Happy in the Lord

I am happy in the Lord since my sins are washed away. And the love of God is filling all my soul . . . .Happy in the Savior! I am happy in the Savior I am happy in the Savior. I am happy in the Lord.
Lots of times I wake up with a song going through my head. I haven’t heard this one for many years. It was one of the favorites we used to sing at the Carrolton church a long, long time ago. I can still see sister Fry at the piano and brother Dean leading singing. I heard recently that the congregation has declined to a very few. That makes me sad but no group can deny the man of God and prosper for long.

BUT today I am happy in the Lord. I just sat down and Gable came looking up at me, asking to be in my chair. All it took was a little pat and up he came. He used to lay on my legs but his little weight makes my knees hurt unbelievably so he has learned to snuggle down between me and the arm of my chair. It’s much cozier and warm there anyway. On days like today warm is a good thing!

Two days of icy rain and icy roads and cold are pretty much over. The sun is shining now and the cold, although it is still in the low teens thermometer wise, is crisp and energizing.

Michael went off to work this morning none the worse for his crash while he was taking the trash down. That is how treacherous the ice was. Our drive was has an easy slope and he was walking carefully along the edge where he thought he would have some traction. Famous last thought. The ice was so sharp where it had thawed and refroze and been driven over that it cut his hand like little bits of glass.

Rachael is due to go in to work early today. By course of elimination I think she is becoming her boss’s go-to-guy. First the associate manager (who we referred to as ‘the Slacker’) was transferred to another store, leaving only two co manager and the head. Now the other co- has been blessed with a new baby in the family so he has chosen to take his vacation now. That leaves only the manager and Rachael. So any difficulty that requires consultation with the rest of his ‘team’ means he and Rach must put their two heads together and figure it out! It also means that if there is a gap in coverage, the manager calls Rachael. There is no one else to call. I keep telling her when she grumbles to ‘hush.” It is only one more step toward her goal of having her own store. And THAT is when she will put in for a transfer to Albuquerque!!

I can hardly wait! To be able to visit back and forth with Notah and Rachael both! Right there in the same general area! To be able to go home with Notah for the weekend or the week and to see my grandkids as they are growing up. To be able to go to Gallup sometimes and see Helen and Dorothy and our family there. And most of all to live again in my desert.

With that happy thought I’m going to stop!

872. My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less- Hamilton Landrum, song leader

   

Sometimes a song just sits on your soul and you can play it over and over and the blessings just keep flowing. This song did that for me tonight. This must be the third or fourth time I've played it and the words just keep blessing me.

hope is built on NOTHING LESS than Jesus blood and righteousness." What better more solid more wonderful basis could my hope rest on?

When darkness veils his Face I REST on his UNFAILING GRACE! I can't see it, but I  know it won't fail and it won't waver.

When all around my soul gives way, HE IS ALL MY HOPE! Just listen to that! Doesn't it just reverberate in your soul? Don't the praises just bubble out! Maybe not in loud noise or jumping up and down, but just bubble up like a pot slowly simmering with little bubbles of joy bursting on top!
Listen again. And keep listening until you have cleared every thing with the Lord and you KNOW this is where your hope lies!

Jesus Blood Can Make the Vilest Sinner Clean

For me the graphics kind of take away from this song, but the words and melody are so great I posted it anyway.  I KNOW that Jesus' blood can make the vilest sinner free!   Today the aspect of being free from sin is  not taught in many of our churches.  People are taught to simply 'believe' and to 'accept Christ as Savior' or "make a decision for Christ." And well, yes we do that, but there is more to it than that.  Those directions are simplistic. There must be a grieving for sin and a repentance of sin and a decision to turn away from it!

There is a heart change that takes place when we repent of sin and hate it.  The sinner can never be free until he hates sin.  He can never have victory until he takes that blood and lets it run over his spirit and remove the bondage that sin holds over him.   Only then does he 'quit the sin business..'

Thank the Lord, the sinner who comes to Christ can and does quit sinning.  Not through his own power but through the blessed blood of Jesus!   

Roads Go Ever On-Glenn Yarbrough

I found this recording of "The Walking Song by Bilbo Baggins."  It is one of my favorite songs.There are several verses of it.  If you want to know all of them, you'll have to read the Hobbit and the Lord of the  Rings trilogy

a refuge

http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Ive_Found_a_Refuge/midi/
I’ve found a refuge now from every sorrow
Joy everlasting and sweet;
I see this world, with all its sinful follies,
Conquered at my feet.

Refrain:
Oh, blessed thought, my sins are gone!
I lean on Jesus’ breast,
And while the storm without is madly raging,
I have perfect rest.

Oh, could you offer every earthly treasure,
Diamonds and pearls of the sea;
Then, turning from them I would gladly whisper,
“Christ has set me free.”


