Promise 222

I call this "Promise 222" because I feel like God just spoke to me through this scripture...I have added what I felt about this passage and then added the verses.

I will have to say that this is my scripture for 2008...or maybe it is a reminder for 2009...

II Samuel 22

God has delivered me from MY enemies, HE is MY rock, shield, salvation, high tower, refuge, MY SAVIOR, HE saves me from harm (spiritually and naturally) I will call on God in my trouble and I WILL BE (HAVE BEEN) saved from my enemies. I've got to praise Him!!

And David spake unto the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:

2And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;

3The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

4I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

During this year, when I felt enveloped by so many different things, when difficulties came my way, when I felt I could go no further, I called upon GOD!! HE was right there!! He made changes, he swept down and delivered me, he stopped the powers of the devil, he made a way, he Helped me!! He did WHATEVER it took to stop the powers of hell from swallowing me up! PRAISE GOD!!

5When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;

6The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;

7In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.

PRAISE GOD!! GLORY BE TO GOD!!!--- Look what he does!!

8Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.

9There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.

10He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.

11And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.

12And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.

13Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.

14The LORD thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.

15And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.

16And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

17He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;

18He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.

19They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.

My God has delivered me in the midst of a "for my good" year (thanks Jackie - Rom 8:28)...He has changed me, helped me grow, established me through this year!

20He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

21The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

22For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

23For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.

24I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.

25 Therefore the LORD hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.

26With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.

27With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.

28And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.

29For thou art my lamp, O LORD: and the LORD will lighten my darkness.

30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.

31As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
32For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

33God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

34He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

35He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

36Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

37Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

38I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.

39And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.

40For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.

42They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the LORD, but he answered them not.

43Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.

44Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

45Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.

46Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.

47The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.

48It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me.

49And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.

50Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

51He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.

PRAISE GOD!! HE is truly our God!

Zech 13:9 - He will be our God and we will be His people!! Isn't that awesome!! Think about it! WOW!!

In the midst of my storm...

I have been through the storm for the last 13 months like I have never been in before but what has kept me is my love for my Savior, my Lord, my Jesus. The song that has just been staying my heart has been "I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH TO FAIL HIM NOW" One of the verses says

The years have brought me closer and my love for Christ has grown, each step has brought me nearer to my eternal home, you see I'm too close to heaven to turn back now, His grace will be sufficient I've got to make it I vow. (CHORUS) I love Him too much, to fail him now, too much to break my vow, for I promised the Lord that I would make that last mile, and now I love Him too much to fail Him now.

In the midst of my storm God has been so faithful to prove His love for me. There are times, very unusually times, I will just feel the overwhelming love of my savior. It is awesome...today a brother was sharing the scripture in Romans 8:35-37 where Paul talks about what shall separate us from the love of Christ...

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

the last verse says...in ALL these things we ARE more than CONQUERORS through HIM THAT LOVED US...I just felt the love of God...we are only conquerors through Him that LOVES US!! Because HE LOVES ME, I AM MORE than a CONQUEROR!!

Over the summer I was expressing to some sisters how God has just been showing to me, proving to me, just how much He loves me. There is this song titled..."That's Why I Love Him Like I Do" some of the words say...

God saved me from myself when no one else was around, and it was only by His grace, His mercy, His favor cause I know I don't deserve all the love He shows, how He lets me know, He's never going to leave my side...that's why I love Him like I do...somebody told me we overcome by our testimony, but I remember how doubt and fear used to paralyze me, but God's hand brought me through a test and He brought out the very best, and now I'll never forget to tell the whole world what You mean to me...that is why I love Him like I do...

