ON SEEKING: Seeking His Face

For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.

… a time to seek, a time to lose; a time to keep, a time to cast away.

Ecclesiastes 3:1,6

ON SEEKING

Seeking His Face

The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. Psalm 14:2

God is omniscient – He is everywhere.  His eyes are always open and always watching us (Proverbs 15:3).  He sees our comings and goings, and everything we do in between.  He hears all our words – things we say in prayer, things we say to others (and ourselves), and every thought that crosses our minds (Psalm 139:1-4).  “…He knows the secrets of the heart” Psalm 44:21.

He speaks to us in various ways; through Scriptures, His work of Creation, other people, just to mention a few.  Then there’s what I call my “inside ears”.  His still, small voice, a gentle whisper, that so often is missed because we don’t pay attention or brush it off as a random thought (1 Kings 19:13). 

He speaks to us during prayer time.  We need to set aside time to be still, with a closed mouth and open heart and mind, and wait for Him to speak.  Prayer should be a conversation, not just a quick dash up to His Throne of Mercy, spouting off a quick thanks and a list of requests, then running back to whatever.  When we approach His Throne of Grace, come to Him in prayer, we’ve got to give Him the respect and honor He is so worthy of.  He is, after all, God Almighty, who through Christ Jesus, created everything seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16).  He abhors sin, totally hates it, and does not allow sin in His presence.  We have to come clean, confess our sins, and ask forgiveness (1 John 1:9). 

Another way He speaks to us is through His indwelling Spirit (that lives within us who received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior).  Sometimes during prayer time, I think of things – people, events, or situations.  I used to think my mind was wandering off and would get frustrated at my lack of focus, but then I read this phrase, part of Romans 8:27:  “For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes for us”.  Now I feel that when thoughts of things and people come along, the Holy Spirit is prompting me to pray for them. 

Here’s an easy way to remember:

                        A            adoration

                        C            confession

                        T            thanksgiving

                        S            supplication (requests)

Love on Him, give Him praise and adoration, confess sins, thank Him for what He’s already given us; and then make our requests (Philippians 4:7).  Don’t forget about the quiet time to listen.  

Why do we seek Him?  Because He wants us to.  We have to get to know someone in order for the friendship to develop, grow, and thrive.  Like all relationships, we have to work on it or it falls apart.  He made us; He already knows us.  Now we have to learn to know Him.

Go to your room, shut the door, open your Bible, and experience the awesome adventure of seeking His face.  Here are just a few more Scriptures on this topic. 

Old Testament                                                     New Testament

1 Chronicles 28:9                                                 Matthew 6:16 (praying in private)

2 Chronicles 7:14                                                 Matthew 7:7-8

Psalm 119:2                                                         Hebrews 11:6

Jeremiah 29:13

(Scriptures quoted from the English Standard Version of The Holy Bible)

Sit, Stay

The long table is spread out; the feast is prepared and presented.
Come in, come in.
You just stand there and look in.
Come. Sit down and enjoy.
Sometimes you walk up to the table, grab a morsel or even a handful, but then your eye wanders and you run off, leaving, still hungry.

Oh my child; sit, stay.
Feast with me.
All this is prepared for your enjoyment and nourishment.
You are weak and weary because you are starved.
Sit down, eat.
Eat your fill and enjoy your time with me.
You’ve tasted and know how sweet it is.

You must not leave hungry.
If you do, it is your own doing.
Stay.
Stay as long as it takes.
Feast and rest.
Then you will be refreshed and prepared to continue.
You will be better use for me and your work will be easier for you.
But first, stay, sit and feast with me.

Seeds

We are all seed sowers. Every word we speak to another and every deed (good or bad) is a seed planted in the heart and mind of someone else. Our parents sowed seeds of love while the world sowed seeds of another variety: competition, pride, prejudice, entitlement, hatred, envy, etc.

Leave a trail of good seeds like brotherly love, compassion, patience, generosity, diligence, integrity, honesty, and excellence. These seeds have the potential for a bouquet of blooms that are pleasing to the Lord. Sow seeds that produce a bountiful harvest for the Kingdom of God. You sow the seeds and another will come along and water, and the Lord makes it grow.

Take a big handful with you wherever you go and sprinkle generously!

1 Corinthians 3:8 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and each will receive a reward for his own work.

Don't Worry About It!

