“Moment by moment I’m kept in His love… Moment by moment I’ve life from above.”
-Andrew Murray, “Absolute Surrender”
Tag Archives: blessings
Return to Laughter, Return to Joy!
“When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed,
Our mouths were filled with laughter,
 our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
 âThe Lord has done great things for them.â
The Lord has done great things for us,
 and we are filled with joy.
Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.
Those who sow with tears
 will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,
Will return with songs of joy,
 carrying sheaves with them.”
Psalm 126
Living Your “Blessed Life” Now
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For Believers, “living your best life now” is not found in this world or it’s ways. Our best life is yet to come for an eternity of days. But we can absolutely and most assuredly live our “blessed life” right now!
Jesus said,
“I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” – John 10:10 TLV
This is the blessed life, the abundant life, the “I get to walk with Jesus everyday and experience His love and goodness!” life.
Praise God!
Psalms 23:6 says,
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,(that’s now!)
and I will dwell in the House of the LORD forever!” (that’s for eternity!)
So with that,
We can happily say, with peace and assurance, “I’m living my blessed life now!”
“Yes” and “Amen”
“Apply His promises to the problem and there’ll be no problem.”
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“For all the promises of God in Him are “Yes”, and in Him “Amen”, to the glory of God through us.”
-2 Corinthians 1:20
“HALLELUJAH!” and “Amen.”
The Hat Rack
Here’s a “post from the past” at my daughter’s request. Blessings! – Faith
Once, many years ago, when visiting a new church for the first time, an elderly lady invited us to her house for dinner. We gladly accepted, and followed her home after service.  As we sat in her living room, we had a very pleasant conversation, and got  to know a little more about each other. She was a long-standing member of her church,  and well-loved by the congregation.  Although she was elderly, she was vibrant and enthusiastic, and very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and all that He had done for her. She enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies, and we talked a little about our faith experiences.  I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, toddlers at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, and even so, I was still praying and believing God for another baby.
She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, âYou see that hat rack over there on the wall?â I answered, âYes.â she said, âWhenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that Iâm hanging a hat on a hat rackâŚand every time he answers I just keep adding a new hat.  And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that Iâm praying for, I just take a look at that hat rack, and see all those hats hanging there, and Iâm reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, (some that I may have even forgotten), and I am encouraged that He did it before and Heâll do it again.â
I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact the Lord did answer my prayer and blessed me miraculously with another sweet baby girl!
When I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight GoliathâŚ
âDavid said⌠The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this PhilistineâŚâ I Samuel 17:37
You see, the lion and the bear were hanging on Davidâs hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)
“Has it been awhile since you took a look at your own hat rack?”
Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past, and hey, there’s always room for another hat, so
Just take a look back, have faith, and,  like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!
“Thanksgiving and Praise”
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves;
we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise:
be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.”
-Psalm 100
“Dancing”
” You have turned for me my mourning into dancing:
You have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness.
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”
Psalm 30:11-12
Thanks Be To God!
” …Thanks be to God who keeps giving us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah!”
– 1 Corinthians 15:57
True Happiness
“It’s not how much we have, but how much we enjoy that makes true happiness.”
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Harvest of Joy
âWhen the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion,
We were like them that dream.
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the nations,
The LORD has done great things for them.
The LORD has done great things for us; and we are glad.
Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the South.
They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.â
Psalm 126:1-5
Total Makeover
âThe word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Arise, and go down to the potterâs house,âŚ
there I will cause thee to hear my words.
Then I went down to the potterâs house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD.â
âBehold, as the clay is in the potterâs hand, so are ye in mine hand...â
Jeremiah 18:1-6
“Pressed Down, Shaken Together”
“Give, and it shall be given to you– a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing, will be given into your lap.” – Luke 6:38
The Good Things
‘It’s not that good things aren’t good,
It’s just that, good things aren’t God.”
Enjoy the good things in life,
and worship “the living God who gives us all things richly to enjoy.”
– I Timothy 6:17
Be Still My Soulđ
Be still my soul-
The Lord is on your side!
Leave to your God
To order and provide-
Be still my soul-
Your best, your heavenly Friend
Thru thorny ways
Leads to a joyful end.
