10 ..........and cursing comes not out of their mouth.
1Jn 5:18 ..........Because Jesus keeps them safe, the wicked one does not touch them.
Ps 91:11..........Give Your angels special charge to accompany, defend, preserve
Ps 4:8.............and provide safety for them, day and night.
1Jn 2:5 ...........Because they keep Your Word, Your love is being perfected in them.
1Jn 2:15 .........They do not love the world or the things in the world,
3Jn 1:11..........and they do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.
1Jn 1:7 ...........They walk in the light as You are in the Light,
Jas 4:8 ...........cleansing their hands and purifying their hearts,
2Tim 2:22 .......They follow after righteousness, faith, love, and peace.
Heb 13:18........They have a good conscience and desire to live honorably,
Prov 3:4 ..........having favor and high esteem with God and man.

Isaiah 40:31 - "So Good To Me"

"WAIT"….the word the Lord woke me up to this morning at 5am and then again when I woke at 8am.  "WAIT"  OK, Lord.  What am I to wait on?  You brought to my mind the song "You Are So Good To Me"…what does all this mean?  Is it for me or someone else?

Verse:

I waited patiently upon the Lord
And He inclined and heard my cry
He pulled me up out of the miry clay
He set my feet upon the Rock
He gave me beauty for ashes and joy for my mourning
And praise for heaviness
He put a new song in my mouth and a crown upon my head
He gave me life forevermore

Chorus:

He’s been so good, so, so good to me; so good, so, so good to me
So good, so, so good to me, Jesus

Post-chorus:

He picked me up and He turned me around
And He placed my feet on the solid ground
Hallelujah, hallelujah

Tag:

I’ve got love, joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 40:31

King James Version (KJV)

31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

"WAIT"….this verse gives us promises on what will happen when we "…wait upon the Lord…"

Our strength will be renewed…
We will be able to be above whatever is pulling us down as we "…mount up with wings as eagles…"
We will be able to "…run…"
We will be able to "…not be weary…" 
We will be able to "…walk, and not faint."

When we WAIT on the Lord, we will have "..love, joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit."  Woo hoo!  That's what I want more of.  I refuse to allow the enemy to take away my joy.  When he puts things in my way, I will knock him down.  When he tries to get between me and the Lord through people or circumstances, I will do just what I did the other day as I was driving down the road.  I said, "satan…get behind me…"  Praise the Lord he did and the Lord was glorified through the circumstance!

Dear Jesus,
I'm not sure what exactly I am to WAIT for but I will do whatever it takes to allow You to reveal it to me.  I praise You for the way You use words to get my attention.  I love the way You give me songs to cement those words in.  Father, bless my day in a mighty way.  Enable me to be in the waiting mindset so I don't miss what You have in store for me.  Thank You Jesus for being the One I Wait For.  Amen.

John 14:27 - "Wonderful Peace"

Peace…peace…God's peace…it seems like the holidays bring on more emotions and conflict in people's lives.  The Lord gave me the scripture found in the fourteenth chapter of the book of John where  He was talking to His disciples about what was ahead for them.  I hold onto verse twenty-seven throughout the tough times of life.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”  22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”  23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.  25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  28 “You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30 I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31 but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.  “Come now; let us leave.

I think the neatest part about having the Holy Spirit as my Advocate is that He is always there directing me.  I pray.  He knows my heart.  Then He directs me so I don't have to worry about saying or doing the wrong thing.  That's where His peace comes from.  Living a life for Him, 24-7.  Knowing what He wants of me gives me peace.  I still go through stressful times but I don't get mad over situations or give up because the Lord is guiding me.  Woo hoo!  

Peace is not the way of the world but it is the way of the Lord.  When we realize we don't have to fret over everything but rather can give it to the Lord, we will receive His peace.  The way of the world is to manipulate people or situations in order to get our peace.  The way of the Lord is to allow Him to work through those same people or situations.  It is then we will receive true peace, His peace.