I like this other song..."I Don't Mind" it says...(this is God talking to me)

What can I do, to make you smile again, how can I prove that I've got your best interest at hand, my love for you is more than anything you'll ever know, so if you need me to show, you say it, cause I don't mind...I'll do anything but let you down, can I get a little credit, if you need me to show, say it, I don't mind...question is, where is your faith, haven't I proven myself before, and if the window is closed won't I open the door, cause my love for you is more than anything you'll ever know, so if you need me to show, say it, cause I don't mind.

this song makes me think of Jer. 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Another song has been "I'm in Love with Jesus"...growing up in the COG I would hear saints saying this...I would be skeptical...but going through the midst of my storm of Jesus I am really understanding what it really means to be In Love with Jesus. I love Him so much!! When I feel the overwhelming love of God just flood my heart I just start to cry, so happy to have this type of personal experience with God. He has brought me through many of hard battles, times when I didn't even think I would be able to hold on, times when my faith was weak, times when He just showed Himself strong...I just am so thankful, he showed mercy on me almost 11 years of truly being saved. I am so thankful that even before that, he showed so much mercy on me, He has just proved his love time and time again. Down through the 11 years of my salvation, I have been through some very hard situation, situations where I, of my own self, would have turned back on God, but it has been HIS love that has kept me, in the midst of the storms...it has been HIS faithfulness, HIS kindness, HIS mercy, HIS love, His power that has kept me, that has carried me. I am so undeserving of the love He has shown me, but He has shown it anyhow.

Every time I think about you.
Every time I read about you.
Every time I hear your name I start to smile.
Every time the sun starts shinning.
Every time the wind starts blowing.
Every time I feel your anointing I start to smile.
Let me take the time to say I love you.
Let me take the time to say I care.

I love you Lord
I'm in love with Jesus and He's in Love with me!

I am just sitting here in wonder, in awe of my Jesus, my Lord, my life!

My manner of life from my youth - Acts 26:4
The Lord perserveth all them that love Him - Ps. 145:20
We love Him, because He first loved us - I John 4:19

Life Lived

When I was younger I used to wonder what people really meant when they said they wished they knew what they know now when they were younger. I understand now.

Recently I have been thinking, I wish I knew what I know now 10 years ago. The last 10 years would have turned out so different. But that is not how life is orchestrated. What one has experience in, knowledge of, etc. at 27, one just doesn't have it at 17. My dad used to always tell me (in my teens) that you can't have experience and youth at the same time. So true. I know that, relatively, I am still young, but I have been feeling my age more (that years are just slipping by) in the past 2-3 years.

Well...we learn from our mistakes, experiences, decisions, etc. Despite it all God has been helping me understand (even when I don't always remember it in the midst of the battle) that Rom. 8:28 still is true. One thing I rest in when I think of all the different decisions I would have made (could I live the last 10-15 years of my life over again) is that God is still in control. Salvation provides that rest in God, that no matter what happens, God is still in control and He will work it for my good. I also thank God that the even in the bad decisions that I have made, they haven't been life altering...!! They have been things that I was able to learn from. Thank God!

By the way, I was reading a some of the verses in Ps. 145 today...God is awesome!!

Reformation Glory - COG Hymnal p.421

Zion's walls again are building as in days of yore, and the scattered host returning to their land once more are REJOICING in their freedom, PLEDGING evermore to stand in the reformation truths so grand.

Christians all should dwell together in the bonds of PEACE, ALL THE CLASHING OF OPINIONS ALL THE STRIFE SHOULD CEASE, LET DIVISIONS BE FORSAKEN ALL THE HOLY JOIN IN ONE, AND THE WILL OF GOD IN ALL BE DONE!!!!!!

O the reformation glory, O let shine to every land, we will tell the blessed story, in its TRUTH we e'er shall stand!

I was singing this on my way home today!! PRAISE GOD!!

Don't Give In

I am listening to Nikki sing this song (on this site)and it is such a blessing (again)!

