Spring seems to be having a hard time coming forth this year.
There definitely are signs...the birds, the grass is slowly becoming
green...
But I keep looking up into those barren branches,
Looking with anticipation for the green...
I believe this spring is a picture of the longings and desires of our
hearts.
We have prayed, seen in the Spirit, believed the promises...
But we continue to wait..and wait.
But the promise is so close...
That which you know is there but is yet hidden is about to burst,
It's about to come forth.
But we continue to wait...
Oh, but let us not give up hope,
The signs of promise are beginning to appear.
Let us continue to stand..continue to persevere, continue to contend, believe and trust...
Let us keep our eyes open wide,
With much anticipation and child-like wonder.
Let us have our pens and pencils ready to record the goodness of the story...
The goodness of our God.
Yes, it is ready to burst forth!
Thank you Lord for that "Father's Help"
That help that comes from Your Daddy heart
As You look upon Your child,
Hear her cries, her plea,
Bottle her tears,
See her need...
A "Father's Help" You send her way the moment she calls.
A "Father's Help" that turns the tide of the battle, sending the enemy running.
A "Father's Help" of protection,
A "Father's Help" of provision,
A "Father's Help" of comfort and kindness...
A "Father's Help" that You deliver with such delight to Your precious child...
Thank you
I have been watching these pink geraniums by my kitchen window. They have cheerfully displayed their pink color all winter. They have looked out that window at the barrenness of the winter and the piles of snow... but they have continued to bloom. They have felt the cold draft through the glass of the harsh cold, but they have continued to bloom, delighting all who have entered my kitchen.
They have continued to bloom, because here in my kitchen they have all they need to grow. They have warm soil for their roots, water for nourishment, and sunshine shining in the window to nourish their leaves and stems. The weather on the outside does not effect them as they grow inside my kitchen.
Makes me think about us. If we are in Christ, we have everything we need..inside.. to grow, to prosper. We have Christ living in us enabling us, nourishing us, teaching us, watering us with His goodness, shining the light of His presence in our every day.
What a gift! Christ in us that enables us to prosper, even when circumstances on the outside seem black, cold, and harsh.
What a blessing we can be to those around us when we shine His light so brightly and bear His fruit...despite the circumstances on the outside.
Just like those geraniums brighten up my kitchen reminding me that spring and green is coming...
We can bless those in our life with hope and encouragement when we continue to shine and display the beauty of Jesus, despite the circumstances.
The secret ingredient...Christ within us...our hope of glory!!
Thank you God that you are the ever-present God,
You are always present in my circumstance,
Always present in my every day,
Understanding me and knowing my thoughts before I know them myself.
You are ever-present with everything I need for each particular moment,
You come with Your Help of provision for each need.
In my moments of worry...
You offer me confidence that You will provide.
In my moments of darkness...
You are there with Your seeds of hope and rays of light.
In my moments of confusion, when the haze seems to reign...
You are ever-present with Your Truth and guidance.
In my moments of unbelief...
You are present with Your pursuit of love, healing my eyes of faith.
In my moments of grief and sadness...
You come with Your comforting love, soothing and healing the wounds.
In the moments of fear...
You are there with Your courage and strength.
In my moments of stress...
You are there with your enduring peace and wisdom.
In my moments of mourning...
You bring those splashes of joy.
In my moments of anger...
You come with quietness and renew my thinking.
Ever-present
Ever-present with Help,
For every situation, every emotion, every kind of need.
You are my ever-present God... my ever-present Help...my ever-present Father!!!
Oh how I love the hand of God,
The hand of God that destroys the enemies plan,
The hand, that in a moment can reverse the news, the report, the curse, the obvious, the intent to harm.
This is the hand of God that shut the lions mouth for Daniel,
That protected 3 men when they were thrown into the fire because they refused to bow down to the king,
That led Joshua and Caleb to Rahab's house and changed her destiny.
That led Ruth to the land of Israel, gave her a godly husband allowing her to be part of the genelogy of the
Messiah,
That moved the king to allow the captive Jews to wipe out their enemies, reversing the verdict that was
going to destroy the Jews,
That warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt, protecting the Messiah's life....
This hand of God that has stirred the generations in countless ways...
Continues to protect and provide.
This is the hand of God
That responds to my tears which have flooded His heart.
And as He turns His head...He comes...
He comes with a jealous love, with avenging intent...to His beloved one who has called out to Him,
His hand... that is always there... although sometimes it is hidden in the darkness of the circumstance.
This is the hand that reaches down into the darkness..and rescues,
Drawing me to Himself from the depths of the despair...
This is the hand that breaks through with the brilliance of TRUTH ,
That comes...and sends the enemy running...in fear as He releases His mighty roar...
Declaring,"This is My beloved one. This is the one who has been set apart for My glory."
And He holds me tight
Leading me into that beautiful, broad place,
That place of freedom from fear, anxiety, despair, discouragement.
That beautiful, broad place,
Where His hand touches me,
And my mind is renewed,
Releasing hope and the promise of spring.
That beautiful, broad place
Where I experience His delight and pleasure,
And receive His wholeness and fullness.
The hand of God,
That moves as my cry comes to His ear.
The hand of God that moves because the purposes of God for His beloved ones cannot be thwarted!!!
Psalms18
The valley streams
Where the orchards of the King grow and mature,
Receive the streams from the mountain.
The valley streams
Receive the fresh outpouring of the melting snow.
The valley,
Hemmed in by the mountains,
But a perfect environment to grow and mature...
What are my valley streams?
Are they the source of grace, nourishment, and provision provided for me from the Father's heart?
Even-though the mountains are surrounding me and appear to be an obstacle..
They are creating an atmosphere for growth and maturity.
Although my mountains of sickness, difficulties at work, dwindling bank account, nightmares,
strained relationships, seem to surround me..
As I look to my source of Help and receive the valley streams from His heart...
He grows and matures me,
As He supplies me with His nourishment and the sustaining grace of His streams.
Even here, in the valley,
He allows me to blosom,
As those seeds of promise and hope create springtime.
Even here...
Sometimes my Beloved calls me into the valley
To come along-side of another, and bring growth to another.
But whenever I find myself here...in this valley,
I find my Beloved right next to me.
Yes, the springtime comes and blosoms, even in the valley
With the gift of those valley streams.
Song of Songs 6;11,12
Come
Bright and Morning Star,
Come and break through...
Break through the pride, the confusion, the darkness, the shame of yesterday...
Come and break through the pain, the sadness, the despair, the questions, the lies...
Come and break through the gloom.
Come and arise
With Your illuminating light, Morning Star,
And reveal the Light, the Truth
Of who You are
And who I am.
Come with that spark of hope,
And light Your flame within...
