Easier said than done

Searching in my files this past week for needed information I came across an old study with a one-month calendar having verses about trusting GOD for each day.  Then I received an old message by Charles Stanley in the mail on trusting GOD.  Plus, several verses speaking of trust came up in my daily reading.

GOD is faithful, HE knew the various situations that were to come to me and those I love, and HE was reminding me that HE was there for us all I needed to do was to trust HIM.

Isaiah 26:³ YOU will keep in perfect peace, the mind that’s stayed on thee: because he trusts in thee.

⁴ Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. (That is one of my favorite trust text because it has been put to music and I can sing it aloud against any of the accusations the enemy might bring back to my mind).

The LORD says to come to HIM about everything (Proverbs 3:5-7).  We are commanded not to be anxious and worried.  So, to be anxious and worried is SIN.  But seriously we can’t handle it on our own.

In order to get rid of our anxiety the LORD instructs us to pour out everything that concerns us to HIM (not everybody else), thanking HIM that HE is there for us and can and will work on our behalf in the situation.  Our GOD who cannot lie (Titus 1:2) promises us that if we give our requests to HIM with thanksgiving in exchange HE will cover us with HIS peace that will throw us beyond having to understand (Philippians 4:6-7).

Have you ever obeyed those instructions and had peace for a moment but then all of a sudden all the concerns rush back into your mind making you more upset than before?

That is because we didn’t read far enough so didn’t follow the instructions fully.  For in Philippians 4:8 we are instructed that in order to walk in (keep) that peace we must redirect our thoughts to that which is positive (Philippians 4:8).

Philippians 4:⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, present your requests to GOD with thanksgiving. ⁷ And the peace of GOD, which surpasses/transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS. ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I know, I know our enemy will feed those fears and frustrations back to us.  He does to me, and I don’t think I am unique.  When that happens we are to use the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the word of GOD (Ephesians 6:17) and say aloud to our enemy (just as JESUS did) It is written…GOD told me to give HIM this problem and said HE would take care of it.  So, I don’t need to worry about it. In doing that I am handing the problems back to GOD.

Warning:  The HOLY SPIRIT moved James (2 Peter 1:21) to warn us in James 1 that if we come to GOD and ask HIM we must come willing to believe HE knows best in how to handle it.  If we come only to have HIM do things our way we are not to expect anything from HIM (James 1:6-7).

It is so good to hand over all these surmounting problems to HIM who loves me and sent HIS only SON to die for my sin that I might be forgiven and become HIS child (John 3:16, 1:12-13).  Knowing that HE gave the best for me (Romans 8:32) assures me that now HE is working through the struggles I’m facing to achieve an end result of good for us who love HIM because HE 1^st loved us (2 Corinthians 4:15-18, Romans 8:28-29).

It is easier to say, “Trust GOD” than to do it.  Like any skill it takes practice but trusting GOD sure pays dividends and pleases GOD!

Hugs

Sharon

I will enter HIS gates

Singing to and of the LORD is something that always lifts up my heart with joy and refocuses me off of struggles and onto what GOD promises ” for what is seen (our situation) is temporary, but what is not seen (that which GOD is achieving for us through our situation) is eternal(2 Corinthians 4:17-18),. 

Here is part of a chorus I learned at Camp Elim based on Psalm 100:4 that I still love to sing.

I will enter HIS gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter HIS courts with praise, I will say this is the day that the LORD has made I will rejoice for HE has made me glad.

hugs

Sharon

Woke up with a song

Isaiah 50:4…  HE wakens (me) morning by morning, HE wakens my ear to hear as the learned.

Psalm 40:3  And HE (GOD) has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our GOD: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

I woke up this morning singing. “O come let us adore HIM, O come let us adore HIM, O come let us adore HIM CHRIST the LORD.

All the secular reasons/ counsel of the world (Psalm 1:1) that would dismiss the import of this, like I heard Christmas music before bed don’t match my reality.  I know it was not from me.  The chorus came up from within me, just as sometimes the right Bible verse will come up when I need it.

