SHAKE (Great God Almighty)

Wow!!! 

That was ALL I could think once I heard SHAKE by MercyMe. 

I love this song.  It makes me want to jump up and dance.

I LOVE to praise the LORD!!!  I LOVE to SING and SHOUT!!! 

And if you have been TRANSFORMED, then you ought to rejoice.  You ought to PRAISE GOD  for making you “Brand New"!!! 

Cause THE ONE and ONLY TRUE LIVING GOD, THE GREAT GOD ALMIGHTY has changed you!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you haven’t heard it or even if you have, you can click on the title of this post to see the official video. 

NOT ONLY do I love this song, but the video is really great!!! 

And of course, there are other videos, some of which you just have to see because they are so cute!!! 

There are quite a few because MercyMe has invited everyone to upload their own video of SHAKE. 

So, look for the links (the words in the orangey-brown color) in this post to view each one.  Each one you click on will take you to a different video.  And of course, there are many more on YouTube.

I just LOVE the words to SHAKE, so I have included them below!!! 

Actually, I love everything about this song!!!

SHAKE  -  MercyMe
I just can't believe

Where my life was at

All that I know was my heart was broke

And I don't ever wanna go back

Ain't no explanation

How I saw the light

He found me and HE set me free

And HE brought me back to life

Blame it on the transformation

Changed down to the core

This love is real and I can't sit still

Cuz my name's not shame no more, more, more

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

You’ve got to shake, shake, shake

Like you're changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake

Shake like you've been changed

Shake, shake, shake like you’re changed

Maybe HE came to you

When everything seemed fine

Or maybe your world was upside down

It hit you right between the eyes

No matter when it happened

At 7 or 95

Move your feet cuz you are free

And you never been more alive

You’ve got to shake, shake, shake

Like you're changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake, shake

Like you’re changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake

Shake like you're changed

Shake, shake, shake like you're changed

Shake                         …Shake

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, HE done changed me

No matter when it happened

At 7 or 95

Move your feet cuz you are free

And you've never been more alive

You’ve got to shake, shake, shake

Like you're changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake, shake

Like you’re changed, changed, changed

Brand new looks so good on you

So shake like you've been changed

Come on and shake, shake

Shake like you've been changed

Shake, shake, shake like you’re changed

Shake                         …Shake

Great God Almighty done changed me

Great God Almighty, He done changed me

HE IS MY STRENGTH IN TIME OF TROUBLE!!!

This morning when I got up, I knew that I had a post to finish, but even so, I wanted to read something in my Bible, something different, something new.

I say this ALL the time, but it is true!!!  Every day that I am faithful to seek GOD, HE speaks to me!!! 

Sometimes HE just whispers in my ear.  And at other times, HE reveals HIS WORD to me!!!

Many times the passages of scripture that HE shows me are “NEW” to me, but sometimes, GOD reminds me of what HIS WORD says.  And at other times, GOD has me read the same verse or chapter again, but HE shows me something I have NEVER noticed before.  Then there are times that HE gives me a whole new view of what HE is saying in a familiar passage of scripture.   

Whenever GOD speaks to me, HE touches my soul!!!  HE NOT ONLY delights me, but HE strengthens and energizes me.  HE refreshes me!!! 

As some might say, HE RECHARGES MY BATTERY!!!   

So, today when I opened my Bible, I read these verses and they strengthened me.

Psalm 37:39-40 (KJV)

³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.

⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.


So, let’s take a moment to look at these 2 verses. 

Psalm 37:39 (KJV) But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord…

Salvation is of THE LORD!!!  JESUS died so that we might be saved!!!  And HE is the ONLY way to GOD!!!  And HE is the ONLY way to be saved!!!  HE IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS and OUR SALVATION!!!  Without HIM no man can be saved!!!


Psalm 37:39 (NKJV) …He is their strength in the time of trouble.

Jesus has made me to be righteous because HE paid the price for my sins!!!  And when trouble comes, I lean upon HIM and HE strengthens me!!!  HE is MY ONLY STRENGTH!!!  Without HIM, I am weak. 


Psalm 37:40 (NKJV) And the Lord shall help them and deliver them;

GOD SHALL HELP AND DELIVER ME!!!!  No matter what the circumstance or situation, GOD SHALL MAKE A WAY FOR ME!!!


