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Psalms of Grace
- page two
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1 Overwhelmed By You!
2. My Sovereign God!
3. The Same Yesterday, Today and Forever
4. Refiner’s Fire
5. Loneliness
Back to Page One
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1. OVERWHELMED BY YOU!
Dear Jesus;
My heart is overwhelmed by You!!
I cannot help but weep
When Your Spirit reveals to me
Your tender heart of compassion
And tenderness towards me!
I have again wandered from intimacy with You,
But You never cease to woo me back
Into Your loving, outstretched arms!
You touch my heart and my whole being cries out for You!
Every part of me longs to be in Your embrace...
"I just want to be where You are,
Dwelling daily in Your Presence;
Take me to the place where You are...
I just want to be with You!" (Don Moen)
Yesterday as I read in Philippians about Your tenderness and
compassion,
I knew it in my head but my heart was cold.
Today You have demonstrated beyond words,
By Your Spirit,
What Your love, encouragement,
Tenderness and compassion to ME
Are all about...
And all I can do is fall on my face before You
In humility and adoration...
And wipe Your feet with my tears of
Unutterable gratitude and awe!
No words can describe what
You have enabled me to experience
In Your Presence tonight.
No response could ever be adequate...
Again I thank You for naming me GRACE,
Because that is the only way
To describe how You've reached out to me tonight
And met my deepest need!
You are the only one that satifies me!
You are my One and Only!
You alone are my all in all!!
Blessed is Your Name in all the earth!
I exult and rejoice in Your matchless Name
And in You is all my Life and Hope
And all my longing and delight.
"Jesus, You are my Treasure in this Life,
And You are so Pure and so kind,
And I love You...
You are my portion in this Life,
And You are my Hope and my Delight...
And I love You!!!
I Love You!!!
Yes, I love You,
My Delight!" (Bob Fitts?)
Oh, I glory in You, dear Jesus!!
By God’s Grace (Wiebe)/Oct/89
CONTENTS
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2. MY SOVEREIGN GOD!
Dear Lord,
I look to You as affirmed in Job 8...
You are our Sovereign God -
Creator of heaven and earth,
in charge of all things,
able to do what You choose -
able to do what You desire!
Nothing and no one can do anything that prevails against You!
You are our Great & Mighty God!
The one who bares Your righteous and strong arm of justice for all nations
to see!
You have called and chosen us to be your children -
for Your sake you have called and chosen us,
in order that You might use us to bless the nations
for Your glory and Your renown
Thank You that You are our Rock,
our Stronghold,
the One who advances your Kingdom!
You are the One that is the foundation
and also the Builder.
You are the One that is bringing about unity
amongst your people
and calling and placing your watchmen!
You are the One that is leading us
with Your kindness
to Your holy dwelling...
and guarding our steps - taking us to the place You have prepared for
us!
Guard our hearts, our minds and our spirits in
Christ Jesus - your Holy One!
You are the Restorer of Your people!
You are the One that blesses us and
the One who defends us against our enemies -
You do not let them or their accusations prevail
because that is our inheritance and heritage
in You, of which you have already given us
a deposit!
You bring peace to our borders and peace within.
You are our Peacemaker with God and man!
You are our God who is patient, longsuffering, compassionate and merciful.
You are the One who does not count our sins against us when we acknowledge
to You our transgressions and iniquities and repent of them.
You are our God who knows and understands all
things,
whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours,
and who by Your wisdom brings to pass Your
Words.
You are awesome and faithful!
Do again what You have done in the past,
of delivering us from evil and evil ones!
Thank You that You are our Light in the darkness
and that You have broken the curse which has
been on us;
You've broken the bars of the yoke to enable us to
walk with our heads held high!
You say You will never leave us nor forsake us
and that we will never be put to shame!
Thank You that Your Word is true,
even if my feelings don't always catch on
at first.
Father, forgive me for my iniquities and my
rebellion towards You,
for the turning of my back on You
and treachery against You.
Surely You have not treated me as my deeds deserve
or according to my iniquities,
but have freely pardoned me!
I have uttered lies my heart has conceived,
which have not been in accordance with the truth of Your Word.
Align my heart and mind and guard my spirit so that
they will be in line with You,
the Truth,
that I would not be an offense to You
nor bring offense to Your name!
You are my Forgiver,
my God of Reconciliation who does not hold my
sin against me,
but sees me as righteous by the blood of Jesus.
