Bless The Lord - Psalm 103

 

PSALM 103:2
Bless The LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

What are the benefits with which God blesses us, as listed here in Psalm 103 by David?

GOD FORGIVES US
v3 He who forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases,
v4 Who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with lovingkindess and compassion,
v5 Who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
v6 The LORD executes righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
v7 He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel.
v8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion.
v 9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever.

v 10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins or repaid us according to our iniquities.

v11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him.

v 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

v 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so The LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

GOD REMINDS US OF OUR FRAGILITY

v 14 For He knows our frame; He is mindful that we are dust.

v15, 16 As for man, his days are like grass—he blooms like a flower of the field; when the wind passes over, it vanishes, and its place remembers it no more.

GOD SHOWS US MERCY IN HIS KINGDOM

v 17, 18 But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of The LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children—o those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

v19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

SO WE BLESS THE LORD GOD

His Angels Bless Him

v20 Bless The LORD, all His angels mighty in strength who carry out His word, who hearken to the voice of His command.

His Mighty Armies Bless Him

v21 Bless the LORD, all His hosts, you servants who do His will.

His Creation Blesses Him

v22 Bless The LORD, all His works in all places of His dominion. Bless The LORD, O my soul!

BLESS THE LORD - Matt Redman

GOODNESS OF GOD - Bethel Music

The Faithfulness of God

 

 

    While there are only a few verses describing the faithfulness of God, there are many instances in The Bible telling us of God's faithfulness. But, first, what does the word 'faithfulness' really mean? 

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance #530 (faithful, faithfully, faithfulness, responsibility truth): firmness, steadfastness, fidelity

Dictionary: 

• Firmness: the quality of having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure
• Steadfastness:  the quality of being resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering:
• Fidelity: faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief, demonstrated by continuing loyalty and support 

    So we can see that the faithfulness of God is unyielding, unwavering and true. While our faithfulness on the other hand is sadly lacking at times. We try but fail Him so many times. Yet, in His grace and mercy, God still loves us and only wants us to keep drawing near to Him, where we find forgiveness and restoration. 

HEART OF MY HEART - Charlie Daniels 

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS - Austin Stone

    Of the more than one-hundred verses using the words 'faithful and faithfulness', thirty-five refer to God's faithfulness to us. The words 'faith and faithfully' are in reference to us and how we behave to God. 

    The first verse in The Bible that tells us of God's faithfulness is in Psalm 36:5

 

and the last verse referring to the faithfulness of God is in Revelation 22:6.

    But what about all those other verses referring to God's faithfulness? Today is just the foundation; the next few days are about the layers. 

Statements of Faith - I Delight Myself In The Lord

 

PSALM 37:4

Delight yourself in The LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

SPEND TIME WITH HIM IN PRAYER

Matthew 7:7, 8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 

Matthew 6:9-13 is an example of prayer that Jesus gives His disciples. 

(9) Acknowledge Who God Is and that He is holy, recognize that we are not, then 

(10) Receive His kingdom [Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38], Surrender and submit to His will [Romans 12:1-3; Psalm 63]

(11) Ask for and receive that which God desires us to have daily

(12) Ask for forgiveness every day for the sins we have committed and receive it, because we are forgiving those who have sinned against us (don't retain bitterness, don't hold grudges against anyone), knowing that God will forgive us as much as we have forgiven others [Matthew 6:14; Mark 11:25]

(13) Pray for strength to withstand temptations and be separated from such [Luke 22:40; John 17:15; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3)

MEDITATE IN THE LORD (ponder, think about)

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Psalm 104:34

My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

STUDY HIS WORD

2 Timothy 2:15

Study to shew yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth.

Ephesians 1:13

And in Him, having heard and believed The Word of Truth--the gospel of your salvation--you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 

Ezra 7:10

For Ezra had set his heart to study The Law of The LORD, to practice it, and to teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

SWEET HOUR OF PRAYER Casting Crowns

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD 

ANCIENT WORDS  Robin Mark

GIVE ME WORDS TO SPEAK Aaron Shust

The Lord Is - Sun and Shield

 

PSALM 84:11

For The LORD God is a Sun and a Shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; He withholds no good thing from those who walk with integrity. 