As I think of the many people who are going through these holidays with the loss of a loved one, dealing with a spouse or a child with an addiction, having a loved one seriously ill, dealing with not having a job or loss of hours in a job….I pray they will find His peace.  The only way to find His peace is to know Him and be in relationship with Him.  The only way to be in relationship with Him is to give up self and allow Him to work in and through us.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your peace.  I praise You Father for the way Your Holy Spirit gave me peace Saturday with the situation with Mom.  I praise You for the direction You gave me.  Lord, there are so many people hurting in this world.  I pray for Your peace to overtake them in a mighty way.  I praise You for being My Peace.  Amen.

Matthew 18:20 - "I Bow Down"

Wow…wow…wow…yesterday's time together with the ladies was so awesome!  It reminded me of Matthew 18:20.  There was no doubt the Lord was with us.  My senses perked up throughout the prayer time.  It was as though I could physically feel Him have His arms around me as we prayed.  At one point, I sensed a pleasant smell.  It reminded me of Revelation 8:4.  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand.  Praise His Holy Name!  Our prayers were going up to the Lord in such a mighty way.  The tears came down my cheeks throughout the time and then the words to "I Bow Down" came to my lips.

Lord, I stand in Your presence, broken before You 
And my heart's desire is to love and adore You 
With all of my heart, with all of my soul... forever. 
Lord, I fall at Your altar in sweet surrender 
And I've never known a mercy so tender 
It's healing my heart, it's healing my soul... forever. 

And I bow down at Your feet 
I bow down at Your feet 
I bow down to worship You, Jesus 
My Savior, my King.

We were definitely in His Presence.  "I bow down at Your feet…I bow down at Your feet…I bow down to worship You, Jesus…My Savior, my King."  Woo hoo!  I love meeting together with my prayer group.  It's sad we are small in number but yet the intimacy we have with our Lord is such a blessing.  I had missed a few weeks due to circumstances out of my control.  I was so thankful when the Lord made it be that I could experience Him with them yesterday.  

The devotional was about justification leading to sanctification which eventually leads to glorification.  I'm thankful I have been justified.  I'm thankful I have been sanctified.  I'm thankful I have the promise that I will be glorified.  There is no better place to be than in the arms of the Lord.  There is no better place to be than in worship with Him.

Dear Jesus,

I praise You for the way You were with us yesterday in such a real way.  I praise You for each of the ladies who were part of the group yesterday.  Father, continue to open our eyes up to You.  Bless us Lord with more of You.  Thank You Father for being The One I Bow Down To.  Amen.

I Chronicles 4:9-10 - "Build Your Kingdom Here"

As I was returning home in the wee hours of the morning from being called to the hospital for a death I turned on the radio and heard "Build Your Kingdom Here" and thought wow!  I've always thought my ministry was in the church or at least in the lives of the people of the church.  I would witness to people but my greatest emphasis was in ministering to those in our congregation.  When we did projects for 10.10.10, they were mostly done for those in the community who were not a part of our congregation.  Since then we have been trying to be in the community ministering as a church body as much as possible.  After the emphasis on 10.10.10 projects, Doc became the police chaplain in order to be ministering to the community.  This past summer I started as one of the on-call chaplains at Willard Mercy.  God has opened so many doors for us as we continue to seek His Will for our life.

I love the words to this song…"Increase in us we pray…"  Woo hoo!  YES, Lord, please increase in us!  I remember a few months before we came to Willard we began to pray the Prayer of Jabez.  

"Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I bore him in pain.' And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, 'Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.' So God granted him what he requested"  (1 Chronicles 4:9-10).

We desired to minister where the Lord wanted us to be.  We asked Him to bless us and to enlarge our territory.  With those prayers we were brought to the Willard Church of the Nazarene.  Twelve plus years later and once again He is enlarging our territories to take us outside of the church and into the community in ways we never dreamed of.  Woo hoo!  I love ministering at the hospital.  I feel at home there.  Of course, growing up I spent a lot of time in the hospital with my parents so it makes sense.  My parents gave me the example of what it means to reach out to those hurting and to be compassionate.  That's what a Christian should be…compassionate to all.