Are you a worrywart? I do not mean being concerned about things, but obsessively, and over even the smallest things, worry so much that it just ruins your day? Here’s a thought… if we allow this, we’re actually being disobedient to Jesus. He said, “don’t worry about everyday life” [Matthew 6:25] and He asks if all our worries add a single moment to our life? [Matthew 6:27].

I believe that worry demonstrates a lack of faith and trust in God to take care of us, like the Bible says He promises. Worry is not a fruit of The Holy Spirit. It is a weapon, a stronghold, of Satan. All he needs is just the smallest little crack and he’s in. Before you realize what’s happening, worry takes over. If it’s not exterminated, it breeds, and real quick, you have a serious infestation.

For example, a mouse needs a small hole to get in. If s/he can fit its head through, it can squeeze the rest of its body in. Once it’s in, if it finds a favorable spot, it nests. Then the mate moves in and they start a family. If they’re not exterminated, they continue to breed and the whole place is infested with these rodents.

So how do you stop worry from controlling your thoughts? Here’s what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Philippians: [chapter 4, verses 6-8]
Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, keep your thoughts on whatever is right or deserves praise: things that are true, honorable, fair, pure, acceptable, or commendable.

We take preventative measure to keep invaders out of the house. So also we need to take precautions to keep Satan and his vermin from invading our “house” – our thoughts and our hearts. Pray. Keep yourself saturated in God’s word, the Bible. Ask others to pray for you; fellowship with other believers. Seek counsel from your pastor or deacons. Just don’t let it go out of control! Exterminate it before it breeds.

Matthew 6:25-34 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
25“So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26“Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? 27“Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? 28“And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. 29But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers. 30That’s the way God clothes the grass in the field. Today it’s alive, and tomorrow it’s thrown into an incinerator. So how much more will he clothe you people who have so little faith? 31“Don’t ever worry and say, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32Everyone is concerned about these things, and your heavenly Father certainly knows you need all of them. 33But first, be concerned about his kingdom and what has his approval. Then all these things will be provided for you. 34“So don’t ever worry about tomorrow. After all, tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Layers

My brother-in-law was a very talented man. He had a wealth of talents and abilities, from drawing to building houses. He and my sister bought an older home, a fixer-upper, with beautiful bones. It was a scaled-down version of a “beach house” mansion you would see up in The Hamptons of Long Island. Each room was adorned with beautiful architectural details. Sadly, all the natural beauty was covered. My brother-in-law spent countless hours sanding, scraping, and even burning off the many layers of paint to get to the bare wood. It was tedious, hard and I imagine, frustrating work. But oh, after he stained and varnished everything, the result was spectacular! All the natural grains of the oak were gorgeous. The entire house was truly a work of love. Their labor produced an incredible transformation, turning a neglected structure into a show house. To say the least, he achieved a result to take delight in.

All those layers of paint remind me of all the layers of sin on my soul. Each sin slaps on a layer, like old paint, that conceals true inner beauty and works as a barrier between God and my heart. When I came to Him and confessed my sins, He removed them all. It was not a once and done job; oh no, it’s a work in progress. I need daily confession and daily cleansing.

How about you? Are there layers of sin on your heart? Is there anything blocking your heart from the Lord’s loving touch? If so, then say a prayer something like this:

Lord Jesus, I come to you right now and ask you to forgive my many sins and cleanse me with your blood. Thank you for dying on the cross as payment for my sins, and for rising again and preparing a place for me in Your Father’s house in heaven. Please come into my heart now and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you for loving me. Amen.


1 John 1:9 (gwt)
God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we’ve done wrong.

Drinking, Eating, Reading

The way to fully enjoy a glass of fine wine is to take a sip, swirl it around to cover all your taste buds, then slowly swallow, so even the sensors in the back of your throat get a taste. My uncle once told me that you should “chew” it; that works, too. What ever your method, you take your time and linger over it, delighting not only your sense of taste but also your sense of smell. The two combined makes each mouthful an adventure. A gourmet meal is also best enjoyed when you eat it slowly, getting the most taste out of each bite.

If you would wolf down an elegant meal and guzzle a glass of wine, you’d miss out on the experience of the meal. Likewise, zooming through a passage of scriptures wouldn’t allow the opportunity to get the most out of it. You need to read each word, each phrase; often many times over, and meditate on them. From my own experience, the Lord speaks to me during this time. Chewing on the words, lingering over them, meditating on the scene, considering the who, what, where, when, why and how, and you find the words speaking to you.

