TARRADIDDLE?!!

Hello to all- As I am  preparing a message on HOLDING FAST, I am pausing to share this fun word with you...!  This is because SATAN, our adversary is full of it! Lies, deceptions, distortions, and other 'crafty' methods all belong to his TARRADIDDLE!  So- Be on guard and let him know WHOSE YOU ARE and WHO YOUR LORD IS!   I PETER  1:13 calls us  to 'PREPARE OUR MINDS for action; be SELF-CONTROLLED (in the power of his HOLY SPIRIT within us!); SET OUR HOPE FULLY ON THE GRACE TO BE GIVEN YOU when JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED.'  Notice how HE is so ready to reveal his grace at any point.. Jesus Christ can be 'known and shown' every moment of every day if we but HOLD FAST as ones anchored in the blessed HOPE and ASSURANCE we have solely in the completed 'work' of Jesus, our Lord and Savior!

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND

As I contemplate the content of this message, I am extremely grateful to be able to truly sing so many of the wondrous truths of a personal walk with the Lord. Today, I was telling 'my' seniors I lead hymns for that 'Music is the language of the soul..'  I find it nearly impossible to share anything of a 'spiritual'  nature with anyone without letting hymn lyrics say part of it for me...  Thus, the title of this post..
Not long ago, a dear friend of ours indicated loss of all hope.. UGH! I wanted to erupt in song by singing, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.." but it would't have been very sensitive to have done so at that point.. (or at least I thought so!) This topic I am on reminds me of Psalm 40 which states how the LORD answers our cry for help as He pulls us up out of the muck and mire, setting our feet upon a rock which gives us a firm place to stand.. YES LORD, YES LORD, yes, yes, LORD!  Knowing the security of a firm place to stands relies upon our willingness to call our to HIM humbly and with tender hearts.. (which admit our need for HIS care for us.)  SO, I pray that anyone who reads this message will speak out to the LORD so HE can place you securely on the rock of Christ.. His blood, and his righteousness.. To God's glory only!

THE LORD OF AWE!

Today's title is 'inspired' by the fact that 3 separate theaters I'm aware of in my area have all chosen to perform THE WIZARD OF OZ  this spring... It makes me think that a lot of people 'out there' are sort of wishing, and hoping that life could have 'happy endings'  in unexpected manners all the time.. As a child, my favorite book was our family's worn out copy of this story.. I loved the color pictures and really identified with the lion's need for courage..      At any rate, I began thinking that I am in love with THE LORD OF AWE! (I'd wanted to say, 'The LORD of AWES', but that isn't a real word!.. "Aw, shucks!," as I believe the lion used to say..)

These past 3 weeks have been full of opportunities for me to 'walk my talk' as I've had to let the facts of my love relationship to the true LORD OF AWE, sustain and encourage me throughout several sources of potential despair...  GUESS WHAT! Remembering to focus on those facts about HIS all-sufficiency, power, grace, mercy, perfect shepherding of me, and much more, have truly allowed me to be in constant AWE of HIM!                                                                         If you 'happen upon' this message, I'd just love to tell all of you that life doesn't have to be lived in a fantasy world of 'I sure hope and wish that things will get better,' etc... but that YOU can count on the LORD JESUS CHRIST'S perfect mercy, grace and compassion to envelope and support you ALL THE TIME, if you but ask and trust Him... Begin now, and that 'Wizard of  Oz' ending can be yours moment by moment....  Remember to call 1-888-NEED HIM if you'd like assistance in entering into this relationship and all it means.. Until next time, I say, 'MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AS HE MAKES HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND IS GRACIOUS TO YOU, AS HE TURNS HIS FACT TOWARD YOU TO GIVE YOU PEACE.' (NUMBERS 6:24-26)

HEAVEN ON EARTH...

I'd like to  dedicate today's entry to Pastor Mark who was able to lead many of us as we grew more aware of just how 'heavenly' it is to know the Lord personally!       He no longer needs to sing, "I Can Only Imagine," but now sings, "If You Could See Me Now!"                                           

                    

 As I sit here, I am listening to a song called, I HAVE HEARD OF A CITY CALLED HEAVEN and, I have just read comments from the family of a very beloved pastor who recently went home to be with Jesus after more than 10 years of Lou Gehrig's (ALS) disease.  The comments indicate just how many lives were blessedly impacted through his life on Earth... Then, some of them convey how Heaven must blessed to have him there now...  Prior to this morning, I'd been intending to write this message and had already chosen its title... For, you see, as the pastor's family can testify to, those of us who are the Lord's CAN live in 'Heaven' on Earth.... I don't know about most of you reading this, but to me, it is HEAVENLY to live at peace with my Lord as I appreciate the hope and joy (and, of course, his merciful, gracious,  never failing love !) his presence within me generates. In fact, I propose to all of us today that it is this wondrous indwelling of his Holy Spirit which enables us to be blessed by, and to be a blessing to, our Lord as well as to others daily. For, as we convey the true PEACE, HOPE, and JOY He provides, we are indeed presenting the reality of 'heaven on Earth..' Living in his presence and with his presence within us is meant to be 'Heavenly' for we ARE in personal communion and fellowship with HIM here and now! YES Lord, yes Lord, yes, yes Lord! 

