Tough Packages of Compassion

Sometimes Life can be hard.  Really tough sometimes.  Especially when, by all indication and fruition, others are getting their dreams met and rejoicing in the blessed unexpected good things happening in their life, and you are left with shards...left with the broken pieces to the life they've helped create for you. 

Some weeks I do great.  This week isn't one of them.  But, yet still, I walk in grace.  God's grace.

Have you ever wanted deliverance from hard circumstances? 

We all have them.  Sorrow and hard days hit us all.  And pity is so easy to wear...until I read stories of those who are blind...those who live with the scars of accidents...burns...those abused...homeless.  When I think of these it is kinda hard for me to feel debilitated by my own set of circumstance.  I may be a single mom, but at least I still have all my senses about me.  I can hear.  I can see.  I can smell.  I can feel.  The "good list" goes on. 

Mandisa sings a song "My Deliverer"....a lyric goes like this:  my deliverer sets me free from all that's held me captive. 

We've all felt captive...pulled down by the weight of our unfulfilled desires.  Then we cry out "Abba Father" and we are brought out of the darkness back into the light.  Warmed by his loving embrace. 

Deliverance.  Sometimes it comes as we want it.  Other times not.  Yet, deliverance comes.  One way or another it comes to us all. 

Psalm 71:1-3 In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; Let me never be ashamed.  In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me.  Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come;  You have given commandment to save me, For You are my rock and my fortress....

We appeal to God for deliverance because we know of His awesome power and compassion.

Confidently we go to the throne of grace to find refuge in time of need.  Another verse in Psalm tells us to call upon Him in trouble and He will deliver, and we will honor him. (psalm 50) 

Straight forward promises. We call, He delivers.  Easy-peasy, right?!  So, why doesn't it work just like that? If this be true, why are we left in the darkness, feeling helpless, longing for a way out?  If He cares and has all power to zap the problem out of our existence, why doesn't He? 

or does He? 

Sometimes the way God keeps His promises is painful for us to endure.  But His ways are time-tested, higher than our ways.  His thoughts are not like ours. 

Perhaps you have endured something so painful that you're weeping right now...or perhaps even passed all the crying and now feeling numb from the weight in which you carry.  You wonder why God allowed it to happen.  Don't feel alone.  You're not alone in those thoughts.

Maybe He is delivering you through it. 

Perhaps we need to think of our heartaches and disappointments as blessings in disguise.  His compassions really do come in tough packages sometimes.  And when we can't understand His methods, we can trust His heart.  For He truly does love each and every one of us. 

We just have to keep trusting Him. 




 

 

The Conductor

Originally written May 18, 2011

Hebrews 10:23, Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

It is good to trust the Lord.  :-) Trust in the good times.  Trust in the bad times.  Moment by moment, day by day----Trust

It is during the difficult days that we must find the wisdom and the courage to trust our Heavenly Father despite the circumstance that even now surround us. 

 

This scripture reminds me to wait patiently for my God.  Thank you, Jesus, for this reminder.  :-)  Trusting God with everything is important, and that includes timing...we should trust God to decide the best time for things to happen.  Sometimes it's hard to trust but it's always the right thing to do. 

 

"When the train goes through a tunnel and the world becomes dark, do you jump out?  Of course not.  You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through." --Corrie Ten Boom

 

Waiting patiently for Him pays off.  Jesus is driving my train & I'm Heaven-bound :-D  ~md

A Mercy Day

First written: May 19, 2011

 

Isaiah 30:18, And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him

 

In reading this passage (preceding and the verses afterwards too), it was impressed upon my heart God's timing is Crucial...God's Timing should always win out. ;-) 

 

It's in the resting that we shall be saved.  Saved from unintended heartache(s).  Strength is in the quietness and confidence.  So often times we want our desires "here and right now" and God may be telling us to wait, or we feel that He's not even listening. 

 

In our free-will we attain the desire only to later realize that it really wasn't for our best interest.  At least, maybe, for that segment of time. 

 

God is so gracious in these moments to not give us what we deserve.  Even if we do "reap what we sow", He shows compassion for us even in the reaping. 

 

Though we be filled with the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, God allows us understanding in the lesson.  Who knows but what the anguish days of this life is really His mercies in disguise?, and as the song says, what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know He's near?

 

The Lord is a just God--full of judgment--and each day we arise His compassions are new.  Great is His faithfulness. 

 

When we allow our self to confidently believe that God loves us and wants the best for us, and quietly listen, then we can hear the voice of God in our ear telling us, "This is the way, turn here.  See, I'm working it all out.  Walk this way" (Is. 30:21). 

~md  

Get Your Praise On

Nehemiah 8:10  Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength

 

Definition of JOY:  The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.

