Tag Archives: song

Comfort From the Comforter –

Let me share something what the Lord led me to do, as I was in an MRI machine. I had meant to choose a verse to meditate on….but was met there by friends to stay with my son…and had not chosen one yet.

As I lay in the machine, with many strange noises, The Lord brought Ps 23 to mind.
Here’s how He did it:
The Lord (this is one of the acrostics He gave me)
L – oving
O– mnipotant
R – uling
D – ivine

IS
I AM that I AM, eternal, without beginning or end

MY
I was predestined and ordained to be elect,
He knows the plans He has for me!
He knew me before the foundation of the earth,
before I was formed in my mother’s womb

SHEPHERD
My sheep hear my voice and follow me (yes Lord, I will follow)
~ Saviour, Like a shepherd lead me…..

I SHALL NOT WANT
He owns the cattle on a thousand hills
My God shall provide all my needs according to His riches in Glory
If I delight myself in the Lord, He will give me the desires of my heart (even more of Him!)

Do you get the idea? He gave me a few more hymns and spiritual songs to sing, along with other verses. We got through to the still waters (Be still and know that I am God, <well, I didn’t have much choice…I had to lie still!>). He ministered to me for the whole 1/2 hour …..all to comfort me, and to keep my mind on Him while they did the MRI.

Where ever, or when ever we find ourselves in need of comfort, He will meet us, and bring the word that we have hidden in our heart to comfort us. And, He even works in us to glorify His name! He is so Awesome!

May you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and hide under the shadow of the Almighty……(Ps 91)

(written 2000 or before)

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps – #17 What if they TELL you, ‘You Can’t Walk’?

I almost titled this “Step 8 Part 2” because, this sort of comes on the heels of that work in my life.

Step # 8 What if you can’t walk?
At that time(oh so long ago), I was struggling with the what if’s.
Yesterday, I was faced with this conversation with my Dr.
“So, if I have the surgery, what is the downside?”
– if it fails, we will need to fuse your ankle
“So, if this progresses, what will happen?”
-if it collapses, we will need to fuse your ankle
“Fuse my ankle, just what does that mean?”
-you could walk, but you won’t have much mobility

I checked out this stuff online, as every 21st century patient does….and the explanation of Avascular Necrosis on Mercy MD’s site says:
” This is the range of up and down motion (called dorsiflexion and plantarflexion) of the ankle following the total ankle replacement after a fracture of the talus associated with AVN.”

So, I asked “would I ever be able to walk a 5k again?”
Dr. B looked very serious at me, and said, “I’d like to say yes, but the truth is, I just don’t know.”

The “standard of care” is to stay off the ankle/affected area to allow it to heal. In my heart of hearts, I don’t feel that is right for me.
I can use a boot to support my ankle…but the standard of care is non weight bearing – and I just don’t feel right about that for me.
So, I was willing to go through surgery…since the other surgeries on my other foot went so well.
“This is not the same.”

Avascular Necrosis – dead bone from lack of blood.
Osteopenia – not replacing bone
Christi’s prognosis – not a lot of hope to get bone replaced into the dead area, if I’m losing it in the live area! So, why am I so gung ho on traumatizing the good bone to hopefully regenerate the dead bone?

History lesson on MCW –
In 1978, while on convalescent leave from the Navy, a chiropractor measured my legs, and found that one was 21cm longer than the other.
In 1981, Jim, newly Baptised in the Holy Spirit, and wanting to pray for my healing, prayed for my leg to grow. As the leg moved down the towel we placed under it to catch the ‘annointing’ kitchen oil…it was evident that my leg grew. When I stood up, we could see my hips level in the mirror, and he reached down to kiss me, and missed my mouth, as it had moved up…about 21cm.
In 1989, I was seeing a chiropractor for my neck, and he did a full body xray, as chiropractors in that day were prone to do. He mentioned a boney growth on the lower part of my spine. Jim asked him if that was something typical for someone that had one leg longer than the other. “Yes, to brace the spine due to the angle, but Christi doesn’t have one leg shorter than the other.” Jim proceeded to tell him about that night in 1981! That Dr. B said “then you ought to get to praying to get rid of that boney thing…”.
I have had multiple spine xrays and MRI’s and no one has asked about any boney thing on my spine again.