May You,
the River of Living Water,
continue to cleanse my heart of my transgressions
and bring life where there is death.
My spirit is alive to You,
and in You I am dead to sin,
but my flesh continues to war against You.
Holy Spirit,
take control of my thoughts and my feelings,
and my soul, mind and spirit today,
and lead me in Your paths of righteousness
for Your Name's sake.
Thank You for Your forgiveness.
I receive it again with joy,
rejecting the lies of the enemy which continue to
accuse me.
I take my stand of freedom and I stand on it firmly,
by Your grace,
not letting myself be burdened again by a yoke of
slavery!
Thank You that You are moving us along
by Your Spirit...
like a pent-up flood You are coming to move upon us!
Thank You that You are accomplishing
the purpose You set out to do
and that You are restoring Jerusalem
and Your people,
for the glory of Your Name!
By faith I put on Christ today.
I take Your helmet of salvation -
You are my salvation - not my works,
not my righteousness,
not my ideas of what pleases You,
but YOU -
YOU ARE my salvation!
You are my salvation
in the area of my family and relationships,
my salvation in being able to be used to minister, my salvation in my
body, in my mind, in my soul and
in my spirit.
I submit to You all these areas
and I thank You that You will continue to bring
Your full salvation to these areas of my life.
You are also my salvation in teaching me to
exercise the gifts of your Spirit;
also in providing for ALL that I need!
You are my all in all! Thank you for that!
Ps. 50:23 says that in thanking You I am preparing
the way for Your salvation.
Thank You that You enable me to thank You
so that I CAN prepare the way for YOUR
salvation!
I will see it in every area of my life!
You are my shield of faith to deflect ALL the
flaming arrows of the evil one!
You strengthen and protect me from the evil one
because You are faithful!
By God’s Grace Wiebe)/Jul/90
CONTENTS
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3. THE SAME TODAY, YESTERDAY
AND FOREVER!
Oh Jesus!
You are the same yesterday, today and forever!
What consolation that brings to my heart!!
I change so much - sometimes becoming more like You,
And sometimes it seems like less like You -
...In those times when Your image is dulled
In my reflection,
I feel so alone...and my heart aches...
But if I just seek You again
And receive the love and grace You have to give me
So freely,
I am able to sit once again in Your Presence
As You restore to my heart Your sweet and holy rest.
What blessedness it is to know
That though You hide Your face at times,
You will never, never leave nor forsake me.
Though I am faithless at times,
You remain faithful
For You cannot disown Yourself! What a revelation!
Since I am part of Your Body, You cannot disown me,
And therefore You remain faithful!!
How incredible!!
The cords of Your love are so strong,
so unbreakable,
That even the powers of hell
Cannot prevail against them!
How I marvel at Your tenderness -
At the way Your gentle touch renews my spirit
In the silence of the night
When my heart yearns for fellowship with You!
How I long for the day when my heart will
Never turn aside from You;
For the day when our fellowship and communion
Will no longer be broken by my inconsistencies!
Some days the battle seems so real
And I diligently arm myself with Your armor
And stand firm;
I take captive every thought
And wield Your Sword to defeat the enemy.
But then I slack off again,
Due to spiritual laziness, I guess,
And let myself get trampled.
When will I finally pass the beginner’s test
And get into the next ranks?
When will I be a faithful warrior that
Confidently and deftly uses the weapons You've given me?
Jesus, teach me
And enable me to skillfully throw off
Every snare that entangles
And tries to trap me -
By Your Spirit enable me to hear Your voice
And obey every time You ask me to...
I don't want to be a spiritual slacker,
Doing all the things I think need doing,
But not waiting to hear Your voice
To be sure I know what You
Want me to do.
Guarding my tongue,
Fasting and prayer,
Listening to Your voice,
Doing only those things You've called me to
And not caring about my reputation...
These are all areas where, Lord Jesus,
It is only You in me
That can make me faithful in these -
I trust in You
And I depend on You to do it.
I confess my lack and my need in these
And receive Your forgiveness
And Your overcoming power to
Bear fruit through me in these areas.
Jesus,
Teach me also to revere the Father
And to fix my gaze on You
Rather than so quickly (often)
Focusing on the enemy's tactics.
You are the one that is all-powerful!
You are the one who came to earth to destroy the devil’s work
And to bring abundant Life!
