The Way Out

Lookin' for a way out

trying to get on top

The train stopped at the station

you're ready to go for one more hop

How long will you ride it

how long will you stay

You keep lookin' for the answers

yet tryin' to get away

You hear the whistle blowin'

one last time you turn around

Will the answer be on board

or are you disaster bound

Where is it you are headin'

where will you stop this day

The answer lies ahead

just one more stop...you pray

The feelin' is all around you

it's just outside your grasp

Oh please come closer won't You

there must be something that will last

You're headin' down the tracks

you hear the whistle blow

The train's comin' to a stop

at a station you don't know

Just then you think you heard it

the voice that you once knew

Oh yes...you hear Him now

He said He's comin' to help you

Maybe He's the way out

maybe He's the One

But wait...the train is leavin'

don't you want to get off and have some fun

Just then You hear Him sayin'

His voice so kind and true

Please don't get up and go

I've come to rescue you

I'm the One you've always needed

the One that loves you so

Please come and take a chance

try Me...I won't let go

This trains headin' for a station

at a place you've never known

It's goin' up to Glory

the place you'll call your own

My love is everlasting

you'll always be with Me

Just stay aboard this train

you'll find comfort there...just wait and see

One day soon I'm coming back
to take you home with Me
To a place that you call Heaven
where you'll spend eternity

Cry Out To The Savior

Have you cried out to the Savior

to come meet you now

Asked Him to help you

fill you up somehow

Do you think it is possible

think that He cares

Can He help you to find it
the love that He shares

Remember the time

so long ago

You knew He was Master

the lover of your soul

It all seems so distant
so very far away
You know that He loves you
OH why do you stray

Because it keeps happening

life won't give it a rest

You let it attack you

and you hope for the best

How do you capture

the way that it was

Find your way back

to a life filled with love

You think it's a mystery

hidden away

You need Jesus to help you

to come find your way

Buried deep inside

you know that He's there

That nothing has changed

you're still in His care

Then why do you wonder

sit and stare at the wall
Hoping for answers
so you don't take that fall

Just cry out to the Savior
to come meet you now
Ask Him to help you
fill you up somehow

Let HIM Breathe On You

Today there are many reading this that need a special touch from the LORD. Some need a healing in their body or they know someone who does. Some need a good job. Others need to be set free from addictions and lifestyles. Still others just need peace and hope. Could be that you just need to be free and unhindered to be who GOD wants you to be...HIS voice...HIS arms...HIS ears...HIS feet...to have HIS HEART! We all need the LORD to touch us, or those we love, in some capacity.

There's a chorus we sang when I was young that just came to mind.

Let HIM breathe on me
Let HIM breathe on me
Let the breath of GOD
Now breathe on me

I believe we really need HIM to breathe on us. We need to let the SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD come in and do a mighty work in us. We need to pray...press in...as close as we can get and let GOD be GOD in our lives.

Many of you will think what I'm going to say next is a bit over the top but...I believe I'm supposed to say it.  So...I'm just gonna throw it out there to you.

Many of us need GOD to do a miracle either in the life of a family member...friend...or yes, even ourselves.  If we are serious about wanting...needing...a miracle, maybe we should  get real serious and do a fast. Do it by yourself...with someone...or maybe as a group with others that really want to see the Hand of GOD move! Pray about it. Talk about it. Talk with someone and see if they want to partner with you for a specific reason or reasons. Read what GOD's Word says about it if you don't know. Then decide.

For myself I know that there are those I love that need to accept JESUS as their SAVIOR. There are those I love that need a miracle of healing in their body. There are those that just need to get closer to GOD. I need that myself. Really, everyone of us could benefit from a closer walk with the LORD. 

When a man has no strength, if he leans on GOD, he becomes powerful!

D.L. Moody

I'm finding that statement to be true more and more in my life. I believe that anything we do to get closer to the LORD...HE will honor. Fasting may not be for you...and that's okay. But at least set aside a time everyday to pray for needs that you know about. 

Psalm 27:7-9 & 14

Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
    Be merciful and answer me!
 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
    And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
 Do not turn your back on me.
    Do not reject your servant in anger.
    You have always been my helper.
Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
    O God of my salvation!

