A moment of reflection .....

[Lee M]

"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity,
And I have trusted in the Lord without wavering"
Psalm 26:1

My precious moments with, God my Savior and Lord ... 12/11/07
Holding on to integrity in the midst of, my physical RSD, pain.

On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came with them to present himself before him.  And the
Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"  Satan answered the
Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it"
Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?  
There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man  
who fears God and shuns evil.  And he still maintains his INTEGRITY,
though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.  Skin
for skin! Satan replied.  "A man will give all he has for his own life.  But
stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely
curse you to your face."  The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, he
is in your hands; but you must spare his life."  So Satan went out from
the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the
soles of his feet to the top of his head.  Then Job took a piece of pottery
and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.  His wife said to
him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity?  Curse God and die!"  He
replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman.  Shall we accept good
from God and not trouble?"  In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
Job 2:1-10  

For us who have lost our health, which is, Satan's deliberate personal
attack on our lives, are in a position of displaying God's love, mercy,
grace, and faithfulness on, our platform of, adversity.  How, you ask?  
One word ... INTEGRITY!!  How, can that be?  Well, integrity simply
means ... Unimpaired moral principles, wholeness, completeness,
oneness, uprightness, honor and, honesty.

With these moral principles we can stand, as one, who are walking
with God, just like Job, regardless of the fact that God Almighty
allowed Satan to test Job, short of death.  We have to remember
how the Lord protected, this God fearing man, of faith and later
blessed him for his faithful obedience after he had prayed for his
friends.  This, illustrated, reference sets a good, example for us to
follow in Job 42 to pray for friends who do not understand or identify
with our dilemma although they mean well.  Regardless we will remain
faithful and, true to God, with the JOY of the LORD as, our strength.

Heavenly Father, as we look to You in faith please lead and guide us.
We humbly pray for our friends as Job prayed for his friends.  Even
with their best intentions, many friends are not able to comprehend
when someone is at the end of their rope.  It is so difficult for a
person to grasp the depth of a person's, pain and sorrow.  A friend
may not be insensitive but insecure as to what to say and do.  
Lamb of God instill in them, the wisdom of your Holy Spirit.  In their
quiet time speak your love over them with your, small still voice.  
Minister your loving-kindness to each individual need according
to your will in their lives.

Lord, following Job's example, we, pray for our, sick friends who are
suffering horrendous pain.  Please go deep into the root of their pain
and gently massage the pain away.  We ask, for healing throughout
their bodies...from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet.  
Lord, You have, allowed this affliction to strike, so many without a
cure.  Yes, this is our cross to bear while on this earth but just help,
us in our hour of distress to overcome and prevail with the help and
power, of your Holy Spirit.  Hold, each one of us, ever so tightly, in Your
loving arms.  Don't let us go.  When the pain is at it's worst comfort, us
with your gentle touch, restoring, us back to, some, sense of normalcy.  
Lord, we may not like our affliction but we accept it because it brings
honor, glory and praise to your Holy name.  Thank you Lord.  We love
you so.  Not our will but your will be done.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the
things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen
are eternal" 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

[Lee M]

Accepting the bad with the good...a reflective quiet time...9/13/07

Yet man is born to trouble...Job 5:7

Well here it goes.....

For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me...Job 3:25

Lord, help!!  We are living a wide awake, nightmare...but nonetheless...

Like Job, we, fall to the ground and WORSHIP!
Shall we indeed accept good from God, and
shall we not accept adversity?  In all this Job
did not sin with his lips...and neither shall we - Job 2:10

But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would
commit my cause--Who does great things and unsearchable,
marvelous things without number...Job 5:8-9

Even up to this point Lord, You have granted me life and favor,
and Your care has preserved my spirit...Job 10:12

Though He slay me, yet will I TRUST Him...Job 13:15

With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and
understanding...Job 12:13

Let me be weighed in a just balance, that God may know my
integrity.  If my step has turned from the way, or my heart
walked after my eyes, or if any spot adheres to my hands...Job 31:6....

