Perfect Love

15If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.

18There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because He first loved us.

20If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well. 1 John 4

Hate the sin

Love the sinner

Sinner, sinner

Of whom I am the worst

But for Jesus Christ

Lover of my soul

~

I confess

Jesus is the Son

God is in me

And I am in God

I am learning of God’s love

For He is love

~

I am in love

And I am in God

God is love

God is in me

This is love

Perfected in me

That I may be confident,

I, a sinner

For I confess Jesus

God is in me

And I am in God

~

Where is there fear

In perfect love?

Perfect love drives out fear.

Fear is punishment

Fear is imperfect love

And yet I am confident,

I, a sinner

For I confess Jesus

And God is in me

And I am in God

God is love

~

I am in love

With the LORD

He commands I love

My brother

I will not despise him

I will not cast him aside

Because if I do

I am liar, I am not in love

With the sinner, my brother

~

But I confess Jesus

God is in me

I am in God

God is love

Love is in me

I am in love

I am confident,

I, a sinner

Of whom I am the worst

I love the LORD

He commands I love my brother

My brother, the sinner

Of whom I am the worst

Perfect love drives out fear

I am not afraid of my brother, the sinner

~

I love you LORD

I love you, my brother

No matter the sin

For I am the worst of the sinners

~

~

Thought: How can I expect the unbeliever to believe as I do? I cannot and I do not expect it. I am not afraid of it. I only long and pray that God one day brings the unbeliever to Himself, and after that, the Spirit will work as He sees fit in my brother’s life. Who am I to stand as judge against my brother? I am not to judge him but to love him, as God has commanded. If I was able to come to God exactly as I was and was accepted by Him, then that is true of my brother too.

~

James 2, “8If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” ^a you are doing right. 9But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” ^b also said, “You shall not murder.” ^c If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

James 4, “4You adulterous people, ^a don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us ^b ? 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” 

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

11Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister ^d or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”

Matthew 22, “34Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ^c 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ^d 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Mental Health- Praise!

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2, ESV)

Mental health is no joke. Anxiety is something a lot of people struggle with as is depression. I have been struggling with anxiety for a long time and recently felt like it was getting worse so, with the encouragement of my wonderful husband, I told my doctor about it. He encouraged me to get in touch with counseling and he also prescribed me a normal drug that helps with anxiety symptoms. He said the only real side effect was that I would feel sleepy and I wouldn’t feel the effects for about a month. Almost as soon as I started taking it I felt like my brain was different. Instead of feeling sleepy, I felt more awake, but different. A few days into it I thought maybe I wasn’t sleeping very well. And then one night, while I lay in bed awake and wishing I was asleep, I noticed I was blinking. Too much.

I freaked myself out and I woke my husband. I was just blinking over and over again. He thought it was my muscles spasming and they just needed to relax, so I stayed home and tried ice packs and hot showers and slept. By the next morning, it seemed to be gone so I went to work. By 9 in the morning the blinking had returned, so I called my doctor. I talked to his aide and she encouraged me to go to the emergency room as this was not normal. I was freaked out again and crying and my hand was also starting to tremor. My wonderful supervisor took me to urgent care and my husband met us there. From there we went to a different ER and it was a long time of sitting and waiting before I got tested. The doctor believed it was my psych medicine, that my brain just got too excited. They tested my blood and gave me a CAT scan on my head just to double-check everything but also gave me a shot of Benedryl to counteract the symptoms. Eventually, everything was clear and I could go home, told to stop taking the psych medicine and take more Benedryl.

The next week was very hard for me. I couldn’t go to work, but my doctor was very patient and understanding and gave me a note for the week off. During that week I slept almost the whole time, fighting lack of appetite, sickness, tremors, anxiety attacks, and depression. One by one they subsided, with only little bits returning here and there. Even now with feeling mostly myself, I am really tired. But I am also something else: grateful.

The LORD has been with me through the whole process. He has surrounded me with amazing people to care for me and pray for me. We recently started attending an amazing church and so we had a small group to ask to pray for us. I have an amazing friend group who is praying for me and worried for me. I have friends and family back home who love me and pray for me and check up on me. I have the most wonderful supportive husband God has provided for me who took care of me and providing for me and loves me oh so deeply. God even provided for me a wonderful gentle puppy who was my comfort buddy during my depression and sleeping. At every turn, with caring coworkers, a wonderful doctor, great friends and family, and church and husband and puppy, the LORD has been taking care of me in the most wonderful of ways and I am full to the brim with thankfulness and joy and praise for my Father in Heaven! I wouldn’t have been able to make it without Him by my side!