Far brighter than the shining stars above me,
Beaming with beauty and grace,
Adorned in heaven’s majesty and splendor,
Is my resting place.

I woke up singing this song this morning. I’ve found a refuge! What a thought that is! What a sure knowledge. In spite of hard times, in spite of heartaches, in spite of physical pain, there’s a refuge for us that remains solid. While men looking for and trying to legislate literal peace on the world, I’ve found a place in the presence of God that shuts out every disruptive force.

So much of the worry and heartache in this world has come about through sin. Without trusting in Christ’s saving grace we face a void that renders us hopeless. No matter what Man does to try to order his existence and be ‘in control’ he faces impossible odds. The Enemy of our soul is on every hand to create turmoil and chaos in every life around us. To make matters worse, the soul within cries out in terror of facing an eternity with out God. The most adamant atheist must deny and smother that tiny voice within him. The agnostic must turn that voice aside by addressing it to other issues of emotion and psychological explanation. The sinner acknowledges that soul-cry for help but seeks solace in every avenue from intellectual pursuits, to humanitarian activities, to sensual gratification but lays his head down at night in despair. But thank the Lord, I’ve found a refuge from all of that searching and turmoil and failure. There is a place near to God’s Heart that gives us rest.

Not that there aren’t disappointments and heartaches that have come in my life and probably will come again, there is still a place of rest. I can’t describe it to someone who hasn’t come to that place, but I just do what needs to be done and leave the rest to the Lord. It doesn’t mean I close my eyes to the difficulties or pretend they don’t exist. It doesn’t mean I simply drift through life and take no responsibility for what is happening. It doesn’t mean I can’t accomplish anything through my own hands. It doesn’t mean I am incapable or helpless in the face of life in general. It simply means that there is a point beyond which Man can do nothing and while others flail wildly about trying to impose some semblance of their own order on situations, I can simply rest in God. I can relax, knowing I have done what small portion is my responsibility and wait on God to do the rest.

Nothing the world or men could offer can replace that peace. To be able to rest while the world is raging, to have joy deep within my heart, to have the assurance of God’s grace in my life and His power over riding every evil is unspeakably precious. The description of that resting place exceeds the ability of words to describe it. I can understand John’s dilemma in writing down his Revelation. The sights he was given to look at were so unimaginable that he translated them into terms we find bizarre because he had no point of reference to describe them absolutely. That’s the way it is with describing the rest I have in Jesus. “Brighter than the shining stars above me,” “shining with beauty and grace,,” full of ‘majesty and splendor” the words still fail to describe it. It isn’t a literal physical place where I crawl in and pull the covers over my head, but it exists deep within me and no earthly force can enter in or destroy it. I have found a refuge.

It seems sometimes that the Lord leads us from blessing to blessing. As I was studying on a rest and refuge I came to the song Blessed Quietness http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Blessed_Quietness/midi/

Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.


Refrain:
Blessed quietness, holy quietness,
Blest assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, Jesus speaks to me,
And the billows cease to roll.


Everything is turned to gladness,
All around this glorious Guest;
Banished unbelief and sadness,
All is perfect peace and rest.


Like the rain that falls from heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Spirit given,
Falls upon us from on high.


What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What a peaceful habitation!
What a quiet resting-place!

It is so wonderful to be able to rest in the quietness of Christ. While some look off to the Future Millennium for peace and rest, I have it right now in this present world. When we look to that supposed time for our peace and all the blessings that accompany it we sell ourselves short of what all God has for us.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

There is not much more to be said!

Except "Thank you, Lord."

Daughtry Sings National Anthem Cardinal Game 9-14

I always get goose bumps when I hear the Natinal Anthem sung in a crowded stadium, but lots of times the vocal quality isn't the best and you wonder if the singer really knows the melody of the song he's supposed to be singing. 

I found this rendition by Chris Daughtry.  The vocals are  beautiful and the melody really is that of the Star Spangled Banner instead of some modified version.  If there is ONE song in the world that doesn't need to be adapted to the "Artist's Style," it is the National Anthem

Great Job, Chris Daughtry!            

why is it?

Why is it do you think, that people get all excited talking about the ‘rapture’ and the ‘millennium’ and prophecy, but no one has any enthusiasm for the more meat and potatoes teachings about living faithfully and righteously before the Lord.

I see enthusiastic discussions about what is going to happen in the end time when Jesus “raptures” His people away and rings down terrible tribulation and wars and awful things on those remaining (and those who are left here will still have a chance to get right with God during those terrible times…) And people seem to gloat because they think that, of course, they are not going to be here for those things, but THEN, they say, He is coming back and everyone gets all enthused about the wonderful times He will usher in for a thousand years. Hmmm not much is said about after that though. Wonder what happens then.