You are the one who is coming back
To reign supreme forever and ever!
You are working so powerfully among the nations these days -
Your purposes are soon near completion!
Continue to extend Your hand of grace and mercy
To those who have not yet had the chance to
Hear of Your Salvation!
Stir up our hearts, Lord -
Let us be willing harvesters,
And let us be willing to lay down our lives
And all thought of ourselves
So that
All the earth may fear You
And that all the peoples of the earth may revere You! (Ps.33:8)
Let us not be satisfied until Your heart is satisfied -
Until Your quiver is full!
Reveal to us the deception of our hearts
That we might turn from it to You, the Truth!
Thank You that you watch over us as we
Walk the Highway of Holiness,
So that our foot doesn't slip.
You make our feet like the feet of a deer
And You make level paths before us.
Thank You that You are our immovable Rock
And that if our feet are firmly planted on You,
We cannot be shaken!
Thank You for Your blood
And the Blood and the Power
And Life and cleansing
And Protection we receive through it.
Your Blood will never lose its Power!!
It is always before the Father
As a witness of our Righteousness in You!
What liberty and joy and freedom there is in You!!
To think You know us each by name -
You know every hair on our head
And every sparrow that falls -
Who besides Your children
Can boast in their gods
Like we can boast in You?
I glory in You Lord!
When I am stripped of everyone
And of everything,
You are my Source and my everything!
My Alpha and Omega,
My Beginning and End!
Without You in my life,
I would not want to exist -
but You are in my life,
And none of the treasures of this world
Could make me want to live without You!
How happy I am to be an "alien" here
So I can be part of Your Kingdom!
You are the greatest King!
No one compares with You! No one!!
Thank You for allowing me to be Your servant,
Your "love-slave"!
I adore You!!
By God’s Grace (Wiebe)/90
CONTENTS
----------------------
4. REFINER’s FIRE
Oh Refiner's Fire!
I hear you speaking to your chosen people,
your holy and royal priesthood,
your Bride.
You have said, "Come away from the world --
be separate from the world unto ME!
Come away with Me,
My Beloved, My Bride!"
But we have been asleep --
we have not heard your whisperings --
your tenderhearted call to awake!
We've ignored your voice and said,
"Let us sleep, for it is yet night."
But you would have us be alert and awake,
for we are children of Light!
We have rested and slept
while the enemy has stolen our land
That you have promised to us --
why, we've barely even protested!
Now he's taken our country,
our children,
our education systems,
our health,
our economy,
our forefather's decision to follow You,
-- And he is laughing at us,
mocking us.
We are finally waking up,
but it is almost too late --
Our one saving hope,
our one saving grace...
...is YOU!...
You yet desire to have Canada love you with all her heart,
to surrender to You wholly
so that you can turn us back to You
and bless us again --
but You are calling us,
Your Body,
to humble ourselves,
to pray,
and to turn from our wicked ways --
so that...
You may heal our land!
The time is now!
Oh Father!
You are calling a remnant to count the cost and to make the choice --
Will we...will I, be one to say
"Yes, Lord, I answer Your call --
I will surrender to You to the death.
I will not turn back no matter what!"
To make YOUR dream come true
is all that counts --
NOT to make my life comfortable and
my selfish ambitions be met.
I have answered Your call, Lord,
and by Your faithfulness and grace
I have set my heart solely on You
and have been set apart by You.
Oh how we, how I desperately need Your baptism of fire!
You are jealous for us, Lord!
You are jealous for the affections of our hearts and minds
to be set like a flint on You --
That we would have a single eye toward You!!
We need Your fire to set us ablaze, All-Consuming Fire!
We have set our desires even on Your gifts and Your power --
which have distracted us from You
and which have distracted us from being concerned that
You bear Your fruit through us --
that our character would become Christlike!
Jesus, even You,
with all of Heaven's power,
would not have been effective if
You had not submitted to the Father's authority
or if You weren't concerned that God
would develop His character in You!
It is the power of Your anointed life --
the character of God revealed through You --
and His power and authority enduing You with all that He was and is,
and Your submissive, humble & waiting spirit --
waiting ever on the Father --
and hearkening to His voice with a listening ear and an obedient heart,
which drew men to You --
and also turned men away.
Your Life divides between life and death,
Light and Darkness,
Truth and Lies, etc.,
and You deeply felt the rejection which was directed at You.