Psalm 37:40 (NKJV) …He shall deliver them from the wicked,
And save them,…


GOD SHALL deliver me from those wicked people that plan evil against me. HE sees the evil that has been planned, but HE will make a way for me!!!  HE SHALL save me and keep me from ALL harm!!! 


Psalm 37:40 (NKJV) …Because they trust in Him.


GOD promises me to do ALL these things because I trust in HIM!!!  And because I place my TRUST in HIM, HE takes care of me!!!

I CHOOSE TO TRUST GOD!!!  I CHOOSE not to worry when trouble comes my way because I KNOW THE GOD THAT I SERVE!!! 


I CHOOSE TO KNOW THAT I CAN DEPEND ON HIM!!! 

HE IS MY STRENGTH IN TIME OF TROUBLE!!!

GOD Will Direct Your Paths!!!

David relied on GOD for direction and GOD always came through for him. 


2 Samuel 5:17-20 (NCV)

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been made king over Israel, all the Philistines went to look for him. But when David heard the news, he went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ The Philistines came and camped in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹ David asked the Lord, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?”
The Lord said to David, “Go! I will certainly hand them over to you.”
²⁰ So David went to Baal Perazim and defeated the Philistines there. David said, “Like a flood of water, the Lord has broken through my enemies in front of me.” So David named the place Baal Perazim.

GOD will show you exactly what to do if you seek HIM and depend on HIM!!!!  GOD told David how to defeat the Philistines and HE will tell us what to do to win the battles in our lives.


1 Chronicles 14:13-17 (NKJV)

¹³ Then the Philistines once again made a raid on the valley. ¹⁴ Therefore David inquired again of God, and God said to him, “You shall not go up after them; circle around them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.

¹⁵ And it shall be, when you hear a sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall go out to battle, for God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

¹⁶ So David did as God commanded him, and they drove back the army of the Philistines from Gibeon as far as Gezer. ¹⁷ Then the fame of David went out into all lands, and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.


Sometimes, God will direct you to take a detour from the path that you had planned. 


Early one morning after I had finished watering the plants at the house that I was taking care of, I got in my truck to leave.  I turned out of the driveway to go through town and God told me NOT to go that way.  I was sleepy and I wasn’t thinking clearly.  Instead of listening to God and driving around the block to go back the other direction, I went ahead and went the way that I had started out. 


It is always a big mistake to ignore what God is telling you!!!  We should always ask God about our plans and be ready to change them, if needed. 


A few minutes later, I got stopped by a police officer who said that I had run a stop sign and was given a ticket.  This was a ticket that I could have avoided by listening to GOD and following HIS instructions. 


We often cause ourselves a lot of trouble by NOT seeking GOD and doing what HE tells us. 


1 Chronicles 13:1-4, 7-14 (NKJV)

13 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader. ² And David said to all the assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if it is of the Lord our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us; ³ and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.”

⁴ Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

⁷ So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart. ⁸ Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.


⁹ And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. ¹⁰ Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God. ¹¹ And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. ¹² David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

¹³ So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.
¹⁴ The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.


At other times, GOD will close the door that you thought you were going to go through.  This happened to David when he was serving King Achish in the land of the Philistines. 


1 Samuel 29 (NKJV)

29 Then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at Aphek, and the Israelites encamped by a fountain which is in Jezreel. ² And the lords of the Philistines passed in review by hundreds and by thousands, but David and his men passed in review at the rear with Achish. ³ Then the princes of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?”

And Achish said to the princes of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? And to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me.”

⁴ But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him; so the princes of the Philistines said to him, “Make this fellow return, that he may go back to the place which you have appointed for him, and do not let him go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become our adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master, if not with the heads of these men?


⁵ Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?” 

⁶ Then Achish called David and said to him, “Surely, as the Lord lives, you have been upright, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my sight. For to this day I have not found evil in you since the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the lords do not favor you. ⁷ Therefore return now, and go in peace, that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines.”

⁸ So David said to Achish, “But what have I done? And to this day what have you found in your servant as long as I have been with you, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”

⁹ Then Achish answered and said to David, “I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.’


¹⁰ Now therefore, rise early in the morning with your master’s servants who have come with you. And as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, depart.”


¹¹ So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

We may NOT always understand what GOD is doing, but HE will show us, if we continue to trust HIM!!! 