– Jean Sibelius
Stayed
Stayed upon JEHOVAH,
Hearts are fully blessed –
Finding, as He promised,
Perfect peace and rest.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You…”
– Isaiah 26:3
From the Hymn, “Like A River Glorious”
by F.R. Havergai and James Mountain
God of All My Days
In my worry, God
You are my stillness
In my searching,
God You are the answer
In my blindness, God
You are my vision
In my bondage, God
You are my freedom
In my weakness, God
You are my power
You’re the God of all my days.
Each step I take
You’ve made a way
And I will give you all my praise
My seasons change
You stay the same
You’re the God of all my days
*****************************
 from “God of All My Days”, – Casting Crowns
Lyrics- John Mark Hall and Jason Ingram
Last First Dayđ
Back- to -School
Today marks a milestone for me.
It’s back to school again and, at our house, it’s also THE LAST “first day of school”, as our youngest daughter is now officially a senior in high school. Sure, I’ve been down this road a couple of times before, with two other children who have graduated, and gone off to college, but this one brings a whole season to a close for me and I just wanted to say out loud that “Being a mom is such a great blessing!”
I was blessed to have three miracle babies, when several doctors said that being a mother would never happen for me. So thankful that the LORD has the last word, and the final say, about “impossible” situations such as these.
Every season is a blessing, and as I look back with a smile and forward with joy, I’m grateful for everything that’s brought me to this day.đ
Thanks for listening!â¤ď¸
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.” -James 1:17 TLV
Thanks for Everything
” LORD, I thank You for everything in my life;
the good, the bad, the easy, the hard, the joys, and the pain,
I thank You for all of it.”
âIn everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.â
First Thessalonians 5:18
Relaxed Confidence
When Abraham gave first choice to Lot, and Lot took the best and greenest pastures for himself, Abraham simply let it be so. Then God promised to give him all the land, as far as his eyes could see, to the east, west, north and south. It didn’t matter that Lot had taken the best for himself. Abraham held a relaxed confidence in God and His promises.
My hope for the future, my trust in your precious promises, and everything that concerns me, is secure in You, LORD,
So I choose to relax, and place my confidence in You.
Just Ask
“They don’t have anymore wine.” she said, asking Him to do something about it. “Woman, what does this have to do with you or I?” was His reply.
She turned to the servers and said, “Do whatever He tells you to do.”
They filled the jars with water as He instructed, and took them to the headwaiter, who after tasting it, shouted with excitement to the bridegroom, “…You’ve saved the best wine for last!”
It was the first miracle performed by Jesus, at Mary’s request, turning water into wine during a wedding in Cana; and what was the outcome?
The servants, the wedding guests, the bridegroom, and the disciples, were all astonished and drawn to Him.
“Jesus did this. He revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” -John 2:11
And all because she just asked. Got a problem? Ask the Lord to do something about it!
Here it is in a nutshell;
“… Anything you ask in My Name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”
– John 14:13
Start Where You Stand
Start where you stand and never mind the past,
The past won’t help you in beginning new,
If you have left it all behind at last
Why, that’s enough, you’re done with it, you’re through;
This is another chapter in the book,
This is another race that you have planned,
Don’t give the vanished days a backward look,
Start where you stand.
The world won’t care about your old defeats
If you can start anew and win success,
The future is your time, and time is fleet
And there is much of work and strain and stress;
Forget the buried woes and dead despairs,
Here is a brand new trial right at hand,
The future is for him who does and dares,
Start where you stand.
Old failures will not halt, old triumphs aid,
To-day’s the thing, to-morrow soon will be;
Get in the fight and face it unafraid,
And leave the past to ancient history;
What has been, has been; yesterday is dead
And by it you are neither blessed nor banned,
Take courage, be brave, and drive ahead,
Start where you stand.
Berton Braley.
Glory To God In The Highest
“… Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
who is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you;
You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Luke 2
Caged Bird Free
My stubborn will at last has yielded,
I would be Thine, and Thine alone
And this the prayer my lips are bringing,
Lord, let in me Thy will be done.
