Psalm 21:5-7 - "Joy Unspeakable"

Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. 

Psalm 21:5-7 (NIV).

I was awake several times during the night.  When I asked the Lord if there was someone to pray for, I didn't hear His voice.  So I went back to sleep.  Each time though I would wake up I would have the old hymn "Joy Unspeakable" in my mind.

Woo hoo!  Amen!  

"I have found His grace is all complete…"
"I have found the pleasure I once craved…"
"I have found that hope so bright and clear…"
"I have found the joy no tongue can tell…"

YES!  I have found each of these things!  I am so grateful for the way the Lord loved me enough to die for me and then to come back to earth in order that I might live.  I also am grateful for second (and third and fourth…) chances where He loved me back when I strayed.  The joy I feel is only complete because of His great love.  

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

YES!  The joy I have is beyond anything describable.  Only those who have experienced can even begin to understand.  The joy I have on this earth is only a portion of the joy I will experience when I go to heaven.  

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite songs was "I Have The Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down In My Heart."  I remember singing that song and getting the Holy Spirit goosebumps yet not knowing why I felt the way I did.  I still don't completely understand why He fills me with joy but I am grateful that He does.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for breath.  Thank You for life.  Thank You for giving me another day to be Your servant.  Lord, I pray for more of You and less of me today.  I pray You will shine through me. I also pray for Your Strength to endure today but also Your Presence to bless my day.  Thank You for being My Joy.  Amen.

Psalm 139:13-14 - My Maker

Psalm 139:13-14New International Version (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.

I think about how many times I've read these verses but this morning they hit me with such an excitement….such an expectancy…woo hoo!  He made me.  He created me.  He didn't create me to be like anyone else.  Just to be Sheila Rose McHenry Powers Burrows.  That's exciting!  But one thing that I never really pondered before is the very last part.  "…your works are wonderful, I know that full well."  

Spurgeon writes:

"Marvelous are thy works. These parts of my frame are all thy works; and though they be home works, close under my own eye, yet are they wonderful to the last degree. They are works within my own self, yet are they beyond my understanding, and appear to me as so many miracles of skill and power. We need not go to the ends of the earth for marvels, nor even across our own threshold; they abound in our own bodies. And that my soul knoweth right well. He was no agnostic—he knew; he was no doubter—his soul knew; he was no dupe—his soul knew right well. Those know indeed and of a truth who first know the Lord, and then know all things in him. He was made to know the marvelous nature of God's work with assurance and accuracy, for he had found by experience that the Lord is a master worker, performing inimitable wonders when accomplishing his kind designs."

When we are in relationship with the Lord, we know that He is working in us.  He knows our thoughts before we form our words.  He knows how many hairs are on our head even after losing them in the shower.  He knows our time on this earth.  But something that I see as being most important in our relationship with Him is listening so we can be obedient.  When we listen to Him, we will know exactly what He wants of us.  When we are obedient to His direction, we will see that His "…works are wonderful."  Not only that but we will "…know that full well."  Woo hoo!  I am so blessed by these words this morning.  Knowing that I'm in relationship with Him and hear His direction is the very best place to be. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for these words this morning.  Father, I am so blessed by You.  As I start this day, I know of things that need done but I don't want to do anything that is not on Your agenda.  I am a vessel for You to use, in whatever way You desire.   Lord, I am expecting more of You to flow through me.  I praise You for being My maker.  Amen.

Psalm 136 - "Let All The People Say Amen"

I have Matt Maher's "Let All The People Say Amen" on my lips this morning.  No matter where we are in life the Lord is there for us.  Whether we are on the mountain top or down in the valley, He wants to be in relationship with us.  "Give thanks to the Lord for his love never ends…"  Woo hoo!!!

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5 who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6 who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7 who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8 the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9 the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11 and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12 with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.

13 to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14 and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15 but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.

16 to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.

17 to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18 and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19 Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20 and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21 and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22 an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.

23 He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24 and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25 He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for the reminder today that no matter where we are You are with us.  Thank You for an everlasting love.  A love that "…endures forever."  Psalm 136 tells us of what all You do for us that we don't even think about.  You created us.  You protect us.  You care for our needs.  Most importantly You love us.  Thank You Jesus for being The One To Love Me.  Amen.

Philippians 4:13 - Missing My Daddy

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13

Last night I found a get well card my Daddy sent to me. "Rinky Think, I love you and pray for you everyday. Ruffus"  I started bawling because I miss him so much but also because I lost one of my greatest encouragers.  I know he is in a much better place and out of pain.  I have to keep reminding myself of that.  I know my Momma misses him too.  This surgery has been so tough on her emotionally and I know it's because he isn't here to encourage her.  

As I sit here and think about my Daddy, the wind begins to gently blow.  The wind chimes given to us at the time of his death are outside of my window and make the most beautiful sound.  Gentle yet strong.  That's how my Daddy was.

Not too long ago a friend asked when the hurt would lessen from the death of her Momma.  I shared that days do become easier but there are still some where you fall apart.  Those are the days where the Lord wraps His loving arms around you and comforts you.  I am so thankful for the Lord's strength, especially during the tough days.