Revelation 21:23

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Isaiah 60:19

The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but The LORD shall be unto thee an Everlasting Light, and thy God thy glory. 

Psalm 3:3

But Thou, O LORD, art a Shield for me; my Glory, and The Lifter up of mine head.

    Right now people are excited about the solar eclipse that will be happening this week, when the sun is completely covered by the moon and darkness will be upon the land briefly. But someday, both sun and moon will vanish, for their usefulness will have faded. I think that is the more exciting event to look forward to and I'm so glad I'm going to see The Light of heaven someday! 

THOU ART A SHIELD - Kent Henry

(LIGHT OF THE WORLD) HERE I AM TO WORSHIP   -The African Children's Choir 

Psalm 33: 1-3

 

Psalm 33:3

Rejoice in The LORD, O righteous ones; it is fitting for the upright to praise Him. 

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever shout for joy. May You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. 

Psalm 32:11

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, O righteous ones; shout for joy, all you upright in heart. 

Psalm 33:2

Praise The LORD with the harp;

Make music to Him with ten strings.

Psalm 43:4

Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.

I love the sound of the harp. It flows over me like a waterfall of melody.

Psalm 33:3

Sing to Him a new song: Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 40:3

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in The LORD.

Psalm 98:4

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth--let your cry ring out, and sing praises! 

The word 'praise' is used quite a few hundred times in The Holy Bible and can be translated at least seven different ways. 

Sometimes the word 'praise' means to sing (halal), kneel (barak); yadah (to throw your hands out in front of you or to raise hands/arms), zamar (make music), shabach (shout); towdah (choir of singers); tehillah (hymn or song). 

When we let The Spirit lead us in studying God's Word, we allow Him to teach us how to worship God the way God wants us to worship Him. 

HE PUT A NEW SONG  - Marty Nystrom, Integrity Music

I AM CHRISTIAN'S HANDS

 

PSALM 24:3, 4

Who may ascend the hill of The Lord? 

Who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,

who does not lift up his soul to an idol 

or swear deceitfully.

    I am Christian's hands and I am many things, but mostly I am busy. Although, in order for me to be busy going about The Lord's work, several things must happen first. I must be clean (Ps 24:4) and I must be holy (1 Timothy 2:8). 

    These hands of mine I lift up to pray and praise The Lord (Ps 134:2). Though I am frail, The Lord is strong and in His strength my hands become His hands. With my arms I can hug you, but with my hands I can comfort you. With my hands I caress your face and tell you how much God and I love you. 

    My hands have fingers and my fingers can lock together, one hand grasping the other, in prayer. With my hands, palms up, I pray and praise my God. With my hands raise above my head, I yearn for the touch of The Lord God, and I reach out to touch Him as He makes His presence known in my praises. For "God inhabits the praises of His people" (Psalm 22:3 ), a dwellingplace not made with hands but with heartfelt, sincere praise. 

    My hands are diligent (Proverbs 10:4, 12:24): I'm working in the fields that are "white unto harvest" and I'm praying for the lost souls to find Christ and receive Him into their hearts, for The Holy Spirit to fill them with the power of God and walk in His strength and wisdom all the days of their lives. In each field which I am sent to work in - - for no two fields are the same, yet all will be harvested in due time -- I pray for a steady and steadfast surrender and commitment to follow Christ. 

    I am Christian's hands and I have placed myself in God's hands: it is the safest place i know to be. Since I am in God's hands even now there is nothing for me to be afraid of, no one for me to fear. 

    I am Christian's hands and I have laid my hands on others not to hurt, nor hinder them, but that I might pray for and prophesy into their lives through the power of The Holy Spirit Which resides in my heart and my life. Acts 6:6 and 2 Timothy 1:6. 

    I am Christian and my hands serve The Lord. With my hands I grip my Bible, turning the pages that my eyes and my heart might receive The Word which The Lord has prepared for me each day. With my hands I thank God for His faithfulness to me and His lovingkindness which He has extended to the people I pray for. Even you. 