You'll be glad you made it through another day
[week, month, year, lifetime]
You kept your testimony, you can stand and say,
I didn't have to sin, no I did not give,
Though I was tried and tested, He gave me grace to win
I came throught every battle with victory over sin
I stood my ground in Him and I did not give

Poem

I read this on YLCF a poem by Elysse Barrett

Dear Lord, grant me...
…the willingness of Mary
…the obedience Ruth
…the devotion of Esther
…the serving spirit of Martha
…the listening ear of Mary
…the hospitality of Lydia
…the faithfulness of Lois and Eunice
…the leadership of Deborah
…the trust of Hannah
…the searching heart of the Queen of Sheba
…the boldness of Priscilla
…the faith of Rahab
…the patience of Rachel


I want You, Lord, to be the perfume that I wear, the thoughts that I think, the song that I sing…

I am willing, even wanting, to be broken…if only You might be glorified.

I am your daughter and You are my King, my Life, my Sustainer, my All!

Please, Lord, make me worthy of the honor of being known as your Princess!


- by Elysse Barrett

Yet Saved and Encouraged...

I was reading my post from the 30th...It sounded like I was down and out...that Sunday service was a blessing, just to see how God can work so that there "be NO division among us". The saints manifesting unity ALWAYS is a blessing to me!!

I am yet saved and encouraged...living a consistent life over sin, PRAISE GOD. God has really been showing himself strong to me. These past couple of years have been some of the "hardest" trials of my faith. Praise God my faith in Him yet holds strong! (And nothing of my "natural" circumstances has changed for me to say this...I have grown MUCH in HIM)

Pastor Lloyd (COG pastor - Sharon, TN) held a revival for us last week. WOW, WOW, WOW! God spoke to me through EACH message! GOD is SO real He is so there when I need Him the most.

Thank you Lord!

No words Necessary

Mediocrity

I was looked up the song "I Believe I Can Fly" on You Tube. There (of course) were many versions. This one was really encouraging...the thought I came away with was...


MEDIOCRITY IS NOT AN OPTION!! Think about it. For MJ to get where he got being mediocre was not an option. This thought has helped me in my life, spiritually, at work, etc. With God's help I will NOT settle for mediocre in any area of my life.

Thoughts...

Yesterday and Tomorrow can be thieves of Today - unknown

Why do we say Hello verses Heavenhi? - Morris Family

___________________________________________

My sister went back to Phoenix yesterday (Saturday). I will miss her, it was nice seeing her for three days. Hopefully I will get down there to visit her soon.

Pastor preached a on time message today it was great! "The Secret of Victory is in Our Praise" (or "But, Rejoice") Give God thanks and praise for all things, some trials we are still in because we haven't truly thanked Him for them.

I am not doing the greatest (recently) keeping up with blogging once a day...but I do try to make it up when I blog again...(if you haven't noticed)

I saw, I saw...

My dad came home; he had taken alot of pictures of the Elmira work. It was a blessing to see all the souls... Hopefully the pictures will be up soon. God is so good! Keep the work in your prayers!

Campmeeting 2007

I will be keeping Knoxville campmeeting in my prayers. I know God is going bless it.

Keep Elmira in your prayers...God is still doing great things...

Matt. 9:36-38
36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Not much to say...

Don't have much to say...keep trusting God...belelive in HIM!!

Psalms 125:1
They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Fighting Song

This song is truly a blessing to my soul...it is truly testing times!! Keep the faith saints and keep fighting!

Chorus:
That’s why we must fight in this lukewarm age we must wake up the battle is still on, we must fight to get what we need let the Lord sense that we’re really going for it, blows are coming winds will be strong don’t surrender never let go, just fight keep on fighting the blessing will come.

Verse 1:
The Bible tells of a man with strong determination, with courage he held on & never let go, till he got what he wanted. His name was Jacob before he fought but after the battle was blessed with a new name. God called him Israel for he fought until he was blessed.

Verse 2:
The Bible says he was left alone to fight with the angel sent by the Lord, all night he pressed without rest for he knew that he was to be blessed. And in the morning when he was touched the angel said “Jacob let me go”, Jacob said “Bless me, bless me first, then I’ll let you go.”

Verse 3:
There are some battles we must break through & fight with the angel in the midst of our test. Lights are dimming & in no time it’s dark & you wonder if you’ll make it through the night. But let me tell you saints your fasting & prayers, it’s not in vain if its done for the Lord. Just fight keep on fighting the blessing will come.