I always wanted to be just like my Daddy and I wanted him to be proud of me.
My Daddy was strong…I will be strong.
My Daddy had a positive spirit…I will be positive.
My Daddy was bold when he felt like he needed to be…I will be bold.
My Daddy was a God-fearing man…I will be God-fearing.
My Daddy was a fighter…I will be a fighter.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for my earthly Daddy.  Thank You for the relationship we had that made it easy to have a relationship with my Heavenly Daddy.  I don't know if people who leave this earth can see those of us left behind.  But if they can I pray my Daddy is proud of me.  I pray he sees me as a strong, God-fearing lady.  Thank You Jesus for being the One I Want To Fear.  Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11-13; Various Scriptures - ANTs

"We don't want any ANTs taken to our picnic!"

When I heard this, I wondered what in the world it meant.  When it was explained to me, I fully agreed.

Automatic

Negative

Thinking

s

It is in our human nature to think negative.  Some people have to fight it more than others but the Lord can, and will, enable us to not think on the negative.  His Word tells us in various places about how to conquer negatives in our lives.

When we keep positive going into us, positive will flow from us (Philippians 4:8).

Positive thoughts are a big part in the healing process (Proverbs 17:22).

When we surrender our problems to the Lord, we need to leave them with Him and not hold onto them.  If we don't, negative thinking will creep in (Philippians 4:6).

We must depend upon His Strength to get us through tough times.  If we allow the enemy any foothold at all, negativeness will be our downfall (Philippians 4:13).

We must speak words of life and not death in order to not have the negativeness have control over us (Matthew 15:11).

Sometimes it's harder than others but my goal is to speak words of life.  As I live out this goal my life is easier not only for myself but also for those around me.  I don't like to be around negative people.  If I'm around them for very long, they suck the life right out of me and I become negative.

I remember 20+ years ago when Dr Berke told me I had to keep my life as stress-free as possible in order to keep my MS managed.  What a joke!  Thinking about the life I was leading and figuring out how it would be stress-free as possible was not an easy task.  Over the years I've learned a lot about eliminating stress.  Unfortunately, sometimes I have no control over the stress that comes my way.  But I do have control over how I handle it.  Making sure I don't take ANTs to my picnic is a good way to control stress.  Another good way is to not worry about things before they happen.  As I told someone this week, "The Lord is not surprised by what is happening."

As I look to next week, fear begins to creep in because stress is inevitable.  But I know the Lord will be there with me.  He wants to see how I handle things.  Will I try to handle them on my own or will I allow Him to work through me?  Will I allow people's negativeness to suck the life out of me or will I chose to ignore it?  Will I chose life or death with my words?  Will I allow the enemy a foothold to take away my joy?  I am standing on the promises of Jeremiah 29:11-13.  My promise to Him is that I will seek Him.  His promise to me is that He will listen to me.  There are no surprises ahead for Him.  When I seek Him, the surprises for me will be covered by Him.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Dear Jesus,

Thank You, thank You, thank You for the reminder of ANTs.  Thank You for giving me exactly what I need each and every day to keep the ANTs away.  Father, I refuse to allow the enemy any foothold into my life.  I am asking for more of You and less of me.  I am praying for Your Strength in the days ahead to be so very real to me.  I pray for Your Words to flow from my lips.  Father, I am asking for Your blessings in a mighty way to keep my physical body in control.  I also ask for my husband to have Your wisdom as he supports me throughout the week ahead.  Thank You Lord for being My Positive!  Amen.

Proverbs 2 - "Where I Belong"

Proverbs 2 New International Version (NIV)

Moral Benefits of Wisdom

2 My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
    to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
    and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
    and who are devious in their ways.

16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
17 who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.[a]
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.

20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will live in the land,
    and the blameless will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
    and the unfaithful will be torn from it.

We have choices to make each and every day in what we do, what we believe, who we listen to, etc.  The thing I have learned in life is when I listen to the Lord, believe in Him and follow His ways life is easier.  Why?  Because I am living in His Will, not on my own.  I will admit it is not always the easiest choice to make.  Sometimes it would be easier to take the ways of the world but I chose to not do that.  

Matthew Henry writes:  "The righteous must leave the earth as well as the wicked; but the earth is a very different thing to them. To the wicked it is all the heaven they ever shall have; to the righteous it is the place of preparation for heaven. And is it all one to us, whether we share with the wicked in the miseries of their latter end, or share those everlasting joys that shall crown believers?"  It brings to mind the song "Where I Belong" that Building 429 sings.

All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong

The earth is only our temporary residence but the things we do on this earth have eternal consequences.  If we chose the ways of the world and make decisions based upon the world, we will spend eternity in hell.  But if we chose God's ways and make decisions based on living a life of eternity with Him, we will do just that.  I chose Kingdom Life.  I chose to live for the Lord.

Dear Jesus,
I pray for more of You to come through in my life.  I pray for Your decisions to be my decisions.  I pray for Your wisdom to be my wisdom.  Thank You Lord for being My Kingdom Life.  Amen.