The chorus of this song goes:

"Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray"

Once again, I say "YES, Lord!"  The desire of my heart is for our land to be healed.  I would love to have my grand babies to know what it means to live in a Christian based America.  I also would love to see revival in the hearts of the people.  The study we are doing on "Worship" can impact all who allow it to.  I pray as we are coming to a close with it that more people will realize in order to truly worship the Lord they first must be clean.  We all have the choice to live a life of the world or a life of the Lord.  Eternity in heaven or eternity in hell…that's the choice we all have.  Before we make any decision in life we must ask ourselves one question.  "Will this decision make a difference in whether I go to heaven or hell?"  The answer should determine our actions.

I love how the Lord has brought this song to me over and over this week. First, on the radio coming home.  Then in my mind when I woke up Wednesday morning.  Again when I woke up this morning it was playing through my mind.  Tonight hearing Doc listening to it.  Wow!  I know there is a reason for all of these times and I pray for that reason to be revealed to me.  

Perhaps it is to remind me that "No force of hell can stop…"

Or perhaps it is to encourage me that God will "Fill us with the strength and love of Christ"

Or perhaps it is to remind me that "We are the hope…On Earth."  

Whatever the reason, I am ready to continue on building His Kingdom in whatever way and wherever He so desires.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the reminders of this song.  Thank You, Lord, for loving me so much that You bless me in abundance.  I praise You, Lord, for giving me the tools to be You to others.  Thank You Jesus for making me Your Kingdom Builder!  Amen.

Romans 12:12 - "Hope and Help"

What to do? What to do?  No internet this morning and had all kinds of things I "should do" but didn't particularly want to do them…lol.  After completing a few of the "should do" tasks I curled up with my four-legged buddy and a book a friend gave me to read.  "Hope and Help" was written by Sister Karen Zielinski.  Recently she spoke to Mercy employees but I was unable to go.  Sister Karen was diagnosed with MS in 1975.  The book is powerful in ministering not only to those who deal with disease but also to their caretakers.  It really is a great book for all to read.

A paragraph in the introduction reads:

"Health problems touch all our lives:  Everyone will be a patient someday.  Besides competent doctors and promising new therapies, what can be the most healing to us is very simple: another person's compassion.  Compassionate care involves the whole person---physical, emotional, social, and spiritual.  This care is inherently a spiritual activity.  Just holding the hand of a patient can be a sacred, spiritual act.  Little things like listening to a patient's fears can offer much comfort.  Words are not even necessary."

Whenever I go into a patient's room or have an opportunity to talk with someone who is dealing with sickness I try to do or say whatever I can to make them less overwhelmed by the end of our time together.  Just as the book said, it doesn't always take words to do that.  Sometimes just sitting and holding their hand can give them peace.  I don't have the answers so I don't try to give them.  I do give them Jesus through my words and actions.  Prayer is one of the best things I can share with them.  

In her book, Sister Karen's goal is to share spiritual coping and comforting practices and she does just that.   She shares how when we go through an illness, whether it be our own or someone we love, or when we have the loss of someone close to us we can be vulnerable.  We must be careful and always stay close to the Lord.  We must allow Him to help us on the journey of life.  We must make the choice to do the right thing.

I love a quote by Helen Keller…"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet.  Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieve."  I am reminded of Romans 12:12.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  The Lord is our strength no matter what we are going through.  We must look to Him and allow Him to work through the trials of our life so that He will be glorified.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the many reminders of this book today.  Thank You for the tidbits I have tucked away for future reference.  Thank You also for the encouragement it gave me in the areas of my ministry, as I deal with illness in loved ones, and as I continue in the grieving process over my Daddy's death.  Lord, You are so awesome!  I praise You Lord for being My "Hope and Help"!  Amen.

Isaiah 43:2 - Prayers

Praying Isaiah 43:2 for so many people today who are going through tough times.  

When you pass through the waters,

    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.