But just mention living free from sin and destroying the fruits of unrighteousness and there isn’t a peep of enthusiasm. They get a little bit more energetic when we speak about the fruits of the spirit because those are all positive things that people think they display. Everybody likes to see themselves as being loving, kind, patient, peaceable, longsuffering, and gentle. They like to see themselves as full of goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. And if those things aren’t within them they would rather not look too closely inside themselves.

But they don’t like to see their real selves when there is hiding within them: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. (Galatians 5; 19-23 NIV) That is why it is easier to think about the wonderful things that will be happening to the Christians in the rapture and the awful things that will come after it for those sinners (of which they are certainly not one!)

But the Word tells us to lay ourselves open to God and ask Him to search and see if there is any unrighteousness in us. (Psalms 139:23-24) We have to leave this searching up to the Lord for Jeremiah tells us the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jer. 17: 9-10) When we open ourselves to God’s searchlight it will seek out and expose every wicked thing within us. It will give us grace and power to root out that sin within us. Then comes the victory that makes the true child of God rejoice—the sure knowledge that they are walking in righteousness with victory over sin and living a life set aside and sanctified for the Lord’s use—Those concepts not only leave them silent, but almost angry.

When we mention those things, possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives granted when we sell out fully to God, when we mention those things we are accused of self righteousness and hypocrisy. When we are told by Paul to present our bodies, a living sacrifice to God, wholly acceptable which is our reasonable service, people don’t want to hear it. But talk about living and reigning with Christ for a thousand years --whoo, buddy!-- Let’s jump up and down and shout.

Praise the Lord. We don’t have to wait till sometime in the future to live and reign with Christ we can do it now! Amen!

Do you triumph, O my brother,
Over all this world of sin?
In each storm of tribulation,
Does your Jesus reign within?

o Refrain:
I am reigning, sweetly reigning,
Far above this world of strife;
In my blessed, loving Savior,
I am reigning in this life.

One we hail as King immortal,
He did earth and hell subdue;
And bequeathing us His glory,
We are kings anointed, too.

Shall we then by sin be humbled?
Must we yield to any foe?
No, by heaven’s gift we’re reigning
Over all this world below.

Oh, what grace and high promotion,
That in Jesus I should be
Raised from sin to royal honor,
Even reigning, Lord, with Thee.

All this life is blissful sunshine,
Earth is subject at our feet;
Heaven pours its richest blessings
Round our throne of love complete.

Then we’ll sing and shout the story,
Of the wondrous blood divine;
Full salvation, glory, glory!
I am reigning all the time.

o Refrain:
I am reigning, sweetly reigning,
Far above this world of strife;
In my blessed, loving Savior,
I am reigning in this life.
http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Reigning_in_This_Life/midi/

What wonderful Joy !

songs of zion

I’ve been listening to the Monarch Springs Congregation’s wonderful Church of God singing. I thank the Lord for the day brother Steve posted their link. I’ve listened to it repeatedly ever since. Their website strikes number must have been climbing because I’m there nearly everyday and sometimes several times a day.

This is the link http://www.churchofgodeveninglight.com/songs.htm I’m playing it right now so I don’t know if this link will take you directly into music or you will have to pick from the menu. I’m listening to the Monarch Springs Campmeeting—2006 if you want to listen where I am right now. I love the congregational singing. It blesses my heart over and over. The special singing is good too, but I’m telling you my favorite.

Here is the song that took me there I Will Praise Him, Hallelujah!

Oh, I praise the Lord who bought me, hallelujah!
I’m a happy pilgrim bound for glory land;
I am singing, and I hope to sing forever,
When before His throne eternal I shall stand.

Refrain:
I will praise Him, hallelujah!
I will praise Him more and more:
If I had ten thousand lives in which to praise Him
I could not enough my blessed Lord adore.

I will praise Him for salvation, hallelujah!
Richest treasure human spirits ever found;
Once I wandered far away, was sad and lonely,
But I’m dwelling now where pleasures e’er abound.

Oh, I’ll never cease to praise Him, hallelujah!
For He gives me peace abounding every day;
He redeemed me from my sins and fully cleansed me,
And I find His service sweeter all the way.

I will praise the name of Jesus, hallelujah!
I will praise Him for His mercies unto me;
Then I’ll praise Him with the angels in the morning,
When the face of my dear Savior I shall see.

Oh, I praise Him for the strength He daily gives me,
I am running now to gain that heav’nly prize;
Soon with joy I’ll reach the goal of life immortal,
And go sweeping through the gates of paradise.

Sometimes these old hymns carry such a fantastic meaning but they have largely been tossed out of modern worship. Modern religions tend to follow the 7/11 trend—seven words repeated eleven times—in their music programs. This is a familiar psychological technique for developing enthusiasm where none was before. It is used with tremendous success by cheerleaders in high school ball games to build team support and encourage the players.

