The Hard Path of Sin

“For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.” Psalm 31:10

The destruction of mankind can be wrapped up in one word, SIN!  There never has, or ever will be a more destructive force. It’s conception was in the Garden of Eden and its defeat was in the Garden where JESUS was crucified (John 19:41).  While sin is the most destructive force, GODs answer to it through His SON is the only answer to its defeat!

Sin carries with it, grief, anxiety and a complete lose of strength and power.  An unsatisfied soul is restless, without peace.  The soul reaches out to find satisfaction but the satisfaction it finds is temporary, it vanishes with the wind and it reaches out to something new which ends the same.  Over and over again it will go on until the soul finds the answer to its demise in CHRIST, and peace is ushered through the Door.

The power over sin is through CHRIST.  JESUS gave us the victory over sin but sins destructive power remains.  Yes, sin is forgiven and the believer is free from the penalty of it but as long as we are in this body of flesh its destructive power is near.  It is like a roaring lion seeking whom it may devour (1 Peter 5:8).  Sin is ready to end ministries, it is ready to ruin marriages, it is ready to cause grief and pain.  Sin waits at the door ready to destroy the testimony of the saint.  

Just as in the salvation of our souls our only hope for the victory over sin remains in our dependence in our SAVIOR.  I plead with you, don’t stop with the victory over the penalty of sin but continue on in CHRIST having victory everyday, completing what JESUS has called you to do.

Oh the power of the curse of sin.

Wandering souls and pain within.

Destruction sure, in the path it leads.

Oh, dear JESUS, hear our pleads.

Your answer is sure as voices cry.

On bended knees, You give reply.

Come unto Me, I’ll give you peace.

Free from sin and quick release.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

Of One Accord

“Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.” Psalm 31:9

The first step in receiving mercy is realizing you need it.  If you don’t see a need, you’ll never plead.  “Have mercy upon me”  The wisest choice is to call upon the only one that has the ability to give mercy. “O LORD”  Our own methods will cause our agony to continue.  We must humble ourselves before the righteous GOD.

There are many reasons we find ourselves in the need of mercy.  Perhaps like the “lost sheep” of Luke 15, we have wondered off and found ourselves in a desert place.  Maybe we have slipped into sin as David apparently had.  Being out of fellowship with GOD is bad but not recognizing we are, is tragic.  “I’m in trouble”  

To be estranged GOD is the most miserable state a person can be in. I speak of the one who has tasted the love and affection of the FATHER and found themselves, destitute.  The lost don’t understand because they have never had real fellowship with Him.  Once they have they will count it as the treasure of their heart and never want to part from it.  

Have you been there? Are you there now?  Is your eye, “consumed with grief” where the tears flow like the river?  Is your, “soul and my belly.” filled with a gnawing that doesn’t want to leave?  Turn it over to JESUS, He will help!

I found myself, far from GOD,

And how unpleasant it was.

The tears I had, wouldn’t stop.

The life I led, the cause.

The gnawing left, the tears were dried.

When I pleaded, before the LORD.

His mercy came, and I was freed.

Once again, we’re of one accord.  

“In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.” Psalm 18:6

Being Set Free

“And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.” Psalm 31:8

One of our worst fears is being trapped. Finding ourselves in caves are very stressful, no one wants to be there.  Caves are damp, dreary places of darkness.  Our mind is on what lies outside where the enemy waits.  We wonder if the enemy, will ever leave, will we be able to escape the hole in the rocks we are?

David found himself in the cave, but the LORD set him free.  Free from fear.  He took the dampness and darkness, GOD gave him Light.  He opened the mouth of the cave to a bright blue sky where the birds sang the song of victory.  The butterflies of his stomach were released and they floated off into the flowery field. “And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy:”

The release from the bondage of the cave brings us out of our small, dreadful place into an immense place of freedom.  Our enemies are no where to be found.  GOD has distracted them, they have left, they are altogether gone.  Before us is great opportunity.  The opportunity to serve the LORD to our greatest ability.  “thou hast set my feet in a large room.” 

I’m in this cave, weary and damp.

Hard pressed, within my soul.

