My heart is quite overwhelmed this morning as I have spent time in Psalm 31...just exactly what I needed today on this 31st day of December. GOD is so faithful, and HIS WORD is so tender to my heart. Let's take a look at a few verses and I will share.
Let's start with verses 1, & 3-4
In YOU, O LORD, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed; in YOUR righteousness deliver me. YOU are my rock and my fortress, For YOUR NAME'S sake YOU will lead me and guide me. YOU will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for YOU are my strength.
Read it again and hear what the Psalmist was saying to the FATHER. Hear him crying out that he had taken refuge in the ONLY ONE who could help him, and now he is depending on that ONE to deliver him. Hear his heart cry out to the FATHER..."O DON'T LET ME BRING YOU SHAME." Hear him as he begs the ONE who has the power to deliver him to do it FOR THE SAKE OF HIS GREAT NAME. Hear him cry out in total trust of his HEAVENLY FATHER.
Folks, we can do this too. We can trust GOD in the midst of the swirling waters, high waves, and strong winds...HE IS ONE WHO CAN SAY, "PEACE BE STILL" and the wind and the waves will cease. OR, HE is the ONE who can wrap HIS arms around us and can carry us through those swirling waters, high waves, and tempestuously strong winds. But please don't miss the reason why David is saying he is counting on GOD to do this in his life.
It wasn't about David. It was ALL about GOD's GREAT NAME. It was ALL about the righteousness of the ONE TRUE GOD. It was about GOD.
How about you? When you cry out to HIM for deliverance, is it to save your name from shame or is it to save HIS GREAT NAME? Is it about bringing HIM glory or is it about saving face for yourself?
Now look down to verses 7&8. I will rejoice and be glad in YOUR lovingkindness, Because YOU have seen my affliction; YOU have known the troubles of my soul, AND YOU HAVE NOT GIVEN ME OVER INTO THE HAND OF THE ENEMY: YOU have set my feet in a large place.
Our FAITHFUL FATHER knows the trouble and affliction of our every day. HE knows the battles that we fight and the enemies that wage war against us. And because of HIS LOVINGKINDNESS toward us HE reaches down into the muck of our lives and pulls up to SOLID GROUND...HE invites us to stand on the ROCK THAT IS JESUS. WOW! Because HE loves us HE does not allow us to be overtaken by the enemy. BUT, we must be sitting at HIS FEET crying out to HIM asking HIM to deliver us. If we choose to run all ahead full into sin and remain there...HE will allow that, and judgment will come. HE does not pull us out until we cry out and ask for HIS TENDER MERCY. HE will let us choose to remain in the muck and mire of sin, but THAT IS NOT HIS PLAN FOR US. THAT IS NOT HIS DESIRE.
Let's look at verses 19 & 20 and then wrap up. How great is YOUR goodness, Which YOU have stored up for those who fear YOU, Which YOU have wrought for those who take refuge in YOU, Before the sons of men! YOU hide them in the secret place of YOUR PRESENCE from the conspiracies of man; YOU keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.
THOSE ARE EXTREMELY SWEET WORDS. HIS goodness is indeed great and HE will lavish it on those who fear HIM. Goodness is what HE has in store for those who HIDE themselves IN HIM. I can think this morning of no sweeter place to be than hidden in the presence of my SAVIOR.
THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR INVITING EACH OF US TO COME AND HIDE OURSELVES IN YOU. THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE CHOOSE THIS PATH ON THE STORMY DAYS YOU WILL HIDE US AND HOLD US CLOSE TO YOUR OWN HEART. WHAT A GRACIOUS FATHER YOU ARE. HOW TENDER OF YOU TO REACH DOWN OUT OF THE PORTALS OF HEAVEN AND TO PUT YOUR HOLY HANDS INTO THE MESSES THAT WE MAKE AND TO LIFT US TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO COME NEAR YOU. O JESUS, HOLD US CLOSE TODAY AND KEEP US EVER SEEKING YOUR FACE. I LOVE YOU...BUT I SO WANT TO LOVE YOU MORE. TEACH ME LORD...TEACH ME HOW TO WALK TODAY. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS I PRAY...AMEN!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Is JESUS asleep?
