Monthly Archives: July 2020

Now

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Now is the time for deliverance
Out of my sin into your grace
No other power below of above
Can separate me from your love

CHORUS
Now is the time. This is the place
Bowing before you I seek your grace
I want to look into your face
No other time but now
I humbly bow

Now is the time healing will rise
My pain is gone and I feel alive
Coming before you down on my knees
My prayer before you. You meet my needs

CHORUS

Now is the time salvation comes
Through your spilled blood the victory won
Heaven above will shout out their praise
Honoring you by lifting your name

BRIDGE
Jesus, my Lord. Jesus, my Lord. Jesus, my Lord. I praise you now

CHORUS

My Constant Friend

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When I’m fighting in the battle
When I’m lost and all alone
When I’m struggling in the valley
When I can’t find my way home

It is then I turn to Jesus
He’s my constant friend indeed
He will strengthen my convictions
He’ll supply my every need

Then I’ll see He’s walking with me
Then I’ll hear His blessed voice
Then I’ll know my prayer is answered
Then my soul will fill with joy

I do not have to go through life alone. Jesus said he will never leave me or forsake me. So when I come up against a trial, or when a wall blocks my way, I can turn to Him and He will always be there. This promise is made many times in His word, so I know it is true. There is no reason to doubt it. I could list all the scriptures that say he will hear me when I call, and I could list many scriptures that tell me He will answer my prayer. I am not going to do that because they can easily be found with the great internet service we all enjoy.

The struggle comes when we don’t believe them all the time. We don’t think He has answered, or that He is going to answer. When these times come, we need to ask God for wisdom because chances are He has answered, just not in the way we want Him to. His ways are higher than ours, and His thoughts greater. He always knows what is best for you and that is always what he will give. If your in a difficult situation and it seems to get worse and worse, then perhaps God is showing you just how much you can bear, how strong you really are in Him. Keep praying, keep believing, keep trusting His word. At the same time listen closely, because he may be telling you what you should do and your worries are drowning out His voice. His still, small voice is always there to guide and direct. Listen closely, and hear His answer.

Matthew 11:28 King James Version
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Come Light My Fire

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All that I am is yours
All of my heart. All of my soul
All that I am is yours
Jesus you are my Lord

All that I want is you
All that my life requires
All that I want is you
Jesus, my heart’s desire

Come and fill my Spirit
With your amazing love
Come with your mercy
Come with your grace
Come light my fire
Come light my fire

I’ll worship you with all me heart
I’ll lift my hands and sing your praise
The hallelujahs ring out loud
I magnify your name
I magnify your name
I magnify your name
Jesus. Jesus

I need Him so desperately. It seems every day brings a new trial, a new test. There is seemingly no end that my enemy won’t stoop to in trying to lure me away from my only hope. The old song says “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.” This has always been true and it will always be true. God gave the hymn writer these words so that I might remember this truth. If I want my hope renewed, my spirit restored, my heart feeling loved and my soul satisfied then I need Jesus. I need Him every hour of every day. I need Him no matter where I go or where I do. I need Him leading and guiding me into the pastures he has for me. I know that wherever he leads me, good will come out of it. I don’t need to worry or fret. He is the one whom I must seek. He is my fortress and my stronghold.

Where do you stand today? Do you stand on the solid rock? Or are you stuck in the miry clay. Are you facing a fiery furnace or is there a sea blocking your path? Wherever you are in life right now, I promise He will hear you if you call out today. Make Him Lord of your life. Give Him complete control. Let Him light the fire within you that only He can light. Lift His name up high, and He will lift you as well.

Matthew 6:33 King James Version (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Run Over

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Do you feel like life is running over you
You’re not really sure what you should do
Your world is spinning faster
You cannot catch your breath
It seemed like things get harder everyday

I know a way to conquer every fear
Come out of darkness without shedding a tear
It’s time to rise from hopelessness
To the one who gives you life
You will see that He will help you to survive

Jesus is the one who calms every storm
Jesus is someone who keeps you from all harm
Jesus has the answer for the problems in your life
So turn your life to him and give him praise

I cannot go through a single day
Without lifting up my hands to give him praise
I’ll open up my mouth to testify
About the way He helps me live my life

Don’t wait another day and come to him
Your problems disappear when you trust him
He’ll put you back together and turn your life around
Just trust the Lord with all your heart and soul

I know this poem does not flow well but this is how the Lord spoke it to me when I was on my morning walk. Sometimes life is like that. It just doesn’t flow well and is out of rhythm. I hear people say often that they feel like they have been run over by a truck. Life has left you hurting, tired and wondering why you got up that morning. Job felt that way. He told Hod to take him back and make it like he had never been born! Now that’s a desperate cry! The thing to remember about Job is not that he suffered through one of the worst days in history, endured the silly advice of friends and questioned God many times. The thing to remember is that he came through with double what he had to start!