The moral of this story? God can cause 21 cm of bone, tissue and all to grow on His command, and when the leftovers aren’t needed, He can cause them to dissolve as well.

So, you may ask, what’s the problem? It’s DEAD bone, not missing leg! Just believe!!!

Ok, so read Step #8 again…I’ve been struggling with allowing myself to accept that God may not want me to walk again.
IF GOD DOES NOT WANT ME TO WALK AGAIN – I NEED TO BE FINE WITH IT!

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

Sounds spiritual, huh? I just got smacked in the face with the second half of this verse:

Job 13:15b but I will maintain mine own ways before him. (KJV)
NIV I will surely defend my ways to his face.
NLT I am going to argue my case with him.
NAS Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

Youngs Literal Translation for Job 13:15
Lo, He doth slay me — I wait not! Only, my ways unto His face I argue.

Wow….where does that leave me? This is one of the discourses that leads to Job being reprimanded for thinking he can speak against the whirlwind of God’s Omniscience!!! As a side note…God seems to have been big enough to handle Job’s questions…and I know HE’S still big enough for my questions.

So – is there anywhere for this fatalistic mentality?
The three boys…thrown into the fiery furnace!

Dan 3:18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we [are] not careful to answer thee in this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver [us] out of thine hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Ok, wait a minute. No one is asking me to bow down to or serve their gods. This is not a situation with persecution written on it!

What is it?
When I could not walk in the Navy – God gave me Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint

It was a song from a Christian youth group that held my heart through bootcamp.
It has been a large part of much of my testimony.
And it is my life verse.

It is the basis for this series – 100 Spiritual Walking Steps.
So what am I going to do?
I can’t argue with my own post…I need to find the basis for a solid foundation(other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ) – and WALK IT OUT.

Bill Gotherd once said, in a seminar, If God can use you more out of a wheelchair, then nothing can keep you in that wheelchair. If God can use your more IN that wheelchair, then nothing anyone can do can get you out, nor would you want to.

I think God wants me to walk.
I am sure that this promise (Is 40:31) has been a guiding force (solid rock) through out my life.
I don’t expect to be mounting up with wings as eagles…but..
renew my strength? Yes
walk and not be weary? I hope so
run and not faint? He did that for me in the Navy to pass the PT test.

So, what’s my problem?

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I HOPE that He wants to make me walk.
I KNOW that HE can make me walk.
FAITH is what bridges those two together.
and right now, my faith is a little weak….

Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

I do HAVE faith – Jesus says so!Well, actually, he says that IF we had faith the grain of a mustard seed…..and in Romans it talks about the measure of faith given to every man….the point is….I have been given faith….Eph 2:8 – faith is a gift!

It needs to grow – like the mustard seed….
and when it is weak, well…
They that WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH – OF FAITH????

If God healed my leg once, or however many times…has HE changed or have I?

There is NO benefit in surgery…or non weight bearing exercise according to the included article…they both end in the same unacceptable thing – fused ankle.
I am confessing at this point that it is easier for me to believe that God will heal the dead bone than to reconstruct an ankle with steel nails and screws in it.

that said – I am confessing here…on August 5, 2011…that I believe that God will restore the dead bone, and not permit my ankle to collapse.
I want to believe that I will be walking 5ks again.
I want to believe that I will be able to do a sprint triathlon – this time with a crowd – again.
I want to believe that I can walk into and out of the Grand Canyon.
I want to believe that I can walk a marathon…well, that I could….not that I would at 4 mph of walking….

To that end, I will take off my boot, and go walking up to the pool today…and have fun.

So – what if they tell you, ‘you can’t walk’? check it out with the Creator first…HE may have other things to say.
Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

Depression like Driving Rain

Depression comes like the darkness of night
slowly blinding, and taking your sight.
First it feels gray
in the midst of the day
then it feels thick
like mud with a stick.
for help you reach out
and to others give shout
but the sucking is on
and assistance is nought.

Darkness falls down
scary things all around
Listening for the sound
of one on solid ground
Comes driving rain
cleansing all stains
Lightning strikes again
and illuminates the pain

I kneel before the King
to whom I used to sing
I wonder where His wing
to shelter me from pain?

