"That's How God Feels"

While sitting at my kitchen table this morning, drinking coffee, I thought that I heard my grandchildren coming from their upstairs apartment. Without hesitation I hurried to unlock the door so they could easily walk in. At the same time, I kept looking out the window, just in case they hurried by on the way to their car. I was excited to catch a glimpse of them. All of a sudden, as I was still enroute to the door, I heard the Spirit of God speak to me saying, "You know how quickly you just responded to the voice of your grandchildren? That's how I feel about my children. How I feel about you. I run to you! Immediately, I wept so hard that I could barely breathe. I cried out, "Abba, run to us!

The imagery that quickly followed in my mind was of how God, in his great love and mercy made access to himself through the sacrifice of his own son, Jesus on Calvary. JESUS, "the Door"...by which we have been given access to enter into the very presence of God. What joy came! What blessed assurance! What a beautiful picture of the love of our Heavenly Father! More than we desire those visits from our children, God desires fellowship with us. And even though we may be outside the door, occupied by our own lives; possibly in too big of a hurry to stop in, He still hears our voice, anticipates the time he can welcome us inside. And even when rush by; he watches over us from the windows of Heaven. I hope you know and experience the joy of our Heavenly Father. How excited he is when you walk through that door! He anxiously awaits us, so that he can draw us closly into his embrace. Make no mistake, until then our Heavenly Father will run to us! (There is coming a day!) 

I pray that you will find comfort in these words. 

3/6/25  11:00 am  (res) 

Family Table Reminiscing

Believe me, one day you'll sit around the table and reminesce. And oh, the laughter and the sighs from all those years...the memories you hold so dear. You'll sit around the table and reminesce through tears. Happy tears for the most, they'll be. Of times with friends and family. There will be good ones, yet some will bring pain. Some will feel like sunshine, others like rain. There'll be your grandma or maybe grandpa, there'll be your daddy or your precious ma, there'll be a brother, a sister or friend, an Aunt or an Uncle, the list never ends...of times spent with loved ones and scenes through the years, of special places shared and vacations so dear. You'll talk of many things that you recall to mind, around those family tables, God had been kind! We sat around reminiscing at our family table today, and my how the hours seemed to slip away. And those special stories brought laughter and cheers, and maybe once it twice someone wiped away tears. But how precious those memories seemed to unfold, faded scenes became focused, they came  alive as they were told. It was hard to leave our table today, never knowing whose face we'll be missing the next holiday. Listen! I tell you the truth, hear what I say, you'll sit around the table and reminesce one day.

The Law of Love

I know in part how Moses must have felt when he came down from the mountain carrying God's word on those stone tablets. It wasn't just anger, but the deepest sorrow he could have experienced. While he was obeying God's call and sacrificing his time on that mountain in order to receive God's holy instructions (the 10 Commandments)...those that he loved were wasting no time choosing to sin and commit idolatry, all the while walking over the very laws God's had just given. Moses must have felt betrayal. He must have felt that his efforts, his very life was meaningless to those that he loved and served. 

Today, in one instance of excruciating brokenness, I too wanted to throw down a precious item, shattering it to pieces. It was at that moment that I thought about Moses and how he reacted when he saw the people, some of which were his very own family; partaking in horrible, blasphemous acts against the God who just wrote those words while Moses stood on holy ground. It felt no different to me.  The cruelty of Satan's laughter...the father of liars whispered to me how my own walk with God, my own carrying of His precious Word; holds no more influence.

Oh, how Moses must have felt in that moment!  

Now, imagine God's heartache at all of this. First, with those who broke his heart by worshipping that golden calf, while committing  heinous acts...

Now, fast-forward to Calvary...the mocking of the Lord himself, the very Son of God, who had written words in the sand just a few days before... is hanging there on that cross, nailed there by the very ones he was crying out for his Father to forgive.

Imagine that!

That after all he would suffer, he still chose to invest his love in the likes of you and I. 

HEAR His cry, this Law of Love...                          "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". 

A Prayer

Lord Jesus, 

You're my dearest love!