 

God’s Law brings JOY!  I’m so thankful for the truth of the gospel.  Happiness isn’t enough, it is JOY that makes life worth living.  It’s JOY that runs deep.  JOY is a well.  The JOY of the LORD is your strength.  Be endued with power from on High.  Do not grieve.  This is a day that the Lord has made—a present—just for you that He wants you to enjoy.  J

 

If there’s any way at all for you to do so….Prepare something delish (as Rachel Ray would say)…perhaps enjoy a picnic…it doesn’t have to be fancy…get you a big glass of down-home southern sweet iced tea and a sandwich…sit outside with a friend…hey, why not bring the pitcher…I’m sure ya’ll will want some more! 

 

Bask in the JOY that God gives.  His love is eternal.  He gives good gifts.  Allow your heavenly Father to fill you with peace that passes all understanding.  Let Him so fill you up that you abound to overflowing JOY!  The devil has laughed long enough.  It’s time to send him packing, fleeing in fear, with his pitch fork dragging the ground.  Our God reigns forevermore!  When we allow God to reign…Our God has the FINAL say in EVERYTHING!  :-D  :-D :-D 

 

There is a song titled, Rivers of Joy.  Some of the lyrics put a smile on my face.  Lyrics such as… It's time to wake up now 'cause much is still undone / I made up my mind and nothing gets me down / And I won't stop this time until I'm really through / I have to move along to the rivers full of joy

And this one…

You can find joy and happiness / No matter what storm you come across / So hear me when I say you're here to stay / Hold on tight and I'll be right / You can find joy and happiness / No matter what storm /  just happiness / You just take a look deep down in the rivers of joyAnd here is another song’s lyric, JOY, by MaryMary…

Oh how I wonder when my soul looks black / how I ever made it through my sinful, wicked past / I did everything that I thought I wanted till it brought me down / then God reached out to me, so I’m here to tell you now / I get joy, joy thinking about / what He’s done for me / I get joy, joy thinking about / what He’s done for me / I’ve seen the bottom of the mountain, I’ve had my share of pain / I’ve been through so many struggles, thought I’d never breathe again / so I prayed that God would help me, I couldn’t handle it anymore / then He lifted every burden and that’s why I get joy, oh yeah / you don’t know like I know what He’s done for me, yeah / you don’t know like I know what He’s done! 

 

And, no, my friend…you may think you know me…but you don’t know like I know what He’s done for this oh girl!!  :-D heehee! :-D

 

So, be encouraged today!  Go ‘head on!  Get’s some “happy” in your feet.  Get some “happy” in your hands.  Get some “happy” on your face!  Turn that frown upside down, girl.  He’s got a work for you to do today.  ENJOY!  

 

Now go get ya some food and a big glass of something sweet! J  (Food always makes a girl smile!)  Love you all ~md

A Heart Comforted

Going through some of my writings again and came across this one that I had emailed to some friends Feb. 13, 2012.  Can't remember exactly what I was feeling or going thru at the time, but it was nice to re-read.  Hope you feel the same....

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Colossians 2:2  That their hearts might be comforted , being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

 

Someone once said, “We all mold another’s dreams.  We all hold each other’s fragile hopes in our hands.  We all touch other’s hearts.”  Well, I don’t know about the certainty of that, but what I am certain about is, “Jesus molds my dreams.  Jesus holds my fragile hopes in His great big hands.  Jesus is not limited to touching one heart at a time, He touches hearts every second.”  I’m so thankful to know the Master who KNOWS it all!  I don’t have time to explain it.  To be honost I have no desire to find the words to explain it, I just know that my JESUS came this weekend.  He touched my heart this weekend.  And, I’m grateful.   

 

I want to be knit wholly in HIS love today.  I’m so thankful I know who JESUS is! 

 

What a busy weekend this past weekend was! (lol)  This morning I rode up to my work space with an elevator-full and this lady riding with us said, “I can’t believe it’s Monday!...weren’t we just on this…like an hour ago, or something?!” LOL  This was her version of “WOW! Where did the weekend go?!”  She made me laugh.  My sentiments exactly!!!  J  But, hey, isn’t that what living life is all about?! ;-D I’m grateful that God allowed me the privilege…and oh what a privilege it is!...to feel HIS awesome, mighty presence so fully, so totally, so completely this weekend.  Saturated in His goodness…this is what I felt like.   

 

Billy Graham once said, “A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming, understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant, overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable.” 

 

The LOVE of GOD working in a life makes this happen too!  I woke up this morning with the song “Can’t Stop Praising”.  Can’t stop praising His name, I just can’t stop praising His name…BLESS HIS HOLY NAME…Cant’ stop praising His name…JESUS, JESUS!  I won’t turn back, No I won’t turn back, I won’t turn back now!  I’m so grateful to know the One who comforts, knits me together, and shows all riches of understanding.  I want to show HIM the same! I want to be so in tune with the Master-Of-It-All that I don’t have to wake up each morning at the start-box again.  I want my relationship with Him to be so effective that it truly takes affect.  A true relationship with God brings about a change resulting in that life making a difference in the life of someone else.  I want my life to show forth the LOVE and the POWER of God.  I don’t want lip-service, I want action-service; heart-service. Out of the mouth the heart speaketh.  What am I revealing to others about my heart-condition? Am I comforting through words and deeds?  Through my actions am I showing forth the praises of God?  By my lips am I comforting (affecting positively) a bruised soul?  Or, Am I more in tune with myself and what I think, than what God thinks? 