But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall
come forth as gold.  My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept
His way and not turned aside.  I have not departed from the
commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth
more than my necessary food...Job 23:10-12

It's been a really long time that my husband and I have been in the
fiery furnace of affliction that continues to, refine us for God's purpose. 
We don't question it, we just accept it.  This is reason enough for us
to continue to, PUT ON CHRIST: "And do this, knowing the time, that
now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer
than when we first believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand. 
Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and put on the ARMOR
OF LIGHT....put on the Lord Jesus Christ..." Romans 13:11-14.  And so
doing "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in His sufferings..." Philippians 3:10

"My eyes are ever toward the Lord; for He shall pluck my feet out of the
net" Psalm 25:15...Eventually, out of the furnace of affliction.  The little
pass along card says: ....Sorrow looks back....Worry looks around....
Faith looks up....We are "forgetting those things which are behind and 
reaching forward to those things which are ahead" Philippians 3:13

With sorrow and worry behind us...and with faith looking up.....

We, will "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has
called us heavenward in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:14  Because......
"...nothing is impossible with GOD...for without ME, you can do nothing"
~BUT~ "I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me"
Philippians 4:13, Luke 1:37, John 15:5

The Lord will heal, bind, restore, and mend together that which, has been
broken in our minds, in our hearts, in our bodies, and in the inner most
parts of our souls.

Thank You Lord, for your faithfulness and, your love.  Your loyalty helps to
enrich and fortify our, ~FAITH~ in building up in us a deeper ~TRUST~ in~
~YOU~ causing us to completely rely and depend on YOUR WISDOM and,
STRENGTH.  You are our, Majestic Creator who keeps us, hidden, away in
the safety of Your Sanctuary.  We are thankful Lord that even in tragedy, 
You will bring about something, good.  In faith we will look beyond our pain
and, see You beckoning us into Your never ending, loving, embrace.  For
Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever, Amen!

"To HIM belong strength and VICTORY..." Job 12:16

Always and forever Joyful and steadfast in Faith!

[Lee M]

              ... The Oil of JOY - of Gladness ...

Jesus wept ... John 11:35 ... A shining light of revelation
on 4/20/09 ... How time flies!  A whole year has gone by.

There is ... "A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
                A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
                              Ecclesiastes 3:4
                           
There have been many an occasion, throughout the days of
the years of my life, when I have cried rivers of tears.  It is
only the faithful God of my salvation that can turn the overflow
of my tears into a pool of blessings.  "Happy are those who are
strong in the Lord, who set their minds on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 
When they walk through the "Valley of Weeping," it will become a
place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after
the rains!  They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them
will appear before God in Jerusalem" Psalm 84:5-7

Presently, at this stage of my life, the tears are different, not as
frequent and seldom for long periods of time.  Now, my time is spent
being busy delighting myself in the JOY of the Lord, Nehemiah 8:10. 
It's having learned to suffer, with the same JOY that the Lord had
when, he endured the cross, Hebrews 12:2.  Only then was I able
to attain the level of understanding that to suffer like Christ suffered
is to give Him the glory that He is so worthy of receiving.  The Lord
himself has given me the strength and courage to deny myself, pick
up my cross daily and follow him with a submissive heart, (Luke 9:23).

If I suffer now and continue until my time on earth is complete
than I will reign with him as well in all of his glory., Romans 8:17. 
At which time, I/we will enter into the JOY of the LORD, my
long awaited Savior and Redeemer, Matthew 25:23.

"The heart of the discerning acquire knowledge; the ears
of the wise seek it out" Proverbs 18:15

The suffering servant Jesus came "to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion--to bestow on them
a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead
of mourning, and garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks (trees) of righteousness, a planting of
of the Lord for the display of his splendor" Isaiah 61:3

There may be more days ahead full of pain, sorrow and tears,
only this time around, each tear is one more tear closer to
the waiting arms of my Savior God.  They will surely be -
tears of joy!

"My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His
salvation" Psalm 35:9

"The LORD liveth; and blessed be my ROCK; and let the
GOD of my SALVATION be exalted" Psalm 18:46

[Lee M]

... Behind Every Tear ... is a reason ...  8/19/01

Each tear that falls the Lord gathers, in his hand.

The lesson I learned about weeping is that it causes
a much needed cleansing.  Tears are an expression
of the heart when words fail you.  It's a healthy way
of, releasing what has been pent up.  In some ways
it's, a remarkable unleashing, of tightly held emotions
that have been internally safeguarded.  It's similar to
a, dam straining at its seams, pouring forth the water,
bursting through its protective barrier.

Once the walls have broken down the overflow of the
tears creates an, atmosphere of relief.  After a good
cry you feel a little less pressure.  Somehow, your
outlook changes.  Although the pain, sorrow and trouble
may still be present you feel more peaceful because the
pressure has been, alleviated.

