God's perfect timing...

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. ~ Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

Beloveds I will be completely honest with you…  I need work when it comes to patiently waiting on God’s perfect timing.  I don’t know why.  As I look back over my life God has never failed me.  Some of the most horrific and painful times have proven to be doorways to exponential growth, prosperity, and blessing. 

As I write this it makes me smile a bit.  I envision myself, when it is all said and done, at the feet of God going “Oh, that’s what you had planned the whole time!  I get it!  How perfect!  How beautiful!”.

The hindsight is always 20/20, right.  My point is this, as I look back over the life that I have lived thus far, I see how everything has indeed worked for my good.  (Romans 8:28)  He has NEVER let me down!  Why do I still struggle to release and trust Him?  Why do I still fight to find joy in the present?...  He has proven to me time and again it will all work out in the end. 

He reminded me of all this today…  I’m moving.  I’ve moved many times in my life but this time is extremely painful for a handful of reasons.  As I was packing and going through things I came across a gift I was given many years ago. 

The gift is a framed picture.  At the center top is my name in beautiful block letters.  In the upper left hand corner is the picture of a green caterpillar, upside-down, on a leaf.  The center of the picture is a panoramic shot of bright green leafy foliage.  On the right hand side of these leaves rests a gorgeous monarch butterfly.  Across the bottom, ““Behold, I will do something new…” Isaiah 43:19”.

Instantly I looked up the full verse…

18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)

As I read it two things struck me.  The first was a sense of God’s provision and protection in a time of change, difficulty and need.  The second was a sense of letting the "old man" pass away.  I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear both.

Then I looked it up in the amplified…

18Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.

19Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19 (AMP)

WOW…  Do you see the difference?...  “will you not give heed to it?”!  Now the amplified is what the amplified is and everyone has an opinion.  And on this matter the NASB and ESV are in agreement with the KJV and do not include that piece.  I needed to hear it though.  It is not enough to see that God is in control.  It’s not even enough to admit that God is in control.  We must actively and consciously submit ourselves to His control.  No fear or worrying.  No murmuring.  Just trusting in Him. 

Basic? Yes.  Profound? Absolutely.  Difficult?  Don’t even get me started!  J

I believe it’s when we get to this point we are able to be like Paul and find contentment no matter what our circumstances.  (Philippians 4:11)

Here I am going through all this change in my life and God reaches out from over half a decade ago and says… “Don’t worry, I have you.”.  He had it planned the whole time.  He knew at this moment I needed that message.  HIS timing is always impeccable.  He used an amazing and obedient Christian woman to get this gift to me, even though at the time I had no idea the significance.  When it was first given to me I thought it was nice, but it didn’t touch my soul.  It got put in a closet and forgotten about with a bunch of other things my wife and I never got on our walls.  Now, when I read it again years later, it stirs me to tears.  How much He loves me.  How much I can trust Him and His timing.  So can you!

Israel Under Fire by John Ankerberg & Jimmy DeYoung

Get Book On Amazon

This is an amazing book... Things everyone needs to know about the threats Israel currently faces, end time preparations, and Biblical prophecy. Packed with facts and scripture for those who like details. :) Powerful interviews with leaders like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu!  Great read!

Letters to Lynn - Day 43

I miss you so much! You are worth fighting for! I love you!....

"So, what day are you on?


Forty-three.


There's only 40.


Who says l have to stop?


Caleb...


...l don't know how to process this.


This is not normal for you.


Welcome to the new normal.


You didn't wanna do this at first,
did you?


No.


But halfway through, l realized...


...that l did not understand
what love was.


And once l understood that,
l wanted to do it.


Caleb, l want to believe
that this is real.


But l am not ready
to say that l trust you again.


l understand that.


But whether you ever reach
that point or not...


...l need you
to understand something.


l am sorry.


l have been so selfish.


For the past seven years,
l have trampled on you...


...with my words
and with my actions.


l have loved other things
when l should have loved you.


ln the last few weeks...


...God has given me a love for you
that l had never had before.


And l have asked him to forgive me.


And l am hoping, l am praying...


...that somehow
you would be able to forgive me too.


Catherine, l do not want to live
the rest of my life without you.


l'm supposed to give
those divorce papers...


...to my lawyer next week.


l just....


l need some time...


...to think.


You can have all the time you need."

Chris Tomlin - I Will Follow

Brigitte Gabriel...Must See!

I had a chance to see Brigitte speak in person a little over a week ago. She is amazing and this will blow your mind.

Bring It! Game On!

I’m sorry all... I need to vent. The last 24 have sucked! The jist of it is this, I backslid on something I have been fighting for an extremely long time. I am considering writing, in a different post, specifics about what this was but for right now I have a different point to make.

I’m tired of getting the crap kicked out of me! I’m tired of getting the crap kicked out of me by an enemy who has already been defeated! I’m tired of weak Christians! This included me!

I’m tired of being Peter fighting and walking on water to Jesus in the middle of a raging storm only to be brought down at the last minute by fear! Or, getting tossed around in the boat and freaking out when my Lord tells me I should have faith, be at peace (no fear), and to rest.