Wait patiently for the Lord.
    Be brave and courageous.
    Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

When I started this post I had no idea where I was going with it...but the LORD did. I don't have any thing else to say except...pray and then do what ever the LORD tells you too. 

HE Made Today For You!

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Do you go to bed sometimes just feeling that tomorrow is going to be better? I do because most of the time sleep and rest helps. Your circumstances don't always change but your heart and thoughts do. Many people, when talking about how they are feeling say...Well, under the circumstances. I had a Pastor when I was a kid that always said this in response to them. "Are you a Christian? Do you believe that God can do anything? If you do then WHY? are you living "under" the circumstances?!" I have always remembered that and think about it whenever someone says it. But, I have to be honest, before I was a Christian I thought it was a dumb thing to say. My thoughts were that you don't "choose" to live under them...life just happens! Now that I have been a Christian for a while I know that you do "choose" to be under them. Yes...life happens but how we handle it is entirely up to us. We can "choose" to be angry about what's happening...get so far down we eventually get depressed...worry until we are sick...and sometimes "choose" to just give up for good. Even though I'm a Christian I've done them all...except the giving up for good. I won't lie...that too has crossed my mind in the past, and very recently. But, I realized that quitting doesn't change anything. Problems don't just go away and people don't just go away. You can't just walk away from everything that is good (GOD) because you don't know how to handle things in your life. You have to choose...

Everyday when you go to bed you have to remember that tomorrow you get a "new" 24! A brand new day...24 hours...to live! As I said before...when you get up, your circumstances may not be gone...but it's a brand new day! A new day that the LORD has made! And who has HE made it for? For us...You and Me! We are living in the day the LORD has made! Rejoice...you are alive to hear the birds singing...see the sun shining...to love your family and friends...to brighten the day of someone that may need it more than you do! Give the ones you love a hug...even if it's a ((((cyber hug))))! In some way...let them know you love them. Be thankful for all that you have because you really don't know what tomorrow holds. None of us do.

Remember...

This is the day the LORD has made. Make the best of it because this day will never be here again.

'still learning'

Update on Wayne

I just wanted to update all of you that have been praying for Wayne. This is an e-mail I received from Wayne and Marge about the results from the Pet scan...

Glory to GOD ~ Great things HE has done!!!

Wayne had a PET scan last Friday and we met with the oncologist yesterday for the results.  The tumor has shrunk about 70 - 75% and the lymphgentic spread has diminished some what. We are praising GOD that the cancer has not spread.  All of the lab results were very good, with the exception of one, and even that was
"not bad".  Wayne is tolerating the treatments very well.  The plan is to continue the same infusions every three weeks.

We cannot begin to thank you for your prayers and support during this time.  We know GOD'S way and HIS time is perfect and HIS plan and purpose will be accomplished in all of this!!  We continue to be encouraged by GOD'S Word and our prayer is for HIM to be glorified in all we say and do.

Thank you again for upholding us in prayer.

I spoke with Marge earlier today and she wanted me to please thank all of you in the "blogosphere" for all of your prayers. It means a lot to them that you pray. She also said...as she has many times...they are believing in the "Report of the LORD".

Please continue to pray for Wayne. He had an infusion on Tuesday and today is just not feeling very good.

Troubled Minds

Today I have seen worry

           heard concern and

   probably even some fear

There are hurting people

        troubled minds

     unprotected earthly souls

Questions of what to do

    no answers

            stressed thoughts

Sometimes there's

    only prayer...all you need

  when you can't be there

   Ask for peace

 restful minds

          calm thoughts

God knows

             will He answer

      when you call

Pray

  Believe

          Trust

  Pray some more

Reach Out And Touch Him

This morning I read this on my calendar...

I want to know You more - to be so close I can see Your love for me in Your eyes.

Isn't that good?!! I was sitting here reading that and thinking about it and a song popped into my head. It's funny really because all of these old songs I remember really didn't mean a thing to me when we used to sing them. They were just words then, but now...I really do want to know HIM more. The song is, Greatest Thing by Mark Pendergrass. Here are some of the lyrics...

The greatest thing in all my life is knowing YOU...I want to know YOU more

The greatest thing in all my life is loving YOU...I want to love YOU more

The greatest thing in all my life is serving YOU...I want to serve YOU more

A couple of days ago I read John 3:30 again. It's a short verse but it is so what I want.