Now we Christians know that all who believe in JESUS have received the HOLY GHOST who will be like a well of water springing up within us and overflowing (John 7:38-39),  It is the SPIRIT who leads us and teaches us interpreting GOD’s thoughts (1 Corinthians 2:10-13), as well as bears HIS fruit within us and writes in our hearts and minds GOD’s desires (Hebrews 10:16, Philippians 2:13) so we will know what GOD wants in specific ways.

We do know GOD tells us to sing (Ephesians 5:19) and that GOD HIMSELF sings (Zephaniah 3:17).

I believe that chorus came up from within me as the HOLY SPIRIT sang it out.  In this time as Christians have more opportunities to tell how the babe in the manger was GOD HIMSELF come to save the world (mankind).  I am thinking that both the HOLY SPIRIT and GOD the FATHER are leading us in song praising and adoring our LORD JESUS.

Scripture shows us how each of the Trinity honors the others.  It seems THEY are celebrating the great sacrifice of JESUS (the eternal WORD of GOD- John 1:1-4, 14) for taking on a human body to reveal what the MOST HIGH Triune GOD is really like and to die for the sins of mankind so they could be forgiven and made ready to live eternally with GOD, as well as destroy the works of the devil.

It is now night and the chorus and even occasionally the stanzas of “O come all ye faithful” / Adeste Fideles still ring in my heart and I find myself singing. 

I shared this thought and a friend mentioned that a different song of praise to JESUS was doing the same to her.  Just as GOD relates to us individually, so I imagine the songs of praise HE gives us are unique to the one HE gives them to.  It is so neat how each of us are so special to HIM.

These are just my thoughts.

Hugs

Sharon

To know HIM

Like many others, music resounds within me and moves me not just physically, but emotionally and its words stay within me.  From the time I was small, songs have communicated more to me than simple words ever could.    

Lines from a favorite song by Bobby Vinton when I was a teen is like that.  The lines go, ‘To Know, know, know you is to love, love, love you, just to see your smile, makes my life worthwhile, to know, know, know you is to love, love, love you and I do, I do, I do.”  Nowadays, I’ll sing those simple words to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY changing just one word.  Instead of singing ‘just to SEE your smile, I sing just to SENSE YOUR smile, makes my like worthwhile.  To know, know, know YOU is to love, love, love YOU and I do, I do, I do.

Psalm 147:7 is just one of many verses urging us to sing to the LORD.

GOD says, I love those who love me (Proverbs 18:17) and we love HIM because HE 1^st loved us (1 John 4:19). It thrills me that GOD says HE  rejoices and sings over me and those who have come to HIM through JESUS (Zephaniah 3:17).

In Jeremiah 22:16 GOD is speaking of King Josiah, “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know ME, declares the LORD?”

That verse declares that as we get to know the LORD, as we see HIM in action, it will produce in us like action (2 Corinthians 3:18) we will take on aspects of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:2-4) changing us into the likeness of our LORD JESUS CHRIST (Romans 8:29).

The thought that I am being changed is exciting, it’s a real motivator to find out more and more about the one and only wise GOD, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY who made me!

Hugs

Sharon

Encourage yourself

I don’t remember in which confess of faith it is stated that our purpose is to know and worship GOD.  To me worship often begins with singing.  Singing plays a big role in the Bible. Over and over we are told to sing to the LORD (60 times in Psalms alone).“O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1)

In troubling times the LORD told the Jews to sing and amazing thing happened.  “And when they (the Jews) began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten” (2 Chronicles 20:22).

In Isaiah 30:29-31 suggests that as we sing to the LORD the punishing arm of the LORD comes against our enemies to the beat of the music.

Since I find myself encouraged and refocused as I sing to the LORD in trouble, I believe that is what David did to encourage himself in the LORD. “And 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 for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his GOD” (1 Samuel 30:6).