 

Lord, help me!!  Help me that I may have a positive affect on this bruised, crushed-in-spirit world around me.  Help me to LOVE as YOU love!  I want to be knit together with the body of Christ.  I want to have a full understanding of what you are all about, and who you are!          

 

Ya’ll have a great day today. 

 

Love to all ~md

Knitted Hearts

I Chronicles 12:17

"...If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, my heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it."

 

Ever gotten to the point where you started to question people's motives for seeking you out?

 

If not, I'm sure at some point in your life you will. 

 

Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt betrayal?  It's not a sweet walk in the park, is it?  No, I didn't think so.

 

Perhaps I should say, I know so.

 

But, try not to lump everyone in the same pot, ok?  There really are some peaceable, kind, Godly, loving people in this world.  yes, even in your world.  They are there, right in the very life you live every single day. 

 

Life does happen.  People fail themselves and each other.  Life can hurt sometimes.  But, try to keep your emotions in check...keep positive.   Remember that a Life, if fully lived, is a constant check and balance.  And those that betray keep us in awe and wonder of those who don't. 

 

Keep the faith.  God works all situations for your perfecting.  The good and the bad...it's all for you :)  I promise, He really does work all things for good. And it's not my promise that counts, it's His.  He said He would never leave you nor forsake you and His Word says that He works all things for good to those that love Him. So, KEEP THE FAITH.   

 

 



Does He Call You "Daughter"?

I've been trying to clean up my emails lately and this morning I came across this scripture promise and the thoughts written on January 25, 2011.  Hope it brings some encouragement to someone today! :)
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Luke 8:48, And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort:  thy faith hath
made thee whole; go in peace. 

The lady pressed her way and touched Jesus.  Reminds me of the saying, “if you
take one step He’ll take two”.  In fact, these words are in a song. 
Anyway….yes, our God will do what no man can do.  He’s a healer, a
mind-regulator, a peace-speaker, a heart-mender and so much more.  He’s the
Alpha and Omega and He’s everything inbetween also!

Faith moves the Master.  Faith causes things to happen.  Faith moves the
proverbial mountains in our life.  Faith will cause us to perservere inspite of
the pain.  Faith calls us--Conquerors.  If I’m not mistaken, I think this is the
only place in scripture where Jesus specifically called a woman/girl, Daughter. 
Which is yet another example of how faith pleases Him. 
    
Further in this chapter there is the story of the ruler of the synaguoge.  There
were a lot of people around that did not have faith.  In fact, they laughed
Jesus to scorn for saying the girl was asleep.  But, the father of the child had
faith enough to call out to the Master for help, believing in the possibility
that something could be done---and it was done!  It says, the mother and the
father were astonished and Jesus admonished them that they tell no one what had
been done. 

Now, I don’t rightly understand the reasoning behind why He would say that, but
that’s what He said.  Maybe it was because there was so much unbelief outside
the house that if those outside the house found out what was done inside the
house, there might have been a riot.  (???)  Maybe Jesus was trying to protect those
that were inside the house??    Six people were all the number that got to see
the miracle while the throngs of people couldn’t even hear about it.  WOW! 

I want to have enough faith to touch Him, even if I feel unworthy to do so, and
I want to be found a believer so that I can be in the house when God performs
the miracle!  I want to be right smack-dab in the middle…having a front row
view…to see the changes God brings.
      
 In Faith bring your fragments, Faith brings completeness.   In God’s time it will be
complete. 

High Thoughts

Isaiah 55:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

 

Life may not turn out according as planned,

That's because our thinking is the way of man.

Our ways and thoughts are not comparable to God's.

Trust Him to see you through.

For He knows it all.

 

He sees every sparrow. 

The ones that fly. 

And the ones that fall.

He knows it all.

 

Every trial we face has passed His inspection first.

He care and He knows what's best.

When you can't handle it anymore He has ears that are ready to listen.

He has our hearts on His mind at all times.

He knows it all.

 

With tender loving care He made us.

He knows every detail about us.

He knows it all.

 

Look to the One,

Your only Redeemer.

He holds you

And the whole world

In His hands.

He knows it all.

 

He will not ever leave you to withstand anything alone. 

You're His child.  He cares for His own.

And He knows it all.

 

Fight with faith

Take on the helmet of salvation

Keep the sword in your hand.

And with His help you will pass every test and trial.

Always remember: God knows best!

He knows it all. 

Faint Not :)

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 

-Ephesians 3:13

 

 

Just a scripture I read today that's making me ponder a bit :)

 

If you don't think your trial holds purpose, think again.

Don't ever, ever give up!

Keep the faith.

Others are watching

: )

 

Today is my 37th birthday.

In the midst of all my life

I have found HIM faithful.

He's worth living for.

He carries me through every situation that I don't know what to do with

And somehow I come out of it OK.

God is a present help.

He is faithful!!

And He will never change.