1 Samuel 30:1-19 (NKJV)

30 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, ² and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. ³ So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

⁴ Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. ⁵ And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. ⁶ Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

⁷ Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸ So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?”

And He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.”

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him, and came to the Brook Besor, where those stayed who were left behind.

¹⁰ But David pursued, he and four hundred men; for two hundred stayed behind, who were so weary that they could not cross the Brook Besor.

¹¹ Then they found an Egyptian in the field, and brought him to David; and they gave him bread and he ate, and they let him drink water. ¹² And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. So when he had eaten, his strength came back to him; for he had eaten no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights. ¹³ Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?”

And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick. ¹⁴ We made an invasion of the southern area of the Cherethites, in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.”

¹⁵ And David said to him, “Can you take me down to this troop?”

So he said, “Swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will take you down to this troop.”

¹⁶ And when he had brought him down, there they were, spread out over all the land, eating and drinking and dancing, because of all the great spoil which they had taken from the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah.

¹⁷ Then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man of them escaped, except four hundred young men who rode on camels and fled.

¹⁸ So David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away, and David rescued his two wives.

¹⁹ And nothing of theirs was lacking, either small or great, sons or daughters, spoil or anything which they had taken from them; David recovered all.


What would have happened if God had NOT closed this door for David? 


What would have happened if Achish had NOT sent David and his men home? 


Did you notice that David and his men got home just in time to chase after the Amalekites?  They got home just in time to rescue their wives and children.  NOW, isn’t that just like GOD???


David followed earnestly after GOD and GOD directed his paths.   
God took David, a shepherd boy, from his father’s pastures and he became a mighty man of valor.  And as GOD had promised, he became the King of Israel.  David is the most famous King to ever live and he is part of the lineage of Christ.  People are still talking about David today.      

GOD showed David the way HE should go and HE WILL DO IT FOR YOU, TOO!!!

I Am… Holding on to You…

When I wrote “Looking for the Good,” I talked about how GOD revealed to me that HE is working in the midst of our storms. 


As I told you in that post, we have to hold on and have faith that GOD is indeed working when storms are raging in our lives.  We have to hold on to JESUS in faith!!!  We have to know that HE is making a way for us!!!


When I heard, “I Am,” it touched my heart!!!


David Crowder was definitely inspired by God when he wrote this song about “holding on.” 


If you look below, you will find a copy of the lyrics of this song. 


And if you click on the title of this post, it will take you to a music video of this song!!! 


I am hoping that you will enjoy this song as much as I do!!!
 

"I Am"   --   David Crowder
There’s no space that His love can’t reach.
There’s no place where we can’t find peace.
There’s no end to Amazing Grace.

Take me in with your arms spread wide.
Take me in like an orphan child.
Never let go. Never leave my side.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

Love like this, Oh my God to find.
I am overwhelmed. What a joy divine.
Love like this sets our hearts on fire.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

This is my Resurrection Song.
This is my Hallelujah come.
This is why it’s to You I run.

There’s no space that His love can’t reach.
There’s no place where we can’t find peace.
There’s no end to Amazing Grace.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.

I am…  Holding onto You.
I am…  Holding onto You.
In the middle of the storm, I am holding on.
I am!

I am…
In the middle of the storm, I am Holding on
I am!

You Get What You Expect!!!

It’s true, you know.


You get what you expect.


What do I mean?


I mean that what you expect to happen to you is what is going to happen to you.  If you believe it and expect it, it will happen.    


Do you know why???


Because you NOT ONLY expect it, you believe it, you think about it and you talk about it.


So, you should expect good things, and NOT bad things.


Oral Roberts used to say, “Something good is going to happen to you today!!!” 


We all need to do as Oral did and expect good things to happen to us. 


When you expect good things, good things will happen.  And unfortunately, when you expect bad things, bad things will happen.  It is the same principle.


Those things that you look for, and believe for and talk expectantly in faith about are the things that happen.


How do I know that?  Because God says so in HIS WORD!


Mark 11:22-23 (NCV)

²² Jesus answered, “Have faith in God. ²³ I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, fall into the sea.’ And if you have no doubts in your mind and believe that what you say will happen, God will do it for you.


When I was first writing this post, I had one of those moments when my train of thought seemed to go and I didn’t know what else to write or where to go with it.  So, I just stopped writing.  I felt like I had gotten off course.


