KEEP ON SINGING!

Keep on singing!?!? How does one do that in the midst of tragedy?

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look fun in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of his glory and grace 

Refrain:
O yes, He cares- I know He cares!
His heart is touched with my grief;
When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
I know my Savior cares.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;

“When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;

“When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake!

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow---It's what I'm finding in hymns of old as I pray for others. 

RACE TO EMBRACE

These days we all seem to be racing somewhere. 

Racing to and fro and getting nowhere.........Too often describes my race (unless exhaustion is a place).

Obviously my goal/destination needs to change. Does yours? 

We all need to race to Him. 

• Early in the morning as we first open our eyes. 
• In the middle of the day as we face struggles and disappointments. 
• As we close our eyes to sleep. 
• Even as we take our last breath.

He's waiting there , wherever we are----ready to embrace us. 

Race to the "new" realities he has for believers. A better reality.

"Withness." With Him. Regardless----as we run the race set before us by Him! 

A race marked out uniquely for each of us by the One who is always there to embrace us. (Hebrews 12:1)

WITH GOD

With---a four letter preposition "with" a BIG life in scripture. A "function" word. Accompanied by. Possessing as a feature of accompaniment. On the side of. 

Together comes to my mind.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, emphasis mine)

With-ness is key---if that's even a word. Lately, I have been "with God" early in my day praying from Psalm 143:8. Setting my agenda before Him asking his direction in the way I should go. You see, I want to go with Him. I want Him with me as I face the "tyranny" of the urgent along with fears that haunt me and minutiae that distracts me.

I need to quit "straining at a gnat." (Matthew 23:24) My focus is on the small things, which blind me from seeing the big picture of God's faithfulness. His word reminds me, "it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, emphasis mine)

I need Emmanuel---"God with us", with me all the time.

JOURNEYS

Words to count on during life's hardest journeys. His words!

God Never leaves us.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

...for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear;  (Hebrews 13:5-6) 

God Goes before us.

The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, (Deuteronomy 1:30)

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

God is our rear guard.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, (Deuteronomy 31:8)

....for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 52:12)

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. (Isaiah 58:8)

....and the household of faith wears BooBoo's T-shirt and prayerfully walks alongside her. (Galatians 6:10)

Warmth Provided

Nothing like a cuppa PG Tipps, in a Sedona mug, no less, and Jan Karon's latest book to knock the chill off a cool October morn. A glorious morn. 
With book in hand, it was like going home to "heartwarming" Mitford with Father Tim & Cynthia and Dooley& Lacey all there----that was just on the first 65 pages. And a new name has me wondering, "who is Jack Tyler?"

Just opening Come Rain or Come Shine had a Ray Charles tune playing in my head.

"I'm gonna love you like nobody's loved you, come rain or come shine" used to blare forth from the HiFi at 2211 So. Virginia St.

It also had me remembering Mama Davenport throwing her little head back and having her short frame stand tall as she said, "We will get these flowers picked TODAY for Mrs. ? (a sick neighbor) come rain or come shine.

In other areas of life, that "come rain or come shine" idiom seems to speak to folks needing a little "secure" encouragement. 

No matter the weather, rain or shine---in any of life's situations, I'm there for you. 

".....for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6)

Those words provide warmth for the hearer. 

Mis-TEA Med-TEA-tation

This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me. 
(Psalm 119:50, NASB)

Misty eyes from conviction of unworthiness. An affliction of sorts. An overwhelming need to "feel" God's love. Yet, knowing that I need to trust that He loves me, whether I "feel" it or not. 
...feelings are like the mists that cover the mountains in misty weather. The mists pass; the mountains abide.(Edges of His Ways, p. 83) I need to remind myself that my Father God abides with me. He loves me whether I feel it or not. God goes with me wherever I go, whether I feel it or not. (Deuteronomy 31:6)

The King James Version of the Bible says, "Thy Word hath quickened me." Quicken, as a transitive verb, makes alive. To revive; to cheer; to reinvigorate; to refresh by new supplies of comfort or grace.  (King James Version Dictionary) His truth revives me and becomes my feeling of comfort.
I need to sip that cuppa truth daily. Believe it. Then, pour it out to Him as I sing of His love forever.