No Greater Joy

”But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”  Psalm 5:11

There are times in our lives when we have been joyful over some exciting thing that has happened. Perhaps a gift or a special day that brings certain joy, a love come true or a baby born.

There is a joy that is above all joy.  If I thought of all the different days of rejoicing I have had there has never been a day I felt more joy than the day I trusted JESUS! All other days have come and gone and the joy of them are memories but that day, the day I came to CHRIST is a day where the joy and rejoicing never stop!

I rejoice over every pitfall my SAVIOR has brought me through. With great assurance He lifts me from the pit and brings joy where sorrow should be.  Not even death can stop this so great joy!

This is why I speak and write!  It is not to make anyone think of me as something special. It is easily seen that I am not.  I am one of the “foolish and weak” (1 Cor.1:27) that will shout till my time is up for the joy I have in my Savior!

When a life filled with sorrow and pain

And sin has taken its toll.

When you meet JESUS face to face,

Accept Him and He will make you whole!

No bells will ring, no lightning will come,

Or thunder out of the sky.

But peace will arrive as never before

When on JESUS you do rely!

Now shout with me of His glory you see.

Sing from the depth of your soul.

Sin is gone, to CHRIST I belong.

For eternity, I am made whole!

“My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.”  Psalm 71:23

Count to Ten

“Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.” Psalm 5:10

Have you ever had someone speed by you and think to yourself, I hope there's a trooper over the hill?

There is a desire for justice to come to those we see in disobedience, especially those that sin against us.  I suppose this is natural for us if we allow the flesh to have control.  Judging others is an act of self centeredness.

Only GOD knows the intent of the heart of man, we just make assumptions.  Only GOD knows what is going on in the mind of the offenders.  Perhaps there is something we don’t see.

There is this matter of turning the other cheek that is too often forgotten in our rage.  When we become infuriated we begin to look at things in a selfish way and guilt turns from the offender to us.

There is also this matter of righteous indignation.  We should be angry over the apparent disregard for GOD and His purpose but understand at the same time it is only GOD that takes vengeance!  It is ours to forgive not to take things into our own hands!


My Grandmother always told me
Just count from one to ten.
Before I flew off the handle
And have to take one on the chin.

Others always seem to mess up
By the stupid things they do.
I wonder if I would do the same
If I were to put on their shoe?

I have come to this conclusion
it is better not to judge at all.
I’ll leave it in the hands of GOD
And allow Him to make the call!

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”  Romans 12:19

My Worst Enemy

“For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.”  Psalm 5:9

As I meditated on this verse I realized how well it describes my personal worst enemy and how thankful I am to have the protection of the LORD from that enemy.

I don’t think it is uncommon for us to think well of ourselves and feel we are better than those around us.  Others just don’t seem to have it together as well as we do.  They make stupid mistakes and sometimes what comes out of their mouths just makes us stop and wonder about them.  Perhaps we are pointing at ourselves!

This enemy of mine gets in my way and causes me more trouble than I can stand.  It would probably be better if I didn't have to be around him so much.  But every time I look in the mirror there he is staring back at me!

There is an enemy that causes me much trouble.

Always there, making my life one of rubble.

He never leaves or takes many breaks,

Always there, helping me to make my mistakes.

There is Another that has come to live within,

Giving me the power over this life of sin.

The LORD has given victory over the enemy of my flesh,

It no longer controls me but its power He has suppressed!

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”  Romans 6:6

Straight Faced

“Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.”  Psalm 5:8

It is the righteousness of GOD I seek and not my own.  How many times do I have to collapse before I conclude the LORD’ way is the only way? 

“Lead me, O LORD” is my petition.  Fill my mind with Your speech and not my own.  Establish Your righteousness in my thoughts that I might concentrate on what is truth.  “Lead me, O LORD” my way is crooked but Yours is straight.  Let me keep my eyes looking directly ahead toward the finish where the SAVIOR awaits!  As I lift my foot, tell me where to place it, that I might stay on the path You have chosen for me! 

“Lead me, O LORD” in the path that I should take.

