Psalm 118 - "Me Without You"

This morning the Lord woke me up to a song Toby Mac sings called "Me Without You" and told me to read Psalm 118. As I was reading I remembered a statement Jim said in Bible study last night. "Our past helps us in our future." The things we go through in our past will enable us to get through in the days ahead. We can learn from them. We also will know God was with us then and He will be with us now. 

Psalm 118 starts with telling us: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. We could stop right there and feel blessed. But as we continue reading in verses five through fourteen we find we need to trust the Lord in every circumstance we go through. He will enable us to be victors over anything that comes our way when we are living in His will. In verses fifteen and sixteen it reads, Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: 'The Lord's right hand has done mighty things! The Lord's right hand is lifted high; the Lord's right hand has done mighty things!' These verses tell me to praise Him through each and victory we have. In verse twenty-two is talks about a 'stone the builders rejected.' I remember as a teen/young adult singing a song about Jesus being a cornerstone the builders rejected. But as I was reading this my thoughts went another direction. What if the tough times in life are ones we 'reject' when they really are what we need to embrace because they are important to our future? That sounds a little strange yet I am wondering if we embrace the tough times and see God in them will it enable us to get through them easier? I think of the first few verses in James 1 where we are told to be joyful WHEN we go through trials. It doesn't say IF but WHEN. Tough times are going to be a part of life no matter what. The key is how we get through them. When we are believers, we have hope in the Lord and know He is with us in the 'good' and the 'bad'.

I like the words of Matthew Henry about this passage...

Whether the believer traces back his comfort to the everlasting goodness and mercy of God, or whether he looks forward to the blessing secured to him, he will find abundant cause for joy and praise. Every answer to our prayers is an evidence that the Lord is on our side; and then we need not fear what man can do unto us; we should conscientiously do our duty to all, and trust in him alone to accept and bless us. Let us seek to live to declare the works of God, and to encourage others to serve him and trust in him. Such were the triumphs of the Son of David, in the assurance that the good pleasure of the Lord should prosper in his hand.

Once again I go back to what Jim said last night, "Our past helps us in our future." As I apply that to my current MS flair-up, I've been here before. Twenty-one years ago was the first time I found myself not able to function normally. Since then there have been many times where I have lost the function in my arms, legs or eyes. But I am still here. God has always been with me...in the 'good' and in the 'bad' times. I praise His Holy Name for the comfort and encouragement He gives to me. I can truly say...

You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being with me in my past, in my present and in my future. Thank You for enabling me to be joyful in both the 'good' and the 'bad' times in life. I think of the song from yesterday, "Your Presence Is Heaven" and am blessed in knowing you are the "holder of my future days to come." When tomorrow comes, You will be the One to enable me to go from the walker to the cane. In the days ahead, You will be the One to direct my steps..literally and figuratively. I honestly can sing the words to "Me Without You" and truly mean I "don't know where I'd be without You..." Lord, open eyes to those who don't know You. Father, I pray for more of You and less of me so people will see You in me. I don't know that I will leave the house today but whether I do or not I pray for opportunities to share You with others. Use me...be glorified through me...speak through me in some mighty ways. Thank You Jesus for being My Past, Present & Future. Amen.

Various Scripture - "Your Presence Is Heaven"

The Lord woke me up several times during the night with the words to "Your Presence Is Heaven" going through my mind...

Who is like You Lord in all the earth? - Psalm 89:8
Matchless love and beauty, endless worth - John 15:13
Nothing in this world can satisfy - Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry - John 7:37-38

Your presence is heaven to me - Hebrews 10:19-23
Your presence is heaven to me

Treasure of my heart and of my soul - Matthew 6:19-21
In my weakness you are merciful - Psalm 31:9
Redeemer of my past and present wrongs - Titus 2:13-15
Holder of my future days to come - Jeremiah 29:11

Your presence is heaven to me - Hebrews 10:19-23
Your presence is heaven to me

All my days on earth I will await - Romans 8:18-19; 23
The moment that I see You face to face - 1 Peter 4:13
Nothing in this world can satisfy - Ecclesiastes 5:10-12
'Cause Jesus You're the cup that won't run dry - John 7:37-38

