On A Warm Rock

ON A WARM ROCK ~ Psalm 40:1-3
“I waited a long time for the Eternal; He finally knelt down to hear me. He listened to my weak and whispered cry.He reached down and drew me from the deep, dark hole where I was stranded, mired in the muck and clay. With a gentle hand, He pulled me outTo set me down safely on a warm rock; He held me until I was steady enough to continue the journey again.As if that were not enough, because of Him my mind is clearing up.Now I have a new song to sing— a song of praise to the One who saved me.Because of what He’s done, many people will see and come to trust in the Eternal.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There has been times my waiting for my Lord felt like a dark tunnel without a way out. Yet I kept going searching for his hand and hoping to hear his foot steps. Maybe even the wings of his eagle as it comes to my rescue.

Many times, in my low hours, I cried for him as I felt alone. He comes. Always comes.

I’ve felt his touch, his warmth, his whisper. The picture this psalm describes of the Lord finally kneeling down to hear, it is what I’ve experienced and still experience.

His hand is gentle, his pull is kind and places me oh so tenderly on his warm rock. That warm rock, I usually describes it as his embrace, his lap, his heart. I know without a doubt and with every fiber of what makes me, that my Lord has come to my rescue over and over again.

When he holds me, its just not for me to regain my step, no, it’s to hold my lifeless soul, my weak spirit and my dwindled heart. Once I’ve regain my spiritual balance, my heart strengthens as it holds to God’s promises and my soul is filled with the hope that carries one to tomorrow.

It is then when I walk with my Lord as we lock arms that my mind becomes clear. For I know he is with we as I continue in the darkness of today’s unknown. For it isn’t what I can see or understand, but the hope of what God is doing that gives me a positive outlook at a distrustful time.

Then a song comes, it always has and it sings my heart and feels my mood, but someone else wrote the word and played out the rhythm. Time after time, I’m still amazed how God works it out for the song comes on the radio, pandora, or someone sends it at that hour.

I worship a living God and serve a risen Lord and listen to a flowing Holy Sprit. No one can ever take my faith, my belief nor my hope from me.
Because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me every season of my life, even today, I can say he rescues, teaches and guides. Everything the Scriptures say about my Lord, is who my Savior is and what he does for those who follow him and worship God.

I pray that if you do not know God, his Son and the Holy Spirit, that you come to trust in the Eternal and experience his majestic love, his forever forgiveness and his everlasting assurance.

Advertisement

AN IRON AXEHEAD FLOATS

AN IRON AXEHEAD FLOATS ~ What’s impossible for man, it’s possible for God.

Have you ever read the story of the axe head that floated? It’s in 2 kings 6:1-7.

Elisha, God’s prophet, join the company of the prophets who were headed to the Jordan river. Cutting trees to make a bigger meeting place was the purpose of their quest.

One of the men’s iron axehead came off and plopped into the river.

With great concern, the man exclaimed, “Oh, my lord, it was borrowed!”

Elisha, man of God, asked, “Where did it fall?”

The man pointed to the spot.

Without a word, Elisha cut a stick and threw it where the axhead went down. Soon after, the iron piece floated.

The men must have been in awe because Elisha commanded, “Lift it out.”

The man reached out his hand and took it.

What an amazing story. What factors in this story grab your imagination? What details send questions to your heart? What lesson floats to you today?

Can you believe of what God can do for you? If not, you can confess, “Lord, I have less than a grain of belief.” Then ask, “Please Lord, help my unbelief?

If you don’t have enough faith, but you know someone with great faith, go to them. Ask them to pray for you or even better with you.

I read once a story of a preacher headed to a destination where God sent him. He got a free ride on a ship which was headed in the same direction. A stormed developed.

The captain came to the preacher and informed him that they will not be able to take him to the port he requested.

In that moment the preacher wondered why God would send him there, provide a free passage but then bring a storm.

He then told the Captain, ” Let’s go to your cabin and pray.”

The captain reply, “What can God do? It’s a massive cloud.”

After the pastor prayed, the captain started to pray. The pastor stopped him and said, “You don’t need to pray, for you don’t believe. Come, let’s go up and see what God has done.”

Once they were out, they noticed the storm cloud had moved away from where the pastor needed to go.

When, you don’t have enough faith or your belief is low, go find those whose faith is strong. Ask them to lift your burden to the Lord. You pray also and ask God to increase your faith.

Then wait for your iron head to float. Your burden to be lifted. Expect a solution to come your way.

Just like the man, had to reach in and get the axe head, we too need to reach out and take what God will bring our way.

Keep in mind when life seems challenging to overcome, it wasn’t the stick which brought the iron out of the water, but the knowledge of what God can do and the faith of him solving the impossible.

May God bless his word and us and his word in us.