  Help me LORD Your love never to forsake! 

“Lead me, O LORD” when I’m met with opposition.

  Help me LORD to stand firm in Your position!

“Lead me, O LORD” for my way it is twisted.

  Help me LORD by the SPIRIT to be visited!

 

“Lead me, O LORD” to understand my dependence.

  Help me LORD to know Your transcendence!

“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.”  Isaiah 32:17 

There is None Other

“But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”  Psalm 5:7

I love the LORD with every breath I take and with every blink of my eye.  There is none other!  He lights my day when my day is gloomy and puts a smile on my face when I am surrounded with grief!  Who else could make such a change as this?  There is none other!

His mercy overwhelms this sinners mind and His forgiveness is sweeter than the honey of the honey comb.  The fragrance of His love is that of a bouquet roses mixed with the lilies.  “He is altogether beautiful”, this is my JESUS!

I will never stop lifting my voice or take the pen to express the love I have for my Savior.  I’ll continue to raise my head with outstretched hands toward the glory of Heaven to the King Eternal, until He takes me home!

There is none other that cares as much.

As my Savior with His loving touch!

He gently wipes the tears from my eyes.

And gives me hope as He justifies!

He takes the sin that tares apart my life.

He wipes it clean, through His sacrifice!

From whom else could such sweet relief come?

There is none other, then The FATHERS SON!

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:7-10

Just a Baby?

Just a little baby

Lying in trough made of wood.

Came to do something special

That none other ever could!

But more then just a baby

That lay in the wood.

Born of the seed of GOD

So pure and very good!

As the Baby grew

And He became a man.

He worked in a wood shop

That the Baby’s father ran.

They took the little Baby

And nailed Him to a wooden cross.

He took our place on Calvary

That we wouldn’t suffer lose!

All the time He lived here

Never did He sin.

He did as His FATHER asked

From the tree He groaned within!

CHRIST rose from the dead on the third day and now sits at the right hand of the FATHER making intersession for those that trust Him!

The groan that came from Him was for us! He took upon Himself all our sin that we might be made perfect through Him! 

As you gather together on CHRISTmas with family and friends or even if you are alone.  Stop and look at the tree of wood and remember the Baby whose life started and ended with it! 

If you haven’t all ready, Trust CHRIST and receive a gift that will last for an eternity!

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: Galatians 1:4

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

  

The Law of Love

“Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.” Psalm 5:6

Within me is the desire to write only about the wonderful love of GOD, His grace and His care.  I am constrained by the Spirit to write the whole counsel of GOD. Jehovah is the GOD of structure and order.  His word is a two edged sword combined with law and love!  His Word can not be separated; each side of the sword is to achieve the same purpose, the salvation of mankind and guide for satisfaction and peace. 

The law is love and love is the law.  The law draws us to GOD by showing us it is impossible for us to keep it and not break it.  Knowing the penalty for breaking the law leads to death and hell, the fact we can’t keep it points us to JESUS, the only one to keep the law in its entirety, die for the sins of all and rise from the dead!  CHRIST by His love made the way!

If it hadn’t been for the law,

I would have never known.

Of the love of JESUS

Who sits upon the throne!

It was the law of the LORD,

That clearly made me see.

Of my need for JESUS

Who gave His life for me!

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:7-10

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Fools Can’t Rush In

“The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.”  Psalm 5:5

GOD has the ability to do anything He wants.  There is nothing He is not capable of doing and yet He is always virtuous.  GOD hates sin and refuses look upon it!

I can’t think of a more frightful place to be then to be counted among those that GOD hates!  Man has the ability to make choices.  There is no one that makes the choice for him, he decides.  

The Father has provided the way through the Son and the Holy Spirit calls the Son’s bride together.  Join the wedding party, choose JESUS!  Don’t be a fool! 

There is a place the fool can’t stand,

With wobbly legs he falls.

When the LORD comes on judgment day   

When on his knees he crawls.

But now’s to late the day has come,

You meet GOD face to face.

He wanted to forgive you of your sin

You refused and oh what a disgrace.