The child of God needs no cheerleader to build his enthusiasm. The blessings of God springing up with in his soul make the praise bubble out. It is always there, just below the surface of everyday cares and labor, to carry us through the times when our body is tired and discouraged. And when we step aside from the everyday routine to sit quietly in the Lord’s presence they just bubble up and effervesce, flow out, gush out. And sitting down with the people of God produces rejoicing and praise that no worship leader can produce no mater how much cheer leading he does. Thank you Lord.

going on

This is my witness and statement of faith. The song is my intention and goal. The thoughts that follow incorporate my sermon to myself as well as admonition for those who might read it.

Know ye not that those who run in a race all run, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain it. 25And every man that striveth for mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. 26I therefore so run, but not with uncertainty; I so fight, but not as one that beateth the air. 27But I keep control of my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. I Corinthians 9:24-27
.
The Olympics competitions made me remember Paul’s comments to the Corinthians when he talked of his intentions to follow God until the end. Not every one that runs a literal race can win, but we can win and we must run this spiritual race with the same determination to win that the runners have. We run with a determination. We must follow the example of those who compete in the literal arena and track. They keep their bodies in tiptop condition; they monitor all aspects of their life that they might be in condition to contend in the race

Our spiritual being must be in the same condition. We don’t compete against one another but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. How much greater and more serious is our struggle! And the result is not just a pretty medal around our necks or a crown on our heads, but the destination of our eternal soul!

I like Paul’s statement of how he conducts his life. He was determined to win his race and his battle with “sin, the flesh and the Devil” as the old ministers used to say. Look! Paul says, But [like a boxer] I buffet [pummel, batter] my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it. He compares himself to the athlete in his self discipline for his Christian life. The athlete pushes his body to the utmost, doing whatever is necessary to bring it into shape to succeed. Paul applies the same strict attention to detail that the athlete uses to obtain the gold medal. Are we applying that same attention to our lives in Christ?

As the athlete eliminates every little thing that hinders his performance, are we eliminating every little sin and habit that hinders our righteous life in Christ? Are we maintaining the same self control that the athlete maintains?

Last night the analyst again was highlighting a skier’s performance and he noted that she shifted her body weight and ski angle in mid air that she might gain the tiny split second advantage when she landed her jump. In another situation, the analyst pointed out that the ski jumper had to deny his natural reflexive instinct by leaning forward at an angle parallel to his skis in order to obtain the maximum distance in his jump. Are we defying our natural fleshly inclinations to do the will of God. Or will we lose the race by excusing the small sins that so easily beset us.

Let’s have a determination as great as that of the athlete to finish the race for God.

I'm Going On!

I mean to go right on until the crown is won;
I mean to fight the fight of faith till life on earth is done.
I’ll nevermore turn back, defeat I shall not know,
For God will give me victory if onward I shall go.

Refrain:
I’m going on, I’m going on,
Unto the final triumph, I’m going on;
I’m going on, I’m going on,
Unto the final triumph, I’m going on.

Should opposition come, should foes obstruct my way,
Should persecution’s fires be lit, as in the ancient day—
With Jesus by my side, His peace within my soul,
No matter if the battle’s hot, I mean to win the goal.

I see a shining crown awaiting over there,
I see a mansion all prepared and decked with beauties rare:
Shall that which intervenes deprive me of my right?
Nay, on I’ll go until I reach that city of delight.

Then forward let us go, our hearts with love aflame,
Our snowy banner borne aloft, inscribed with Jesus’ name.
The hosts of evil flee, and heaven’s open gates
Invite me now to hasten where eternal glory waits.

Refrain:
I’m going on, I’m going on,
Unto the final triumph, I’m going on;
I’m going on, I’m going on,
Unto the final triumph, I’m going on.
Melody: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Im_Going_On/midi/

oh I want to see him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf5kRWKy73Y&feature=related
(Oh! I wish I could put videos in here! I cannot figure it out! If you know please explain it to me! )

As I journey through the land, singing as I go,
Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within;
But my Lord leads me on, through Him I must win.

~Refrain:
Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.

When in service for my Lord dark may be the night,
But I’ll cling more close to Him, He will give me light;
Satan’s snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside;
But my Lord goes ahead, leads whate’er betide.

When in valleys low I look toward the mountain height,
And behold my Savior there, leading in the fight,
With a tender hand outstretched toward the valley low,
Guiding me, I can see, as I onward go.

When before me billows rise from the mighty deep,
Then my Lord directs my bark; He doth safely keep,
And He leads me gently on through this world below;
He’s a real Friend to me, oh, I love Him so.

This song has been on my heart for about three days. I’ve wakened up singing it. It has echoed through my head off and on all day . I love serving the Lord! How great it is to not just think about him on Sundays or when we set our minds to be religious, but to LIVE with Him, to have him there like a friend who lives in the same house with you in the same room. The words I’m listening to in the background while I’m writing this just said, “He’s a real friend to me! Oh I love Him so.” It is just like that.

