"Blessings May Be Just Down the Street"

Mark 10:14-16 - "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

The day after Thanksgiving as I was walking my dog I considered shortening our walk when I saw some children playing at the end of the street. Now it's not that I dislike children or anything, on the contrary, I think they're precious and oftentimes purposely go in their direction knowing how much they love my dog. But since I wasn't feeling that great I just wanted to walk the dog, let him do his business and be on my merry way with no distractions.

Well, my little social butterfly of a dog, Gideon spotted the children from at least a half a block away and was pulling on his leash to get to them. So, while I was considering crossing the street before the kids spotted us he was already charging full force ahead. How could I deny him? He loves everybody and especially children! I guess he figures they're so much like him, care-free, full of energy and always ready for fun.

As soon as the little ones saw him they all came running, asking excitedly if they could pet Gideon, getting licks all over; their faces full of joy and laughing with delight. I smiled too and took delight watching them get acquainted as they rolled on the grass together.

One of the little girls, who had been first to approach Gideon, who was no more than eight or nine years old, stood up after she had finished loving on him, very mature and adult-like, with a hand on her hip, looked me square in the eye and said ever so thoughtfully, "How was your Thanksgiving Day, did you have a nice one, where did you enjoy it?" Then she shared with me some of the activities of her Thanksgiving Day and how much she wanted a dog but how her Mom wouldn't let her have one right now and how she'd also like to have a horse and other aspects of her life. I think she was a bit of a social butterfly herself.

She was such a little lady, her nails polished for the holiday and just a real girlie girl. She was something else and actually had me in stitches listening to her and watching her little grown-up self, so out-going, smart and confident. Her girlfriend shared with me that her Grandpa just had staples taken out of his head and that her sister called it a zipper. They just blurt out these things and make me laugh. You never know what they might say. They can be absolutely hysterical; and they're not even trying!

Aah, kids. They really do say the darndest things. I watched them in their sweet innocence, running, jumping and playing, going from one thing to the next without a care. How adorable and beautiful they were. I'm glad I went to the end of the street. They blessed my whole day - and Gideon's too!

Lord God, keep and protect these precious ones by Your mercy and grace. Draw them near to You and grow them up in the things of God. May they know You from an early age, love and serve You and be bright and shining lights for all the world to see. Lead and guide them into all truth through the Lord Jesus Christ all the days of their lives and into Your divine destiny and perfect will. Preserve in them the innocence and child-like spirit they now possess throughout their lives. Use them mightily for Your glory.

Thank You Lord for these little ones who helped lift my spirit and brighten my day. Help me to be more like them, instilling within me more of a child-like spirit. And in days to come, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, may You lead others also to walk just a little farther; perhaps just down the street where a blessing may be waiting. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

"Broken but Refined"

John 15:1-5 - “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

Philippians 2:13 - for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 
Hebrews 12:5-11 - And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Luke 5:36-39 - Then He spoke a parable to them: “No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old one; otherwise the new makes a tear, and also the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

Tears often come out of nowhere
is my heart still soft?
I wish I would shine brighter
I pray remove the dross.
So often I seem to stumble
My God, I'm frail and weak
I pray I'd not repel them Lord
but cause them Christ to seek.
Forgive me where I've failed You
helping me to stand
Point me in the direction
of Your kind and outstretched hand.
Forgive me when I've been frightened
and close in from the fear
Break me out of the confines
Father, draw me near.
To see from Your perspective
and not through the eyes of this flesh
But anointed by Your Holy Spirit
the Name of my God to be blessed.
Lord, surely I'm not perfect
but the Perfect One is dwelling inside
Work in me to will and to do
for Your pleasure, as in You I abide.
I've not the ability to change myself
and so I keep pressing in
Desiring the depths of Your holiness
ever grateful You've paid for my sin.
I'm laying at the feet of Jesus
once again at the foot of His cross
Relying on the crimson red color
where You've given me life for my loss.
I'm asking for new garments
to drink of the new wine
Preserved within a vessel
Lord, that You've refined.

"Open My Eyes"

Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Isaiah 50:4-5 - The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD has opened my ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away.
Matthew 13:16-23 - But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Psalm 1:2-3 - But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall 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 23:1-3 - The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Open my eyes Lord
let me speak what You speak
Unto those that are weary
and those that are weak.
Awaken me each morning
open my ears
Help me Lord God
most gladly to hear.
Through good times or bad times
bearing much fruit
For I am planted by rivers
with prosperous roots.
Continually producing
for Your law's my delight
Wondrous, extraordinary
the Lord gives me sight.
Oh, the beauty and the splendor
of an omnipotent yet tender God
Who lovingly leads ands guides me
with His staff and rod.
Who brings me to quiet waters
there to give me rest
Holding me in His strong arms
my head against His breast.
To listen to His deepest thoughts
to share with Jesus, mine
Thank You for precious moments, Lord
alone with You, for time.
Thank You for refreshing
and for healing as I wait
Thank You for Your righteousness
and paths that You make straight.
You deserve the glory
I'll forever bless Your name
So grateful You pursue me
and for the heart that still You change.

"Secure in Him"

Psalm 119:89 - Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.

Our lives pass by quickly
in an instant they change
But God's Word is settled
His truth remains.
So it's Him that I look to
in these uncertain times
My confidence is in Him
Who will lead me and guide
Into all that is good
and all that is right
I'm reaching out Father
I'm holding on tight.
Letting go of the things
that are weighing me down
Help me Lord Jesus
only in You to be found.

