Call on the Name.. Vertical Worship

 https://youtu.be/7s8t5tiR88c

I'm reading Luke 4. I went over verse 1 several times. Jesus WAS LED by the Spirit in the Desert, where for 40 days He would be tempted and hungry. What a great example Jesus gives us to using the Word of God as our sword, verse 4, "It is written" .. This is how we fight out battles.

 When you know the word of God, you know there will be times in our life where we will be led in places that we would choose not to go. No one asks for sickness.  No one wants to see a loved one suffer. No one wants to lose a child, or a baby at birth.  We can make a list of things that we would question, why God? I mean, no one chooses  suffering of any kind. Even Jesus didn't choose His suffering. It was the will of His Father. 

There will be many times in our life where we need to know the Word of God. But we should go further than just knowing it. It needs to be written on the tablets of our hearts, 2 Corinthians 3:3. Hidden in our soul.  This way, in times of trouble, it will give us hope and strength. We will call upon the Name,  Jesus, because He is able. He's been in these places in His humanness on Earth.  Isaiah 53: 3,  He is very well acquainted with our sorrows and struggling. When our circumstances are troubling. He has the bigger picture. We can ask Him to help us trust Him, as He carries us through whatever the other side of it is. I always keep in my heart and mind, this is not home. 

 Personally for me the, the hardest prayer has always been to say, Lord your will be done in my life. But Jesus is continueously teaching me.  The greatest thing, is to know he knows me. He knows me better than I know me, and greater is He that's in me. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Make me like You... Bryan McCleery

 https://youtu.be/zJkoaE29YHo

 I absolutely love asking God daily to use me for someone today.  I absolutely love when he shows up at the perfect time. You just know that you know, He orchestrated the conversation that's about to happen.  Truly, I will stop anything to boast about Jesus Christ. I really don't care where I am. I am forever grateful for all He's done, and the time I'm given. 

 Today was once again in the gym during my workout. I was so excited when a dear friend of mine called me and told me her  sister wants to be baptized. We have been praying for her. Not just her battle with cancer. But also her relationship with Jesus.  You just couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I mean, I'm usually always smiling, but this time it attracted a friend of mine to ask me what I was so happy about. Well the conversation began, and it was short and sweet.

 He asked me why she wasn't baptized as a baby. I said to him, well like Jesus, and all the others in the Bible, they got baptized when they were of age to hear with their heart, and understand repentance and walking a new life with Jesus.  Jesus didn't have to repent of any sin. He was just our example to follow.  I proceeded to tell him what it means to me, and the definition of being submerged, not just sprinkled with water as a baby. They can't make a personal decision. But we can make a personal decision when we begin to understand the meaning of being  down with our old life, and up with a new life with Jesus Christ. Following Him as not just your Savior, but Lord.

He didn't ask any more questions. So we left it at that. What a sweet few moments. And you never know who else was listening. 

So I pray daily that the fragrance of my life will be a pleasing sacrifice. My time, is His time. Every decision, and every moment, may He be glorified. 

 Daily spending time in God's word, helps you recognize His heart for others. Tune your heart to His,  and He will pour you out. 

For Your  glory Lord 

Kim D

Thief... Third Day

 https://youtu.be/LKDh0aTU8y4

 The Passion of the Christ was a very graphic showing of the suffering of Jesus Christ.  I believe we all need to be reminded of how brutal it was,  and that He did it all for us. Also that it is never too late to ask Jesus to remember you, like the one wise grateful thief on the cross.He knew he was getting what he deserved. What we all deserve if it wasn't for Jesus. 

I absolutely love how that is portrayed in the movie, and in the word of God.  How one thief acknowledged who Jesus was. The other continued in his ignorant attitude to get all he could from Jesus, Luke 23: 39-43.  Are we wise and grateful like the one thief?  Or do we continue to expect much from Jesus. If we are wise and grateful, we we would realize that  He has given us everything, and no need to give us anymore. We are here to serve Him. 

  Reading this scripture in Luke, and the scripture in Mark 14: 10-11, where Judas betrayed Jesus, and why he did it, made me think. 

Judas betrayed Jesus. He was looking for other things in Jesus. Like an important position, and a new government. He didn't realize that Jesus's kingdom was spiritual. Life wasn't going to go the way he thought, so he turned him over for money. How many of us, when life doesn't go our way, question Jesus, and then possibly stop following Him.  Are we only following him for stuff, and a comfortable lifestyle?  If we think that's how it's going to be, then we certainly haven't read our bible. We can't fool God. He sees into the depths of our hearts why we say we believe in Jesus, and the reasons we follow Him.

The truth is, there is going to be so much more on the other side than this blip of life. All the stuff we gain on this side, isn't going with us.    Are we robbing God of the time and talents He has given us in this life while we are here, Matthew 25: 14-30. We don't own anything. Not even our own life. We are here for a purpose, and to continue to build His Kingdom here in earth.  If we are living for ourselves, then we are truly robbing God. Which thief are you?

Search our hearts oh God.

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Thy Word.... Amy Grant

 https://youtu.be/a6LC8cu03Ig

Psalm 119:105," Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

 What a beautiful promise when you seek Him daily. But to be honest, sometimes I wish I had more than just a light, a lamp, to make my steps perfectly clear before I mess up. I would like to have the answers alot quicker to the craziness that can happen daily. I would love to know that the future is going to be OK. But that's not going to happen. A lamp, a light daily, for each step we take, that's what He gives us. It's up to us to seek Him daily. We will still mess up. But that should only draw us even closer. To hear Him more clearly each time. 

