God's desire is always my freedom,
my deliverance,
my salvation from the pitfalls of this world.
He wants me to walk in health and in blessing.
I am the one who does not listen.
He always listens to me.
I am the one who doesn't spend time with Him.
He always wants to spend time with me.
I am the one who does not follow His word.
He always honors His word.
I am the one who walks away from His leading.
He is always walking beside me.
This sin that constantly invades my thoughts is not His fault,
it is mine because I do not let His thoughts invade my mind.
He wants me to think on those things in His word,
on blessing not just ordinary living,
on victory not defeat,
on health not sickness,
on joy not sorrow,
on peace not turmoil,
on faith not doubt.
It's time to harken to Him!
Honestly
I must admit that I fail woefully
But you still show me that your mercy’s free
Honestly
Honestly
I don’t deserve the grace you give to me
All around are blessings I can see
Honestly
Nothing before me. Nothing behind me
Nothing below or from above
No other power, strength or dominion
Can ever separate your love (from me)
I am so good at deceiving myself into thinking God doesn’t know that I am doing this thing or that. Or that He doesn’t care if I am disobeying one of those little Old Testament commands. After all,. Jesus paid for my sins when He died on the cross. I’m covered by grace, after all, and the Old testament law has been abolished. I’m under the New Covenant now, which means I am saved by grace and God has forgiven all my sins. Doesn’t that mean I can go about my own business and not worry about following ever command He gives? Doesn’t that mean if I do sin, He will forgive me readily and apply His grace once again?
The answer to the first question is no. Willful sin is not something we, as Christians, ought to be doing. When we accept Christ, we die to sin. In Galatians 2:20, Paul said he was crucified with Christ, and yet He lived. He died to the flesh just as Christ did, and he now lives in the Spirit, just as Christ does. He goes on to say that the life He now lives in the flesh is only by the grace of God. God’s grace keeps us from hell. It makes us a new creation, old things are supposed to be passed away! New things are supposed to come alive in us. When the enemy comes and tries to lure us back into our old ways, we musty stand against Him with the full armor of God! Walking into old sin willfully can be a serious offence, as we are commanded to walk in His word by the Spirit.
The answer to the second question is yes. He will forgive because His love never ends. It never dies. He always loves us and will always forgive us. But we have to come to Him and confess that sin and repent to go the other way. He does not forgive us so we can just go and sin again. he desires that we are clean and spotless, and we should do all we can to stay away from the dirtiness of sin. Nothing can separate us from His love!
Romans 8:38-39 King James Version (KJV) 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
When I was a young lad I fell right through the ice
My friend was there to rescue after I had gone down twice
Today I would not be here if he had not saved my life
I look back and I see His mercy there
In my teens I wandered and I became a hippie child
I live a carefree life and was always much too wild
One time I flipped my car three times but injuries were mild
I look back and I see His mercy there
At a fifth high school reunion my friend was there again
He told me about Jesus but I turned my back on him
He persisted for I year until I gave my heart to Him
I look back and I see His mercy there
Then two years later traveled fifteen hundred miles
I met a gal who won me by her pretty little smile
God told me marry her after just a short while
I look back and I see His mercy there
After having three great children my pride got in the way
I looked to everyone a saint but I had gone astray
Sin had taken hold on me so I had to go away
I look back and I see His mercy there
So many more examples I could give to you today
I picked these five out because I had a lot say
But the point of all these stories is show you every day
If you look back you can see His mercy there
All of our lives we have been surrounded by His mercy. It has never left us just as he has never left us. His mercies are new every morning because He is faithful. He does not have to make the sun rise or bring the cooling breeze. He does not have to make the stars to shine or the moon to glow. He does not have to give us breath, or light, or anything else for that matter. After all, he is all powerful, and we are completely unworthy of anything he supplies. We have not earned any of the riches and blessings He gives us. We are only deserving of death because we all have sinned and come short of His glory. We sin when we disobey His commands. We are field with sin from our mothers womb and it manifests itself as we get older. We make a decision to disobey and sin is at the door. But God, in His great mercy, sent His Son to die for us and take away that sin. He had mercy on us then and he continues to have mercy on us today. What a glorious God we serve!
Lamentations 3:22-23 KJV It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
I cry out in the desert
I cry out in the valley
I cry out in the darkness
I cry out in the deep
I cry out when I’m lonely
I cry out when I’m sad
I cry out when in sorrow
I cry out when I’m bad
You incline your ear to me
When I’m filled with misery
You pour out your loving grace
When I cry out with my praise
Holy, holy Lord I love you
Holy, holy Lord I praise you
Holy, holy Lord I worship
All my heart I give to you
It may seem sometimes to the reader that I must have it all together. I read your comments on these words and I am humbled and blessed that they touch you the way they do. I give God glory for using me as a fountain to pour out these writings to you. But that is all I am. A vessel that is overflowing with praise so much that these words just spill out as I sit at my computer. When I went through my cancer battle I learned to listen to His voice, and He started giving me these words. They reflect my life though, my thoughts, my desires, my heart. Only God knows my heart. Only he can bring these things out of it. Only he can bring the truth out.
