Good Morning. This morning I just want to briefly share something with you. Some of you who receive this email have been walking this journey with me for the entire 6 years that I've been walking it. Others of you have been here for just a brief part of those 6 years. Whatever the length of time you have been reading my heart morning after morning, I want to say thank you for the privilege of walking together. Thank you for allowing me to have shared my time with the FATHER with you.
Having said that I will say that I will now begin a time of quiet. For those that have been here this entire journey we have walked some hard roads together. We have walked through relocations, the death of my Mom, the deaths of many of your loved ones and many other really hard things. Some roads, though, are much too private and much too important to walk publicly. I have begun such a journey. The warfare has been great in recent months and I believe after seeking counsel and much prayer that it is now time to say I'll see ya later. Not, I won't ever write again, but for a good while, I'd say a year or so I will be quiet and what the FATHER and I share will be just that...what HE and I share.
Some times we must take time to sit back and just be with HIM and no one else. This is one of those times for me. I'm going to leave you this morning with the words of a song by Greg Long. I could share so many, but I will share just this one and say if over the course of the next 12 months, GOD brings me to your mind, pray for me. Ask GOD to hold my heart ever closer to HIS OWN. Ask HIM to do the work in my life that ONLY HE can do. I love you...Because of JESUS!
This is a song, but it is also the prayer of my heart:
In the Waiting
Pain, the gift nobody longs for...still it comes
And somehow leaves us stronger when it's gone away.
Pray... I try and pray for your will to be done...
But I confess, it's never fast enough...
For me, It seems the hardest part is waiting on YOU,
When what I really want is just to see YOUR hand move
I want a peace beyond my understanding
I want to feel it fall like rain, in the middle of my hurting
I want to feel your arms as they surround me
and let me know that it's OK...
To be here in this place,
Resting in the peace that only comes in the waiting
Time, time to let it go and just believe
Trusting in what noone else, but YOU can see
Free, freedom from the fears that close me in
When I can't beyond where I have been
But then again, the silence doesn't mean that I'm alone
As long as I can hear, that I'm still YOUR own
I want a peace beyond my understanding
I want to feel it fall like rain in the middle of my hurting
I want to feel your arms as they surround me
and let me know that it's OK...
to be here in this place
Resting in the peace that only comes, in the waiting
In the waiting...yeah...
O...I want a peace beyond my understanding
I want to feel it fall like rain...
In the middle of my hurting.
I want to feel your arms as they surround me
and let me know that it's OK...
to be here in this place
Resting in the peace that only comes....
In the waiting
Monday, January 14, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Where will you turn?
Good Morning Y'all! My heart is encouraged this morning. The FATHER has once again, reached down from the portals of heaven and has wrapped me up in HIS tender arms and has held my heart close and has whispered into my heart, "Vicky, TRUST what you know to be true about ME. TRUST who you KNOW that I AM."
Let's look at just a few verses from Psalm 9 this morning. Let's begin at the beginning and then we will move down to verses 9 & 10. HIS WORD is alive folks, and HE will use HIS WORD to change our lives IF WE WILL LET HIM. HE will encourage us IF WE WILL COME TO HIM. HE will be all that HE is every time, BUT HE will never force us to come. Let's look at HIS WORD.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all YOUR wonders. I will be glad and exult (rejoice) in YOU; I will sing praises to YOUR name, O MOST HIGH.
David said, "I WILL!" He didn't qualify these I will statements. Notice there is NO "if" behind any of David's "I will's". He simply said, "I WILL..."
I wonder if we can say with David, "I will give thanks...I will tell...I will be glad and rejoice....I will sing..."
You see folks, it's not about the circumstances in our lives...it's all about WHO HE IS. We can go on thanking HIM in the difficult days because HE is no less GOD on dark rainy days than HE is on the bright warm sunny ones. We can go on telling of HIS wonders BECAUSE THERE ARE ALWAYS wonders to tell of. We can go on being glad and rejoicing because even in the darkest of hours we can CHOOSE to think on things that are good, and right, and noble, and honest, and pure and just; and this gives us cause to rejoice. And no matter what we can always sing praise to HIS NAME because HE IS WORTHY!
Drop down to verses 9 & 10 and we will close. The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble. And those who KNOW YOUR NAME will put their trust in YOU, for YOU, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek YOU.
Those two verses pack a wallop! You see, it's not about our circumstances. It's not about how dark the day seems. It's not about how difficult the trail we are walking. IT'S ALL ABOUT WHO HE IS. HE IS A STRONGHOLD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. Write that down and memorize it, practice it, think about it UNTIL IT IS THE MOST REAL THING IN YOUR MIND. HE is there when you can't take another step. HE is the STRONG and MIGHTY ONE that you can CHOOSE to run to when the storm is dark and the wind is raging and the waves threaten to wash you away. HE NEVER FORSAKES THOSE WHO SEEK HIM. In John 6 HE said that HE WOULD NEVER TURN A WILLING HEART AWAY.
