Goodnight

Here's an old chorus to go to bed with tonight.

Peace, peace, wonderful peace.
Coming down from the Father above.
Sweep over my spirit forever I pray.
In fathomless billows of love.

At times there seems to be just an onslaught of stuff coming at us all day long. Because of that we just need HIS peace...all the time! Without it your mind can take you to places you really don't want to go...at least mine can. So tonight I'm choosing to find peace and rest in HIM! How about you?



Father God, please help us to find that sweet peace...Your sweet peace...as we lay down to sleep tonight. Give our minds, and our bodies, the rest we so desperately need. Let us wake up refreshed and ready for a new day with You tomorrow.

In Jesus name we pray
Amen

The Lord Is With Us

The Lord gives peace and rest to the tired and weary. Are you tired and weary?

The Lord is with us. Day in and day out He's right beside us. He hears everyone of our heart beats...every breath we take...every sigh we sigh...every praise we give to Him. He sees every tear we cry...every time we put our head in our hands...every time we lift our face to Him. We need to go to Him in our good times...in our bad times...in the weakest of our times. Whether we are down physically...emotionally...or spiritually...He cares. He cares and He's waiting for you to call on Him right now.

I have to admit that this past week/weekend was a tired and weary one for me. The only thing that kept me going was reading my Bible and just sitting quietly and talking to the Lord whenever I had the chance. Even though church was good today...I just couldn't seem to connect there. I left feeling just as blah as I did when I arrived. So, I came home and spent more time reading and waiting. While nothing has changed yet...I know...the Lord still cares.

So...what do you do when you're having those tired...weary...blah times and can't seem to shake them? You do what

Hebrews 12:1-3 says...

Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

² Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

Though life gets you down...people let you down...don't let circumstances keep you down. Pick your self up and trust in the Lord that He has everything in His control and He is right there beside you. 

Never give up.

Still working on becoming "unshakeable".

 

 

Prayer

Draw me Lord. Draw us Lord. Let the presence of the Lord filter through our hearts right now...tonight. Help us to long to be closer to You...closer than we have ever been before. Draw us closer and closer. Do a mighty work in our hearts and souls tonight. We love You Lord and we want nothing more than to enter into Your presence like we have never been before. You Lord are our Savior...our Redeemer...our Comforter and friend. Only because of You can we be unshakeable.

We know Lord that You are always there...waiting for us to come to You. Here we are right now Lord. We see Your arms open up wide...beckoning us to enter into them. To be wrapped in Your loving arms so we feel nothing but love and comfort...peace and hope...safety. We thank You and praise You tonight Lord for loving us more than we could ever comprehend. Thank You for giving us a new life in You. Help us to find rest in You tonight Lord. Thank You.

In Your name I pray...Amen.

He Will Speak Peace

Today I have read three different things that have talked about sitting quietly and waiting...waiting in the presence of the Lord. I know that's a really good thing to do but it can be hard. However, it is something that we need to practice. I truly believe that if you just sit quietly...He will come and make His presence known to you. It's nothing mystical...just sit and wait...talking quietly to the Lord...and He will make His presence known. He will meet you right in the middle of your need, clearing out the tangled mess in your head. That may not be how I should say it but that is how I feel many times. Like what is in my thoughts...is a mixed up tangled mess.

All day long things happen...life happens. We take in all kinds of junk through out our day. We hear things...see things...remember things...that we need filtered out. Sometimes...we feel things...we hurt...we feel empty...we feel lost...chopped up....sick. Whatever it is you have taken in or you are feeling...it becomes a tangled up mess inside of you. JESUS is the only one that can straighten that mess out and help you to feel whole again.

So we need to sit quietly and wait for Him to come. As He speaks to your need He brings peace. He is the Peace Speaker! I love when He fills me with peace when the day is rough. Life is hard...things happen...we need to just be in His presence and be healed from all we have taken in.

This post has taken a different turn than I thought it was going to. What I wrote I have felt all day. I don't know if this is for anyone else or just for me but whatever the case...

Let JESUS speak peace to your troubled soul!

Here are the lyrics to Peace Speaker by Geron Davis

It was such a lovely day
The sun was shining bright
The gentle wind was blowin' my way
Not a storm cloud was in sight
Then, suddenly without warning,
A storm surrounded my life.
Bu even in the storm I could feel the calm,
And here's the reason why.

Chorus

I know the Peace Speaker, I know
Him by Name
I know the Peace Speaker, He controls the wind
And the waves.
When He says, "Peace, be still,"
They have to obey.
I know the Peace Speaker, Yes, I
Know Him by Name.

