Praise and Shout

Generally I am not a very excitable person. In other words...it takes a lot to move me! But I have to tell you that lately I feel a passion for things that is different than before. Lately when I read my bible...it moves me. When I start writing...it moves me. I say it but really...I know it is the Lord. He is moving me clear down into my very soul!

Tonight I sat down and started reading Psalm 96:1-6 in the NLT. Loved it. Usually I don't read the Message but I decided to see what it said. Here it is...

^1-2 Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!

^2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!

^4-5 For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
His terrible beauty makes the gods look cheap;
Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.

^5-6 God made the heavens—
Royal splendor radiates from him,
A powerful beauty sets him apart.

How good is that?!  The Psalmist is saying...Come on, worship GOD! Worship our KING! Sing to HIM. Sing about HIM. Everyone join in and Worship!! Our GOD is so good...so wonderful...so beautiful...HE radiates with royal splendor! WOW!!! I don't know about you but I think we should do as vs. 2-3 says. Tell everyone...everywhere...about HIM and all the amazing things that HE does! People we know are lost out there in a world full of pain and turmoil. We as Christians have the answer they need. HIS name is JESUS and HE is waiting...with HIS arms outstretched and open wide for them to accept HIM and run to HIM! We need to tell people...shout it out...show them HIS love...be HIS messenger to a world that's falling apart. To a life that's falling apart...of those you know that need HIM. 

So...Shout the news of HIS victory from sea to sea. Take the news of HIS glory to the lost.

Or as the NLT version says...

² Sing to the Lord; praise his name.
    Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
³ Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
    Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.

However you choose to do it...

Let the world know that JESUS loves them! That HE died to save them and HE is waiting for them! They don't need to be afraid of what tomorrow may bring any more.

Nesting In His Arms

Sometimes our life is heavy
burdens great to bear
Then the Lord comes sweeping
our battles He does share
He picks us up and holds us
deep within His love
Wraps us in His arms
and carries us above
What wondrous joy we find there
when in His arms we nest
The peace and love o'erflowing
brings nothing but sweet rest
Thank You Lord for giving
Your strength and comfort now
Thank You for Your peace
that fills my soul some how

Our GOD

Our GOD is Stronger...Our GOD is Deliverer...Our GOD is All Powerful...Our GOD is our Protector...Our GOD is SAVIOR...Our GOD is Everything that we will ever need!!

Psalm 18:2

New Living Translation (NLT)

² The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
He is my shield, the power that saves me,
    and my place of safety.

Our GOD is Awesome...Our GOD is Strength...Our GOD is our Rock...Our GOD is Healer...Our
GOD is everything we will ever need!!

Psalm 118:14

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁴ The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.

Sometimes GOD feels like HE is so far away. As if HE is leaving us dangling out there all alone. But I have found that just like HIS WORD says...HE is right here!

Jeremiah 29:13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹³ You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

There are times when we just have to seek HIM...call out to HIM...cry to HIM from the depths of our very souls. If we truly want HIM...HE will come...

Hosea 6:3

New Living Translation (NLT)

³ Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

Oh...do we really want to know HIM? Do we really want HIM to be the center of our lives? 

Press in...HE really wants you to know HIM! As for us...we really want to know HIM just as much. Our souls long for HIM...

Psalm 42:1

New Century Version (NCV)

As a deer thirsts for streams of water,
    so I thirst for you, God.

If you need HIM more today than you did yesterday...just tell HIM! HE is waiting and HE is listening. Let HIM give you HIS peace...

John 14:27

New Living Translation (NLT)

²⁷ “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

 

A Mighty Roar In Heaven

January 22, 2013 at 5:15 P.M., the moment that Wayne Root lived his life for, happened...

Suddenly...and without pause...there was a mighty roar and a big thunderous clap of applause in Heaven, as Wayne walked through...or maybe even ran through...those big pearly gates! I can just see all the saints lining those streets of gold...clapping and shouting...as Wayne's celebration begin! Do you think JESUS was standing right there, waiting for Wayne? I do. I believe that JESUS held HIS arms out...opened wide...and Wayne ran right into them! Ohhh...what a mighty hug that must have been! Think about it. Wayne got to meet JESUS face to face! What a time he must be having...walking hand in hand with Jesus around Heaven!


For family and friends, still here on this earth, we can only imagine what it was like...but I know it must have been indescribable! Though we feel great sorrow that Wayne is no longer here with us...and we will miss him terribly...we are so very happy that he is not sick or in pain any longer.


I want to thank everyone of you...from all around the world...that prayed for Wayne during this time. I know that GOD heard all of our prayers and answered in the way that HE knew was best. Please continue to pray for Marge and the rest of the family during this time of loss.

An old hymn keeps coming to mind and it is so true...

What A Day That Will Be written by Jim Hill

(chorus)
What a day that will be,
When my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand,
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be

There'll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness, no pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be,
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.

2 Corinthians 5:1

New Living Translation (NLT)

For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands.

