YOU
I breathe in Your Spirit . . . my troubles scatter
I know they lurk in the darkness for another chance to plague me.
I am Yours forever;
how could I forget?
I am precious in your sight.
You have taken me from darkness and judgment
and translated me into the kingdom of Your incredible light.
You
the Light
banish the darkness that threatens me
My enemies are no real threat
You are holding me.
Posted in Poem, Uncategorized | Tagged Christian Poem, Life with God, Poem about God |
The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:11 (NKJV)
This verse is filled with great promises offering hope. The Lord will:
1) guide you continually,
2) satisfy your soul in drought,
3) strengthen your bones,
4) make you a flourishing garden, and
5) make you a never-failing spring of water.
1) The Lord will guide. The road may be uncertain. The road may be bumpy. It may be very dark ahead. You may have no idea where you are going (most of us don’t), but He is with us. He will lead and guide us continually. God is our G.P.S.–He knows exactly where we are at any moment, and He will take us to where we need to be next. See Exodus 13:21-22.
2) The Lord will satisfy your soul in drought. Spiritual drought is inevitable. Just as there are mountain tops and valleys in the spiritual life, there are also deserts to cross. As we pass through the desert seasons, we experience drought. We get all dried up. God brings water of the word to refresh us and hydrate us. Then He brings His Spirit to seal us and protect us from the heat and dryness until the season changes.
3) The Lord will strengthen your bones. In life, we can grow weary. It can be the result of physical illness, aging or simply from trials and tests that sap our strength. God sees this need in our life, and He promises to restore us to strength. See Isaiah 40:31.
4) He promises to make us like watered gardens. In my mind’s eye, I see the watered garden, a beautiful tapestry of diverse shades of green leaves and stems, along with all different colored flowers, The word that comes to mind is life. A well-watered garden brings forth life. Psalm 1promises that the man who delights and meditates in God’s law will “be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Psalm 1:3. The prophet Jeremiah said, “blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.” Jeremiah 17:8.
5) He promises we will be springs of water that never fail. In John 7:38, Jesus promised, “he who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. The living water that flows out of us–believers—will bring life to those around us.
For further study on this passage:
1. Recall a time of drought either at the time of your salvation or in your walk with God when He satisfied your soul. Describe in a few sentences or paragraphs that experience.
2. When you imagine a watered garden, what do you see? How do you see (or not see) yourself like a watered garden?
Posted in Devotional, Isaiah | Tagged Isaiah 58:11, Life with God, Promises of God |
Racehorse
Something
Someone
caught my eye
hooked my interest
ensnared my heart
I feel Your restraint
on me
I sense Your restraint
on him
waiting like racehorses
at the gate
snorting, stomping
chomping at the bit
Your bit
we’re under Your yoke
Abba
I’m so sorry
Abba
I’m so sorry I wasn’t better
wasn’t braver
didn’t protect my heart
didn’t protect my purity
didn’t safeguard my soul
All my treasure I gave away
cast before swine
squandered on the roadside
I don’t have my gift
to give to him
the him you choose
for me
I rushed love
I wasted love
I lost love
who can find it?
I love You
only You
I need You.
I know You.
I know Your plans for me.
I know Your heart for me.
I know the alternative.
I know I’m safe with You.
So I wait at the gate
I keep my eyes on You
Abba
I don’t want
to want
or even think of
what You don’t have for me
Copyright 2018
Posted in Poem | Tagged Christian Poem, Life with God, Racehorse |
What does a Shepherd do?
The image of the shepherd is found throughout the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments. The most well-known place is probably psalm is Psalm 23, which reflects on the shepherd and what he does for the sheep.
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
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 does the shepherd do according to verse 1 of Psalm 23?
He removes my want. How does He do that? He provides. One of the names of God is Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides.
He provides simple things like food and shelter–a job, a place to live, a car. But he also provides intangibles like comfort, companionship, and peace.
A beautiful picture is painted for us in Isaiah 40:11 where Isaiah tells us “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”
There is nothing the shepherd will not give for his sheep even his life. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11
Posted in Psalms | Tagged Psalm 23, The Shepherd |
The Father’s Voice
Laying flat on cool marble
arms by my sides
the voice of the Father
calms me
from nowhere
an attack
I flinch
it requires everything
to be still
sword flashes
another strikes back
clang of metal on metal
a battle above my head
a final blow
my attacker is slain
dead
threat eliminated
Listen to my voice
my child
I am with you
I will not leave you
fear not
my palms are sweaty
my pulse is racing
breathing shallow and fast
heart pounding so hard it could split
Abba, Abba
He rubs my temple
Be still and know
from experience
I AM God
a voice calls to me
My beloved, come to Me
I long for His touch
I’m drawn
Copyright 2017
Posted in Poem | Tagged Hearing God, Life with God, The Father's Voice |
“You never loved me,” His words laid open my heart.
It is hard to discern truth when someone tells you lies about yourself, even harder when it is someone you should be able to trust like a spouse.
I searched my heart. I searched my actions. I found no evidence to support his accusation. I had been doing all to love someone very difficult to love. I had asked God to help me to love–to give me the love. He had. This was a terrible lie.
It was even more terrible that he believed the lie.
After I cried a river, I let the voice of truth speak over me, of what I had done and not done. I was fully restored to confidence that I had loved and did still love.
