SOMEBODY'S HUSBAND???

Whenever it's tempting to wonder if the Lord REALLY knows what HE'S doing... Stop, and remember this brief message!  Seven decades ago, my in-laws began having children... The first was a boy, as was the second.. I'm assuming that they couldn't help but hope for a girl the third time, but they were presented with their third son! Not only that, but the fourth was also a son...  I don't know about them, but I am very glad their third was a boy because he has been my best friend, husband, and lover for nearly 38 years now! If he'd been a girl....  Oh well... Would I have a delightful husband??? Only God knows..

Most recently, we have welcomed a refreshing lady into our lives... She is the only daughter in a family of seven children... You got it! She was the last to be born!  Six boys before her folks 'finally' got a daughter.  I personally, am very glad they allowed themselves to continue to produce children because I am thrilled to meet their daughter.....  ONLY OUR LORD knows who needs to be born when and how their presence on Earth will impact SO MANY OTHERS.. (In this case.. This gal is able to impact others to the GLORY OF GOD!)

PSALM 139:13-16  has some 'priceless' verses which remind us that HE knew us in the womb and He has our days numbered.. For me, this is extremely comforting.. KNOWING HIM, rejoicing in the fact that his thoughts about me are more numerous than the grains of sand, and TRUSTING his sovereignity, continue to keep me 'Going, growing, and glowing!' To God Alone Be the Glory!

ONE MORE NOTE-- Our third child was the 'tie-breaker' since we already had our boy and girl, but the important fact here is she almost was a 'wasn't!' Contraception attempts failed and other choices were made which opened the door for her birth... Her husband and children are very glad, as we are also! She's had 3 possibly deadly events in her life, but the LORD certainly has her days numbered as she lives her life in communion with Him.. YES LORD! Her 'Life verse' is Philippians 1:6- For me to live is Christ.. To die is to gain!'  HE doesn't want her to be 'home' with Him quite yet! YES LORD!

DELIGHTED


“ by”


Sheila Dean









Lord, I’ve often heard it said that those who love you are


surprised by your way- It’s no wonder it seems that way, as we rely upon You


day by day!


Recently though, it has come to me,


that you want us to be as delighted as we can be!


You speak to us saying,


“Dear ones, there’s no end to my displaying


of peace, hope, and joy directed towards you!


Observe and receive all that I so willingly do—


I don’t desire to surprise you,


For you know my sole sufficiency in all I am


and have for you!


However, I do delight in causing you to rejoice


as I enlighten your way of my choice-


It’s my pleasure to care for you in every


detail of your daily living.


There’s no end to my resources issued forth


as I exercise divine giving!


Abundant grace is meant to delight you!


SO, go ahead and be tickled!—


Even giggle a little-(or a lot!)


For, as you do, it’s a gift to me to see


you’re rejoicing in whose you’re not!”


Lord, I thank you deeply for the privilege of


casting my cares upon You-

For, You do delight me as I realize all You do!

Dear Readers- This was an experiment to see if I could cut and paste one of my (His!) poems onto a blog.. I think it's working... 
The title of this post is meant to be          "DeLIGHTed"!

I will simply say at this point that most of us may have heard the 'punny' phrase associated with JOHN 15 which is about the vine and the branches.. 'I am 'divine,'  and you are 'de branches!'  Well, my thought today is that sinceHE is also the LIGHT of the world, we are to be truly 'deLIGHTed' ones!  I have much more to say about all of this, but I will leave you for now... Please, do let the LORD delight you continually as you trust him in all matters of your earthbound life!    Because HE loves us, Sheila

THE ULTIMATE HEALTH CARE PLAN

I often tell others that when I'm not at my school doing my paid job, I am at my other 'job' which pays far better than the wages I receive from my school district.  Most days, as I walk away from school, I look forward to visiting 'my' senior citizens... Some days I will lead a lightweight Bible study. Sometimes I'll sit in someone's room for 30-90 minutes to just 'be there' as I listen to concerns, etc. On other days, I will 'make the rounds' in the care facilities where I am committed to sing at bedsides to individuals (and their roommates!?). There are no words to effectively describe the depths of joy experienced as my LORD restores me during these times. (My paid job can easily 'deplete' me at times!)

As I was reading the Gospel of Mark this AM, I noticed once again this comment by Jesus..."It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17) It finally dawned on me that we do have the ULTIMATE HEALTH CARE PLAN!  Do we realize it and, are we grateful? Jesus promises abundant, peaceful, hope-filled, joyful life! All of these are wonderful 'medicine' to our struggling souls as we suffer the 'ills of society' which can impact us frequently...  I, myself, have learned to delight in 'Doctor Jesus,' as HE constantly cares for me far better than any earthly physician ever could!  How about you? 

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.