The truth is I am a sinner saved by grace, just like you. I have the same struggles and maybe more. The truth is I am not near as close to God as I would like to be. The truth is I cry out to Him often. Then I remember that the psalmist says God inclines His ear to me. Like a loving Father, He stoops down and outs His ear near my lips to make sure He can hear every syllable I speak. He cares so much for me that He wants me to come running to Him. He wants me to communicate my deepest fears and failures. Then he will lift me out of that place and pout me back on solid ground, back within the walls of His fortress. He loves me so much. He loves you so much!
Psalm 116:2 King James version Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
My life has ups and downs
Like a yo-yo spins around
Falling closely to the ground
Then back into His hand
My life is like a boomerang
That flies by its own plan
The circles back again
Back into His hand
I have a tendency to wander
Every time I turn and stray
I yearn again to find my way
Back into His hand
When I seem so far away
I fall on my knees and pray
Father please bring me safely
Back into your hand
There’s no place I’d rather be
When my troubles surround me
Then returning home again
Back into His hand
The nation of Israel is an amazing story of a people who had plenty of ups and downs/ The were captive in Egypt for over 400 years, slave laborers to Pharaoh. Their burden was heavy. Then God called Moses to bring His people out of that bondage, a fulfillment of a prophecy given to Abraham 400 years earlier. Through a series of 10 miracles, God freed them from their slavery only to lead them into the wilderness. For 4 years He led them circling around the wilderness before they finally got to their destination. Once there, they faltered and wandered even more. Only this time it was their spiritual life that faltered. They forgot the God that saved them, freed them and delivered them. The forgot the God who fed them , protected them and fought for them. God assigned judges, then kings to guide the, but they never could be consistent. Up and down, close to God then far away.
I am too much like them, unfortunately. I have days when I feel real close to god and others I walk way from Him. It’s not that I want to be outside of His protection. I just find myself wandering there and then wishing I had not. I cry out to Him and every time He brings me back into His loving hands. What mercy He shows, what grace He bestows whenever I call on His name!
Matthew 14:31 King James Version 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
I have no doubt He loves me Despite what I have done He washes all my failures Forgives them, every one
I have no doubt He’ll heal me When sickness comes my way If I should come up fragile He’ll make me new each day
I have no doubt He saved me He washed my sins away He shed His blood in my place And took away my shame
I have no doubt He’s with me He’s walking by my side When I need to be counselled He hears my every cry
I have no doubt He hears me When I kneel down to pray His ear is inclined to me Every single day
I have no doubt He’s coming Real soon to take me home Until then I’ll be faithful My heart will never roam
There was a time that I was far away from God. I was a wild child, full of mischief and always looking for the next party, I had no desire to serve God because I was having way to much fun. I put my trust in the things of this earth and what I could see and hear and touch. Those were my gods you might say. Those were my comfort and my companions. I didn’t think there was any purpose in serving God or even knowing Him. I thought I had life all figured out.
Then He decided to let me know where I was headed. He came to me suddenly and caught me in His loving arms. I felt the warmth of His love and did not want to be without it. I asked Him to forgive my wayward ways and to save me from that place that was never intended for me. He did. He did that and so much more. Now I know who He is and who I am. I am learning more each day about His love for me and what he did for me on that cross. I know I will never leave Him and he will never leave me. There is no doubt we have found each other. And I am so glad.
Ephesians 2:8 King James Version (KJV) 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
I’ll wait in my sorrow. I’ll wait in my pain
I’ll wait in the sunrise. I’ll wait when it rains
I’ll wait in the storms. I’ll wait when I cry
I’ll wait in the evening. I’ll wait when I’m tired
I’ll wait when I’m lonely. I’ll wait when I’m blessed
I’ll wait when I’m weak. I’ll wait to find rest
I know if I wait like an eagle I’ll fly
He’ll make me to walk. He’ll make me to rise
I know if I wait patience He will give me
Then all of my troubles will soon disappear
So I will wait. I’ll wait for my King
Because I know my Lord controls everything
I know that His timing is never late
Whenever I pray I’ve learned to wait
I hate going to the doctor. It’s not that I am afraid of seeing him, or worried anything is wrong other than the obvious on that day, I just don’t like going. It’s not the blood work or the exam that bother me. It’s the waiting. You wait in the first waiting room, then you wait in the exam room. Sitting around waiting makes you have patience, Maybe that’s why we are called Patients!