There's never been another man
With the power of this friend,
By simply saying, "Peace be still"
He can calm the strongest wind.
And that's why I never worry
When the storm clouds come my way,
I know that He is near to drive
Away my fears
And I can smile and say:

Repeat chorus
Peace, peace, wonderful peace
Coming down from the Father
Above.
When He says, " Peace be Still, " They
have to obey.
I'm glad I know the Peace Speaker,
Yes I know Him by Name.
I know Him by Name.
I know the Peace Speaker, Yes I
Know Him by Name.

To Me He's Become Everything

To Me HE'S become everything, He's everything that I need. He's the future, the past. The first and the last. To me He's become everything!

That's the chorus to a song I heard today. Just listening to this today cements those words right into my very soul! Do you ever hear something, or read something, that just makes the Lord so real to you? I don't know what it is about music...but God just allows that avenue to really speak to me.

As I go through my life...since meeting Jesus as my Savior...I have noticed that there are days when I don't feel a thing. And that's normal. The Bible tells us that feelings isn't what it's all about. But, I have learned that when I'm like that if I listen to music, or read His Word...and allow it to go where I need it to go...that I get rejuvenated! My soul feels lighter...my mood gets brighter...the Lord takes control of the mess in my head and I realize that everything is going to be okay. I am going to make it!!

Then there are those days that you're feeling it. Everything is going good but physically it's a battle. That's me today. I'm not looking for sympathy just saying that there can be reasons other than spiritual that you need the Lord to lift you up. To give you a soul lift! My A-Fib has kicked in the last few days along with all the symptoms that go with it. I don't like it but it does make me talk to the Lord a lot more. And I realize even more that...He is my everything! The Lord is who gets me through this and every other trial in life.

Is the Lord you're everything today? What are you going through that lets you know that you need Him more than you have ever needed Him before? Whatever it is, ask Him to help you with it. Then listen to some good soul lifting music and praise Him!

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty heaven!
² Praise him for his mighty works;
    praise his unequaled greatness!
³ Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn;
    praise him with the lyre and harp!
⁴ Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;
    praise him with strings and flutes!
⁵ Praise him with a clash of cymbals;
    praise him with loud clanging cymbals.
⁶ Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

With Praise and Thankfulness...We come

Dear Lord Jesus

We come to you today with heads bowed low and arms raised high to You.
We love You Lord...You are all to us.
You have given us life Lord and for that we say thank You!
You Lord are the One we worship and adore.

Lord Jesus

Help us to want to find You in all that we do and see...everyday.
Let us find Your goodness in everything that crosses our path...especially in the bad things.
Help us to not wobble but to be unshakeable in our faith...even when all within us is on the edge.
When the waters of life are about to cover us...help us to know You are the One who pulled us out.

Dear Lord


Wrap Your arms around us and cover us with Your blanket of peace.
You Lord are the Sheperd who leads us to the still waters and helps us to rest in the pastures.
You are the only One Lord that can keep us safe and save us from the enemy of our soul.
You Lord are Our Saviour and soon coming King.

Lord Jesus

We praise You and thank You for keeping us everyday.
We know that soon You will come back to take us home to be with You.
Please Lord...before that day comes...bring our families to You.
Change their hearts oh God...help them to see that all that is good comes from You.

and Lord

We just thank You again for coming to die for us.
We ask that You give us all sweet rest tonight.
Thank You for listening to our prayers.
In Your name we pray.

Amen and Amen

GOD Cares

Today I want to tell you that giving thanks...even when you don't really feel like it but you know that you need to...changes things. No it doesn't change what's happening in your life, but it does change you. It changes you...actually GOD changes you...from the inside out. At least that's what HE did for me after I posted last. My perspective changed...my thoughts changed...my attitude changed...my heart changed. When I first started writing the list I had a really hard time. The first few things were just surface things. Things that if they were gone tomorrow it would be okay...except for Bear...but in the grand scheme of things...not that big of a deal. But the last two thirds of the list...well, I don't want any of those to change. They are what is important to me. God knows how to get through to us when life is hard. He always knows just what we need.

Last night I went to Life Group. It was the best place I could have been. From the moment I walked in I knew it. It was as if every bit of stress I had been feeling since Sunday night was instantly drained out of me. I walked in and felt peace. Let me tell you...That.Was.GOD!! Only GOD can bring peace to the very depths of our soul! Someone was saying how the emptiness inside of us before we know JESUS as our SAVIOR is a hole only HE can fill. Nothing else can fill that hole. That is so true and I know that to be true for myself. It's the same with the inner upheaval...turmoil...that you feel when things in life just aren't good. If you talk to HIM about it HE will give you that peace...even when nothing has changed.