John 3:30

He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

Then today there was the calendar and then the song that came rushing back into my head! I believe HE was giving me an answer to what I have been praying the last couple of days. I'm thinking that the LORD wants me to go for it! Seek HIM with everything I have. Keep pushing in to HIM. Know...love...and serve HIM more because when it's all said and done...Nothing else matters as much! 

I believe that HE wants that from all of us. To Push in...to be as if we are one with HIM. Really know HIM! Pray and chase after HIM like we never have before. Reach out and take hold of HIM. We can only find good things when we do that. HE's waiting for you right now to talk with HIM.  Just reach out and touch HIM!

Another really old song that fits is this...

Reach Out And Touch The Lord

Reach out and touch the Lord as He passes by.

You'll find He's not to busy to hear your hearts cry.

He's passing by this moment your needs to supply.

Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

Pray...Any Time

This morning while I was driving to work I did what I do most of the time...talk with the Lord. Lots of times it's just me doing the talking because I rush through the conversation. Other times either He talks with me or He just fills me with amazing feelings...the kind I do like. Today that's how it was. Sometimes...you really don't need words. God is awesome and knows just exactly what we need and when. There are times when all we need is to know that He is with us...right where we are! And...there are times when praying on your way to work isn't a good idea...

This morning I was praying for family and friends and the needs they have and then I just said..."Thank You for taking care of me." Immediately I knew the Lord was there...in my car with me. I told Him..."I know I probably shouldn't even be here to see another birthday and yet...in a few days I will. There were so many times in my life I could have easily died but...I believe...You kept me safe even though I wasn't living for You." As many of you know crying just doesn't happen for me much. Well...the most amazing feeling of warmth washed over me and the tears started. I had no control over it. Unfortunately in a couple of minutes I was at work. But...they were a great couple of minutes! 

God is amazing and the things He does for us are sometimes hard to believe unless you experience them yourself. I guess that's why I'm sharing this with you today...

You need to experience God for yourself. I fail many, many times. But even though I do...He still is there just waiting for me to talk with Him. He longs for the chance to come to you...hold you...and help you to experience things that are really kind of foreign to you. He wants to show you His love...He wants to let you feel His love...peace...joy...all the emotions and feelings that are hard for you.

God is thinking about each and every one of us all the time. We are all equal in His heart...He loves us all the same. His love is unconditional...unfailing...unending...everlasting! 

Jeremiah 31:3

Long ago the Lord said to Israel:
“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
    With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

Lamentations 3:22

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.

Oh yeah...

Forget what I said in the first paragraph. Praying on your way to work...or any other time...is always a great idea. 

In A Hundred Years

"In a hundred years none of this will really matter."

The person on the other end of the phone said that to me yesterday. That's a true statement but flawed for this time in life. Right now...this "thing" that won't matter a hundred years from now...really does  matter!

We all could say that about whatever is going on in our lives today. But the thing is, if it matters to us right now...in the here and now...it matters to God! It doesn't matter what it is either. Maybe it's a small thing...you didn't remember to take your lunch to work but...God provides and your friend just happened to bring lunch to share with you that day. Maybe it's a big thing...they cut jobs where you work and yours was one of them...God provides and you get a call telling you the job you applied for 6 months ago is available...are you? The point is, right now...it all matters...even if a hundred years from now it won't. 

So...what do we do right now when the things that really matter to us happen in our lives? When job loss happens...sickness happens...addictions and what comes from them happens...when (insert your circumstance here) happens?

For a lot of people, they just get by the best way they can. Deal with the issue and try to move on. As Christians what we should do is pray and pray. Ask the Lord to see us through this...pray for His guidance...His peace...His help...His love. Ask Him to put His arms around us, or the ones it directly affects...because sometimes it's not you...that is going through what is happening in life. Sometimes it's people that you care about. We will have problems here...people we love will have problems here. We must rely on the Lord to see us and them through...

 

John 16:33

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

He is bigger than any of the things that we are going through in this life. All we need to do is trust in Him to see us through these times. Sometimes...it's hard though. We are human and our feelings and emotions...two words I have come to not like...get the best of us. We need to get a new mind set...a new heart set...and just trust that He has everything under control.