Muscles grow in pain,
flowers grow in rain,
Sunshine brings the heat
that on the earth does beat.
The rain will wash away
the pains they cannot stay
renewal is my way
neath my wing for you to stay.
Neath the shadow you do sing
and give praises to your King
the scary things are lies
and demons in disguise
I’ll cover you anew
just as you ask me to
give up this fear of yours
and let my love run it’s course.

I love you more than you can know
but my rain disturbs you so
will you let me love you true
and do the things I do?
Let me pour out grace like rain
Let me see thoswe pains again
Let me show you truth alone
and remove those stumbling stones

You are my chosen girl
I know your hair, your curls
I made you as you are
and I think you are a star
You love me totally
and your heart I truly see
Just look up and you will see
you are snuggled next to Me.
I allow only the pain
that will make you strong again
and the darkness that you see
is abiding deep in me
My wings provide the shadow
against the heat of your sorrow
As you snuggle deeper in
I protect you from those sins
those things that make you hurt
those things that burn
those tears that do surround
that mucky mirey ground

Come to me
my precious one
draw near to me
within the Son
Night will pass
and day will dawn
those horrors will soon
be all gone

Your mind will be renewed
and I can wash you through
My grace will set you free
My love will give you wings
And then again you’ll sing
‘neath the shadow of My wings.

written as given – 8/4/2011

To those that read this…this is my heart…please be gentle.
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 67:3 Because you are my help, I will sing beneath the shadow of Your wings.

100 Spiritual Walking Steps – #14 – Whose path am I walking on?

I think this will be very short.

2 Cor 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

This scripture is dealing with boasting…but I think it also applies to comparing yourself to others, and allowing that to drag you down.

When Jim and I were doing races, he could run them, and I could only walk. I would see him running past me, and I had not even made it to the 1/2 way point. I had to remind myself that I could not run…and that I was doing my best, and yet, I often felt my best was not good enough.

Sometimes the 5k races were coupled with 10k or marathons…and each had it’s own path. If a 5k person got off onto the 10k, or worse, the marathon path, there would be no support to get back to the real path…and someone like me could be overcome with fear, and regret, shame and sadness, and just quit.

With some physical things coming up in my life…I am having trouble believing that my path is actually a path.
I have friends that are missionaries to the Phillipines, in Naomi’s Heart Mission. I always wanted to be a missionary with children.
I have friends that have been able to GO to mission fields, or participate in Compassion’s Sponsorship tours. My heart has broken to go to meet the children we have sponsored.

There are people that go speak to churches, sing, perform, and bless people.
I have friend that have multiple children that do amazing things…all over the country and world….
I have friends that have homeschooled and done amazing things with their children, and seemed so together doing it!
I have friends that have children that have grown up in the church, taken part in the church and eventually become leaders in the church.

These are paths that I have always wanted to walk.
But, when I try to go down those paths, I soon get weary, overwhelmed, and discouraged.

My path is writing and art. Not organization, not performance, not leadership.
When I write, I feel alive, I know the presence of the Lord is with me, and I dwell in His joy.
When I paint, I can feel the power of HIS creative forces flow through me, and I can touch a little of His artistic bent.

There is ONLY ONE path to Heaven – and that is through ONE door, JESUS Christ Our Lord, as the Son of God, who lived, died and rose again to pay the price for our sins.
Whereas the world would have there be many paths to the door, and then we will all be alike on the other side, the Bible has it ONE path to ONE narrow gate, the door Jesus Christ, and then, we are individuals on the other side.

I’m not going to be a Kay Arthur or a Beth Moore. I won’t dress like Joyce Meyer, or wear make up like some of the 700 club women.
I am me.
Jesus knew who I was before I did.
Jesus knows what my ‘bent’ is, because HE bent me this way!
I made it through the narrow gate…because HE chose ME!
Now, I have to choose to be ME – and walk on the path HE sets before me…
So, #14 is – walk on YOUR OWN path…knowing that others are walking their own paths in God’s time!

Here’s a neat song..”Walkin down Heaven’s Road“…I wish I could find a better version:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Naomi's Heart Mission

Help a child in need. Check out Naomi’s Heart Mission or Compassion International. The life that changes will be your own!