 

Don't Miss Out

Don't you just love how the LORD works in our hearts and souls when we take the time to just be still in HIS presence? To sit and reflect...meditate...read and think...on and about HIM. The Lord will fill us up...our souls and our thoughts...with HIM and the good things of HIM. Just this morning when I made the choice to sit with the LORD for a while HE began to fill me with HIS peace...HIS love...HIS understanding. He fills our minds with good thoughts until we are just overflowing with HIM...regardless of what is going on in our life.

Oh, why are we always in such a hurry to start doing our life everyday? What we need is to be in a hurry to sit with HIM every morning. We need to get up and go to the LORD as soon as we can. Taste and see all the good things of HIM.

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
    Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Lamentations 3:22-23
The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease. 
 Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.

Be slow...slow down...feast on the good things of the LORD! Let your heart eyes adjust to all HE is wanting to show you. HE will come to you...HE will heal you...HE will hold you! The LORD will come and meet you right where you are. Right in the middle of all the life mess that you find yourself in...HE is there!  The Lord is faithful...to come. Don't hurry away out of HIS presence. 

For me I know that if I want to become truly "unshakeable" I need to be in HIS presence...reading and meditating on the good things of HIM...more. The LORD is the only way I will become unshakeable in my walk with HIM. The only way I will become unshakeable in my faith...my hope...my peace. HE is...my unshakeable! The only One who is constant and true...100 % with me and for me...every minute of everyday of my life.

Don't miss out on what the LORD has for your life. What HE has for you today. Take the time to "taste and see". Take the time to get to know HIM. Take the time to find out what HE has...for you!

Hosea 6:3
Oh, that we might know the Lord!
    Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

Blessed Assurance

This morning this song was going through my thoughts as I woke up. I continue to think of it even as I'm getting ready for work. It's been a long time since I heard it so I looked up the lyrics just to see if they were right. Of course they are...GOD is the one who gave me the song this morning, I know that. So why would I even think that HE give would me the wrong words? I"m going to share them now as I know there are people out there who will be blessed by them.

This was written by Fanny Crosby.

Blessed Assurance

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
   Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
   Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
   Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
• This is my story, this is my song,
  Praising my Savior all the day long.
  This is my story, this is my song,
    Praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
   Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
   Angels descending, bring from above
   Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest,
   I in my Savior am happy and blest;
   Watching and waiting, looking above,
   Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/h/308#ixzz2I8nApIAi

You can go to this site and listen if you'd like too. 

Be blessed today in the Father's love!

Praise HIM Today

Psalm 33:20-23

²⁰ We put our hope in the Lord.
    He is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
    for we trust in his holy name.
²² Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
    for our hope is in you alone.

Psalm 34:1-3

¹ I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will constantly speak his praises.
² I will boast only in the Lord;
    let all who are helpless take heart.
³ Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;
    let us exalt his name together.

As we go about our day today we need to remember where our real hope comes from. It doesn't come from anyone other than GOD. We can truly rejoice and be filled with joy because of HIM. Reach out to the LORD today. Let HIM fill you with HIS love. HIS love surrounds us and it's better than anything else we could ever have. 

So go about your day rejoicing in the LORDS great love for you! Give HIM praise and exalt HIS name all day long! 

HE Will Carry Us

What is it that we need most in this life? When we are going through something that we can't change...can't fix...and at times can't even seem to wrap our minds around...we need to feel the closeness of our LORD. All we have to do is remember that HE is as close as our next breath. Literally, meaning without exaggeration, we are covered by HIM. The LORDS amazing love is draped over us just like a blanket. HE made us...HE cares for us...HE loves us...HE will save us...and HE will carry us.

Isaiah 46:4b
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.
 
Just when we think we can't go on, the LORD reaches down and picks us up. Can't you just feel HIM cradleing you in HIS arms and holding you close to HIS chest? That's what HE does when it all seems to be falling apart...Because HE loves us. 


Since we know GOD's love, we trust GOD's love.  We totally rely on HIM for everything. 
Why? Because GOD is love! Pure love!!


1 John 4:16
 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

HE is the one that gives us just what we need to get up and face each new day.  We don't have to do anything on our own. The LORD is with us through each day with all the peace, hope, joy and strength that we are going to need. We just have to trust HIM.

Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives his people strength.
The Lord blesses them with peace.

Psalm 31:24
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart,
All you who hope in the Lord.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;

Isaiah 26:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace
    all who trust in you,
    all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Trust in the Lord always,
    for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. 

 














 

Are You Thirsty?

This morning I read one of my devotionals and this line jumped off the page at me.

Hurry always empties a soul.

The thought that came to mind was this;

You...meaning me...don't give the Lord the time He deserves. That is true. So many times I don't...as has been the case lately. So I just responded back and asked Him what He would like me to read in His Word today? I opened my Bible to a familiar passage, Isaiah 55. I never tire of reading this chapter and hearing from the Lord what He has to say to me through it.