For me the release caused me much good because ...
It stimulated a, sincere, submission and yielding of, my spirit. 
It, prompted me, to continuously examine myself before the Lord.
It helped me to wholeheartedly acknowledge God in all of His
Sovereignty & Holiness.  I learned what reverence really meant.

The shedding of tears filters out the residue and, replenishes
you, with a freshness and regeneration of soul and spirit.  In
many ways, the quiet spilling of tears brings healing to the one
who is, experiencing the moment.  Every tear that falls from
your eyes causes a ripple affect in the Lord's heart. 

Sovereign Lord,

"You keep track of all my sorrows. 
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book"
Psalm 56:8

My will is now aligned with yours sweet Lord.
Father, I freely give you the key to my heart.
My heart is now light as a feather.  I, will sing
a song, of praise and adoration to, You O Lord
the, great comforter of my soul.  Through, my
misty eyes I have learned to recognize Your
hand at work.  In my quiet time Lord, I know
the the sound of, Your voice.  Now, I am more
ready to follow, You and live my life for You.  I 
am all Yours Lord.  Use me to do Your will.  I love
You with all my heart.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

The Lord, "...heals the brokenhearted and
binds up their wounds" Psalm 147:3

[Lee M]

                      ... A Gentle Whisper ...

Sometimes, I feel this way, how about you? (5/9/2007)

At times all I want is to cozy up and nestle against my
Fathers bosom.  More than anything I yearn for Him to
gently place His hand on my head and then lovingly
begin, to stroke my hair.  And so I dream .....

My Heavenly Father begins to gently stroke my hair. 
He speaks with His beautiful strong firm yet gentle
voice of His and reassures me that all will be fine. 
He affirms that He knows me and understands how
I feel.  He tells me not to be afraid especially of the
unknown.  My Father reminds me He is all knowing
and that He is fully aware of everything.

He continues to tell me all I need to do is rest.  He tells
me to relax and to, allow all my troubles to fade away. 
He affectionately explains, to me that He is able to remove
all the mountains, the pitfalls and all of my fears.  He simply,
informs, me to continue to believe His eternal word and to
hold onto His unfailing promises.

My Father tells me all this while He continues to tenderly
stroke my hair.  He then gently kisses the top of my head.
He proceeds to turn my head so I can look straight into
His eyes.  Ever so softly He cups my face with His hands
and tells me how deeply He loves me.  He utters how He
will never ever leave me to face any hardships alone.  He
promises to be near me each day of my life.

My Father said to listen for His small still voice even if I
get too busy or if life gets too noisy.  He compassionately
said, "Stop, close your eyes, and remember this day."  He
then whispered in my ear, "I love you with an everlasting
love.  I know your name and you are mine.  You are
precious to me.  I will always be faithful when you call,
and when I hear, I will answer you..."

My child you seem so at ease and peaceful now.  Your
muscles are no longer, tense.  And there goes that
sweet smile on your face, the one I love to see.

Go my child, walk this life in faith.  You will, see how
everything will be just fine, I promise you. 

Now rest, and dream sweet, sweet dreams ....."

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain of
the Lord,.......and after the fire came a gentle whisper"
1 Kings 19:11-12 

[Lee M]

               ... On the Wings of An Eagle ...

The Lord's loving-kindness toward us is an amazing thing.  
He often bestows upon each one of us, small unexpected
surprises to help brighten our day.  I did have my special
day a while back.  

My wonderful surprise came in the form of a soaring eagle.
The unexpected happened to me while sitting in my yard
and looking up into the sky.  At that precise moment, a
large bald eagle soared overhead.  I was in awe at it's
dignified beauty.  All I could do was praise God for the
opportunity of witnessing such a sight.

One thing that impressed me about the eagle was how
strong and solid he appeared.  He was so focused and
full of absolute determination.  He never wavered from
his goal as he navigated toward his destination.

I contemplated the verse I read earlier with the picture
of the eagle in my mind.  

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God
has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" Philippians 3:14.

It reminded me of the eagles' ability on setting his gaze
upon his goal.  Now, I clearly understood what the term
"with an eagle eye" really meant.

It's such a blessing when the Lord considers those who
apply themselves, regardless the difficulties, as finishing
well.  In the sight of God we are strong, solid, focused,
and determined as a soaring eagle.  

Needles to say, I found myself relishing the thought that's
how the Lord sees his children.  If we like the eagle set
our eyes on the Lord with sheer determination, along with
a strong conviction of faith, we can press on toward our
goal to win the ultimate prize.

