Chipping Away

I viewed a video this morning that absolutely gripped my heart.
Thank You to Dori at http://yourwordislife.blogspot.com/ for sharing this today.

The title is God's Chisel. I don't know about you, but God continues to pull out His chisel and chip away at who I am today to make me who He wants me to be.

Who He wants me to be is a true reflection of His Son Jesus.



Like Dori, this really leaves me speechless....

Deep in Love

I am so deep in love today that my heart is overflowing. Yes I am in love with my husband of 25 years tomorrow and my son..., but nothing compares to how deep in love I am today with my Lord.

After taking several days off from blogging I ended my week by attending a retreat with the Ladies of White Rock Fellowship from Noblesville IN. These ladies not only love Jesus, they proved themselves to be in love with Jesus.

The ladies who led in Worship were incredibly talented, amazing, and passionate about Worship. There was one song in particular that really grabbed hold of my heart and to this moment will not let go.

I hope that you will listen to it, thinking about the words. I promise you, your heart will be drawn right into the throne room of God where Worship is at it's best!

Deep In Love With You
(lyrics are written by Michael W. Smith, Debbie Smith, Christa Black)

Sitting at Your feet is where I want to be
I'm home when I am here with You
Ruined by Your grace, enamored by Your gaze
I can't resist the tenderness in You

I'm deep in love with You, Abba Father
I'm deep in love with You, Lord
My heart, it beats for You, precious Jesus
I'm deep in love with You Lord

Humbled and amazed that You would call my name
I never have to search again
There's a deep desire that's burning like a fire
To know You as my closest friend

Lord, my redeemer, Your blood runs through my veins
My love for You is deeper than it was yesterday
I enter through the curtain, parted by Your grace
Oh, Your the lover of my soul

If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, if you don't know this kind of love, what are you waiting for? He is deep in love with you! Say yes to Him today. I would be glad to tell you how.

Revenge vs Restraint

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. Romans 12:19

When was the last time someone did something to you, said something about you, treated you unfairly or was unkind? How did you respond? Did you lash out? Did you return evil words or actions for their words or actions? Did you allow yourself to get drug down into the mud with them until you both were covered from head to toe?

In 1 Samuel 24 we find that King Saul is desperately pursuing David. He wants him dead! Saul is being driven by his own passions and evil desires. He is far from the man he used to be. Far from the Spirit of God. We find that Saul has taken 3000 chosen men and they are tracking David down. In pursuit, King Saul went into the cave where David and his men were hiding to relieve himself. David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

Immediately, David was "conscience-stricken". The Holy Spirit got hold of David's heart, preventing him from doing anything further. Why? Because even though Saul was walking in rebellion, he was still the anointed King of Israel.

It's hard when someone we love, someone we trust, someone in authority over us treats us unfairly or betrays us. In my flesh, I'll tell you the truth, the first thing I want to do is get even. Make them pay for what they have done. Give them a taste of their own medicine. But that's not what David did. David's heart was pricked by the Holy Spirit and he was called to give grace where grace wasn't deserved. Isn't that what God has done for me?

David had the opportunity to end this drama once and for all and take his place as King over Israel. And yet, he showed great restraint. David respected God and desired to honor Him more than he desired revenge. What he did was out of respect for God and respect for the role of the King of Israel, not Saul. God's cause, God's timing, God's will, God's plan required David to be obedient and allow God to remove Saul from his place of leadership. It was God who would establish David as the next King of Israel, not David.

David did not excuse or absolve Saul for his sins against David, but instead said, "May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you." David chose to allow "God to be God" over his circumstances and not to take matters into his own hands. He was willing to submit to the Holy Spirit of God. He yielded his will to God's will and trusted that God was at work in both of their lives.

What will you do with the person who has hurt you? What will you say to them? How will you move forward from here?

1. Listen to the Holy Spirit when he "pricks your heart". David found himself suddenly aware that his actions were displeasing to God.
2. Change your behavior. When David's heart was pricked, he immediately stopped what he was doing. He did no harm to Saul.
3. Exercise Restraint. David had the perfect opportunity to exact revenge, but he didn't do it. Instead he turned Saul over to the Lord. He allowed God to deal justly with Saul, in His timing not David's.
4. Honor God with your actions. Beth Moore said, "If you are willing to honor a person our of respect for God, you can be assured that God will honor you."

God is always faithful!

5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah Psalm 62:5-8

Many times throughout the scripture we find David declaring God as his "rock", his "salvation", his "fortress". The Hebrew name for God used here is elohiym which is translated as the "one true God". David knew God intimately, personally and he would put his hope no where else.

David knew that his safety, welfare, prosperity, dignity, reputation, glory and honor were all dependent on elohiym and no one else. How else could a young boy with a sling and 5 smooth stones go out and face a giant of a man that had the army of the Lord quaking in the sandals? David learned early on in his life to measure the size of his obstacle by the size of his God.

When David was lonely or sad, stressed out or just fed up with being hunted by Saul he would pour out his heart before God. He would let all of his feeling and emotions just come flowing out. God was his rock, his salvation, his fortress.., he could be trusted with everything.

It's as if in releasing the anguish of his heart the sweet Spirit of the Lord would begin to refresh his soul. Time after time we see David's outpouring of emotions followed by a tremendous statement of faith, a declaration of who God truly was to David. You know, sometimes you just have to let it out.

Do you trust God enough to be honest with Him? Do you trust Him enough to know that He won't walk away from your, He won't leave you? Do you grasp how much Jesus loves you? He is just crazy about you! Verse 8 says, "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." God just brought to my mind the words to an old hymn that I haven't heard in years.

Tell It To Jesus - by Edmund S. Lorenz

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

Are you grieving over joys departed?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Chorus - Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,

He is a Friend that’s well known.

You’ve no other such a friend or brother,

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.

For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?

Tell it to Jesus alone.

Whatever you may be going through today, tell it to Jesus. He know you. He loves you. He cares. Pour out your heart to Him. He can be trusted.