"Moving On"

Philippians 3:7-14

But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), and that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own. I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

I dreamed I was walking down a hallway

seeing the present and past

Familiar and unfamiliar faces

and those that have now gone to black.

A religious man talked to the dying

empty words he spoke

Oh, how it grieved my spirit

for it seemed that he offered no hope.

I continued walking forward

looking for one I once knew

But she occupied no seat in this gallery

then I came to a door that was new.

I awoke and I saw the sun shining

I arose and I stood to my feet

Words of life were spoken

words of Christ went deep.

Not the same old empty tradition

but where true love is expressed

When the hand of God breaks through to earth

and gives you life for death.

I pray that I may know Him

the depths of Him to grasp

Continually pressing onward

forgetting what has passed.

For those things that once seemed so important

quickly fade away

In the face of God Almighty

in the brightness of the light of the Day.

"Fearfully & Wonderfully Made"

Psalm 139:13-14 For You formed my inward parts;You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:17-18 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

What a wonderful thought - God thinks you're absolutely terrific and can't get you off of His mind. He's thinking so many precious and wonderful thoughts of you all the time that they couldn't even be numbered if you tried. He has created a masterpiece in you. You are a classic; you are His jewel. You are unique, amazing, astonishing, incredible, worthy of admiration, fine, enjoyable, excellent, pleasant, awesome, beautiful, fabulous, fantastic and very good. That's the definition of the word wonderful and God has said it, so it is true.

And not only that, He says you're fearfully and wonderfully made. Fearful here means "very", and that means in the fullest sense, wonderful. It also speaks of being complete, complete in Him. You are indispensable and certainly, positively, truly, exceptionally, exceedingly, extraordinarily and decidedly wonderful to Him. And that's not it! He also says you are greatly valued, greatly desired and one He holds in great esteem. You are beloved and dear to Him, over-refined, cherished, unable to calculate in worth, prized and rare. This is the definition of the word precious.

You are beyond compare in the eyes of God. He sees you as no other but made you for Himself. You are the only one like you; you're in a class by yourself. No one can replace you and only you can accomplish what God has predestined for your life. For you see, He has fully equipped you and made you who you are to accomplish His purpose as you walk with Him.

In Christ Jesus you are of a royal lineage for you are His descendent, birthed into His family by the blood of Jesus where you are seated in heavenly places in Him. There is no higher rank. You have been inducted into the Lion of the tribe of Judah, made a king and a priest where His estate is yours and all pertaining to life and godliness; He paid the price. What was once owned by satan through sin has been bought back; you have been redeemed. Your position is secure because it is in Him you are found when Christ Jesus you have made your own. You need not question your standing, status, position or place for you are His sons and daughters, perfect in Him and lacking no good thing.

I think you're pretty special too and I pray you are blessed today and see yourself as the Father sees you through the Lord, Jesus Christ, PERFECT!

I will praise You

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made

Through Your Son, Jesus Christ

and the life that He gave

And for the grace You have given

that You see me the same

As Him who now fills me

I am seen without blame.

For I am forgiven

because He paid the price

Shedding His own blood

that I might have life.

Life that's eternal

never to end

An eternity given

that I might apprehend

Your thoughts toward me, Father

and to give You my praise

For You who have made me

and for the life that You saved.

Thanking You for the Perfect One

dwelling inside

Ever reaching forward

toward the goal for the prize

Of the call in Christ Jesus

all else left behind

Until perfection in Him

at last I would find.

I feel Your delight, Lord

just as I am

Hearing the beat

of Your heart that You send.

Marvelous are Your works, Lord

I know in my soul

That precious You find me

but it is hard to take hold.

For Your thoughts are without number

more than the sand

Your love is so great

complete and so grand.

To know without ceasing

You're thinking of me

Lord, in my mind

I cannot conceive.

But Your Word You have spoken

unto me You impart

You take hold and ravish

captivating my heart.

Such love I've not known

such joy and delight

Carried away

and seized by the Light

That opens my eyes

and makes me to see

Touching and changing

and setting me free.

Free, Lord, to love You

because You've loved me

First and so purely

I reach out and receive.

Blessing the name

of my Savior and Lord

Whom I worship and honor,

love and adore.

No, I'll not wait till Heaven

but I must sing His song

I must tell of His greatness
all the day long.

For you see, I had nothing

until He took hold

And made warm a heart

that once was so cold.

He filled me up

making love to abound
His love, everlasting

in the heart He gave, found.

May the love of the Father

through the Lord, Jesus Christ

Light your way on the path

and may you soar to new heights

Through a love that sustains you

and strengthens each day

As you see yourself through His eyes

so wonderfully made.

(Please read all of Psalm 139 and see yourself through God's eyes-
"Fearfully & Wonderfully Made")

"Formed into His Image"

Romans 5:3-5 - ...we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Bang, bang, bang

going off in my head

As motionless I lay

on the MRI bed.

Taking image after image

I briefly wonder if I'm dead

But quickly I dismiss it

and sing songs of God instead.

It's a song of how He is my source

and how He is my strength

And how I Iift my hands in praise

and He fills me with faith.

It is Christ I am believing

as each step He'd have me take

With total trust in Father

even as I wait.

My Father brings me comfort

He lifts me when I despair

He's my consolation

so later I might care

For someome else in trouble

that a shoulder I might lend

Strong, that is in Jesus

in Him to be a friend.