Wat will God do in the midst of your suffering? How will He move in your life to bring double when it’s all over? Are you sad you have to go through this valley? Don’t be! When life runs you over, remember that we have a God that hears our cry and will answer and bring good things out of the bad. He is right there, by your side, to bring blessing instead of a curse. Will you trust him today, even if everything turns out wrong?

Psalm 30:11 King James Version
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

I’m Done

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I’m done with this sin that creeps up every day
I’m done with a lifestyle that just brings me shame
I’m done with these thoughts that so quickly betray
I’m done running from my Lord

I’m done doing things that I cannot eras’
I’m done playing games that defy His grace
I’m done having eyes that can’t look in His face
I’m done running from my Lord

I’m heading back to my Father’s house
He will make me whole and remove all doubt
I know He loves me and when I repent
He makes me into a new man again

I’m done giving time to the enemies whims
I’m done with defeat as I kneel close to Him
I’m done keeping quiet about my best friend
I’m going to run back to my Lord

This is the day the Lord has made
I will rejoice and be glad in it
For He has destroyed the enemies hold
Victory is now in my grip.

It’s been long enough, too long in fact. I have been hiding behind a façade thinking no one will know. No one will know the things I do when no one is around. No one knows the crazy mixed up thoughts I have when I am trying to focus on Him. The enemy works hard to get me to take time away from God, and he succeeds way too often. He captures my mind and takes me far away to a place I know I should not be. I cry out to God in the midst of my struggle and he hears me. But the enemy keeps atm it, saying I will return even if I give up now. He most often convinces me so I don’t fully repent.

Not this time. This time I’m done. I’m done playing games. I want all that God has for me and the only way that will happen is if I give my all to Him. If I throw away my sin and take on His armor, He will keep me safe. He will keep me from harm. He will deliver me from the depths, wipe off the miry clay and make me whole again. I need to be made a new creation again. Lord, shape me and mold me into the vessel you desire

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Jeremiah 18:6 King James Version (KJV)
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

This Is My Lord

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A light into the darkness
A shelter from the storm
A river in the desert
This is my Lord

A healer to the hurting
A comfort when I mourn
A hope for all the hopeless
This is my Lord

A way when there is no way
A still small voice to warn
A peace in time of trouble
This is my Lord

A shaper of my future
A mender when I’m torn
A teacher of the righteous
This is my Lord

A friend when I am lonely
A truth when I am scorned
A rock and firm foundation
This is my Lord

A thousand years from now
He is who I’ll adore
My Savior and redeemer
This is my Lord

Effective Prayer

I Give My Call

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I come to you this morning
Down on my knees in prayer
There is no fear or worry
I know that you are here

I see the sun arising
I hear the birds new song
You made all of creation
Just so I could sing along

As the sun brings light from darkness
You alone will bring me joy
Help me stay right here before you
Help me stand up and rejoice

I cry out to you my Lord
I bow down before your throne
You are all that I have longed for
Make me yours, yours alone

I lift up my hands to worship
God of glory, Lord of all
This is how I start my morning
Unto you I give my call

My days are full. I have a lot of jobs and responsibilities and can get very busy and distracted as he day wears on. Correcting maps, selling insurance, working the garden, caring for the dog, cooking various meals, writing my poetry and other projects, reading, devotions, preparing he worship services, recording lessons and so much more make it a hectic day once things get going. That is why I choose the mornings to come to my Lord in prayer. If I waited until later in the day I would rarely take the time. Now don’t get me wrong, I pray when the Spirit leads me to throughout the day. It would be interesting to make a note each time God brings someone to my remembrance and I pray for them at that moment. I do not do that because I think God intends these type of prayers to be private. The morning is my main time with God because it is uninterrupted and quiet. I can hear Him when it is quiet. I can hear Him when I am still, before the chaos of the day creeps in. That is why I choose the mornings to spend time with my Savior. It’s by far the best of times!

Psalm 63:1a King James Version (KJV)
63 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:

The Believers Life

The Light of Jesus

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The probing light of Jesus shines in my heart today
It dispels all the darkness and drives my doubt away
My faith is lifted upward as in His name I pray
I do not have to worry for His light is here to stay

The searching light of Jesus is in my soul today
It seeks out all my hidden thoughts and washes them away
When I turn towards His light I am more apt to obey
Then all my secrets vanish as the light is here to stay

The guiding light of Jesus is on my mind today
I know that I must watch as His word will lead the way
The lamp He leads me with will nit let me go astray
Because I know His pathway is where I want to stay

The brilliant light of Jesus displays it’s strength today
He shows up in my weakness when I take time to pray
His power overwhelms me as I struggle to obey
He comes in like a flood and then He’s here to stay