So, maybe I should start thinking like the person on the other end of the phone..."In a hundred years from now...in Eternity...none of this will really matter."

Victory Through Choice

I have victory through choice...

Today has been such a great day. At first I wasn't too sure how it was going to go but...so far I'm liking it! Lately my days haven't been so good but I know that I'm too blame. We all make choices and how we handle what happens in our lives is a choice. For a few weeks now I have been failing in the choice department. I have been choosing to feel bad...stressed, and sick because of it...defeated...depressed...just downright, all over, unhappy!!! I could go on about all the stuff that my choice did to me...but why?! The important thing is...

Today I choose to make a different choice. Today I choose to live like the Lord intends for me to live. Joyful...Happy...Encouraging...Loving...full of Faith...full of Hope...full of Grace for those that do things that effect me or people I love negatively...and hopefully...live so that others can see JESUS in me! 

If we keep Jesus...the Light...shining brightly inside of us, then darkness won't want to stay. The darkness always tries to extinguish the Light but as I've been told countless times...tell him he has no place with me...step on his scrawny little neck and he will flee...he has too. Where the Light lives...darkness cannot stay! Amen?

Today is a good day to praise the LORD! Will you do that with me? It's your choice whether you do or not. Just let me say this...Choose today who you are going to serve. It's all up to you...

It's a choice!

Psalm 118:14

The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.

Psalm 118:28-29

You are my God, and I will praise you!
    You are my God, and I will exalt you!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
    His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 150

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heaven!
Praise him for his mighty works;
    praise his unequaled greatness!
Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Cling And Be Quiet

Do you ever wonder why you let the devil get the best of you? I do. Today I was thinking about the last couple of days and how I just let him have fun with me. I say have fun because I believe that when he makes us be fearful...think negatively...get totally stressed to the point of being sick...let others down...that he is just laughing at us with an evil sort of laugh. He probably thinks things like...Look at them. I ruined their day and they can never have this time back again. I can make them do whatever I want...feel whatever I want...because of their lack of faith and trust in the God they say they live for! And then he laughs some more! We let him win way to many times. Of course you all know that I'm talking about myself...again. The good thing is that while reflecting on all of this, I picked up my Bible and decided to read it now instead of waiting until all seemed totally hopeless. Maybe I am learning! So I started reading in Psalms...

Psalm 63:8

I cling to you;
    your strong right hand holds me securely.

When I read this verse I knew that clinging to the Lord is what I have to do...what we all have to do. We just can't survive for very long on our own. There are circumstances that come up in all of our lives that we do not have the answers for. But, if we will cling to Him, we will have nothing to fear.

Then I turned back to Psalm 62 and continued reading...

Psalm 62:1

I wait quietly before God,

    for my victory comes from him.

My study Bible says; God never abandons us. His all-surpassing strength is always with us.

I like that. For me waiting quietly is a hard thing to do. I need to be doing something all the time and to just be quiet before the Lord is hard. However, when I am...it is good.

In vs 3-4 David talks to God about how he is feeling because his enemies are trying to kill him. Then he waits quietly before Him again.

Psalm 62:5-8

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
    for my hope is in him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
    He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.

O my people, trust in him at all times.
    Pour out your heart to him,
    for God is our refuge.

David knows where his strength comes from. David has figured it out. God is the one he can depend on in times of stress and trouble. God is our Rock...we can go to Him and hide. He will protect us.
My Bible says that if we will rest in the Lord...tell Him our problems...give Him our resentment towards others or a situation...lay our problems down at HIS feet...We will not be held captive by them anymore!

Sometimes it's really hard to do that. Just when you think things are good...you are giving it all up to Him...something happens and you realize that your mind set has not changed. You hear someones voice...the knots in your stomach return...and the stress/tension is back. You wonder...what will it take for you to really give it to God? What will it take for you to hold it in your closed hands in front of you...and say, "Father God, I give this situation/person to you"...turn your hands over, open them, and release it all into Gods hands? It might take sitting and waiting quietly before God. It might take doing that many times. It's better to wait quietly before God...over and over...than to continue with the stress...tension...sickness...that is caused by what ever we are holding onto.

Obviously...still learning!