Help me pray rightly, serve more devotedly, more purely and wholly for thy kingdom.  Save, deliver and heal all those sick and afflicted. Bind up their wounds and give hope, where there seems to be none.  Many are in the heat of trials at this time.  So many need complete deliverance. Be there for them and take them by the hand and pull them out of the fiery adversity that seeks to destroy them. Keep us near the price of your cross. Hold our heads up so that we behold your face alone and walk us out of this dark valley of death and despair. Help us receive strength and hope for the journey ahead. Lead and guide us, fill and free us...                              You are our only hope.                                            Amen

"TEARS IN A BOTTLE"

As an old woman who has wept through the years, was told of a story about "Bottled Up Tears"... She laughs at the thought! How can this be? For a river...no, ocean of tears have been shed just by me. "Oh, but it's true..." pleaded the man who just told her the tale. God's word says He has a bottle; near His throne, past the veil. And at certain times He remembers our tears and opens the jar... The smell is so fragrant; held by His hands with the scars. As He holds those tears close to his heart, Angels sing as the sweet fragrance departs and fills every corner of that Heavenly Room, saturating the place with the sweetest perfume: "Glory to God!" cry the Heavenly Host, "Sing Praise to the Father, the Son, Holy Ghost!" Heaven trembles with praise all 'round the throne, Thanks to God for answering all the prayers that were sown. "How glorious the thought!"...the old woman declares. "Are you sure that He's captured all of our prayers? Since a child I have cried, many tears fallen down... You say God remembers and keeps those tears around?" "OH YES,...It is written!... God bottles our tears. He's kept track of our sorrows and relieved every fear". A sweeter fragrance now fills the whole place at the thought of such love, such Amazing Grace! "He's recorded each tear in a book written there. A reminder to all that God still answers prayers". Then the man turned to smile at her when he walked toward the door; but he noticed one single tear slowly fall once more. She had left in her sleep, for death kissed her brow, Her head bowed in prayer, Christ's nail scared hands held her now. A more fragrant aroma now ascended the throne as the man heard the voice of her Master saying,"Child, Welcome Home!" ~~~ Res 8/25/24 10:40 pm

God Holds the Pen

God holds the pen because He holds my heart. 

The words that He writes are Master "Pieces of Art". 

He writes my story and as He writes along,.. 

God holds the pen and I sing along.

I sing of LOVE; created of old. 

Born in the heart of every soul. 

He writes forgiveness, He writes of grace, 

 In living colors, His love I can trace. 

With just a small word the heavens were born. 

One cold winters night: the angels adorned... 

A tiny babe with heralded song, 

"Sing Hallelujah!..The Savior is Born! 

He wrote our redemption on Calvary's brow. 

To those who receive it; who humbly bow. 

I can remember the day He wrote mine, 

 As I knelt at the altar, He changed my life. 

God holds the pen, because He holds my heart. 

For many years now, He has written my part. 

As I follow him daily; testifying that Jesus is Lord, 

God still writes the song as I obey His word. 

God holds the pen; one day our song will be sung. 

Our days will be over; our race will be run. 

He'll write the last chapter with love in His heart, 

And just beyond Jordan, our "new song" will start. 

Now friend are you needing redemption today? 

Just give Him your pen and his love will display. 

The colors of freedom from death, hell and the grave. 

You'll join in the singing with those who are saved.

12/3/23

8:00 pm

Res

"I Cried"

I reached to touch the hem of your garment; to find healing in your wings.

I cried aloud, "Son of David! Have mercy upon me." 

I waded through deep waters of torment in the night, scraping sores from my rotting body with no help in sight.

I went down into the river obeying your command. 

I walked through desert places: darkness was my closest friend. 

My blinded eyes begged open, "I need to see the Son!" 

My broken limbs would not carry me, to the Holy One. 

I cried out in the darkness, I cried out from the streets.

I cried out from the Temple, I cried for sweet release. 

I cried out from the multitude, my voice whispered in the wind. 

I cried out from the deep only to be broken once again. 

I cried, I cried, 

I cried out, I cried...

I cried and I cried but each time I woke I felt a little more of me had died. 

When at last, I lay there weeping upon my tear stained bed... 

Hopelessness surrounded me as pain tore at my head. 

A sweet fragrance gently filled the room and drove the war away.

A tender voice, a familiar song... as He began to say

Arise up my beloved ! Your cries have reached my throne. 

Take up your bed and walk on now, for I have made you whole.

The issues now are settled, the debt for sin was paid. 

No longer will you lay here; groaning life away.

I've walked through all these places that have tormented day and night. 

I walked up a rugged hill and gave for you my life. 

No more shall you be weary, from a life of pain and woe. 

No longer will you stand weeping, for I have made you whole. 

"You are whole!