Holy, holy, holy!

Never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations.  This is a quote from today's "Our Daily Bread" devotion. It is a good reminder when looking around at all the miraculous things we see every day... a baby, flowers in the snow, bees that fly with tiny wings, starfish that can grow new limbs. It's also a good reminder when looking at the stories in the Bible. 

My husband and I were watching a show the other day about the ark and the flood. The scientists created a model of the ark and put it in a wave machine and their model sank. Their point was that the waves created by storm conditions would cause the ark to toss and turn violently, taking on water, and sink within minutes. But, 1) they aren't fully reading the Bible and 2) they are using their logic, not God's.

Genesis doesn't say it stormed... "it rained" could mean a gentle rain and, believe me, if we have a steady, constant rain around here for 2 weeks, things start flooding. Also, Genesis says "all the fountains of the great deep were broken up..." so rain wasn't the only source of water. And finally, it wouldn't have to storm in the vicinity of the ark... the earth is a vast place. Just because I have the faucet turned to full flow in one end of my bathtub doesn't mean there are violent waves at the other end. 

Again, never measure God’s unlimited power by your limited expectations. 

"Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!  All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea."

Red Letter Day

Many of you know the struggles I've had the past few years.  Struggles with depression, wandering in the wilderness of life.  Days filled with tears, regrets, and "What ifs".  But as Easter approaches this year, the hope is returning. I'm trying to live "One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus" as my mom used to sing. And, as dad used to say, "forgetting the bad and holding on to the good memories."

Then I think of Paul in Philippians 4:8-9 saying, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

So, even as I continue to struggle with the roller coaster of emotions, I'm humming NewSong's lyrics to "Red Letter Day":

Every day before the rush gets started

I get down on my knees

And I pray, Lord, I need You here to guide me

Please speak to me

And something happens that I can't explain

His Word starts talking to me and

I'm out to face this world again

Chorus 

I had a friend call me up and tell me

How he struggles through each day

I told him that I didn't have all of the answers

This world's a crazy place

I've learned to hide God's word in my heart

So I can have it with me when the pressures of the day start

Chorus 

So many hidden treasures in God's Word for us to find

The mysteries and secrets that are there to bring us life

I do believe it's gonna be another red letter day

[it's gonna be another red letter day!!]

I do believe it's gonna be another chance for me

To take His Word and walk by faith

I got a smile with every step I take

Knowing He is here with me

It's gonna be a red letter day

May God grant you a Red Letter Day.

Love Broke Through

Jesus is my focus.... it's been a year since my dad was allowed to slip from this earth to heaven. A year of drought in the dessert of my broken heart of prayers not answered as I wanted. But just as He promised, God never left me and I'm glad to say, the melody is humming in my heart once again.  I've prayed for this longing, this unquenchable joy... a melody of love, worship, praise that you can't get out of your head because it stems from a heart filled with His joy. 

Today's melody is Toby Mac's, "When Love Broke Through" and how appropriate. Talking about wandering through the dessert, hopelessness, and darkness. So, as I often do with these songs that plague my soul, I looked up the lyrics so I could read the words and these 3 phrases stuck with me:

Walls I built 

Opinions I learned 

Covered in the ashes of bridges I burned 

Lord, I know you're still working on me. Please continue to shine and continue to help me forgive and move forward. Thank you for the lessons dad taught me, for the faith he shared, and for the special times we had. Help me to pass along that faith, that love, the joy that only You can bring. 

Take the Name of Jesus with You

This morning's devotions ended with a phrase of "Take the joy of Christmas with you" and it brought this song to mind:

Take the name of Jesus with you, Child of sorrow and of woe; It will joy and comfort give you, Take it then where’er you go.

Precious name! Oh, how sweet!

Hope of earth and joy of heav’n;

Precious name! Oh, how sweet!

  Hope of earth and joy of heav’n.

Take the name of Jesus ever,

As a shield from every snare.

If temptations round you gather,

Breathe that holy name in prayer.

Oh, the precious name of Jesus,

How it thrills our souls with joy;

All the favor of the Father

In this name we may enjoy.

At the name of Jesus bowing,

Falling prostrate at His feet,

Claim His vict’ry over evil

And the enemy defeat.