My whole point is...GOD Cares! HE knows what we need and HE knows when we need it! HE loves us so much more than we can ever imagine. In those times when I pull away from GOD it's not that I don't believe that HE loves like that...it's that I'm not believing that HE could love me like that! How silly is that anyway. The Bible plainly tells us that GOD doesn't change. HE can't.

Matthew 6:8
Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, so he does not lie.
    He is not human, so he does not change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
    Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So today I will add a few more to my list of things to be thankful for.
For those of you that really know me this first one will give you a good laugh!

Life Group!
Sunshine
Sonshine!
The hand of the LORD that always reaches out and holds on to me when I am falling away.
Prayers answered in ways we don't always understand.


Still learning!




  

Just A Few Things

Tonight I am writing a list of everything that I have to be thankful for. I have not been doing this like most of you have. Why? Well really...I.don't.know! But tonight I feel the need to do this because I think it will help to give me some perspective. When life starts to get to me I have a tendency to start going the wrong way in my thinking. I pull back and start putting up the walls. Not only do I start shutting out people but I also start shutting out GOD. So while I was sitting here tonight I realized I need to do something to stop the process. Writing a list of things I'm thankful for came to mind. Do you think it was GOD that put that in my thoughts? Most definitely it was! Will it be a long list or a short list? I don't know but it looks like I'm going to share it with you either way.

I'm thankful for...

A computer
Bear because he loves me no matter what!
My job.
Someplace to live.
That GOD allowed me to be able to buy the Camaro I always wanted.
Friends that GOD gives you to be a part of your life.
Ones that live close and others that I know on line.
Friends that are special because they love you and pray for you.
Family...good and bad.
Feelings...even when I don't like what I feel.
Tears...because sometimes they go with feelings.
JESUS because HE is changing me more...everyday!
JESUS because I am forgiven of my past.
JESUS because one day I will be in heaven with HIM.
The ability to love even though it hurts sometimes!




The order of this list is not by importance. It's in this order because sometimes it's hard for me to say important things.  Not important possession wise but by what's really important in life. I'm not going to change the order that I wrote this list but I will say this...

The LORD is at the top of my list. I love HIM and know that HE belongs at the top...always!

1 Peter 5:7

⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

 

 

Prayer

Today has been a crazy day. Actually, it all started about 9p.m. last night. My Mom called to tell me that Dad had been having chest pains since Saturday but decided not to let anyone know about it until Sunday evening. He then refused to go to the hospital. So...I received the phone call. My Mom still believes that Dad would do anything for me...mostly he would. Well, after some fast talking...with a little guilt mixed in...they went to the hospital. As it turns out he is still there. They claimed he has not had a heart attack...but because of all the pain they started doing tests. We will know for sure tomorrow what the extent of it all is because they are going to do an angiogram at 8a.m. pst. Dad has had two different heart surgeries in the past with a total of 8-10 bypasses...we can't remember for sure how many each time. The doc believes that they all are just giving out. His heart is beating too slow. They checked for veins they could use in his legs if they have to do surgery again but said there is only one good vein. They will have to use veins from his chest if they can find good ones. At this point my Dad says he won't have the surgery. But, he will give them his final decision after the test tomorrow. They also did a brain scan because of his memory loss but say it all looks good. The memory loss could be a result of blood not getting where it needs to go because of his heart.

So...the point of this post is to ask you all to pray for him (Red) and my Mom (Bev) and my brother (Mike). He is with them but is not a Christian. My parents are so that's the good part. They live in California so I can't go until we know more of what is happening with him.

Hopefully this all makes sense and I didn't ramble too much. Thank you all for your prayers.

Calling On Him

Jesus
Jesus
Jesus
His is the name we call on
When we don't know what else to do
We call out Jesus
When we don't know what else to say
We call out Jesus
Jesus
His name is the one above all others
Jesus
His name is the one that brings us comfort
Jesus
His name is the one that brings peace to the situation
Jesus
His name is what we breathe when nothing else works
Jesus
Please come and speak peace to this situation right now
Jesus
There is no one else I can turn to
Jesus
I'm calling on Your name right now
Jesus
Please bring Your calm
Jesus
Please be there right now when I can't
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus
I'm calling on Your name right now
The sweetest name I know
Thank You
Jesus

Wait For Your GOD Moment

GOD moments...don't you just love them?!  I do.  They remind me that GOD is in everything we do...everything that happens in our lives...everywhere we go.  GOD is in our lives and HE is fully in charge of our lives.  Now that is good news! 

