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.”

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.

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

 

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

 

 

Meditate On the Glory

MEDITATION: 2 CHRONICLES 36, EZRA 1

The LORD God is faithful. He will not leave His people abandoned for He loves them. When His Name is defiled, He removes it from the people and removes the people from the promise. But His wrath will not last forever. His promise will rest and await the fulfillment of promise (the land rested from the wickedness for seventy years. And every Sabbath during that time was honored). Always there is a remnant that He will draw back to Himself. He Himself stirs in them His spirit that they may honor Him and desire to return to His promise and rebuild His glory. And when they are faithful, they are given all they need.

Oh, Faithful Ones,

Where is your spirit?

Oh, Righteous Ones,

Where is your God?

We are the temple

In us is the Name

So honor Him

He will be faithful

So honor Him

You will see Him

The promise is coming

Do not be afraid

.

Oh, Chosen Ones,

What is your gift?

Oh, Glorious Ones,

Where are your eyes?

We are the temple

In us is the Name

So praise Him

He has stirred you to this

So praise Him

You will know Him

When He comes to you waiting

Waiting for the promise

Do not be afraid

~

2 Corinthians 3:12, 16-18

“12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold… 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

 

Joshua 1

“8Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Deuteronomy 31

“’6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.’

“7Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.’”

Isaiah 41:10

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

2 Chronicles 15

“1The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. 2He went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. 3For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach and without the law. 4But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them. 5In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil. 6One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress. 7But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.’

“8When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple.”

Proverbs: Again I say: Remember

I’m sorry I haven’t written anything for a while.  My schedule got very crazy, but it was for a good reason.  The Lord saw fit to provide me with a new job!  I’m excited and scared at the same time, but I’m glad for the opportunity.  As a result, however, I probably won’t be able to post on Tuesday’s, or at least not in the mornings.  But I hope it can still remain regular.  In any case, I hope I’m still able to bless you!

“10Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. 11I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. 12When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. 13Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. 14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. 15Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way. 16For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble. 17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.” ~Proverbs 4

Remember.

Again I say: Remember.

Remember Wisdom’s Way.

Remember all the ways

You’ve been trained

In Your younger days.

Remember them and do not stray

For the wicked time is coming

And surely your blue skies

Will turn grey.

.

Remember it, I say

Do not ever stray

For His Name’s Sake

The Lord has led your way

Though the world turn to chaos

Falling to pieces before your eyes

Yet He is the LORD

Yet He remains steadfast

Remember Wisdom’s Way

The LORD’s Way

.

And when you walk that Way

You can run without fear

Though devils draw near

And your heart forsakes all you hold dear,

Yet you need not ever fear

For the LORD is here

The LORD is here

.

Surely your blue skies

Will turn grey.

Yet, though the wicked time is coming,

Remember and do not stray.

Remember your younger days;

Remember all the ways you were trained.

Remember Wisdom’s Way.

Again I say: Remember.

Remember.

~

“16Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17Then the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut up the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. 18Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.” ~Deuteronomy 11

“22For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.” ~ 1 Samuel 12

“1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23

“31For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— 32the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. 33He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. 34He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 35You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. 36You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip.” ~Psalm 18

Food For Thought: God is Worth It

Sometimes things go wrong. Sometimes it feels like every day has a vendetta against you, that every person is trying to push you to the limit, that life itself is fighting to make you miserable. It’s just one thing after another, and no matter how hard you try to fight your own sour mood you keep falling down deeper and deeper into the gloom until at last you just don’t want to try anymore.

And then you wake in the morning and you know you need to read your bible, but you just don’t feel like it. What difference will it make, really? God already sees you and knows you, and He obviously is okay with your life being garbage, so what’s the point?

The point of reading your bible is not so that God will see you. It isn’t as though opening the book sends out a beacon of light and God says, “Oh look, a faithful servant! I wonder how he/she is doing today.” God already knows how you are, where you are, and most importantly He wants to be a part of your life. And aren’t these the very words of God? Consume them, they draw you closer to His throne.

The point of reading your bible isn’t to magically make you feel better, to automatically fix your life. If all you care about is being happy go watch Hallmark movies—24/7. If you’d read your bible you’d know that 1). God wants a real, deep relationship with you, 2). Your purpose is to glorify God, 3). Suffering is a part of life, and 4). God works together all things for the good of those who love Him. So, read your bible, it will help you understand the Lord and encourage you in your walk with Him.