You say to us also,
"He who listens to you
listens to Me..."
and he who doesn't listen to you,
doesn't listen to Me.
Lord, let us not be intimidated by the world--
let us not cower in fear --
because You are the Overcome,
the Conqueror in us
and You've given us our marching orders.
We have been promised the land
and You have given it to us --
we merely need to obey You and take it as You lead us!
You thunder at the head of Your army!
We will be despised and rejected as You were and are,
but Your Word promises that we will not be ashamed!
OUR GOD WILL COME!
You,
the Presence of God --
the Ark where His Presence dwells...
live in us! --
Therefore we are assured of victory!!
It is only You, Jesus,
not us!
We are helpless and hopeless,
totally unfit and unable in our own strength --
but with You in us,
we will trample the enemy under our feet
and take back what he has stolen!
You are the Great Restorer! --
and all that You originally gave to us will be returned to us --
because You have redeemed us to be co-heirs in Your inheritance!
You have restored us to our rightful position in Christ!!
Oh, HALLELUJAH!! Glory upon Glory to You, Oh our Great and Mighty
King!! The earth shakes beneath Your feet and the mountains melt
before You like wax!!
Let us rejoice and shout before You, O Lord,
and let all the nations proclaim
"The Lord, HE IS GOD!! The Lord, HE IS GOD!!"
Exalted are You, O great and Awesome Mighty Warrior! --
You thunder before Your people
and slay the enemy with Your deftly-wielded Sword!
Your Word and Your Sovereign power
enables the tiny Gideon's army
to overthrow the hosts that the enemy has sent to prevail against us!
But we will not be defeated!!
He will not prevail against us --
-- For no weapon forged against us will prevail --
we will refute EVERY tongue that accuses us!
That is our heritage as the servants of the Living God!
-- For You, O Lord our God,
Immanuel,
are with us!!
You go before us
and are our rear guard as we dwell in Your shelter,
O Lord Almighty!
We rest in Your shadow!
We are hidden with Christ in God
and will stand firmly in You
as we are assaulted by the enemy!
You will have Your way!
You ride on the Heavens to help us
and on the clouds in Your majesty!
O Holy and Anointed One -- Anoint us with Your Fire!!
Oh the glory You have in store for us!
You have made an everlasting covenant with us! --
"Surely You will summon nations you know not
and nations that don't know you will hasten to you,
because of...the LORD YOUR GOD, the Holy One of Israel,
for He has endowed you with splendor!
Seek the Lord while He may be found;
call on Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way
and the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him,
and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the Lord.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
Just "as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return
to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,
...so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
SO IS MY WORD that goes out from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills will burst into song before you,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord's renown,
for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed."
AMEN!
By God’s Grace (Wiebe) Oct/90
CONTENTS
----------------------
5. LONELINESS
Oh God --
So this is what the sting of loneliness is all about --
It cuts like a knife --
It makes me feel drained and lethargic --
It makes me feel dried-up inside.
I've never felt loneliness like this before --
My whole body and heart ache --
I've never been awakened from my sleep by it before.
I never realized I could/would ever feel so lonely --
especially since I have so many friends!
Except for a short note or phone call here and there
to help keep me hanging on and somewhat hopeful --
I feel largely abandoned and neglected
by some whom I've depended upon for love and friendship
through the years.
You have truly blessed me with friends and "family" here, too,
but it's still not the same as the
strong relationships that have been built over time
that I share so much history with --
people from home.
I feel like I'm sending letters and more letters,
and rarely receiving any response --
except from a few dear and faithful friends.
I sometimes feel like most of my friends
must have received some report that I died, and
have therefore discontinued communications with me.
I have experienced some degrees of loneliness before,
but never like this.
This is breaking my heart!
The waters of loneliness are truly bitter to drink!
I suddenly have much more of an understanding
of many around the world
who suffer from intense loneliness daily.
I have never really realized, to this extent,
how very blessed I have been
by the many friends You've showered upon me!
Somehow in this pain and bitterness, Lord,
there is a great peace that I am sensing,
and I am sensing Your Presence deeply.
Through the time that I've lived here
and since I've begun to feel this separation and abandonment,
I have sometimes just begun to wonder
why you were allowing this
and not prompting people to write or communicate more,
and then, and this morning (as before),
I have had the strong sense that this has been Your doing;
that You have been withholding this communication,
for a time,
to bring me through a new valley
to a new and greener pasture.