That night when I went to bed, I lay there and God said that He gives us the things that we ask for in FAITH because HE is exceeding abundantly able to do more than we could ever ask or think. 


Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that  works in us.


I love this scripture.  God says that HE can do so much more than we can even ask or think.  When I looked up Ephesians 3:20, I found that one version says that HE can do more than we can even dare to imagine!!!   


EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask, think, or imagine. 


Now that says it ALL!!! 


Most of us have a mental list of the things that we want, but let’s be real, some of these things are things that we never talk about!!!  They are things that we ONLY think about in the secret places of our mind-things we would never discuss with anyone else.


Maybe it is because we feel that we can’t afford them or we feel that we really don’t need them, so we don’t really ever expect to get or have these things.


I wonder how many times we have things in the back of our mind that we would really like to have, but we believe in our hearts that we will have to wait until “our ship comes in.” 


God says that we have NOT because we ask NOT.


James 4:2 (NCV) …You do not get what you want, because you do not ask God.

And once we ask God for what we want, we have to wait patiently in faith expecting to receive what we have asked of HIM.  We watch and wait patiently knowing and believing that because we have asked our Father, we will get what we asked.


Mark 11:24 (NCV) So I tell you to believe that you have received the things you ask for in prayer, and God will give them to you.


I know at times that we think of the things that we would like to have as luxuries-as things that are less important than our everyday needs. 


Maybe what you would actually like to have is a recliner, but you think, Oh  well, that couch that I have is just fine and I don’t actually need a recliner.  But God knows how much you really would like to have that recliner. 


God sees our hearts. 


Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


And HE knows more than we do what we need and what would please us and delight us because HE knows our inner most thoughts and desires!!!


Psalm 37:4 (AMP) Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.

I had wanted a laptop for a long time and I knew that I would EVENTUALLY get one, but what I didn’t know was how much I really needed one.  However, my heavenly Father knew exactly what I needed and when I would need it the most.


And suddenly, very unexpectedly, my folks decided that they would buy me a laptop.  They told me to find the one that I wanted and order it.  They said they would pay for it. 


I was so excited.  I had waited so long and I felt so blessed!!!  I knew it was God who had inspired them to buy me a laptop. 


So, I asked the LORD, why HE had done this for me, and HE said, I KNEW YOU WOULD LIKE IT!!! 


You know, that is just how our Father is.  HE LOVES US AND WANTS GOOD THINGS FOR US.  HE WANTS TO BLESS US!!! 


It says in the WORD, that Father God loves us just like our natural fathers do and that HE wants good things for us, just like they do.    


Matthew 7:9-11 (CEB)

⁹ Who among you will give your children a stone when they ask for bread? ¹⁰ Or give them a snake when they ask for fish? ¹¹ If you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask Him.


And when I was hunting for just the right laptop, and I asked HIM what to look for HE reminded me of the things that I had wanted in a new computer.  And so, when I began looking at laptops, I found one on sale that had just the processor that I had wished for NOT TOO LONG BEFORE!!!  And it had all the features that I had told the LORD that I wanted.     


HE was with me the whole way.  HE never left me to figure it out on my own. 


John 14:17 (NKJV) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.


Sometimes it seems like that what we are expecting is delayed, but we can’t give up!!!  We have to keep expecting good things to happen to us!!!  We have to still believe in GOD and know that HE is at work!!! 


Daniel 9:23 (NCV) When you first started praying, an answer was given, and I came to tell you, because God loves you very much…

LOOKING FOR THE GOOD!!!

It is so important to LOOK FOR THE GOOD in every situation. 

I’m NOT just talking about thinking positive.  I am saying that we should stand on the promises of God’s Word!

Romans 8:28 (ESV) And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,^[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Footnotes:

a.   Romans 8:28 Some manuscripts God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the good

I included the footnote that was shown in the English Standard Version because it explains this scripture so well, when it says, God works in ALL things for the good!!!

What we can NOT and do NOT see is what God is doing behind the scenes. 

We cannot see HIM working to turn things into GOOD FOR US.


Many years ago, God told me that even though I couldn’t see it, HE was at work in the midst of the storm. 

We see the storm, but NOT what God is doing.  We see the wind and the rain.  We see the thunder and lightening.  And we see the mess that is left behind when the storm is over and we wonder why.

