I will arise

I will arise  

I will arise and go

I will arise and go

to my father's house

I am oh so unworthy,

yet maybe He'll 

let me serve Him

Let me work for Him

as a servant.

My work of redemption.

On the road I look

toward my old home.

Lo and behold, I  saw my father

On the road looking

Up the road toward me

And I saw hope spring into His eyes, 

And a look filled with love.

Then I saw my Father running,

My Father was running

Running with arms outstretched

Running to me

My heart leapt out to Him

I stumbled on the road, 

trying to run to Him

My heart was ashamed,

I was afraid.

Then, I felt His arms around me

He held me close.

I fell down and kissed his feet.

Clinging to Him 

I washed his feet with my tears.

But my Father lifted me up

and held me close to his heart

His eyes of love

shown into mine,

My Child, you were dead and

are alive again.

My father called out 

Bring shoes 

Bring the best robe

Bring the Ring,

The ring of belonging,

establishing my place.

Prepare a feast.
My child has returned

It was not my good deeds

Not my greatness

Not my value and worth

being honored, but

His amazing love.

And with the great joy

the celebration lifted me up,

Lifted me up on wings of

great undeserving forgiveness.

It was nothing good, I had done.

It was all my Father.

All I am,                        

All I have is: 

His gift,

His love,

His work

That gives me life

I only learned later 

the price HE paid

For my gift of sonship,
of forgiveness

Mercy and love.

The price for my life

was His death on 

A cross of shame

For my sins.

But even all the sins of

the world could not hold

the creator, the LORD 

of Glory,

The mighty God of Heaven 

And earth in death.

He arose,

He is alive

His death bought my         

life, and His life 

gave me my place

in Him.

Thank you Father.

Pride of Life

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

1 John 2:15-16  (English Standard Version)


We fairly easily understand "desires of the flesh" as wanting something, even if not good for me.  As a believer we tend to think of that as drugs, alcohol or sex but it can be as simple as wanted to eat food as a comfort, rather than to give us life.   To eat 2 pieces of cake, say, just 'cuz we like it - even though it will add volume to our bodies that will accelerate our body's destruction. 

And the "desire of the eyes" I believe is a lust for anything that we don't have, but seeing what someone else does have, and  wanting it to be ours.   This could be some one's husband/wife or house, or car, or even simply spending money.

But the Pride of Life?  I think this is as personal as taking pride in your intellect, your looks, your talents that have been given or perhaps a certain power or position.   This is a hard thing to overcome because  if you have it, you think it is because you have right to be given special attention because of it.   Your beauty or good looks can become a cause of pride, or your brains, your skill, say as an actor or a person who can effect change because of  these gifts.  All these things are present in people with gifts or power - and it is one of the greatest temptations to believe your gifts give you rights.

But, in truth all that we have was a gift from God, and can bring great good to the world if we don't begin to honor ourselves as being important or special, or worthy of special treatment because of them.  If we seek to use what God has given us to glorify HIM.

I'm Trusting in a.........

                                            Psalm 34 

                              King James Version

I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD, the humble shall hear thereof, 

and be glad.

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of 

all his troubles.

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, 

and delivereth them.

O taste and see that the LORD is good:  blessed is the man that trusteth 

in Him

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD 

shall not want any good thing.

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

Keep thy tongue from evil, and they lips from speaking guile.

Depart from evil, and do good, seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open 

unto their cry.

The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the 

remembrance of them from the earth.

The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of 

all their troubles.

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth 

such as be of a contrite spirit.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth 

him out of them all.

He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous 

shall be  desolate.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them 

that trust in him shall be desolate.

This Psalm is filled with a beautiful picture of God's great love and care for us,  and showing clearly that  our needs can only be fulfilled by God and God alone.
It is hard to even fully comprehend God's care and love for us.  So,  I am sharing these these points from a recent sermon that blessed me.

I'M TRUSTING IN A:

1.     Business man who never made a bad             deal.  

2.     A giver who never gave a bad gift.

3.     A father who never disowned a son.

4.     A general who never lost a war

5.     A shepherd who never lost a sheep.

6.     A lawyer who never lost a case.

7.     A High Priest who will never have to                offer another sacrifice.

The joy of the LORD is my strength

Nehemiah 8:10     Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Word: FERN
Pronounce: maw-oze'
Strong: H4581
Orig: (also mauwz \i maw-ooz'\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 ); or mahoz \i maw-oze'\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 (also ma,uz \i maw-ooz'\i0\plain\f3\fs21\cf23 ; from 5810; a fortified place; figuratively, a defence:--force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), (X most) strong (hold). H5810
Use: TWOT-1578a Noun Masculine
Grk Strong: G407 G2478 G4714

1) place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold
1a) place of safety, fastness, harbour, stronghold
1b) refuge (of God) (fig.)
1c) human protection (fig.)