Please help me JESUS, roll away the rock.

And take me from this hole.

“I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.” Psalm 118:5

Love and Mercy are One

“I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;” Psalm 31:7

You can’t separate mercy from love or love from mercy.  They are intertwined together, they are one.  “GOD is love”! (1 John 4:8).  His mercy declares His love, His love is so intense the human mind can not understand the potency of it.  We are shown the intensity of Gods love in the sacrifice of “His only begotten son” (John 3:16).  Love is an act, it’s an action word.  What greater act of GOD could show the kind of love He has for you? There is none!  “I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy”

If you have never felt mercy, you have never really felt love.  Mercy is essential for our salvation.  Without mercy we have no hope at all, we are doomed, we only have Hell to look forward to.  But thanks to GODs love,  mercy and peace can be found through CHRIST.  There are many folks with good intentions trying to find peace with GOD by doing good works.  Good works are wonderful but they will never take the place of what the FATHER did through the sacrifice of His SON!  When we try to work our way to satisfy our sin we are saying,  JESUS sacrificial death was not good enough.  Believe me, this is very dishonoring to GOD.  How could He not hate the one that thinks they are better than His Perfect Sacrifice?  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  

GOD knows everything that goes on in your life.  Nothing escapes His attention.  If He counts your hair, (Luke 12:7) He knows when you stub your toe.  He knows when you are being attacked.  He knows when you are sick.  But until you turn your life over to Him by trusting His Son, you will never know His love and mercy. “thou hast known my soul in adversities;”

I tried my best to make things right

But my best was not enough.

I had others fooled with my attempt,

But GOD has called my bluff. 

GOD sent His Son for my relief.

On His own, He made things right.

There was nothing more I could do.

I let JESUS fight my fight!

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

I Hate

“I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.” Psalm 31:6

There always seems to be a draw back when the Bible or a Christian uses the word, “hate” as if it was not to be a part of our vocabulary or the teaching of GOD’s Word.  The good student of the Bible will find this thought unreasonable.  

The fact is we would never understand hate without understanding love.  They are both emotions.  While they are both emotions they are also opposed to each other.  It is only reasonable that we hate the opposite of what we love.  The problem arises when we choose the wrong things to love.  I believe this is what David was saying when he wrote the verse. “I have hated them that regard lying vanities”

There is another word that has somehow lost its value among believers of this day, conviction.  We are driven by, cautiousness instead of conviction.  We are more worried about offending someone then we are standing for the principles of GOD.  David must have burned inside when things were contrary to the teachings of GOD, just as it was when he faced Goliath.  

“Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness” Psalm 45:7a  “The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.” Psalm 5:5  These are just a couple of verses on GODs hate of sin, there are many more.  I don’t find any cautiousness in these two inspired statements. Where do you find in these verses, God hates the sin but loves the sinner? “I trust in the LORD.”

Watered truth, will never float,

Because water logged, it is.

Half truths will never stand.

Because, they are none of His.

But all the facts are written within,

The precious Book of GOD.

Always sound in every way.

All truth, and not a facade.

“Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?  I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” Psalm 139:21-23

Give it All

“Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.” Psalm 31:5

These are the same words JESUS used on the cross before His death.  David uses them while he lives in his trouble.  JESUS used them in His death, providing the way for David and all to live through faith in the victory He provided.  

This is similar to what we do when trusting CHRIST as our Savior.  We pour our very being over to the LORD.  We give it all over to Him.  Not just parts as some would, but every bit and fragment of ourselves, we put into the hand of GOD.  “Into thine hand I commit my spirit:”

We will never gain all if we don’t give all.  Sometimes we wonder where our victory is until we realize we haven’t really by faith trusted CHRIST fully.  When we open our heart and soul to CHRIST there is only one answer, “thou hast redeemed me”.

GOD doesn’t tease us with halve truths.  What He says you can always count on.  His words are lined with the purest of gold, they don’t tarnish or lose their brilliance.  They don’t rot or change in the slightest way.  The perfect GOD, is the GOD of truth. “O LORD God of truth.”

I gave my troubled 

Heart to Thee.