The Holy Bible is indeed a living thing. Don’t rush through it; you’ll miss the best part.

Going Wireless?

We all know that USB cables link a piece of equipment to a computer. I’m going to use a digital camera as example. The cable transfers images from the memory device inside the camera to the to the memory device inside the computer. Once there, a few clicks of the mouse, and another cord sends the signal from the computer to the printer, and viola!, you have a picture. Technology has evolved and now we can do all this without the cables. We’ve gone wireless!. Not only do we not need the cable, our camera can communicate directly with the printer, eliminate the need for a clunky computer system.

In the old covenant (promise) God had with his people, the Israelites, a perfectly healthy and unscarred animal had to be sacrificed to make up for sins. It was slaughtered and the blood was sprinkled on the altar by the High Priest, the mediator between God and His people. Now we are under a new covenant, the covenant of Grace. Jesus, perfect and without blemish (sin), sacrificed himself on the cross, and became the once-and-for-all blood sacrifice for everyone’s sins. Because of Jesus, we no longer have to go through a high Priest, nor do we have to offer an animal’s blood to make up for our sins. Jesus made the way for us to go directly to God. That includes all people, not just the Jews – gentiles, pagans, atheists, budists, islamics, and everyone else. Romans 10:9-1 says, “If you declare that Jesus is Lord, and believe that God brought him back to life, you will be saved. By believing you receive God’s approval, and by declaring your faith you are saved.” Jesus is the cord that connects us to God. He is the only way.

I’m going to refer back to the computer and USB cords… Technology has evolved so we don’t need cords and cables to connect one piece of equipment to another. Instead, a signal is transmitted between the pieces of hardware. The camera can communicate directly with the printer. Some cell phones have aps that can send a picture to a printer from anywhere the phone signal can send it! Maybe you don’t need a cord, or even be anywhere near, you still need a connection and a signal. There are many signals to get you interested in God, but there was, is and forever will be only one connection to hook you up with God, and that’s Jesus. John 14:6: Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.”

You can point the camera at the printer and push the send button all day long, but without the connection, you can’t print a picture. Jesus is our only connection to God and His Kingdom (Heaven). There is nothing we can do to get there. We can’t work our way in, and we sure enough can’t buy our way in. Reread the two scriptures, Romans 10:9-10, and John 14:6. Jesus did all the work. Jesus paid our way. He’s the only connection to God. This fact will never change, will never be upgraded, and will never go “wireless”.

CaraBella, Queen of Flynnland

Psalm 30:5, 10, 11, 12

"...Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."

"Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.
      Help me, O Lord.”

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
      You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
      O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!"


Joy came to me in a fur package.  Her name is CaraBella, Queen of Flynnland.  Cara means beloved friend; Bella means beautiful; the rest is self explanatory.

Cara (formerly Queenie) was surrendered to animal control in Philadelphia late December/early January.  Then the wonderful folks at Second Time Around Rescue, STAR, pulled her from there, had her spayed, chipped, UTD on shots, and listed her for adoption with Petfinder.com.  That is where I saw her photo, and read her bio.  That was on Tuesday, 25 January 2011.  We met her on Saturday, the 29th and she came home with us that afternoon.  STAR thinks she may be 1-2 years old.  She has a German shepherd face and the fur on her neck feathers typical of GSD.  She has erect, pointed ears, but are kinda-of small.  Also, she has a long torso.  All the rest is the unknown breed.  Could be pitbull, lab, or another breed with a broad flat head and big backside.  She is very docile, loud noises don't phase her; she is sweet, and greets with kisses.  Other dogs and cats, well, so far, not so good.  Did I mention she knows how to open doors? 

I am curious to see if she would be a good candidate for a therapy dog.  I am going to wait about a year or so, after we get some good solid OB training (she was not responding to any commands but is doing pretty good on sit).  She walks nicely on the leash for me.  Praise the Lord for that favor!

So here she is, photos from my phone-camera, both taken the first day at work.

waiting in the car, on the ride home:

snozzing, giving belly.  Hard to see from this picture, but her belly is shaved from her spay surgery.

I'll write more about her later.  But, I'll just close with these thoughts I had today, about why God gave us dogs.  A) to demonstrate how we should love unconditionally, quick to forgive, be faithful and loyal  B) the obedience we expect from our dogs is what our Father wants from us, particularly "come"--when He calls us, we should run to Him just as fast as we can.



.

The Forest

I was walking through a meadow,

bright warm sun rays shining down.