Here is the bottom line...GOD IS GOD. HE is ALL that HE has said HE IS. And we can absolutely unequivocally trust HIS NAME. The NAME of GOD is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe. Mark that down and bank on it.
Now, that should give us cause to stop and praise HIS NAME.
LORD JESUS, WE JUST WANT TO PRAISE YOU. YOU ARE WORTHY OF ALL OF OUR PRAISE. YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND FAITHFUL AND HOLY AND TRUE AND TRUSTWORTHY. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO KNOW YOUR NAME. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO CALL ON YOUR NAME. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO RUN TO THE STRONG TOWER OF YOUR MIGHTY NAME. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE. O JESUS, WE DO LOVE YOU.
Let's look at just a few verses from Psalm 9 this morning. Let's begin at the beginning and then we will move down to verses 9 & 10. HIS WORD is alive folks, and HE will use HIS WORD to change our lives IF WE WILL LET HIM. HE will encourage us IF WE WILL COME TO HIM. HE will be all that HE is every time, BUT HE will never force us to come. Let's look at HIS WORD.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all YOUR wonders. I will be glad and exult (rejoice) in YOU; I will sing praises to YOUR name, O MOST HIGH.
David said, "I WILL!" He didn't qualify these I will statements. Notice there is NO "if" behind any of David's "I will's". He simply said, "I WILL..."
I wonder if we can say with David, "I will give thanks...I will tell...I will be glad and rejoice....I will sing..."
You see folks, it's not about the circumstances in our lives...it's all about WHO HE IS. We can go on thanking HIM in the difficult days because HE is no less GOD on dark rainy days than HE is on the bright warm sunny ones. We can go on telling of HIS wonders BECAUSE THERE ARE ALWAYS wonders to tell of. We can go on being glad and rejoicing because even in the darkest of hours we can CHOOSE to think on things that are good, and right, and noble, and honest, and pure and just; and this gives us cause to rejoice. And no matter what we can always sing praise to HIS NAME because HE IS WORTHY!
Drop down to verses 9 & 10 and we will close. The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble. And those who KNOW YOUR NAME will put their trust in YOU, for YOU, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek YOU.
Those two verses pack a wallop! You see, it's not about our circumstances. It's not about how dark the day seems. It's not about how difficult the trail we are walking. IT'S ALL ABOUT WHO HE IS. HE IS A STRONGHOLD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. Write that down and memorize it, practice it, think about it UNTIL IT IS THE MOST REAL THING IN YOUR MIND. HE is there when you can't take another step. HE is the STRONG and MIGHTY ONE that you can CHOOSE to run to when the storm is dark and the wind is raging and the waves threaten to wash you away. HE NEVER FORSAKES THOSE WHO SEEK HIM. In John 6 HE said that HE WOULD NEVER TURN A WILLING HEART AWAY.
Here is the bottom line...GOD IS GOD. HE is ALL that HE has said HE IS. And we can absolutely unequivocally trust HIS NAME. The NAME of GOD is a strong tower, the righteous runs into it and is safe. Mark that down and bank on it.
Now, that should give us cause to stop and praise HIS NAME.
LORD JESUS, WE JUST WANT TO PRAISE YOU. YOU ARE WORTHY OF ALL OF OUR PRAISE. YOU ARE WONDERFUL AND FAITHFUL AND HOLY AND TRUE AND TRUSTWORTHY. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO KNOW YOUR NAME. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO CALL ON YOUR NAME. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO RUN TO THE STRONG TOWER OF YOUR MIGHTY NAME. THANK YOU FOR INVITING US TO LOVE YOU BECAUSE OF WHO YOU ARE. O JESUS, WE DO LOVE YOU.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Strength for the weary
Isaiah 40:29 says: HE gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might HE increases power.
Psalm 29:11 says: The LORD gives strength to HIS people, The LORD blesses HIS people with peace.
Psalm 68:35 says: O GOD, YOU are awesome from YOUR sanctuary. The GOD of Israel HIMSELF gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be GOD!
I find myself wondering this morning if maybe you haven't begun this New Year feeling a little bit weary. I spent some time yesterday afternoon with a lady that was very weary. I could tell as soon as I walked into her home that the heaviness of her burden was wearing her down. There was little eye contact made and it was painfully obvious that she is hurting. My heart ached for her, but I had no words that could ease the pain that she is facing. I asked her, "Are you reading your Bible?" She said, "Not so much, but I am praying everyday." I encouraged her to spend time in the Psalms. You see, in all of the years that I have been coming to this book GOD has used the WORDS of Psalms to comfort my heart over and over and over again. HE has spoken from Psalms so many times that my immediate reaction to struggle is to begin scrolling through the book of Psalms looking for a word of hope or encouragement for a weary heart. This morning the FATHER gave me that WORD again.