A fool is just a fool my friend

He has spent his life away.

Thinking that his approach was right

And now he’ll have to pay!

“A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left.”  Ecclesiastes 10:2

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul” but those that choose to follow their own law, GOD calls fools and will not look upon them.” Psalm 14:1 

Going Through the Door

“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.” Psalm 5:4

Wickedness is despicable to GOD; He will not communicate with the unrighteous or mix in the company that is! Water and oil won’t mix and neither does the ALMIGHTY with sin!

It is a false assumption to think GOD hears the prayer of those whom have not become righteous through the SON. The unrighteous are out of the room and the door is locked!

You must have the key to open the door before the FATHER will allow you in and hear your voice. The key is a gift sent from the Father and the SON is the Door. You must be willing to accept the key and trust it will open the Door.

It is strange the key is given to all but only a few accept it. Far better is to be in the room of GOD where peace is found and you can communicate with Him then outside, in the cold and unheard in your time of trouble!

I took the key You offered me
And now I feel so fine!
I heard Your voice and made the choice,
To trust JESUS all the time.

What a difference it made to me,
to enter through the Door.
Safety and peace You gave the release
I’m Yours for evermore!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

“Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:7-10

First Place

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up”   Psalm 5:3

Our confidence in GOD and His promises ought always to be as real as they really are.  Do we believe as David did with the same degree of confidence?  When we don’t we should then be able to understand why we live such weak lives. 

GOD expects full trust and belief not only a part of it.  Just as we expect the next breath we should expect GOD to fulfill what He has promised, if we don’t we really haven’t trusted Him! 

Our first thought in the morning should be toward GOD and our last before sleep ought to be the same.  If we want to be a people after GOD’s own heart we must allow Him to control our every thought.  Give Him first place in your life and your life won’t be so hard to live!

I look to You my Savior,

You are everything I need. 

I’m trusting in Your promises

and I know I will succeed. 

Without Your help I am weakened,

I’ll never stand a chance.  

But trusting in Your promises,

My life You will enhance. 

“Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:8b

Pray Up

“Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.” Psalm 5:2

Does a king (David) ask “The King” in his time of need?  Our earthly position never takes the place of the glory of GOD!  Our rank here means nothing and our hope always remains in the “Highest GOD”!

Our acknowledgment of our weakness and GOD’s superiority is the beginning step of all prayer!  Without this acknowledgment we speak into the wind and our words drift to Nowhereville! 

My first prayer to GOD that He heard was the one I prayed when I cried out for help. He heard me and I was “Born Again”!  There have been many others since that day.  These “gut wrenching” prayers never go unheard or unanswered!

I know You hear as I pray

For the need I have within.

So thankful I can come to You

And start new life again.

And now I know each prayer I pray,

Will never go unheard.

Thank You for the change You made.

Through CHRIST You have conferred!

“The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”  Psalm 34:15

The Can-Do GOD

PSALM 5

1 {To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.} Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.

6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.

10 Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

12 For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

“Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.”  Psalm 5:1

Prayer has the ability to change the natural into the supernatural!  By faith we believe GOD.  We understand our own inability and trust His reliability!  What we can’t do, He can do! 

The FATHER always answers the prayer that honors the SON and the SPIRIT rewards the heart of the believer. Oh to be one in CHRIST.  What an honor!

I once told an eighty year old lady about JESUS and how she could also have the grace and peace that I possessed through Him.   I told her with her heart she had to believe and with her mouth to confess.  I told her I didn’t have to be there but it was between her and the LORD.

A week later I talked to her again over the phone and she asked me if it made any difference it she thought the words when she prayed and I of course said no. She told me she had trusted Christ as her Savior.

Give ear to me O Savior.

Hear the words that I speak.

Understand what I am thinking.

Without You I am weak.

Hear and understand,

The spot that I am in.

Take charge by Your SPIRIT

That through You I can win.

Without Your provision,

I know I could not cope.

JESUS CHRIST my SAVIOR

You are my only hope!

