It took awhile before I discovered the truth of God’s wonderful space prepared  for me.  In this atmosphere I am free to be me.  I am totally accepted as I am.  In this place there is a never ending supply for all I need, want, or desire.  Our Lord desires us to have a personal, intimate, and never-ending relationship with Him.  It is then our priviledge and responsibility to spread the good news of His provisions of salvation with another. When we do we and others are assured God has made Himself a special place within us.

Come to the Special Place

Some come to prayer’s door and think it is close enough.
They throw out a prayer request in hope God picks it up.
Some peek around the corner to get a glimpse or two;
Then they run off and think they are through.
Some attempt to ride into God’s presence on another’s back,
Convinced they arrive and are on track.
Some like a pauper beg for favor at God’s feet;
They act like one homeless living on the street.
God loves so much He paid your sin debt.  Why would you suppose
He would shun you or turn up His nose?
Would He require an appointment to meet with Him,
When He never takes His eyes off you and longs to live within?
So great is His desire that He calls each day;
To come boldly to the throne-room.  He will not turn you away.
Share your life and concerns with Him and you will see,
The most comforting and safe place you could ever desire to be.
The Lord beckons to come your soul will be satisfied.
There is a special place prepared just for you to abide.

I John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,  that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.

        I think planning for a vacation is almost as much fun as the vacation.  Have you almost been glad to return to the normal routine because you needed to rest after your vacation?  We do need to spend some time enjoying a break from all our duties; but I am glad God does not take time off to go on vacation.  I am equally glad of His assurance He enjoys what He does.

Love Never Takes a Vacation

Love never takes a vacation, it is always near.
If love took vacation the world would be overcome in fear.
God displays His love on every side.
His creation shouts “It is good to be alive!”
Love extends itself; it comes even in the rain.
It is evident in every place; even in great pain.
Love spread out His arms and paid the debt of sin.
There is no greater pain than what was endured by Him.
Love says, “Forgive them they know not what they do.”
His love is so generous He also offers His love to you.
Love fills the air with His breath;
Love follows the faithful even unto death.
When weary love revives and gives strength
When thirsty love provides His sweet water to drink
When starving and you become thin,
He places at His table and feeds you His manna again.
The world’s darkness is very black its true,
But one act of love will light the way for you.
Evilness and animosity are on every side,
But they flee when in love you abides.
A future without God is a place called hell,
Where those disobedient and the evil one dwells
But the future for the redeemed is bright as the Son
For in the fullness of Love they have come.

Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

            The words Follow me is the greatest invitation we can get.  He does not promise us a rose garden but He does promise us eternal life with Him.  He gives us all we need to arrive victorious.  What is our answer when He says, follow me?

Follow Me

Follow me says the Father in the footsteps of the Son.
As you flow in the Spirit we arrive on time to get the good work done.
Be as trusting as a child as you obey,
Fully confident you on the right path stay.
With faith and trust in the One you adore,
Wearing the armor provided and supplied by the Lord.
The way is cleared, the enemy takes flight,
For you are surrounded and covered with God’s favor and light.
Keep your eyes on the truth, He is also the way, and life.
No matter the surroundings keep God’s Word in sight.
Seek the Word, speak the Word, and draw the Word near.
In prayer and in deed, live it loud and clear.
Come let us continue on this journey of the heart,
Fully rest in your Savior who has wood you from the start.
There is a work to be done.  God is your strength within.
You will encourage and draw another to their life journey begin,
Following after Jesus the One who sets them free,
So they are able to hear God’s Spirt say Come, follow me.

Matthew 4:19
 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

John 8;12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

          I remember as a young child standing in my room at my Grandmother’s house, looking up to the heavens and saying, “God, if you are really there why don’t you talk to me?”  I listened but I did not hear a thing. Many years later after I had asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior and had invited Him in my heart…I heard Him speak!   I was sound asleep and I heard “God is Love, Jesus is forgiveness” I woke up immediately.  Oh how excited I was – I knew it was God!  I then woke my husband up and repeated the wonderful message He spoke to me (he probably thought I had went crazy). I wrote it down in a little book.  I was so excited not only could I talk to God but also He would speak to me!

   Much later after the Holy Spirit taught me to listen I received this poem that reminded me of that day when as a child I called out that I wanted to hear him.

He had heard me!  I just could not hear Him.

There was a small girl child with eyes open wide to see
That called out to the heavens to a word from God receive
She challenged me to listen and to speak to her clear
But she did not have a heart able to hear
Many years went by and I called out to her many times
But one fine day her heart with truth aligned
It still took her awhile to rest enough to hear my voice
Now the little child can daily draw near so her heart can rejoice

The Word says God knew me and loved me even in my mother’s womb.  He knew me before He made the earth!

Psalms 139:13-14
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

No one I know really has a great handle on patience.  It is a struggle always to not lose it!  But many times we do not try at all for we are self-centered and self-serving.  None of us are finished yet; we all have a need to learn to be patient with one another.

Under Construction

Be prepared to stop – construction is ahead.
A work is in progress is what the sign has said.
Noise and confusion fills the air,
Revealing that a construction crew is there.
I show to you this illustration,
To another message send.
God’s construction crew is busy in every life,
That allows the control of Jesus Christ.
There are angels at work on every side,
Assisting the progress of His bride.
Sometimes it truly looks like a terrible mess;
But be patient it isn’t finished yet.
You may even need to watch for danger signs,
Be patient, and have faith – it turns out as designed.
Be prepared to stop and to wait a bit,
For the progress may also be to you a benefit.
If while you are waiting you begin to fret and stew,
Remember, you are under construction too.
And others may also need to wait and see,
God’s work to be finished inside of thee.