Wildflowers, showing their glorious colors and beauty,

gracefully sway from side to side.

Gentle breezes broadcast their sweet aroma through the air.

I get to the edge of the meadow,

to the tree-line at the entrance to the forest.

At first it does not look that scary,

but the further into the forest I journey,

the thicker and darker it gets.

There are fallen limbs and logs,

all sorts of obstacles I have to climb over,

making travel a challenge.

I wander on and on and instead of making progress,

I’m only going around in circles,

each path bringing me back to the same spot.

Exhausted, I sit down on the rotted log,

and admit I cannot go any further.

It’s dark. 

I’m cold.

I hear noises that frighten me.

I am powerless.

I am lost.

My heart is crushed with fear and despair.

Who can hear my cries for help?

I hear something.

No, it’s not the breeze.

I hear the soft, still voice,

“Let me help you.  Let me guide you out.

I will clear a path for your feet so that you won’t stumble.  Trust me.”

With both of my hands, I clamp onto His outstretched hand,

“I’m so weary, I can’t go on,” I whimper.

“I will carry you,” He promises.

We get to a canyon.

He sets me on my feet.

It’s wide, too wide for me to jump.

Now what?

Do I try to make a bridge with limbs and logs

from the forest floor and try to walk across?

“I brought you safely to this place of decision.

You can stay here, or you can let me help you go forward.”

“The forest is dark, and lonely, and scary,

and I don’t want to stay here.

“I’m so weary, I can’t go on,” I whimper.

“Trust me.  Hold onto me.  I will not let you fall. 

I will carry you,” He promises.

With both of my hands, I clamp onto His outstretched hand.

He lifts me safely over.

The edge of the forest is just ahead.

I see can brightness through the trees!

I don’t know how far it is to the edge of the forest,

so I will stay close to His unfailing love and faithfulness

and trust Him to walk me through.

A Dog for Jesus

(someone posted this poem for Dylan, I don't know who the author is.)

 

I wish someone had given little Jesus a dog
as loyal and loving as mine
to sleep by His manger and gaze in His eyes
and adore Him for being divine.

As Our Lord grew to manhood, His own faithful dog
would have followed Him all through the day
while He preached to the crowds and made the sick well
and knelt in the Garden to pray.

It is sad to remember that Christ went away
to face death alone and apart,
with no tender dog following close behind
to comfort its Master's heart.

And when Jesus rose on that Easter morn,
how happy He would have been
as His dog kissed His hand and barked its delight
for the One who died for all men!

Well, the Lord has a dog now; I've just sent him mine,
the old pal so dear to me.
And I smile through my tears on this first day alone,
knowing they're in eternity.

Square pegs and holes in hearts

I remember back in my little kid days playing with this toy, where you had to match the pegs with their same-shaped holes.  The lesson from this puzzle game is that you can’t fit a square peg into a round hole.  Each piece fit in only one specific space.  As hard as a kid can push and jam, or turn the piece around and around, it will only fit into it’s certain spot.

I see how God’s love works the same way.  I’m convinced that there is a space in each person’s heart that is so unique, only God’s love can fit it exactly.  This empty space is such a noticeable void that we know we just have to fill it.  Some people try and substitute drugs, alcohol, money, possessions, sex, -- all the things this world offers, even in excess – yet they still know something is missing, and spend their days and nights trying to fill the void.  I learned the hard way; none of this stuff can fill the spot reserved for Jesus in my heart.  Once I surrendered completely, God’s Holy Spirit filled all the voids, and my former wants and desires are gone.  Good riddance to them, I don’t miss anything!  I don’t miss cigarettes, hangovers, those feelings of being lost, worthless, and life is pointless; and I certainly don’t miss feeling unloved, unwanted, and the nagging thoughts of suicide.  I don’t have a specific scripture reference to back up my theory, just personal experience, and testimony from others.  I see evidence in radically changed lives.

Scripture tell us that God created us for His own good pleasure.  He loves us no matter what.  God loves us so much that He sent us Jesus, His Son, who willingly took the death penalty, and hung on the cross to pay for our sins so that we could have salvation and spend eternity with Him. (John 3:16:  “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.) 

Seriously think about this:  He loves us so much that He died for us, and all He wants from us is to love Him back.  That’s it.  So, do you want what’s missing?  Open up your heart, and let Him in.  Confess your sins, accept His forgiveness, and start your new life.  That empty spot will be filled-in.  His love will permeate your entire being.  And nothing – no thing, no person, no experience, or substance – can compare.