You may have noticed though that I didn't start with a verse from Psalms. I was actually in Psalm 68 today and it cross references to Isaiah 40...what a wonderful chapter for us when we feel weary and tired and weak.
I would encourage you this morning if the daily grind is getting to you, get out a 3x5 card and write down the above verses. When you feel like you can't keep on keeping on, REMEMBER that the ONE WHO CREATED you gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.
Let's back up to Isaiah 40:28...Do you not know? Have you not heard? The EVERLASTING GOD, the LORD, the CREATOR of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. HIS understanding is inscrutable.
The ONE who made us understands that we get weak and weary and tired. HE understands that we are dust. HE knows that we sometimes falter in our faith, and struggle under the burden of the load that we carry. In KNOWING all of that HE has graciously offered to give us HIS strength when we are weary and HIS power when we are weak. Let's close this morning with 2 Corinthians 12:9. And HE said to me, "MY grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of CHRIST may dwell in me.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE ARE WEARY AND TIRED WE CAN KNOW THAT YOU NEVER TIRE AND YOU NEVER GET WEARY. THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE FEEL OVERWHELMED WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS YOU WILL REACH DOWN AND CARRY US. MY PRAYER THIS MORNING IS THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO BE CARRIED BY YOU. O FATHER, LET US SEE OUR OWN PRIDE AND OUR OWN WILLFULNESS SO THAT WE WILL BE WILLING TO BE CARRIED BY THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS IT ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD. THANK YOU FOR USING IT TO CHALLENGE MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR CHARGING US, AS YOUR CHILDREN, WITH THE COMMAND TO BE DIFFERENT. FATHER, TEACH US TO WALK THE WAY YOU WOULD HAVE US...EVEN IF THAT INVOLVES GREAT HEARTACHE ALONG THE WAY. WE LOVE YOU. WE INVITE YOU TO BREAK US AND MOLD US AND MAKE US INTO WHO YOU WOULD HAVE US BE. YOU, JESUS, ARE WORTHY AND WONDERFUL AND WE WANT TO WALK LIKE YOU. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY...AMEN!
Psalm 29:11 says: The LORD gives strength to HIS people, The LORD blesses HIS people with peace.
Psalm 68:35 says: O GOD, YOU are awesome from YOUR sanctuary. The GOD of Israel HIMSELF gives strength and power to the people. Blessed be GOD!
I find myself wondering this morning if maybe you haven't begun this New Year feeling a little bit weary. I spent some time yesterday afternoon with a lady that was very weary. I could tell as soon as I walked into her home that the heaviness of her burden was wearing her down. There was little eye contact made and it was painfully obvious that she is hurting. My heart ached for her, but I had no words that could ease the pain that she is facing. I asked her, "Are you reading your Bible?" She said, "Not so much, but I am praying everyday." I encouraged her to spend time in the Psalms. You see, in all of the years that I have been coming to this book GOD has used the WORDS of Psalms to comfort my heart over and over and over again. HE has spoken from Psalms so many times that my immediate reaction to struggle is to begin scrolling through the book of Psalms looking for a word of hope or encouragement for a weary heart. This morning the FATHER gave me that WORD again.
You may have noticed though that I didn't start with a verse from Psalms. I was actually in Psalm 68 today and it cross references to Isaiah 40...what a wonderful chapter for us when we feel weary and tired and weak.
I would encourage you this morning if the daily grind is getting to you, get out a 3x5 card and write down the above verses. When you feel like you can't keep on keeping on, REMEMBER that the ONE WHO CREATED you gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.
Let's back up to Isaiah 40:28...Do you not know? Have you not heard? The EVERLASTING GOD, the LORD, the CREATOR of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. HIS understanding is inscrutable.
The ONE who made us understands that we get weak and weary and tired. HE understands that we are dust. HE knows that we sometimes falter in our faith, and struggle under the burden of the load that we carry. In KNOWING all of that HE has graciously offered to give us HIS strength when we are weary and HIS power when we are weak. Let's close this morning with 2 Corinthians 12:9. And HE said to me, "MY grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, so that the power of CHRIST may dwell in me.
