Turn on the Light...

In a mad dash through the Psalms, this verse caused me to pause. Hmmmmm....

"...To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise." Psalms 106:47b

Praise. God is so worthy of our praise. Absolutely beautiful in holiness...perfect and complete in power...and matchless in His unfailing love...the LORD ALMIGHTY stands alone.

And yet...

In the selflessness of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, our praise to Him is flipped on its head and it is all about us. WE are the ones who TRIUMPH when we praise Him. In His absolute agape love, everything He does is for us.

Have you ever walked into a completely black...unlit...dark room? You simply need to hit the switch...LIGHT! Darkness flees. That pretty much sums up what happens when we worship and praise. (Ps.149)

I encourage you, sometime before you lay down your head to go nighty-night, find a place where you are alone (with Him). Lift up your hands and tell the Lord how much you love Him, thank Him for your blessings, think of Who He is: Deliverer... Savior... Healer... name those names of His you love. You will be hard-pressed to tell me that something didn't happen for you...a little bit of triumph and darkness fleeing....

Yes...it may be time to turn on His Light.

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photo: Jamie Jones Photography

Daniel...With a Purpose

You just gotta love Daniel…

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies…”
Daniel 1:8

Purposed to do what? Exactly what Jesus invites us to do…live in the world…but not be “of” the world. Sometimes, that is pretty hard stuff.

About four years ago our adult son went through a crisis of faith. Quite literally, he rejected Christ. He was on a quest for…truth…that involved separating from his beautiful wife. He was SURE the truth wasn't Jesus. Tough stuff for parents who have loved and served the Lord as pastors our whole adult lives.

We went to battle for his soul. Using the authority given to us by King Jesus in Luke 10:17-20, Jeremy’s sisters, my hubby, and I went to battle against the lying, deceiving spirits that were blinding our son’s eyes. Isaiah 35 was our God-given battle plan in prayer.

I bring this up…because it was one time when I purposed…with my heart and mind…to not let anything distract me from hearing from the Lord…to save our son. Honestly. Like Daniel. (I hope the comparison doesn't sound to presumptuous). Except I didn't forsake wine or delicacies (just not on my list of things I like!) No…for me it was media distraction, what I read, listened to, or watched. And...wasting time with stuff that...really...didn't...matter.

The adversary’s defeat took place about three months later when Jer had a near Damascus Road experience out in the desert. That means he met Jesus. God is good…so very good.

Is the Holy Spirit calling you to a time…to be purposeful about your life? Something that is going on? Do not neglect His voice…He has something in store for you. And then...you will want to live this way forever.

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