for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress;
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
Psalm 62:5-7 (ESV)
in the silence, my heart knows He hears.
Thanks for reading through this.
I hope it gives us all some food for thought.
John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Beautiful words
from someone who had been face to face with Jesus. They were written by a man who was so
overwhelmed with his knowledge of Jesus that he continually rehearsed in his
mind the fact that Jesus could love even him.
He often
referred to himself as “the disciple that Jesus loved.”
I truly
believe that it was John’s humility that created those thoughts and words.
John sees
Christ in a special way. John’s words speak of Jesus as “the One who made all
things” and “the light of all mankind.” He speaks of Jesus as “the light that
shines in the darkness” and cannot be overcome by that darkness.
Can you
imagine the way John's heart would pound when he saw our Savior face to face - as he watched Jesus' actions of love for needy people each day? Can your mind picture his confusion and concentration as he heard the words of God from the mouth of this perfect
one?
And finally, can you imagine how he must have felt when Jesus gave him the
responsibility to take care of Jesus’ mother – words from the cross?
John spoke of Jesus as the one
who brought the world to life.
He spoke of what he’d seen and knew.
He spoke of Christ who loved him too.
He spoke of Jesus Christ, “The Light”
whose love shown through the darkest night.
His name!
“Immanuel” “God’s Son” “The King”
His purpose!
“Ransom Payer” “Go-between.”
His Gift!
Eternal life for those who bring
a humble faith in offering.
If I see John, “the one Christ loved”
as a man
who looks like me,
a sinful one in need of love, I cannot help but see
a trait that I must strive to have -
it’s deep humility.
If I see me, in Jesus eyes, as I look to heaven above,
then I can say with John today,
“I’m the one that Jesus loved.”
Using social media we’ve begun to stress emotions through emojis - hearts, smiles, thumbs up, tears, and several pages of little “meaningful” pictures. They truly are a lot of fun, but are they real? Do they picture our true emotions?
When we spend time listening to people, I mean really listening to them, we can truly read their heart’s emotions. And only then might we get an idea of just how we can be a real friend to them.
My friends, I pray that I can always be a real friend to you.
Love, Diane
We pray, "God, thank you for our blessings.” I wonder what we really consider as
blessings when we say those words.
Sometimes
we see them as “blessings” only if they are wrapped in pretty paper, or resulting in things we've wished for, or maybe only if they are clear and definite "yes" answers to our
wants.
The word “Raindrops” sound beautiful, soft and
lovely. But when we use the word “Rain” it has a different sound to us. Like
something a little harsh, like a trial. Let’s explore that a little.
Do you remember reading the book of Job? Job was a good guy. He did what God
wanted him to do. He lived a pretty blameless life. But there was more to the story. Blessings?
Job lost everything. His children and servants were killed, and he lost all his
riches. Soon he was afflicted with sores over his whole body.
Job laid out his complaints to God. But he also asked God to show him where he
had fallen short. He spoke of God’s
goodness, and yet complained about the state he was in. He felt that God wasn’t
listening to him - sometimes we feel the same way. Job just didn’t understand – and that’s the
crux of the matter.
God’s answer set Job back a bit. In Job 38, we read.” Then the LORD spoke to
Job out of the storm. . . In the storm He showed Job that God was God, and Job
was not.
God was laying out for Job a picture of just who he was complaining to,
and then God asked Job to answer Him.
Job didn’t know that God was so
sure of Job’s love that He would allow him to go through these troubles for
another reason. Job didn’t know what blessing was going to be
his. He didn’t know that God was showing Job how to trust Him.The storm helped him grow, and because of it, Job learned more and more about
God and learned that no matter where Job found himself, in the sunshine or the
rain, God can be trusted.
Job's blessings
came through raindrops. This time the rain was a real gully washer, tearing
through Job’s life was a real storm. The rain in Job’s life was a blessing,
even though at the it didn’t feel like it.
A little aside -- Job’s “blessing” is really a blessing
to us. It helps us to know God better. It speaks of an almighty God, a God we
don’t always understand. It also shows that man can have a conversation with God – not a “formal” talk, but a real
conversation. For although God basically
scolded Job for his attitude, He continued to talk with him. He didn’t shut Job out. And in the end, God demonstrated His love for
Job in a very tangible way. We may, in our rainstorm, hear a gentle word from
our Savior saying, may this trial be a way for you to understand Me more.
Oh yes, sometimes in our storms we wonder if He’s
listening - but the Bible tells us that God always hears His children. Yes, sometimes our blessings come through raindrops.
These were just my thoughts after I listened to this beautiful song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKPeoPiK9XE
Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
I wonder what Jesus thought and felt during this week prior to His crucifixion and death. He knew what was coming but was still determined to do what He came to the world to accomplish. That week He confronted the merchants, and the pharisees, Judas, and even a fig tree.
He met with his disciples and celebrated the Passover meal with
the twelve. He prayed for the children
given to Him by the Father – His followers.
He also included us in His prayer – the ones who would hear of Him in
the future, have faith in Him and would remain in the world.