Woo hoo! I love living in His presence here on this earth while I wait to be in His presence for eternity in heaven. There is no better place to be than in the Lord's presence. Living with him a 24/7 type of life gives such peace. There are no worries about the little things of life when He directs your every move. There are no doubts on whether what you do is right or wrong when He is the One to direct your steps. There is no stress in making decisions when He is the One to make them. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the reminders of this song. Your presence is where I bask. It is in Your presence that I am renewed each and every day. Your presence is such a blessing to me. Thank You Jesus for the strength to be with my friends yesterday during a very tough day for them. I pray for Your strength to be their strength throughout the days ahead. Father, I also praise Your holy name for the one who received the news of being cancer free! Woo hoo! Lord, continue to be with my dear friend who is suffering so greatly. Father, as I was talking with one yesterday about her...we want to see a miraculous healing on this earth for her. May Your Holy Spirit come down upon her right now, wherever she is and heal her from all that is not of You in her. I believe You can do that...I believe You will do that! Thank You Jesus for being My Presence. Amen.

Phil 4:13; II Timothy 1:7; Isaiah 40;31; Phil. 4:6-7 - "Because He Lives"

I woke up this morning singing a song Matt Maher does called "Because He Lives" and immediately started praying for three people who are going through some tough days. I pray they will know...

BECAUSE HE LIVES
I CAN FACE TOMORROW
BECAUSE HE LIVES
EVERY FEAR IS GONE
I KNOW HE HOLDS MY LIFE MY FUTURE IN HIS HANDS

The diseases on this earth will no longer be when we are in heaven. But until it is our time to go to be with Him we must remember that He is our strength as Philippians 4:13 says, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. He is the One who enables us to overcome fear as II Timothy 1:7 says, God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but He gave us a spirit of power, love and self-control. He is the One to give us exactly what we need to fight the diseases on this earth. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that our strength will be renewed when we wait on Him. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for these words of encouragement. Oh Lord, give these three peace. Give them what they need to lean upon Your strength in this tough day. I pray for strength for the outcome of doctor appointments and a surgery today. I pray for strength for the one battling for her life. Lord, I know whatever happens will be Your will. I pray for You to be glorified in all three of these circumstances. Thank You for using me to be a vessel of light in this dark world full of sin and disease. Thank You for the reminder of Philippians 4:6-7 this morning, do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Thank You for being My Future. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 3 - "All You've Ever Wanted"

The Lord took me to Ecclesiastes 3 this morning. This is a common scripture heard at funerals. It is also common to hear it quoted when someone is going through a tough time. No matter what the circumstance there is one thing for sure. God is the One who is with us in 'good' or 'bad' times. He is the One who will sustain us. He is the One who will enable us to endure whatever is put before us. Woo hoo! Verse one of this passage says, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. "...a season..." No matter what the season He has us in we must embrace it and seek the lesson He desires for us to gain from it. According to John Wesley a season is described as:

A season — A certain time appointed by God for its being and continuance, which no human wit or providence can alter. And by virtue of this appointment of God, all vicissitudes which happen in the world, whether comforts or calamities, come to pass. Which is here added to prove the principal proposition, That all things below are vain, and happiness is not to be found in them, because of their great uncertainty, and mutability, and transitoriness, and because they are so much out of the reach and power of men, and wholly in the disposal of God.

Often times we hear the saying, "This too shall pass" which is very true. But thankfully the lesson we learn from whatever we are going through does not pass but instead is embedded into us. I like how Wesley points out that everything that happens, whether 'good' or 'bad' will pass. That means the Lord will use 'good' things to teach us lessons too, not just 'bad' things. 

This season I am in with this MS flair-up is not one I would have chose myself. But yet I have to remember the Lord is with me and there is a lesson to be learned through it. I can't allow myself to wonder about the 'what-ifs' of the days ahead but must trust Him and know it will pass. I was thinking the other day about how life has changed so drastically and we have adjusted somewhat. If this is the new normal, I know the Lord will enable us to adjust to it. As I read this passage today, I thought about how I could take it two ways. One would be that this time of the flair-up will pass. Or it could be that this is my new season to adjust to. My initial thought is I hope it is something that will pass. But then the Lord checked me and said, "What if this is My will? Will you embrace it?" Oh my! I will embrace it if it will glorify Him. I know He is my strength. He is the One to enable me to do whatever I need to do. He is the One I trust. I am so grateful I can sing the words to "All You Ever Wanted" and mean them...

