Monday, August 31, 2015
Hindered!
Hindered!
8.31.15
"Let us draw near.."
Hebrews 10:22
"..let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us.."
Hebrews 10:1
This morning as I seek my Father's face, I think about all of the times that I've talked about drawing near, thought about it, led congregations in singing about it, and even prayed about it.
All the wasted time... When I just didn't cast all else aside and move towards Him. It's always easier to just talk about things, a lot harder to just do it. I excelled at talking about walking without moving.
Once you cross the line and cast aside whatever hinders you, whatever stands in your way, you'll never be truly content with anything less! He will be your sufficiency.
It pains me to think of the wasted years when I talked about it and never "had it"! I've confessed and changed--you can too! My loving Father has cast all that into the sea of forgetfulness, so I can move on.
Moving on...moving towards Him! Make it your one goal today!
"We must, nevertheless, always work at it, because not to advance in the spiritual life is to go back. But those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward even in sleep."
~ Brother Lawrence ~
May you seek His face before you seek any other today!
Sunday, August 30, 2015
I am His-He is mine
I am His-He is mine
8.30.15
"Let me have a present, personal, infallible, indisputable sense that I am yours, and that you are mine."
C.H. Spurgeon
The Refiner
The Refiner
8.30.15
"The picture of the Refiner is straight from Eastern life. The Eastern goldsmith sits on the floor by his crucible. For me, at least, it is not hard to know why the heavenly Refiner has to sit so long. The heart knows it's own dross.
'How do you know how long to sit and wait? How do you know when it's purified?' we asked our village goldsmith.
'When I can see my face in it,' he replied.
Blessed be the love that never wearies, never gives up hope that, even in such poor metal our Father may at last see the reflection of His face."
~ Amy Carmichael ~
Prayer Request
Prayer Request
8.30.15
Pray for a friend of my brother. Transferred to Hospital in another city - situation critical!
True Rest
True Rest
8.30.15
"Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds rest in Thee."
St. Augustine
Saturday, August 29, 2015
Friday, August 28, 2015
True Revival
True Revival
8.28.15
A.W. Tozer quotes on true Revival
"Unless praying men have the insight and faith to amend their whole way of life to conform to the New Testament pattern there can be no true revival."
"We are busy proving to the world that they can have all the benefits of the Gospel without any inconvenience to their customary way of life. It's 'all this, and heaven too'"
~A.W. Tozer~
Enemy in the Camp!
Enemy in the Camp!
8.28.15
"...but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in members."
Romans 7:23
"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that he cannot do the things that ye would"
Galatians 5:17
An enemy in the camp causes much more damage than one outside! So when God begins a work in our lives, He always starts on the inside. And.... If we are going to live victorious, overcoming lives, WE must begin on the inside!
How many times as Christians have we heard that little voice inside our minds saying "don't do it" "do it".. And back and forth.
Paul said there will be "war in our members". We all have known the struggle of giving into temptation, falling, picking ourselves up, confessing, forsaking, and maybe doing it all over again. It's our old nature! It never dies! We can subdue it in our daily communion with the Father, but if we slack off, it begins to rear its ugly head again and the enemy in the camp starts creating havoc.
It's true--I'm my own worst enemy! At least THE ENEMY tries to keep it that way!
But, there's good news here! We have a power source! "Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ" (2Cor.2:14). We can do ALL things through Christ, even defeat the enemy in the camp!
May we seek His face before we face any other today!
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Butterflies and the King
Butterflies and the King
8.27.15
"But I give myself unto prayer"
Psalm 109:4
"Fervent prayer is like a cannon planted at the gates of Heaven, it makes them fly open"
~Unknown~
As I return little by little to an active life following months of inactivity, I find that there are more and more distractions in my prayer life. I continue to devote myself to prayer, but the focus part is such hard work.
We need to pray without ceasing, we need to make it a critical part of our daily walk. Yet, I'm still embarrassed at all the times my mind wanders during prayer, outside thoughts creep in, other voices call me away from communion with my Lord.
I told my choir tonight that it was like having an audience with a King and as he spoke, I started around the room chasing a butterfly!
What an insult to our Lord!
So, devotion is my focus this week...tuning out the other voices....giving myself to prayer...fervent prayer...choosing the King instead of the butterfly!
May we seek His face before we seek any other today!
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Road of Sorrow
Road of Sorrow
8.26.15
"The road of sorrow is the road to Heaven, but there are wells of refreshing water all along the route."