100 Spiritual Walking Steps – Step 7- Feel the Rain

I like to think of myself as someone that shares her walk with the Lord, and invites others to join me in the journey.
In that regard, I have some preconceived ideas about what I should write about, and what should be referenced.
The thing is, I live in the world, even though I choose to not be OF the world, and there are some songs IN the World that have really struck a chord with me lately, pun intended.

Step 6’s was “The Rose”
Step 7’s is “Unwritten”
First verse:

I am unwritten,
can’t read my mind, I’m undefined
I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand,
ending unplanned

Theologically – this is not true, if you believe in a divine plan from the beginning of the earth. I am not writing to discuss the theological aspects of predestination and election. IF one is so interested in that discussion, Wikipedia has a general article on Predestination(Calvinism). Since I am a mix of Arminianism and Calvinism, I have the challenge with believing that all things are preordained, and at the very same time, I have free will in every aspect of my life.

While I believe that all things are known to God from the beginning…Acts 15:18…I also belive that I am responsible for my own choices…Joshua 24:15 and I choose LIFE in Jesus Christ.

2 Cor 3:2-3 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

I am a letter…written on the tablet of my heart…sharing what Jesus has done in my life.
Today, at this moment, everything that has past is past, and written down in the Lamb’s book of life.

Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Yesterday, every moment that is past, is already written down.
Now, I can focus on that…but the beauty of living in Jesus’s Love is that He doesn’t choose to remember the bad:

Ps 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, [so] far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

So, with that under my belt, I can lay yesterday, last night, this morning, at the feet of Jesus, and look forward, not bound by the baggage of guilt and condemnation.
But what about the song?
The rest is still unwritten!

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

It has been so long since I felt rain on my skin…I had forgotten how refreshing that was. I can see a child dancing in the puddles, smiling up at the rain. That child was me.

I have been told many times, in many ways, that I have a book to write. The book is about my life..and the lessons I’ve learned through trail, trauma, tragedy, and tribulation. It’s not written. This is a physical example of how I have held back the words, kept them unspoken…and that is not what Jesus, The Word of God, would want from me.

I have spent many years living my life the way other people have told me to.
I have spent many years of NOT drenching myself in the words unspoken.
Here are the lyrics that struck me:

I break tradition,
sometimes my tries,
are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned to not make mistakes,
but I can’t live that way

I am not the typical Christian, Mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend. I don’t do things the way others do. I am different, but, that’s not so bad!

1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

The “Peculiar” designation goes back to Deuteronomy 14:2 and Deuteronomy 26:18

There is a Voice inside me that tells me which way to go – and I need to allow that Voice to drench me with Words unspoken – and feel the rain of HIS grace and mercy fall upon me.
I’ve been hiding behind a dirty window – looking back at all my mistakes – and I haven’t always been able to see the Light of the Son shine into my being.
No one can do this for me…I need to open my arms up wide…and embrace what God has put before me…and choose wisely the path on which I tread. My future is still unwritten, but I desire to have my life be written boldly, clearly, and decisively in the Lamb’s book of life.

I pray that each one that reads this will take all that is past this moment, put it in Jesus’s hands, under His blood, and put it up on a shelf…or better yet, let Him carry it…and then, listen for His voice.

Is 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Ps 37:23 The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

credits – AZ Lyrics

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I’d love to hear what you think – please leave a comment! Or ‘like’ me! Or follow me with the RSS feed.

Weight Watchers – week 3…starting over
100 Spiritual Steps- blog – CHECK
Chronological Bible reading…starting in the NT
50 days T-Tapp – AL, OIP, HD- gotta start!

The First 100 days – day 55 – Hard questions

“Did I mess up so bad that God has removed me from this position?”

“What are we to do when there is no money, and the bills keep going up?

“How can we make it if my husband can’t get a job?”

“Why do I have so much pain, if I’m supposed to be walking for God’s glory?”

I don’t know.

I know WHO knows.

And the bottom line is that His purpose is for us to know him better!