Thy precious will, O conquering Savior,
Doth now embrace and compass me;
All discords hushed, my peace a river,âĽ
My soul a prisoned bird set free.
Sweet will of God
Still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee.
-“Sweet Will of God” by Mrs. C.H. Morris
Like Water Covers the Sea
“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”
Habakkuk 2:14
The Hat Rack
Here’s a “post from the past” at my daughter’s request. Blessings! – Faith
Once, when we were visiting a new church for the first time, an elderly lady came up to us and invited us to her house for dinner. We gladly accepted, and followed her home after service.  As we sat in her living room, we had a very pleasant conversation, and got  to know a little more about each other. She was a long-standing member of her church,  and well-loved by the congregation.  Although she was elderly, she was vibrant and enthusiastic, and very happy to talk about how much she loved the Lord, and all that He had done for her. She enthusiastically shared some of her many testimonies, and I talked a little about my faith experience.  I mentioned how our two children, a son and a daughter, toddlers at the time, had been miracle babies, because I was told that I would never conceive, and even so, I was still praying and believing God for another baby.
She looked at me, with a smile in her eyes, and said, âYou see that hat rack over there on the wall?â I answered, âYes.â she said, âWhenever the Lord does something for me, I imagine that Iâm hanging a hat on a hat rackâŚand every time he answers I just keep adding a new hat.  And the next time I find myself frustrated about something that Iâm praying for, I just take a look at that hat rack, and see all those hats hanging there, and Iâm reminded of all the prayers that God has answered, (some that I may have even forgotten), and I am encouraged that He did it before and Heâll do it again.â
I really appreciated this example and made an effort to apply it in my own life. In fact the Lord did answer my prayer and blessed me miraculously with another sweet baby girl!
When I think back on this example, it reminds me of what young David said to King Saul, when he volunteered to fight GoliathâŚ
âDavid said⌠The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, He will deliver me out of the hand of this PhilistineâŚâ I Samuel 17:37
You see, the lion and the bear were hanging on Davidâs hat rack!!! He just took a look back, and was fully persuaded, that God would do it again. :)
“Has it been awhile since you took a look at your own hat rack?”
Surely God has blessed you and answered your prayers in the past, and hey, there’s always room for another hat, so
Just take a look back, have faith, and,  like David, be fully persuaded that God will do it again!
Wanna Bees
“Be
joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
 faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
With Heart In Hand I Trust You
“LORD, I trust You today with my WHOLE LIFE…
For my WHOLE LIFE.âĽ
For in trusting You,
My LIFE is made WHOLE.”
A Clean Heart
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence; and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation; and sustain me with a willing spirit.”
Psalm 51:1-12
Blessed QuietnessÂ
Blessed quietness
Holy quietness
What assurance in my soul
On the stormy sea
He speaks peace to me
And the billows cease to roll
– Manie Payne Fergusen
Amazing Grace
The Lord has promised good to me…His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be…
as long as life endures
Through many dangers, toils and snares…
I have already come.
T’was grace that brought me safe thus far…
and grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years…
bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise…
then when we’ve first begun.
John Newton
In God’s Hands
Sweet As Honey
There is nothing sweeter than the Word of God
.
 âSon of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.â
So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.”
Ezekiel 3:3
Double Blessing
Double Rainbow
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.”
Isaiah 61:7
Patient Endurance
“Remember the former days
When, after you were enlightened,
You endured a great struggle with sufferings.
Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten,
Sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things.
You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail,
And when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy.
You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever.
So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord.
Remember the great reward it brings you!
Patient endurance is what you need now,
So that you will continue to do Godâs will.
Then you will receive all that He has promised.”
Hebrews 10:32-35
Tree of Life Version and New Living Translation
My Shepherd
ADONAI is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of ADONAI forever.”
Psalm 23- TLV
Quiet Place
“Come by yourselves apart into a quiet place, and rest a while…”
Mark 6:31
Spring of Hope
 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Romans 15:13
Can a Mother Forget?
Sometimes when weâve been praying for something for a very long time, we begin to lose heart, and wonder if the answer will ever come. I know exactly how that feels. I remember praying and praying for God to work a miracle in my life, and sometimes, I felt that God had forgotten about me and my situation. Of course we know that God sees us always, and knows everything about our lives, but still, it is true of us as humans, that we sometimes think that our situation may not be as urgent to God as we would like for it to be.