I consider and try to imagine the dread Jesus must, (truly
must) have felt. He was a man, after all
and as a man as well as God, He would have had to viscerally dread what He knew
would come. When we read the accounts of
this week, of His suffering, we can’t help but get physically involved as well. If my heart does not ache, if I do not feel my
blood pressure rising, if I can ignore the picture portrayed in the garden, in
the courtyard, before Pilot, then I wonder if I truly understand the depth of
His love.
All this pain, even prior to His actual crucifixion must
have been unbearable – but He did bear it for you, for me, for all the people
who would come, or had gone before.
-----
He might have said -
The night that Satan thought he had me, the night he
planned his victory,
the night his servant Judas kissed me – began my walk to
Calvary.
Rough arms came, reached out, and seized me.
A dear friend drew his sword to fight.
I said “No angry swords are called for.
It has to be this way tonight.”
Oh don't you think I could withstand them at any time if I
should try.
Oh don't you know ten thousand angels would be at hand with
just a cry.
Lead me on the way to Calvary.
We'll take the road together now.
I'll walk along - no need to drag me
for I won't use my heavenly power.
Oh I could call ten thousand angels if I wanted to be free.
But my love for you will keep me silent.
For
I’ve lived to die upon that tree.
As you see the pain and suffering that He endured, may you also see the unbelievable love that He has for each of us.
Love,
Diane
Dear ones,
Recently our minister spoke about true "hope." This is what I heard in my heart.
Hope is spelled JESUS.
Hope means rebirth.
Hope feels like confidence while we live on this earth.
Hope doesn’t worry,
doesn’t fret, stew or wonder.
It’s assurance that God cares when your world’s torn asunder.
Hope isn’t just wishing.
No, it’s true expectation.
It's faith in God's promise that He rules in the nations.
Friends, I was thinking about what to write at this especially difficult time of the year - the days that we consider all Jesus had to go through for us. I decided that something I had written last Easter season was what I needed to post again. So....
It's
almost time! Easter is just around the corner! But, before we
sing of His resurrection, before we glory in the Conqueror’s might, let's take
a minute to walk with His disciples during those dark days of
uncertainty.
I want us to walk with those men and women because I believe that we all have days of uncertainty as they did. We all have days when we wonder what tomorrow will bring. We all wonder, at some time or another, if tomorrow will even come, don’t we?
Can you imagine the disappointment?
Can you feel the aching pain?
Their leader is dead.
Their hope was in vain.
Those hopes seemed to vanish, eclipsed by the roar
of the thunder within, and the words “nevermore.”
Their plans for tomorrow were lost in the storm
of the evil before them,
in the winds of despair.
They questioned, “God, why,
and God how can it be
that Jesus, our Savior, is no longer there?”
As we walk with the people who walked with our Lord,
we can feel in our hearts the despair they endured.
May you live in hope as you consider the joy that was just around the corner for those disciples, but is here - now for us.
From my
heart, Diane
Today, I
read some truly challenging words in a devotion book that my husband and I
enjoy each morning. The book is "New Morning Mercies" by Paul
David Tripp. Thank you, my friend Darla, for the gift of this book.
This morning's message focused on James 4:1-20. The beginning sentences in today's chapter speak of the sin in one’s heart - anger, bitterness, discontent, jealousy; sins
that may result in difficult people problems. Although the author didn't mention them, those sins can also result in health issues. Those problems cannot always be laid at another door.
One of
the important statements in this study is that much of the time the problem is me. I'm desperately in need of the grace of
God. And, as Mr. Tripp says, "If I confess this, I am saying that I don't so
much need to be rescued from people, locations, and situations. I am in
desperate need of the grace of God that alone is able to rescue me from me."
I love what David asked of God in Psalm 51. "Create in me a clean
heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me."
It's about the heart, isn't it?
It's all about what's in my heart
and how I think and feel.
It's not another's sins set free
or the way this evil world I see.
It's not those things that hinder me
from knowing grace is real.
When trials come, when anger lives, when bitterness is there,
when discontent and jealous thoughts are more than I can bear,
God's grace is still available.
His love can set me free.
When I kneel with all my heart and mind
in contrite humility.
And then I must depend on
Him
to rescue me from me.
This message could touch any of us at any time. Right now, I'm more than convinced that our God has me in His hands. Funny thing, my husband reminded me recently that prayer is not in the hands of the “prayee” but in the hands of the God we pray to.
When we pray, do we trust God to answer? Have you ever been told that God didn’t answer your prayers because you didn’t trust Him enough? Do we have to have perfect faith before our Father will hear and answer our prayers?
There’s a story in the Bible about just that. We read in Mark 9 about a man in the crowd around Jesus who said,
“Teacher, I brought you my son who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
After some discussion the man said to Jesus, "if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes."
”Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” . . .and Jesus healed the child.
We pray, and God has the power to answer.
Dear Friends,
Lately I've been reading The Knowledge of The Holy by A W Tozer
This has been a really good start. The beginning of the book sets in motion thoughts that have been forming in my brain for quite some time. The main idea of this first portion is that God is beyond. You may have heard me say those words recently. But the author has a beautiful way of describing that reality. His voice is so effortlessly skilled at describing what cannot be described.
