Don't Poke God In The Eye

"Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye." -- Zechariah 2:8

This is too good not to share. Our Pastor reminded us yesterday that when we come against one of God's children or when someone comes against us, that we are actually touching the apple of God's eye -- which is the pupil. This shows how near and dear the Lord's people are to Him. And then he said, "So, don't poke God in the eye!" Thanks Pastor Shawn for that brilliant word picture.

He Will Not Delay

"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. " - Psalm 121:1-2

When my foes rise against me, I will lift up my eyes. My God will not delay! Thank you God for being my refuge and strength. Your promises are true. You always come through!

Always lyrics, Kristian Stanfill
My foes are many, they rise against me
But I will hold my ground
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
From You Lord, from You Lord

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always, always

SMILE

"Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me." -- Psalm 31:16, MSG

I love this song. It reminds me of someone very special and it reminds me of GOD. He is better than the best. I'm lucky just to linger in HIS light. He warms me with His smile. He makes His face to shine upon me.

Uncle Kracker: SMILE

"You´re better then the best
I´m lucky just to linger in your light
Cooler than the flip side of my pillow that´s right
Completely unaware
Nothing can compare to where you send me
Lets me know that it´s ok
Yeah it´s ok
And the moments when my good times start to fade

You make me smile like the sun
Fall outta bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

Even when you´re gone
Somehow you come along
Just like a flower poking through the sidewalk crack and just like that
You steal away the rain and just like that

You make me smile like the sun
Fall outta bed
Sing like a bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile

Don´t know how I lived without you
'Cuz every time that I get around you
I see the best of me inside your eyes
You make me smile
You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild

You make me smile like the sun
Fall outta bed
Sing like bird
Dizzy in my head
Spin like a record
Crazy on a Sunday night

You make me dance like a fool
Forget how to breathe
Shine like gold
Buzz like a bee
Just the thought of you can drive me wild
Oh, you make me smile
Oh, you make me smile
Oh, you make me smile"

Weeds?

"Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." -- Luke 12:27

The flowers of the field are beautiful to behold, but there are much less desirable plants just as beautiful. What mother hasn't had her heart melt when given a bouquet of clover or dandelions? Mere weeds to most! But my grandsons haven't yet been "taught" which flowers are most desirable by man and I love that about them! And it makes me wonder about my Heavenly Father. I think He delights in our bouquets of weeds also ... for a bouquet of weeds from a child is as grand as a bouquet of the most exotic beauties on earth.

Today's prayer: "God, today I come to you with my bouquet of weeds. I picked them just for you. I know that when you put them in your eternal vase they will shine with the perfection of Heaven. Amen." 


[This bouquet of clover was picked by my 3-year old grandson, Leland, for his mommy. Heart melting ...]

Sing!

"O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth." -- Psalm 96:1

I love to sing, but I'm not gifted in that way. So most of my singing is done in private before an Audience of One. I recently came across a teaching done by Jake Hamilton called "Revelation through Meditation" that has absolutely rocked my world and set me free in song! 

Jake encourages us to make up new songs using verses from the Bible. He says, "SING IT [scripture]. Not word for word. Make up your own song using any verse." He goes on to say, "I know what you're thinking; you're thinking, 'well, I don't sing.' Even better! You know why that's even better? Because it doesn't cost you anything to sing a song because you know you can sing. When you sing, and you don't know how to sing, it becomes a sacrifice only you can give to God. And it's not a song you sing in your heart. Stand up and begin to sing to the Lord. Sing to him a new song!"

Remember, when Jesus sent out the disciples, he didn't divide tasks by skill (all singers sing, teachers teach, etc.), he said everyone do everything!

And this is the part I absolutely love!  He says:

“If you begin this discipline of singing new songs from scripture, a year from now, you’ll have hundreds of songs that only you and God know. Have you ever heard anybody talk about a secret history with God? You’re building one. You won’t even remember the song tomorrow, but guess Who will? You’re gonna get to heaven one day, and God’s gonna say to you, ‘I loved your song about John 3:16.’ And you’re gonna say, 'how did that go again?’ And He’s gonna remember it. And you’re gonna have hundreds and thousands of little songs just like a child sings.”

Today's prayer: "God, I love how you put music in all of us, and it doesn't matter if we can harmonize or sing in tune. You love to hear your children sing! As a mother, I know I smiled every time I overhead one of my children making up songs and singing them with their whole heart. Most times they were completely unaware that I was even listening. Thank you for keeping track of all the songs in my heart. Let's sing tonight!"

Will You Let Me Drown?

"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown!" -- Isaiah 43:2

A true drowning victim does not wave their hands and flail about, as depicted in the movies. No, in the drowning there is silence and inactivity. As long as I'm still fighting, still waiving my hands about in praise, still shouting to my King, I'm not about to drown. He will not let me.

I woke up early this morning with this one verse from the song Something Beautiful playing in my heart:

In your ocean I'm ankle deep,
I feel the waves crashing on my feet;
It's like I know where I need to be
But I can't figure out,
I can't figure out

Just how much air I will need to breathe
When your wave washes over me,
There's only one way to figure out
Will you let me drown?
Will you let me drown?

[Something Beautiful, verse 1, Neadtobreathe]

Today's prayer: "God, thank you that you will not let me drown."

Out Of The Box

"Drinks were served in gold cups, no two of them alike, and the king was generous with the royal wine." -- Esther 1:7

I love this verse because of the words "no two of them alike." Our God created us with individuality and acceptance, but the world would scream NO -- you must fit in our box. Well, here's to climbing out of the box and being the unique individual God created you to be.

There is a scene in the movie Martian Child in which John Cusack's publisher asks the question: "Why can't you just be what we want you to be?" For me, that's the pivotal question in this movie and also the pivotal question before us today. And I believe the answer is a resounding: "No! I can't be what you want me to be, but I can be everything God created me to be." Coming out of the box ...

Today's prayer: "God, how many times have I echoed the words of John Cusack's publisher? Forgive me. Help me to see the value you created in individuality. And, keep me true to my own unique purpose in You. Amen."

Shut The Door

"But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." -- Matthew 6:6

Jesus was always wandering off alone to pray to the Father. I'm sure if he had a prayer closet he would have shut the door. Our pastor urged us to do the same -- to enter our prayer closet AND shut the door! Let the storm rage outside the door. We cannot fix people. We must leave them to God. [good teaching last night Pastor Shawn!]

My Steps

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" -- Psalm 37:23

God orders my steps .... all of them!

Today is the Day of Salvation

"For God says, "At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you." Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation." -- 2 Corinthians 6:2

The Greek word for salvation is sozo, and it is used numerous times in the New Testament. It means “to save or make well or whole,” and, according to Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, also means “to save, deliver, heal, and preserve.”

When you pray, pray believing that TODAY is the day of "sozo" -- the day of salvation, healing, and deliverance. Always pray believing that TODAY the answer will come. And if it does not, keep praying, for when tomorrow arrives, it will again be TODAY and TODAY is the day of salvation or sozo.

Plan A: Pray like the answer will come today.
Plan B: If the answer does not come, keep praying.