Taking the joy of Christmas is good but Christmas only focuses on a specific date whereas the name and Godship of Jesus as your personal savior is the only true source of Joy and Peace, Comfort and Victory. So, take the name of Jesus with you and carry Him in your heart. 

Living He Loved Me

"Living He loved me.  Dying He saved me.  Buried He carried my sins far away. 

Rising He justified, freely forever.  One day He's coming!  Oh glorious day!"

These words have literally been running through my head all night as I cough, toss, and turn.  So, I figured God has a lesson for me. I tried doing some cleaning of a cupboard that hasn't been touched in years (I actually found trash left over from our Son's wedding rehearsal dinner 8 years ago) and, as the song still played in my head, I found myself staring into the faces of my wonderful parents. 

Mom has been gone for 3 years now (longer if you count the years when Alzheimer's didn't allow her the recognition of the ones who loved her) and dad joined her 11 months ago. So now, I've got the coughing, hymn stuck in my head and tears rolling down my cheeks... a mess, right?  But that's exactly what I am, without Jesus... a mess.

One of the things I praise God for all the time (even before their passing) is the fact that I was a child of these too wonderful, loving parents because, without them, I may not have become a "Child of the One True King."  And, if it weren't for my parents, I may hav never known this hymn and so many others that are memorized in my heart.  Songs that remind me that Jesus left His home in glory to lead a life that He knew would lead to Calvary.  Songs that remind me that He is my light and salvation.  

So, sleep is overrated when your mind is flooded by His glory and grace... when ther are so many things to praise Him for and when memories are so precious. 

Thank you, Jesus, for my parents, for their legacy of faith, for dying on the cross as punishment for my sins. Thank you for your Word that recounts Your faithfulness and the stories of your miraculous intervention, tender mercies, love, joy, and peace.  Prepare my heart for the celebration of your birth.

"Living He loved me.  Dying He saved me.  Buried He carried my sins far away. 

Rising He justified, freely forever.  One day He's coming!  Oh glorious day!"

The Miracle of Prayer

If I truly believe in the power of prayer, in miracles, that God is the true master physician, then why am I such a mess and going through Kleenex like water over a dam?  It's because, rather than focusing on prayer, I'm holding onto anger, hurt, regret, and doubt... I'm focusing on the past, the circumstances, and the injustice, rather than focusing on the one who can erase the past, change the present, and is the one true judge.

Dear Lord, 

Help me in my unbelief.  Take this mess and jumble and turn it into a miracle.  Reset my focus and priorities.  Take control of the healing... Please, Lord, give us more time with our dad... The vibrant man we knew last week, make him whole but let him be whole here on earth so that he can be a part of his Great-Grandchildren's lives... so that they can know the man that we all love so much.

Lord, dad has been such a good earthly example of your love for us... I'm praying for a miracle... A miracle of love and grace.

"I believe in miracles

I’ve seen a soul set free,

Miraculous the change in one

Redeemed through Calvary;

I’ve seen the lily push its way

Up through the stubborn sod

I believe in miracles

For I believe in God!"

Onward Christian Soldiers!

For far too long, we Christians have kept silent and if this trend continues, we will no longer have the right to open our mouth to share the gospel.  Government has taken away our right to pray in school, won't allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed, won't allow the display of nativity scenes or crosses on public property, has legalized murder and called it a "choice", and have opened the floodgates to the Sodom and Gomorrah lifestyle.

What do we hear from some of our Christian leaders?  Remember God is in control, don't join the haters.  I was raised singing songs like "Onward Christian Soldiars".  We are "Marching as to War" and, yes, God is in control but what did we see in the Old Testament?  We saw people fighting to spread the gospel, being martyred for telling the truth, and fleeing evil with the help of angelic beings.

Now days, it seems that our battles are only fought on our knees and, while prayer is good and we must stay in constant communion with our Father, we must also obey when His Spirit tells us to stand strong, fight the good fight, and spread the word of God.

We are to be the salt of the world.  Salt on a canker sore does not feel good, but it's effective.  Are you being effective salt or have you stopped spreading the truth because it rubs people the wrong way?

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;

Forward into battle see His banners go! 

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

At the sign of triumph Satan’s host doth flee;

On then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!

Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;

Brothers lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. 

     

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