Good Morning Y'all! Let's spend some time together in Psalm 27 this morning, and let me share some honest thoughts from my heart. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? I read those WORDS this morning and I bowed my head and I said, "FATHER, THIS IS YOUR WORD. THIS IS TRUTH. YOU ARE MY GOD. YOU ARE MY LIGHT, MY SALVATION, MY STRENGTH. WHY AM FEELING OVERCOME WITH DOUBT AND DISBELIEF? WHY DO I CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE EVERY MOMENT OF MY DAYS LATELY?" And then I continued reading. When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My Adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war rise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident. And again I cried out to the FATHER. "I KNOW THIS TO BE TRUE. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOD AND THAT NOTHING COMES AGAINST ME WITHOUT YOUR APPROVAL BEFOREHAND. I KNOW THAT JUST AS YOU ALLOWED JOB TO BE TRIED YOU STAND AT THE GATE AND KEEP WATCH OVER EVERY ONE OF YOUR OWN, AND YET, MY HEART FEELS FEARFUL AND I SURE DON'T FEEL CONFIDENT." Did you notice what I said? I said..."I FEEL".
Can I tell you this morning that how I feel has nothing at all to do with WHO GOD IS. I told HIM this morning that my human heart wants to cry out and ask HIM to fix things NOW, but I know that HE IS GOD and HE is working. I am thinking even now as I type this about how the children of Israel must have felt. Did they feel abandoned? Did they feel like GOD had left them to work it out on their own? Did they feel like HE didn't care? How about Job...what did he feel? How about how the disciples felt on crucifixion day?
It's easy to be a Christian when I FEEL GOOD. The reality of life though is that I'M NOT ALWAYS GOING TO FEEL GOOD. I was sitting here just pondering and talking to the FATHER and sharing my heart and my thoughts, and I remembered something that a wise man told me one time. He said, "Vicky, it's easy to be a Christian when the water is smooth and everything is going good, but when the storms rage and the winds blow, DOES YOUR ANCHOR HOLD?" I was thinking about my recent times with the FATHER; We have many times over the last month or so talked about something that took place in Mark chapter 4. The disciples were in a boat with JESUS crossing the sea. You might remember it...the storm came up and JESUS was asleep in the boat. When your life feels tossed and tattered, and it FEELS like JESUS is sleeping WHAT DO YOU DO?
Do you keep believing what you know to be true? Do you run to HIS WORD and hold fast to WHO HE IS?
Right before I went to Germany the beginning of this month I got an email from a sweet Christian friend. She wanted to assure my heart that she was praying for me. I felt like I was going through a terrible storm...still feel that feeling even today. She said the following words to me, "Vicky, before our LORD delivered the man who was possessed by the legion of demons HE BROUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THROUGH A TERRIBLE STORM." When she wrote that I didn't get it, I missed the point; but in the days since I have returned from Germany GOD has CLEARLY SPOKEN THIS INTO MY HEART. Before JESUS did the miracle in the life of the man possessed by the demons HE BROUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THROUGH A STORM. My heart can only ask, "FATHER, ARE YOU PREPARING ME TO SEE YOU PERFORM YET ANOTHER MIRACLE?" Does that sound silly to you? Does it sound like I am grasping for straws? Let me just say this: In the almost 6 years since the LORD JESUS set my heart free from serious bondage HE has proven faithful to HIS WORD at every single struggle in my life. In the BIG HUGE HURTS and in the seemingly small struggles, HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL THROUGH EVERY SINGLE RIPPLE IN THE WATER. Why would HE be any less faithful NOW? I will close this morning by reminding you and me that HE IS WHO HE IS AND HE CANNOT BE LESS THAN THAT! HIS WORD IS TRUE and WE CAN HOLD FAST TO IT and WE CAN KNOW THAT HE WILL NEVER FAIL US.