No more chains, I've been set free
Oh
No more fighting battles You've won for me
Oh
Now in Christ, I stand complete
Oh

All You've ever wanted,
All You've ever wanted
All You've ever wanted was my heart
(All You've ever wanted was my heart)
Freedom's arms are open,
My chains have all been broken
Relentless love has called me from the start
And all You wanted was my heart

Dear Jesus,

I thank You for this passage today. I praise Your Holy Name for the way You speak and I hear You. Lord, whatever is Your will is what I want. No matter what, I want You to be glorified! Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in me. Permeate in me so You will ooze out of me... Thank You for being My Will. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20

Feeling very grateful today for...

• the strength for being able to go to our family picnic yesterday
• getting to see Paul, Lizzy and Bella yesterday and seeing the look on her face when she saw her locket
• my legs moving better
• Jack who the first thing when he came into the door today at church hugged me because he remembered how hard Father's Day is without my Daddy
• friends who pray for me
• a hour long nap this afternoon
• food that was given to us to bless others with
• the empowering sermon Doc preached this morning in the middle of having a headache and not feeling well
• the way the Lord changed my Sunday School lesson and changed Doc's sermon and both lined up with one another

There are just so many things to be grateful for even in the midst of the chaos of life. I am so grateful for not only hearing the Lord's voice but most of all desiring to be obedient to Him. There are some days where I wish the Lord would return so I didn't have to deal with the chaos of life on this earth. But then I am reminded there are still so many that need Him.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for blessing me in abundance! Thank You for loving me in some mighty big ways! Lord, I pray for my dear sister in Christ who is struggling with her physical health. When she told me that as I rubbed her shoulders and prayed against the pain in them she felt tingling, I wanted to run and shout "Praise The Lord." Doc told us today that we are empowered by the Supernatural and we are to ask for specifics. Lord, just as I prayed this morning...Lord, heal her in a mighty way! Lord, fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in me. Use me as a vessel of healing. I loved the prayer Doc shared that Martin Luther prayed. Woo hoo! Yes! That's what I desire...supernatural answers to prayer. Thank You Jesus for being My Supernatural! Amen!

John 6 - "Me Without You"

The Lord woke me up this morning to a song Toby Mac sings called "Me Without You" but I couldn't remember all of the lyrics so I had to look it up. A part I couldn't remember goes...

You rescued me
You are mine, I am Yours
You rescued me
And I am Yours forever
You saved me, remade me

Amen! Yes, He saved me and Yes, He remade me! It is so amazing to think about how He gives us second chances! Or sometimes it takes third, fourth, etc. before we finally realize He is what we need in life. Woo hoo! I am so grateful! If I would not have finally came to my senses I would be...

That I'd be packin' my bags when I need to stay
I'd be chasin' every breeze that blows my way
I'd be building my kingdom just to watch it fade away
So true
That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou
That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou
That's me without You-ou-ou-ou-ou-ou
Don't know where I'd be without You

The Lord created us to spend eternity with Him. He created us to be in relationship with Him daily. The desire of His heart is for us to be totally surrendered to Him. In John 6 we read the stories of Jesus performing miracles with the feeding of the 5000 and then walking on water. One thing that happens in this chapter is Jesus explaining about being the Bread of Life. He said...

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Jesus was and is the Bread of Life. Things, people, job, money, hobbies...all of these are things we look to fulfill us yet nothing fulfills us like the Lord. When we were created to be eternal beings, we were created with an eternal purpose. He is the Only One to fill our needs. When we follow Him, we have hope, peace, a purpose and a meaning for our lives. Without Him, we have none of those. Instead we are empty and hungry.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this song this morning that reminds me of where I've been and where I am now. Thank You for fulfilling me. Thank You for loving me enough to give me second chances. Thank You for giving me exactly what I need to not only get through life but most importantly to depend upon Your strength to be a blessing to You and to others. Father, You know what is ahead of me today. You know who I will be in contract with. I pray for more of You and less of me throughout this day. Fill me to overflowing so others will see You in me. Lord, I pray for Doc today for strength. I pray You will fill him to overflowing with Yourself too. Bless our day...I don't want to just get through this day but instead the desire of my heart is to enjoy my family and friends. Thank You for being My Bread of Life. Amen.