I will worship Him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength
Because He sheds His light on me I follow in His way
I could not live without Him every single day
So under His anointed light I will always stay

And God said “Let there be Light, and there was Light.” This was on the first day of creation. There was day and night and it was the first day. The odd thing is that on the 4th day He created the sun, moon and stars. But isn’t it the Sun that lights the day? So what is this Light that separated the day from the night on the first day? This Light is the Word, the Truth of God. It separates light from darkness, good from evil, and sin from righteousness. It divides the soul and the spirit of man. Our soul might desire one thing, but the Light comes in and says we should do another. This is the Light
that Jesus says He is. He says He is the Light of the world. His light shines brightly on all we do, revealing the inner thoughts and intents of the heart. His Light cannot be dispelled by any darkness. His Light is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I need His Light to constantly shine into my life so that I can see who I really am. Only He can shed light on that inner man. I shut him up in darkness, behind a door. Jesus stands at the door and knocks, hoping to let His Light shine in that closed, dark room. That is the only way my sin, my darkness, can be dispelled.

How much darkness is in your life today? How many rooms have you closed off to Him. Let His Light shine into all your inner chambers, bringing with it the freedom that only Christ can bring. Then you will find true peace and joy. Then you will experience the love of Christ as it is meant to be.

1 John 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

I Sing His Praise

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I sing the praises of my God Almighty
I sing the praises of the risen Lamb
I sing the praises of the true redeemer
I sing the praises of the great I Am
I sing the praises of the God of mercy
I sing the praises of the God of grace
I sing the praises of the Lord Jehovah
I sing His praise. I sing His praise

When I was going through cancer, His praise was on my lips. As I lay on my hospital bed, weakened by a stem cell transplant, I would lift my voice up to praise Him in the middle of the night. The nurses just didn’t quite get why I could praise God when I had cancer. But I had my reasons – lots of them. First ands foremost, He saved me. He called to me when I least expected it and I answered that call. I was far away from Him, basking in the dull glow of sin, thinking I was OK. But the pr3eacher that night convinced me I was not OK, that I was headed for hell;, a terrible place I decided I did not want to go to. I raised my hand for salvation and before I left Iowa on that vacation I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Right there, that is enough to praise Him every second of every day. I don’t need any other reason to give Him praise.

Now he daily gives me reason to praise Him. I have a wonderful family, a blessed life and so many things that God has brought my way. I have a million reasons to praise Him. I give Him praise all the time. In the morning, just before the dawn, I praise Him. In the heat of the day I praise Him. As the sun sets at night, I praise Him. In every circumstance, every trial and every trouble, my praise goes up to Him because I know He is with me. Any Christian who does not praise Him is missing the mark. We were made to praise Him, have fellowship with Him and be devoted to Him. He is a faithful, righteous, gracious and merciful master who loves us more than we can fathom. Give Him praise today!

Psalm 147:1 King James Version
147 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

The Valley

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You guide me up the mount and through the valley
Every step you show me where to go
On the summit I can sense your presence
But it seems that you’re not there down far below

Then I look around while walking through the valley
I see trees and fauna growing next to me
Then I realize the mountaintop is rocky
If I want to grow the valley’s what I need

I call out to my blessed Lord and Savior
I cry out Lord I need your guiding hand
And even though I may not feel His presence
I know that I am walking in His plan

He grows me in the valley if I’ll listen
The mountaintop just has pretty view
Let me see myself as you have seen me
So I can see the growth that makes me new

I’ll linger in the valley as you guide me
And I’ll climb up the mountain when you lead
But I’ll always remember it’s the valley
That provides me with life eternally

Mountaintop experiences are far more enjoyable. First of all, the view is spectacular so often. I grew up in New England where mountains are plenteous. My brother and I loved to climb and hike and would do so often. Mt Wachusett was nearby, Mt Monadnock was a favorite destination and mountains Lafayette and Lincoln are a wonderful hike and climb. The view from the top was always spectacular. You could see for miles. In the fall, the foliage was unbelievable. I highly recommend everyone go through New England in the fall at least once in their lives. On some cooler days you could see the fog hanging down in the valley, So pretty.

In the valley you could not see anything bur trees and brush. Maybe a stream here and there. If you did not have a trail it was hard to know exactly where you were or what direction you were going. It could be dark and dangerous. But you must go through the valley to get to the mountaintop. The valley is where life is. Always growing and ever changing.

I our spiritual lives it is in the valleys of life where we grow, where we can bloom. God is always guiding us and helping us to overcome the difficult trails we have to take. If we will remember that it in the troubles and toils of the valley where our life grows, we will love being in those valleys. There will be a joy that will always bring us through

James 1:2-4 KJV
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.