THANK YOU FATHER THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE. THANK YOU THAT WHEN THE WIND IS STRONG AND WATER IS DEEP AND IT MIGHT EVEN FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SLEEPING...EVEN STILL YOU ARE GOD AND YOU ARE GREATER THAN THE MIGHTY RAGING SEAS IN OUR LIVES. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING MY HEART AGAIN THAT THE ENEMY WOULD HAVE ME DESPAIR, BUT THAT I MUST TRUST THAT YOU HAVE PROMISED TO CONCEAL ME IN YOUR TABERNACLE AND HIDE ME IN THE SECRET PLACE OF YOUR TENT. YOU ARE GOD AND YOU ARE GREATER. THANK YOU JESUS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU...IT IS IN YOUR MIGHTY AND MATCHLESS NAME THAT I PRAY. AMEN
Can I tell you this morning that how I feel has nothing at all to do with WHO GOD IS. I told HIM this morning that my human heart wants to cry out and ask HIM to fix things NOW, but I know that HE IS GOD and HE is working. I am thinking even now as I type this about how the children of Israel must have felt. Did they feel abandoned? Did they feel like GOD had left them to work it out on their own? Did they feel like HE didn't care? How about Job...what did he feel? How about how the disciples felt on crucifixion day?
It's easy to be a Christian when I FEEL GOOD. The reality of life though is that I'M NOT ALWAYS GOING TO FEEL GOOD. I was sitting here just pondering and talking to the FATHER and sharing my heart and my thoughts, and I remembered something that a wise man told me one time. He said, "Vicky, it's easy to be a Christian when the water is smooth and everything is going good, but when the storms rage and the winds blow, DOES YOUR ANCHOR HOLD?" I was thinking about my recent times with the FATHER; We have many times over the last month or so talked about something that took place in Mark chapter 4. The disciples were in a boat with JESUS crossing the sea. You might remember it...the storm came up and JESUS was asleep in the boat. When your life feels tossed and tattered, and it FEELS like JESUS is sleeping WHAT DO YOU DO?
Do you keep believing what you know to be true? Do you run to HIS WORD and hold fast to WHO HE IS?
Right before I went to Germany the beginning of this month I got an email from a sweet Christian friend. She wanted to assure my heart that she was praying for me. I felt like I was going through a terrible storm...still feel that feeling even today. She said the following words to me, "Vicky, before our LORD delivered the man who was possessed by the legion of demons HE BROUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THROUGH A TERRIBLE STORM." When she wrote that I didn't get it, I missed the point; but in the days since I have returned from Germany GOD has CLEARLY SPOKEN THIS INTO MY HEART. Before JESUS did the miracle in the life of the man possessed by the demons HE BROUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THROUGH A STORM. My heart can only ask, "FATHER, ARE YOU PREPARING ME TO SEE YOU PERFORM YET ANOTHER MIRACLE?" Does that sound silly to you? Does it sound like I am grasping for straws? Let me just say this: In the almost 6 years since the LORD JESUS set my heart free from serious bondage HE has proven faithful to HIS WORD at every single struggle in my life. In the BIG HUGE HURTS and in the seemingly small struggles, HE HAS BEEN FAITHFUL THROUGH EVERY SINGLE RIPPLE IN THE WATER. Why would HE be any less faithful NOW? I will close this morning by reminding you and me that HE IS WHO HE IS AND HE CANNOT BE LESS THAN THAT! HIS WORD IS TRUE and WE CAN HOLD FAST TO IT and WE CAN KNOW THAT HE WILL NEVER FAIL US.