On one occasion I needed refocusing bad but had to get to class to teach.  So as I drove I listened to and sang with a chorus I’d just heard: “YOU are worthy of it all, YOU are worthy of it all.  For from YOU are all things and to YOU are all things YOU deserve the glory”.

After singing it increasingly with gusto and volume, my windows rolled up on the truck, by the time I reached class I was renewed in SPIRIT and ready to teach.

Sometimes I sing the old classics like “trust and obey” or “Almighty GOD” and other times choruses… Whatever the SPIRIT lays on my heart.  Here are a couple choruses that lift me up.

I worship YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD there is none like YOU, I honor YOU, O Prince of Peace, that is what I long to do. I give YOU praise for YOU are my righteousness, I worship YOU, ALMIGHTY GOD there is none like YOU.

Down at YOUR feet O LORD is the most-high place,in YOUR presence LORD I seek your face, I seek YOUR face. For there’s no greater honor, no higher calling then to bow and kneel before YOUR throne I am amazed by YOUR glory, embraced by YOUR mercy,O LORD, I live to worship YOU. O LORD, I live to worship YOU.

Hugs

Sharon

MY army

Sitting out on my porch swing after sunset is pleasant, until the mosquitoes attack thinking of me as their dinner!  Their attack reminds me of a trip out to northern California several years ago to see family and friends.  While there, we camped at Silver Lake, midst the tall evergreens, nestled in, and surrounded by majestic mountains with friends we have known for decades/ since childhood.  During our week by the lake, I had a disturbing encounter by that peaceful lake in northern California.

One morning I quietly snuck out of camp very early before the sun was up or others were stirring. I wanted time alone with GOD. Softly singing praises, I walked up to the lake- a quarter mile, or so, from our campsite. There was a stillness everywhere, and just enough light to see two geese slowly moving out toward the center of the lake. Then more geese joined them, and a soft honking began volleying back and forth between the geese as they greeted each other.

Slowly more light began to reflect off the mountains surrounding me, all of a sudden things became crystal clear.  I became aware that all around me were hordes of tiny mosquitoes. I was all set to run in a mad dash, when one of GOD’s names, the LORD of Hosts came to mind. Now that name: YHWH Sabaoth means LORD of armies /troops/ organized bodies.  The LORD GOD ALMIGHTY is LORD over all and that includes over all armies (British, Russian, Iranian, American, Chinese, whatever) whether human, angelic, animal, and it is even said GOD sends forth an army of scorpion like locust (see Revelation 9) and once sent an army of locusts.

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, … MY great army which I sent among you” Joel 2:25

So, when GOD’s name/ the LORD of hosts came to mind, I knew what GOD was saying to me.  “They are MY army, Sharon.” And I answered HIM quickly, “Tell them not to bite me!”

A gentle calm settled over me and I stood transfixed, fascinated by the thousands of teeny newly hatched snow mosquitoes which looked like minute helicopters diving, rushing ahead but never colliding. I was amazed at the seeming confusion, yet perfect order in their zooming this way and that. (though I was there for some time, they never did bite me.- AH  Thank YOU LORD!)

As I stood watching them, and later on the walk back down to camp, I was reminded that as the mosquitoes were under the control of GOD, so the armies of this world, and each of the foretold coming events are under the control of the Commander and chief of all armies, the LORD of hosts. We see that very thing in play over and over, as we read the Old Testament.

Just as GOD kept the mosquitoes from biting me that morning, so HE is able to protect any who will seek HIS protection.  There are unsettling real world events: changes in NATO, changes the European Union, food and gas shortages, upcoming elections, wars and rumors of wars, and nuclear threats.  It’s only by claiming the name LORD of hosts for our Sovereign GOD that enables me to obey HIS command to “fear not” (Luke 12:7), “don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:1) and “be anxious for nothing but in everything to make my requests known to HIM with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6-7). As I claim HIS word, trusting it and HIM, I experience HIS peace guarding my heart and mind just like HE says it would.