Ps 46:10 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

This Psalm is my ‘go to’ Psalm for when things go wrong. Ps 46:10 is followed by:

Ps 46:11 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

That verse closes Psalm 46. It begins with:

Ps 46:1-2 God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear,

God is NOT the God of fear.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We are told that God IS Love:

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

Ps 46 even mentions some of the types of things that we will not fear, as we dwell in God’s love:

Ps 46:3-4…though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
[Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled,
[though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Ps 46:7 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

In 1 John 4:18 it says “fear hath torment”

1 John 3:19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

God is greater than our heart…what is the point of saying this? IF our heart condemns us…WE ARE CONVICTED! And that means we have done something WRONG! AND GOD IS BIGGER THAN THAT! This is the point of Jesus coming and dying on the cross…so that we would be delivered from the condemnation of sin! God knows we are flesh. God knows that we will not be able to walk perfectly. Reading 1 John can give one a pretty heavy guilt trip…because we don’t all know how to read Greek!

God is not worried about mess ups. He’s the God of building bridges to get the messy ones across! He’s Big enough for that!

God is not worried about besetting sins…those that we are working to put off. Jesus died for our sins, and gives us grace and mercy to repent, confess our sins, and move on. He’s BIG enough for that!

Matt 9:5NLT Is it easier to say, `Your sins are forgiven’ or `Get up and walk’?

Willful disobedience. Those that lie, and keep on lying…are Liars. Those that steal, and keep on stealing…are thieves. Those that play around with sex become fornicators and adulterers and whore-mongers.

For me, I know I am walking on dangerous ground when I am tempted to do something that I KNOW is against what God has called me to. Do I still do that? Ashamedly, yes. I have disappointed my FATHER, by saying no to something I should have said yes to, or saying yes to something I knew I should have said no to. Romans 7 really encourages me in this realm.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.(read the whole thing at Rom 7:13-25)

1 John 2:1-2 gives us the promise of our Advocate, Jesus Christ, for IF we have sinned.

The truth is, we will sin, but the soft heart wants a right relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, drawn to conviction by the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 1:8 shows me that God KNOWS that we are going to sin…and 1 John 1:9 tells me how to take care of that sin! 1 John 1:10 calls me a liar if I say I have no sin.

In my mind, the point is, I’m to work on not sinning within the light I have at my disposal at the time of the specific event in question. The main point is that I want to be righteous…having a right relationship with God…at all times. So, if all sin is confessed, forgiven, and all attempts are made to put that sin down…we stand before the Lord, and He sees us through the blood of His Son, Jesus!

Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Just for clarity – Romans 8:1 comes after Romans 7:24 that says “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” The answer? God! And HE says – there is NO condemnation!

Walking is a movement from one point to another! It is a verb. It is ACTIVE. We have not arrived, and God doesn’t expect us to have arrived…HE expects us to keep moving on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.(Phil 3:14)

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God.

1 John 3:22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

And to which commandments does John refer?

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

Mark 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Once someone has searched their own hearts…

Ps 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.(a great Psalm, along with Psalm 51 to search your hearts)

…and has that relationship with God restored, then, they need to abide. This is one of the hardest, yet most precious verses to me.

Ps 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

ABIDE. The responsibility is on ME! Do a word search through the Bible for ABIDE! We choose to abide with Him, and HE is BIG enough to choose to abide with us!

Ps 46:10 – 11 Be still, and know that I [am] God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

I don’t know the answers to most questions. I do know that my only way of making it through this world is to believe in Rom 8:28 with the whole bible applications. There is so much more in Rom 8 – before and after verse 28!

Rom 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God.

Rom 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

In my life, I know that God seems more concerned with working on me to be in the image of Christ, than He is with making me look good in the world’s eyes.

He is more interested in providing for me, than for me to provide for myself.

He is more interested in my heart, than my words or deeds, because, if my heart is right, words and deeds will follow. Because I recognize that this is HIS plan in my life…above all the little plans that my beady little eyes can see…I can embrace Romans 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.

While we are bieng still, and recognizing that HE is God, and not we ourselves(with a bow to the prayer book), we can learn to sing with the Psalmist:

Ps 46:1-3 God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; [Though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

Ps 46:11 The LORD of hosts [is] with us; the God of Jacob [is] our refuge. Selah.

Our God is Sovereign. Our God reigns. Even when we feel like Job!