Knowing through You,

Came the victory.

No other source,

Could set me free.

Only what JESUS did,

On Calvary.

Thank You JESUS!

“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 24:36

Watch Where You Step

“Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” Psalm 31:4

To understand what lies ahead of us prepares us for the worst.  Preparation solves the problems before they arrive.  The first part of the solution is to realize future traps will come and second, you will never be able to handle them by yourself.

If the giant killer, David understood his inability don’t you think we should also?  As a matter of fact I believe he remembered it was the LORD that brought him through his battle with Goliath.  He also knew if GOD did it then, He would also bring him through future battles and traps.

It is apparent to me, all who are serving the LORD and honoring Him will have traps.  In most cases it isn’t our goodness that keeps us from traps but often leads us toward them.  Satan could care less about those that are not living for Christ, they have already fallen in his trap of complacency.  He is interested in those that trust, love and obey the LORD.

The trap is set.

The net is laid.

Hidden from sight,

And I’m so afraid.

I’m sure it’s there,

Fear lies within.

Guide my steps,

That I fall not in.

If I should fall

In the dreaded pit.

Pull me LORD

From out of it. 

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Swatting the Flies

“For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.” Psalm 31:3

Allow me to paint a picture in your mind from long ago when I was a small boy.  My older brother Sammy and I were playing in Steve Burrell’s barn.  We made little guns out of clothes pins.  I hit Sammy with one of my shots and he came running after me, he was really mad.  I responded by punching him in the face giving him a bloody nose.  As soon as I saw the blood running down his face, I ran as fast as I could to the house where Steve's mother was.  Now she was a big lady and because of her size I could hid behind her for my protection.  I would peak around her and see Sammy, his bloody face and all his anger.  But I wasn’t worried because Mrs Burrell was there protecting me with a fly swatter.  

If we want protection and safety doesn’t it make sense to run to the largest, most capable source there is?  How foolish it is to run to the lowest factions when JESUS say’s, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”.  

We must continually keep ourselves under the LORD’s protection and never be tempted to turn back to our meagerly ways.  It is imperative that we look back on the victories GOD has given in the past and remember, He is always a winner, He never looses.  

There is not a better place to be, than to have the LORD in front of us.  When we look from behind Him and see the danger we would face, He’s there, keeping us safe, swatting the flies of our lives.

It was fear, 

That brought me to the Rock.

Where I found the safety, 

For which I had sought.

It was love,

All His protecting care.

Not worried any longer, 

Of the devil’s snare.

“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 8:37-39

Daddy Please

“Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.” Psalm 31:2

It is so much better to call upon One that can hear and understand than to one that has no better clue than you do. 

With the humble heart of a child David approaches GOD.  He recognizes his need and his inability.  He understands his only hope lies in the hands of GOD. Like the child to their daddy David pleads with GOD, hear me daddy please. “Bow down thine ear to me”

Their is earnest in his plea.  Who else could he call upon?  Who else could give an answer, an answer that was sure and instant?  Only GOD has this kind of ability.  We wast our time with avenues that are dead ends.  We are foolish when we try to solve our problems or depend on others and their remedies.  Trust your Daddy, live by faith and your FATHER will give the desire of your heart.  GOD is out of time, time has no relevance on Him.  Everything He does is instant.   Because time is relevant to us it may seem to take time but be assured the FATHERS answers are instant!  “deliver me speedily”

My Daddy is the strongest, there is no one else as strong as He is.  My Daddy is the wisest, the smartest and the toughest Daddy there will ever be, and no one can beat Him up. No one!  His muscle is big, His wisdom is great, His power magnificent, while others deflate.  “be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.”

Like the child to their daddy,

Come close and hear me please.

Let me whisper in your ear,

Of all my desperate needs.

Please don’t hesitate or wonder,

I need you instantly.

No one else can help me daddy,

Only you can set me free.

The strength you have is mighty,

A solid rock you are.

You’re the strongest and best daddy

Among others, yes by far.