Romans 3:23:  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 6:23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Romans 8:38-39:  And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(all scriptures quoted from The New Living Translation)

Trust

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the rock eternal.  Isaiah 26:4 NLT

Do not trust in created things – trust in Me. 

I am in control of everything. 

I made my throne in the heavens.  From there, I watch everything that’s going on. 

I know every heart because I made them. 

I open my hand and provide for all my creation, everything they need – food, water, air – everything, I made it and I provide it. 

Is there anything too hard for me to do?  I hung the stars in the sky.  I made the boundary for the waves.  I tore the curtain open so you can come to me.  Just come to me. 

Trust in me.  I am faithful.  I keep my promises. 

Everything on earth will disappear.  The earth and the heavens will one day run from my presence. 

I look at the big picture.  I see the future and the past.  I know what you will think next. 

You can trust me alone.  I alone am trustworthy. 

I alone will last forever. 

I created you

I love you

I will never leave you

I will never disappoint you

nor fail you

as long as you trust in me.

Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—for all it’s strength, it cannot save you.  Psalm 33:17 (NLT)

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no hope for you there.  But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God.  Psalm 146:3,5 (NLT)

Forgiven or Indifference?

“and forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us…”  Luke 11:4 NLT

Long ago, there was an incredibly deep hurt.  Thanks to the Lord’s gracious gift of forgiving, and time, the wound is healed.  Thoughts are far removed from that dark time; it’s further away than a distant memory.  There is no longer pain, and speaking of it comes rather easily compared to when the hurt was an open, gaping hole.  It was the greatest hurt my heart endured.

This morning I wondered how I would respond if the offender would reappear in my life.  Would I be kind, caring, and hospitable; would I be able to show Christian love?  I believe that if the answer is anything other than a promptly spoken “yes” then true forgiveness has not yet occurred. 

A state of indifference is the lack of emotion.  No love, no hate.  Zero feeling.  Forgiveness means a clean slate.  Forgiveness allows love.  God is love. (1John4:7,8)  God requires forgiveness. (Mark 11:25) 

He is the source of my ability to forgive.  He alone makes it possible for me to promptly reply, “Yes, it is forgiven.”

The Lord is close to the broken hearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

Ps 34:18 NLT

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Psalm 145:8 NLT

The Stirring of A Heart

Ezra 1:1-6 (New Living Translation)

1 In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:

2 “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says:
“The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! 4 Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”

5 Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the LORD. 6 And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.

God stirs the hearts of people He wants to use, so when we feel God stir our hearts, we should pay attention and do as He leads us to do. Do you agree? In the Old Testament book of Ezra, God stirred the heart of King Cyrus, whom He placed as king of “all the kingdoms of the earth.” The Lord stirred Cyrus’ heart to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem in Judah. King Cyrus obeyed God and issued a decree that allowed the Israelite captives in Babylon to return to help build the Temple. He gave them his blessing to do so. “May your God be with you.” In addition, Cyrus, King of Persia, decreed (ordered) the people of the kingdom to contribute generously to the Israelites who were returning to Jerusalem in Judah. The people were to give them articles of gold and silver, livestock, and a free will offering of money for the Temple of the Lord. The Lord also stirred the hearts of the Priests and all the Temple workers to go back to help with the rebuilding. The Lord also stirred King Cyrus to return all the gold and silver articles King Nebuchadnezzar confiscated from the [original] Temple of the Lord many years’ prior, sacred items he then placed into the temples of his pagan gods.

Mighty things come from the response to the stirring the Lord puts upon a heart. Consider what an historical event was birthed at the stirring of King Cyrus’ heart. The Temple of the Lord was rebuilt. What is the Lord stirring your heart to do today? How are you responding? Is He calling you to come to Him today? Will your response echo the psalmist who said, “My heart has heard you say, “Come, and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 (nlt)

Absence of Turmoil

sitting on the sand
looking out to the ocean
where the heavens touch the water,
the setting sun warms my shoulders.
the sound of the tide coming in
captures my thoughts and
carries them out
to the place where the water touches the sky.
then i consider the One who told the ocean,
'you can only go this far'
and peace floods my soul.
this is peace-
absence of turmoil.
this,
is peace.