So although it was a rough story about mental health, I want to encourage you to seek treatment if you are struggling mentally. There is help out there, even if at first it is trial and error. Even just seeking a professional to talk to is a good thing. I am not discouraged in seeking help in regards to my anxiety, and I look forward to continuing the journey because even in that I know the LORD has a plan and is guiding me forward. But just know that no matter what happens, your Father in Heaven is not surprised and He will take care of you. I fully believe that if you are His He will not leave you or forsake you. He is good all the time! Amen and Amen!

How Do I Feel This Christmas?

JOHN 1: 9The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15(John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”) 16Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and ^b is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

How do I feel

This Christmas?

I don’t feel cheerful

But not quite blue

Sometimes I’m friendly

Sometimes grumpy too

Mostly I’m tired

When I should be thinking

Of You

.

Remember 

The star in the sky

Remember

The angels singing

On high

Remember

The Virgin Mary

She gives birth to You

I can’t remember

Cause I didn’t see

But You remember

Please remember for me

.

Show me the angel

Announcing glad tiding of joy

Show me the shepherds

Standing in awe 

Listening to heaven’s song

Show me the three kings

As they bow down before

The child king

Show me the joy of 

You coming down to set us free

.

Please remember for me

Cause I didn’t see

Sweet Virgin Mary 

Holding You close to herself

Remember Joseph

Who did all he could

To keep You safe

Obeying every angel

That came in his dreams

.

So how do I feel

This Christmas?

When I think of You

I’m cheerful

Even when I’m blue

When people aren’t friendly

Help me not get angry

Although I’m tired

I’ll think of You

Sweet Jesus, my Savior

Help me think of You

~

~

LUKE 1: 26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called ^b the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37For no word from God will ever fail.”

38“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

~

MATTHEW 1:  18This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about ^d : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet ^e did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, ^f because he will save his people from their sins.”

22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” ^g (which means “God with us”).

24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

~

 LUKE 2:  8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

~

MATTHEW 2: 9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”. . . 

19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Come Home

All I can say is

Hurry, hurry

All I can hope is

Hurry, Lord

All I can say is

Come on home

All I can hope is

To come home

.

Shall we come home

To one another?

Lord Jesus Christ

And my Father

Holy Spirit come on home

Shall I come home

To You?

.

All I can say is

Lead on Lead on

All I can hope is

I please You as the day goes on

All I can say is

Lead me home

All I can hope is

Your feet come home

.

Shall we come home 

To one another?

Lord Jesus Christ

And my Father

Holy Spirit Lead me on

Shall You come home

To me?

.

When’s the Day going to end?

When’s this eternal night going to end?

When’s my suffering going to end?

When’s my complacency going to end?

When’s Your Day going to end?

.

When’s Your Night slumber going to end?

When’s Your patience going to end?

When’s Your judgement going to end?

.

Shall we come home

To one another?

Lord Jesus Christ

And my Father

Holy Spirit come on home

Shall I come home

To You?

~

~

2 PETER 3

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. ^a

11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. ^b That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15a Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation,

JOHN 14

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ^a ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really know me, you will know ^b my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15“If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be ^c in you. 18I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

22Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

25“All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

28“You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. 30I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, 31but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me.

The Pathway

Matthew 5: 16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

On the pathway

Is the Light

And as I walk

Shadows I cast

On the walkway

Friends are met

And as I pass by

Memories made

That will forever last

.

Friend or foe?

Who am I?

What are you?

Friend or foe?

That’s what we always ask

And it’s no easy task

For I don’t know

Who I am

What are you

.

And you ask for my help

Can I help?

Friend or foe?

And I ask for your help

Can you help?

I must know

And when words are past

And actions taken

We’re still left wondering

Was I right?

Friend or foe?

Please, let me know

.

On the pathway

Is the Light

You, Lord are my light

And as I walk

I can’t help but cast the night

Lord, be my light

And on the walkway

People are met

And as I pass by–

Am I the night?

Or the light?–

Memories are made

That will last forever

.

Lord, am I friend

Or am I foe?

Lord, is this friend

Or are they foe?

We ask for help 

One to another

And I don’t know

Am I the light?

Are they the night?

Lord, let us know

If we do right or wrong

Lord, be the light

Be the right

No matter what

Shadows we cast

On life

Please let me be a friend

And not foe

Lord, You are

The light

~

“Dear LORD, please help me to be a help to those around me and not a hinderance.  When my brother in Christ asks me for guidance, let not foolish words come out of my mouth but let it be of You, according to what You have given me.  And let me pray, pray, pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ as they struggle with stress of the world and stress at home and stress from within, especially if You have made me aware of it.  And LORD, please deliver me from any vile person I encounter as I go out into the world. Let me not surrender to despair and anger, but always remind me of You as I go about my day. You are always enough, help me remember and believe it.  Help my brothers and sisters remember and believe it. Amen.”