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

Do You Want to be Blessed

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” Psalm 31:1

I have been told in the past, “you are lucky, things just fall your way”.  I have always had a problem with this for two reasons.  First, I would say to those of this opinion, luck had nothing to do with it.  Second, things don’t just fall my way, I chose to live for CHRIST, it is by and through Him, He has made the difference. We each are given the same ability to live a blessed life.  The measure of a blessed life doesn’t mean you will always benefit in worldly things but rather whatever your state is, you have peace and are blessed! “Blessed is the man”

When we feel our blessed life is not what it used to be, an examination of our walk is in order.  JESUS never leaves us but we have the tendency to slip away from Him.  We are driven by the lusts of our hearts.  We get entangled with others that don’t lean on the Word of GOD.  We allow our ears to be tickled with worthless, senseless ideas and false doctrine.  It is time for us to get back to Bethel. “walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly”

If we truly want to be blessed we will get busy about the work the LORD.  We will place our emphasis on the spreading of the Gospel.  This is what He left us to do.  We will leave the soft comforts of the church pew and hit the streets for JESUS.  We will once again be in the world but not of the world.  We won't stand in the way of sinners, we will share the blessed hope.  We will stay away from the controversies of society and stick to proclaiming the unmerited favor of CHRIST. “nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

What is in it, to be blessed?

Not the riches of the world.

Trusting in my SAVIOR dear.

In His blessing, I am whorled.

Never blessed by my worthless way,

But by CHRIST’s loving hand.

From Him alone, my blessing comes.

Through Him alone I stand!

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Ephesians 1:3

The Song that Never Stops

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.” Psalm 30:12

Out of the deepest part of the soul, not only through the heart or the mouth but from the very depths of his being, David expresses his pleasure in the LORD.  The only way to express his joy is in the outburst of singing.  His heart is happy! Perhaps with tears of happiness he makes his intense praise and thanksgiving to his GOD. “To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee,”

His testimony is real, he can’t be silenced, his expression reaches the multitudes.  He can’t hold such joy to himself.  It fills him to the greatest degree.  How could anyone who has tasted the LORD’s favor be silent?  “not be silent”

David isn’t speaking of an unknown god, someone or something in his mind or a fantasy, he speaks of his personal relationship with the GOD of Glory. “O LORD my God”  Do you know Him?

David’s expression of praise for His GOD doesn’t stop after he is lifted from his trial or his moment of trouble. It continues day after day and goes on through the harsh days of the future.  He understands his personal GOD never changes, He is always there for him. “I will give thanks unto thee for ever.”

Living for JESUS, 

All of my days.

I sing of His love

I give due praise.

My heart so full, 

I must sing on.

Praising my JESUS,

All the day long.

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.” Psalm 121:1-3

Going to the Dance

“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” Psalm 30:11

Is there anything more miserable than to be in a continual state of mourning?  I don’t think so.  There is nothing worse.  The groaning within is overwhelming and sorrowful thoughts camp around the heart.

Out of the darkness comes Light.  Hope is at hand.  The reality of change is at the Door.  Peace is waiting, relief is near.  JESUS speaks in our ear, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  He is ready, how willing are you?  Why, oh why would anyone want to be miserable when they could be happy?  It is always better to be in the house of dancing then the shack of tears.  “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing:”

There is no need to wear the dreary dark clothes mourning. The shabby garments can be changed and replaced with the bright and happy colors of gladness. “thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;” 

While we are here in our present state we will continually be faced with calamity and death.  But listen, we can have peace and hope through CHRIST. We don’t have to wait until we face dreadful things that will most certainly come our way.  None of us are immune not even the believer but the believer will endure and their grief will change to dancing.  They have the hope of what is to come.

I found myself in the house of pain,

My grief was overwhelming.

Dark thoughts and dread lie within,

My sorrower is so degrading.

Only through CHRIST did I find relief.

He turned my sorrow to dancing.

He took my clothes of dark despair,

My gladness He’s now enhancing. 

Thank you JESUS!

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  Psalm 30:5

A "GOD" Washing

“Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.” Psalm 30:10

Calling upon GOD is always the beginning of our hope.  When we recognize our help comes from no other source but Him, the battle is won.  This is true not only on the day of our salvation but it goes on and on.  “Hear, O LORD” And He does!