THANK YOU FATHER THAT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WHO YOU SAY YOU ARE. THANK YOU THAT WHEN THE WIND IS STRONG AND WATER IS DEEP AND IT MIGHT EVEN FEEL LIKE YOU ARE SLEEPING...EVEN STILL YOU ARE GOD AND YOU ARE GREATER THAN THE MIGHTY RAGING SEAS IN OUR LIVES. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING MY HEART AGAIN THAT THE ENEMY WOULD HAVE ME DESPAIR, BUT THAT I MUST TRUST THAT YOU HAVE PROMISED TO CONCEAL ME IN YOUR TABERNACLE AND HIDE ME IN THE SECRET PLACE OF YOUR TENT. YOU ARE GOD AND YOU ARE GREATER. THANK YOU JESUS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU...IT IS IN YOUR MIGHTY AND MATCHLESS NAME THAT I PRAY. AMEN
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
The Day After
It's the day after Christmas. I was thinking about that yesterday afternoon as I was walking to walk off some of the way too much food I ate. I thought about how it must have been the second day for Mary and Joseph and JESUS. We really aren't told much about the second day. We can learn about what took place on the eight day, we can learn about what happened on about the 40th day. We get small glimpses of days from here and there, but nothing continous from day to day over the first 30 years of HIS life. Just a snapshot here and a snapshot there.
Look at Luke 2:39-40. When they had performed everything according to the Law of the LORD, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of GOD was upon HIM.
For whatever reason the HOLY SPIRIT did not have Luke write about the visit from the wise men from the east or about the journey down to Egypt. What we ARE told here is simply that the Child, JESUS, continued to grow and become strong.
My mother's heart wonders about Mary must have felt with her firstborn. Did she feel like I did with my firstborn? Did she struggle with wondering if she was "doing it" right? Did she run to HIS cradle, that was likely made my his carpenter father, everytime HE made a sound? Again, we aren't told any of these things. They are details that aren't all that important to the theme of the story. What is the theme? Is that the question that just crossed your mind?
HE is the theme. It's all about JESUS and what HE did.
You say, but Vicky, we aren't told what HE did during this time. BUT WE ARE! We are told that HE continued to grow and become strong and that the grace of GOD was upon HIM.
Think about that in relation to your own life today. You see, as I read those words this morning my heart cried, "FATHER, that is my desire, that I would continue to grow in YOU and become strong in YOU."
How about you? Is that your desire?
Look at JESUS. Look at HIS life. Look at what we can see. Always, in every single snapshot we see HIM doing EXACTLY what HIS FATHER asked of HIM. If you continue down in Luke chapter two you will see HIM 12 years later. HIS parents had taken HIM to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. They left, and HE stayed behind. HE said to their question..."Why is it that you were looking for ME? Did you not know that I had to be in MY FATHER'S House."
Snapshot after snapshot you will see JESUS doing the FATHER'S WILL.
Today, on the day after Christmas I find myself wondering...Is that my desire? Is doing the FATHER'S will the driving force in my life? My prayer is that it would be so.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO SEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT TEACHES US WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US DO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO APPROACH YOUR HOLY THRONE AND SHARE OUR HEARTS WITH YOU. FATHER, EMPTY US WHO WE ARE AND TEACH US TO WALK LIKE JESUS DID. O THAT IT WOULD BE SAID OF EACH OF US THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW STRONG AND IN WISDOM...GODLY WISDOM AND STRENGTH THAT ONLY COMES FROM SITTING AT YOUR FEET. JESUS, WE LOVE YOU...TEACH US TO WALK MOMENT BY MOMENT JUST LIKE YOU. IN YOUR MIGHTY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN
Look at Luke 2:39-40. When they had performed everything according to the Law of the LORD, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of GOD was upon HIM.
For whatever reason the HOLY SPIRIT did not have Luke write about the visit from the wise men from the east or about the journey down to Egypt. What we ARE told here is simply that the Child, JESUS, continued to grow and become strong.