HEART OF A SERVANT (cover)

GOD OF MY FOREVER 

HANDS & FEET - Audio Adrenaline

I Am Christian's Memory

 

JOHN 14:26

But The Helper, The Holy Spirit, Whom The Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

    Memories are funny things. Even in our memories we are all different. I may remember my name and forget yours. As our physical bodies age or succumb to various diseases, our memories are affected, too. 

    Faces, names, connections like family and friendships may eventually fade from our memories in this life. But The Word which is planted within us will never fade. We will never forget that we belong to Christ. We have The Helper, The Holy Spirit, reminding us who we are in Christ and Who Christ is in us. I am Christian's memory and The Word will never leave me.

    Even the gospel songs we love to sing may still linger on our lips. Psalm 77:6 "I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search." I am Christian's memory and songs that glorify God and praise His Holy Name will always flow from within me. For The Holy Spirit is my Helper. He draws this flowing river of melodies and lyrics from the hidden places in my heart. 

    I am Christian's memory. I remember that God loves me so much He sent His Only Begotten Son to die for me. I remember that Jesus not only died to take my sins away forever, but that He defeated death, hell and the grave. 

    As He died on the cross, the sins of the whole world from the beginning of people until the last person gets saved were laid across His shoulders and He became sin. The weight of it crushed Him. But He stayed on the cross for us, for me. When He took our sins upon Himself, God could not be in His presence, for sin is unholiness and God's holiness had to separate itself from His Only Begotten Son. 

    After He died, His body was laid in the grave, the tomb. But only His body was there. His spirit and soul were in hell. Hell, where He overcame Satan in a battle we know little about. What we do know is that Satan, the devil, can be overcome by The Word and The Spirit, for that is how we overthrow him in this life we're living now. We know He holds the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:18). 

    We know He overcame the grave because He walked out of it in His new body, His resurrected body was changed from what He looked like before He died. We know this because when Mary Magdalene encountered Him in the garden (John 20:14-16), she thought He was the gardener. [which, if you think about it, He is: He is the Master Gardener]. 

    I am Christian's memory. Because I live in Christ and He lives in me, I, too, will be changed when my body leaves the grave. But know this: my soul will not remain with my body. When I die here, I will take His hand there. As I breathe my last here, I will inhale the perfume of heaven and my soul will be at peace in the eternal presence of my Lord and Savior. I am Christian's memory and I will go with Christian when Christian dies. 

    All the bad memories, all the hard times, will pass from my memory permanently. For God has promised to wipe away all tears. For instance:

    Some time after my son Nick died, I had a dream. In this dream, as his car hit the pickup truck, Nick took hold of Jesus' hand which was extended to him and walked out of this life into his life eternal. He was not alone when he died; he was not afraid. The military chaplain who spoke at his funeral said that Nick was the "most Holy Spirit-filled young man he had ever met". What a testimony. This was the last time I cried. God put all my tears in one of His bottles (Psalm 56:8). 

    I am Christian's memory and I am filled with examples of the love of God, the merciful compassion of Christ, the guarded strength of The Holy Spirit. I may forget your name, your face, your connection to me. But I will never forget my God and my Savior. 

HOPE HAS A NAME - River Valley Worship

Great Is Your Mercy

 

PSALM 86:13

Great is Your Mercy toward me: You have delivered my soul from the lowest hell. 

Psalm 56:13

For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in The Light of Life.

John 8:12

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am The Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have The Light of Life.”

    As long as I remain in The Light of God's Love, I can see clearly enough to know that God is with me and will not abandon me to my own follies. His grace, after all, is "sufficient for me".     The Lord is, as David writes in Psalm 27:1, "My Light and My Salvation, and My Strength of Life." The Lord is with me and I am content.

    

    See how David writes that The Lord God has delivered him from 'the lowest hell'? The very bottom of hell, where no light pierces. All is darkness, despair and hopelessness. His soul was in a very dark place. But God reached down when David reached up and lifted him out of the worst of the worst. Why? Because God loved David and David loved God.