Paul said, ‘Now we see through a glass darkly, but then we shall see him face to face.’ What will that be like? I can hardly conceive of it. In II Corinthians 3, Paul was comparing the administration of the Law to that of Grace and he said 9For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. It seems like he can’t find words to describe how much better and more glorious this administration of the spirit is than that of the Law. I think it will be something like that to see Jesus face to face. We just won’t have words to describe it!

Another song asks “ Face to face with Christ my Savior, Face to face what will it be?” I don’t know but I’m anxious to find out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hH5mHXvEawQ

God's Triumphant Church!

I’ve just been listening to good church of God singing. I miss that. I can spend time with God and be blessed and strengthened and rejoice. But the sound of the saints of God praising God in song just doesn’t come any way but by being there! And I’m not in a position where I can be there…

The song that blessed me most this morning was “The Church Triumphant!” You know, almost no one any more believes in a church and a people that can be triumphant! Everyone seems to think we have to sin a little everyday. They feel the little habits of life are always going to follow us and as long as we don’t get carried away with them they are okay. They loudly proclaim their ‘witness for Jesus’ but they live in utter confusion. They talk about being saved and living for God but freedom from sin doesn’t enter into the conversation. And if you do introduce it, it seems like a foreign language.

I am so thankful today for a Church Triumphant! I am so thankful for a Savior that gives the people of His Church victory over sin and the Devil! That is what Jesus came to establish—not some where far out in the future, but in this world today! Amen!

Listen to it here: http://www.churchofgodsinging.com/index.php?do=p&id_song=6
Men speak of “a church triumphant”
As something on earth unknown,
They think us beneath the tyrant
Until we shall reach our home.

~Refrain:
Thank God for a church triumphant,
All pure in this world below!
For the kingdom that Jesus founded
Does triumph o’er every foe.

Oh, cannot the great Redeemer
Prevail over Satan here?
Or must we remain yet under
Confusion, pressed down in fear?

He built on a sure foundation,
And said that the gates of hell
Against her divine munition
Can never indeed prevail.

’Tis not in the church of Jesus
That people yet live in sin;
But in the dark creeds they’re joining,
And vainly are trusting in.

God’s church is alone triumphant,
In holiness all complete;
And all the dark pow’rs of Satan
She tramples beneath her feet.

~Refrain:
Thank God for a church triumphant,
All pure in this world below!
For the kingdom that Jesus founded
Does triumph o’er every foe.

Oh how blest I was this morning to hear the truth in this song. What a joy to be able to not just listen but to sing with the singers! I grew up with this song and I've experienced the truthe of it I don’t have to sin! I can be triumphant! I don’t have to be subject to the desires of the flesh. I don’t have to succumb to Satan’s deceit every time he comes past. I can have victory over his temptation. I don’t have to worry about doing something unwittingly that God will merit God’s disapproval. I don’t have to come to God every time I pray and ask his forgiveness for sins I’ve committed. I don’t have to commit those sins! Amen! I don’t have to worry over ‘unknown sins’ because I know the Bible teaches us that sin is a knowing transgression of God’s Word. I don’t need to live in fear of doing something wrong by accident because I didn’t know. I have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me and teach me all things. Praise the Lord, if there is something I shouldn’t be doing, He’ll tell me and I can not do it.!

I found a sermon online this morning that will bear listening to if you really want to serve the Lord. It's about standing firm with Jesus. http://www.godsacres.org/pg.popup.sesher.html

If we are to be a part of the Church Triumphant, you have to stand firm with Jesus!

2009 is over

My yoke has been easy and my burden has been light.

I’ve been reading blogs today and over and over I’ve seen statements to the effect “Thank the Lord this year is over” “Thank the Lord for bringing me through this year.” Some of them were even gloomier than that. “This has been a terrible year. I’m glad it’s over.” “I’m looking forward to the New Year because maybe I can forget all the bad things that happened.”

I have to say that I’ve never had any of these feelings with the coming new year. I’ve had some times in my life when people told me in retrospect, “How did you ever stand that! How did you get through that!” Or they've said, "Oh you poor thing!" But I suppose I’m pretty dense because I never realized that I was having a hard time!

When my dad died, I inherited a piece of property that the state took as part of the new freeway. They offered me a token amount of money for the ‘right-of-way.” The portion they took was only about a half an acre and I suppose the small amount they offered was fair for the amount of land; however the piece of land they appropriated was the only access to the remaining acreage. I was left with a piece of land I could not use. I refused their offer and we went to court.

