A Thousand Blessings

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever (Psalm 106:1). The importance of having a grateful heart can not be stressed to much. It's really encouraging and faith producing to regularly spend time pondering all that God (Elohim) has blessed our lives with. That is what the first thanksgiving was all about. We too should take time, not just to enjoy a special meal with loved ones, but also to think about all of God's numerous blessings to us and give thanks for them. 

While it's good to get alone with God and think about all his blessings, you can also go around the Thanksgiving table and have each person share what they are grateful for. Included in the following poem are a few blessings I'm grateful for. 

A THOUSAND BLESSINGS

Not just a thousand blessings,

But oh so many more,

Countless in number,

Or so it seems,

Gifts from a gracious Father,

Who wants only our best,

What is love?

But the Father’s heart revealed?

A love so unquenchable,

He sent his only son,

To die for our sin,

Grace upon grace,

Totally undeserved,

Yet so lavishly bestowed,

Nature’s awesome beauty,

Sweet fellowship with God,

Caring family,

Close Friends,

Enjoyable work,

A healthy lifestyle,

A comfortable home,

A peaceful life,

Simple pleasures,

Satisfying delights,

That fill the empty places,

As nothing else can.

From a Place of Rest

Jesus wants to be our all in all  As the beautiful worship chorus says, He wants to be our strength when we are weak (Philippians 4:13). Jesus desires to give us his wisdom generously and without reproach (James 1:5). He longs to give us joy unspeakable (I Peter 1:8). If you'll but ask, the Prince of Peace will fill you with his peace (John 14:27). He who is love wants to abide in each of us in all his love (I John 4:16). Jesus also desires to heal us (Isaiah 53:5) and set us free (John 8:36).  

The list of all our Savior longs to be for us is long. Everything from our Strong Tower to our Light to our Good Shepherd and so much more. Reading through the Bible and writing down all the Father and Son long to be for us is so encouraging. It really builds faith or trust.

Learning to trust allows you to rest. Especially if you were raised in a dysfunctional home where no one was trustworthy, learning to trust again is a journey which takes time. Jesus is so patient. He never rushes us faster than we can go. Step by loving step he brings healing and deliverance and shows how totally faithful he is. 

From a Place of Rest

May all that I do,

All that I say,

Be done,

From a place of rest,

In you my Lord,

Not struggling to perform, 

Nor striving to measure up,

Knowing your love,

Your acceptance of me,

Your approving smile,

Is what matters most,

Exchanging my weakness,

For your strength,

My struggle,

For your peace,

My sadness,

For your joy,

My impatience,

For your patience,

My fleshly reasoning,

For your wisdom,

My selfish desires,

For your righteous ones,

And so many more,

Which you long to do,

Healing and setting me free,

Flowing out to a broken world,

Through me,

Healing and setting people free.

We Are Artists

If you are like me and aren't talented musically or artistically or in some other area or several areas, I've got good news for you. Even if you feel like you have no talents at all, you are a fearfully and wonderfully made creation of God, endowed with gifts to use for his glory. You need to seek him concerning the gifts he has given you and pray for the courage and anointing to use them to bring his life to others. 

Your ministry will match your gifts. You can and will minister in gifts that aren't your main ones as the need arises, but your main ministry will use your main gifts. My main gifts are those teacher and encourager. This makes jail Bible studies and praying for individual needs a perfect ministry for me. I've done jail ministry for almost 22 years now and find the women bless me at least as much as I do them. There is always a tremendous blessing in using your gifts to bless others. 

I've seen a number of people get into jail ministry who soon leave. They most often do not like teaching and also do not have a good singing voice for leading worship. Their gifts lie in other areas.

WE ARE ARTISTS

Even if we can't sing,

Dance, act, write or paint,

Or whatever else artists do,

We are artists,

Fearfully, wonderfully made,

In the Creator's image,

God's masterpiece,

Made for relationship,

With him,

And other believers,

Made to glorify him,

Draw others to him,

With our every word,

Each deed we do,

We're his co-creators,

Not his slaves,

His beloved family,

Sharing our hearts,

Experiencing his love,

Faithfulness,

Enables us to trust,

Dare to be real,

Discover our unique gifts,

Our artistic talents,

Use them to serve him,

By serving others.

A Gentle Breeze

I was pondering the difference  between a gentle breeze and a fierce wind. A gentle breeze is cooling and refreshing. It is constructive. Most often a mighty or fierce wind is a destructive force. Think of tornadoes, hurricanes and thunderstorms with high winds. Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus (Yahshua) comes to give us life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).

Isaiah 40:11 is a beautiful description of  our Good Shepherd's gentleness. It tells us, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom,and gently lead those who are with young." Now that's tenderness! Being carried in his bosom is a safe place where healing takes place.

We are also told in Mathew 12:20 that a bruised reed he will not break. Jesus is here to bring wholeness to every area of our lives. Satan longs for just the opposite. He loves it when we are broken and defeated.

What our Father longs for most is ever deepening relationship with his children. As his sons and daughters, he wants us to taste and see how good he truly is (Psalm 34:8). Building a relationship takes time. Trust can't be coerced, but rather it is earned. Healing and deliverance must take place for us to be able to trust. Trust involves honesty and vulnerability. Our loving Father never rushes the trust building process, but gently leads us one step at a time to quiet waters and green pastures (Psalm 23).

Time spent in prayer, praise and Scripture study is the key to an ever deepening relationship. It is through time spent conserving with someone, sharing your heart and attentively listening as they share theirs that you learn to know their voice and distinguish it from other voices whether friendly or hostile (John 10:26). To be able to discern the enemies voice and not follow him builds trust and deepens our relationship with Jesus. I consider my prayer time sacred and usually do it first thing in the morning when I'm most alert and can give my precious Savior my best.