As I reflected on my wonderful experience, I wondered who
are we, that the Lord would think such thoughts about us?    

The eagle is an extremely strong and protective bird.  They're
known to take flight separate and away from any packs.  This
majestic creature stands alone with its distinguishing strength.

We as true followers of Christ are to be separate and set
apart.  We are never alone for the Lord is always by our
side.  As individuals we depend on His strength to help us
navigate this life on earth. 

"Birds fly in flocks but an eagle flies alone"

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not
grow weary, they will walk and not be faint"
Isaiah 40:28-31

Sovereign Lord, please grace us with Your patient hope
while waiting upon You.  Thank You.  Amen.

May you be encouraged today, and everyday with the Lord
in a special way, as you walk your walk of faith.  

            ~ Keep your "eagle eye" on the mark ~

[Lee M]

Thoughts of times past ...

This morning I found myself reminiscing about all the deer's
that roamed throughout our backyard.  Sometimes, they
would stand on the dirt road and make us wait before we
could pass by in the car.  In the winter months, you could
clearly see them crossing from one yard to another.  On
many occasions, the virgin snow would cover the entire
landscape.  It made the scenery beautiful for the deer in
the background.  How pleasurable it is to watch God's
creation be so graceful and serene as we observe and
admire it.

My thoughts then turned to what scriptures tell me about the
hinds' feet.  The more I thought about it the more I became
encouraged.

"He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables
me to stand on the heights" Psalm 18:33

Those are hills, mountains, and places that are rough and
rocky.  Now, for me that is impossible to walk on.  I need
straight and clear passages to tread upon.  My legs are not
sturdy, they are weak at best with the muscles weakening
with each passing day.  Every step I take has to be deliberate,
slow and steady.   

As a result this simple notion is quite true ...
Hinds's feet ... sure footed in difficult terrain.

In other words, with my hinds' feet I have the ability to
overcome any obstacle.  My hinds' feet make me sure,
footed and balanced.  With this thought in mind I can
now roam successfully on any treacherous grounds.

Nevertheless, the truth of the matter is this ...
Every step I take is one more step closer to my ultimate
destination ... heavenly bound.

"The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my
feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high
places" Habakkuk 3:19

    ~ Leap for joy with solid spiritual footing ~

[Lee M]

Believe in the Father's love ... Part 1

A reflection upon reflections ...

As I sat in my yard communing with the Lord, I was suddenly interrupted by
an eagle soaring overhead. He kept flying back and forth numerous times.
This went on for the whole duration of my time outside. I watched in total
amazement and yet so intrigued as to "why" another eagle soared around
me again in less than a week's time. While I was admiring the eagle I took
in another beautiful sight. I leaned over my chair as a radiant reflection of
the sun on a pool of water caught my eye. It fascinated me so much that I
stood and gazed at it. The reflection was of an opening in the clouds with
a brilliant light piercing through them. The light was strongly radiating its
glow into the edges of the big puffy clouds surrounding the opening, forming
a magnificent rainbow. At this point, I was sensing God's Holy Presence in
a big way.

"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive"
Matthew 21:22

I then started towards the house when I looked up into the sky and saw the actual
sight that had reflected onto the water. I had to go under the eaves so the bright
light from the sun wouldn't hurt my eyes. As I continued to appreciate the sight the
eagle once again started to soar repeatedly above me. He would soar away from
my house, back again, and then far into the distance. Each time he would glide
higher and higher until he looked like a small airplane in the sky. He then soared
away out of sight. All I wanted to do was ponder and savor those treasured moments.

My goodness was I enthralled, with a child like wonder. Again, I questioned, "WHY"
would I be gifted with such a wonderful sight. The joy in my heart was overwhelming
and the peace of God overcame me. This is the best part when I conversed with my
Sovereign Lord:

He knew what was in my heart ...
You are questioning yourself by doubting if you are worthy?
"I do not doubt you"
You wonder if you'll be able to overcome until the end of this testing time?
"I see you are determined, willing to endure until the end"
You ask yourself if you are a clean vessel or just a filthy sinner?
"I am the Lord, a just God, who sees you as shining my light. For you will dwell
in the brightness of your Father's eminent light. Continue to soar like the eagle with
the sheer determination in keeping your focus toward the goal. The rainbow is my
promise to you. "I Am with you until the end" ...