***here’s a verse that came up after the writing of this blog. It fits perfectly, so I am putting it here:

1 Pet 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Another purpose for God’s trials for us…JOY!

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

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100 days of moving challenge – day 54 – SATI
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:3-5
90 days Bible Reading – Isaiah
50 days T-Tapp – starting a new one – day 5

The First 100 days – day 33 – ADHD prayer part duex

I have confessed to having difficulty focusing on praying.

I shared some guest insights in my blog Day 28 – ADHD Prayer.

This morning, this is how I prayed. Click on the first two for my preparation songs:

Kirk Franklin – Brighter Day

Ron Kenoly- Ancient of Days

Rachel Lampa – Live for You

That gets me into a great place for prayer….
Then I focus on dedicating my heart to the Lord:

And then, to really get me going for the day, I love this song:

Steven Curtis Chapman – Dive
Uploaded by EMI_Music. – Watch more music videos, in HD!

I have included YOUTube links to these songs…please consider going to the musicians and supporting them as ministers of Christ.

These are some of my songs….and I do have others, but my point is that singing a song, paying attention to the lyrics…PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LYRICS SO YOU ARE PRAYING…can help a person focus their prayers.

Often times, an ADHD person like me needs multiple senses to be grabbed…which is why I have included two youtube videos. Watching the lyrics, seeing the photography, listening with your ears, and singing with your mouth all come together for a more focused prayer time.

I hope this is a blessing to you…it is to me. When I start my day with Godly songs that turn my heart towards Jesus, it sets a foundation for the rest of the day. And that foundation is Jesus!

Join me – with my life verse:
Ps 63:7 – Because YOU have been my help, I will sing beneath the shadow of YOUR wings!

In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi

100 days of moving challenge – day 32 – found a place to walk
100 days challenge- blog – check
25 verses in 52 weeks – Ps 15:1-2
90 days Bible Reading -2 Chronicles
50 days T-Tapp – check – T-Tapp Workout with Kirsten
30 days – T-Tapp January Jumpstart- day 7

Sunshine and Rain

Sunshine and rain, blue skies and gray, Our God reigns, each and every day!

Ps 147:7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:

:8 Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.

This weekend, with our full range of sky experiences, has been glorious.

We arrived in the dark, and when you are near the gulf, and away from all lights, it is DARK! As we drove, the sky was cloudy, so there were not any stars or moon as well. We walked out to the dunes to look at the waves, and as we walked, the clouds parted. Standing on the dune, looking at the waves come in, and looking up at stars I have never seen was amazing! God’s starry show welcomed us to our beach side weekend.

Job 22:12 [Is] not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!

Everyone comes to God in the dark.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

We slept, with a window open to enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing, and the smell that only exists on a salt water beach area. The morning was gray…clouds covering the sky, and wind cutting through the clothing. Is this really Houston Texas? It was going to rain…we could see that. But the beach beckoned to us. And yet, we had to wait.

We sat and watched the rain as it hit the windows. The beauty of the water dripping down the glass, the splashes of water when the rain picked up, and the sparkle as light hit the various parts of rain were a delight to watch, from the inside of the RV. The percussion symphony of the drops was a song of the glory and majesty of Our God. We were protected from the rain! We were in the midst of a storm, but totally secure, warm, dry, and able to delight in the nourishing nature of the rain outside our stronghold.

Everyone has storms. Everyone has overwhelming times that just pound and beat against them, threatening to tear them down, or drown them in the emotions. But the one that trusts in God has a special protection, a special place in the midst of the storms.

Is 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Is 26:3 Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.

Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

:2 I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Prov 18:10 The name of the LORD [is] a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

:40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Sometimes there are dark times that just seem to go on and on and on. These are the valleys where we are tested. In Kelly Willard’s song “Hidden Valley’s”, she says :

“Hidden valleys produce a life song

Hidden valleys will make a heart strong

Desperation can cause you to sing

Hidden valleys turn shepherds to kings”

Elijah endured the storms on the mountain. Isaiah endured the storms laying on his side playing with toy soldiers. Daniel endured the storms in the Lion’s Den, and his three friends in the fiery furnace.