I’m so thankful GOD doesn’t give us what we deserve.  There would be no hope, there would be no peace.  There would be no relief from our sin or from the trials we face day by day.  I don’t care how holy, how wonderful we think we are, we are just filthy rags that are in need of a “GOD” washing. (Isaiah 64:6)  “Have mercy upon me: LORD” 

When we recognize we need a helper we are on the right track.  Choosing the right helper makes all the difference.  Who or what we choose will either bring us victory or more defeat.  Don’t let GOD be the last choice like so many do.  Let Him be the first choice in everything, be a winner with hope.  “Be thou my helper”

When I fall and I can’t get up, 

I know I need someone to assist.

I reach out for the needed help.

Crying aloud with a clinched fist.

Oh thank GOD I can come to You

Who brings me instant relief.

CHRIST is the beginning of hope,

Which starts at our belief.

“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12b

Urgent Care

“What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?” Psalm 30:9

The LORD has allotted each of us periods of time.  There is the period of time He has given to trust Him and a period of time to obey Him after we are born-again.  In both cases most of our time is wasted on foolishness.

Some believe they have forever to place their trust in CHRIST.  They believe there will come a better day then the present.  Perhaps when they clean up their lives.  Maybe tomorrow and tomorrow never comes.  They have wasted the time GOD has given them, and Hell is at their door.  Time has expired! Oh what a shame!

There is much shame in time wasted by those of the household of GOD.  We spend our time on everything that satisfies our desires and leave the commission the LORD has given us alone.  Our churches have become feel good stations instead of urgent care.   The lost are wandering all around us but we don’t have the time to present CHRIST to them because we are caught up in ourselves, and other activities.  “And how shall they hear without a preacher?”  

What good is the time GOD has given unless it is used for the furtherance of the gospel of CHRIST?  When we wast our time on all the other things are we saying what JESUS did was not important!  We always plan but we seem never to do.  Before we know it time is gone, our hour is over, we’ve wasted our time and don’t have much to show!  “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?”   

Oh the time wasted,

And oh what a shame.

Thinking of ourselves

When JESUS we claim.

Please break our hearts

For souls left in the lurch.

Leading them to JESUS.

Make them part of His Church.

 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:14-15

To or Fro

“I cried to thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.” Psalm 30:8

A good evaluation of how you stand with God is how you handle adversity.  Where do you go for support when you lose what you thought was so important?  All the sudden the things you have depended on have gone with the wind and left you with a vacant lot.  I see two avenues that are taken.  1. If you are truly a child of GOD, you will run to Him!   2. If you aren’t a child of GOD you will run from Him.  

The children of God know where their strength comes from and wast no time calling on Him for help.  They understand, “this also will pass” and tomorrow is a new and fresh day.  We know that “All things work together for those that love the LORD, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28).

The unbeliever runs to and fro, scrambling to find safety.  They place their trust in others.  They run to the educators and the philosophers.  They try all the remedies but the One that counts.  In their pride they believe they will be able to handle what they face, and they fall to pieces. 

“Run if you want to, run if you will but I came here to stay.  It’s a battle field brother not a recreation room, and I didn’t come here to play” ~ Lester Roloff 

I asked my neighbor what I should do?

And his answer was truly amiss.

I asked the doctor and the professor too.

And it didn’t get me out of the mess.

But when I bent my knee, and ask my LORD

I felt His comfort and peace.

This sorrowful day, will soon be gone.

The HOLY SPIRIT has given release.

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5

The Bull Frog Syndrome

“LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face, and I was troubled.” Psalm 30:7

We must never depend more on the blessings of GOD then we do GOD.  We have more security in GOD than the things He has blessed us with.  I understand this may sound like double talk but it isn’t.  Pride can overtake us even when we are receiving His blessings.  GOD blesses us because He loves us not because we have reached the point in our lives that makes us greater than others. “LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong:”

I have seen those that have become so prideful they have taken on the look of the bull frog, all buffed up in themselves.  There is nothing more for them to learn, they think they have reached the top, no one can tell them anything.  The bull frog syndrome effects pastors, evangelists, teachers, and folks in the pew.  No one is exempt but those who are continually trusting GOD instead of themselves. “thou didst hide thy face” 

When the blessings stop we are at our wits end.  What ever happened?  The LORD has put a pin in our side and let the air out of us.  We are deflated from a bull frog to a toad.  Our ministry is no longer thriving.  Our knowledge has left, we seem anemic. “I was troubled.”