Wow! Talk about an experience sent from heaven ...

Basically, I am to BELIEVE in His immeasurable love for me. My attention ought not
to be whether I am worthy or not and how difficult life has been. For His only desire
is for me to keep my eyes anchored upon Him. He wants my focus centered and my
heart undivided. My Father's promise to me is that I will dwell with him for eternity.
All I need to do ... is ... TRUST HIM!

"One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days
of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to
meditate in His temple" Psalm 27:4

To be continued ...

[Lee M]

My Father's Love ... Part 2

This experience encouraged my heart to relax and ponder upon all I
had seen and heard.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,
says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are
My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts"
Isaiah 55:8

This makes for a pondering thought that in the illuminating standpoint
of Who the Lord is ... I am but a speck of dust.

In the bigness of His stature where do I fit in the vastness of His being?
It makes me fall on my knees in a reverent posture and wonder if I am
worthy of Him.

And here lies the main question ... how can I be made worthy of the Lord?
With a gentle gesture of his love, my Heavenly Father reminded me that I
have been made worthy by the blood of the lamb.

That is the reason I can stand before my Father as a clean vessel, stain free
and ready for his kingdom. He is fully aware of my vulnerabilities with all my
short comings and inability to overcome my sinful nature. It's not about what
I have done but what He has already done for me. He understands that the
enemy's attack on my person has been rampant. My faith has been severely
tested and put through the ringer.

It became apparent to me that the enemy was seeking to make sport of me.
He wanted to play with the thoughts of my mind and emotions. His one desire
was to distort my way of thinking. However, I remembered that Satan is the
enemy of my soul but GOD is the keeper of my soul. The enemies crushing
attack was ruthless by making me question myself. I was not to be bound by
his clutches or rule over me. Nor was I to evaluate my standing before my
Father's eyes by questioning my unworthiness. The fact is I will never be
perfect yet I have been perfectly washed clean by the blood of Jesus Christ
my Redeemer. The Lord was freeing me up from the enemy's vicious and
demonic assault.

"No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue
that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this
is their vindication from me," declares the LORD. Isaiah 54:17

In his loving compassion, my Father showed me that if I had taken my eyes off
the eagle, I would have assumed it was a small aircraft. The reason I was able
to testify that it was the eagle gliding overhead was because I never took my eyes
off of him. This secured what my eyes had seen that what is, isn't and what isn't
is. It reinforces my belief to fasten my eyes on the Lord and not on my own personal
circumstances. By doing so it can cause a misconception. The enemy would have
me believe otherwise and thereby, making a truth a lie.

Nevertheless, the vital truth is that God in His holiness is worthy. He alone is worthy
of my praise, honor, glory and worship. At no time am I to think I'm worthy except
through the sacrifice made at Calvary's cross.

Father, thank You for teaching me an excellent lesson. I appreciate the way that
You know what is best for me. Your prompt reassurance has brought me so much
consolation. Thank You for exhibiting Your favor to me in the midst of trials. Simply
knowing You are in total control and watching over me daily brings me great joy and
peace. Thank You for reinforcing the sure foundation of my faith by fortifying me. I
am also thankful for the honor of having an intimate friendship with You. And I am
eternally grateful for your tender care in the love you have bestowed upon me. Thank
you from the bottom of my heart for being my wonderful Counselor. I am humbled by
by your faithfulness as the God of all my comfort. Thank You Father Son and Holy Spirit,
three in One I love and adore You. To You alone O Lord, be the glory, the honor and the
praise forever and ever. Amen.

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum
of them!" Psalm 139:17

~ The love of the Father is beyond comprehension yet so attainable ~

[Lee M]

Trial by blazing fire ...

My quiet moments with the Lord reflecting today's events....Sat. June 9, 2007

I believe the LORD directed me to this ...
It is just as applicable, today, as it was then

Have you ever felt like this........?

As if you're going through a journey in your life with blazing fires surrounding you?
You go from the frying pan into the fire, from the fire into the furnace... Isaiah 48:10...?
("See, I have refined you......I have tested you in the furnace of affliction")............you
think you finally escaped the furnace and make it to safe ground, you suddenly realize...
... you're standing in quicksand?!?

Well, that is exactly how hubby and I feel. All we can say is, Lord, behold, we cannot!
Father, is anything too hard for You? Nothing is impossible with You! Therefore, we ask,
to WHOM shall we go? We of course "GO" to "JESUS" who has the words of eternal life.
(Jeremiah 32:27, Luke 1:37, John 6:68).

