The Storms will come.....

 Today my mind has wandered back to Psalms 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

The Lord is at work.  This is a time of many transitions.  A time of seeking peace and His direction.  This is a time of truly living out the faith.  Do we believe?  Do we trust?  Are God's promises backed up by His name....by His character?


God is our Provider,
Sustainer,
All-powerful
All-knowing,
Loving Heavenly Father,
Faithful God,
Merciful,
Gracious,
Comforter,
Safe Place (Refuge),
Oh and Soooo much more.....

I found this list...brought me to tears (what's new).  Tears of a different kind...heaven sent tears.  No tears of selfish motivation, but tears of adoration. 

Why do I fear.  I am a child of the King.  He owns all and wants the best for me........remember...that is the essence of true love.


Psamls 46:2...."Therefore will not we fear, and though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;....verse 7 states again..."The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our REFUGE. SELAH.....verse 10 says,"BE still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."   Again in verse 11, ".....the God of Jacob is our refuge.  Selah.....




Our circumstances change....God changes not.  His love for us never wanes.  He is our refuge....Think on these things....(Selah)

Prayer meeting...not just the meeting of church members...but the meeting of my needs

The message by Brother Dale was taken from James 1:  1-5 entitled "4 Imperatives for turning trials into triumphs".

1.  COUNT - James 1:2  Count it joy when we suffer trials.   While unpleasant,  it is an affirmation of God's love for us.
2.  KNOW - James 1:3  things work for our good.....trials are of spiritual value to the Lord's people.
3.  LET -  James 1:4  submit to the Lord's will during these times as they aid in our maturity.
4.  ASK - James 1:5   when we do not understand what we are going through,
ask (in faith) for wisdom which the Lord gives liberally.

Hungry or thirsty?

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good:  blessed is the man that trusteth in HIM!

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

John 4:14     But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 21:12     ...Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine.

Psalms 23:5 Thou preparest a table before m.....

In spite of our poverty, in spite of our emptiness...

HE SATISFIES!!!!!!

He trusted in the Lord God......II Kings 18:5

Reflecting on the old lessons of the new year....at the top of the list was "Do you trust Me"?

Visiting with us last weekend was Missionary to the Deaf, Jim Sloan.....He opened his sermon asking "What epitaph would God engrave upon our tombstone?"  Oh may it be like King Hezekiah!  He trusted God...engraved in holy writ!  He trusted God.  Our God is trustworthy due to His character, His conduct, and His compassion.


He cannot lie.

He is holy.

He changes not. 

He keeps all His promises.

Psalm 9:10  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, 

LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

New Year...Old Lessons

Do you trust Me?

Will you wait on Me?

Do you love Me?

Do you desire Me?

Do I meet your needs?

When your heart is overwhelmed...do you lean on Me?

Will you do the "difficult" for My glory?

Will you thank Me for adversity?

Will you see My shaping potter's hand at work in your life?

I think of the dear father of the ailing child in Mark9:24.  
..."I believe; help thou my unbelief."


May the Lord grant us strong unshakable belief that only He can give.

Prayer meeting...not just the meeting of church members...but the meeting of my needs

There are times that the words don't come.  I stumble explaining my position for the decisions I make and the values I hold dear.

Why do I not join in with so many of  the world's "pleasures".  I know that the happiness offered by the world and its vices only bring temporary pleasure often with devastating effects on ones soul.  Rather than seeking guidance from our Dear Shepherd of Psalm 23...the world offers its numbing when life gets unbearable.

Thoughts from Psalm 23 regarding, "He restoreth my soul....leads me in paths of righteousness"  took many turns last night, but the last morsels for my frazzled soul took me to Titus 2:11-15a

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke.....

Satisfied in Him

"Christ does not exist in order to make much of us. 

We exist in order to enjoy making much of him. 

Christ is not glorious so that we get wealthy or healthy. 

Christ is glorious, so that rich or poor, sick or sound, we might be satisfied in him." John Piper

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1

Help me to find quiet places to be filled of You, Lord. 

From the mouths of babes....

Something to rejoice about...

Life can certainly be a series of disappointments when we are focused on the temporal.....

Tonight while putting away supper dishes my JOC, 2of 3 belted out the old hymn chorus....

"Oh, say that I'm glad...I'm glad. Oh, say that I'm glad...Jesus has come and my cups over run....Oh. say that I'm glad."

So we googled the old hymn together and sang it loudly...sang of His forgiveness of sin and the marvelous love shed abroad in our hearts....


Thank you, Lord, for this moment.

Thank you, Lord, for the many methods of reminding me of your love for me.

There is a song in my heart today Something I never had; Jesus has taken my sins away O say but I'm glad CHORUS: Oh, say but I'm glad I'm glad Oh, say but I'm glad I'm glad Jesus has come and my cup's over run Oh, say but I'm glad I'm glad! Wonderful, marvelous love He brings Into a heart that's sad; Thro' darkest tunnels the soul just sings, O say but I'm glad

Dead...dead...dead....

Twisted, dead vine.....


Dead, hollow tree....emptied of self....



Where dead leaves abound...



signs of life emerge....




We die to self. Emptied of self.....that Christ may live through us.

Fill me. Use me....Spirit of the Living God.....Fall afresh on me

Nourishing The Soul Takes Time and Discipline....

and the blessings are bountiful....

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

I find that I spend far more time in prayer than I do reading my bible.

I can pray anywhere and at any time.....

what a blessing that is.

Bible reading on the other hand requires me STOP.

It requires TIME.

Those are things that take DISCIPLINE.

God's word sheds light for life.

It is The Bread of Life.

We can never overindulge in it.

It is soul food that I need for every day.

At times I have starved myself,

reaching a point of craving it.

When I discipline myself to stop and take time

I am fed well.

God's word is spiritually healthy nourishment.

God's word is fresh,

sometimes it is a feast for my soul

other times it is a small bite that refreshes for the moment.

Why don't you join us this year by spending more time reading your bible.

O cleaning Word, O precious Word, Your promises are true;

They keep and purify my heart; Your truths are ever new.

-Unknown

found at MGCC