Just for a heads up:  If you use the NIV you will not find the name LORD of Hosts… the translators of the NIV chose to translate it LORD GOD ALMIGHTY leaving the concept of armies (seen in the original language) out of the picture. Thereby, missing out on this comforting and gloriously motivating facet of our amazing GOD.

Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

Hugs

Sharon L Manning

A weapon from GOD

Have you ever wondered how to fight the escalating evils you see all around?

 ^“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through GOD to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of GOD and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of CHRIST” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Today I was reminded of one of the mighty weapons GOD has given us but we don’t talk about.

As I sat out in the back yard praying for drug addicts and alcoholics, I believe it was the HOLY SPIRIT directing me when an old song rose from within me and I began to sing “Set them free to worship, set them free to praise YOU, set them free to rejoice around your throne, they’ll laugh they’ll shout, they’ll dance they’ll sing, Hallelujah AMEN let the praises ring. Set them free to worship evermore.”

Then as I open the good book to where I left off reading, Isaiah 30:29-32  in essence it spoke that GOD will bring down HIS punishing arm to the beat of the music.  And I remembered 2 Chronicles 20:22.

“When they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the (enemies) who had come against them” 2 Chronicles 20:22.

What wonderful words telling of the weapon of song that GOD has given us to fight the evil around us.  It also was a fun confirmation that I was hearing HIM correctly.

Hugs

Sharon

What can I do?

Have you ever made a foolish choice that keeps affecting you?

Although I came to Christ when I was 12, when I left the safety of my grandmother’s home at 15, I began making foolish choices. It began with little sins like smoking and skipping out of church after singing in the choir with my friends to drive fast over the joy bumps just out of town.  Slowly my sensitivity to right and wrong dulled. It took a lot for the LORD to finally show me that I was going the wrong way.  But GOD in HIS time and unchanging faithfulness did what was necessary to show me/ to bring me to the place of repentance so I could escape the snare of the evil one who had taken me captive by lies (2 Timothy 2:25-26). 

Once I cried out to GOD and bowed before HIM in submission, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY broke off the chains of my past.  I praise HIM and rejoice that GOD’s amazing unceasing love and mercy are new every morning (Lamentation 3:22-23) not just for me but for anyone who will admit their need and call out to the LORD in submission (James 4:7). 

I have a friend who made some foolish choices concerning drug use and has come into the snare of the evil one.  When he tries to break loose the voices (that is how he describes them) badger him mercilessly.  Although he has not had drugs for a couple months the voices attack him and he hits himself trying to get them to stop. His face is badly bruised.

I often cry out to GOD for my friend and GOD impressed on me that my friend would have to submit to HIM before GOD could deliver him from the voices/demonic attacks he had opened himself up to through sin. 

Recently, I have seen my friend fighting the voices and it tears me up.  I felt a need to sing to him songs of GOD, he calmed down and sang with me.  That made me think of King Saul.  He was being attacked by evil spirits and a boy was summoned to play music for him.  When the music was played the evil spirit would leave (1 Samuel 16:23).

It kills me to see my friend fighting the voices.  So, I asked the LORD what, if anything, I could do for my friend for I had no direction and reminded GOD that HE promised to direct me if I asked (Proverbs 3:5-7).  Then I remembered something (John 14:26).  An army was coming against Israel, so the king of Israel went to the prophet Elisha and asked him for a word of direction from the LORD. 

Do you know what that prophet did? He said, “bring me a minstrel.” Doesn’t that seem like a strange thing for a man of GOD to do?  Well, it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he was given precise details in what should be done (read all about it in 2 Samuel 3).

I took that memory as direction so I turned on some instrumental gospel music.  Tears came as I sang with the music and knew without a doubt my part was to pray for my friend to be open to GOD and submit to HIM and also to tell my friend about the role of music in both of these Bible stories, then leave the rest to GOD.

Godly music both drove away evil spirits and opened up a good person’s ears to hear what GOD was saying.  That says to me that I should have more gospel music in my life.  What part does gospel music play in your life?

Hugs

Sharon