Lord, as the fires burn all around us, help us to look to you and protect us from the
searing flames of the evil one. Extinguish the flames and don't let them cause us harm.
You tell us..."when we walk through the fire, we will not be burned; the flames will not
set us ablaze" Isaiah 43:2.

Please, help us instead to be on fire for you and your kingdom. (Your word is in my heart like
a fire. A fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in, indeed, I cannot, Jeremiah 26:9).
Lord, cause us to be instruments of your love as we pour out your WORD to your people. When
("Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me, the joy and the rejoicing
of my heart; for I am called by Your Name, O Lord of hosts" Jeremiah 15:16). There is power
in your Name Lord Jesus, therefore, empower us to walk in your ways from this day forth. Our
strength comes from having the joy of the Lord deeply embedded in our hearts and souls.
(Nehemiah 8:10) Praise be to Your Hoy Name Lord Jesus and Savior God. Amen.

"But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me,
I shall come forth as gold" Job 23:10

Song ... Purify my heart...let me be as gold...and precious silver...purify my heart...
let me be as gold ... pure gold ... refiner's fire ...my heart's one desire...
is to be holy, set apart for You my Master, ready to do You will .......

Sweet Lord, Enlarge our territory! By Your Righteous Right Hand, guide and
direct us into the areas that You choose to lead, for we seek to do Your will...

"Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand
would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause
pain!" So God granted him what he requested 1 Chronicles 4:10.

~ A trial by fire is designed as a refined symbol for God's glory ~

[Lee M]

A quiet moment mulling over God's truth in the light of the Lord .... 4/23/09

We, like Daniel, desire to determine in our hearts not to defile ourselves or sin
against our God Almighty. We desire to always be ready to radiate the light of
Christ to our fellow sojourners.

Lord, we, like Daniel desire to set our hearts to understand and humble ourselves
before You. We, like Daniel set our faces towards You Lord God to make a request
by prayer and supplications.

Lord Almighty, let us not be ashamed, but be faithful and quiet in spirit, for with
You, belong mercy and forgiveness. Lord, we remember Daniel in the lion's den;
he was not eaten or harmed in any way. We remember Daniel in the fire; he was
not seared or smelled like smoke. Therefore, like Daniel, we purpose in our hearts
not to defile ourselves in any way.

Lord, are we feeding our earthly vessels with the earthly King's worldly food, or are
we sitting at our Heavenly King's table feeding our spirits with spiritual food? Is our
daily intake enough to store in us a proper balanced diet to sustain us for the days
ahead? Lord, are we there, yet?

The way of the earthly King is to deteriorate, to defile the soul of the man with contaminants,
deficiency and insufficient nourishment, whereas, the way of the Heavenly King is to differentiate,
to define the soul of man with conspicuous -efficiency, and sufficient nourishment for the soul and
the spirit. The main challenge here is, for us to be completely set apart, as tried and approved
workers for the service to the King of Heavens Glory! How great are You Lord!

Lord, as Your servants, we hunger after You, for with You, we lack nothing. It is with a content
heart, full of joy, that we seek to grow in grace and knowledge of You, O Precious Glorious God,
2 Peter 3:18. May we find favor in Your sight, may we fulfill and not fail to accomplish to do Your
will and purpose for the very reason You have called us for a time such as this.
(Summarized from chapters in the book of Daniel 1-12.)

Alas, now the real question is: "Are we, finally, fully equipped and completely ready to enter
our Heavenly King's personal service? To serve Him with a good conscience of mind, body,
soul and spirit? Are we found worthy of the Master Lord God and Majestic King?

Lord, we dedicate our hearts, our souls, our very existence, sacrificially and willingly over
to You. Our lives and our times are in Your Hands, O Lord, Sovereign Master Creator of
the universe, Psalm 31:15. We were once deformed but now transformed and ready to
perform our duties before Your Throne O Lord God -Eternal. To You be glory both now
and for ever. Amen.

We may not be a Daniel but we sure want to emulate his dedicated and God fearing heart.

"O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life"
Lamentations 3:55-58

~ ~ ~ ~ A determined heart has a peaceful soul and a godly countenance ~ ~ ~ ~

[Lee M]

A pondering thought about symbolism over substance ... 5/22/08

God stop spinning this world ... this ride is not for me, and I want to get off.