I feel like You are bringing me through another death --
and though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me.
I feel like You are bringing me to a new place
of dependence on You --
removing another "layer" of my need for man
and strengthening my reliance on You.
This will result in less of the fear of man in my life --
less need for the approval of man,
less need to have constant input and encouragement from people,
and the developing of an even greater reliance on You.
How I desire these things --
and yet how intensely painful it is to get through this process!
Thank you that YOU have not left me
nor forsaken me!
I've never felt this as acutely as I do now!
You have again proven Yourself faithful to Your Word!
I presently feel so alone in my relationships with most of my friends,
and yet I sense Your sweet Presence.
I think of the communications that I HAVE had with a few folks --
and that has been rich and sweet,
and then I wonder why I feel such intensity in this loneliness.
But I believe in my heart that You are allowing me
to feel this way
to accomplish Your purposes.
I've asked You over the years,
and again recently,
to enable me to identify with Your sufferings
in order to know You better --
to know the fellowship of Your sufferings
in order to increase intimacy with You.
I believe You are answering this prayer
by allowing me to share,
in the tiniest measure,
a small degree of the abandonment You felt from Your disciples
and from the Father when You were on the cross and said,
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
I can't imagine the full strength of the pain You suffered,
because I still have the very clear sense of YOU being with me
and not leaving me --
but You felt totally abandoned by EVERYONE --
absolute abandonment!
No wonder Your heart broke!
No wonder You can easily comprehend the loneliness in this earth --
No wonder You have compassion for us,
Your creation, in our loneliness!
Oh, Jesus,
as much as my heart wrenches and bleeds
with the pain I am and have been experiencing,
and as much as I wish it would quickly end,
I ask that You allow it to continue
as long as You know I need to go through this,
so that,
through this,
my heart will become more deeply united to Yours --
that I will become increasingly 'one' with You.
Be my strength in this, Lord,
and help me to learn what You are teaching me.
Please don't let it be wasted by self-pity
or resentment that the enemy constantly
taunts me with.
Guard my heart and my mind in You,
so that You can finish Your work in me
as to this particular work in my life.
May I, through this,
become more identified with You
and more easily able to share Your heart for Your hurting people
and the hurting millions
who don't know the
constant and unending faithful love of a God
who never leaves or forsakes them!
Thank you that in my tears and in the breaking of my heart
I can know, more deeply,
what a priceless treasure I have in knowing
and being known
by You.
Yes, in my weakness and pain,
You are strong.
You keep saying,
"Come to Me...and I will give you rest...
learn from Me..."
I've asked You to teach me
and have asked to share Your yoke with You.
I believe You are answering my prayers.
Thank you that You wound and also bind up!
Thank you for reminding me of Your love --
right now I am feeling Deut. 33:12.
I am feeling beloved of You
and am resting secure in You,
for You shield me all day long.
I am loved by You and
am resting between Your shoulders!
This intimacy with You is well worth the pain!
It doesn't make sense.
How can I feel so happy,
restful, secure and loved
while my heart is absolutely broken?
Thank for wrapping Your strong and healing
arms of love around me!
Oh, I love You, tender Lord.
Your broken heart has been poured out
in love onto Your Bride and Your Creation.
May my broken heart be poured out in love onto You
as the woman who washed Your feet
with her tears!
She, too, must have felt Your love
in the midst of terrible loneliness
and abandonment!
May my brokenness be used by You
as a balm of healing to those You bring my way.
What blessedness there is in knowing You!
What blessedness in being the object of Your delight!
The words "I love You" do not describe all my heart feels for You --
all the contentment, rest, peace and security that I feel in Your Presence!
I adore You, Lord!
I believe You are telling me Zeph.3:17 --
no, not telling me,
but I feel from Your heart these feelings --
that You are with me --
that You take great delight in me.
I feel quieted in Your love
and sense You rejoicing over me with singing!
I don't think my heart would have been able to "hear" this
as clearly
if I'd be getting all the love and attention,
from my friends and family,
that I've been used to!
This makes me thankful that You've
withdrawn their expressions of affection for a time
in order to bring me to the place where
I can really feel Your love so clearly in this way!
I just feel like staying still and not moving for awhile,
so I can drink in this love from You
that my entire being thirsts for!
May my inadequate responses be sanctified
by Your blood
and by Your Spirit
that they may also bring joy to Your heart.