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”  Romans 8:26

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

Sleep Like Babies

“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”  Psalm 4:8

The greatest peace I ever felt was the morning of my salvation.  Now I really don’t know what babies sleep is like but it always seems so peaceful and they look so content.  Looking at the pictures of my newest great-granddaughter this is plainly seen.  That morning I feel asleep and I was overcome with great peace. Just like my little great-granddaughter, Kennedy Rae.

My heart goes out to those that are in the midst of trying times especially for those that don’t know my LORD!  This world is full of heartache and I know for myself if it wasn't for the grace and peace CHRIST gives me during hard times, I would not be able to endure because of all the unrest within me.

As Christian believers have a peace that passes all understanding.  I mean all understanding and nothing can get in its way.  Once we believe by faith and are renewed by the SPIRIT we don’t stop believing but we continue in faith and the peace goes on and we all can sleep like babies!

O what peace my prayer does bring,

To this weary soul.

When no one hears or understands,

It’s GOD that makes me whole!

O the serenity my heart does feel

And my mind is set at rest.

When CHRIST the LORD comes to me

I am always blessed!

O my LORD I love you so

For all the tranquility You give.

I don’t know how I would handle things

But through You, I do live!

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27

I Led Two Lives

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.”  Psalm 4:7

One of the greatest capabilities of a true believer in CHRIST is the ability to have joy in times of trouble.  It is just another one of the supernatural qualities that comes with the born again experience!

You see I have led two lives! One that consisted of the sinful nature I was born into and the other as one born again in CHRIST.  Before I was born the second time joy was always a temporary feeling.  Only present when things went my way. In times of trouble joy was no where to be found!  It is quite the opposite now that I’m born again.  In some of the worst days I have experienced since that occasion joy has always been present, enough even for others to see. 

Isn’t it amazing, David while being tormented by the enemy and having them in his sight watching them rejoice over their bumper crop he still had joy of his own! He didn’t whine or have a pity party but he sang out of his heart of the greater joy he had through his LORD!

O what joy the LORD hath given

None greater than when forgiven!

But this joy it always does remain

Even through all the fear and pain!

Even when death comes at your door

GOD’s gift of Joy is forevermore!

When all is controlled by GOD’s hand,

Joy remains by His grace we stand!

“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” Romans 8:5

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:1

Fools Gold

“There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.”  Psalm 4:6

Trying to satisfy the flesh is like a dog that never stops eating and is never full.  The flesh is the insatiable desire that tries to steer our lives.  To follow the desire of the flesh is fools gold!  Once the desire is filled its effect tarnishes and its enticing value is no longer there!

Man continually wants things that he can see but “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  It doesn’t seem rational to me for a believer to put their fleshly desires above their faith in things of GOD unseen by the natural eye!  Remember “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  These aren’t just so many words but they were spoken by JESUS!

Flashy trinkets glitter before me,

Making my flesh crawl with desire.

If I just had them for awhile,

I know my pleasure I would acquire!

But when I received all these pleasures,

My heart it had been led astray.

I was never content or satisfied 

And all my hopes had turned to gray!

“Who will show us any good?”

Who can satisfy our need?

What will every make us content?

Only to be counted for the seed!

“They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Romans 9:8

Lost as a Goose

 

“Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.”  Psalm 4:5

I thought I had done well;

I gave all that I had.

I didn't do as others did,

I never was real bad!

But I awoke from the nap I took, 

After morning church.

Thinking of what the pastor said,

And I began to search!

Was I really good enough?

Had I done what the Bible said?

Or was I just acting out the role.

Then my fear did spread!

I broke out the Word of GOD

And in its pages read.

If you’ll place your trust in JESUS,

You’ll have nothing more to dread! 

Purity of sacrifice is essential to show our respect for the Holy GOD! These are the things we do and give, to honor Him. Half way will never work, He wants our best! 

Some have said they do well by sacrificially giving to charities and treating others with respect.  While this is true they are not a sacrifice of righteousness.  They may make you feel good and others might admire you but they do not make you righteous. 