    He faith in His God remained strong despite all the troubles and pitfalls David found himself in. This great faith can be ours, too. We just need to reach up to God, with our praises and prayers, and He will lift us up out of the dark places we find ourselves in from time to time.

    It's lonely in those dark places. A person would begin to believe they are all alone; that no one loves them or even thinks about them. No one reaches out to rescue them from the darkness and discouragement. It appears to the lost or lonely soul that they are the only ones to experience such thoughts. Not so, for even the faithful believer has to battle the thoughts that threaten their souls.

    Let us open our hearts and our mouths, lift our hands and begin to praise God right here, wherever you are, with every breath that is within us. Give God the glory. Give God adoration. Give God you. And you will find yourselves walking in His Light.

I Am Christian's Mind

 

1 PETER 4:7

The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.

    I am Christian's mind. I think with the mind of Christ -- 1 Corinthians 2:16 "For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ." Having surrendered my life and my body to the service of my God, my mind is also part of that package dedication. Though it will not show up on any x-ray nor be visible in any anatomy class, my mind is essential in being of service to my King and Lord. 

    The mind is the center of the soul. It controls the spirit and regulates the breath thereof. Just as in physiology the diaphragm controls the breathing and regulates the heart, so, too, does the mind control the center of its being. When I gave my heart and my life to Christ, I gave Him my thoughts, too, for they originate in the mind. 

    When I was a wretched sinner, my mind was given over to lascivious thoughts which were taking me down the road to hell. But when I gave my mind to Christ and He entered into my heart by my faith in His Name through the power of God's Holy Spirit, my mind had to align with His mind. Being stuck in this body of sin and having the mind of Christ there is a constant struggle to maintain a righteous way of thinking. But God didn't leave me there. He shows me in His Word how to get control over wayward thinking. 

    Philippians 4:8 tells me how to think with the mind of Christ. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

    My mind decides my actions. While we may think some things get done without much thought, that is decidedly untrue; for the mind is in constant motion, even while sleeping, and thoughts that we may be unaware of eventually come to pass unless we take control of our thoughts. Being Christian's mind self-control includes how I think. Though I take the reins of my thoughts, I am still Christ's and He is still guiding me and leading me throughout my day. 1 Peter 2:11 "Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. " 

    I am Christian's mind. I meditate (think on) on The Word of God. I allow it to sink into my very self, my inner being, my existence. I seek His Word that He may fill me with Himself that there may be no room for anything else. No room for ugliness only loveliness. No room for lies, only truth. No room for deceitfulness, only honesty. No room for injustice, only justice and fairness. No room for impure thoughts, only a pure heart (Matthew 5:8). No room for propaganda, only prophetic and blessed. No room for deprivation and injuriousness, only virtue. No room for self-righteousness, only praise to our God. These things I think on. 

    I am Christian's mind. I meditate on The Word of God. 

Psalm 119:15 I meditate on His precepts and consider His ways

Psalm 143:5 I meditate on all His ways and consider what His hands have made

Psalm 4:4 I meditate within my heart while I prepare for rest

Psalm 119:11 Because I meditate on His Word it is hidden deep within my heart leading me away from a life of sin to a life of holiness

    I am Christian's mind. I think before I speak. I think before I act. I consider the consequences of my possible actions before I put my thoughts into action. I rest in the knowledge that I have the mind of Christ as well as the Love of God living in me and bringing me to fulfill the purposes for which He has chosen me to serve Him. 

    My conduct, the way I behave, originates in my mind. Therefore, I must constantly be on guard, be alert, to the ways in which the enemy of my soul attacks me. He is sneaky and underhanded. I must fill my thoughts with The Word of God that I may be able to defend myself against Satan's dart throwing (Ephesians 6:10-20). I am armed with The Word of God and The Holy Spirit of God. My mind remains focused on pursuing holiness and the desire to bring you all with me on this journey. 

WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE LORD - Christ For The Nations

THINK ON THESE THINGS  - K-8 Music (children's choir) 

ALL TO JESUS I SURRENDER - Vineyard

    

Goodness & Mercy

 

PSALM 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever. 