The Bible isn't meant to replace God, but walk beside Him.  It's meant for us to depend on, to trust, and place our hopes in Him. 

 Seeking his word gives us light for the next step. Not the whole plan.  To be honest, that's hard for a lot of us. We want to know that the future is going to be OK. But he doesn't give us that. He gives us the light for each step. That's why it is so important to seek Him daily. 

 I am so grateful for His word, and seeking him for wisdom and knowledge of my next step. That He always walks beside me.  That he picks me up when I mess up, and tells me to try again.

 We do not know how everything is going to turn out with things here in our lives. But one thing we do know being his child. He is our only  hope. He is our eternal future. That's the promise I hold dearly. My future is secure. 

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

I will follow... Vertical Worship

 https://youtu.be/Xh3ZK7JecK0

 Have you ever witnessed in your life, Jesus's unchanging heart? Do you believe who He says He is?  Will you follow Him all through life's experiences? 

When God's favor is flooding your life, when everything is calm, it's easy to follow Him, and worship and praise Him. 

But we all know the storms of life come. Some stronger than others. This is when it's even more important to keep diving into His word. Keep praising Him. Telling Him who He is to you. 

Today we see alot of the wicked prospering. Evil is more now in our country than I have ever seen in my life. We are just getting a small taste of the horror other countries go through, and yet there are faithful followers there. Even to their death they follow. They believe everything that Jesus says He is. They hide just to have Bible time together. What some would do just for a page of the Bible. It breaks my heart, all we have, and all we take for granted.   We could meet in church. Yet some people don't even bother. We could meet in Bible study classes. Yet we don't bother to do that either.  We make excuses for everything. We wonder why our country is falling. Jesus says "seek the kingdom first"...

We are all running a race here. Are we obedient followers? Are we on fire for Kingdom purposes? In case you didn't know, and you are a Christian, that's why you are still breathing. 

There will be an end to our race one day to receive a prize that Christ has won for us. PARADISE!!! Oh what a day that will be. I pray I hear, "well done good a faithful servant." Nothing else will matter on that day. 

 It's never too late to come to Christ if you haven't made that step. It's never too late if you are a Christian, to be an obedient follower. Life with purpose,  is a life so worth living. 

Galatians 2: 20, "I have  been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

For Your glory Lord 

Kim D

Heaven Come... Jenn Johnson

 https://youtu.be/3kxWMq7gGF8

Being a widow for 6 years, many people have asked me if I think I will ever marry again. I can pretty much positively say, "no." First off, I will never want to love as deeply as I loved my husband. When you know that the heart of God is loving through you, that's deep. For better, for worse, in sickness and in health. Not many people take these vows seriously. But God does, and He sure taught me to love in ALL of these conditions. 

But there is another reason. Oh this Jesus of mine. I know that there are some who can completely understand me, and there are some who won't.  Some people say being around the person they love is like heaven. Well being in the presence of Jesus is heaven to me.   Some people say they get such a tingling feeling when they are around the one they love. Well when I'm in the presence of Jesus, it's a fire that  burns deep within. I never feel alone, even when I am alone. 

I can totally be me, and He still loves me. Oh, don't get me wrong. He corrects me when I'm not pleasing Him, and He deserves my best. I don't have to make dinner for Him. He feeds me. He even washes me from head to toe, and inside out. I never have to call Him. He always calls me.  We can talk for hours, and it's always new and full of life. 

All that He does for me, and He promises that there's more to come. It doesn't get any better than that. 

I pray if you don't know Jesus this way,  you will seek Him more. Put Him first and watch what happens.  He will come and fill every empty place. 

Oh my Jesus how I love You

For Your glory Lord

Kim D

One more song... Casting Crowns

 https://youtu.be/uQs55BaTD3U

 I absolutely love when God does this. As most of you know,  I am a blogger. I love Christian music and how it speaks to my heart. When a song continues to ring in my head, and I play it over and over again, I know somethings about to be written.

 I had an encounter at the gym with a friend that I talk to often. Our 1st conversation a few months back was about the headaches he was having while he was working out. I tried to tell him, maybe take your mask off while you're working out and it might help you.. Well he didn't listen and continues to wear it, and that's OK. It's his choice.

 Today he came up to me while I was riding the bike and and he told me that he just can't sleep anymore. I asked him "why?" He said he has so many things on his mind. I know hes a believer because of the conversations we have had. So I asked him, "do you read your Bible at those times, or any time of the day."  He said he has gotten away from that. I told him,  "well maybe Jesus is trying to call you back."  He told me he has his Bible right there with a couple of Jesus statues. He proceeded to tell me that he talks to Jesus all the time. I told him, "that's all well and good, but God talks to us through his word. Again, maybe God is calling you back to spend quality time with him. Not just wake up in the morning and put your requests out.You were married, you know what a love relationship is. One doesn't do all the talking." He laughed, and said,  "you have a point there.

I was so thankful that he agreed with me. I could have jumped off the bike after he walked away and shout, Hallelujah! 

 As long as I have breath in me, there will always be one more song to write to for the glory of my Lord. No greater joy than being used by Him.  A broken life,  a prodigal brought home. Jesus desires to use us. 

For Your glory Lord always 

Kim D