In his concluding remarks my attorney told the judge (and I’ll condense it. He did a much more heart rending presentation) He said, “Here is this widow. She lost her husband and was left with two young children. A month later she lost her mother. Because of her financial circumstances she was forced to live with her father who in the course of time also passed away. She has raised her two children without any aide from the state. She has never applied for food stamps. She has never asked for ADC. She has never asked for medical assistance. She has worked and supported both herself and the children and is now struggling alone. And she is still not asking for help. All she is asking is a fair reimbursement for the land that the state of Ohio has made useless to her.”

I sat there at the plaintiff’s table and thought “Oh my goodness, that poor woman!" And then I thought “Gracious! He’s talking about ME”

What he was saying was the absolute truth, but I had never realized my situation. I believed and still believe implicitly in the scripture, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Because God has proven Himself to me over and over. He has given me rest to my soul. He has carried my burdens. He has lifted worry from my mind. He has supplied all my needs at the exact moment when I needed them. In every trial He has made a way of escape.

When I hear about some events in my life from someone else’s point of view I’m sometimes surprised to realize that they are talking about me. So many things have happened that others have sympathized over and I’ve felt a little bit like I’m accepting their compassion under false pretenses. Those events have indeed been occasions in my life, but I’ve never felt the weight of them. I’ve never had reason to sit and bemoan my fate in life. I’ve never worried at my lack of medical insurance for either myself or my children. I’ve had to explain my circumstances a lot of times, but I’ve never felt that there was any reason to moan about them. I’ve never had reason to feel sorry for myself because through my entire life the Lord has carried the weight. All the high places have been brought low and the low places raised and He has made my path smooth before me. He is a fantastic Lord.

I don’t understand those folks who are always crying about how hard they have it or how difficult their circumstances are, because my Lord has never left me alone or helpless in a hard place. He has never left me feeling bereft. Maybe part of the reason is that I’ve never asked for more than I needed and He has always supplied my needs every day. Sometimes I didn’t get a prayer answered immediately but the need was always supplied. He has never left me ‘in the lurch’

There have been times when people have disappointed me. There have been times when ‘good Christians” have let me down. There have been times when even preachers have shocked me with their lack of compassion. But God has never failed me.

I’ve never had occasion to say, “Whew! Thank goodness this awful year is over” He has carried the burden and lifted me up at the same time. He did it so faithfully and lovingly that I never realized the hard places. “I found it so! I found it so!’ Only in looking back when someone pointed it out to me did I realize that maybe those times were hard, but they were blessed by His protecting Hand.

So as the year ends, I want to praise the Lord because He is my Lord. He is my helper, my conforter. He guides me and keeps me. He is always there picking up the greater part of the burden and smoothing the hard places. I praise him because I need not look back on this year with regret or sorrow. I praise Him because there is nothing behind me to be sorry for and there is nothing ahead to fear. How wonderful! Thank you, Lord!

I’ve found my Lord and He is mine,
He won me by His love;
I’ll serve Him all my years of time,
And dwell with Him above.
Refrain:
His yoke is easy, His burden is light,
I’ve found it so, I’ve found it so;
His service is my sweetest delight,
His blessings ever flow.

No other Lord but Christ I know,
I walk with Him alone;
His streams of love forever flow,
Within my heart His throne.

He’s dearer to my heart than life,
He found me lost in sin;
He calmed the sea of inward strife,
And bade me come to Him.

My flesh recoiled before the cross,
And Satan whispered there,
“Thy gain will not repay the loss,
His yoke is hard to bear.”

I’ve tried the road of sin and found,
Its prospects all deceive;
I’ve proved the Lord, and joys abound,
More than I could believe

I've found a lot of photos on the web, but this has to be one of my favorites. Balloons-exuberant,soaring up, lifting into the sky! Sometimes I picture my heart as one of them-ebullient with praise and joy.

I woke up from my nap this morning after Rachael had gone to work much earlier and leaned back thinking how wonderful that I could wake up and just be joyful--no apparent reason as far as events in my life are concerned, nothing special has happened to bring a particular joy-but I was, and am, joyful. Now I'm not always philosophical at this hour of the morning and when I looked for a reason why I should be so happy at 6:30, immediately the hymn popped into my mind. And you know, this is the only reason to be joyful after you were up since before 4:00AM.

I will sing, hallelujah, for there’s joy in the Lord,
And He fills my heart with rapture as I rest on His Word;
I will trust in His promise; I will shout, I am free;
In my blessed, loving Savior, I have sweet victory.
Refrain:
There is joy in the Lord, there is joy in the Lord;
Hallelujah! glory, glory! there is joy in the Lord!
There is joy in the Lord, there is joy in the Lord;
Hallelujah! glory, glory! there is joy in the Lord!

