The summer season is vastly approaching and I should be happy, but to be honest I'm not. I find myself in a place where, at times, fear grips my heart, and I long for answers from God as to "What Next", and all I hear is "Wait, Abide in Me". Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." Psalm 34:22 "The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate." Psalm 56:3 "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Psalm 91:1 "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." It is hard at times, for me, to grasp the truth of these scriptures when life is crashing in like a flood. But that is exactly what God requires that I do. Letting go, of fear, anxiety, worry, the harder I try to hold onto things I have no control over the more they slip through my hands, like sand. It takes the "Good Courage" of God, to face uncertainity. To trust the "Unseen" but "Very Presant" LORD when afraid. And it is a blessing to "Abide" under His shadow, the "Shadow of the Almighty." to dwell in the secret place of the most High. Psalm 91:2 "I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust." The summer season is vastly approaching and I have hope. His name is Jesus!
The Hand Of The Father:
The hand of the Father wrote upon my heart,
love acceptance, and a precious work of art.
The hand of the Father formed my life to be,
quite and gentle, and devoted to He.
The hand of the Father a gift He did give,
a Son on a cross so that I might live.
The hand of the Father captures my tears,
soothes my soul and calms my fears.
The hand of the Father that points to the Way,
the Truth, and the Life, here I must stay.
The hand of the Father so strong and secure,
will never let go of this I am sure.
The hand of the Father where my heart does rest,
in this I know, I am truly blessed.
The hand of the Father holds and protects,
hides me securely in the mountains cleft.
The hand of the Father that feeds and provides,
bountiful blessing on every side.
The hand of the Father my hand will take,
never let go, and never loose faith.
The hand of the Father wrote upon my heart,
Love, acceptance, a life set apart.
(by, D. E. M. June 3, 01)
"I will praise thee: for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalm 139:14"
Healing The Hurting Heart:
Thank You, Father, for healing my hurting heart. You took my turmoil and turned it into triumph. You gave me life anew with joy and made me whole. Once my heart was crushed with grief, my mind spun uncontrollably. I couldn't focus on a logical thought. Nightmares kept me from sleeping. Durning the day, I could barely stay awake. I was so hurt I wanted to die. But I knew this was against all You taught me. You came. Your Spirit visited me and anointed me. You healed my broken heart and set me free from emotional pain. You comforted me as I gave each injury of my soul to You. You forgave my sins and helped me to forgive others. Thank You for how You lifted my spirit of heaviness. I praise You for replacing the dark ashes of my past with beautiful new joy in You. You anointed me with the oil of gladness and took away my mourning. You placed a garment of praise on my shoulders in place of a spirit of despair. Thank You, Father, through Your presence, Your Word, and Christian loved ones, You helped me rebuild my life into something good and victorious. You gave me back a zest for living. Thank You for planting my feet on Your solid rock. I praise You for using my heartaches and trials to teach me wisdom, empathy, and compassion. How wonderful is Your lovingkindness. Thank You for healing me so I can be strong for my loved ones and family for generations to come. You are my great and mighty God. You are the Lord of Hosts. How wise are Your councels and miraculous works. Dear Father, You see my every need. Praise You, O God. Praise You for taking my turmoil and truning it into triumph. My weeping endured the night. Because of You, my joy came in the morning! (He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we his as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his strips we are healed. Isaiah 53:3-5) "When I'm Praising God, by Anita Corrine Donihue"
The Never-Failing God:
"For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13:5.
What line does my thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to something after I have heard what He says? "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." "I will in no wise fail thee"--not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I listened to this say-so of God's, then let me listen again. "Neither will I in any wise forsake thee." Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill-Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out--can I hear God's say-so in these things? We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and bye, but as we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God's say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.
(pg. 113, My Utmost for His Highest) Oswald Chambers
Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
My Thoughts:
I have read and re-read every line in this publication, only to find, that each time, there is something new that touches my heart or challenges my thinking.
I have asked myself the question, "What line does my mind take?" "Am I truly trusting in the Never Failing God?" I can look back and pick out definite times where my trust in God was very evident. But as time ticks on and the battle of flesh and spirit rages at a steady beat. I find that at times my shield of faith grows heavy, and my sword gets tarnished. I am only revealing my heart, that with an earnest prayer, those who choose to read will also search their hearts and allow God to reveal areas that need a touch from His steady hand of mercy. Let this be our prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23-24 Amen and amen.......
When I am Afraid:
Psalm 27
John 11
John 20
John 17
Romans 8
2 Corinthians 4
2 Corinthians 12:9
According to Mine Eternal Purposes:
Hold thou fast, for lo, I am with thee: stand thou still, for I an thy God. Be thou quite before Me, for I have arranged all things for thee according to My good will, yea, according to Mine eternal purposes. For I have purposes and plans and desires which reach far beyond thy present view.
Thou seest as it were the immediate situation, but My thoughts for thee embraces eternity. Yea, thou atr in My hand. rest there, and leave all else to Me.
(pg. 183, Come Away My Beloved)
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! Psalm 139:17
For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Galatians 5:5
Whom Shall I Fear?:
The Lord is my light and my salvation:
whom shall I fear" The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
THE WRITER'S FEARLESS LIFE was an extraordinary accomplishment due to his belief that God was with him. "For thou art with me" is his previous explanation (23:4). He did not fear darkness; for he believed the Lord was his light. Many of our problems are due to a lack of enlightenment. Neither was he afraid of condemnation, because he was assured his salvation was in the Lord. Nor did he fear weakness. He believed that with the Lord's help he would be strong enough to meet every eventuality. Neither did he flinch before his enemies, for his experience had been that when they came upon him the Great Protector caused them to stumble and fall (verse 2). Nor did he fear trouble of any kind, because he felt that when it came, God would hide him in His own dwelling place, shelter and protect him (verse 5). This glorious valor was strengthened and fed by the promise that God "shall strengthen thine hand" (verse 14). So there is hope for all of us to become braver. In the same way, our courage should increase as we see God's promises fulfilled and feel His presence more closely.
(A Psalm In My Heart)
My soul is among lions:
And I lie even among them that are set on fire,
Even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
and their tongue a sharp sword. Psalm 57:4
Among Lions
THE LIONS WERN'T BEASTS but "sons of men" who resembled lions: fierce, ferocious, savage men. When the author lay down for the night's rest, they were around him: beastly men, "set on fire," inflamed with hate, burning with anger. They had teeth like spears and arrows, and a tongue as sharp as a sword. A cruel man is a two-legged, second-rate lion. Yet, with these characters surrounding him, the psalmist was able to lie down and find repose. How did he do it? Trust. He slept under the shadow of the wings of the Lord. And with a fixed heart he declared, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid of what man can do unto me."
In a very short time our society has degenerated into a series of horrors. Walking the streets in our cities at night is unsafe. The parks, once harmless places of relaxtion, have been turned into forbidden jungles of violence. And moving away is no solution, for the threat is spreading.
What is the answer? David's behavior is the solution. Take precautions to preserve yourself and trust God for the rest. Don't live in fear with every breath a dread and every night a night-mare. There is a braver way.
(A Psalm In My Heart)
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me besides the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
Psalm 23:1-3a
O taste and see that the LORD is good:
Blessed is the man the trusteth in him. Psalm 34:8
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