Oh, Lord, I see You dancing with delight that I have understood
Your intentions in allowing me to experience this,
and that I have responded to Your love --
Oh, Lord,
this picture of Your response
is letting me become more deeply aware of Your love for me
and making me more humbled at Your love for me,
and making me more adoring of You
than I can ever remember feeling before!
I felt Your Spirit resting on me
as I read yesterday in Mark,
about the Father's response to You.
"You are My Son, whom I love,
with whom I am well pleased."
When I read this yesterday,
it touched me in a special way,
but I was not clear as to what You were
wanting to convey to me about that.
But now I understand that You were
wanting to reveal that truth to my heart as well,
that You feel that way about me!
Dare I believe it?
Dare I believe that You are resting on me at this point?
I believe You are,
by Your grace alone
and because of Your sacrifice for me!
This is part of the inheritance You have wrought for me!
This is a glimpse of what it means to enter into Your rest!
Now I am beginning to understand!
Oh, glory to You, Lord!
My heart rejoices in You!
You are my delight!
How amazing and humbling that YOU
would actually rejoice in us and love us!
I am speechless with awe and wonder!
Now I can go back to sleep.
My heart is again at rest in You!
XXOO!!
By God’s Grace (Wiebe) June 91
CONTENTS
THE BROOK DRIED UP
- Grace Wiebe March 2002
------------
A. Some years ago
The Lord said to me
"I'm drying up your brook
Do you not see?"
Like Elijah of old
I've met all your needs
I've fed you by hand
Here by the ravine.
But it's time to move on
Beyond this dry brook
Your finances are gone
And it's time for you to go.
But look unto Me,
For I am the Way;
Put your trust in Me
And I'll lead you every day.
Now He led me away
To where, I did not know.
Like Abraham of old
He just told me to 'Go'!
So I followed Him away
From this forsaken place
Though it had been to me
A place of God's grace.
He led me to a place
A place called Zarephath
Where He brought me through a 'death'
So He could bring more Life!
"Refinement" and "Humiliation"
Was the name of His school.
"Trust in Me and lean not to
Your understanding" said He.
I stayed with my 'widow'
In a quite dependant state.
This journey was certainly
A major walk of faith.
As with Elijah
After almost 3 years
He 'resurrected' me
And began to set me free!
He's brought me to a spacious place,
To a 'new assignment' says He.
As He's done with Elijah
He's done with me!
There are times
And there are seasons
That God brings us through
"Appointed times" and "proper times"
That God has ordained.
There are reasons for these seasons
Which we may not understand
But we can rest in the knowledge
That they're part of His plan
Is your brook drying up?
Are you in one of His schools?
Then He's preparing you now
For an assignment that's new.
Keep your eyes fixed on Him
His ways are higher than yours
He will not leave you
As you rest in His love.
Though the journey is deeply painful
Torturous, many times
God is working in you
His Righteousness divine.
He will comfort and encourage you
As you trust in His love
Though He often seems distant
His sweet whispers you will sometimes hear.
His grace and His mercy
Will minister to you
As He leads your Flesh to death
On the 'cross' that you must bear.
There's a grace beyond measure
Unspeakable peace and relief
As we find ourselves accepted
Because of all that HE's done!
The cross of Jesus is beautiful
Repentance his gift
As we truly begin to grasp
That all our life is in Him.
So as we go through the Process
Let our fainting hearts have hope
That's He's transforming us into His likeness
And His love for us will never end.
Intimacy and joy
Fulfillment and peace
Are some of the blessings He's working in us
As we submit to His love.
We may not understand Him
But later on we'll see
That what we felt was evil
Was the best for us, indeed!
God be with you and keep you
And wrap you up in His love
May His face of grace shine on you
And water your parched heart.
Take courage in your weakness
For in it He'll be strong
He will lead you through this Wilderness
And fill your life with His Song!
NOW
IS THE TIME
(to Make Ready a People Prepared for the Lord)
---------------------------
Now is the time
Now is the season
To make ready a people
Prepared for the Lord (Luke 1)
Ev'ry tongue, tribe and language
Ev'ry people and nation (Revelations)
Are His heart's deep desire
They're reflections of Him! (2 Cor 4?)
