So, this morning I woke to the following. I LOVE how He does this!!!..
from Jesus Calling For Kids/Sarah Young
"Count on Me"
The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. - Zeph 3:17
"No one is perfect - not your best friend, not your mom or your dad, not your sports hero or favorite television star. Sooner or later, someone in your life - someone you really counted on - will let you down. You can end up feeling angry, hurt and betrayed. You may feel like you are falling, with no one to catch you or help you up. So who can you count on?
Count on Me. I will never let you down. And when others do let you down, I will be your safety net. I will not let you crash. Not only am I always there with you, but I am holding your hand. And I promise, I won't ever let you go."
Ps 73:23-26: Nevertheless I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand. 24 You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven in but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.
OK, obviously have to pray more about v.25b. Especially since Saturday was Ps 62:1-2: For God alone my soul waits in silence (I wasn't as obedient to that part as I should have been); from Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved.
Then from Trusting God day by day/Joyce Meyers
"God Honors Our Trust in Him"
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. - Ps 91:15
Ha! My implicit word equation should read:(He is my)Rock>(with)me<(in the)hard place(s)
"Many people have difficulty trusting God because of past hurts. But God is not like the people who have hurt us.
Although God wants to take care of us, His hands are tied by our unbelief and works of the flesh. He is a gentleman and will not just take over without being invited to do so. He waits until we give up the job of self-care and place our trust and confidence in Him. The law of faith, mentioned in 1 Peter 5:7, is this: When you stop trying to take care of yourself, you release God to take care of you! (Paraphrased).
I have discovered that it is very hard to walk in obedience to God and in love with others if my primary interest is that "I" don't get hurt or taken advantage of. However, when I allow God to be God in my life, He honors three distinct promises He makes in Ps 91:15: He'll be with me in trouble, He'll deliver me and He will honor me.
Honor is a place of lifting up. When God honors a believer, He lifts up or exalts that person. When we let go and do not try to care for ourselves, we are admitting that we need God's help. It is an act of humility and that act of faith places us in the direct line of God's exaltation. Peter wrote 'Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you ..' 1 Pet 5:6
When we trust God we are in line for a promotion. God will honor us and reward us as we place our faith in Him In the world's system, you work hard and then get your reward.. In God's economy, you trust Him deeply and then receive your reward.
Trust in Him When we trust in ourselves it leads to strife and shows that we don't trust God to do what He says in His Word - be with us, deliver us and honor us. When we trust God, however, it leads to the reward of peace-peace within ourselves, peace with God and peace with others."
Song phrase pops into my head: "There may be pain in the night but joy comes in the morning", part of our worship at CFC yesterday. Also the following which I love, love, love to sing, even if poorly ;)
(Chorus)
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Chorus
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Chorus
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
(Chorus x2)
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes
Chorus
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find
Chorus
And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore
(Chorus x2)
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name
In case you are wondering, I put full versions of what I read/listen to here in case it should speak to you in some other way. I think if I only do excerpts about what it spoke or meant to me, which is apparent when I give a little context like above I think, then this blog will be about me. My intent is for it to be a testament to Him, His faithfulness, how He speaks into my days and gives me joy and peace .. all for His glory. I pray this accomplishes the latter. There's uncertainty/fear .. what feels sacred to me might not to others. However, I feel like He wants to use me more, but I feel more apt to write than speak at present. So, this is toward working on/preparing me to tell the stories of what He's done and doing in my life.
It's also about listening to, obeying and following Him. Initially I'm just inviting folks I trust and love in Him to comment/advise/guide (purposefully or playfully because I need to laugh especially at myself often) and help press me on in my walk. Hopefully you'll share any common threads or personal experiences too. I'm also kind of hopeful for more interactions between Sundays ;) There are only a couple posts here right now because I still hold a lot of heavier ones in draft and occasionally I even revert after publishing. It's a starting point. More to come, similar and different, in accordance with His will I pray.
It's also about listening to, obeying and following Him. Initially I'm just inviting folks I trust and love in Him to comment/advise/guide (purposefully or playfully because I need to laugh especially at myself often) and help press me on in my walk. Hopefully you'll share any common threads or personal experiences too. I'm also kind of hopeful for more interactions between Sundays ;) There are only a couple posts here right now because I still hold a lot of heavier ones in draft and occasionally I even revert after publishing. It's a starting point. More to come, similar and different, in accordance with His will I pray.