I had always thought it was our joy in the LORD spoken of here.  In re-evaluating it however the verse is saying the LORD's Joy is our strength.  The meanings of strength in this word are listed above from Strong's Concordance.

What is Jesus' Joy?

To do the will of the Father in going to the cross   

             

            Hebrews 12:2   fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of

            faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the 

            shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God

The Joy of Jesus is given to us, beloved of Him

             John 15:11  These things I have spoken to you so that my you may be

             in you, and that your joy may be made full.

As we read the Bible, begin to notice about the Joy of Jesus.  I have just begun to notice.  It is not about me primarily  but  Christ having Joy to give.  To give us strength, protection refuge to name a few areas. Our Joy originates in Christ.  His joy originates in His Father.

21st Birthday letter from my Father.

In Bolivia about 17 years old.

Verses given by my father when I turned 21  This is from a letter I saved and just reread after 49 years.  

I – ABIDING IN CHRIST

John 15: 1-9

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.  5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

Galatians 5: 16-24

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Verses highlighted in yellow emphasized by my father.

II WALKING IN CHRIST

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

James 1:2-4

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

III     REJOICE

1 Thess 5:16

16 Rejoice always,

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Psalm 33:21

For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.

Petition in Faith by Terry Tucker Francis

A poem I found in a Guidepost book of inspirational messages.   I liked it very much.   It spoke to my heart.   I tried to find the author, Terry Tucker Francis,  on line but though I found several people with the name of the poem's author I just was not sure.  I hope if she sees this she will forgive me for publishing her work without her direct permission.

Petition in Faith

Terry Tucker Francis

I am empty, Lord: fill me;

Sick with sorrow: heal me;

Blinded by wordly ways: show me;

I rush into foolishness, Lord: slow me;

Like an earthy garden, Lord, I need

You to tend me;

Like a garment worn and torn, mend me;

Like an empty cup fill me till I overflow

With Your loving goodness, Lord,

So all the world may know;

That I was empty Lord, and You filled me;

Sick with sorrow, yet You healed me;

Blinded with worldly ways, until you came to show me

That the only way to peace, dear Lord,

Is to know thee.

God's presence in our lives

Abraham and Isaac

Genesis 22
Promised son given
God asks Abraham to sacrifice son
Abraham obeys
Hard place was faced and obedience done
Isaac was not slain

2 Kings 18-19
Hezikiah honored God as no other king had, including David
Assyria comes against Judah
Sennacherib mocks the God of Judah. Hezekiah had to go through the hard place trusting in God
And after maybe weeks, maybe days of uncertainty and prayer, God sent a message that Judah would not be destroyed by Sennacherib
And of course, the biggest testing in all creation.

Jesus was sent by his father - knowing that he, the son of God was born to die.   He faced that test as all others, in prayer to His Father and He would could have called 10,000 Angels as the song goes, yielded His life to death.  He trusted His Father to fulfill all His purposes, even if it were hard.  We go in 4 days to celebrate Christ's resurrection.   However, He did have to suffer the sins of the whole world being poured over him, immersing him in the offal of the most heinous sins ever committed.  Those sins held him in death for 3 days and 3 nights.    But the life of righteousness won.  Death could not hold him. 

Yes, there can be hard suffering, even for the most upright, and the most sinful but Christ 's our Saviour paid the price and has given us the choice of  Life in Him.

Crossroads

I sat at the crossroads

and before me lay a choice

one, a narrow road,

steep, rough, hard

going to a “good” promised end;

yet in between

lay all the hardships

ever mortal could conceive,

or so it seemed,

looking up and seeing

only a treacherous narrow path

in the fog obscured.

The other road was broad,

well worn, provided

with sunlight and ease,

and all that could

give pleasure along the way,

or so it seems.

Yet, looking down

just briefly it seemed the   

color was wrong, unreal,   
gaudy,    and a faint rumor 
of sorrow and pain;  

but the end was far off and

the reports uncertain -

they could be wrong.

                                                             

 Well – I would try each one

for awhile, and choose            

on the basis of what

I found myself

But the sign -

No, I won't read it again.