We see the limbs that were blown from the trees and have landed in the yard, but we don’t realize that those same limbs could have very easily fallen on the top of the house and ripped through the roof.

Most of the time, ALL we see is the mess, NOT THE GOOD that comes from the storm.

Many years ago, we hired a new person at the school where I taught.  That Monday morning, something happened and that person got very upset and left.  Everything and everyone was in an uproar, but I could hear God say, FOR THE GOOD!!! 

Just hearing those words brought PEACE to my mind, heart and soul!!! 

I knew that God was assuring me that things would work out for THE GOOD.  Later I was told by a friend, that this person had some problems and didn’t need to be around the children.  I had no idea, but God knew!!!

Another time at that same job, the Lord told me to go home.  It was the day that I usually stayed late at work to do Lesson Plans, but the Lord said to go home.  He told me 3 times, so I packed up and went home.  I got down the road and realized that I had forgotten something.  I said to the LORD, I have to go back, but the LORD said, NO!!! GO HOME!!!  So I did. 

The next morning when I got to school, my boss said that she had looked for me, but I was gone.  Then she explained that one of the kids from my class had pottied in his pants while he was riding the bus home.  He had smeared poop all over his seat and the area around where he sat.  The driver had called wanting one of us to clean it up.  The boss had come to find me so that I go could clean-up the bus!

I have NEVER been so thankful that I listened to GOD!!! 

I had no idea, but once again God knew!!!  HE KNOWS EVERYTHING!!!

That day I avoided the storm by listening to GOD and doing what HE told me to do!!!    

Many years ago, I left a church because God told me to go.  While I was there, I had weathered many, many storms and watched God turn situation after situation for THE GOOD.  But when I talked to the LORD about what had happened, HE said that HE wasn’t going to fix things this time.  HE told me that I needed to leave and go on with my life, so I did. 


After a couple of months of visiting other churches, a preacher asked me to come preach at his church.  I enjoyed the service so much that I went back a couple of times and eventually joined that church. 


About 6 months later, that same Man of God licensed me to preach.  Of course, I had been preaching for years.  I had started preaching at that other church, but I never could seem to get my license there. 


One of the first couple of Sundays that I was at my new church, I went with them to another service in another town.  There I saw a man preach his first official sermon.  It was a big event and I had never seen this man before, but his message was good. 


Later, they invited this man to preach at our church.  God really spoke through him that day and after service we talked.  Many times after that we spoke on the phone, and we became good friends.  God has shown me many good things about this man and has told me that he will play an important part in my life in years to come. 


But just think, if there had NOT been a storm in that other church and if I had NOT left when God had told me to go, I would NOT have met this man.


If we watch for THE GOOD, we will find it!!!  And if we are God-minded, God will reveal it to us.


Back in October, my laptop broke and I thought that I was going to have to fix it, myself.  I had already replaced one part on it.  There had been things going wrong for a while, but I had fixed most everything. 


While I was looking through my paperwork, so that I could order the right part, I found that the extended warranty that I had bought was still in effect.  So, right before Thanksgiving I sent my laptop in to the warranty folks.


I finally got a new laptop in January.  There was some problem with the warranty company getting my money to me, but it all worked out for THE GOOD!!!  They ended sending me a check.  This company usually sends you a gift card that can only be spent at the place where you bought your original item. 


Needless to say, I was thrilled to be able to spend my money wherever I wanted to spend it.  I ended up buying my new laptop through another company.
   

So today, I am writing my blog on my new laptop and it is much better than the one that I had before.  The reviews were better for this company’s products and their tech support is rated very highly because of the quality of their customer service.      

So, ALL the mess and the delay, and even the time that I spent researching and trying to find just the right laptop were well worth it!  And my new laptop was well worth the wait!      


GOD MADE IT ALL WORK FOR MY GOOD, because I love HIM and I am called for HIS purpose. 


So, the next time things seem to go wrong and a storm looms on the horizon, remember to look to Jesus and watch HIM turn everything for your good because you love HIM and you are called for HIS purpose. 


Romans 8:28 (NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  

Let Us Rejoice Because We Trust In GOD!!!

 
Psalm 5:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

¹² For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.


This is one of those amazing passages of scripture that just opens your eyes to how much God loves you. 