    What is the goodness of God? His lovingkindness, HIs choice to bless His faithful people. The goodness of God is every blessing, every "good and perfect gift" which He provides for us when we seek Him out to spend time with Him. 

    What is the mercy of God? His unconditional pure love. This love sent Jesus to the cross to die for you and I. This love of God is for anyone who wants to be loved by God in God's Way. This mercy of God extends "to a thousand generations". It is sought after by they who are hungry for The Truth of God's Word. It is longed for by they who seek to be comforted by God's Word. 

    God's goodness and mercy follow me closely, like our shadow. Wherever the sun shines, we have a shadow, right? So wherever The Son-shine takes us, God's favor goes with us. And it will not leave us when we die: we will dwell -- live completely and wholly holy in Him -- in God's house forever, without end. 

    All of God's promises are Faithful and True. And I'm clinging to this one daily. 

SURELY GOODNESS & MERCY 

AS THE DEER - Forerunner (Instagram) 

1 Peter 2:9, 10

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own peculiar people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 

    What is in this house in which we will dwell forever? The holy presence of God. We don't need anything else but Him, God in all His glory and light. 

STORM ALL AROUND YOU - Forerunner (Jon Thurlow)

I Am Christian's Mouth

 

PSALM 34:8

O taste and see that The Lord is Good! Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

    I am Christian's mouth. With my tongue I taste The Word of God, discovering both Its sweetness and bitterness. It is with my mouth, speaking what I believe in my heart, that I am no longer a sinner lost in sin but a saint saved by grace: Romans 10:10 "For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Hebrews 6:4 tells me my tongue has tasted of the heavenly Gift (John 4:10) while Ephesians 2:8 tells me that this heavenly Gift is Salvation through Jesus Christ. This is what Grace tastes like!

    My lips are clean now. Before I came to Christ I was a wretched sinner and my lips were very unclean. I recognized my need for spiritual cleanliness and The Lord touched my lips with His fire, burning away the filth that covered them, as He did for Isaiah -- Isaiah 6:5. Therefore, because my lips are now clean I am able to speak clearly The cleansing Word of God. 

    I am Christian's lips. My lips -- Proverbs 20:15 -- have knowledge. But not just any knowledge: the knowledge of The Word of God. Proverbs 3:13-35 describe both the blessings of Wisdom and the ruination of those who choose to be unwise. There is no greater knowledge than the knowledge of the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. In Him is wisdom and through Him is understanding. 

    My lips praise God -- Psalm 35:28. Psalm 71:23 confirms to me that my lips SHOUT for JOY! and the next verse brings me back to my tongue: "My tongue will indeed proclaim Your Righteousness all day long, for those who seek my harm are disgraced and confounded." Psalm 35:28 

    With my lips I kiss The Son -- Psalm 2:12. This means that I worship Him with everything that is within me. A kiss is more than two lips meeting, it is the signing of a contract between two people, as on the day they are wed. Though a kiss can also signal betrayal, as Judas did when Christ was arrested. But when I kiss The Son I am signaling my arrival in His presence. I am so filled with Joy to be near my Savior that I cannot contain myself and am compelled to sing His praise, declare my adoration for Him and throw myself at His feet in utter worship.

    I am Christian's mouth. And I am glorifying God with it. I sing His praises.

Psalm 109:30  give great thanks to The Lord

Psalm 89:1  make known His faithfulness

Psalm 66:17  His praise is on my tongue

Psalm 59:16 sing of His strength

Psalm 71:8 filled with His praise all day long

    Plus so many, many more waiting for you to search out in His Word for yourself, as I have and still do. I am Christian's mouth and I'm hungering and thirsting after The Lord to be filled with His goodness. 

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE - Phil Wickham 

TASTE & SEE - John Mark Pantana 

     

I Am Christian's Belly

 

JOHN 7:30

He that believes on Me, as The Scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

    Some versions of this verse render the word "belly" as heart, innermost being, deep within. But the belly is where we digest what we have been reading and hearing of The Word of God. I am Christian and in my belly are the deepest places of my faith where The Word gets rooted and grounded. 