C. H. Spurgeon
Well Done!
Well Done, Thou Good & Faithful Servant
8.26.15
This morning, I read the eulogy given by A.G. Brown at C. H. Spurgeon's graveside. What a saint! If even half of this could be said of us, how different this world would be!
"Beloved President, faithful Pastor, Prince of Preachers, brother beloved, dear Spurgeon---we bid you not "Farewell", but only for a little while "good night". Thou shalt rise soon at the first dawn of the resurrection day of the redeemed. Yet is the good night not ours to bid, but thine; it is we who linger in the darkness; thou art in God's holy light. Our night shall soon be passed, and with it all our weeping. Then, with thine, our songs shall greet the morning of a day that knows no cloud nor close; for there is no night there.
Hard worker in the field, thy toil is ended. Straight has been the furrow thou hast ploughed. No looking back has marred thy course. Harvests have followed thy patient sowing, and Heaven is already rich with thine ingathered sheaves, and shall still be enriched through the years yet lying in eternity.
Champion of God, thy battle, long and nobly fought, is over; thy sword, which clave to thy hand, has dropped at last; a palm branch takes its place. No longer does the helmet press thy brow, oft weary with it's surging thoughts of battle; a victor's wreath from the great Commander's hand has already proved thy full reward.
Here, for a little while, shall rest thy precious dust. Then shall thy Well-beloved come; and at His voice thou shalt spring from thy couch of Earth, fashioned like unto His body, into Glory. Then spirit, soul, and body shall magnify the Lord's redemption. Until then, beloved, sleep. We praise God for you, and by the blood of the everlasting covenant, hope and expect to praise God with you. Amen."
Work, for the night is coming!
May we seek His face before we seek any other today!
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Many voices...One Shepherd
Many voices....One Shepherd
8.25.15
"My sheep hear my voice......and they follow me."
John 10:27
In John 10:11, Jesus proclaims that He is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep.
Did you know that when sheep are healthy in the pasture, they only respond to the voice of their shepherd? It's also a fact that when sheep become sick and weak, they get confused and respond to any voice they hear!
So it is with many Christians. They become weak in the faith and as they are bombarded with other voices, they begin to respond to false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing, and bad doctrine. Then comes the straying from our loving Shepherd.
There are so many voices calling us away from the Shepherd today! Do all that you can do today to stay snuggled right up close to His side....the side that was pierced for your sin.
Something happens when we have steady and daily communion with Jesus. All the many voices in the world are blocked out and we become attuned to one voice... HIS voice!
May you seek HIS face...His VOICE before you seek any other today!
Monday, August 24, 2015
Enemies in the Land
Enemies in the Land
8.24.15
"The reason so many Christians fail all through life is that they underestimate the strength of the enemy. My dear friend, you and I have a terrible enemy to contend with. Don't let Satan deceive you. Unless you are spiritually dead, it means warfare. Nearly everything around tends to draw us away from God. We do not step clear out of Egypt onto the throne of God. There is the wilderness journey, and there are enemies in the land."
~ D. L. Moody ~
For the Birds!
For the Birds!
8.24.15
Luke 12:24
"Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!"
Are temporary circumstances causing you fear, worry or anxiety? Financial burdens and stress??
Financial issues are the worst! You feel alone.... It's in poor taste to share them with others ....they cause sleepless nights.... They rip
Families apart.... They quickly can shake your faith!
Our scripture today gives great hope to those of us who may be dealing with financial woes. God provides for the birds!! Oh, how much more He loves and cares for you!
I've dealt with severe health issues for 6 months, lost my full-time income and had to shutter a business I've had for 31 years! We reached the end of our financial rope when the money ran out and had to turn to God. I remember my first prescription we had to fill last March was $1,000.... We had no insurance and I ended up on 17 meds!! We knew at that point that we HAD to trust the God who had spared my life to sustain it.... To sustain us!! We knew that He who began the good work would provide for our needs along the way! Oh, can I tell you how faithful He's been!!!! He cares much more for my family than for the birds! He's met every single need we've had and has proven faithful at every turn.
Even now, as we face starting over and starting a new business and adjusting to a new lifestyle and we are waiting for the money to start trickling in, there are doubts and worries that the enemy throws up in our way! But our faith in our loving Heavenly Father is secure. He will never leave us or forsake us!!!!