It is just what I call a “WOW” scripture!!! 


Maybe I should call it a “POW” (Power of the WORD) scripture instead.  That would definitely be more fitting. 


Or maybe like, POW, devil.  Take that!!!


When I read such an awesome WORD as this, I wonder why we don’t hear more folks preach this sort of thing.  I give credit to Joseph Prince for bringing this scripture to my attention in one of his more recent daily teachings.


Let’s look at it again!!! 


Psalm 5:11-12 (KJV)

¹¹ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.

¹² For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.


So, let’s break this passage down!!!


Psalm 5:11 (KJV)

¹¹ But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:


Rejoice:  To show great joy or delight

Kathy’s definition: To show great joy or delight in celebration of what God has done for you.


So, we could say that the 1^st part of verse 11 is saying, “Let everyone who trusts God show great joy or delight in celebration of what The Almighty has done for them.”


Now, for the 2^nd part of verse 11.  This part is really plain.  It says, “let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them”


“Let them ever shout for joy, because God Almighty defends and protects them.” 


And the last or 3^rd part is just as simple, “let them also that love thy
name be joyful in thee.”


This part doesn’t even need to be explained.  It is very plain.


“Let those that love the name of the GOD be joyful in HIM!!!”


So, all in all, verse 11 could actually say, “Let everyone who trusts God show great joy or delight in celebration of what The Almighty has done for them.  Let them ever shout for joy, because God Almighty defends and protects them.  Let those that love the name of the GOD be joyful in HIM!!!”  


And how could this passage get any better?


Well, let’s read verse 12. 


Psalm 5:12 For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.


To compass means to go around in a circular motion, to encircle or surround.  


So, we could say, “For YOU, LORD, will bless the righteous.  You will encircle or surround the righteous with favor.”


And if we put verse 11 & 12 together, we get this:


¹¹ “Let everyone who trusts God show great joy or delight in celebration of what The Almighty has done for them.  Let them ever shout for joy, because God Almighty defends and protects them.  Let those that love the name of the GOD be joyful in HIM!!!”  

¹² “For YOU, LORD, will bless the righteous.  You will encircle or surround the righteous with favor.”


So, why did I insist in dissecting this passage?  Well, for one thing, breaking down a passage makes it more real to me, and it helps me to remember it.


But also as I began to read and write this today, kept hearing the words, LIKE A HEDGE OF PROTECTION.


Psalm 5:11-12 (NKJV)

¹¹ But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;
Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;
Let those also who love Your name
Be joyful in You.

¹² For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous;
With favor You will surround him as with a shield.


So, not ONLY are we supposed to have joy and celebrate the things that GOD is doing and has done for us, we are to always SHOUT FOR JOY because OUR GOD defends and protects us.  And because we LOVE HIS NAME, we are to be joyful in HIM!!!


For GOD will bless HIS righteous children and encircle us with favor.  And HIS favor will surround us like a hedge of protection.

Words That Touch My Soul!!!

Whenever I open my Bible, I am looking for a WORD from the LORD!!!  A WORD that will touch my soul!!!


Do I mean every time I open my Bible? 


Yes!!  That is exactly what I mean.


And does it happen?


Yes!!  Yes, it does. 


God speaks to me every day!!! 


Sometimes HE speaks to me about my situation and sometimes HE speaks to me about things that I have seen!!!


Today, I picked up my Bible and this is what I read. 


Psalm 20:1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble.


What an awesome WORD from the Lord!!! 


To know that God knows what is going on in my life and what is going to happen.  HE knows what I am going through and what I am going to go through.  HE sees when blessing are coming and when trouble is coming!!!
 

I am so thankful to know that God watches over me. 


I know that I am blessed and I know that God hears my prayers. 


My Heavenly FATHER NOT ONLY HEARS ALL MY PRAYERS, but HE ANSWERS ALL MY PRAYERS.


It doesn’t matter how long or short my prayers are, HE HEARS THEM!!!


MY GOD LISTENS WHEN I SPEAK!!!


God doesn’t just answer long WORD-filled prayers, HE answers the short ones, too!!! 


GOD even answers the little one liners-the thoughts that I barely breathe-the prayers that are merely thoughts and whispers.  And yes, HE even answers the muttered prayers that I have uttered under my breath. 