I will live for the Savior, I am His evermore;
I am resting in His favor, I am safe and secure;
For the light shining brighter on my path every day
Cheers my happy soul with rapture as I walk in the way.
Refrain:

When I reach heaven’s portals, in that land of the blest,
I shall sing with holy angels of this rest, happy rest;
I shall dwell there forever with my Lord and my King,
And with everlasting praises make those high arches ring.

--DS Warner

And I still haven't learned to post the recording here so as always I'm giving you the link if you don't know the song: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/There_Is_Joy_in_the_Lord/hifi/

angels never knew the joy

I'm still dwelling on the concept that the Lord has given us something that His Own angels can never experience. Isn't that mind boggling? Ordinary words just don't describe the thought. Wonderful, overwhelming, awesome. Words simply don't have scope enough to do the concept justice . I don't know if it means as much to you as it does to me, but tonight it is simply ringing in my heart over and over.

When I was a teenager a brother at campmeeting used to sing this song. Again it speaks of angels being silent when we sing of Salvation.

There is singing up in Heaven such as we have never known,
Where the angels sing the praises of the Lamb upon the throne,
Their sweet harps are ever tuneful, and their voices always clear,
O that we might be more like them while we serve the Master here!

Refrain:

Holy, holy, is what the angels sing,
And I expect to help them make the courts of heaven ring;
But when I sing redemption’s story, they will fold their wings,
For angels never felt the joys that our salvation brings.

But I hear another anthem, blending voices clear and strong,
“Unto Him Who hath redeemed us and hath bought us,” is the song;
We have come through tribulation to this land so fair and bright,
In the fountain freely flowing He hath made our garments white.

Refrain

Then the angels stand and listen, for they cannot join the song,
Like the sound of many waters, by that happy, blood washed throng,
For they sing about great trials, battles fought and vict’ries won,
And they praise their great Redeemer, who hath said to them, “Well done.”

Refrain

So, although I’m not an angel, yet I know that over there
I will join a blessèd chorus that the angels cannot share;
I will sing about my Savior, who upon dark Calvary
Freely pardoned my transgressions, died to set a sinner free.

A blessed chorous that "angels cannot share." How marvelous, We will sing of sins forgiven and the freedom from the bindng power of sin! It is an experience that the angels who exist exactly as God created them, with no freedom of voluntary choice, cannot comprehend. And not only that, we don't have to wait for some coming day, but we have that wonderful blessing right now in this present world.

There just aren't enough words to describe it!

( Here's a link to play the song if you've never heard it.
http://gordon-and-jean-greer-holy-holy-is-what--mp3-download.kohit.net/_/208392 Click on 'play now' button. )

It's a Song Holy Angels Cannot Sing

The message of this song has been the focus of my thoughts for days now. Can you just imagine! Angels want to understand it and they never can!
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. I Peter 1:12

Angels never knew the joy that is mine,
For the blood has never washed their sins away;
Though they sing in heaven, there will come a time
When silently they'll listen to me sing "Amazing Grace".

Chorus:
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
I once was lost, but now I'm found!

Holy is the LORD, the angels sing,
All around the throne of GOD continually;
For me to join their song will be a natural thing,
But they just won't know the words to "Love Lifted Me".

Chorus:
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
It's a song holy angels cannot sing,
I once was lost, but now I'm found!


There's a button here to listen to it.... http://north-valley-baptist-church-a-song-holy--mp3-download.kohit.net/_/417713

Eternity

I stood at the time-beaten portals,
Where many a pilgrim had passed
Out into the infinite future,
To be with the pure and the blest;
And, musing in silent devotion,
Eternity seemed to draw near;
And strains from the choir of the faithful
I seemed in my fancy to hear.

Refrain:
Oh, eternity! Long eternity!
Hear the solemn footsteps of eternity.

I lingered, and silently listened
To the dull, heavy tread of the years,
And thought of the fate of the guilty,
When Christ in His glory appears;
A shudder came over my spirit,
As I thought what a moment might cost,
For eternity’s stillness was broken
By the groans and the sighs of the lost.

I saw then the Judge in His splendor,
As He stepped to His great judgment seat,
And thought of the crashing of ages,
When time and eternity meet;
For Time, who has laid many millions,
To slumber in death’s silent shade,
Shall reel at eternity’s presence,
And sleep in the tomb he has made.

Let us work while ’tis day, brother, sister,
For soon shall the Master return,
To garner the wheat that we harvest,
The chaff in His fury to burn;
Then in haste let us rush to the rescue,
But few can we save at the most:
Soon millions shall be at the judgment,
Forever, eternally lost.

oh I want to see him

I love living for the Lord. I love having a Savior that you can meet with any time. I'm not sure what it was that started my mind down this road, but here I am, sitting in my nightgown having "church." Isn't that great! Isn't it great we don't have to be in a beautiful church to meet with Him? Isn't it great we don't have to go through a priest or a minister? He is as close as a quiet petition or a dip into the Word of God.