~

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

John15: Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

13This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16And 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 them. 17This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19We love because he first loved us. 20Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

John 15:12-15: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

 

Psalm 41:Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.  The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.  The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness. I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you.” My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die and his name perish?”  When one of them comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it around. All my enemies whisper together against me;

they imagine the worst for me, saying, “A vile disease has afflicted him; he will never get up from the place where he lies.”  Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me. But may you have mercy on me, Lord; raise me up, that I may repay them.  I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.

12Because of my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.  Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.

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Kind and Compassionate

1Corinthians 13:

 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Kindness is a tricky thing

And compassion not always clear

You want to help those around you,

Especially those you hold dear,

But the hoarders have come and went

And left very little behind

And now there are limits everywhere

And now you can’t help everyone

Even those you hold oh so dear

And the anger fills your heart to pieces

And you need someone to blame

.

And here I am, setting the limits

Here I am trying to be kind

Here I am, setting the limits

And you need someone to blame

So blame me, I guess, blame me

Not the hoarders who’ve come and went

Not the panic in everyone’s hearts

Not the pandemic ripping the world apart

Just blame me

Although the limits are there 

Giving everyone a chance to have

But you are so angry, you can’t be kind

You can’t have compassion on your dear neighbor–

Please, blame me

.

And I just want to be angry back

I just want to scream and say, “Now, now

“Be fair, children!”

I hear everyone’s story

Everyone has a reason–

They are the exception

These limits, you are the exception,

But if everyone’s the exception

No one is

Just please, please, please

Be fair

I just want to be angry back

I want to tell you how foolish you are

But I cannot say a word, standing here, trapped by you

I can only try to be sympathetic

Try to get you through the line with as little tantrum as possible

I am trapped by you, don’t you see, child?

You just make me angry

.

But can I really blame you?

There were hoarders who came and went

And panic is in our hearts

And a pandemic is tearing the world apart

And kindness is a tricky thing

And compassion is not always clear

I just wish we could both say we’re sorry

Forgive, as Jesus forgives

And just keep trying through this life

Try the best to be kind with what we are given

And compassionate with everyone we meet

Because Jesus is on His heavenly throne

He sees, He hears, He knows

Let’s turn to Him in prayer,

To Him who sits on the judgement seat

For Him to be compassionate

For Him to be kind

For Him to come soon

~

Dear Lord, this has been a stressful couple of weeks for me.  It has been hard not to take personally when people who are stressed get angry at me for telling them they can’t buy more than they want, even if it is for someone else in need.  It is hard for me not to pass judgement on others when they very vocally express that they don’t care about others they only care about themselves.  It makes me very angry.  But that is not the way You want us to behave, and I know these are stressful times for everyone.  Please forgive the anger that came in my heart for those people, and thank You that they are not the majority of those You send for me to serve.  And please forgive them their angry attitudes.  Just please help us to get through this.  Help us as a country to get through this.  Let Your good will be done in this time, and help us to keep faith and trust in You.  Thank You for being in control.  Amen.

~

 

Psalm 119:

1Joyful are people of integrity,

who follow the instructions of the LORD.

2Joyful are those who obey his laws

and search for him with all their hearts.

3They do not compromise with evil,

and they walk only in his paths.

4You have charged us

to keep your commandments carefully.

5Oh, that my actions would consistently

reflect your decrees!

6Then I will not be ashamed

when I compare my life with your commands.

7As I learn your righteous regulations,

I will thank you by living as I should!

8I will obey your decrees.

Please don’t give up on me!

 

Ephesians 4:

31Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

1Corinthians 13:

 3If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it;a but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

4Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud 5or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 6It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 7Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

11When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.c All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Colossians 3:

12Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

You Are Lord

Working at a grocery store at this hard time, I’ve been feeling the anxious atmosphere every day as I see and talk to people of the community.  Honestly I’ve not been sleeping well because of it.  So this morning I decided to start writing out my thoughts and prayers and post on my blog again.  I hope this encourages your heart and helps you to remember that even during this dark time God is still Lord.

4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,  I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ~Psalm 23

Anxious thoughts

Course through me

All of me 

Now empty

Anxious thoughts

Control me

All of me

Now afraid

.

I feel as if

I’ve descended down

Into the Dark

World of Dreams

When will I 

Wake up from

This nightmare of

Strangled fear?

.

The danger comes

Knocking at

My door, do not answer

The danger comes

Whispering in

My ears, do not answer

.

Is there no escaping?

Is there no waking?

Lord, what am I to do?

.

Lord, please know

My anxious thoughts!

Course through me

Replace my empty.

Lord, please know

My anxious thoughts!

Control me

Show me mercy

.