This is so not true!
At one of my lowest points, the LORD gave me a verse which comforted me and reassured me, and to this day, this verse is very near and dear to my heart. In Isaiah 49:15-16, the Lord says, âCan a mother forget her nursing child?⌠Yes, she might, but I have not forgotten you⌠I have you engraved on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.â  This is how I understood what He was saying to me through this verse:
1. âCan a mother forget her nursing child?â â Naturally, the answer to this question would be a resounding, âNo.â  We all know how attached a mother is to her newborn baby, and so we understand the significance of this question. ButâŚ
2. âYes, she might,â â Although it would seem impossible for a mother to forget or abandon her newborn child, it has happened, as unbelievable as it would seem, sadly, it has been the case for some mothers. ButâŚ
3. âI have not forgotten youâ â God is saying that His love and care for us is even greater than a motherâs love. Infinitely greater. How so?âŚ
4. âI have you engraved on the palms of my handsâ â Here, I pictured the palms of my Saviorâs Hands, which still bear the nail scars, pierced for me⌠And thenâŚ
5. âYour walls are continually before me.â â My situation and the circumstances that surround me, are continually before Him!âŚÂ Oh, Glory to God!!
Here it is in a nutshellâŚ
God loves you, more than you can imagine, He has not forgotten you, and  your situation is continually, always, before Him.
Hold on. Â :)
In The Boat With Us
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,
âLetâs cross to the other side of the lake.â
So they took Jesus in the boat and started out,
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea,
Insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:
But Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat…
 His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying,
Lord,… “Carest thou not that we perish?”
And He saith unto them,
Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea;
And there was a great calm.
But the men marveled, saying,
What manner of man is this,
That even the winds and the sea obey Him!”
Matthew 8:25 and Mark 4:38
-As we “cross to the other side”, through the storms and trials of life,
Jesus cares.
He is “in the boat” with us.
He cares
and He will calm the sea.”
Quietly Waiting
“Let all that I am
wait quietly before God,
for my expectation
is from Him.”
Psalm 62:5
O God, Our Help
“O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home,” -Isaac Watts
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1
Expect The Good
âWhen Almighty God is with you,
Good things will happen
in you, around you and through you.
Expect this to happen to you today!â
Joseph Prince
Delay Does Not Mean Denied
Waiting for an answer to prayer can be hard sometimes, but I’d just like to share that although it seems that there may be a delay, it doesn’t mean that your request has been denied. In fact, it has been my experience that after what seemed to be a great delay, I was blessed far and away more than I was asking for in the first place!
Here’s an example from John 11:1-44
A request for healing is brought to Jesus. “…A certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha… Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.”
Jesus responds with a delay. ” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Then, after finally arriving in Bethany, Lazarus having been dead 3 days,
Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. ” He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!”
And he who had died came out,,.. “
“Are you praying for something, and there seems to be a delay in receiving your answer? Just remember that God is working all things together for your good, and He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that you may ask or think… So hold on, the answer’s on its way, and it promises to exceed your expectations!” :)
In The Secret Place
“He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.”
Psalm 91
And It Came To Pass
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed…
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”
 Luke 2:1-6
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Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God…
“…Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given:…and His Name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counselor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
God With Us
“…The Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son,and shall call His Name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
“Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His Name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:23
Morning by Morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee,
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been,Thou forever wilt be.
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above;
Join with all nature in manifold witness,
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today, and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside.
-Thomas Chisholm
Friends
  Â
‘Two are better than one;…. For if they fall, the one will lift the other up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
With Thanksgiving
“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms.
For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth:
the strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, and He made it: and His Hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.”
Psalm 95:1-6
O Give Thanks
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.”
Psalm 136:10
The Key
“Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” -Psalm 37:4
“The key is not in chasing the desires of your heart. The key is in chasing the Lord.”
-Charles Spurgeon
Bold
Proverbs 28:1 says,  “… the righteous are bold as a lion.”  and in Hebrews 4:16 we’re told to come boldly before God’s throne in prayer. This is what Caleb did.