He cares... For the birds....but more than anything, He cares for you!
May you seek His face before you seek any other today!
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Prayer Request
Prayer Request
8.23.15
Please pray for my mom. She has follow-up with oncologist on Tues.
Removed malignant tumor and part of colon several weeks ago. Also lymph nodes and spots removed from liver were cancerous.
Thank you!
Saturday, August 22, 2015
He never sleeps
He Never Sleeps
8.22.15
"We are no match for Satan.....but then we remember that the one who neither slumbers nor sleeps is our keeper."
~ D. L. Moody ~
Old Things
Old Things
8.22.15
2 Cor. 5:17
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature--old things are passed away....
What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart! —R. H. McDaniel
We are preparing to have a yard sale. Out with the old... Right??
That's not always easy! We tend to think about the old - "I might need this" "I refuse to sell this" " I know I haven't used this in 8 years, but I really, really will this year"!
Our daily walk really should resemble prep for a yard sale. Each day, we should do a real inventory.....an "out with the old" look at our own lives. What am I holding on to today that could come between my Savior and me? Holding on to old things brings stagnation into our walk. Jesus came that we might have life, new life... He came to make all things new!
Choose to grow in grace today. Rid yourself of the old things that keep you defeated day after day. Commune through prayer, The Word, through waiting at our Savior's feet today and the things of earth will grow strangely dim. Old things will pass away and ALL things will become new!
May you seek His face before
You face any other today!
Friday, August 21, 2015
Confession
Confession
8.21.15
"If you go back to the Scripture records, you will find that the men who lived nearest to God, and had the most power with Him, were those who confessed their sins and failures."
~ D. L. Moody ~
You Just Wait!
You just wait!
8.21.15
Psalm 62:5-8
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Don't you just hate waiting?? I always hated any form of wait that came my way. The last 6 months have helped me come to terms with the concept, and the pain and frustration that can go hand in hand with waiting.
5 1/2 months of either staring at my bedroom ceiling or the hospital ceiling. Always waiting for the pain to go away, waiting
for the next cardiac event, waiting to get out of the hospital for the 4th, 5th, 6th time....always waiting, always wondering!
Early on in the process I reached a fork in the road. Either submit, wait on the Lord and let the refining process begin, or wallow in it all.
All of our waiting periods are different, but they usually have a common thread.... They're difficult!!
I found that in submitting myself to the Master's timetable, my soul was flooded with patience from Him. He became my refuge and strength in a way I had never known before. He proved time and again to me that He was trustworthy and His timing was perfect. His mercies were new every morning to me and I found out how important it was to walk one step at a time while looking up to Him! Day by day!
I took great comfort in Deut. 33:25 ... as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
Although it's not easy, if you can learn to trust and wait, His will is revealed and peace will come!
You just wait and see!
May you seek His face before you face any other today!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Bite the Dust
Bite the Dust
8.20.15
"When we hear men trying to make out that they are holy, and speaking about their holiness, they make light of the holiness of God. It is HIS holiness that we need to think and speak about ; when we do that , we shall be prostrate in the dust."
~ D. L. Moody ~
This World of Shadows
This World of Shadows
8.20.15
"We walk in a world of shadows, where real things appear unreal and things of no consequence are sought after as eagerly as if they were made of the very gold that paves the streets of the City of God"
~ A.W. Tozer ~
2 Timothy 2:26 ...and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
It amazes me how quickly even we as Christians are drawn away from communion with our Lord.
The enemy knows us very well! He knows our weaknesses, he knows the minute we've let our guard down, and he never waits even a second before jumping in to take advantage and draw us away. He colors things so beautifully that often we realize his deception too late.
He makes this world of shadows appear so bright!
Despite our enemies attempts to cloak his world of darkness with false light, I'm praying that you'll draw even closer to the Father of Lights today! The things of this world always grow strangely dim in the shadow of His light.
We must be intentional in starting our day with seeking the True Light. Today, the darkness closes in and we stand on a sandy foundation if we step out without having FIRST had fellowship with Him.
He is the answer! We would wonder how we fall so quickly, doubt so easily, give in to temptation so heartily. I'm afraid the fault lies in our walk!
May you walk in HIS light today....the walk that always leads us away from this world of Shadows!
Seek His face before you face any other today!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
This is the way....Walk!
This is the way - Walk!
8.18.15
Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it,” when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left.