My mother's heart wonders about Mary must have felt with her firstborn. Did she feel like I did with my firstborn? Did she struggle with wondering if she was "doing it" right? Did she run to HIS cradle, that was likely made my his carpenter father, everytime HE made a sound? Again, we aren't told any of these things. They are details that aren't all that important to the theme of the story. What is the theme? Is that the question that just crossed your mind?
HE is the theme. It's all about JESUS and what HE did.
You say, but Vicky, we aren't told what HE did during this time. BUT WE ARE! We are told that HE continued to grow and become strong and that the grace of GOD was upon HIM.
Think about that in relation to your own life today. You see, as I read those words this morning my heart cried, "FATHER, that is my desire, that I would continue to grow in YOU and become strong in YOU."
How about you? Is that your desire?
Look at JESUS. Look at HIS life. Look at what we can see. Always, in every single snapshot we see HIM doing EXACTLY what HIS FATHER asked of HIM. If you continue down in Luke chapter two you will see HIM 12 years later. HIS parents had taken HIM to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. They left, and HE stayed behind. HE said to their question..."Why is it that you were looking for ME? Did you not know that I had to be in MY FATHER'S House."
Snapshot after snapshot you will see JESUS doing the FATHER'S WILL.
Today, on the day after Christmas I find myself wondering...Is that my desire? Is doing the FATHER'S will the driving force in my life? My prayer is that it would be so.
FATHER, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US TO SEE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD THAT TEACHES US WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE US DO. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO APPROACH YOUR HOLY THRONE AND SHARE OUR HEARTS WITH YOU. FATHER, EMPTY US WHO WE ARE AND TEACH US TO WALK LIKE JESUS DID. O THAT IT WOULD BE SAID OF EACH OF US THAT WE CONTINUE TO GROW STRONG AND IN WISDOM...GODLY WISDOM AND STRENGTH THAT ONLY COMES FROM SITTING AT YOUR FEET. JESUS, WE LOVE YOU...TEACH US TO WALK MOMENT BY MOMENT JUST LIKE YOU. IN YOUR MIGHTY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
A LIGHT of Revelation
I woke up this morning with JESUS on my mind. I came downstairs and hit the button on the coffee pot and did my morning rituals and then grabbed the coffee and headed to my office. On my desk sat my Bible, it was waiting for me. Or should I say, HE was waiting for me. I'm so glad too. HE is just so tender to my heart morning after morning, but it was especially so this morning. I came down to start cooking, but I couldn't start without spending some time with HIM on today OF ALL DAYS...I mean, afterall, it is HIS BIRTHDAY. And I read these WORDS...think about them today as you celebrate with your family.
"For my eyes have seen YOUR salvation, which YOU have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES (that includes me), and the glory of YOUR people, Israel."
GOD had promised Simeon that he would not see death UNTIL he saw LIFE. Simeon would not die until he had seen the LORD'S CHRIST. In Luke 2:30-32 Simeon testified that GOD had made good on HIS PROMISE. Simeon had put his eyes on the SON OF GOD. Can you imagine how he must have felt that morning? It must have been something wonderful going on inside of his heart. He said...'My eyes have seen what YOU prepared." WOW. That makes my heart rejoice. I wonder this morning, have your eyes beheld JESUS lately? HE is the LIGHT of relevation...HE will show you what you need to see.
You have a very Blessed CHRISTMAS day with your family. Make sure you take every opportunity to point HIM out as you go today.
I love you all!
Because of JESUS-
Vicky
"For my eyes have seen YOUR salvation, which YOU have prepared in the presence of all peoples, A LIGHT OF REVELATION TO THE GENTILES (that includes me), and the glory of YOUR people, Israel."