That's why we must fight...

It was a long day today, worked almost 12 hours (not normal for me) and then church. Church was DEFINATELY worth it!! Sis. Minnie has been in town and she preached tonight. "Fight to Survive" Two comments really stood out in my mind

God can use us if He wants, we must be ready and not be afraid.

We can want to be used by God but is we fail to prepare or we let fear slip in He can't!! At least not to the extent He wants to use us. That is so encouraging.

God will have a tried people!

God's people are going to be tried...rest assured in that!

Sis Minnie has such strong faith...Her message has increased my faith. PRAISE GOD.

Strengthen your heart---

I was reading Ecclesiates 7...verse 3 stood out to me.

Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

Why would sorrow be better than laughter? The verse states that it makes the heart better. I was reading comentary on it and it stated that "hard" (sorrowful) times strength us. I then thought of a verse in Psalms.

Psalms 27:14

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

These really encouraged my heart...though I am in a trial of my faith (sorrowful time) right now, God is just strengthening my heart!! People who GO THROUGH their trials are made stronger by it.

My God You Know!

I think Bro Howard preached a message once..."Surviving the Waiting Period", sometimes we earnestly seek God about something (spiritual or natural) and there are times he requires us to wait. The question is, HOW am I going through that waiting period? This poem has been a blessing to me...I know I have felt like this... (It might seem kinda long, but read it all the way through...it's good!)

Desperately, helplessly, longingly I cried:
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I plead and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said,
“Child, you must wait”.

“Wait? You say, wait!” my indignant reply.
“Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened? Or have I not heard?
By faith I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I’m needing a ‘Yes,’ a go-ahead sign,
Or even a ‘No’ to which I can resign.

And Lord, You promised that if we believe
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord, I’ve been asking, and this is my cry:
‘I’m weary of asking! I need a reply!’”

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, “You must wait”.
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, “So I’m waiting…for what?

He seemed then to kneel
And His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said, “I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens, and darken the sun,
I could raise the dead, and cause the mountains to run.

All you seek, I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want
But you wouldn’t know Me.
You’d not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You’d not know the power I give to the faint;

You’d not learn to see through the clouds of despair;
You’d not learn to trust by just knowing I’m there;
You’d not know the joy of resting in Me;
When darkness and silence were all you could see.

You’d never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My spirit descends like a dove;
You’d know that I gave, and I save for a start,
But you’d not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,
The depth that’s beyond getting what you have asked
of and infinite God, who have makes you have last.

You’d never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that ‘My grace is sufficient for thee’.
Yes, your dreams for you, loved one,
Overnight would come true,

But, Oh the Loss! If I lost what I’m doing in you!

SO be silent My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is getting to know Me.
And though oft’ My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still ‘Wait’”.

~Author Unknown My God You know

God is working - Elmira, NY

God is working
He's still working
God is working even now
though we often don't know just how
He's still working
He's still working
God is working even now

Hallelujah, he's working even now
Hallelujah, he's working even now

See how God is working here!

Courage

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be of good courage, strenthen your heart...(from Ps 27:14)

Newsboys - I'm Not Ashamed
From the album Not Ashamed

I'm not ashamed to let you know
I want this light in me to show
I'm not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus Christ

What are we sneaking around for?
Who are we trying to please?
Shrugging off sin,
apologizing like we're spreading
some kind of disease
I'm saying "No way. No way."

This one warns it's a lost cause
save your testimonies for church time
The other ones state you'd better wait
until you do a little market research
I'm saying "No way. No way.

Did it again!

I did not post Friday...

I was reading BASFSOGP post for Sept. 6th "It must needs be that offences will come" it was such a blessing to me. It was like she was talking about what my job has done for me!! I have really enjoy reading her blog (for over the year that I have), it has been a great blessing and encouragement to me. I can relate to many of her experiences...

So I added her link.

Hope you enjoy!