Before His Presence

 

Before His Presence

 

He asked us to come

Opening wide the door

All we must do is enter in

Then things will not be as before

 

Nothing between—

The Gate is no longer closed

Love’s Sacrifice paid the price

The Father’s heart disclosed

 

Enter with thanksgiving

Praise God for all His ways

Serve the LORD with gladness

Humbly voice His praise

 

For His Presence will not leave us

Nor forsake us

For ever

 

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Psalms 100:4-5

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

The Promise for a Broken Nation

 

Anyone who had paid attention

Knew what the motto declared

They were one nation under God

His fingerprints were everywhere

 

 

“In God we trust”

A simple humble phrase

Yet so forgotten

In these latter days

 

A Nation marred in the hands of the Potter

 

But that is the hope!

The Potter still holds the clay

His work was not finished

He can still make a way

 

Look to God

Forsake the sin

Humbly pray

He will work again

 

“…so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.”

 

A Promise for a broken Nation—if we will have it

Jeremiah 18:1-12

Seeking the Showers

 

Seeking the Showers

 

They were seeking the showers of blessing

But they looked at the wrong end of the hose

They waved it around with excitement

But nothing refreshed all their souls

 

But one man looked up unto Heaven

He caused them to God’s Word draw near

For only by Truth comes right feelings

He knew that they needed to hear

 

Don’t let your life get out of order

Emotions shouldn’t rule what you do

Let God’s Word show the facts—and how you should act

Then the showers of blessing pour through

 

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I Kings 18:20-46

 

               Feelings are not a bad thing—God gave them to us so that we could enjoy the Truth. When we discover the facts, it causes or reveals emotion. Notice the joy of the Psalmist in Psalms 145! The problem today is that many people get it backwards. They think that if they discover their feelings, it causes or reveals the facts.

 

               Another thought along this line…if we let our emotions be based in facts, we should not be critical of emotional decisions because the facts are behind the emotions. Faith in the facts cause us to be moved to grief over sin, burden for sinners, and a host of other things. Facts and feelings can work together to get God’s people moving. (2 Corinthians 5:11)

Thinking with Yourself

 

Thinking with Yourself

 

It is so easy to listen to that little voice

Way down deep inside

The one that says “Take the easy road

It makes a smoother ride”

 

But another Voice is clearly heard—

The One we should really heed

The words that whisper “Take up the Cross”

Let this be our daily creed

 

So when trials come—and they often do

Don’t think thoughts just of you

Fellowship in the suffering of Christ

His grace will see you through

 

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It All Depends on God!

Esther 4:13-17, Luke 11:2-10

 

1.      Thy Name—there is no other way to come to the Throne of Grace except through the Name of Jesus—worshiping together

2.      Thy Kingdom—yielding to God’s control in every area. This is letting the Word of God dwell in us richly in all wisdom—walking together

3.      Thy Will—putting down our own desires and thoughts and picking up what God wants for us—working together

4.      Thy Gifts—daily bread. Strength to do right

5.      Thy Forgiveness—healing and cleansing when we do wrong

6.      Thy Leading—Away from the temptation to listen to self. Just say No!

7.      Thy Delivering—We should not want to be part of anything that would hurt the cause of Christ.

Talking to Myself

Talking to Myself

Sometimes I start to whisper

To myself of things I know

Of truths found in the Bible

Like Jesus loves me so

This helps me to remember

And not to sit and mope

It turns my gaze on Jesus

For in Him is all my hope

I tell myself “God covers thee

Under Almighty wings

Surely He delivers thee

Sweet joy and peace He brings”

Then faith begins to strengthen

Love sets my heart aglow

Because I hear the Saviour

His voice these words echo

“My child, do not be afraid

Of problems down below

My angels will watch over you

My salvation I will show”

“Call upon me at any time

I listen for thy cry

Speak my Name in humble prayer

Your needs I satisfy”

Today I am telling myself the truth

Not heeding Satan’s lies

For Jesus is near—My Present Help

To my trust His voice replies

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Based on Psalm 91

               In the beginning of the chapter the Psalmist says, “I will say of the LORD…”. By the end of the chapter, the LORD, Himself, was talking to the Psalmist. Sometimes we speak lies to ourselves—this is giving place to the Devil and causing doubt and fear. Learn to speak God’s Word to yourself like the Psalmist! God’s Word produces faith and love. Notice that God didn’t take the trouble away until first He was with us in trouble. Do we call upon Him? He promises to answer—to deliver--to honour--to satisfy!

Pray Some More

Pray Some More

The gift had not been given—

God had withheld the desire of her heart

Not because it wasn’t good

But to draw her to Himself—apart

She only wanted to do God’s will

She prayed to the Lord and wept sore

She knew she needed His Presence

More now than ever before

And when you have prayed your heart out

Even when it seems a chore

Look to the Father—trust in His love

Then kneel to pray some more

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1 Samuel 1:9-17

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD. 

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore. 

And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head. 

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth. 

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. 

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. 

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him. 

Spring

Spring

The snowflakes were playing a game--

Racing across the expanse of my back yard

While the daffodils waved merrily

Cheering them on from the stands

And the trees nodded silently

Saving their strength

Waiting until just the right moment

To shower the pollen confetti

The referees blew their whistles—

The cardinal from the tall birch

The blue jays and chickadees

Sounding the two-minute warning

And me?

I’m just sipping my coffee

Announcing the game

Enjoying Spring

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Gen 8:20-22

And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 

And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 

The seasons are proof of the promises from God—enjoy all of them!