Isaiah 43:7
Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory,
I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Isaiah 64:8
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter;
and we all are the work of thy hand.

Do you feel you are taking one step forward and two back sometimes?  I like the idea I am making progress even when it does not feel like it.  I will celebrate the small steps following Jesus in this big world.

Little Steps in a Big World

Tiny little steps like a babe would make;
Careful and cautious so as not to make mistakes.
When they fall they get up and try again.
They do not travel far but are making great progress within.
It is a big world and so much to learn and see;
But each small step of faith brings closer to where you need to be.
Little steps to walk the walk of Christ,
Little everyday changes in your life.
The kind word instead of the first one that comes to mind;
The heart that chooses to forgive in the trying times;
The word of the sweet song that you choose to sing,
To lift up and to edify your Lord and your King.
Little steps indeed in the big world of sin,
That leads another to Christ as He calls you to Him.

Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

            I am at awe when I think about how majestic my God is and so thankful for how much He has done to make me able to be one with Him for eternity.  There is no real reason for us to worry or be depressed.  He is the answer to every question and He is more than anything we could ever need.  He is in control.  We must in faith remember nothing can take us out of His loving care.

Engraved on His Hand

Your hurts, your pains,
Your bondage’s and your chains,
Your inability, your flaws inside,
The sins you’ve allowed to abide,
The evil thoughts, the hurtful plans,
The unkind words, the harsh demands,
Your fears, your heart’s cry,
Every untrue promise you’ve spoken, every lie,
Your greed, your lust, your shame,
Everything under the sun named,
Every sickness of body, soul, mind,
Every minute of wasted time,
Every hope or dream, every desire,
The secret place of inner fires,
Each thought, and unspoken request,
All kind deeds, every moment of needed rest.
All things I am acquainted with, for you see
I have experienced them already.
I suffered and felt the weight of them for you.
Know my friend this word is true.
Your remembrance is engraved in my hand.
When you have accepted my plan
When you purpose to align with the Father’s will.
In you and through you His will is fulfilled
So walk on knowing I AM is in full control of your life
You are well known by your Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;
thy walls are continually before me.

Psalms 31:15
My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies,
and from them that persecute me.

            The Lord has a sense of humor.  He is loving and kind.  He will always show us His willingness to help us improve in our walk with Him.  Although this poem shows a wrong attitude in a laughable descriptive way; it is not a funny thing to remain in such sad condition.

Bitter Betty

Sour, bitter Betty; what a sight to see.
She is like a prune crossed with a lemon; not a nice place to be.
She’s not a kind or happy soul.
She sees through eyes darkened with every kind of woe.
Nothing is good.  Nothing to her tastes sweet.
Gold is not really gold – not even on heaven’s streets.
She puckers her face in a grimace that causes even her laugh,
To sound-like a sneer returning back.
Life has become a burden for Bitter Betty to endure.
To her weakened, unforgiving condition nothing is seen pure.
You perhaps know her or her brother. Although, they are hard to embrace,
They can be helped by prayer, to their bitterness erase.
Jesus takes the bitter and makes better than before;
If they repent and ask for help from the Lord.
Come, if you too have caught it- I will take all your bitterness away.
So you can have a joyful step and your mouth can sing songs of praise.

Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgivingone another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

We spend much time and money to enhance our outward image  to the world about us.  I am  very happy I am beautiful to my heavenly Father and to my Savior,  the One I adore.  He even calls my feet beautiful.  Now that is love.

Greater Beauty

Greater beauty shines from within,
A soul that ‘s been fully cleansed.
Gone are the spots that  were so deep,
That the vessel was ruined and of no value to keep.
The beauty of a saved soul has a wonderful glow to it.
It shines up into heaven for God moves through it.
Sweet, pure waters flow from this place,
With refreshing mercy that is provided in grace.
This now acceptable sacrifice is more precious than gold;
For it is a treasure that the Father holds.
An image of Jesus …. formed by His hand.
A lovely bride for God’s Son as was always planned.
Beautiful are the feet of them that share the Good News with others.
They shine as a finely cut diamond offered to their soul’s lover.
Many strive for earthly beauty that fades as time passes by;
But the loveliness of the saved soul can never be denied.
For the eyes shine with new hope and the heart is glad;
With a future is so bright circumstances loose the hold they had.
Their light within  beckons for the lost to “Come and see
What the Lord has done… come and receive”
Love causes hearts to smile and songs of praise  to Jesus Christ;
Beautiful and lovely causing Him a great delight.

Romans 10:15
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

        Before I found the truth of my need for a Savior, I thought I was doing ok but I really was  completely on the wrong track.  Sometimes even now that I  am on the right path,  I may feel I am giving God my all only to find I need His help to stay in unity with the body of Christ.

Divided

 Divided; trying to be one with God and man,
Surely its temptation you understand.
Divided… a part of not the whole.
Divided cannot be when concerned with the soul.
God requires your undivided love
He cannot allow anything dissented in heaven above.
For all are to be joined in perfect accord;
United in completeness with the Lord.
Man’s ways are at odds with God’s plan.
He desires to rule his own land;
Preferring self on the throne not Christ.
There is no need of a Savior for he feels he is alright.
Pride takes him to the place where division stays;
When refusing to submit to God and His ways.
Life is fast passing–if you do not the truth accept
 Division and discord expect.
Come, give all your heart and you will be whole.
For to be lukewarm – is to have a divided soul

 Romans 8:7
 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

 Deuteronomy 10:12
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

Revelation 3:16
  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.