A GENTLE BREEZE

A gentle breeze,

Or a gentle rain,

Slow,

Calm,

Cooling,

Refreshing,

Contrasted with...

A mighty wind,

Or rain,

Rushing,

Boisterous,

Overwhelming,

Fatiguing,

Like him,

God’s spirit is gentle,

Not forceful,

Persuasive,

Not dictatorial,

Earning trust,

Not controlling you,

Respecting free will,

Not demanding compliance,

Building relationship,

Not coercing submission,

Always honest,

Not deceptive,

Affirming,

Not condemning,

Healing wounds,

Not inflicting them,

Setting people free,

Not causing bondage,

Unlike Satan’s harsh spirit,

Which is a destructive wind.

The Year of Jubilee

Earilier this year, I had the priveledge of hearing the Isaac's sing. They travel with the Gaithers. They sang a song they had just written called "The Year of Jubilee." It really touched me and inspired me to write this poem. 2016 is a Jubilee year. Leviticus 25:8-12 describes the Year of Jubilee.

Wars and rumors of wars, the list is long. I really believe that even though no one on earth knows the day or the hour, only those in Heaven, we are in the last moments of history (His story). In May,1948 the fig tree budded when Israel became  a nation. I was born in August of that same year. That begin the end of time as we know it.

Like me, you have undoubtedly had people tell you that you need to be careful not to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. But what about being so focused on the nasty events taking place on earth daily that you are no heavenly good? Honestly, the wickedness going on all around can be depressing. Thank God for the good that is here also. Our Savior's second coming is our blessed hope and  also our anchor for the soul (Hebrews 8:19).

Very soon we will have a new heaven and earth, ruled over by a righteous king, our Messiah. It's an eternal kingdom. There will be no more wars or rumors of wars, no more sickness and disease, no more sin, no more power hungry despots.  The list of eternal blessings is awesome (Relation 21:1-7). 

As I shared with the gals at jail, this can be your personal year of Jubilee. Your year of release from any bondages or besetting sins in your life. Satan comes to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus (Yahshua) comes to give us aabundant life (John 10:10).  Enjoy the poem.

IT’S THE YEAR OF JUBILEE

It’s the year of Jubilee,

The prison doors are opened,

The captives are set free,

Relatives purchased debtor’s land,

The price was figured,

By the years left,

Until the next Jubilee cycle,

One Jubilee cycle,

Was forty-nine years long,

Seven, the number of completion,

Tmes seven,

Year fifty began a new cycle,

Was the year of Jubilee,

In the seventh month,

On the fifteenth day,

The Day of Atonement,

The Book of Life was opened,

Last years sin’s dealt with,

Jubilee begin,

A holy year,

One of great celelebration,

Liberty proclaimed throughout Israel,

To all the inhabitants,

No crops were planted,

Or harvested,

They ate last year’s excess,

Debtor’s land was returned,

To the original owner,

Our Messiah will soon return,

Totally heal his people,

Set the captives free,

Return their stolen inheritance,

In the year of Jubilee.

Last Words

Blessings to all my dearest friends and fanily. He is risen, just as he said! A few years ago I got to thinking about Jesus' awesome last words from the cross. This poem was the result. I also taught on our Savior's last words at the county jail. It was one of the most powerful teachings I ever did in 23 years of jail ministry. The girls were riveted on what I was sharing. A couple started to cry. The presence of the Holy Spirit was so evident. Every last  inmate prayed to receive the Savior. With something that anointed, I used this teaching for several years with similar effects. Every time I ended the teahcing with this poem. May it richly bless you and fill you with a sense of gratitude and awe at the depths of God's love for us.

LAST WORDS

Moments from death,

Totally physically, emotionally spent,

Having pleaded to be spared,

To have the cup pass,

Jesus surrendered his will,

Sweat drops of blood,

Agonized over what lay ahead,

A crown of thorns,

Beaten into his brow,

As the curse was broken,

A cat of nine tails,

Mutilating his flesh,

The world’s sin,

On his bruised shoulders,

The despair of feeling forsaken,

Abandoned by his Father,

Jesus uttered his last words,

Caring words for his Mom,

“Woman, behold thy son,”

And his beloved disciple,

“Behold thy Mother,”

Also for us,

“Father, forgive them,”

Words of desperate anguish,

“My God, My God,

Why have you forsaken me?”

Words of trusting submission,

“Into your hands,

I commend my spirit,”

When all looked bleakest,

Words of Triumphant conclusion,

“It is finished!”

They Did It For Us!

Why did our Savior and Lord endure the horrors of the cross? Why did the Father sacrifice his only begotten son? They did it all for us. Oh, what beyond words  to describe it love that gives us peace and rest, even in a world of constant turmoil where men's hearts are rightly failing them for fear. It lets us know that God keeps his promises. Just like the Father kept his promise to send his son the first time, he will keep his promise to send him back at the appointed time to set up his kingdom. Hallelujah!

THEY DID IT FOR US!

The king of all kings,

 Laid aside his crown,

 Left heaven’s perfection,

 For a manger,

 A crown of thorns,

 And a cross.

The sinless Master,

Humbled himself,

 Took on flesh,

 Hating man’s wickedness,

 He grieved over lost humans,

 Healed and set them free.

The Lord of lords,

Was tempted,

 Just like us,

Yet without sin,

 Had human needs,

 Felt what we feel.

God’s only begotten son,

 Suffered a broken heart,

Was betrayed,

 Beaten and mocked,

 Spit upon,

 Died between two thieves.

 Knowing what he would suffer,

 Why did the Father send his son?

Seeing their broken creation,

 Headed for destruction,

 Their heart ached with love,

 They did it all for us!