FATHER, THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE ARE WEARY AND TIRED WE CAN KNOW THAT YOU NEVER TIRE AND YOU NEVER GET WEARY. THANK YOU THAT WHEN WE FEEL OVERWHELMED WITH OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND SITUATIONS YOU WILL REACH DOWN AND CARRY US. MY PRAYER THIS MORNING IS THAT WE WOULD BE WILLING TO BE CARRIED BY YOU. O FATHER, LET US SEE OUR OWN PRIDE AND OUR OWN WILLFULNESS SO THAT WE WILL BE WILLING TO BE CARRIED BY THE ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS IT ALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD. THANK YOU FOR USING IT TO CHALLENGE MY HEART. THANK YOU FOR CHARGING US, AS YOUR CHILDREN, WITH THE COMMAND TO BE DIFFERENT. FATHER, TEACH US TO WALK THE WAY YOU WOULD HAVE US...EVEN IF THAT INVOLVES GREAT HEARTACHE ALONG THE WAY. WE LOVE YOU. WE INVITE YOU TO BREAK US AND MOLD US AND MAKE US INTO WHO YOU WOULD HAVE US BE. YOU, JESUS, ARE WORTHY AND WONDERFUL AND WE WANT TO WALK LIKE YOU. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS WE PRAY...AMEN!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Soft and Pliable
Good Morning Folks! Let me begin this morning by saying that I am so thankful for the sweetness of HIS WORD to my heart. I am thankful that HE leads my heart around in HIS WORD and then HE tenderly brings me back to a place where HE has something to show me. We've moved around this morning. HE has been so sweet and so tender with my heart. Let's look at Psalm 37:4 together for just a minute.
Delight yourself in the LORD and HE will give you the desires of your heart.
That is very likely a familiar verse to you. It is most likely a place that, like me, you have been many times in your Christian life. When I began my time this morning with the LORD JESUS I told HIM that I want to see something fresh and new today. I asked HIM to REVIVE my heart. Like I said, we went to many different places this morning and HE assured my heart that HIS tenderness toward me today is great, and then we went back to Psalm 37 and verse 4. Maybe you have asked yourself what does it mean to DELIGHT MYSELF IN THE LORD? I've asked that question many times. This morning I reached for my Strongs Concordance and looked up the word delight. I'm sure that I've done this before, but today it really struck a chord in my heart. The word delight here means to be soft or pliable.
Stop for a minute and ponder that. Think about what the HOLY SPIRIT is trying to say to your own heart right now. You see, for me, it was VERY CLEAR. The words soft and pliable are not words that I would use to describe Vicky to you, BUT I so want to be the woman that GOD wants me to be. I WANT to be soft and pliable in HIS HANDS. HE said to my heart VERY CLEARLY, "Vicky, my precious child, IF you will be soft and pliable in MY HAND, THEN I WILL grant you the petition that you are earnestly requesting." HE wants to grant my petition, but FIRST I must bow in submission before HIM and be SOFT and PLIABLE.
My heart has a propensity toward being hard and crusty. Jeremiah 17:9 says that MY heart is desperately wicked and decietful. My cry this morning before my ABBA FATHER, MY DADDY is simply that HE would create within the walls of my chest and heart that is so tender toward HIM that it will disolve the hard crustiness of Vicky and will be SOFT AND PLIABLE in the HANDS OF A TENDER SAVIOR. You see folks, HE ONLY HAS THE BEST IN MIND FOR US. My prayer today is that I will choose to die to my own desires and to my hard crustiness and will yield my heart to the TENDERNESS of JESUS.
O HOLY FATHER, MAKE ME WHAT I CAN ONLY BE IN YOU TODAY. I KNOW THAT ON MY OWN "SOFT AND PLIABLE" WOULD NEVER APPLY TO ME, BUT YOUR WORD IS CLEAR THAT I AM DEAD AND YOU ARE ALIVE IN ME. LORD JESUS, MY PRAYER THIS MORNING IS THAT YOU WOULD CHIP AWAY THE HARD CRUSTY PLACES AND WOULD REPLACE THEM WITH SOFT PLIABLE TISSUE THAT YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR OWN GLORY. MAKE ME WHO I CAN NEVER BE, BUT WHO ONLY YOU CAN BE THROUGH ME. O JESUS, I LOVE YOU. AMEN
Delight yourself in the LORD and HE will give you the desires of your heart.
That is very likely a familiar verse to you. It is most likely a place that, like me, you have been many times in your Christian life. When I began my time this morning with the LORD JESUS I told HIM that I want to see something fresh and new today. I asked HIM to REVIVE my heart. Like I said, we went to many different places this morning and HE assured my heart that HIS tenderness toward me today is great, and then we went back to Psalm 37 and verse 4. Maybe you have asked yourself what does it mean to DELIGHT MYSELF IN THE LORD? I've asked that question many times. This morning I reached for my Strongs Concordance and looked up the word delight. I'm sure that I've done this before, but today it really struck a chord in my heart. The word delight here means to be soft or pliable.
Stop for a minute and ponder that. Think about what the HOLY SPIRIT is trying to say to your own heart right now. You see, for me, it was VERY CLEAR. The words soft and pliable are not words that I would use to describe Vicky to you, BUT I so want to be the woman that GOD wants me to be. I WANT to be soft and pliable in HIS HANDS. HE said to my heart VERY CLEARLY, "Vicky, my precious child, IF you will be soft and pliable in MY HAND, THEN I WILL grant you the petition that you are earnestly requesting." HE wants to grant my petition, but FIRST I must bow in submission before HIM and be SOFT and PLIABLE.