There were so many GOD moments in the Bible.  In fact...that is what the Bible is full of...GOD moments.  This morning I am reminded of a big GOD moment in Exodus 14 when GOD parted the Red Sea for the Israelites.  They were being chased by Pharaoh and his army and didn't see any way of escape.

vss 5-9

⁵ When word reached the king of Egypt that the Israelites had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds. “What have we done, letting all those Israelite slaves get away?” they asked. ⁶ So Pharaoh harnessed his chariot and called up his troops. ⁷ He took with him 600 of Egypt’s best chariots, along with the rest of the chariots of Egypt, each with its commander. ⁸ The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, so he chased after the people of Israel, who had left with fists raised in defiance. ⁹ The Egyptians chased after them with all the forces in Pharaoh’s army—all his horses and chariots, his charioteers, and his troops. The Egyptians caught up with the people of Israel as they were camped beside the shore near Pi-hahiroth, across from Baal-zephon.

We can relate the trials of this life to Pharoah.  Don't we just feel sometimes that we are being chased and surrounded and we may never see the other side of the trial? 

In reading this I am reminded of how many times I have felt...and said to the LORD...the same types of things that the Israelites said to Moses.

vss 10-12

¹⁰ As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, ¹¹ and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? ¹² Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!"

But GOD was with HIS people.  HE was about to give them a GOD moment and they didn't even know it was going to happen!  

vss 13-14

¹³ But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. ¹⁴ The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Don't you just love those two verses?!  WOW!!!  Don't be afraid.  The LORD Himself will fight for you.  Stay calm!!  That can be so hard when life is chasing us and just about to run right over the top of us!  That's when we have to remember that GOD is right here with us...in the middle of our trial...holding us.  Just waiting for the right time to give us our GOD moment!  HE wants to show HIS great glory to us just as HE did to all of Egypt when HE destroyed Pharoah and his army.  Right when we are about to be overtaken by the trials of this life...GOD will part the waters and we will see HIS great glory!  Our GOD...yours and mine...will part the Red Sea of life and we will get safely through to the other side.  Oh YES! Here comes the GOD moment!

vss  21-28

²¹ Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. ²² So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!
²³ Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. ²⁴ But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. ²⁵ He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”
²⁶ When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” ²⁷ So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. ²⁸ Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

We too will walk right through the middle of our trial and come out strong on the other side.  It will be hard at times but just before dawn...the LORD will come and bring us through!  What we have to do is what the people of Israel did.

vs 31b
...They put their faith in the Lord...

Maybe  even what Moses did...

Raise your hand and wait for the LORD to do what HE does best...part the water!!

Wait for your GOD moment. It will come!



 

 

   

He's All We Need

Today is a new day full of all new experiences.  Nothing we do today will be exactly how it has been before.  But you know what...that's okay!  The LORD is with us through each new day and every new experience.  Right beside us in all that we do and all that comes our way.

This morning I opened up my Jesus Calling book and read this;

I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. You face nothing alone-nothing!

Wow!  How comforting is that?!  Just knowing that the GOD of all the universe is with us!  Right beside us in all that we are going to face today.  Whether it be good...different...new...or even bad...HE is with us through it all!  Holding our hand if that's what we need...or wrapping us tightly in HIS loving arms.  Whatever we need...our LORD will supply for us.

Songs often come to mind when I'm writing and what the LORD just brought to me was this one;

He's All I Need

He's all I need
He's all I need
Jesus is all I need
He's all I need 
He's all I need
Jesus is all I need 

JESUS really is all we need but because we are human it can be hard for us to really wrap our minds around that.  Especially when we are lonely...sick...filled with sorrow...or just plain hurting...HE really is everything that we need. 

Some of the scriptures that I love...

2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP)

⁹ But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

2 Corinthians 4:18 (AMP)

¹⁸ Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

The LORD will give us strength for all that we have to face today...and in the coming days. Whatever our days...our lives hold...we just need to remember that we are in the loving hands of our SAVIOR. HE is not going to let us down...or leave us alone.

HE is our strength!

Psalm 59:16 (AMP)

¹⁶ But I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy and loving-kindness in the morning; for You have been to me a defense (a fortress and a high tower) and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Turn to HIM today and let the ONE who loves you, more than any person ever could, be your strength today.