    For according to Psalm 1:1-3 I am like a tree planted by the waters, whose roots are nourished by the river, causing them to expand and take hold of the foundation of The Word, The Rock. As a tree of righteousness, I spread out my branches for shade, comfort and seed. My soul prospers because I have filled the deep places in my belly with The Word of God. This happens when I study and pray over The Word as I go through It. 

    These rivers flow through me. Water that flows does not stagnate. Nor does it dry up and wither away. It is by The Power of God, The Spirit of God, that I am able to live in contentment and peace, regardless of who comes against me. For it is not I who is being fought against, but Christ within me. Jesus was hated when He preached the gospel in His time. And He warns His followers that whoever is faithful in following God's gospel plan of salvation that we, too, will suffer for our faith. But I have a river of life flowing through me that gives me strength to withstand against all the enemies of my soul. 

    I am Christian and in my belly the milk of The Word was first purchased by faith in The Name of Jesus Christ. As I grew in The Lord, the meat of The Word has been supplied to me. The closer we get to Jesus Christ the stronger our relationship grows. In Him I live and move and have my being. The song that keeps resounding in my thoughts is Jesus Have It All. And I wonder, "Did I give Him my all? Have I kept anything back?" Questions each of us must ask ourselves every day. I want Him to have every part of me. Including my deep within place. Every nook, every cranny. 

    And when He has prepared me, out of me flows the rivers of Life. Rivers of Hope. Rivers of Joy. Rivers of Peace. Rivers of the Gospel of Salvation through Jesus Christ. There is no other Name under heaven by which we can be saved (Acts 4:12). Oh, what Joy to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is Lord of my life and Savior of my soul! 

    Come, taste these living waters which The Lord has prepared for you today. Come, quench your thirst and fill your own belly/heart/innermost being with His Word, His voice, His Spirit. Come, sweet is the honey and wine. But take care, sometimes the meat will be tough. It's okay. The Sword of The Lord cuts right through it. Jesus told His disciples that His meat was to do the will of His Father (John 4:34). This should be our meat too.

    In my belly is the remembrance of the last supper which Christ had with His disciples.  They broke apart the bread and ate it in remembrance of how His body was broken and torn for our sins. They drank of the cup, the drink from the vine, in remembrance of His blood which flowed from Calvary. That blood washes away our sins when we repent of them (confess aloud to God our sins and stop doing those things of which we have confessed and been forgiven for). 

    Come, eat and drink with me. The Spirit and the bride say,  Come. Let he who is thirsty, come. Revelation 22:17 "And The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 

    I am Christian and I'm calling you to come to the cross and see my Jesus. I'm calling you to walk with me and He. I'm calling you to the supper table. Come, take our hands, take up your cross and follow Jesus. It's the best hiking trip you'll ever take. 

    

    

The Lord Preserves The Simplehearted

 

   THE LORD PRESERVES THE SIMPLEHEARTED

    Psalm 116:6

The Lord preserves the simplehearted; I was helpless, and He saved me. 

    Simplehearted does not imply simpleminded. The simple in mind are openminded, hearing everything but the instruction of the wisdom of The Lord. The simple in heart have the faith of a child, believing without seeing. 

    Believing that The Lord has done great things for us, though we, as yet, may not see the results of our childlike faith. A person must be aware of their helplessness to save themselves before they can reach out to The Lord for salvation. 

    Before I was born somebody prayed for me. When I walked in the ways of the world, somebody prayed for me. When I should have died in my sins, somebody prayed for me. Though my heart was harder than my head, somebody was praying for me. And while some still do, the ones who prayed for me without my knowledge are now in my "great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). They passed the torch of a faithful, prayer-filled relationship in Christ to me and I'm passing it to the next person to reach out for it. 

    I was helpless. I still am. But I came to the understanding that nothing I could do could save me. That there is only ONE Savior, ONE plan of salvation: that only God's plan of salvation (John 3:16-18) would be able to deliver me from all my unrighteousness. I needed to repent of my wickedness against God and believe that His only begotten Son Jesus Christ is Lord of All. He can only save the people who believe on His Name for their salvation. Unbelief will not save you. 