My heart has a propensity toward being hard and crusty. Jeremiah 17:9 says that MY heart is desperately wicked and decietful. My cry this morning before my ABBA FATHER, MY DADDY is simply that HE would create within the walls of my chest and heart that is so tender toward HIM that it will disolve the hard crustiness of Vicky and will be SOFT AND PLIABLE in the HANDS OF A TENDER SAVIOR. You see folks, HE ONLY HAS THE BEST IN MIND FOR US. My prayer today is that I will choose to die to my own desires and to my hard crustiness and will yield my heart to the TENDERNESS of JESUS.
O HOLY FATHER, MAKE ME WHAT I CAN ONLY BE IN YOU TODAY. I KNOW THAT ON MY OWN "SOFT AND PLIABLE" WOULD NEVER APPLY TO ME, BUT YOUR WORD IS CLEAR THAT I AM DEAD AND YOU ARE ALIVE IN ME. LORD JESUS, MY PRAYER THIS MORNING IS THAT YOU WOULD CHIP AWAY THE HARD CRUSTY PLACES AND WOULD REPLACE THEM WITH SOFT PLIABLE TISSUE THAT YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR OWN GLORY. MAKE ME WHO I CAN NEVER BE, BUT WHO ONLY YOU CAN BE THROUGH ME. O JESUS, I LOVE YOU. AMEN
Friday, January 4, 2008
PRAISE THE LORD
Hey Y'all! Take a look at this with me this morning. I was reading Psalm 34 and the FATHER said to my heart, "Oh really? Will you really?" Let's look at Psalm 34:1 and talk about it.
I will bless the LORD at all times; HIS praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Read it again...I had to! Think about what that verse says. The Psalmist is saying here NO MATTER WHAT, I WILL BLESS THE LORD; MY MOUTH WILL PRAISE HIM.
I found myself looking into the face of the FATHER this morning saying, "I've not done such a great job at this lately, have I?" Before I go on, let me say that HE is so tender with us when we acknowledge our sin.
Over and over in the WORD we see that praise is the prescription to overcome the things in our lives that cause us to be downtrodden and defeated. We are told that HE inhabits the praise of HIS people. My question then is, when we aren't praising HIM where is HE? Oh, be sure, HE'S never far away...HE never takes HIS eyes off of HIS own. BUT when we fail to praise HIM we shortchange ourselves. When we allow the waves of life to engulf us and to silence our praise we begin to drown in the sorrow of the things going on around us. I was reading a book last night and I was reminded of a song that the Imperials sang when I was much younger than I am today. In fact, we sang the song when I was in high school choir. The song is called Praise The LORD.
There is a line in the song that goes like this, "When your up against a struggle, PRAISE THE LORD. HE can work through those that praise HIM, PRAISE THE LORD."
I believe that is key to overcoming some of the difficulties that we face in life. I believe that if we begin 2008 purposing to PRAISE HIM our days will be different. Yes, we will certainly still have hard times. Yes, we will still face heartache and trial this year...GOD grows us in the garden of difficulty, BUT WHEN WE CHOOSE TO PRAISE HIM...HE will engulf us in HIS arms and hold us close to HIS HEART through the heartache. Folks, that is BIBLICAL. Look at Philippians 4...hear Paul telling us to rejoice ALWAYS.
HE WAS IN A DARK, COLD, ROMAN PRISON...He admonished us to praise the LORD because HE knew that it would keep our focus on JESUS and off of the difficulty.
NO! It won't make the difficulty go away. NO! It may not make the pain any less. BUT, it will make our perspective different. When we see our difficulty on the other side of the face of JESUS it is more bearable. It is easier to walk dark roads when we know that JESUS CHRIST is right there. Intellectually knowing it is NOT the same thing as choosing to PRAISE HIM in the struggle and then experiencing HIS PEACE through it.
My heart has struggled lately...A LOT! And this morning, the FATHER said to me, "Vicky, will you CHOOSE TODAY to praise ME regardless of the struggle in your heart? Will you CHOOSE to obey and REJOICE ALWAYS?"
Folks, that's NOT easy, BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL. Lamentations 3:22-23 remind us that HIS mercy is new every morning and HE IS FAITHFUL. You can count on that! Yes, it's dark at night, but JOY COMES IN THE MORNING...and PRAISE GOD, HE gives us a new morning every single day. We can begin again RIGHT NOW. Take it personally today. Go to your knees and ask HIM to forgive you for NOT praising HIM. Ask HIM to fill your heart with PRAISE for WHO HE IS. You see, we must remember that's it's not because of who we are, it's not because of what we've done....IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. When you focus on that...YOU CAN'T HELP BUT PRAISE HIM.