Mr. Tozer uses the word “dignity” several times in this chapter. That some of the ideas (pictures) that we humans might have about God are beneath the dignity of the Most High God. I was stuck a little at the word, but if I stop to consider what the Bible tells us, and nature tells us, and our inmost thoughts tell us about His Majesty, I cannot complain about the use of that phrase.
I expect one of the most intriguing things to me in Chapter one was the statement about the burden of worshipping a God who requires obedience, love, fnd acceptable worship from every part of me. And I believe that, if I do not acknowledge this burden, I can never appreciate the sacrifice that God gave to his people in Jesus, my Savior.
Is winter a place - a dull, dim, cold place? Can I open a door and walk into winter, or better yet, walk out of it?
How did this happen? This morning I woke up and found myself in winter. The sky was grey, hiding the sun that should have been there up above my world.
This winter place is quiet – not like the sunny days of spring, or of summer. I find that sunshine and light are sound as well as sight. They greet my ears and my heart, singing a beautiful bright tune – a song that’s easy to follow, easy to sing.
So I question, “God, why did you create the seasons? Why not always give us mostly sunshine and some cool breezes?”
But, today I read Psalm 104. Oh! This psalm is so beautiful!
Many scholars believe David wrote this Psalm, but it doesn’t matter whose pen it came from. It clutched at my heart and almost screamed these words, “Diane what makes you feel that you can complain about a few dull, drab wintery days, when you look at what our amazingly beautiful God did to make the amazing, beautiful world that you are part of?"
The writer spoke of God making the clouds his chariot, riding on the wings of the wind and making the flaming fire His messengers.
It spoke of God’s created earth as if it were alive – fleeing from the sound of His thunder, water rising and moving to its appointed places, bound from going too far. One verse mentions that the earth is satisfied with the fruit of God’s work. The Psalm tells of all the animals, fish, and birds looking to God for their food in due season – filling them with good things. I love that the Psalm even mentions a small part of this vast creation - the rock badgers – such unimpressive animals in the realm of large and fancy created things. I read “The high mountains are for the wild goats; the rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.”
And of course he mentions the seasons. “He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows its time for setting. You make darkness and it is night…”
So when I stop to think about the truth of God’s reason for seasons, it makes sense. And it even gives me a warm feeling to know that He had a plan for the earth and for His created earthlings. So I know that He has a plan for me – and you as well.
Ok, I think God gave me a bit to think about on this drab, dull winter day.
Love you all,
Diane
A look at “Joyfully Aging” A book by Richard Bimler.
It’s been an interesting read – bogged down a little bit in the middle but certainly included some truly interesting and helpful information. I understand that Mr. Bimler is a Lutheran Minister who, I was surprised to learn, may have been a Clergyman on staff at a church we attended in the Kansas City area many years ago.
I will borrow a few of his thoughts as we go along, then you can decide whether you’d like to purchase this book, or to borrow mine.
Mr. Bimler discusses the importance of laughter for our physical health as well as emotional and mental health. This book is full of little snippets to laugh about – as long as you’re willing to laugh at yourself.
He also discusses the importance of community – not just sitting around having an “organ recital” with others our age but reaching out to those that can use our help, our smile, our concern. That was one of the main challenges I felt he stressed in the book.
He has a chapter about taking care of our bodies, exercise, healthy eating, rest, etc. I liked that he said about a healthy body not being the end-in-itself, but a means whereby we can serve others.
Mr. Bimler also brings in some items that I really appreciate. He quotes other authors who have wisdom to share – historical figures who have demonstrated the fact that age does not mean “dead.” And most importantly, he brings to light scriptures that talk about the subject.
All in all, it was a good read, and I would recommend it.
At this point, I’d like to discuss chapter 44.
This was a chapter called “Got Change?” That one really made me think, although I truly enjoy some changes that I’ve encountered in my 85 (almost) years of life, I do not buy in to the present cultural worship of “change.”
The following thoughts are mine, not Mr. Bimler’s.
A couple of my issues stem from the words I hear regarding things “old.” As if there was nothing good about the past, no important lessons to be learned from history. It seems to have been forgotten that ALL new technologies, inventions, etc. have a basis in the work done before by our ancestors.
The words echo in my brain, “It’s new – so it’s good.” “It’s exciting so we need it to give us joy and fulfillment.” “It’s necessary” – for what? I ask. “It hasn’t been tried before, so it needs to be tried.”
And then the words, “You wouldn’t understand how important this is.” or "There is no question, you really must acknowledge that change is good.”
It’s as if, before the present technological age, there was no joy, no excitement, nothing to help us achieve what we need in life, and no information that could help us to be the blessings that this world needs.
Now I have to say, I’m writing this on my computer, having checked my sources on Wikipedia, making sure that spell check didn’t misunderstand my intent, sitting in a warm house with a cup of leftover, microwaved coffee by my side and ignoring the spam calls on my cellphone. So what does that say about my lack of buy-in to technology? 😊
Love you all,
Diane
For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be sh...