The earth is in your heart of love yet many hearts run cold.
They are indifferent with an extensive immoveable callous.
The nations have fallen into the hands of evil doers ...

These thoughts have been on my mind for a while now. It is obvious what
the world view of a Christian is today. Look around you. Satan the master
deceiver is successfully deceiving mankind. They are in direct rebellion against
God Almighty.

Today's youth is a perfect example of this. The adults aren't any better than the
young people with their evil deeds. Sin is rampant and very much alive in the
lives of those who seek to please self with all kinds of gratification.

Many Christians are among those who are being seduced into the worldly way
of thinking as well. This amounts to a double standard diluting and subtracting
from God's commandments and statues. The people need to take a step back
and evaluate how they proceed with their lives. For in the end they will have
to give an account to God.

There are countless areas that are spinning out of control among the heathens
and among the Christian communities. In many ways, they may look and sound
alike. However, the humble and committed Christian is supposed to be worlds
apart. The so-called proclaimed Christian often time is not a true believer who
is following the Lord and his ways. Unfortunately, we all have the human disease,
our sinful nature, the condition which interferes with our higher calling.

A true believer of Christ is one who stands anchored on God's infallible word and
is a bright shinning light in this dark world. They are not perfect people by any
stretch of the imagination. Christians should exemplify the love of Christ by
distinguishing and separating themselves from any false improprieties.

For me personally, I would prefer to be known as a "Christ follower" who is faithfully
committed to the Lord by obeying and keeping his word.

The sad reality, for the most part, is that it has become more symbolism over substance.
We all fall ... and definitely fall short of the glory of the Lord. God please help us to stand
upright.

Let us not be like Balaam the foolish master whose donkey the Lord used to speak common
sense to. (Numbers 22:1-41)

At face value, there is an impact but after prayerful contemplation it has a deeper spiritual
meaning. Along with a better representation of what a sincere Christian ought to be.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace
through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" Romans 3:23-24

My prayer is that you can grasp the significance in the message which I am intending
to emphasize.

~ As a Christ-like Christian, live so that your actions speak louder than your words ~

[Lee M]

A test of time ...

Enemy in the flesh and enemy in the spirit who do you trust?
Discern or otherwise fall for anything and fall in the hands of deceptive naysayers.

Always confer with the word of the Lord, which is what you can trust and depend on.
Listen to what He has to say not what man can offer or say to tickle your ears.

Nehemiah's enemies were desperately weaving a web of lies to entrap him.
They were persistent in their quest to hurt him along with his future goal.
Try as they might, they failed to do so at every turn. Nehemiah was not
easily conned, manipulated nor persuaded into believing the falsehood.

The enemy's full intent is to fool the believer by plotting to harm and destroy them.
He will attempt to use whatever means to trick the servants' work for the kingdom.
If he can't fool you with lying words, then he will use accusations against you. He
will attack your good will by trying to sabotage your character. If that doesn't work,
then for sure he will use fear to break you. Fear has a way of weakening our resolve
so that our service for the Father will cease. The enemy is so predicable! He hasn't
changed his MO when dealing with his evil schemes.

At all times, it's when the spirit of man ought to liven up with the fortitude of a lion.
Nehemiah prayed from a secured faith in his heart when he said, strengthen our hands.
Oftentimes the most effective prayers are not the flowery ones. They are the ones that
are uttered, in earnest, with few words along with a sense of urgency. As Christians we
are encouraged knowing Nehemiah's simple prayer was heard and blessed by the Lord.

Many times the soulless one loves to use well-meaning people against us. He did it to
Nehemiah with Shemaiah when he suggested he be stowed away in the temple. Thank
God Nehemiah had the good sense to trust his God given wisdom with knowledge applied
in discerning the evil thread of deception.

Nehemiah was not misled, one way or the other, simply because his spirit was in tune with
the Lord. This man of God graciously prevailed because he trusted God above all else. He
knew what needed to be accomplished when he viewed the destruction. His determination
kept him steady regardless of the attacks on his person. His confidence was not in himself,
his workers or anyone but rather on God Himself.

This brave soldier of God completed the work with his Master builders' help. He had his eyes
on the Lord and was not being distracted for he knew where to look. Nehemiah honored God
by keeping one hand on the sword/word of God. The other hand he used to finish the work
of rebuilding the wall. The work was completed successfully thereby turning sorrow into joy,
and God was glorified.