There was but one true sacrifice of righteousness and that was when JESUS was crucified in our place on Calvary.  But I do have “Good News” Although He was crucified, died and placed in a tomb, He rose to life three days later!  The news gets better!  Because CHRIST did this for you, you also have the promise of a resurrection to life everlasting with Him!   “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12.

We can only be made righteous through the sacrifice of CHRIST, through His shed blood! No one can or will ever be clean enough or good enough without Him!  You could give all you have to the poor.  You could teach Sunday school, pastor a church or even go to the most desolate part of the world and help people but without a personal relationship with CHRIST, you will never make it!  You will be as lost as a goose!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Awe, Just Tremble

“Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.” Psalm 4:4

Do you suppose we give GOD the reverence we should?  Do we tremble before Him? I think maybe a few but not many. 

There was a day when people would flood to the alter with tears, begging for forgiveness.  But of course we have removed the alter along with the pulpit, where

we used to preach against sin and then show the grace of GOD!

This changed when we left holiness and brought many of our churches down to the level of the world.  Trying anyway possible to get them in the door!  We changed the names on our churches to something generic in order to entice people to come! We put on a musical extravaganza that puts Hollywood to shame. It is really hard to tell anymore who’s lost and who is saved; they all look and act the same!

We've been told to treat our churches as a business and we will succeed.  The truth is the HOLY SPIRIT can still do His job, if we will only allow Him to do so.  And why I’m getting this off my mind, if you want your church to grow, preach the Gospel!

Now you might be asking, why am I writing these thoughts?  I believe this might have been what David had on his heart.  Not the same ones but he was distressed by the lack of reverence for GOD!

Let us examine ourselves and see if we give the LORD the respect He deserves!  

When you think of the LORD, what is on your mind?

Do you think of Him as Holy, loving and kind?

Do you place Him as high as the facts say He should be?

Or do you resist His love and away from Him flee?

I observe Him far above all that I can see.

Glowing in His Glory making a defense for me!

He speaks like the thunder out of a stormy sky.

Holding His Word in His hand for all to comply!   

Now I lay in my bed as I sleep through the night.

Communing with JESUS, He never leaves my sight!

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 1:1-5

29. Sticks and Stones

“But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.”  Psalm 4:3

GOD has a plan for each of us that call upon His name.  Regardless of what some may think, there is no calling more important than the one He has given you.  There are no big or small callings.  They are all important and you have been chosen to do something special.

Every calling has its critics.  There will always be “Sanballets” and “Tobiahs” in our lives (Nehemiah 4:1-3).  We cannot allow the adversary to get us discouraged and permit the work of GOD to suffer. Don’t be a quitter, trust GOD.

While the adversaries hinder

As I go along my way.

I know I must keep going,

And do all of what You say.

The orders You have given,

They will stay in my sight.

I’ll do all of what You've ask of me.

I’ll keep up the fight!

How could I even consider not do

The things You have asked?

You have planned out my future.

You have forgiven all my past!

“For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.” Luke 21:15-18 

28. Will It Ever End

“O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.” Psalm 4:2

Have you ever felt this way, “Will it ever end”?  I know I have.  Perhaps this is what David ‘s thoughts were when he wrote this Psalm.  I know this, it is always better to put it all in the Lord’s hands.  Rely on the promises of God. Our own attempts to will only make the pit we are in deeper and more difficult.  

 

How long will I have to endure

The sorrows that vex my soul? 

Will this go on forever? 

Or will the sorrows, I outgrow?

 

How long will they torture me 

And take my peace away?

With all their lies and deceitfulness,

They bring me trouble every day.

 

How long will they mock me 

And turn my standing to shame?

I need you God, my Savior,  

I’m trusting totally in Your Name.

 

My hope lies completely in You. 

I can do nothing on my own.

Deliver me from the pit I’m in.

I’m thankful, I’m not alone.

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19

27. CAN GOD HEAR YOU?

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer. Psalm 4:1

                                                         

Who is the one that set me free, 

And gave this hope I hold?

He is the very Son of God, 

He’s so perfect to behold.