You can read about Caleb in Joshua chapter 14 verses 7-14 , and interestingly enough, the name Caleb means “bold”. Here’s his story…
Caleb was 85 years old when the Israelites reached the promised land. He was one of only two men who had survived the 40 year wanderings in the desert. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, he and Joshua were chosen by Moses to spy out the land that God had promised them. There were 12 men in all, one for each tribe. When they returned from their travels, 10 of the spies were terrified, and reported that it would be impossible to defeat these cities because they considered themselves and  their own people to be too small in comparison.  But Joshua and Caleb believed that God had led them to this good land and had faith that He would give them the victory.
The people believed the 10 spies. God was angry with them and because of their unbelief, they would have to spend the next 40 years walking around the desert until they all died off, leaving only their children and grandchildren to be the ones who would inherit the promised land. But God honored the faith of Caleb and Joshua.
Joshua became the leader of his people after the death of Moses, leading them into the promised land, dividing the Jordan River, and marching onto victory in the battle of Jericho. Caleb now 85 years old had remained strong in faith, and courageous in battle. In the face of battle over the land that Moses had promised would be his inheritance, Caleb boldly responded, saying:
“… the LORD hath kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake His word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now lo, I am now eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: As my strength was then, even so is my strength now… Now therefore give me this mountain,… the LORD will be with me, then I will be able to drive (the inhabitants) out, as the LORD said…Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb.”
He got what he wanted. Caleb was bold in his faith as a young man, and even as an old man. He knew that there was nothing too big to ask God for, and his boldness is evidence of that faith.
By faith, we are the righteousness of God in Christ, and “the righteous are as bold as a lion.”
You Can Count On It
You can count on God’s Word.
If God said it, you can count on it to come to pass.
His Word is absolutely trustworthy.
God never breaks His Word.
In Him there are no broken promises.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind.”
“Does He speak and then not act?”
“Does He promise and not fulfill? “
Numbers 23:19Â
True Love
“This is love:
Not that we loved God, but that He loved us,
and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
I John 4:10
Turbulence
A few days ago, a friend of mine encouraged me with these words…
She said, “When a pilot is flying and sees turbulence ahead, he approaches it head on. He does not go around it, over it, or under it; he goes right through it. The pilot can’t see beyond the limited view of his cockpit, so he must rely totally on the instrument panel for guidance. He goes right through the turbulence, difficult as it may be, and presses through until he reaches the beautiful clear sky on the other side.”
This life, as we know, can bring us to turbulent times that cannot be avoided. We’d rather go around them, but we must press through. As we rely on and put our complete trust in the LORD, even when it gets rocky, He will lead us through to the beautiful clear skies on the other side.
With God You Can..
“Do all the good you can, in all the ways you can, to all the souls you can, in every place you can, at all the times you can, with all the zeal you can, as long as ever you can.”
‘The best of it is, God is with us.”
– John Wesley
Happy!
“…Whosoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.”
Proverbs 16:20
Like Jabez
The bible says that Jabez, a descendant of Judah, was “more honorable than his brothers”and even though his mother named him Jabez (which means pain), he called out to the LORD and God heard him and gave him what he requested.
This is not a story about getting everything we want, it’s actually an example that there’s always hope when we pray because no matter what we’ve been through, or what we’ve been called, as children of God, we have His eye.
Jabez may not be as well known as Abraham or Moses but that’s just the point! God’s love is there for the “little guys”too and the story of Jabez reminds us that in Christ, each of us is special and uniquely significant. He cares for us and will answer when we pray.
“Jabez called out to the God of Israel, saying,
“If only You would greatly bless me, and enlarge my territory. Let Your hand be with me,
and keep me from harm, so that I might not suffer pain.”
And God granted what he asked.”
I Chronicles 4:10-TLV
The Garden
I come to the garden alone.
While the dew is still on the roses.
And the voice I hear,
Falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.
He speaks and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing.
And the melody that He gives to me
Within my heart is ringing!
And He walks with me,
And He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own!
And the joy we share…
As we tarry there…
None other has ever known.