HE sees and knows every thing-even the thoughts that I think when it is just HIM and me!!!


HE makes gloriously beautiful days full of sunshine, and sometimes rain.  Days full of blessings and days that it is great to be alive and kicking!!!


Unfortunately, there are times and days when trouble comes.  There are even some days that seem to be full of trouble. 


But I know that MY GOD is still in control!!!


My attitude makes ALL the DIFFERENCE in the WORLD!!! 


And so does yours!!! 


Our attitudes play such a huge part in how things affect us.  The way that we look at things makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE!!! 


The truth is that it is actually our view of GOD that makes all the difference and that frames our attitude!!! 


When we know that we matter in HIS eyes, then we have confidence in HIM. 


When we find that we can do ALL THINGS through Christ who is our strength, then we are NOT so easily overwhelmed by the events in life. 


Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.


When we KNOW and BELIEVE that ALL THINGS WORK FOR OUR GOOD, life gets a lot easier.  And even when trouble comes, life doesn’t seem so bad. 


Romans 8:28 (NKJV) …all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.



For many years, in times of trouble, I would hear the Holy Ghost say, “all things work together for good.”  And in those times, I was comforted!!!  


I knew that God saw what was going on.  I knew that HE loved me and was concerned about me!!!


Psalm 16:1 (NKJV) Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.


And because I trusted in HIM, I knew that HE would bring me out of all the trouble!!!


It is especially important in times of trouble to have GOD’S PEACE WITHIN your soul.  To have peace and comfort within your heart, even though trouble is near, is to be able to withstand the wiles of the enemy.  


Psalm 18:48 (NKJV) He delivers me from my enemies…

The Other Brother

Do you ever feel like the other brother???


Who am I talking about? 


I am talking about the other brother.  You know, the responsible son.  The one that never got in trouble, never ran away, and never squandered his inheritance. 


I am talking about the brother that never left home-the one that always did what he was told-the one that was there for his Dad. 


You know, the brother of the prodigal son.  The oldest son is barely mentioned in this parable.  He is the son that no one noticed because he was always there; the one that worked hard and treated his father right.  


Luke 15:11-24 (CEB)

¹¹ Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. ¹² The younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the inheritance.’ Then the father divided his estate between them. ¹³ Soon afterward, the younger son gathered everything together and took a trip to a land far away. There, he wasted his wealth through extravagant living.

¹⁴ “When he had used up his resources, a severe food shortage arose in that country and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ He hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to eat his fill from what the pigs ate, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have more than enough food, but I’m starving to death!

¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹  I no longer deserve to be called your son. Take me on as one of your hired hands.” ’

²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion. His father ran to him, hugged him, and kissed him. ²¹ Then his son said, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his servants, ‘Quickly, bring out the best robe and put it on him! Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet! ²³ Fetch the fattened calf and slaughter it. We must celebrate with feasting ²⁴ because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life! He was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.


The fellow that I am talking about is the older brother-the brother that went unnoticed until the end of the story.  Did you notice how this fellow is pretty much left out, and gets no attention until he gets upset at the attention that his brother receives for coming back home?


Luke 15:25-27 (NIV)

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

And that is what he is known for.  He is known for being angry, sullen, and unhappy.  He is known as the one who was NOT glad to see his brother come home.


Luke 15:28-32 (NIV)

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

I say to you right now, “How unfair!!!  No one seems to understand how he felt.  No one talks about how he must have felt left out and totally unappreciated. 


I am sure that he would like to have said, “Dad, couldn’t you just tell me one time how proud you are of me, and how glad you are that I stayed with you?”     

And I am sure that he would have been glad to hear his dad say, “Son, you have worked so hard, why don’t you throw a party and kill a fatted calf.  You can invite all your friends and just have a good time.” 


Maybe I am alone in this, but sometimes I feel like that guy and I truly understand how he must have felt.


Right or wrong, he felt left out!!!  He felt overlooked and unappreciated.  When his dad threw the party for his younger brother, he didn’t even have one of the servants go out to the field and bring his eldest son in to celebrate. 


Wouldn’t that make just about anyone feel unappreciated and viewed as less important, of less valuable than the other person? 


I can see how that would make him feel like he had been overlooked-less than he truly was. 

You know, sometimes parents overlook a precious, obedient child because they are too busy having to deal with a younger, unruly child.  And I know that parents are people too, but that just isn’t right!!!