With All I Am (By Hillsong)

into your hand
i commit again
with all I am
for you Lord

you hold my world
in the palm of your hand
and I'm yours forever

CHORUS
Jesus I believe in you
Jesus I belong to you
you're the reason that I live
the reason that I sing
with all I am

I'll walk with you
wherever you go
through tears and joy
I'll trust in you

and I will live
in all of your ways and
your promises forever

CHORUS

I will worship I will worship you forever

CHORUS

Feed The Fire

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29 (New King James Version)

Consuming Fire - Hillsong United/Tim Hughes



To build a fire, you usually start with something light that ignites easily, like twigs, pine needles, or even a wad of newspaper. Then when the flames get going, you start adding the bigger pieces that need more than just a match to ignite. These pieces will burn a little longer making enough heat from the flames to ignite even larger pieces. You continually add larger pieces as you go along. Once you have a nice bed of coals, your fire is hot enough to support a log. Of course, the higher you build your stack, the hotter it burns.

It is helpful to get trusted friends to participate. They can help gather kindling and logs, and then help to build and maintain the fire. They can stand watch on the other sides, adding branches and sticks all around the perimeter. The time of fellowship is an added bonus.

A fire has to be fed. We must add logs and branches to either make it increase, or just enough branches to maintain it. We can throw on a few twigs here and there for a quick flash, or so little that there is only barely any heat at all. If we neglect to feed it, it quickly dies down to just a few smoldering embers. If we neglect to keep the fire hot, high, and strong, it will go out when the rains come.

A bed of coals is vital to a fire. The coals can go unattended for quite a while, sometimes even overnight. As long as we have just a few smoldering embers, we can rebuild the fire by feeding it.

I relate this scenario to my journey with the Lord. The more I read His word, the hotter my fire for Him gets. I started out with small, easy to understand verses that flared up His fire in my heart. Everyday, I feed His fire to make it grow by adding bigger, thicker pieces that increase the heat. Bible study groups and fellowship with others are additional fuel. If I were to slack off, the fire would get smaller and the heat would decrease. I know I have to feed His fire regularly and hardily, always work on building it higher and wider, enlarging the bed of coals, aka my faith, to keep His fire blazing, enduring even the fiercest rain storm that comes along. His fire in my heart is a requirement for my survival, greater than air, and way more than water and food.

Have you neglected the fire in your heart? Take heart, dear friend: As long as there are just a few smoldering embers, you can rebuild it. Start feeding it, and be amazed how quickly it heats up.

Revelation 3:15-17 (New Living Translation)
“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

Psalm 63:1,3 (New Living Translation)
O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!

God On The Mountain, sung by Linda Randle

Life is easy when you're up on the mountain
And you've got peace of mind like you've never known.
But then things change and you're down in the valley.
Don't lose faith for you're never alone.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

You talk of faith when you're up on the mountain.
Oh but the talk comes easy when life's at its best.
But it's down in the valley of trials and temptation
That's when faith is really put to the test.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley.
When things go wrong, He'll make it right.
And the God of the good times
is still God in the bad times.
The God of the day is still God in the night.
The God of the day is still God in the night.

Psalm 145 (New Living Translation)

A psalm of praise of David.

1 I will exalt you, my God and King,
and praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day;
yes, I will praise you forever.
3 Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
No one can measure his greatness.

4 Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
let them proclaim your power.
5 I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
and your wonderful miracles.
6 Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
I will proclaim your greatness.
7 Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation.
10 All of your works will thank you, Lord,
and your faithful followers will praise you.
11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom;
they will give examples of your power.
12 They will tell about your mighty deeds
and about the majesty and glory of your reign.
13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.

The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
14 The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
15 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
16 When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.

21 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever.

My Father, My Dad

(I wrote this a while ago, and thought I'd re-post it in honor of Father's Day)

My Father created me.

Long ago, His plan for me was laid.

My life was part of the creation,

the world He formed by simply the words He said.

In the same way, my Father also created my dad;

the earthly man who loved, and raised, and supported me;

he carried me when I was tired, and held me when I was sad.

Everyone says I look just like my dad.

I have a lot of his traits;

our love for music is one of the best

and less favorable is how we’re both always late.

Dad taught me about life on earth and after.

Before he left, he said we’ll meet up again, when we’re called

to stand before our Lord, our God, our Father.

Dad worried so about his problem child, but I came around after all.

On that glorious day, when there’ll be only joy and no one will ever be sad,

I’ll be there with both of them, my Father and my Dad.

Ephesians 6:1-4

Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.  “Honor your father and mother.”  This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth”.  Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them.  Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.