Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. Psalms 139:7,8

There have been a few times in my walk with the Lord I felt like giving up and turning away from Him. Those times were the hardest times in my life where nothing made sense, or I was very angry with the Lord. I would say to myself I am just going to walk away, but in my heart I would repeat these verses and would turn right around and stay with Him. I cannot go anywhere that the Lord is not there, He is my life, my very reason for living, and I cannot imagine life without Him. I think I got to a point where He is so much a part of my life I cannot imagine a life without Him. I cannot see where the world holds an attraction for me, since I have been living in His love and security so long. No one can take His place, not a man, not my children, no one. So how can I turn away? I figure no matter what happens there is nothing that can separate us, and there is nothing that could stop Him from loving me. After all, where could I go to hide or flee from Him?

It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. Proverbs 20:3

I believe it is hard to cease from strife, I think its real easy to get caught up in all the goings on, with others, I seem to see other people’s faults and so forth more easily than my own. I think that is a way of avoiding what the Lord is showing me in my own heart. Another thing which creates strife is gossip, where I war with words, and not words that have any life in them either. If I allow my mouth and my thoughts to be in strife with others, then I will meddle in other people’s business. Only God knows the whole picture, He doesn’t work with opinions, doctrines or what He considers as flaws which need to be corrected. He sees the heart, and knows what goes on in each man’s heart and household. I believe the ability to walk away, and not allow myself to get caught up in other’s lives, and being able to place each thing I say and each word I hear before the Father in prayer is what stops strife. To take every thought captive, to stop vain imaginations, and to focus on God and what His word says concerning my brother or sister will lead to honour, will lead to peace. Not as the world knows it, but peace to walk with all men, not just those who pass my inspection as what holiness should be. After all, I am flesh too, as are they.

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; Psalms 63:1

Spiritually there is no water in the world. The world has nothing to offer me at all. I know that I have to seek God first, rise early and seek Him, for my soul cannot live without the life giving water my Father provides. My soul cannot live without Him it longs to be in fellowship with Him. 2Cor:5:6: Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: God made me to be in relationship with Him, I need Him to provide me with the living water, and bread for my existence It cannot be found weekly in a church, it has to be sought everyday. There are times in my life when I was so thirsty and dry, I would cry out to my Father for a touch from Him. God has allowed these times in my life to show me where my help comes from. Who provides the bread of life and the life giving water to drink. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isaiah 55: 1,2

The world is a big place, its noisy, dry and barren, I am not of the world, but the demands it places on me as I sojourn cause dryness in my soul. I cannot always hear His voice calling to me, I have to remember that He is the source of all that I need. I need to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added to me. Early will I seek Him so I may be an oasis in the midst of a dry and barren world.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2Tim. 1:7

With all this talk of war in the world, many are afraid, of what will happen. I myself cannot help but have a small amount of fear rise up within me, but quickly put aside. The media has been building on fear, they bring it in the households via the nightly news and shout it through the newspapers. I have not been given to fear, what do I have to fear about? I know where my present destination is, and that I am sealed by God. I have the Holy Spirit within me, and it is of power, gained by reading the Word of God, and I have God’s love within me and the mind of Christ. So pardon a play on words, what would Jesus have me doing? I believe that Christ has been strengthening me for this time. I know that without fear I can walk in peace and have peace be so present within me, that others will ask why. I can then share my hope, and share my faith in the Lord with them. I am not afraid, although I fear for those who have to be afraid, because they don’t know where they are going, or what the future will be. I can stand firm in the midst of the storm and help others, find the source of my peace. I know what my present hope is, and I don’t need to know what the future holds. The God of the Universe is in charge, and He knows my name. Does He know yours?

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. Job 12:22

I saw this verse in a book I was reading and it drew my interest so I looked it up and read the chapter. Its funny how you can read the Word of God over and over again and not see some things written in there. I believe it is great that the Holy Spirit shows us those things, that I previously have not seen. He not only shows me but touches my heart also. In this verse I know that He gives further evidence of seeing into my heart. He shows me my sins, it is seen under the light of His love, nothing is hidden, nothing is laid in secret that my heavenly Father cannot see. My heart motives, my faults, all things are laid bare before Him. Something that could cause death, separation from Him does He show me, so we can deal with it together. He chastises me because He loves me and is making a vessel, purifying that vessel to better be used of Him. Less of me and more of Him. Search me, and bring to light the shadow of death within me, my flesh. Amen.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2Cor. 4:7

I have a treasure in me, the treasure is the knowledge of Christ, His Spirit which dwells within this earthen vessel. I can do nothing of myself, but it is His Spirit which leads and speaks, which shines within this imperfect vessel. His power which is in me. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is within me. So no longer do I desire to sit around and do nothing to hide, or dwell within the safety of my Christianity and my Christian friends, but to go out into the world and allow His Power to be shown within me. Anything else, my pride, my emotions, my selfishness, is of me, and plainly shown to be of me. But suffering for the sake of the Kingdom, for wisdom, love, truth and grace are of Him, for He is in me and I abide in Him. May I be quiet and allow His Spirit to speak, may I quiet my emotions and allow Him to listen, may I allow Him to move me to pray and to do for others, thus allowing His excellency of Power to be shown, and Him be glorified. May it be shown also in you today!

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Matt. 23:4

This verse was laid on my heart one night last week, when I was crying out to the Lord, it seems there are times in my life in which others place burdens on me that are too much for me to bear. The only thing is that they have no solutions, and they seem never to be able to move one off, just place more and more upon me. I had to think on this, am I doing the same to others? The ones who place them on me are often “well meaning” “caring” and so forth. Its my walk with the Lord though, not theirs. I hope that I don’t place expectations on others, and I don’t cause others to have burdens which I cannot help to move off of them and give truth to. I praise God that He shows me which are those kinds of burdens, which have been placed on me. Although they seem heavy at the time I have to remember another verse which Jesus spoke in the Word. I believe its the solution for this one: Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt. 11:29,30

I think that I will allow Jesus to take my burdens and lighten my load, then instead of being “weighed” down by the burdens from others or the world, I will find rest for my soul, and walk in peace with all men. Thank you Father for revealing truth to your child.

In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.
In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.
For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
Psalms 56:10,11,12

Thank you Father!

I think I will let these verses speak to your heart this day, as they have spoken to mine. His Peace be to you.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalms 8:4

I think who am I that Jesus would lay His life down for me? Why did he even bother? When I meet someone on the street, who doesn’t look right, dirty hair, filthy clothes or acting different I have to remind myself that Jesus died for him or her too. When someone hurts me or offends me in anyway, the last thing I want to remember is that God loves that one too. What is man? One who Gods loves very much, despite of our humanity.

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. Romans 8:28

ALL THINGS not some things not most things, in my life, are working to my good. Whether I think they are for my good or not. The trials, joys, pain, sorrow, are working in me for my good. To refine me and to make me a vessel that God can use. He is my loving Father who cares for me, and even though I may walk through many things He is using all of it to prefect me. I love Him and that means I have to trust Him to from day to day. I am called for HIS purpose not my own, and certainly not who I think I should be, or what I believe God is changing in me. Why bother worrying? Why cry about yesterday, all is useful in my growth. God has a purpose for my life, may not be the same as another’s but its still what and where God is leading me. Even in my mistakes, I learn and grow. The biggest part is just trusting Him to work things out, and believe what He says in His Word. ALL THINGS you know,,,, ALL THINGS both big and small. I am so glad He cares about me.