    I'M SO GLAD THAT THE LORD SAVED ME 

BLESS THAT WONDERFUL NAME OF JESUS

Be Anxious For Nothing

 

This is a little ditty I wrote more than twenty years ago. I still sing it. It is God speaking to me and now I'm sharing it with you. 

Be anxious for nothing:

I will provide for you.

You are My bride, my church, my wife.

Needs have I met for you,

My table is set for you;

Tested and tried

You've come forth as gold. 

It is taken from studying The Scriptures, some of which are these two passages, and asking God (praying) to reveal Himself to me and what He wants me to know:

Matthew 6:25-35

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

    God tells us repeatedly in His Word to "worry not, fret not, fear not". But to fully trust in Him for everything. In every situation and circumstance in which we find ourselves we are "stand and withstand" Ephesians 6:13, "be steadfast and immoveable" Colossians 1:23. 

    He also tell us to seek Him out first. "Seek first the kingdom of God." Matthew 6:33 "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path." Proverbs 3:6 "O God, You are my God, Early will I seek You." Psalm 63:1. Great is the blessing which comes from putting God first in our lives. 

Ephesians 5:21-30 speaks of Christ's great love for His church. 

Being tested and tried is to be expected, for God sits as a Refiner of His people: Malachi 3:3. The Lord is Tester of Hearts: Proverbs 17:3. We are called to suffer and to suffer for righteousness' sake: 1 Peter 3:14. Only by going through the fire of His love can we expect to come forth as a vessel fit for use, whether we are gold or silver or wood or clay. However God wants to use us to advance His kingdom, we need to be willing partners with Him. Our hearts must align with His heart. And that will only happen if His only begotten Son Jesus Christ is living in our hearts. 

Are you ready to be tested and tried? Are you prayed up? Are you filling your hearts and your minds with The Living Word of God? No player goes onto the field without first meeting the requirements of basic game preparedness. No practice, no play. No studying of the game and how it's played, no play. No abiding by team rules and no listening to the coach, no play. If we refuse to obey The Holy Spirt, we will not be able to survive the tests and trials in which God places us for His purposes. 

Be anxious for nothing

I will provide for you

You are My bride, my church, my wife

Needs have I met for you

My table is set for you

Tested and tried

You've come forth as gold. 

REFINER'S FIRE 

The Lord Is SongGiver

 

PSALM 42:8

The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, 

and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.

Job 8:21

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with a shout of joy. 

    When I first got filled with The Holy Spirit I saw myself as a mountain filled with music. And when the mountain became a volcano, it wasn't lava that flowed, it was Music. New music, new songs. Songs of joy, songs of hope, songs of rejoicing; songs of sorrow, songs of wistfulness, songs of grief. Songs of pain, songs of the love of God and for God; songs of laughter, songs of weeping. 

    All of these flowed from God through His Holy Spirit into me where they flowed out of my pen and my mouth. Many Christian songwriters will tell you that it is not of their imagination from which they write and sing: it is a gift from God meant to be shared with whomsoever God places on our path. 

    Many nights He would waken me and have me write. But I remained rested, for I was with Him and He is my Rest. Sometimes these songs would build up inside me while I was doing something else, like running around the velodrome in the predawn hours with my bestie. Or the time she and I backpacked Ireland (Perfect Replica*)  Sometimes, I'd be sitting in a meeting and the song would start writing itself (No Room*), even though I wanted to wait until the meeting was over, I relented, repented, and let God move through me. No Room I actually wrote before I got baptized in The Spirit, but God was moving in me even then.

    There is coming a day when sad songs will not only be a thing of the past, they won't even be a memory. For in the presence of God is fullness of JOY. In His presence is LIGHT and LOVE. In His presence we sing the song of the redeemed. All together every saint will sing that song. It is the sound of many rushing waters. It is the resounding song of Love for God for this great thing He has done. 

     

*PERFECT REPLICA

I wonder what my God shall see,

When He sees a finished me?

Perhaps I'll be a Daniel,

Content in times of stress.

Or maybe I'll be Lydia

Adorned in purpleness.

Perhaps I'll be Rebekah,

Waiting ever on;

First 'twas by the well,

Then for her two sons.