FATHER, I COME NOW AND I SIMPLY WANT TO PRAISE YOU FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE. YOU ARE GOD. YOU ALONE ARE GOD AND WE CAN ALWAYS FIND A REASON TO PRAISE YOU. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING MY HEART THIS MORNING THAT THE PRESCRIPTION FOR A HARD DAY IS TO CHOOSE TO PRAISE THE LORD AND TO FOCUS ON WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE DIFFICULT DAYS TO DRAW OUR HEARTS CLOSER TO YOUR OWN. O FATHER, TEACH US THIS YEAR TO PRAISE YOU EVEN AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WAVES ARE HIGH AND THE WIND IS STRONG. JESUS, WE LOVE YOU, BUT WE WANT TO LOVE YOU SO MUCH MORE. GROW US AS ONLY YOU CAN. IT IS IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS THAT WE PRAY...AMEN!
I will bless the LORD at all times; HIS praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Read it again...I had to! Think about what that verse says. The Psalmist is saying here NO MATTER WHAT, I WILL BLESS THE LORD; MY MOUTH WILL PRAISE HIM.
I found myself looking into the face of the FATHER this morning saying, "I've not done such a great job at this lately, have I?" Before I go on, let me say that HE is so tender with us when we acknowledge our sin.
Over and over in the WORD we see that praise is the prescription to overcome the things in our lives that cause us to be downtrodden and defeated. We are told that HE inhabits the praise of HIS people. My question then is, when we aren't praising HIM where is HE? Oh, be sure, HE'S never far away...HE never takes HIS eyes off of HIS own. BUT when we fail to praise HIM we shortchange ourselves. When we allow the waves of life to engulf us and to silence our praise we begin to drown in the sorrow of the things going on around us. I was reading a book last night and I was reminded of a song that the Imperials sang when I was much younger than I am today. In fact, we sang the song when I was in high school choir. The song is called Praise The LORD.
There is a line in the song that goes like this, "When your up against a struggle, PRAISE THE LORD. HE can work through those that praise HIM, PRAISE THE LORD."
I believe that is key to overcoming some of the difficulties that we face in life. I believe that if we begin 2008 purposing to PRAISE HIM our days will be different. Yes, we will certainly still have hard times. Yes, we will still face heartache and trial this year...GOD grows us in the garden of difficulty, BUT WHEN WE CHOOSE TO PRAISE HIM...HE will engulf us in HIS arms and hold us close to HIS HEART through the heartache. Folks, that is BIBLICAL. Look at Philippians 4...hear Paul telling us to rejoice ALWAYS.
HE WAS IN A DARK, COLD, ROMAN PRISON...He admonished us to praise the LORD because HE knew that it would keep our focus on JESUS and off of the difficulty.
NO! It won't make the difficulty go away. NO! It may not make the pain any less. BUT, it will make our perspective different. When we see our difficulty on the other side of the face of JESUS it is more bearable. It is easier to walk dark roads when we know that JESUS CHRIST is right there. Intellectually knowing it is NOT the same thing as choosing to PRAISE HIM in the struggle and then experiencing HIS PEACE through it.
My heart has struggled lately...A LOT! And this morning, the FATHER said to me, "Vicky, will you CHOOSE TODAY to praise ME regardless of the struggle in your heart? Will you CHOOSE to obey and REJOICE ALWAYS?"
Folks, that's NOT easy, BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL. Lamentations 3:22-23 remind us that HIS mercy is new every morning and HE IS FAITHFUL. You can count on that! Yes, it's dark at night, but JOY COMES IN THE MORNING...and PRAISE GOD, HE gives us a new morning every single day. We can begin again RIGHT NOW. Take it personally today. Go to your knees and ask HIM to forgive you for NOT praising HIM. Ask HIM to fill your heart with PRAISE for WHO HE IS. You see, we must remember that's it's not because of who we are, it's not because of what we've done....IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS. When you focus on that...YOU CAN'T HELP BUT PRAISE HIM.
FATHER, I COME NOW AND I SIMPLY WANT TO PRAISE YOU FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE. YOU ARE GOD. YOU ALONE ARE GOD AND WE CAN ALWAYS FIND A REASON TO PRAISE YOU. THANK YOU FOR REMINDING MY HEART THIS MORNING THAT THE PRESCRIPTION FOR A HARD DAY IS TO CHOOSE TO PRAISE THE LORD AND TO FOCUS ON WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING THE DIFFICULT DAYS TO DRAW OUR HEARTS CLOSER TO YOUR OWN. O FATHER, TEACH US THIS YEAR TO PRAISE YOU EVEN AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WAVES ARE HIGH AND THE WIND IS STRONG. JESUS, WE LOVE YOU, BUT WE WANT TO LOVE YOU SO MUCH MORE. GROW US AS ONLY YOU CAN. IT IS IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS THAT WE PRAY...AMEN!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
What will you do with your invitation?