Don’t be discouraged when GOD brings you back to reality.  It is the blessing of GOD, restoration is at your door.

I sat upon a log in the water.

All puffed up within my pride.

Chest stuck out, my eyes bulging.

Above them all, my stance implied.

Oh but then I received a gigging,

And my pride went out the door.

Not so big now, I was deflated.

Back to a toad where I was before.

“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

At the Station

“And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.” Psalm 30:6

It is a dangerous thought when we look at all we have and feel we have arrived at the station of security and safety.  It is at this point when we are at the brink of a hard fall.  

We gaze over all we have and we become satisfied, we feel secure. “I shall never be moved.”  Whether it be our property, health or all our wealth, it can leave in a moment, without notice.

In the end all we have with the exception of CHRIST, will decay.  It all goes.  It rusts away and is tarnished.  Don’t trust in things, trust CHRIST!  He alone is solid. He alone is forever and He alone is our station of security and safety. 

All is mine, 

My heart did say.

All I have, 

Will always stay.

I have it all,

And all I’ll keep.

Safety sure,

And peaceful sleep.

Then it all,

Came tumbling down.

Left with sorrow,

Was all I found.

All I had,

Was gained by me.

Nothing solid,

But all debris.

All earthly things,

Will wear away.

CHRIST alone,

Will always stay.  

TRUST JESUS!

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27

Just a Moment

“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

I find great relief in knowing the anger of GOD only lasts for a moment.  If it was longer than that I’m sure I would not be able to cope with it and would die in anguish. “For his anger endureth but a moment;”

The opposite of a moment is, forever.  While our troubles may seem like they last a life time, they are but for a moment.  Our GOD isn’t a moment god, He is an Everlasting GOD.  We have a life sentence in our SAVIOR. When we compare life and a moment there is a mountain of difference.  In a feeble attempt it would be like comparing a drop of water to the oceans of the world. “in his favour is life:”

The heartbreak and sorrowers of life bring weeping but the joy of the LORD is our strength.  For those that have placed their trust in CHRIST, “joy comes in the morning”  We must not hold on to sorrows.  We must give them to the LORD and live.  There are to many hanging on to their pain when they can have joy through JESUS!

There came a storm, upon my heart,

And great fear took over my soul.

Everything wrong, nothing was right.

How desperately I needed to be whole.

Oh listen my friend, don’t be faint.

The storm will soon be gone.

Your joy will return, pease will come,

Through CHRIST a new day will dawn.

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

Join The Choir

“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.” Psalm 30:4

It is delightful to wake to the sound of birds singing, all the birds chirping and cheering.  It’s a happy beginning to a new day.  A new day to live, a new day to testify to the world of GODs grace and kindness.  “Sing unto the LORD”

“Sing unto the LORD, O you saints of His”, Sing like the birds, sing of the glory of GOD.  Sing to the world the wonderful things the LORD has done for you. Oh listen saints of GOD, your singing should come natural, as natural as it is for the bird.  If it isn’t there is something wrong with your chirper. 

Every thought of what the LORD has done should put a spring in your step and a song in your heart.  My mind wanders back to the day of my salvation and my heart is lifted up and I sing like the sound of the choir, singing in thankfulness.  I love to sing of all GOD has done for me. “give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

The bird sings to the world and so should we.  If we only sing to ourselves we are the only one that reaps the benefit.  Sing that others can hear of the marvels grace of GOD.  Share the song so those that so desperately need it can hear and join the choir.

I heard the birds chirping,

Early in the morn.

There song so delightful,

Life had been reborn.

They wanted all to listen

To the song they had to sing.

The song of all GODs glory,

Of the goodness He can bring.

“But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 59:16