When A Massive Wave Comes

WHEN A MASSIVE WAVE COMES

Living His Word

Our God, punish those people. We don’t have the strength to stop this large army that is coming against us. We don’t know what to do! We are looking to you for help.”

2Chronicles 20:13 ERV

When one receives a blow of shock, disappointment, betrayal, challenging time or difficult news to heavy to bear it’s like a massive wave over us. Its power smashes us against a boulder, which can’t be move, and leaves us powerless.

When hours, days, months maybe even years passed and the boulder is still sitting there, we come to a place again and again of not knowing what to do.

From nowhere another blow has knocked out our wind, our strength, our stamina to fight. We can’t stop what’s coming against us. For the boulder has trapped us.

We then feel alone and totally helpless. Feelings and thoughts overwhelm us and we become powerless to fight the enemy of our mind, our will and at times our belief.

Then we hear a whisper, like a soft warm wind, reminding us, “It’s not your battle to fight. Do what you must. Do what you can. Then do what I’ve told you. Rest and trust in me, your Lord and Savior.

I will stop this large army which has come against you. Will you take my hand and believe that I am watching over you?

Don’t forget of those people who I’ve placed along side you. They are part of my army. They too will be fighting for you in prayer. Surround yourself with my people.

Don’t remove yourself, then cry wolf, as if you are all alone. For you are never alone. I am with you. When you are with your brothers and sisters in Christ, you will feel me there.

Don’t turn away from my ways or from me, look to me for my help. Take my hand and I will bear this burden with you until this storm passes.

As for the boulder, it’s a reminder of my power in your life. It will remain where it has been placed. In the past.

Remember, the past can return and bring a storm. If and when it does, it should draw you even closer to me than before. For we have a history together. Don’t allow the storm to wash you away from me.

I’ll fight the enemy which your eyes can’t see, which destroys the human spirit and imprisons souls.

I will fight the wind which whips you away from me. I will cover you with my hands.

I will fight for you, my child, when you can’t see any one else beside you.

Come, trust in me again, take a hold of my promises and follow me. Always, look towards me for help.”

May the Lord bless his word and his people.

Revealed Glory Through Pain

Prince William Sound, Whittier, Alaska

REVEALED GLORY THROUGH PAIN

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Romans 8:18 

An insert from BibLe Hub

“Jesus told us that He came so that His disciples may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10), but He also told us that in this world we will have tribulations (John 16:33) and persecutions (Matthew 5:10-11).

Paul experienced the extremes of Jesus’ words.

On the one hand, he had a life more abundant than most. He was full of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit and he had a powerful ministry all over the known world.

But he also suffered many trials, troubles, tribulations, and persecutions. He knew the heights of the Christian experience in this dispensation and he knew the depths as well.

And when he sums it all up, as he does in our verse for today, he says that all the tribulations and persecutions are not worth comparing with the abundance of life that is still to come.”

My two cents worth:
In struggles, sufferings, pains come moments of unexplable hope which are slivers of glory. Those moments sparkle of what is yet to come, lighting-up the path which overcomes the present darkness of the tormoil.

May you see those landers of glorious hope on your way to the glory which God has and will revealed to you on that day.

God bless his Word and his people.

Childlike Finds Heavenly Treasures

CHILDLIKE FINDS HEAVENLY TREASURES

At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.”

— Matthew 11:25 NLT

Insight

As a child we eager to grow up.
As a teen we eager for independence
As a young adult we eager for retirement.
As a mature adult we eager to be young again.

When reason blooms understanding, at all stages of life we should strive to be childlike in our eagerness to become something we are not. It is then when we can seek heavenly treasure and actually find it.

Joy among tears.
Peace among caos.
Love among dissapointments.
Forgiveness among unrepentance.

Lord, help us to be childlike with our faith in you. Hold our hand and lead us to the treasure you have for us. Thank you that we don’t have to be wise or clever to understand your ways.

Bless your Word and your people. In Jesus name I ask.

Work Prepared In Advanced

WORK PREPARED IN ADVANCED~ Living His Word

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Have you ever gone to bed thinking of all the things you have to a accomplish tomorrow?

Of course, we all have.

But have you gone to bed wondering what work God prepared for you to do tomorrow?

Well, that part of the verse was a target hit on my heart.

Almost daily I wake up asking God to guide my steps, thoughts and words for I know in my head where I must be, with whom I will be and what I’m going to be doing. I planned these things in advanced.

Hmmm.

Now I’m thinking. I should be prepare to do my list as well as God’s.

Questions:
Can we know the work He has for us? Yes.
It will be present to us. God’s good works will be done along side our work. There are times we must put a side our work to do God’s. Also, the Holy Spirit will tell us in advance and help us to be ready.