Good Morning Y'all. I just want to share a few verses this morning from Psalm 33. My prayer for you is that these verses will encourage your heart as they did mine. It is so sweet to take a few minutes at the beginning of each day and just spend some time letting the FATHER pour the soothing balm of HIS WORD on my heart. I am so thankful that HE has given us HIS WORD, and that HE invites us to come and hear HIS VOICE to our hearts morning after morning....and if needed more often than that. We can stop at any time during our day and ponder HIS WORD and HE will speak it into our hearts. Think about that for just a minute. Ponder the reality that the GOD who spoke and creation came into existence has inivted us, you and me, to HEAR HIS VOICE.
What are you going to do with that invitation in 2008?
Let's look at a few verses from this chapter. Let's start with verses 6 and 9 and then we will move over to the end of the chapter. By the WORD of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the BREATH OF HIS MOUTH all their host.
Think about that. BY HIS WORD...HE SPOKE everything into existence. HE can speak peace into your heart. HE can speak tranquility into the storm that you are in. HE can speak and all of creation jumps to attention.
For HE spoke, and it was done; HE commanded, and it stood fast.
Now, let's look at verses 18-21. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear HIM, On those who hope for HIS lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; HE is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in HIM, Because we TRUST in HIS HOLY NAME.
HE sees those who fear HIM. HE is watching moment by moment those who have put all of their hope in HIM. HIS plan is to deliver from death and famine....be that physical death or spiritual death...HE has deliverance in mind for HIS people. Can you say with the Psalmist, this morning, that your heart rejoices in HIM? Can you say that you TRUST HIS NAME? Ask HIM to search your heart. Ask HIM to fill your heart with trust. Ask HIM to grow you this year, even this day, in ways that you never would have imagined possible. Ask HIM to use whatever trial you are currently facing to draw your heart closer to HIS OWN.
Let's wrap up by praying together Psalm 33:22
LET YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HAVE HOPED YOU. FATHER, LET THIS BE TRUE IN OUR LIVES. LET US BE EVER HOPING IN YOUR NAME. LET US LEARN TO RUN TO WHO YOU ARE. TEACH OUR HEARTS TO TRUST WHEN LOGIC WOULD TELL US TO RUN. TEACH OUR HEARTS TO RELAX IN YOU AND TO WAIT FOR YOU EVEN IF THE STORM IS RAGING AND THE WINDS ARE BOISTEROUS AND THE WAVES ARE CRASHING IN AROUND US. TEACH US TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVEN'T SENT US INTO THE STORM ALONE, BUT YOU ARE ALREADY THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING TENDER AGAIN THIS MORNING WITH MY HEART. JESUS, I LOVE YOU. IT IS IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME THAT WE PRAY THIS MORNING. AMEN
What are you going to do with that invitation in 2008?
Let's look at a few verses from this chapter. Let's start with verses 6 and 9 and then we will move over to the end of the chapter. By the WORD of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the BREATH OF HIS MOUTH all their host.
Think about that. BY HIS WORD...HE SPOKE everything into existence. HE can speak peace into your heart. HE can speak tranquility into the storm that you are in. HE can speak and all of creation jumps to attention.
For HE spoke, and it was done; HE commanded, and it stood fast.
Now, let's look at verses 18-21. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear HIM, On those who hope for HIS lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; HE is our help and our shield. For our heart rejoices in HIM, Because we TRUST in HIS HOLY NAME.
HE sees those who fear HIM. HE is watching moment by moment those who have put all of their hope in HIM. HIS plan is to deliver from death and famine....be that physical death or spiritual death...HE has deliverance in mind for HIS people. Can you say with the Psalmist, this morning, that your heart rejoices in HIM? Can you say that you TRUST HIS NAME? Ask HIM to search your heart. Ask HIM to fill your heart with trust. Ask HIM to grow you this year, even this day, in ways that you never would have imagined possible. Ask HIM to use whatever trial you are currently facing to draw your heart closer to HIS OWN.
Let's wrap up by praying together Psalm 33:22
LET YOUR LOVINGKINDNESS, O LORD, BE UPON US, ACCORDING AS WE HAVE HOPED YOU. FATHER, LET THIS BE TRUE IN OUR LIVES. LET US BE EVER HOPING IN YOUR NAME. LET US LEARN TO RUN TO WHO YOU ARE. TEACH OUR HEARTS TO TRUST WHEN LOGIC WOULD TELL US TO RUN. TEACH OUR HEARTS TO RELAX IN YOU AND TO WAIT FOR YOU EVEN IF THE STORM IS RAGING AND THE WINDS ARE BOISTEROUS AND THE WAVES ARE CRASHING IN AROUND US. TEACH US TO REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVEN'T SENT US INTO THE STORM ALONE, BUT YOU ARE ALREADY THERE. THANK YOU FOR BEING TENDER AGAIN THIS MORNING WITH MY HEART. JESUS, I LOVE YOU. IT IS IN YOUR MOST HOLY NAME THAT WE PRAY THIS MORNING. AMEN
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
This Year
I was sitting here thinking about the words of a song that a friend of mine sings..."Show me how to love in the true meaning of the word." That is what I want for 2008. I want to love like ONLY JESUS could love...that is the true meaning of the word. I know this is only possible by staying closer and ever closer to the ONE who is LOVE.