So, here it is, just after one in the morning. I was asleep from about nine oclock, then about forty-five minutes ago, I woke up and got ready for bed. lol And now that I'm read for bed, I'm wide awake and having "church"

I've been thinking on the song, Oh, I Want to See Him!

Oh, I want to see Him Look upon His face,

there to sing forever of His Saving Grace,

On the streets of glory, Let me lift my voice,

Cares all gone, home at last, ever to rejoice.

How fantastic will that be.

I never remember the first verse until after the fact for some reason, but the second verse goes:

When in service for my Lord, dark may be th enight.

But I'll cling more close to Him, He will give me light.

Satan's snares may vex my soul, turn my thoughts aside,

But my Lord leads me on, leads what ere betide.

What's great about serving the Lord is that we don't have to wait to see a counselor or a priest or until we can get to a hushed and sacred church building to pray, He is right there with us. No matter how dark or sad or confusing life might be, we can just pull up closer to Him and we can see our way through. I think the reason we see so many "Christians" in difficulty with their walk is because they are still relegating the Savior to a specific building or service. And when Satan's snares spring up in their path, they are at a loss because suddenly they need help but the church building is across town and the preacher is not at home. How great is it that Jesus can be with us constantly and we can converse/commune with him all the time! Even in the middle of the night when the church buildings are closed up and the pastors, and preachers and priests are all gone to bed.

And another verse says:

When before me billows rise, from the stormy deep,

Then my Lord directs my bark, He doth safely keep.

And He leads me gently on through this world below.

He's a real friend to me Oh! I love Him so!

Too many times we want to put the Lord off somewhere in the heavens or relegate His Presence to a special holy place. But when we do that He is too far off when we need Him, Yes, He is 'high and lifted up.' Yes, He is the Creator of the Universe. Yes, He is the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Yes, we call Him Wonderful and Counselor. And yet, and yet, He desires to dwell with us, to be in us! The old covenent that put a separation between Man and God has been done away with by His blood. WE can have what the patriarchs only dreamed of and yearned after!

Now He has established an intimate relationship with His People. He writes His law in our hearts and our minds. Now it is not recorded on some tablet of stone, sitting in a tabernacle waiting to be read by a priest. NO! Now it is with us constantly. And the very Savior of All Mankind comes in and sits down and we commune with Him and He with us on a constant and daily basis! We don't have to wait for a special place or service or sacrifice by a certain priest to have fellowship or petition for help. He is right there with us! Or at least He wants to be. If we will allow Him to be.

And when we wake up at midnight and focus our thoughts toward Him and His Word, He is right there to bless us and give us the fellowship of communing with Him.

See why I love this Life for the Lord!

showers

There shall be showers of blessing:

This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

Sent from the Savior above.

Refrain:

Showers of blessing,

Showers of blessing we need:

Mercy-drops round us are falling,

But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing,

Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys,

Sound of abundance of rain.

There shall be showers of blessing;

Send them upon us, O Lord;

Grant to us now a refreshing,

Come, and now honor Thy Word.

There shall be showers of blessing,

If we but trust and obey;

There shall be seasons refreshing,

If we let God have His way.

The day is winding down. Rachael and Michael are next door playing ping- pong. I've sitting here in the quiet, thinking my quiet thoughts, looking at some photos and remembering this song.

Sometimes my soul feels like a garden in the rain. the blessings from the Lord pour down over it and soak into my being. I don't even have to be in a "dry spell" to feel the enrichment and blessings. The showers of blessing are always welcomed and always the evidence of God's love. The times of refeshing always come and suddenly I realize I needed that! His mercy is always with us, but sometimes we need those showers.

I wish I could figure out how to do the videos here... I'd play the song for you. Meantime you can click on this...http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=1UOUfRTVJhg

filled with grace and glory

This song is singing in my heart this morning. So I'm putting it up here.

What I've Found in Jesus

In the arms of my dear Savior I am resting ev'ry day, And his smiles like sun beams fall on my face; I am standing on his promise, Where I shall forever stay, And my heart is overflowing with his grace.

Once I roamed in sinful darkness, Over mountain, hill and plain, Seeking ev'ry where for rest and finding none; Yes my search for satisfaction While in sin was all in vain, but I've found it in God's well beloved Son.

Long in sin I sought for pleasure, Something that would satisfy, Something that would quench the thirsting of my soul; But I found that sin's dominion, Naught I needed could supply, Then I turned to Jesus and he made me whole. I am dwelling in that Kingdom, Where the day is always bright,

And the sparkling waters of life's rivers gleam, Where the gloomy shades of darkness Are dispelled by heaven's light; And I'm ever drinking of that living stream.

Chorus:
I am filled with grace and glory, And in Jesus I abide; I will tell the wondrous story, Since my soul is satisfied.
(by Otto Bolds)