Not everyone in the bible had everything is easy and happy. There are plenty of instances of people who shared your situation, many times ten times worse. But when they turned to God as their Rock, He helped them through it, in whatever way He saw fit to do so. David before he became king was chased by Saul for eleven years, Job suffered for ‘no apparent reason’ and the only answer he received was that God is God—and yet God blessed him all the more abundantly when the suffering came to an end.

So here is my encouraging passage for you who are having a rough day, week, month, whatever it may be. Be encouraged and go to God. He is always worth it.

 

1Vindicate me, my God,

and plead my cause

against an unfaithful nation.

Rescue me from those who are

deceitful and wicked.

2You are God my stronghold.

Why have you rejected me?

Why must I go about mourning,

oppressed by the enemy?

3Send me your light and your faithful care,

let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

4Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God, my joy and my delight.

I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.

 

5Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

~Psalm 43

Proverbs: Sweet Word of God

Sorry this is a day late.  I hope you’re still able to read and think on God’s word!

“1My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. 3Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” ~Proverbs 3

Let me meditate

Let me think on it

Let me keep it hidden

Deep in my heart

Let me greatly desire

To do all in my power

To do it

Live it out

Speak Lord speak

On Your words

I will meditate

.

I will meditate

Day and night

.

Your words Lord

Are my strength

Protecting me

Throughout the day

Your words Lord

Are my treasure

They give me hope

Of the coming reward

Reward of Your presence

Your words Lord

They are my strength

.

They are my strength

Night and day

.

Rejoice oh my soul!

The Lord speaks to you

Rejoice oh my soul!

The Lord has not abandoned you

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Meditate on the words

Rejoice! Rejoice!

He is your courage

He is your hope

He is your strength

And shield

.

He is your shield

Forever

~

1 Kings 3:14

“If you walk in My ways, keeping My statutes and commandments, as your father David walked, then I will prolong your days.”

Psalm 91:16

“With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation.”

Psalm 119:165

Those who love Your law have great peace, And nothing causes them to stumble.

Deuteronomy 29:9

“So keep the words of this covenant to do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.

Joshua 1:9

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 23:6

“Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left

2 Chronicles 15:7

“But you, be strong and do not lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”

“9How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 10I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 12Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees. 13With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 14I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 15I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.” ~Psalm 119

Meditation: Adopted Into Life

1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; 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 my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ~John 14

There are days that I feel like I have no idea what I’m doing with my life or where I’m supposed to go, days of feeling like it’s just me and the world and no one is around to help me get to my goal—and I’m not even sure what my goal is.

But the bible is full of verses that talk about perseverance and keeping our eyes set on the prize, keeping our minds on Heaven. Even Jesus Himself told His disciples this. Our belief in Him is our confidence that He has prepared a place for us, a place with no tears, pain, uncertainty and most of all no sin, a place that we can live with Him for all eternity. It is because of our relationship with Jesus that we have this glorious inheritance, for we are now adopted into the Holy Family!

“1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.” ~Colossians 3

From this passage it seems clear that not only are we to know Christ but we are to even find our very identity in Him. He died, therefore we died. He was raised, we are raised. He will be glorified, we will be glorified. He is supposed to permeate our entire life—He IS our entire lives! And it is because of this we are supposed to put our focus on the place where He is, in Heaven.

Because we died with Him we are to constantly be putting to death our sinful desires. Where our entire lives are focused on our Savior, His entire life is focused on glorifying the Father, and therefore so is ours. And being obedient to Him in every way honors the Father, the Son, and therefore also the Holy Spirit. And why do we care about what they think? Because He is our life! God gave us eternal life and will give it to us at the end of all things!

I hope very much that you are encouraged today to think on Heaven with me. How awesome it is that God lay down His life that we might be adopted into such a glorious inheritance, to join Him in Holiness!

Meditation on Psalm 130

This is a song I made a while ago inspired completely by reading Psalm 130.  It is a prayer of recognizing the mercy of God and longing for Him and desire to see Israel restored.  It is something that I wish I’d pray more often.  I hope you are blessed by it today.