We were praying today as we toured another college campus with our oldest daughter. As I prayed, the thought struck me that the King of the Universe and Creator of all things cares deeply for all of our little concerns. He who cares when the sparrow falls cares about our college decisions, little worries, big problems, financial woes, and stubbed toes!
Tune in to His voice today! As I seek Him day to day, I take great comfort that as I listen I can be sure of that still, small voice saying "This is the way... Walk!"
And...Always remember that after the voice.....the way...there must come obedience!
May His voice be heard above all others!
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Prayer Request
Prayer Request:
8.15.15
Please pray for my friend Ashley and family.
Her dad is in the ER with Cardiac issues
Victorious Contrasts
Victorious Contrasts
8.15.15
Romans 12:2a And Be not conformed to this world...
When we talk about the walk, it goes without saying that often we have to stop dead in our tracks and turn right around to go the other way.
As society moves more and more to Godlessness, we must perfect our U-turns if we're going to have a victorious walk!
A life of contrasts!
"That the Christian may be safe, he puts himself in jeopardy; he loses his life to save it and is in danger of losing it as he attempts to preserve it. He goes down to get up. If he refuses to go down, he is already down, but when he starts down, he is on his way up.
He is strongest when he is weakest and weakest when he is strong. Though poor he has the power to make others rich, but when he becomes rich his ability to enrich others vanishes. He has most after he has given most away and has least when he possesses most.
He may be and often is highest when he feels lowest and most sinless when he is most conscious of sin. He is wisest when he knows that he knows not and knows least when he has acquired the greatest amount of knowledge. He sometimes does most by doing nothing and goes furthest when standing still. In heaviness he manages to rejoice and keeps his heart glad even in sorrow."
~A. W. Tozer ~
May you seek HIS face before you see any other today!
U-turns are so much easier when HE pilots the vessel!!
Friday, August 14, 2015
Prayer Request
Prayer Request:
8.14.15
Please pray for my friend Deva in Aiken, SC.
Her mother passed away this morning.
Deva just lost her husband this past fall and needs our prayers today. We rejoice in that blessed hope she has of seeing them again!
Prayer Request
Prayer Request
8.14.15
Please pray for my dear friend Barbara!
After 13 yrs of being cancer-free after her 1st diagnosis, her Breast cancer returned in 2009.
It is in her bones and lungs.
She needs our prayers for healing! You won't find a finer and sweeter Christian than Barbara. She doesn't believe in pity parties and is always serving others. I can't tell you the number of times she emailed me, texted or sent cards of encouragement to me during my months of illness.
Can't say enough how much she needs our prayers! Thank you, prayer warriors!
Declare it!
Declare it!
8.14.15
"The witness of the Church is most effective when she declares rather than explains, for the Gospel is addressed not to reason but to faith."
~ A. W. Tozer ~
Ask!
Ask:
8.14.15
"He has gone within the veil, and He sits at the right hand of God, even the Father. The voice does not come to us from the man of poverty, wearing a garment without seams, but from the enthroned priest with the golden girdle about His loins. It is He who now says from the right hand of God, 'I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you.' "
~ C. H. Spurgeon ~
The Man in the Middle
The Man in the Middle:
8.12.15
Genesis 2:16 the Lord commanded the man...
Genesis 3:11... Have you eaten? I commanded...... Not eat
Revelation 22:14 blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the Tree of Life
From beginning to end, obedience is the one thing required! From Genesis to Revelation.
Disobedience is what cut Adam and Eve off from fellowship with God. Today, disobedience is what cuts man off from God even still.
Andrew Murray said it well: "From beginning to end, from Paradise lost to Paradise regained, the law is unchanged: It is obedience that gives access to the tree of life and the favor of God"
Don't forget the middle of the story. There was a Man in the middle of all this! The King of Glory took on the form of man and gave His life as a ransom to restore paradise for you and for me.
Adam and Eve ruined it for mankind.....Christ made a road in the dark wilderness that remained, paving the way to Paradise regained!
All we have to do is obey, to come to Him, to accept the gift from The Man in the middle.
Share the Good News of Redemption with someone today!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Just the Two of Us
Just the two of us:
8.13.15
"Time alone with the Lord Jesus each day is the indispensable condition of growth and power."
~ Andrew Murray ~
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Mighty to Save
Mighty to Save:
8.12.15
Exodus 20:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save...
These verses are a good word for any of you who are passing through a difficult season.