As much as the troublemakers were consistent and persistent in their effort to discredit
Nehemiah, he was even more determined. He victoriously overcame every attempt that
was made to persuade him into believing a lie. He had the truth on his side!

Personally, I love Nehemiah's testimony ... He stood on the truth, he believed the truth,
and he followed the truth.

In the end, Nehemiah's nemeses were left in shame. They were stunned when they
realized that the hand of God had worked on Nehemiah's behalf.

This is true for us today too ... God's capable hand will do mighty things in our day.

"..........,for the joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10

~ Guard the gate of your soul from enemy destruction when building impregnable walls
around your spirit ~

[Lee M]

Reflections of New Hampshire's White Mountains ...

Living in New York afforded us the ability to travel through the New England States.
The ride alone was so adventurous because we knew beauty would soon unfold
before our eyes.

We blasted Steve Greens' song, "Enter In" and off we went.

All of us would chew on red licorice while we sang from the top of our lungs. As
a family we loved to go on vacations to as many States as possible. My favorites
were the mountains where I let my thoughts wander off into the horizon. The
hikes were exhilarating as we climbed from one mountain top to another. We
often rested at a mountain summit where you could see far into the distance. At
those times, we would read the Sermon on the Mount. We were all truly blessed!
The beauty would render us into awe as we gazed upon God's exquisite creation.
It caused us to hold hands, bow our heads and pray a prayer of gratitude.

How could it not? You were surrounded by such greatness proving God is Supreme.

One of our favorite times to visit New Hampshire was during the Fall season. It was
prime time for the changing of the leaves. We befriended the owner of the cottage
that we rented. He became our personal guide during our excursions.

Ah ... even the intricate beauty of a simple leaf left us praising our mighty Creators'
handiwork. The vast array of colors were impressive. To tell you the truth, we
coveted the spectacular display of foliage. It made our senses expand to levels,
we never thought possible.

We also knew that upon returning to New York it too would soon start to show some
color changes. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to travel across the New England
States from North to South and follow the changing of the leaves. I have to admit we
were drawn to the quest of satisfying our Autumn cravings. It was a picturesque view
of magnificent Autumn's colors.

That kind of change was welcoming! However, there was an unchanging factor that
we took seriously. Even though this change was awesome we were always aware of
another truth.

Change was constant throughout our lives yet we stood solid believing Jesus would
stay the same. In a changing world, this is very comforting to bear in mind.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" Hebrews 13:8

Lord thank you that you're unchangeable; your word stands firm, both remain
the same forever. Amen

"For I am the Lord, I do not change;....." Malachi 3:6

~ Reflective musing opens a window to refreshing thoughts of God's mighty creative power ~

[Lee M]

A heart-shaped memory ...

My son Richie lovingly sent me an exquisite arrangement
of fruit designs for Mothers Day.

It is amazing what an artist can portray in the form of fruit.

While appreciating the beauty my eyes caught sight of three
pineapple pieces.

They were cut in the shape of a large heart with a feathery like
texture at the ends.

My taste buds were ready, so I picked one up and ate it enjoying
every bit of it.

When I went to wrap up the arrangement to refrigerate it, the
center heart caught my attention.

It stood the tallest but what was intriguing was the fact that
a strawberry had rested against it.

The strawberry bled out into a small reddish heart shape
at the center of the pineapple heart.

This tender image, as far as I was concerned, represented
the heart of Jesus.

That's when my heart melted... relishing the thought that I'm
intricately etched in the core of Jesus' heart. All I ever need
to do is simply lean against Him and rest.

If you open the door of your heart to the Lord Jesus, then He
will dwell therein.

This simple act of submission creates the essence of a mirrored
reflection of Him in your heart and you in His heart.

It's in the sacrificial offering of who He is that Jesus bled with
a heart full of love.

That to me was very symbolic of a love so unfathomable. It is
gently contained by leaning on the One who bled for you.

Indeed... Jesus is Lord!

Tears of joy welled up in my eyes at the unexpected depiction.
That precious treasure of a moment will never be erased from
my memory.

Today... make Jesus the center of your life! Allow Him to reign
supreme at the core of your heart.

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God--that
is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption"
1 Corinthians 1:30

Lord, we are sinners yet You dwell among us and in us. Thank you
for the security of Your indwelling holy presence. Amen.

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love"
John 15:9

Dear hearts... remember this... you are thoroughly and lovingly
imprinted in the core of Jesus' heart.

Look about you...
And see the beauty of the Lord revealed everywhere and in everything!