David was so used to going through valleys, he wrote the 23^rd Psalm. The key is with whom you walk, and what happens on the other side of the storm.

The rain ceased, and the sky changed a bit, but going out onto the beach was possible. The clouds rolled in, with light from above shining through, giving us the hope that the sun was coming. We walked along the beach, enjoying watching the surf as it rises and falls, ebs and flows, fluctuating and crashing in an unearthly rhythm that only the creator understood. Mist rose above the waves, and the wind blew it in from the gulf, stinging my cheeks as I looked out upon the water. The sand was uneven, unstable, and shifting back and forth as I walked on the beach. I had to keep my focus, and I had to choose my path carefully, or I could fall, damage my ankle(again) and have a tremendous set back.

In this day of mass confusion for mankind, with crashing sound all around, wars and rumors of wars…we have a path in which to walk.

Mat 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

:8 All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

We must stay the course, and hold on to our path. These are part of God’s plan, though it His allowing men to have their own way, turning them over to their own devices and desires. But the believers in Christ have a path.

Psalm 37 is such a comfort in times such as these:

Verse 23 says The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.

Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

BUT THE SON IS COMING!!! Breaking through the clouds!

Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, [one] like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom [that] which shall not be destroyed.

Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

We are to comfort one another with THESE WORDS!

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Ah – the sun shining upon the waves. They were beautiful before, with the various shades of gray, but as the sun peaked out of the clouds, the water ignited with diamonds, and deep aquamarines, and blue topazes floating up and down with the undulation of the finest dancer. The water was alive!

When the Son touches our lives, even though the waves are the same, the sand is the same, and even we are the same, we come alive! He takes the unholy and makes us holy. He takes the imperfect and starts shining on the perfections. He takes the crashing of our waves and turns it into a dance of love and joy and peace and purpose.

For examples of this, read the gospels…the woman at the well, the woman with the issue of blood, the man who couldn’t walk, the man who couldn’t see, the people that could not be part of society because of their leprosy. When Jesus touches a life, well….

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Our sins are covered by the blood of the Lamb – and it’s now our job to walk in the deliverance HE has purchased for us.

We can look at the waves, and the clouds, or we can look at the creator of the waves and the clouds. In Matthew 14:28-32, Peter did fall, BUT HE DID WALK ON WATER! He first was looking at Jesus, trusting in His word. THEN he saw the wind and was afraid. HE TOOK HIS EYES OFF OF JESUS.

I don’t expect to walk on water anytime soon, but we have this concept that walking on water is only for someone like Jesus. Peter is a man like you and me. Peter had yet to deny Christ. Peter walked on water! Don’t despise small beginnings!

There is a saying that has hung in my mother in law’s house as long as I’ve been in the family. It says: “I believe in the sun even when it rains.” Do we believe in the Son, even when it rains?

This seems to be a redundant theme for me, but it fits here as well. The way to be strong in the storms is to be strong in the Lord. Here’s a few verses:

Be strong in the Lord: Deut 31:6-7; Josh 1:9; 1Chron 28:20
Fear Not – the Lord will strengthen you: Is 40:27-31; Is 41:10-13
The Joy of the Lord is Your strength: Neh 8:10
HE will give us a song: Is 51:11
We must come into His presence with praises of thanksgiving, and joyful noises: Ps 95:1-6; Psalm 100
And Jesus came so that our joy(the strength from the Lord) would be full: John 15:11; 16:24

Jesus purchased our ability to have joy…the way to obtain that joy is to be filled with the Lord’s joy, which comes from being in His presence, which is only done by entering with praises and thanksgiving. And the only way we can enter His presence with praises is to make a choice about how we look at the clouds in our lives.

James 1:2-8

We must CHOOSE joy. Sometimes it’s a sacrifice.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

But the blessings are great.

Jer 33:11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

And, when we dwell in the presence of the most High, we are sheltered by the shadow of His wings…(Ps 91).

The SON cometh!

Psa 96:10 Say among the heathen [that] the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.

:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that [is] therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

In the midst of the storms, comfort one another with these words!

And this is my song, my choice to sing in any time of darkness:

Psa 104:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

104:2 Who coverest [thyself] with light as [with] a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

104:3 Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

Ps 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

In His hand and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

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