Enter into this pit

Of Dark Dreams

For even here

You are Lord

Enter into this pit

Of strangled fear

For even here

You are Lord

.

The danger comes

Knocking at

My door, 

Lord please answer as You will

The danger comes

Whispering in

My ears, 

Lord please answer as You will

.

If the danger come, You are Lord

If the danger take, You are Lord

If the danger passes, You are Lord

If the fever breaks, You are Lord

And if I see You sooner,

If my love see You sooner,

Come, Heaven, Come!

If the world breaks,

Come, Father, Come!

In it all, reassure us, Your people,

YOU ARE LORD!

~

~

1The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. ~Psalm 24

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ^e ?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. ~Matthew 6

2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, ^a whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ~James 1

7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.  11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. ~Psalm 139

14“Because he ^b loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  15He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  16With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” ~Psalm 91

6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 4

 

Love Thankfully

 

Fathers

Sisters

Mothers

Brothers

Here is the day

We gather to say

A special ‘thank you’

Although tomorrow

I’m still angry with you

 

This is the day 

When we gather to pray

Although we never pray ever

We’ll say the words together

This is the day

When we smile with shining teeth

Although we are dying

Inside we are fighting

 

What good is the turkey

If our bellies are never full?

What good is the family

If hatred is in our hearts?

What good is the prayer

If God doesn’t exist?

What exactly are we thankful for?

What if this day didn’t exist?

 

And although my spirit is choking

On the blood of the world

Still the Spirit is insisting

I’m the Lord’s little girl

And I want to forgive all 

The hurt done to me

Lord God please forgive me

Lord God please help me

To be thankful

To be grateful

For all You’ve given me

 

The life rushes back

To burn in my cheeks

And I see the life in us

We aren’t only breathing dust

In God we trust

In God we trust

 

It isn’t just a holiday

It isn’t just today

We aren’t fighting to be fake

We aren’t dying to stay awake

Yes all seems bleak around us

And sometimes we are choking inside

But God is with us

God is for us

It is God who helps us

To forgive

And I am thankful

 

Philippians 4

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

John 15

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes a so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other.

 

 

1 John 2

1My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

3We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5But if anyone obeys his word, love for God a is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

7Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. 8Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.

9Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister b is still in the darkness. 10Anyone who loves their brother and sister c lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble. 11But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them.

12I am writing to you, dear children,

because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.

13I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

14I write to you, dear children,

because you know the Father.

I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God lives in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.

Spirit of Fear

Romans 8: “12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation, but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17And if we are children, then we are heirs: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with Him, so that we may also be glorified with Him.

The darkness

The Monster

The anger

The danger

The hatred

The laziness–

I know your face

I know your name

Spirit of Fear

In me you have no place

God’s child

 

Spirit of Strength

Jesus, Savior and King

Please help me

I am plagued

By the demon of fear

And I have never

Ever broken free of the chains.

Perhaps if I did

I’d think I was self reliant

And I know that is wrong.

But it is hurting me.

 

I need Your help

Spirit of Courage

Spirit of Strength

Please help me LORD

Fight for me

Against this demon

The Spirit of Fear.

The fearful me

Hides in the shadows

Wears every ugly

And self righteous mask.

But I cannot stand

On this sinking sand

Come Father Come!

Encourage me.

 

Come Savior Come!

Remind me of grace

How You’ve paid the price

To redeem me

From the Spirit of Fear.

LORD I still shiver in my cage.

Fight for me, Christ!

Fight for me.

 

Come Spirit Come!

Spirit of God, Come!

You who raised my Savior

You who taught me the gospel

You who lights the Children on fire–

Come Spirit Come!

Anoint me!

For I am very much afraid

And I need You!

 

I need You.

Meditation Verses

Romans 8:26

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

 

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.

1 Corinthians 12:7b-10

So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Peter 1:5-9

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

Matthew 7:24-27

Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock.

But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its collapse!”

Meditation Songs

 

 

Boast in the LORD

Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

Who boasts in the LORD?

Is it not I, oh my soul?

Does not my tongue rejoice

In His promises, blessing, and grace?

Is it not I who has been redeemed?

Is it not I who has been freed of fear?

Where now is the sting of death?

Why now be anxious of the day?

Why lose sleep in the guilt of the night?

Is it not I who am never left alone?

Does not His Spirit dwell in me?

Will He ever be ashamed of my hope in Him?

Who boasts in the LORD?

Is it not I, oh my soul?

Psalm 27: 1The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27: 1The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

2When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.  3Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident.  

4One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  5For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.

6Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.  

7Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.  8My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”  Your face, Lord, I will seek. 9Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper.  Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. 10Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.  11Teach me your way, Lord; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors.  12Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.

13I remain confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  14Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Romans 5: 1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.