The first thing that came to my mind after I fell was my God is not mocked and what I sow I will reap. As King David did, after the sin of number his people or after his fall with Bathsheba, I took full responsibility,asked for foregivness, begged for mercy, and braced for Gods rage. I think I was different from the King in one point. I think David had peace about God’s punishment. He was able to see it for the correction it was from a loving father. I’m still working on that. I became overwhelmed with condemnation and regret. Fear about the repercussions my decision would have.

Forget all that! Each day is new! I choose to fight!

My plea to you beloved is this... Don’t get bogged down in your sin. Stand up! Fight! You have a Lord, a Savior, a Husband who DIED to bring you life and wash you clean. DON'T EVER TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED! Rest in the peace you have been given. Fight and resist with the strength and authority you have been given! In this truth is the victory over sin. IN HIM WE ARE REDEEMED AND NEVER DEFEATED!

SATAN I HATE YOU! I hate you for attempting to separate me from my God! I hate you for stealing my family! I hate you for stealing my peace and joy! By His strength and power you have been defeated. Hands off! Hands off my relationship with my God (WHO IS YOUR GOD TOO, SO GET READY TO BOW)! Hands off my wife! Hands of our marriage! Hands off me! We are spoken for! Hands off my future and my ability to be used by God! You want war you got it! BRING IT! I WILL BRUISE MY HEAL ON YOUR HEAD!

Song Lyrics...
When the lights go up and the game is on
Are you ready for me? Cause I'm ready for you
When the bell rings out and the fight is on
Are you ready for me? Cause I'm ready for you

It's time for us to start throwing down
Take a look and see who's standing now

Didn't even know that you and I were cross
Until a sneak attack from the weak side
Unaware that we were in a fight
I guess that's part of the problem, but guess what

Say what you want to say about me
Throw up what you want to throw up at me
But when you mess with those that are around me
That's when you and I will have a problem

I'm not afraid of loving my enemies
Turning the other cheek
Blessing those that would curse me
I honestly want peace with you
But when you come against my country
When you come against my family
You try to destroy my people
I can't just stand by
There's no way that I can stand by
This time, I will not stand by
I am coming, and if I come, then pain is coming with me
I'm coming, and pain will be with me

Christian lyrics - GAME ON LYRICS - DISCIPLE

Disciple - Rise Up

See Yourself as God Sees You by Josh D. McDowell

I cannot say enough good things about this book. It is absolutely amazing.

Lindsay McCaul- Come Rest

This is a great new song by Lindsay McCaul. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I have tried to win the Lords love. I know I’m not alone in this. I think anyone who is reading this would be hard pressed to say they have never tried to earn love. We do it with God and also the loved ones we surround ourselves with. We think if we just work a little harder we can get them to love us. We exhaust ourselves to the point of death.

Psalm 127:2 (ESV)
It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.

I have at times been the Martha to my wife’s Mary…

Luke 10:38-42 (KJV)
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

I saw irresponsibility instead of love and submission. Oh how wrong I was.

Are there any others out there who can relate? Have you attempted salvation by works only to come up short? Who is your Mary? Is it possibly time to ask for their forgiveness? Is it time to forgive them… and yourself?

God bless beloveds!




The story behind the song...

Letters to Lynn / Sara Groves - When it was over

I love you and I miss you so much!

listen...
WHEN IT WAS OVER

When It Was Over - Lyrics and Guitar Chords

Artist: Sara Groves

Album: Add To The Beauty

Year: 2005

Intro
F#m D A E


Verse 1
F#m D
When it was over and they could talk about it
A E
She said there's just one thing I have got to know
F#m D
What in that moment when you were running so hard and fast
A E
Made you stop and turn for home
F#m D
He said I always knew you loved me even though I'd broken your heart
A E F#m D
I always knew there'd be a place for me to make a brand new start


Chorus
A E F#m F
Oh love wash over a multitude of things
A E F#m F
Love wash over a multitude of things
A E F#m F
Love wash over a multitude of things
F#m D E
Make us whole


Verse 2
F#m D
When it was over and they could talk about it
A E
They were sitting on the couch
F#m D
She said what on earth made you stay here
A E
When you finally figured out what I was all about
F#m D
He said I always knew you'd do the right thing
A E
Even though it might take some time
F#m D
She said, Yeah, I felt that and that's probably what saved my life


Chorus
A E F#m F
Oh love wash over a multitude of things
A E F#m F
Love wash over a multitude of things
A E F#m F
Love wash over a multitude of things
F#m D E
Make us whole


Bridge
A E
There is a love that never fails
F#m D
There is a healing that always prevails
A E
There is a hope that whispers a vow
F#m D
A promise to wait while we're working it out
F#m D E
So come with your love and wash over us


Chorus
A E F#m F
Oh love wash over a multitude of things
A E F#m F
Love wash over a multitude of things
A E F#m F
Jesus save us from a multitude of things
F#m D E
Make us whole
F#m D E
Make us whole


Bridge 2
A E
There is a love that never fails
F#m D
There is a healing that always prevails
A E
There is a hope that whispers a vow
F#m D
A promise to wait while we're working it out
F#m D E
A E
There is a hope
F#m D
There is a hope
A
A promise to wait
E
A promise to stay
F#m D E
So come with your love and wash over us


Outro
F#m D A E
When it was over (x4)
We could talk about it