Will we listen to the Holy Spirit small voice?
If yes, can we work along God’s plan and ours? Or can we postpone ours to do list for God’s good works?

Lord, may we not miss the good work you have prepared for us today. May we be listening to your Holy Spirit and be willing to do the prepared godly tasks you have for us.

God, bless your Word and your people. Amen.Work

God, Do Not Correct Me In Anger

DON’T EVER WANT GOD’S CORRECTION IN ANGER

I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own.
We are not able to plan our own course.
So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle.
Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.
— Jeremiah 10:23-24 NLT

Both methods of correction come from God, gentle or in anger. Yet, we don’t want to hear of God’s correction in anger.

We’ll sit and listen as we are told, taught and preached of “God is Love” and His gentle ways of correction.

But, when God’s righteous anger is taught or felt, questions form in our hearts. Why me? Doesn’t God love me? Doesn’t He care how much it hurts?

His tough corrections seem uncaring, unloving and unbearable. We then want to flee from God. If you are a parent, you understand the need of tough love. God does as well.

When the hard, painful and challenging discipline of God comes, it’s only to correct our rooted, stubborn, and corruptive ways.

For these deep, seeded habits lead us away:
from producing the fruits of the Spirit,
from those who love and care about us,
from the gentle discipline of God.

It’s actually leading us to the cliff of self distrution because we have been deceived.

Others suffer from our ungodliness, is not only self. Those who are the closest to us, who’s God’s love is been sent through, our children, our spouce, our parents, our friends will also be hurting. But that heartache comes from our distance from God.

Ultimately, the realtionship with our Lord becomes foreign. We then become foreigners among our own family, friends and the family of God.

When you feel the hard discipline of God, run to him, ask for his forgiveness and for his gentle ways of correction.

Go to your family ask them to forgive you and help you to be restore physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Be among people of the faith and ask for their council as God restores you.

He truly loves you, or he wouldn’t pursue you and correct you in His righteous anger.

Once you are no longer are a foreigner in your own home, watch how God’s blessings began to bloom around you and around your family.

Then you will understand how the joy of the Lord becomes your strength. God will turn your stubbornness to firmness in Him. Your sorrow to joy. Your troubles to blessings.

When you face disceptions again, you will see their true form, thiefs. For they come to steal, kill and destroy.

God’s discipline does come in a gentle touch and in a strong, yet firm hand, because he does care for His own.

Standing Firm

STANDING FIRM ~ means to recall the truth and anchoring my soul to the freedom I have in Christ, my Lord.

When the wind of setbacks comes, bringing the yoke of slavery, I’ll stand firm on God’s promises.

Then, in Christ, past burdens of insecurities and doubts will be blown, right passed my heart and mind.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
– Galatians 5:1 NIVSta

When The Impossible Is Before You

WHEN THE IMPOSSIBLE IS BEFORE YOU ~ Wait for the Lord.

Then:
1. See where God takes you
2. See what God shows you
3. See what God instructs you to speak

“Son of man, can these bones live?”

“O Lord GOD,” I replied, “only You know.”

And He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and tell them: ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live.

I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath within you so that you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

So I prophesied as I had been commanded.”

Ezekiel 37:2-7

Take time to read the rest of the story to find out what happens when we obey God’s commands.

Happy May Day

HAPPY MAY DAY

Wether the sun is shining beautifully or clouds blanket the sky, the earth sends it messages of warmer days to come.

*

May flowers will be sent to family and friend reminding them of what’s on the way.

*

Many will begin preparing for barbecuing camping, boating, fishing, hiking and spending time in the outdoors rejoicing in the sun.

*

Before the gathering of people and the buds fully bloom, we’ll want to get rid of what we acquired during fall and winter time. Therefore spring cleaning and fitting into that swim suit must get accomplish.

*

While we strive to exist with less, lets remember one thing to have lots more of. . . time with family friends and with God.

*

Two of the three may not be near, but they are just a message or a call away.

 

In the meantime let’s keep these words of wisdom in mind as we pull weeds, trim bushes, rub off grass stains from cloths, go for a run and wash our windows clean;

“The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.”

Isaiah 40:8 ESV

*

Because, all summers do end, the grass will wither and the May flowers will fade, we must remain in God’s word. It’s the one thing which is everlasting.

*

May the Lord rubb and wash away what keep his light shining in and through us. May He pull and trim the things which cover our hearts and keeps his showers of blessings from reaching us. May he work us out to get rid of what weight us down then we can wear the proper spiritual clothing.

*

Once He showers, dresses and lights us may the fruits of the Spirit bloom wildly within us like flowers on the fields for many to receive.

*

Let it be a reaccuring spiritual cleaninsing through out the year and not only in springtime.

*

God bless each one of you, my family and friends.