A new cleansed heart, with ears that hear,

And eyes that now can see.

He promised never to leave nor forsake, 

How much better could life be?

The peace and relief that comes to the believer from understanding that The Just and Righteous God is hearing every petition we make, is just amazing. Understanding God hears brings peace, even when we are still in the midst of the battle. Knowing God is personal brings a special kind of satisfaction. A Satisfaction only found in His Son. The reality of the living God is the fulfillment of peace and joy.

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

26. HE DELIVERED

“Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.”  Psalm 3:8

Christ filtered my sinful heart,

And He made it perfectly clean.

He wiped away my grief,   

My soul He did redeem!

 

He took this broken life,

He wiped away the sin.

He took the unrighteousness,

To make me whole again.

 

He gave me a reason to live,

He put hope where sorrow was.

He took away the doubt,

He wiped away the flaws.

 

It’s hard to comprehend,

The grace which He bestows.

Those that put faith in Him,

Their faith continually grows.

 

It seems impossible for me to explain the changes Jesus has made in my life.  It is just too enormous for my limited vocabulary to articulate.  Of course, I believe anyone who has truly experienced real life in Christ, no matter how large their vocabulary, would have a problem expressing the Glory of it.

 

My prayer is that my life will show the Glory that lives within me.  There are many things I am thankful for but none of them can compare to the change that came the very moment I asked the LORD to help me. 

 

It was a simple act of faith.  No hocus pocus, no thunder-n-lightning and no angels coming to my side.  No church or religion, I saw myself and I didn’t like what I saw.  I read God’s Word and saw my need.  I bowed before Him and He delivered!  

“The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.”  Psalm 37:39

25. SAVE ME, O MY GOD

“Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.” Psalm 3:7

I have come to the conclusion, at least in my own life that I have needlessly tried to fight for myself when I should have trusted God for His promise of protection.  In the end when all else has failed, I turn to God where I should have been in the first place.

Is it because we feel weak if we can’t take care of things on our own?  Or is it a pride problem?  The fact is we need to understand our weaknesses and kiss our pride good-bye.

I understand this problem, for those that aren't believers in Christ, they have nowhere else to go but to themselves or a friend.  But for the Christian to depend on self or others to fight their battles instead of Christ it is a failure of the faith they should have in Him and the final disposition of this lack of faith is sin.

 

Arise, my Father, I cry out to thee.

My troubles are many, come close and see.

 

No other can help me or understand my fright.

You alone are able to win this fight.

 

I've tried other avenues, and all were a botch.

I’ll lean on you Jesus. I’ll sit back and watch.

 

I know You’ll fulfill, the promises you gave.

I’ll trust you Dear Jesus, I’ll not be afraid!

 

I’ll give you, this battle. It’s Yours it’s not mine.

My life I give You, my life I consign.

 

“Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.” 2 Chronicles 20:15b

 

 

24. UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE ALMIGHTY

“I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.”  Psalm 3:6

There are many trials in this life.  Some of you are facing things now that seem unbearable.  Fear can overtake you if you allow it.  But, with CHRIST you can be relieved from “all” your misery.  There has never been a fear or a sorrow that GOD can’t take care of.  His love is greater than any fear, any pain or any sorrow that besets those that “trust” Him.

 

Lift your eyes toward Heaven.

Allow your heart to see.

The protection, from the Father,

He has for you and me.

 

Not a hair can be taken. 

Not from your head or mine.

If we’ll place our trust in Jesus, 

Everything will be just fine.

 

 Fear is not a mindset,  

That comes from the Lord.

His power alone will save you. 

His Spirit is on us poured.

 

God surrounds us with His love and protection. There’s a wall set around us, we are in the “Sheepfold” where the “Good Shepherd” is also the “Door”. In the night hours He lays across the entrance, He knows our every move.   Separation from His love and protection is impossible, it cannot be done. No one or anything can separate us from His promise,” never to leave or forsake us.” Today if you belong to Him, you have no worries and should have no fear. He is The LORD, GOD Omnipotent!

 

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)