My hurt was replaced with sadness. How sad for him–a person seeking to be loved so desperately–to be totally blind to the love being poured out–the love of the One who loves him most.
But we were and often still are like that. We live oblivious to the love of the Father–thinking that no one loves us when in reality, He so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believed would have everlasting life with Him.
Posted in Devotional, Love, Uncategorized | Tagged John 3:16, Love, voice of truth |
Martyn Lloyd-Jones on the offense of the cross
The Cross, Martyn Lloyd-Jones
So when they [the Jews] found the one who claimed to be the Messiah [Jesus] dying in apparent weakness and helplessness upon the cross, they were deeply wounded and offended. They felt that this was nonsense, ridiculous. A Saviour, a deliverer, dying. He ought to be killing everybody else. He ought to be powerful and mighty, a great king and conqueror. He was an offence to them. He had demolished their preconceived notions and ideas. And it was exactly the same with the Greeks, these men who trusted to their own ability and were so proud of it . . .
We think we know what God expects, and we are quite confident that we can do it, that we have it in us. If we only put our backs and our wills into it, we can do it. Is that not it? The cross cuts right across it . . .
The cross proclaims at once that we are not saved by ideas. We are not saved by thought, or by understanding. We are not saved, if you like, by philosophy. But that is the one thing that the natural man believes–that we are saved in this manner. Who is going to save us? Well, the wise men. And who are they? The wise men are the great thinkers. The country is in trouble, in an awful mess. What can be done? Well, we want the best men, the best thinkers in every realm–political, philosophical, social and in every other respect. The best men, the best thinkers, are going to be our salvation. That is how man thinks instinctively. But here is something that tells us that we are not saved by thinking. We are not saved by good ideas. We are not saved by idealism. The most bitter opponents of the cross of Christ in this country today are the idealists who are not Christians. You see, they have their noble ideas, their thoughts about uplift, and what needs to be done, and so do the great profound philosophers. These are the important people, the world says, and they hate the cross, because it cuts right across what they believe . . .
The cross cannot be understood.
Posted in Crucifixion, Martyn Lloyd Jones | Tagged Jesus crucified, Martyn Lloyd Jones, the offense of the cross |
Read Leviticus 26
1. What does God promise to do if the children of Israel obey His statutes (laws)?
2. What does God promise to do if the children of Israel do not obey His statutes?
3. What do you learn from Leviticus 26:44-45?
Read Leviticus 27 (last chapter of the book!!!!!!!!!!!)
4. What is the subject matter of this chapter?
Note:For application of the law of gleaning and the law of redemption, read the Book of Ruth (Old Testament).
5. What application to your own life can you make from the book of Leviticus?
Posted in Leviticus | Tagged Leviticus 26, Leviticus 27 |
Read Leviticus 24
1. What did you find of interest in this chapter?
Read Leviticus 25
2. Explain the law of the Sabbath of the 7th year.
3.What is the Year of Jubilee?
4. What did the Year of Jubilee have to do with the economic dealings of the people?
5. How did the Year of Jubilee impact slavery?
Posted in Leviticus | Tagged Leviticus 24, Leviticus 25, Sabbath year, Year of Jubilee |
Fragrance
I met You daily
for me
to survive
for comfort
for healing
for strength
to push back the darkness
I never imagined
the fragrance you were leaving behind in me
over the years
weaving it into the very fibers of my soul
the essence of my being
the pungent perfume
the amazing aroma of the Beautiful One
I was desperate for You
my eyes consumed by my troubles
For many years
I couldn’t lift my head to look ahead
I couldn’t see beyond
prevailing problems
current chaos
daily demands
I didn’t worry if you were leaving Your fragrance with me
on me
in me
I didn’t know or care
But You, Adonai T’zva’ot,
You did
You knew it would help others
You knew it would waft over my sweet child
You knew I’d want this fragrance
long for this fragrance
one day
You knew
So You did for me what I couldn’t do for myself
You made this broken pot a useful vessel
in Your house
the Master’s house
In time
Your time
fullness of time
perfectly timed
You began the squeeze
pressure increased
pressure mounted
You were close, but no relief
more and more force applied
to my soul
to my being
enemies all around
enemies within
walls entombing me
blistering betrayal
brutal battles
boundless sorrows
rivers of tears
I was in a vice
You were tightening screws
increasing pressure
crushing, crushing, crushing
I thought I might die
I wished I might die
I wished and wished for the crushing to end
As You crushed me in that contraption called the human condition,
that mechanism for spiritual growth known as “that which is common to man”
something happened
something I never expected
At first, just a hint of fragrance was released
a brisk walk at dusk past the night-blooming Jasmine
then a wispy cloud floating around me
a bouquet of fresh-cut roses in the center of the kitchen table
still You weren’t finished
til the unrelenting crushing brought forth the full aroma
the blast of permeating fragrance
prostrate in fields of lavender
resting on the fresh buds
my pores seeping with fragrance
the fragrance of Yeshua
the fragrance of the Christ
the fragrance of hope
You are the sower
You are the living water
You are the vine dresser
You are Elohim
Creator of the very dirt and herb of the field
and You are the perfumer
bringing forth the finest scents
from Your flowers
crushing me
crushing us
that Your fragrance might remain
Copyright 2018
Pink Roses
Posted in Poem | Tagged 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, Christian Poem, Fragrance of Christ |
Rooted and Grounded 