I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of days thinking about 2008. What do I want in 2008? How will this year be different from last year? What will I purpose in my heart?
Daniel purposed that he would NOT defile himself...
David purposed that he would offer nothing to the LORD that didn't cost him something...
Paul purposed that he would know nothing except for CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED...
Peter purposed that he would give what he had and would not attempt to offer what he didn't have...
How about you and me this year...What will we purpose to do this year that will make a difference for the GLORY OF GOD?
I am not talking about a rashly made New Years Resolution. I am talking about a prayerfully considered determination to walk with the LORD JESUS this year, NO MATTER WHAT. Will you purpose with Daniel, David, Paul, Peter...will you make the decision that YOU WILL WALK WITH JESUS FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS YEAR?
This will be radical living. Many, in fact most, will not understand and some will ridicule you.
Let's wrap up this morning with Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Perhaps in your mind you read those words and said, "Many are the sorrows in my own life." I imagine that at times the great men and women in the Bible also felt that their sorrows were many, but still they purposed to walk with the LORD. Still they determined that whatever it cost them it was what they wanted....they wanted JESUS and MORE OF JESUS. Psalm 119:71 says: It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn YOUR statutes. Yes, folks, we live in a world filled with sorrow and heartache, but with JESUS we can walk through every trial WITH JOY. Go back and look at the lives of the Bible greats, and you will see it over and over. That is my desire this year. I want 2008 to be the year that GOD does something so radical in my life that IT COULD ONLY BE HIM...
That might mean walking through a lot of sorrow along the way, but Oh the Joy of knowing HIM better through the trial.
THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY. THANK YOU THAT IT MATTERS NOT HOW BIG OUR TRIAL OR OUR DIFFICULTY, IT ONLY MATTERS THAT YOU ARE GOD MOST HIGH, YOU ARE THE GOD WHO CAN, YOU ARE THE JEHOVAH GOD. YOU ARE ALL THAT WE NEED IN THE FACE OF EVERY TRIAL. TEACH US TO WALK WITH YOU THIS YEAR LIKE WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE. WE ASK THIS IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS...AMEN!
I have spent a lot of time over the last couple of days thinking about 2008. What do I want in 2008? How will this year be different from last year? What will I purpose in my heart?
Daniel purposed that he would NOT defile himself...
David purposed that he would offer nothing to the LORD that didn't cost him something...
Paul purposed that he would know nothing except for CHRIST and HIM CRUCIFIED...
Peter purposed that he would give what he had and would not attempt to offer what he didn't have...
How about you and me this year...What will we purpose to do this year that will make a difference for the GLORY OF GOD?
I am not talking about a rashly made New Years Resolution. I am talking about a prayerfully considered determination to walk with the LORD JESUS this year, NO MATTER WHAT. Will you purpose with Daniel, David, Paul, Peter...will you make the decision that YOU WILL WALK WITH JESUS FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS YEAR?
This will be radical living. Many, in fact most, will not understand and some will ridicule you.
Let's wrap up this morning with Psalm 32:10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked, But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
Perhaps in your mind you read those words and said, "Many are the sorrows in my own life." I imagine that at times the great men and women in the Bible also felt that their sorrows were many, but still they purposed to walk with the LORD. Still they determined that whatever it cost them it was what they wanted....they wanted JESUS and MORE OF JESUS. Psalm 119:71 says: It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn YOUR statutes. Yes, folks, we live in a world filled with sorrow and heartache, but with JESUS we can walk through every trial WITH JOY. Go back and look at the lives of the Bible greats, and you will see it over and over. That is my desire this year. I want 2008 to be the year that GOD does something so radical in my life that IT COULD ONLY BE HIM...
That might mean walking through a lot of sorrow along the way, but Oh the Joy of knowing HIM better through the trial.
THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THANK YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE. THANK YOU THAT YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY. THANK YOU THAT IT MATTERS NOT HOW BIG OUR TRIAL OR OUR DIFFICULTY, IT ONLY MATTERS THAT YOU ARE GOD MOST HIGH, YOU ARE THE GOD WHO CAN, YOU ARE THE JEHOVAH GOD. YOU ARE ALL THAT WE NEED IN THE FACE OF EVERY TRIAL. TEACH US TO WALK WITH YOU THIS YEAR LIKE WE NEVER HAVE BEFORE. WE ASK THIS IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS...AMEN!
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