But waiting for God is different. The Bible assures us that we will be rewarded if we learn to wait in the Lord. Some people are impatient and think they need their answer right now. They receive their reward and are done. But those who are patient get a bigger reward. David tells us that when we wait patiently, God inclines to us. Think about that for a minute. He leans over and listens intently to us. His ear is right there ready to hear. Plus, James tells us that our trials teach us patience and take us to perfection, or maturity in Christ. You can have your answers right away. I’ll choose to wait on the Master’s timing. He knows my needs before I’ve even asked. If we have to wait, there’s a reason and a plan. We grow in the wait!
Psalm 40:1-2 King James Version 40 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
He was with Abraham on his journey
He was with Jacob in the night
He was with Joseph in the prison
With Joshua in the fight
He was with Samuel when he whispered
He was with David against a giant
He was with Daniel giving visions
And in the den against the lion
He is with me. He is with me. Every hour of every day
He is with me. He is with me as my guide to show the way
He is with me giving strength. He is with me in His power
I know that I have Jesus. He is with me
He is with me showing mercy
He is with me showing grace
He is with me in my battles
He is with me when I pray
I can walk with great assurance
In the middle of the storm
Because I know the one who calms the sea
I can pray with expectation
That each prayer will be heard
His word says when I pray He’ll answer me
Don’t spend one more day without Him
Don’t spend one more hour without Him
Give it all. Give it all to Jesus
I can trust Him in every storm, in every test, in every trial and in every way. There is nothing that can separate me from His love. Not fire, not flood, not height or depth. No mountain or valley or strange event. When I come to Him, he will meet me where I am. If I am in sin, he will forgive me if I ask. If I am struggling he will pick me up and help me along. If I am crying he will dry my ears and comfort me. If I am troubled, he will say peace be still. There is nothing in life greater than knowing Jesus is right there loving me every minute of every day. What a joy it is to serve Him with all my heart and soul and mind and strength.
Psalm 16:8 King James Version (KJV) 8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
I’m tired of waiting. Waiting for you
For you to come through in this hour
I’m tired of hoping. Hoping that you.
Will carry me through with your power
Lord, I need you now. I don’t know how I can go on in this life
Lord, I need you now. Come set me free with your hand of mercy
I’m tired of watching the waves rolling in
The struggle within growing stronger
Then suddenly I hear your voice
You say to me my child rejoice
Your prayer has been heard in heaven
My mercy and my grace is here
There is no longer need to fear
The answer to your prayer is given
Lord, I thank you now. I don’t know how I could have doubted your love
Lord, I thank you now. With all my heart I lift my voice to praise you
With all my heart I lift my voice to praise you
With all my heart I lift my voice to praise you
There are often times when we get anxious about our prayers. We wonder if God has heard us. We wonder if God will answer our request. We wonder why He is taking so long to let us know His decision. We are not alone in this anxiety. Fourteen times in the Psalms David asks the Lord “How long?”. Job asked this of the Lord 7 times. I would say we are in good company when we ask how long, Lord. Daniel waited 21 days for an answer. Abraham waited seventeen years for an heir. The children of Israel waited 40 years before they entered the promised land and seventy years they toiled in exile before their prayers of deliverance were answered.
Take heart. God does hear your prayers. He will most assuredly answer them in His time and in His way because He loves you
Jeremiah 33:3 King James Version (KJV) 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
I walk through the valley alone and afraid
Not knowing what will appear
The shadows surround me and I lose my way
I finally succumb to my fear
I try to escape the darkness and gloom
The sin that has hold on my life
Then I hear you whisper as quiet as dew
My child don’t despair in this night
You can do it with my strength
You can do it through my grace
You can come through this quagmire of life
You can do it with me
As I give you mercy
Don’t despair when your lost in the night
Suddenly light shines around me
The path becomes clear up ahead
Once again I know God walks beside me
I am sure I have nothing to dread
As He speaks
You can do it with my strength
You can do it through my grace
You can come through this quagmire of life
You can do it with me
As I give you mercy
Don’t despair when your lost in the night
Sometimes I get myself into situations that make me cringe. Why did I travel down this road? Why do I get lost in this sin? I brought myself here. Yes, the devil lured me in with His temptations and I succumbed to him, just as Adam and Eve did in the garden. He asks me the same question he asked them on that fateful day. “Did God really say you can’t do that?” When I give any thought to that question, I am in trouble. I know the word well enough to know right and wrong. Yet I walk off the path all too often. I am so glad God is always right thee to bring me back to the path of life. He gives me the strength and the grace to once again walk with Him. Lord, let me stay on this path you have laid out for me! Help me to stay in the light.
Psalm 91:2-3 King James Version (KJV)
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