"Ask of Me" says He
"And your inheritance they'll be" (Ps2:8)
"Disciple the nations"
Remains His command. (Matt 28)
Now is the time
Now is the season
To make ready a people
Prepared for the Lord (Luke 1)
But the Cornerstone's been shunned
So the plumbline's not plumb
Our walls are broken down
And our foundations are ruined (Nehemiah)
Weep, mourn and wail
We've lost our FIRST LOVE (James 4)
Let's humble ourselves (James 4)
And return to the Lord (Hosea 6:1)
Now is the time
Now is the season
To make ready a people
Prepared for the Lord (Luke 1)
Let us seek Him together
in unity and prayer
Let us build up each other
And serve Him as One (Nehemiah, John 17, 1 Cor 12)
"Give careful thought"
says He
"to the Foundation once laid,
Give careful thought as you build,
So that it pleases Me" (Haggai)
"I've called you to rebuild
Ancient places and ruins
To restore and renew
Cities devastated for generations (Is 61:4)
Now is the time
Now is the season
To make ready a people
Prepared for the Lord (Luke 1)
"You've been called to repent
(Is. 6)
And be conformed to My likeness (2 Cor 3)
I'm calling you now
To become mature and complete (James 1)
I'm working in you this hour
To effect my Transformation
Restoration is at hand
So keep your eyes fixed on Me
My desire is for you
To be filled to the measure
Of all the fullness of Christ
My radiant Bride - by My side
So as the darkness gets darker
And the Light gets brighter
Learn to live as Kingdom citizens
For the glory of My Name
I've raised you up for this very
purpose
That I might display My power in you
And that My Name might be proclaimed
To every language and tribe
So make ready a people
Prepared for the Lord
As you're led by My Spirit
And remain in My Love
Now is the time
Now is the season
To make ready a people
Prepared for the Lord (Luke 1)
By God's Grace - April 30, 2002
Hosea was a prophet
With a call to Israel
To return to the Lord
And again obey His will
Their unfaithfulness was rampant
They ran after other gods
"Your adulteries, O Israel,
Deeply wrench my broken heart!"
So He called His man Hosea
And equipped him for his task
By making his life a picture
Of the message He must pass
"Go, marry Gomer -
A prostitute in town
I want you to show love to her
In spite of all she's done
I want you to accept her
And forgive her for her sin
To see her as I see her
- to see there's hope again
I want your love to woo her
From her unfaithful ways
To help overcome her tendencies
To keep going - astray
I know it will be painful
And much anguish will still be had
But you need to live in this to understand
Why their sin is so bad
I've done everything for My people
Lavished on them my unfailing love
But they continue to betray Me
And degrade themselves again
I know you have many questions
About the wisdom of My ways
But through your life with Gomer
I want to expressing my Redeeming Ways
Hosea, you need to trust Me
And be assured that I know best
And know that through My work in you
You'll be a blessing to the rest
I'll be with you each step along
the way
- each day
I'll reveal My heart you
Increasingly as you pray
Your heart will be a mirror
Of the compassion that I have
And as I minister to you
It will be to them as salve
Healing, Reconciliation
Restoration is what I want
My Redeeming Love
- will silence the enemy's taunts
I'm longing for the coming day
When My Bride no longer strays
And she is passionately in love with Me
Forever and always!
I want to shower her with My kisses
-embrace her with My love
Have her reign with Me forever
Enraptured in My undying love
By God's Grace - May 2002
WHY IS THERE SUCH JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE?
Why do I such joy in your Presence?
Is a question I pondered today
When I think about You
And the gods that aren't true
I understand why my heart longs for you!
Kings and kingdoms
Princes and lords
Gods and idols
Those with their swords
Are like black is to white
And Darkness to Light
As I meditate on the Truth about You
They're unholy - You are Righteous
You are gentle - they are cruel
You are loving - they breed hatred
You are Wisdom - they are fools
You are peaceful - they bring discord
You are Hope and they bring fear
You're forgiving, they're accusing
You are Comfort, they bring tears
They're created, You're the Creator
You're eternal, they're finite
You encourage, they discourage
They are sinful, You are Pure
They're condemning, You are Mercy
They bring death while You bring Life
They are evil, You are Goodness
They control while you came to serve
They're impatient, You are Patience
They're taskmasters, You're full of grace
They bring sickness, You're the Healer
You are humble, they are proud
This is why I find such joy in Your
Presence
This is why I know such peace and such hope
This is why I long to live in your Presence
You're the God of Love forever enthroned
By God's Grace - May, 2002