GOD had promised Simeon that he would not see death UNTIL he saw LIFE. Simeon would not die until he had seen the LORD'S CHRIST. In Luke 2:30-32 Simeon testified that GOD had made good on HIS PROMISE. Simeon had put his eyes on the SON OF GOD. Can you imagine how he must have felt that morning? It must have been something wonderful going on inside of his heart. He said...'My eyes have seen what YOU prepared." WOW. That makes my heart rejoice. I wonder this morning, have your eyes beheld JESUS lately? HE is the LIGHT of relevation...HE will show you what you need to see.
You have a very Blessed CHRISTMAS day with your family. Make sure you take every opportunity to point HIM out as you go today.
I love you all!
Because of JESUS-
Vicky
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Things Pondered
I have been pondering a lot lately. Thinking about who I am... Thinking too much about how I feel, and not nearly enough about what I know.
So, what is it that I know?
Well...Let's see.
I know without a doubt that GOD is GOD, and I can trust HIM.
I know that I am HIS workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works.
I know that HE knows everything about me and LOVES ME JUST THE SAME. HE knows my failures and my shortcomings and my idiosyncrasies. HE KNOWS IT ALL.
I know that NOTHING that I do will ever catch HIM by surprise or make HIM change the way HE feels about me...HE LOVES ME.
I was thinking about a couple of things that I heard yesterday...I am going to share them with you now.
Satan would have us paralyzed with our struggles and our doubts.
I have thought a lot about that, and I almost gave in to the lies of the enemy. I was about to allow him to hold me captive to my own struggle and doubt. I am reminded even as I type this that when I am believing something contrary to what GOD'S WORD says about me that I MUST CHOOSE to believe GOD and take HIM at HIS WORD. I MUST CHOOSE to believe it is HIS WORD for ME. HE does not intend for me to be held captive by the lies of the enemy. It was for freedom that HE set me free.
Let GOD be true and every man a liar. Romans 3:4
Of all of things that I know to be true I know for absolute certainty that GOD'S WORD is truth and I can always count on it. I know that I can turn to HIS WORD and can trust HIS heart when HE speaks to me from the pages of HIS BOOK. I know that HE has never failed me. HE has never been unfaithful. HE has never been less than HIS WORD says that HE is. All of this I know and I can and will make the CHOICE today (right now) to take HIM at HIS WORD and believe GOD.
Thanks for listening as I share my heart. Thanks for walking this journey with me.
It is ONLY and ALWAYS Because of JESUS!
Vicky
So, what is it that I know?
Well...Let's see.
I know without a doubt that GOD is GOD, and I can trust HIM.
I know that I am HIS workmanship, created in CHRIST JESUS for good works.
I know that HE knows everything about me and LOVES ME JUST THE SAME. HE knows my failures and my shortcomings and my idiosyncrasies. HE KNOWS IT ALL.
I know that NOTHING that I do will ever catch HIM by surprise or make HIM change the way HE feels about me...HE LOVES ME.
I was thinking about a couple of things that I heard yesterday...I am going to share them with you now.
Satan would have us paralyzed with our struggles and our doubts.
I have thought a lot about that, and I almost gave in to the lies of the enemy. I was about to allow him to hold me captive to my own struggle and doubt. I am reminded even as I type this that when I am believing something contrary to what GOD'S WORD says about me that I MUST CHOOSE to believe GOD and take HIM at HIS WORD. I MUST CHOOSE to believe it is HIS WORD for ME. HE does not intend for me to be held captive by the lies of the enemy. It was for freedom that HE set me free.
Let GOD be true and every man a liar. Romans 3:4
Of all of things that I know to be true I know for absolute certainty that GOD'S WORD is truth and I can always count on it. I know that I can turn to HIS WORD and can trust HIS heart when HE speaks to me from the pages of HIS BOOK. I know that HE has never failed me. HE has never been unfaithful. HE has never been less than HIS WORD says that HE is. All of this I know and I can and will make the CHOICE today (right now) to take HIM at HIS WORD and believe GOD.
Thanks for listening as I share my heart. Thanks for walking this journey with me.
It is ONLY and ALWAYS Because of JESUS!
Vicky
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