As I proofread this, the song on my new CD is,   I CHOOSE JESUS- 'not for a day, but for eternity!' HE is here now! I hope and trust you all have chosen Jesus not just for today, but for eternity! If you happen to be uncertain, simply call 1-888-NEED HIM.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN.........

LOST IN HIS LOVE? Today's title is finished by these capitalized lyrics found in BLESSED ASSURANCE. They have to be some of my absolute favorite words in the many hymns I know.... This is because each time I sing them (at least 3 times weekly as I lead hymns in various care facilities), I find myself being able to identify with the wonder of truly being 'lost' in his love... This does not mean I am 'lost and not findable!,' but means I'm awed as I wander freely and without cares in the depths of his wondrous love for me! So, when I get to sing these words, they are much more than simply 'words.'  

While I'm on this topic, I also love to sing, "fills my every longing- keeps me singing as I go.." These are found at the end of  HE KEEPS ME SINGING.  What a blessing it is to be able to truly say that HE does fill my every longing...HE KNOWS all I need and He's always a step ahead of me as HE meeets fills those needs and longings..

Finally, for now,- The lyrics, "Hast thou not seen how all thy desires have been granted in what He ordaineth?" almost always come to mind when I sing the above lyrics.. I don't 'get' to sing this song, PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY as often since it's not in my group songbook, but I've internalized its message...  What a fantastic truth! Do you have any favorite songs? (or parts thereof?)

Ignorant Does Not Mean Dumb...

Recently, I've had the opportunity to point out that being ignorant of something does not mean you are 'dumb.' It's OK to admit lack of knowledge of a certain realm of facts.. I can tell you right now that I am NOT a rocket scientist so you won't find me working at NASA!   So, what am I writing about this title for?  Well, let me tell you that one of the last things I said to someone today was basically, "You just haven't had the opportunity to learn much about this particular topic." It's no shame to  not know 'something about everything'! In fact, it can be quite fun and enlightening to decide to welcome new knowledge!  So, dear readers, I'd like to encourage you to set your minds on things above as you realize the Father up above is looking down in love! HE has so much waiting for you to learn and, He is a very merciful, compassionate, and gracious instructor! In II Timothy 3:16, we find that 'All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, and for training in righteousness...'  We can be very grateful for the Bible since it truly allows us to come to know more of the LORD.. I am so fascinated when I stop to consider just how HE inspired its contents so HE might reveal himself to us. Have you paused to consider the wonder of being able to approach the LORD GOD, creator of all, in an intimate manner?  JESUS himself, called his disciples friends..! That's another wonder!

I'll close now by simply challenging you (as well as myself!) to grow in knowledge of HIS word, and of HIM personally!  DID you know that Jeremiah 9:23-24 says we CAN know HIM?  Just open your mind and heart to welcome his presence within you if you haven't known about these wonderful truths yet! Afterall, JESUS did say He is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life! Blessings to all...as you continue or begin to discover just how MUCH He loves you!

  

Simply Words?

This will be brief, I hope! Recently, I was concerned when I heard someone saying they 'should' have done a certain optional thing... It was said in a manner which sounded as if they were condemning themself. I would propose the use of 'could' have done instead of 'should' since  'should' implies as sense of guilt but the use of 'could' simply acknowledges possibly a missed opportunity.. (This was being said in the context of my friend's mentioning of how her quiet times with our Lord had not been what they 'should' have been recently..) See what I mean? 

One more pair of words I think about often is  'Successful/Significant,' for, once again, words do make a difference.. It was the coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungee (sp?) who verified my thinking about these words in our Christian lives... We are not meant to be 'successful' as such since all we do is to be solely to the LORD's GLORY, but, we ARE meant to lead 'significant' lives which flourish as we become more yielded to His presence within us so that others can be impacted by the prospect of true PEACE, HOPE, JOY, MERCY, GRACE, and SO MUCH MORE becoming possible for their lives also!

Now for an intriguing thought about the power of a word.. This morning during my quiet time, I noticed the use of the word, "if" 4 times in II Peter 2:4-9.. I know the LORD has a reason for its presence there, but take time to look up why I am maybe a little bit puzzled about why THAT word is there instead of "since."  Blessings to all who read this...