It forces me.

I can't.

I must....................

                 “CHOOSE NOW,   YOU CAN NEVER KNOW WHICH  IS THE LAST CROSSROAD.”

I look back,                              
thinking to return

the way I'd come, 
to not have to decide,

But that path is gone -

behind is an infinite

emptiness.

I am on the edge of nothingness with only                         the two roads before me.

I sit down crying

       for the lonely,                         

       disappointing past,

       for the longing to

       continue on the broad

       easy road,

       for fear.

I wanted to take the steep, narrow road, but was afraid

the path did not reveal more than a few steps ahead, 
and those rough and hard
 and no visible pleasures to be experienced.

I looked up trying to see more

I thought my tears had                     

blinded my vision

A little above me,

on the curve in the

mountain path,

stood a new born lamb

White, whiter than white,

and perfect – but

the lamb had the eyes of a man,

filled with love

around him was light -

and I could see to go to him -

I looked to my feet to

place them on that road.

I looked up again

He had moved further up

and was dim – but in

his steps there was blood. 
It trickled down to my feet

and covered my toes,

and I knew I could follow.

I understood that

with each step up

He was ahead.

Though only one step      

was visible at a time,

where I stepped, it was into

glorious light.

The colors were brilliant, alive 

I grew tired, and rested,

surrounded by a strange peace      

I could not be lonely as

long as I followed.

I knew he was there, ahead,

even though I could not see him and I slowly came to hear his quiet words.

I don't know the next step       

but I've found I can trust

in the Son of God,  
the Son of Man before me.

In Him I am held forevermore,
Kept close to his heart and
safe.

Things that trap us.

The Israelites were divinely removed from slavery in Egypt by the mighty hand of God.  They were in the desert under leadership of Moses and were waiting for Moses at the foot of Mt Sinai.  Yes he had disappeared over a month before up into an active volcano.  They began to be afraid.  Moses was gone.   The security of Egypt, even as slaves began to look enticing.   Aaron was there but not with the leadership of his brother.

And so was the first Golden Calf  sculpted by Aaron and presented to the people as their god.

Now, the calf image came from the Egyptian idol Hathor - a goddess of joy, feminine love, motherhood and music is a bit of what I found.  But it was an idea born of  the systems and gods of the land they had lived in for  over 400 years.

The second presentation of  a god was  to lead the 10 tribes of Israel after Solomon's reign.  It was 2 golden calves, one set up at Bethel,  and one in Dan.  This was done by Jeroboam, whom God had spoken to as becoming a leader over Israel while Solomon was still alive.   Jeroboam ran away to EGYPT to preserve his life and lived there til Solomon's death.  He returned from Egypt with the idea, I suspect, that the reason Egypt was strong and  place of  safety in the world was it's gods.

The influence in both cases was Egypt.  I began to think of what may be Egypt in me.

One factor for Israel, as with us, is an unseen God.  For Israel,  a man, Moses  spoke on God's  behalf.  God did offer to speak to the whole body of  people who came out of Egypt but they in fear declined. Today we too have an unseen God who ministers to us through his written word, given through men over 2,000 years ago.   And we also have as believers today the direct touch of God in and on our lives but it is through faith not by a visual encounter by most.

The gods of Egypt and the surrounding nations allowed them to live and enjoy life and didn't require of them moral laws to guide their lives.  They could do what they desired yet still had seed time and harvest and the other joys of living.

This is  true in the world today.   My rights are an Egyptian type  stronghold?  We don't have actual carved idols in  the United States in general.  But we have influences that make out what God has called sin to be in error.   We fudge on word of God, where it comes in conflict with what we want that the world offers as fun.   God is portrayed as a mean spoiler of our fun by the world and we join the herd believing it.

i.e.   God says in the word he knit us together in the womb.   We have life not  just because an egg was germinated  by a sperm.  The life in our body is God's breath in us - in every human created in the world.   It is God who imparts life in us in the womb, not a sperm and ovum.  But we say our bodies are our own and that murdering that life is our right.   Just one case in point.  There are many more.

 I believe the Egyptian taint is active today, as it was when the Israelite's were slaves in Egypt and influenced by the ideas, mores and gods they found there.  Not just in major big ways we flout God's ways when they run contrary to our desires, but in many ways how we think and act.  Let us bring our lives under the hand of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ and ask Him to cleanse and free us from the bondage of Egypt.