The prayer requests you send me speak of illness, broken relationships, financial woes, wayward children, and heart-breaking situations. Some of these seasons are long and exhausting, while others strike suddenly and leave you devastated.
What a comfort to know that no matter the season, no matter the heartache, and even when Grace is hidden from view......our God is mighty to save!
The enemy would want these difficult times to rob us of peace, steal our joy, and cause us to take our eyes off Jesus.
Resist him, look up and he will flee from you.
The same God who led the Israelites out of slavery is still breaking chains of bondage and delivering people today. He is mighty to save! He turns tests into testimonies every day!
Let me know if I can pray for you!
Psalm 27:13 I had fainted unless I had believed to see....
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Limitations
Limitations:
8.11.15
"I want to urge you to consider your own limitations not as obstacles, but as opportunities for God to show his limitless power and unlimited love"
~ Carol Cymbala ~
Beneath their Feet
Beneath Their Feet
8.11.15
"Blessed is that servant who is raised in dignity not by his own will and who always desires to be beneath the feet of others" Francis of Assisi
Phil. 2:5,7
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus..."
"But made himself of no reputation, but took upon Himself the form of a servant..."
I've worried so much in the past about ladder climbing, being an "A" list performer, climbing, climbing!
It's been kind of hard these past few months to empty "me" of all that and begin to ponder Christ first in all things. Christ exalted and me bowed down. More of Him, more of others, and less of me!
It's against my nature, it's against my training as a pianist, singer, and conductor. All of that is supposed to be about me and exalting myself.
No more! It's amazing how facing death several times can change perspective, can change what's important. I'm seeking every day in my walk to be more like Jesus, to empty the "me, me, me" out every day. That's the hard part for me. That's the part of the refining process the I'm most resistant to! I don't like it, but I have to do it, you have to do it, if we are to have Spirit-filled lives that have power and effective purpose.
Lower yourself today. It's against all we hear in the world! Have a servant's heart. If we end up beneath the feet of others, it doesn't matter.
All that matters is Jesus exalted, obedience in our walk, and "me" out of the way!
Draw close today!
Glorious Joy
Glorious Joy
8.11.15
"We can get all caught up in the nuances of religion and miss the glorious joy of following after Christ"
A. W. Tozer
Monday, August 10, 2015
Giving Praise
Giving Praise
8.10.15
I just HAVE TO SAY THIS!!! Just got home from impromptu appt with my cardiologist..... Once again he reiterated that people who present late like I did do not typically return to full heart function.... People who present damage like I did and heart failure..... It doesn't typically go completely away......
I say it again and you all will just have to bear with me:
BLESS THE LORD, OH MY SOUL, AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME
....WHO HEALETH ALL THY DISEASES....
Healing is in His hands!
Thanks be to God!!
The voice of one
The voice of one:
8.10.15
John 1:23 "he said "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make His paths straight."
John 1:29 "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world"
It struck me as I read John 1 this morning that the landscape of this world has grown so dark. "Gloriously dark" as Adrian Rogers called it. Society is moving more and more towards sin and immorality and many, many Christians have either been sucked up in this very vacuum or have grown numb and lukewarm in their walk.
At one point, John the Baptist was a lone voice crying out. In fact, when the Pharicees questioned him, they asked if he was the Christ. We see his answer in 1:23 I'm a voice crying out....Prepare the way of the Lord.
Are you a voice crying out? This dark world needs voices, Christians who will cry out in today's dark wilderness and point others to Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
The enemy wants us all to think its pointless, or that it's embarrassing and thus he shames us into silence.
Draw close to Jesus today! He's the reason for the Hope within us and with His Spirit filling us, we have the courage and strength we need to be lights in the darkness......VOICES!!
Be a voice today....even if you feel you're the only one.. Just do it .... One voice.... crying out in this wilderness!
May God grant us the strength and courage to walk boldly with Him today!
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Kevin's Testimony & "The Refiner's Fire
Testimony & Song "The Refiner's Fire"
8.9.15
Warren Baptist Church
My return to Warren after suffering Massive Heart attacks on 3.14.15 & 3.16.15
God is merciful and Healing is in his hands
Saturday, August 8, 2015
That settles it!