Prayers of peace for the family who lost a loved one during the night…

Prayers of strength for the one who is struggling with a spouse's addiction and for the spouse who is addicted…

Prayers of faith for the one who is trying to do what the Lord is leading them to do…

Prayers of wisdom for the one who is making some major decisions…

Prayers of protection for the one who is battling the enemy…

Prayers of love for the one who is feeling rejected and unloved…

Prayers of contentment for the one who is searching for more of You…

Dear Jesus,

Bless these prayers in abundance.  Lord, I pray for each one of these people to seek Your Will in the situations they are dealing with.  I praise You Lord for Your love, mercy and grace.  Amen.

James 1:2-3; 12 - "Blessings"

Saturday I spoke to a group of ladies at the Bucyrus Church of the Nazarene.  The topic of the event was "Cornucopia of Blessings" and I was truly blessed myself.  I had a cornucopia with different fruits/veggies in it.  As I went through the different fruits I related them to blessings in our every day life.  A part of what I said went like this…

• Have you ever got ahold of a bad grape?  We all have.
• Those bad grapes represent when we have the death of a loved one or when we have a prodigal son that our heart is breaking over.
• We have to make the decision to not allow a bad taste to stay in our mouth but rather to be joyful as we are told in James 1:2-3.
• Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
• I use to think this was the most ridiculous scripture in the Bible.
• Think about it...be joyful when going through junk in this life...I don’t think so.  But I have learned the way to be joyful in the midst of chaos is to be living in the Lord’s Presence.  That means 24/7 being in tune with Him.  

These words are hitting me as I am dealing with a trial right now that is no fun at all.  I have to practice what I preach and not allow this trial to pull me down.  Rather I must allow the Lord to be glorified through it.  When I do I know I will persevere and I will have victory.  How will I receive victory?  It can only come through staying in the Lord's Presence.  I have to allow Him to work through the situation.  It is out of my hands.  

That chapter in James goes on in verse 12 to read:

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

The trials of life can be seen as blessings if we look to the Lord.  It is through those trials that we must persevere.  It is through our perseverance that we will be blessed in abundance.  That's what I want…blessings in abundance.  Some may say it's wrong to ask the Lord to bless you.  I don't believe that at all.  I believe His desire is to bless us.  James 4:2 says, "You do not have because you do not ask."

I ended Saturday with this:  "Wherever you are in life...whatever you are going through...I pray for blessings on you in a mighty way."  This morning I am praying blessings over the trial I am going through.  I am praying for the Lord to be so real to all involved.  

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being My Lord of Lord and King of Kings.  I praise Your Holy Name for Your words Saturday.  I also praise Your Holy Name for the reminder this morning about being joyful in tough times.  Thank You for the scriptures You brought to my mind.  I praise You Father as You will be glorified in this situation.  Thank You for being in control.  Thank You Lord for being My Joy Maker!  Amen.

Psalm 130 - "I'm Sorry…"

"I'm sorry…"

Those words seem so trite when you say them to the Lord.  I really feel like I let Him down yesterday.  I was put in a situation where I "could of" and "should of" shared the Lord with an unbeliever but didn't.  Actually, I tried a few times but couldn't get a word in.  But I wasn't persistent with my words.  Now I feel like I really messed up.  She wasn't anyone I knew so I'm not sure if I will ever see her again or not.  Hopefully, though, the Lord will give me another chance or put someone before her that does get through to her.  As I sat getting my haircut I listened to her life story.  She had so many ideas in her head for the way life "should be."  I had to chuckle this morning as I fought with my hair.  She cut it too short for my cowlick so now every time I fight to get my hair to look right I will prayer for her soul.  She needs someone to fight for it.  Boy do I wish I would have fought harder yesterday with my words.  Once again…"I'm sorry…"

In the book of Psalm, chapter 130 it says the Lord keeps no record of sins.  Praise His Holy Name!  It goes on in verse four to says that through forgiveness we can serve Him.  One translation uses the word "worship" Him.  These thoughts take me back to the study we are doing at church on Worship.  We have to be clean in order to worship.  We can't have anything between us and God nor between us and someone else in order to worship Him.  