Psalm 10; Matthew 22:39 - "Jesus Friend of Sinners"

This picture was taken when we were in Israel during our visit of The Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. I remember that day so well. It was beautiful out with coolness to the air and the sun shining. This was one of the places I felt so much peace. I was heartbroken to find out yesterday someone had torched this beautiful place. In thinking of the history of this church, it is believed to be on the site where Jesus fed the 5000. He blessed people in a mighty way that day because He loves people so much. As I was thinking about Him this morning, I wondered how in the world could Jesus love people who did this?

Or how does He love people who go into a church and kill people? My heart breaks for the people in South Carolina with the killing of the nine during a church service. That young man had to have great hate in his heart to do such a thing. Once again, how can God love him? He does. It's like the saying, "God loves the sinner but not the sin." He loves each and every one of us. Taking it one step further, how can we say we love the people who torched the church in Israel or the young man who killed the nine in South Carolina? Jesus commands us to not only love Him in the Great Commandment but He follows itwith 'Love your neighbor as yourself' in Matthew 22:39. 

The young men who torched the church and the young man who committed the murders in the South Carolina need the Lord. They need to know His love. They need to have people who will say or do something to make a difference in their lives. 

This morning the Lord woke me up with, "Read Psalm 10" so I did. This particular Psalm is one that goes along with the thinking of why would the Lord allow things of such destruction to happen. Where was He when these tragedies were happening? Why didn't He do something to stop them? 

It doesn't do any good to verbally bash these people. It doesn't do any good to wish they would go to hell. Instead we need to pray for the Lord to put someone before them who will open their eyes to Him. Satan is the one in control of their lives, not God. Because of that we cannot understand how they could do as they did.

Matthew Henry writes about such people, "Men think it below them to be religious. They could not break all the laws of justice and goodness toward man, if they had not first shaken off all sense of religion." It is so sad that people live like this. Thinking about how much they need to know the love of Christ breaks my heart. I am reminded of a song Casting Crowns sings called, "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" this morning. We, as believers, need to do more in getting people to come to know the love of Christ.

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners
Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks yours

It isn't just these 'big' tragedies that breaks the Lord's heart. The ones who have shook their fist at Him and continue to sin each and every day breaks His heart. He is broken over the people who hurt people just because they are hurting. He is heart broken over people being lonely because their family and friends are too busy for them. He is heart broken over people going hungry because of their addiction. He is heart broken over children not knowing their biological parents. He is heart broken, plain and simple. Why doesn't He make life easier? Because we need to get to the end of ourselves and allow Him to be our God. The ultimate way for His heart to no longer be broken is when He comes back for us to spend eternity in heaven. Matthew Henry writes...

He will rescue the believer from every temptation, and break the arm of every wicked oppressor, and bruise Satan under our feet shortly. But in heaven alone will all sin and temptation be shut out, though in this life the believer has a foretaste of deliverance.

The key to this is that it will be the believer who spends eternity with Him. A believer. We must believe in Him in order to be in relationship with Him. That relationship is not just for our time on this earth but it is also for eternity. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus,
I am so grateful for Your love, mercy and grace. I love You so much, Lord. I praise Your Holy Name for the way You are my God. Lord, I pray for these young men who have done such awful things these last few days. I can't even begin to imagine the hatred they must have in their hearts. Lord, I pray someone will go before them to make a difference in their lives before it is too late. I pray they will find You. Lord, enable us to be more aware of people around us who suffer with hatred for You. Give us Your words and point us in the right direction to make a difference in their lives. Father, I pray for those hurting. I pray for those who need to know You are there for them. Lord, enable me to make a difference in ones I come in contract with. Fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see You in me. Thank You for this day that is ahead. I pray for an abundance of strength in not only my physical body but also in my mental and emotional body. Lord, these days are so tough. I don't want to just get through them but the desire of my heart is for You to fill me with joy and to oozze out of me. Thank You Jesus for being My Hope. Amen.