That Settles It:
8.8.15
"The first mark of a follower of Christ is that he believes his Lord. We do not follow the Lord at all if we raise any questions on points about which He speaks explicitly. Even if a doctrine is surrounded by ten thousand difficulties, the fact that the Lord Jesus said it sweeps them all away, so far as true Christians are concerned. Our Master's declaration is all the argument we need"
~ C. H. Spurgeon ~
Leading the way
Leading the way
8.8.15
Deuteronomy 31:3 the Lord your God Himself will go before you;
31:6 Be strong and courageous...do not fear... The Lord your God goes with you....He will not leave you or forsake you.
31:7 Be strong and courageous
31:8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not fail you neither forsake you. Fear not neither be dismayed
31:23 Be strong and courageous....I will be with you
The time had come for Joshua to take the mantle from Moses and lead the Israelites over the Jordan River. Joshua would have his hands full as the Israelites were crossing into the land of plenty and would forget their God....the God who had brought them safely through their wilderness years.
Joshua really didn't know at the time what that crossing of the Jordan meant for him. Years of frustration as he watched his people forget their God, watched evil and trouble overcome them, watched as his Faithful God had to turn His face away from their evil.
The wonderful provision God made for Joshua in all of this was His personal promise that whatever he faced in the coming days and years, the Lord would go before him. He would be with him, He would never fail him, He would never forsake him!
We all have our rivers to cross, frustrations to face, troubles to come .... We don't know what, we don't know when.
But, what comfort in knowing that the same Old Testament God who made all those promises to Joshua is still keeping promises today! He's been unfailing through the ages and He is still "mighty to save".
Whatever you may face today, know this: He goes before you....He will be with you... He will not fail you!
Walk with God today. Seek HIS face before you face any others!
Friday, August 7, 2015
Strong Churches
Strong Churches
8.7.15
"The true strength of the church lies in the godliness of the people. The personal holiness of the members of each church is the only true measure of strength"
~ E. M. Bounds ~
Prayer Request
Prayer Request
8.7.15
Please pray for Julie in Minnesota. She has lung cancer that has moved to her spine. She's never smoked a day in her life! She is 48, married and is the mother of 5 children. Pray that the Great Physician will work a miraculous healing in her life!
Not Just Another Face in the Crowd
.
Not Just Another Face in the Crowd
8.7.15
It pains me to think of all the times in my daily walk that I've checked quiet time off my list, then dashed out the door to jump into a crazy day without ever giving quiet time and my fellowship with my Lord another thought!
These were days that were full of people, rehearsals, teaching, concerts, recitals, and meetings......always face to face with a lot of people, but Jesus ended up being just another face in the crowd.
Now, I'm just beginning to learn something! I need His presence every passing hour - I know you must feel that way too! The enemy is prowling about desiring to trip us up and lure us away from the Light and into his darkness. He's trying every day to ruin our witness and to keep us lulled into complacency. He knows that our witness and walk are the key to turning the tide in this evil world! He's coming at you today with guns blazing! Today and EVERY day!
Don't you want to be used to turn the tide?? If we are going to be agents of change and empty vessels that He can shine His glorious light through to dispel this present darkness, then we have to cling to this!
"My presence shall go with thee" Exodus 33:14
We must start each day with an emptying of self, a clinging to Him, a firm determination to take His presence with us through the day, AND a claiming of His promise!
"My presence shall go with thee"
He's promised His presence to those who love and seek Him. Though the enemy would pull out all the stops to keep this from happening, you CAN experience the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit as you walk out the door, at work.... All day long! And He won't be just another face in the crowd, and you'll reflect His presence....His Light!
"The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin. The Light of the world is Jesus."
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Get out of the Boat
Get out of the Boat!:
8.6.15
GET OUT OF THE BOAT:
8.6.15
Matthew 4:27-28
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water
"Yes, Peter could not rest. He wanted to be as near to Christ as possible. He saw Christ walking on the water and remembered how Christ had said, "Follow Me". (Matt. 4:19) ~ Andrew Murray
Do you ever hesitate to just get out of the boat? When I think back on all of the times my little boat has gently drifted away from Jesus, I remember that what at times were huge separations from the Lord began with little hesitations! "I'm going to rest in the boat a little longer".... "It's too much effort"...."I'm afraid I'll have to give up something". Most of the time totally unaware of what I WAS MISSING!!!
I want to step out of my boat today. I want to move towards Christ and desire His presence so much that I ignore what I fear I'll lose, or have to give up...... reminding myself and knowing instead, that with Jesus, it's never how much I'll lose, but it's ALL about what I'll gain by moving towards Him and sitting at His feet.
