Psalm 121

I lift my eyes toward the mountains.
Where will my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
your Protector will not slumber.
Indeed, the Protector of Israel
does not slumber or sleep.
The LORD protects you;
the LORD is a shelter right by your side.
The sun will not strike you by day
or the moon by night.
The LORD will protect you from all harm;
He will protect your life.
The LORD will protect your coming
and going
both now and forever.

Psalm 145:17-18

"The LORD is righteous in all His ways,

Gracious in all His works.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,

To all who call upon Him in truth."

~Psalm 145:17-18

The truth of God is that He is always righteous and always gracious.

The truth of God is that He is always faithful.

The truth of God is He is Truth.

Help me, Lord!

What is it that holds me back,

standing in the shadows,

at the edge of the light?

Is it fear that paralyzes,

doubt that denies

or pride that defies?

Whatever it may be,

Lord, help me to see,

Your love is greater than these.

Your faithfulness is deeper than the seas.

Your grace has given me life,

Now You want to end my strife.

Lord, help my unbelief,

That keeps me in constant grief!

A Tree of Righteousness

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Corithians 16:13

Beside the river behind my house stands a tree whose roots run deep into the waters that flow there. For years it has stood through many a storm, buffeted by winds and waters that flood. The tests of time and the elements have proven over and over the strength of this tree whose roots run so deep into the river that flows. How i pray that i could be more like this tree.

Beside the streams of Living Water i want to stand with roots that drink deeply of the Flow. When the storms of life do come i will stand firm because my faith is in YOU. YOU will be my strength and my courage will come from YOU alone.

Lord, make me a tree of righteousness that others might see and come to the River too!

Sweet Friend

You’ve been silent too long, sweet friend; now raise your voice and sing again. No one else can do this quite the way you can, because this song is just for you; written by the Father above and created with so much love. So, if at first you sing off key, just look to Him and you will see-He will guide you with each note and every beat. The Father will direct your steps too. So get up and dance! However you feel led to express the song He has put in your heart, just do it with the joy of the Lord and you will do well. Now others are waiting to hear your song-stand up, sweet friend and sing sing sing!

Let it be

Whatever it takes, Lord, to draw me closer to You; let it be. Wherever the road takes me, as long as You guide me; let it be. Whenever it takes silence to lead me to Your presence, let it be. However You reach me and use me help me to trust You enough to say, “Lord, let it be.”

Praise the God of Opportunity

Tonight i had the honor of meeting two brave ladies who will be doing the step study with me starting next week. I would have missed this wonderful opportunity had i let the enemy convince me that it was not worth the trouble to get out in the rain and cold with four children to go into town for a couple of hours. Oh, he tried every trick in the book-i have come to expect this of him. He reminded me my failures today and told me how unworthy i was to be around people who desire change and did not need me to waste their time. After listening to the accusations and lies(why do i listen?) it finally ocurred to me that he was trying awful hard to prevent me from going so it must be very important that i do go. It was with prayer and supplication that i headed out the door and it is with thanksgiving and praise that i share this experience now.
What a shame it would have been to have missed out. What a blessing to have gone and met these wonderful women! Now i have two more names to mention in my prayers tonight and faces to match. Thank You, Father, for every time i have needed encouragement and affirmation You have provided.
Yes Lord, You ARE in control!

The Tongue as a Fire

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and is set on fire by hell." James 3:6 As promised, i wrote James 3 tonight. After a day of dealing with loud,boisterous children i was dreading looking into what James had to say to the likes of me but i knew i had to do it. God is teaching me and if i run from His instruction i will never learn. So when the kids went to bed early i knew what i was going to do. I have to admit i had been looking forward to their bedtime today because it has been one of those days when frustration has gotten the best of me and my mouth. I don't know how many times i have had to go back and put out fires that i have started with careless,angry words. Of course, the damage had already been done but maybe it was lessened a bit as i confessed my foolishness by not guarding my lips. Children can be so forgiving just as the Father is forgiving but i sure am tired of my tongue being used as an instrument of unrighteousness. Yet the choice is mine to make. How will i choose tomorrow and the next day and in all the days to come? Help me, Lord to remember the sin shall not have dominion over me as long as i am living under Your grace. "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Romans 6:13&14

Let's Talk

When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 Dr. Ray Pritchard cited this passage from Deuteronomy in a recent blog post titled, "Writing the Bible can be Good for Your Soul". The whole article is interesting and thought provoking but don't take my word for it read it for yourself at:http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/pritchard/11581909/. After reading this article i felt convicted to take up the practice of writing through the Bible myself. Unsure of where to start, i started at the beginning...the book of Genesis. However, after three days of writing and still not getting past chapter 1 i began to wonder if i had made the right choice. Then i started a new Bible study and right off the bat we are talking about how we use our tongues. Talk about conviction! Immediately we are taken to James 3:8-10: "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be so." Then the sermon on Sunday night was on the ninth Commandment: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." The third chapter of James was once again referenced at this time. With all this talk about talk i am thinking God is really wanting me to think long and hard about the way i talk. And it is with this in mind that i am starting over tomorrow in my Bible writing. And where will i begin this time? Why, James 3, of course. And from there, wherever He leads me. You see, in my perfectionist thinking i believed i had to write it all in perfect order but my perfect Father seems to have another plan. This should be interesting. I will keep you all posted but before i go i feel led to end with this: "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34 Good night all!

Learning to Dance

,
It has been almost a week since i last shared and in some ways the time has flown by, while in other ways it seems to be at a standstill. Many lessons are still being learned by this student who continues to watch the dancefloor but is starting to tap her toes. The music sounds so sweet and the One inviting me to dance is so patient and loving. Mixed in with the music i hear the prayers and encouraging words of friends, now i am swaying to the rythm. From behind me, somewhere in the shadows, comes another familiar voice. It is the one that says, "You can't dance! Your legs are too weak and your feet are like clay. Come back to this wall where no one will see you, it is where you need to stay!". For a moment i stand frozen, paralyzed by the harshness of the voice and the coldness of those words. I am embarassed and feel so foolish. Then i notice others standing around me. I expect to hear jeers and see condenscention in their eyes. My eyes are on the floor. Then i hear a cheer. One voice at first and then it is joined by more voices...and they are cheering for me! "Don't listen to the lies," they say, "but look to the One who is inviting you to the dance!". It is His voice i hear as i turn as i turn to look into His eyes. There are tears in His eyes just as there are in mine. His voice is loving but firm, "Get up and dance, child, this is the song i created for you. Just take my hand and follow my lead. I love you and I want to see you dance!". At first i feel awkward and clumsy but i am strengthened by His embrace. The Lord of the dance has me in His arms and this is where i want to stay.