I wonder what my God shall see

When He sees a finished me?

Perhaps I'll be an Andrew

Who leads my brother to

The One and Only Savior

Who died for me and you.

Perhaps I'll be a vessel,

What let the Son shine in;

Who mirrored God's reflection

To a lost and dying friend.

I wonder what my God shall see

When He sees a finished me?

Perhaps I'll be a fruitful vine

For God to harvest home.

And I shall wear a robe of white

With stars upon my crown.

And when He views the finished me,

I know He'll smile in victory--

"Well done thou good and faithful,

You may enter in,

Here's your gown; here's your crown.

Hello, friend."

I wonder what my God shall see,

When He sees a finished me.

I've gone through the fire,

I've gone through the grind,

I've gone through the waters

Time after time.

God has not forsaken me

In any of my trials.

And when He sees the finished me,
I'll wear a great big smile.

*NO ROOM

No room, no room, no room for Jesus

No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.

Can you imagine telling God 

you have no time for Him?

There isn’t any place today for Him to enter in.

To enter in with joy delight,

Communion sweet to share

No room for Jesus, No room anywhere.

No room, no room, no room for Jesus

No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.

The temples are empty, no life exists here.

No joyful days, no redeemed souls, 

The faces of the people are shut, blank and cold.

I see forlorn temples, I hear lonely sounds

Heartbeats, no heartbeats, no love of God abounds.

No room, no room, no room for Jesus

No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.

No merry hearts, no shining lights

The doors to the temple are shut, slammed in tight

Listening, not hearing; Hearing, not caring.

Heartbeats, no heartbeats, no love of God lives here.

No room, no room, no room for Jesus

No way, no how, not here at this time, not now.

Now, when the feastday of the Bride

Arrives and you are there,

Will you hear Jesus say to you,

“You have no place set here.

There is no room for you today,

You’ll have to go, you cannot stay:

I do not know your name you see, 

It isn’t written here.”

No room, no room, no room for you.

No way, no how, not here at this time,

Not now.

    While No Room is the number one requested song that I sing when I sing, this song is one my favorites:

The Ballad of The Body of Christ

I am the eyes That see the need for compassion

I am the hands That do the work of The LORD

I am the feet That go through the doors that are open

I am the heart, The heart of The LORD.

I am the ears That hear the cries of the lonely

I am the arms That carry the grieving and sore

I am the legs That walk the crowded sidewalks

I am the heart, The heart of The LORD.

I am the Body of Christ that was broken/I’ve been asleep for a thousand years it seems/But now I’m awake and I see the needs that aren’t spoken/Gettin’ ready to run, Gettin’ ready to fly / 

Gettin’ the Body back in shape.

It’s God’s desire That no one should be lost

It’s God’s desire That everyone be saved

He can’t make your choices, It’s entirely up to you.

Don’t hesitate, don’t even wait 

Don’t turn and walk ................ the other way!

I am the voice When God gives the words to be spoken

I am pure silence When I need to be ............... when I need to be

I am the Body of Christ That was broken! / I been asleep for a thousand years it seems / But now I’m awake And I see the needs that aren’t spoken / Gettin’ ready to run, Getting ready to fight / 

Gettin’ the Body back in shape.

I am the fingers That pull the lost from the fire

I am the knees That bend to carry the load

I am the back That bears the marks of the hunter

I am the heart, The heart of The LORD.

I am the Body of Christ that was broken/I’ve been asleep for a thousand years it seems/But now I’m awake and I see the needs that aren’t spoken/Gettin’ ready to run, Gettin’ ready to fly / 

Gettin’ the Body back in shape.

I am the Body of Christ That was broken! / I been asleep for a thousand years it seems / But now I’m awake And I see the needs that aren’t spoken / Gettin’ ready to run, Getting ready to fight / 

Gettin’ the Body back in shape.

You are the Body of Christ That was broken! / You’ve been asleep for a thousand years it seems/ But now you’re awake and you see the needs that aren’t spoken / You’re gettin’ ready to run / Run your endurance race / Gettin’ your body back in shape.

Now, you know my story. Now, you hear my voice.