My prayer for you today is that you'll get out of the boat!
Come to the Quiet
Come to the Quiet:
8.4.15
COME TO THE QUIET
"Let your first act in your devotions be stilling yourself before God. In prayer or worship, everything depends upon God taking the chief place in your attention" Andrew Murray ~ The Deeper Christian Life
Tuning out the noise of the world when I was working was always one of my battles. You know that feeling of starting your quiet time and then a thousand thoughts and things you need to do flood your mind. In the past, I would just give up and shorten the deal..... Now, I find that if I just pray and ask Him to still my heart and mind as I wait before Him, the quiet eventually comes and then the "still, small voice". There is nothing sweeter than the peace that comes from communion with the Gentle Shepherd and the comfort that flows from His Voice! It speaks peace, changes perspective, and transforms us! All great burdens and problems become small in the light of His presence!!
Come to the quiet today!
Psalm 73:25-26
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength[a] of my heart and my portion forever.
Denying Self
Denying Self:
8.3.15
"I tell you, beloved, when the Holy Spirit comes upon a man, he becomes a spiritual man, and instead of denying his Lord, he denies himself!" Andrew Murray ~
Detours
Detours:
8.2.15
Hospitals can actually be peaceful places in the early mornings. As I've been sitting here by the window, thinking, praying, meditating on some verses and staring out at the sky, I've been thinking about journeys! Life is a journey-we plan our journeys so well, we almost plan too well! I've done a lot of planning and it's amazing how many times there have been detours in my life, BIG detours!
I had a detour Sunday night as we pulled into Lynchburg with confirmations in hand, itineraries planned.... Then the detour.... The minute we turned up the mountain onto the hotel road, my chest constricted, head-ache, pain, pressure.... My detour has had me in the hospital Sunday thru Tuesday.... Totally unexpected!! Way different from "The Plan". What will your detour be today?? You don't know! If not today or tomorrow, your detour is coming! It will take you along a route that you didn't plan to encounter. How wonderful to know that through all of the changes and detours, there IS one constant....Jesus NEVER changes, Jesus NEVER fails!
I've learned that no matter the road, no matter the difficulty, I can trust my Journey with the one who cannot fail and who never forsakes!
"The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." Psalm 121:8
Mighty to Save
Mighty to save:
8.2.15
Tonight.... Grateful to God for His mercy as we travelled to Virginia. Literally turning onto the hotel block as cardiac issues hit and could safely pull over.
Straight to the hospital in an unfamiliar place.....now as I lay here thinking at 3a, I'm also grateful that no matter what fork the road takes, I can cling to His word: "the Lord your God is in your midst.....mighty to save....He will quiet you with His love" Zeph. 3:17 All of this He has proven to me in this one night!
King over the flood, Master of the Wind, Prince of peace, Comforter, Peace-Speaker..........I can rest in Him~All is Well!
Prayer Request
I see that someone has already posted details of this, so I'm going to go ahead and ask:
We came to Liberty Univ in Lynchburg,VA tonight for a Monday college visit and I began having cardiac issues. Ended up in ER and have been admitted and waiting to be moved to PCU. My numbers at 9p showed I may be moving into a heart attack and I'm still having extreme discomfort. Just sent Andrea and Sophie to hotel to get some rest in case I have surgery in the morning. Please pray for us... Babies are both in Augusta, Andrea and Sophie are worried and I pray I'm not moving into another heart attack. Not something I would choose to do in VA. The Lord is with me tonight and your faithful prayers always help so much. Thank you
Strength of the Church
The church's strength does not consist in its numbers and it's money, but in the holiness of it's members. The church's strength is not found in worldly attachments or endowments, but in the endowment of the Holy Spirit on it's members" E.M. Bounds ~
As churches become more and more self-sufficient, the Holy Spirit is forced into the background......Self-sufficiency=NO POWER!
Die
Reading this morning 1 Corinthians 15:31 ".....I die daily" not something I focused on before 3/14. Emptying of self every day is not always easy, but it IS the secret to having power in your Prayer life and power in your daily walk!
"Many pray for the Spirit, that they may make use of Him and His power for their work. This is certainly wrong. It is HE who must use YOU! Your relationship to Him must be one of deep dependence and utter submission" Andrew Murray ~
Oh, how this dark world needs the light of Christ shining through Spirit-filled Christians today!