Matthew Henry writes:  "We are to humble ourselves before God, as guilty in his sight. Let us acknowledge our sinfulness; we cannot justify ourselves, or plead not guilty. It is our unspeakable comfort that there is forgiveness with him, for that is what we need. Jesus Christ is the great Ransom; he is ever an Advocate for us, and through him we hope to obtain forgiveness. There is forgiveness with thee, not that thou mayest be presumed upon, but that thou mayest be feared. The fear of God often is put for the whole worship of God. The only motive and encouragement for sinners is this, that there is forgiveness with the Lord."

We must fear the Lord.  Not a fear that makes us afraid of Him but rather a fear that makes us be reverent to Him.  I love Matthew Henry's words.  "There is forgiveness with thee, not that thou mayest be presumed upon, but that thou mayest be feared. The fear of God often is put for the whole worship of God."  Woo hoo!  Praise His Holy Name! 

Psalm 130

A song of ascents.

1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord;
2     Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
    to my cry for mercy.

3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
    Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
    so that we can, with reverence, serve you.

5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning.

7 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
    for with the Lord is unfailing love
    and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
    from all their sins.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your Love, Mercy and Grace.  Thank You for forgiveness.  Lord, please give me another chance with this girl or put someone before her that will have the right words.  Father, I don't want to see anyone go to hell.  I especially don't want to see her children raised in a home where You aren't there.  She needs you desperately in her life.  Thank You Jesus for being the My God of Second Chances!  Amen!

Jeremiah 33:3 & Various Scripture - Answered Prayers

God was so amazing in answering prayer throughout the day yesterday.  From start to finish I could see His Hand at work and feel His Strength.  Woo hoo!  Praise His Holy Name!  He performed some miracles yesterday that I am so thankful for.

Jer 33:3......... "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things…"

I called on Him so many times and believed that He would answer.

Mt 21:22........."...whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."
Jer 29:12........ "Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you."

He amazed me on how He never turned His back on me yet continued to answer me.

Jn 16:23........ "...whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you."
Jn 15:7.......... "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."

The day was full from start to finish but the Lord saw me through every step of the way.  I thought there would be some down time in between the funeral dinner and the memorial service for Mercy but there wasn't.  As I sat down at the memorial service my physical body was exhausted but I prayed and He answered.  I am so thankful for the strength my Lord gives me not only in the physical sense but also in the mental and emotional sense.

Thanking the Lord for answered prayers of yesterday…

• Stretching the food at the funeral dinner when there were twice as many people as planned.  (Yes, there were even leftovers just as in the story of the loaves and fishes.)  Not only am I thankful for the way He provided food but I'm thankful for my ladies who recognized the need to pray over what we had.
• A friend who was released from the hospital who had been in ICU.
• Lower blood counts for a boy who was hospitalized for an unknown reason.
• Physical strength to get through the day.  As I sat down at the memorial service and started to relax I feared for what my physical body was going to do.  I prayed against my hippy-hippy shakes and the Lord kept them away.  I also was concerned with sitting for a period of time and then when it came time for my part to have to get up and walk up the 2-3 steps to get on the stage.  Once again the Lord provided.  I had no problems when I stood or went onto the stage.
• I prayed yesterday morning for the Lord to give me opportunities to minister to many and He provided.  

Jer 33:3......... "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things…"  Yes, that He did over and over yesterday.  I am so thankful to live in His Presence and be able to experience days like yesterday.  

Dear Jesus,

You are so awesome!  You are so wonderful!  You are so powerful!  I thank You for loving me in the ways You do.  I thank You, Lord, for yesterday.  I also thank You for today.  I praise Your Holy Name that when the week started filling up You gave Doc the insight to protect this day for us.  I thank You for the time he and I will have to enjoy being together today.  I also thank You for tomorrow and ask You give me Your Words as I speak.  Thank You Jesus for being My Provider!  Amen.