Thank goodness, that Father GOD always sees who we are.  HE sees us just as we are and HE VALUES US!! 


GOD loves us!  HE LOVES US FOREVER AND ALWAYS-just as we are!  HE LOVES US because we are HIS children. 


GOD sees our good points and HE sees our faults, and HE LOVES US ANYWAY. 


I am so thankful that I know HOW MUCH MY FATHER IN HEAVEN LOVES ME.  There are times when I have to remind myself that GOD LOVES ME just as I am. 


I KNOW THAT I WOULDN’T HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR, IF I DIDN’T KNOW THAT MY FATHER IN HEAVEN LOVES ME!!!! 


There have been too many lonely places and too many lonely roads.  There have been too many times that I have felt less than I am because I felt unwanted and unloved by those in my life. 


Even when I knew that the lies the devil was telling weren’t true, they FELT TRUE.  And THEY HURT!!!


I have had my share of sorrows, and my share of heartaches, just like everyone else.  And at times, I have let the things that others said bother me even when I knew that I shouldn’t. 


And still God loves me!!!  And still HE gave HIS SON to die for me!!!


So, today, as I was having a pity party and feeling down, it clicked.  What God had been trying to show me clicked. 


You see, Father God had been talking to me about the story of the Prodigal Son.  I even went back and read it again, but I just didn’t get it.


I thought God was showing me how the father in this passage ran to meet the prodigal son.  The father in this passage represents OUR FATHER GOD and how HE loves us so much that HE runs to meet us when we come back to HIM!!! 


You know, when we are lost, that is how GOD responds to us.  HE RUNS TO MEET US WHEN WE FINALLY FIND OUR WAY HOME!!!  


You know, I have a wonderful daddy, but HE IS NOT GOD!!!  Nor can I expect him to be or act like GOD!!! 


Because those that we love are NOT perfect, and because they are NOT GOD, many times they have no idea how we feel.  And because they have a different view of things, they just don’t understand. 


Because they are NOT us, they can’t see how it feels to seemingly be unappreciated.  ONLY someone who has walked in your shoes can understand. 


And we just can’t expect them to understand, but somehow we really want them to.  If they could see a picture movie of what goes on in our lives, then-maybe then-they would understand. 


But in reality, who is going to share all those feelings?  Who wants to endure the looks that would be cast, if folks knew exactly what you felt and just how dark your thoughts get at times?  Who wants to share their inner most thoughts and feelings so that folks can see their souls?


But THANK GOD, OUR FATHER sees and HE knows how we feel.  HE feels our pain, our heartache, and how we feel rejected.  And HE truly does understand.


God wants us to realize how much HE loves us!!!  And how much HE understands what we feel and what we go through.  HE knows!!! 

Hebrews 4:12-13 (KJV)

¹² For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

¹³ Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.


Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, sees and knows ALL.  After all, HE IS THE WORD!!!  Our souls are made bare before HIM. 


Hebrews 4:12-13 (CEV)

¹² What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts.

¹³ Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.


And because HE LOVES US SO MUCH, JESUS DIED-so that we could live.


Hebrews 4:14-16 (NCV)

¹⁴ Since we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God, who has gone into heaven, let us hold on to the faith we have. ¹⁵ For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. ¹⁶ Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.


And because GOD knows and because HE loves us so much, HE sent HIS ONE AND ONLY SON to rescue us; to die for us; to redeem us because we are HIS BELOVED!!!  We are HIS KIDS!!!


1 Peter 1:3-5 (NIV)

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.


No matter who you are, what you have done or how you feel, YOU ARE HIGHLY VALUED BY GOD!!! 


You are NOT a second class citizen.  You are NOT overlooked!!!


And when the devil tells you that you are forgotten or forsaken, tell him that he is a liar.  Tell him to shut his mouth.  Tell him that God loves you. 


You are highly prized, truly appreciated and greatly loved.  You are a child of GOD-A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH.


God reminded me as I wrote this that HE loves us so much and that HE has sought us out.  No one can come to GOD unless HE woes them.  And when we were lost, HE searched for us, just as the woman in the Bible diligently hunted for the coin she had lost.  FATHER GOD values each of us that much.    


Luke 15:8-9 (NIV)

⁸   …suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
⁹ And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’