Deliverance
What a merciful Savior we serve!
"He brings deliverance for the past, the present, and the future. 'Who delivered...and doth deliver......who will yet deliver' " (2 Cor. 1:10) D. L. Moody ~
Prayer Request
Please remember my friends Jordan and Sarah Crews in your prayers! They have just arrived in Uganda to serve on the mission field. I'll post support info later.
Religion
"Many religions, we read, teach men to work their way up to God; but the religion of Jesus Christ is God coming down to men to save them, to lift them up out of the pit." D.L.Moody ~
I'm so glad the Savior reached down for you and for me!
Be Still
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He walked below
~Schlegel~
Stay with Us
This has been one of my favorite choir anthems for years- I think it goes beautifully with my devotional this morning. As you listen, meditate on the fact that darkness cannot overcome Jesus, the Light of the World!
http://youtu.be/HmO0MUBr1Fk
Never Alone
Never Alone:
7.31.15
This morning, as I was reading Scripture, I was so overwhelmed to think that the Christian is never ever alone! So many times we move away from the Lord-there have been times in my life when I've daily creeped further and further away. But know this....though we move away, though we fill our ears with the noise of the world to the point where His voice is just a faint whisper, He'a ALWAYS there! He will never leave us or forsake us! What a blessed thought to carry through the day!
Psalm 139:7-10
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
Prayer Request
Please pray today for my friend Elizabeth! They are moving to Augusta, GA and need to sell their home in OK. We know that God is faithful and will provide for them as He guides. Praying for a quick sale, safe travels as they move, and patience for all
Hardship
Hardship
8.2.15
"For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God....." Rom 8:28
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny..." C.S. Lewis
Prayer Power
Prayer Power
8.1.15
"Without prayer, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God's Word, have no power. All depends on prayer! May God teach us to believe this and to hold fast!" Andrew Murray
He Goes Before
He Goes Before:
7.31.15
What an encouragement this morning to know that no matter what we face, our Precious Lord goes before us...to light the way, He walks beside us......holding our hand on life's journey, and he walks behind us....protecting us from the past....that dreaded past that keeps so many of us from moving forward and living a victorious life!
Deuteronomy 31:8 "the Lord, He it is that doth go before you. He will be with you, He WILL NOT fail you, neither forsake you! Fear not, neither be dismayed."
Take that promise with you today! The Father who loves you will never forsake you!
He's Been Faithful
"Those who really minister are those whose hearts have been emptied of self and filled with the grace and love of Jesus Christ" Carol Cymbala~He's been faithful
Stand by me
Stand By Me
7.30.15
This morning, I'm so grateful that we serve a God Who is strong when we are weak, faithful when we are not, and stands with us even when all others desert us
2 Timothy 4:17
..."for the Lord stood with me and strengthened me"
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
I Can't Stand It
I Can't Stand It:
7.29.15
Do you know what my response is to that statement? It's HOGWASH!!
I think sometimes He allows times and circumstances in our lives that paralyze us, overwhelm us, and sometimes even shake our faith!
There have been nights since March when shivering and fatigue and anxiety so overwhelmed me that I just had to say, "God, I can't bear this anymore...God, this is too much.....God, I can't do this....I can't stand it!".......and you know what I think? Sometimes He's just waiting to hear us call His name, to admit our deep, deep need for Him. When we do, He's always there - He lifts our head when we are too weak to hold it up!
In the beginning of my Cardiac Crisis, I was told "heart failure" & "Irreparable damage".....I felt hopeless and He whispered Hope to me! He can do that for you, too! No matter the situation!
"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I HOPE. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, for His compassions fail not, they are new EVERY morning! Great is His faithfulness!"
Lamentations 3:21 (emphasis added)
Worry
Worry:
7.29.15
Worry is like a rocking chair.....It will give you something to do, but it won't get you anywhere!
"Cast ALL your care upon Him, for He cares for you" 1 Peter 5:7
What a wonderful promise....No problem too shocking, too big, too little, too difficult for Him.
He's a loving Heavenly Father - and all He wants is to fellowship, commune, work through, and care for His Children!
Reflecting
Reflecting:
7.29.15
Genesis 32 records that the night Jacob wrestled with God, he cried out as he clung to the Almighty, " I will not let go unless you bless me" (vs. 26). Oh, that we would cling to Jesus just like that and refuse to let go until He blesses us with His touch and until we reflect Him more!
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