The first three words...

vs 1 "Is anyone thirsty?"

Who isn't? We all are. Sometimes we don't recognize how we are feeling as "thirst" but really it is. When we get that empty feeling inside, or that feeling of...What now?...it's a thirst. A thirst for something more than we have at the moment. A thirst...a longing for...a desire...for something to fill us up...to heal us from the inside out. Or maybe just for peace...Peace, that passes all understanding!

The next three words are...

"Come and drink-"

Drink from the Word. Drink from Him. Only He can fill you up. Only the Lord can give you what you need. When we are thirsty we need more of Him! The Lord can take that empty feeling and fill it...close it up...fill us from the inside out with Him! But.we.have.to drink.from.HIM!! 

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the Lord while you can find Him.
Call on Him while He is near.

We can always find Him because He doesn't go anywhere. He is constantly extending His hand out to us. His love knows no boundaries. We just need to go to Him when we are thirsty. Call on Him to come and fill our empty souls. Quench our thirst.

Thank You Lord that we can come to You anytime...night or day. When we are empty...thirsty...and You Lord will fill us up. We know You want to quench the thirst we feel and we know that You are the only One who can. Help us to run to You...call on You...when we are feeling this way. Thank You for loving us and caring for us.  Amen

Isaiah 55:1
“Is anyone thirsty?
    Come and drink—
    even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
    it’s all free!

An Awesome Gathering

James 5:15a
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;

This was one of the scriptures read today at the home of Wayne and Marge Root where twelve of us gathered to take communion and pray...the prayer of faith...for Wayne. It was mentioned by one of the ladies that as there were twelve of us together there were also twelve disciples. The reading of the scriptures was so...so...powerful. It seems...at least for me...when someone you know and love is sick the words of the scriptures seem to come to life even more than normal...they become real! You hear them, but even more than that, you feel them.

We started with a prayer and then we went around the room and read scriptures on healing. After that the bread and cups were passed and we all shared in taking communion together. It was a powerful time as we thanked the Lord for all that He has done...and all that He is going to do. Then we all gathered around Wayne and prayed. Everyone reaching out to God in faith...believing. As we were finishing Wayne started singing Power In The Blood!...how awesome is that...and we all joined in. I know I keep saying this but...it was such a powerful time. The Holy Spirit was definitely in the house with us!

I can't really even begin to convey to you how awesome this time together today was! When you gather with other believers to pray and worship the Lord, mighty things happen...that is what we are all praying and believing for...a mighty move from God! As Marge and Wayne both say...GOD is in control! God has Wayne in His hands and that's the best place for any of us to be. I like

Isaiah 49:16a Amp
Behold, I have indelibly imprinted (tattooed a picture of) you on the palm of each of My hands;

Hebrews 11:1 KJV
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Psalm 62:6

Tonight as I was sitting and thinking about my word for the year I opened my Bible to one of my favorite Psalms. My eye went immediately to verse 6;

Psalm 62:6
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will not be shaken.

And there it was. The words I will not be shaken! Yes...my word for this year is unshakeable. Now I have a verse to go with it. This verse really spelled it out for me clearly tonight. As long as I keep Jesus first He will be my rock...salvation...and fortress. Then...I will be unshakeable.  Not because of me but because of Jesus.

Time To Reshape

Well here we go! The first day of 2013. The first day of a new year living for Jesus! I wonder. What does 2013 hold for me...for you?! We only find that answer by living day to day...with the Lord walking beside us. Doesn't that sound exciting..."The LORD walking beside/with us!" 

This year I'm looking, and expecting, to live more vibrantly for the Lord. Truly I want to be a mouthpiece for Him. I want to share His love freely with more and more people. I want to do, and say, the things that He wants...not what I want. To help with that I have a couple of new devotionals...three actually...

One Thousand Gifts Devotional by Ann Voscamp
live second 365 Ways to Make Jesus First by Doug Bender
Jesus Today  by Sarah Young

And of course I will still read Jesus Calling because it is just always sooo good!

I'm excited about this new year because I know the Lord has some changes in store for me. He has already told me He wants me to live "unshakeable" for Him. (My word for the year!) I also know that in order for there to be good changes in my life there will also be trials. I have learned that is how it all works! I am reminded of Jeremiah 18:6 ...The Potter and the Clay.

“O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand.

God has power over us to reshape us the same as He had the power to reshape a nation. We just have to be willing. We need to yield to His reshaping of us.

Isaiah 64:8
And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
    We are the clay, and you are the potter.
    We all are formed by your hand.

And yes I know...it's usually not easy. As in all things...change is most often hard. But in the end...when all of His reshaping and molding of us is done...we will be what He intended for us to be. More like Him.


When we accepted Christ we became a new person.

2 Corinthians 5:17
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

We can't stop there. We need to keep growing and changing...becoming more like Him. If we let Him change us...if I let Him change me...I will become what He wants me to be...

Unshakeable in Him.