-Charles Austin Miles
A Time of Reckoning
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
To reckon, is to establish by counting or calculation, and today, as I struggle with  pain and limitations as I recover from surgery, I am reminded that, in calculating the number of difficulties and painful events that have occurred in my life, I am encouraged and inspired to think of what God has in store for those who love Him, those who are called according to his purpose. Paul, in reckoning all of his pain and suffering, just lays it out there for us in II Corinthians 11:24-27; “… five times received I forty stripes save one. I was beaten three times with rods, stoned once, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, (that’s me today, lol ), in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.”
I don’t suppose that many of us can say that we’ve suffered to this extent, and I’m in no way trying to belittle anyone else’s experience, yet Paul kept moving forward and I’m so glad that he did because during these tremendous hardships, He wrote most of the epistles of the New Testament. Most of them from prison. In light of all of this, and considering the hardships that we may be facing, we too can reckon that none of it compares to the glory that shall be revealed in us, as we, like Paul, keep moving forward and looking up…
God is Faithful
Elected
“Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” Ephesians 1:4
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” I Peter 2:9
“You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it to you.” John 15:16
Double For Your Trouble
There isn’t anything that we go through, that hasn’t first been permitted by God. This may be a little hard to accept sometimes, but itâs true, and in the end weâll see that it was only allowed for our good⌠And that’s not all.
When itâs all over, the Lord will bless you in such a way that you receive âdouble for your troubleâ, and sometimes even more.
Remember when the LORD told Abraham, way back in the beginning before Sarah was even pregnant, that he would be the father of a huge nation and this nation would be slaves in a foreign land, and that they would be there for over 400 years, but He would deliver them with a mighty Hand and they would come out with great substance?( Meaning they would come out with great riches.) Well 400 years of slavery is a long time for people to spend working for no pay, and the bible says that the morning after the first Passover, the Egyptians just started giving the Hebrews anything they wanted and they âspoiledâ the Egyptians. Psalm 105:37 says, âHe brought them forth also (out of Egypt), with silver and gold.â And we all know the story of Job who, after he had so tremendously suffered, received twice as much of all that he had before.
Think about it. Hasnât God brought you out of trouble and then blessed you? It could be that He blessed you monetarily, or restored your health, or blessed your family, or even blessed you with wisdom, in preparation for the blessings yet to come.
In Isaiah 61:7, the LORD says, â For your shame you shall have double...â and if God says it, that settles it!
So if youâre going through a rough time right now, be encouragedâŚ
Youâre gonna be blessed DOUBLE FOR YOUR TROUBLE!!!!
After The Rain
“Turn you to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will restore double unto you;”
Zechariah 9:12
“And… the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
Job 42:10
Shielded by Favor
“Let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice:
Let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them:
Let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou surround him
As with a shield.”
Psalm 5:11-12
Anticipation
“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.”
Psalm 62:5
Sparkle
A Reflection of Him…
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Fountain of Every Blessing
Come, thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace; streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise. Teach me some melodious sonnet, sung by flaming tongues above. Praise the mount!I’m fixed upon it, mount of Thy redeeming love. Here I raise mine Ebenezer; hither by Thy help I’m come; and I hope, by Thy good pleasure, safely to arrive at home. Jesus sought me when a stranger, wandering from the fold of God; He, to rescue me from danger, interposed His precious blood. O to grace how great a debtor daily I’m constrained to be! Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love; here’s my heart, LORD,take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
- -Robert Robinson
The Barometer
“Circumstances are not the barometer of God’s love and goodness – the cross is.”
“Do you feel as though God isnât answering your prayers? Â Are you tempted to doubt His love and goodness?
When I feel this way, I have to remind myself that my circumstances arenât the barometer of Godâs love and goodnessâthe cross is. He has shown His love and how good He is by giving His only Son Jesus to die for our sin. We canât rely on our feelings. But day by day as we choose to trust Him more, we learn to believe with confidence that God is goodâall the time.”âĽ
-Anne Cetas
Jesus My Joy
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy
All that’s good and perfect comes from You!
You’re the heart of my contentment.
Hope for all I do.
Jesus, You’re the center of my joy.
Richard Smallwood
Never Ever Ever
“For God has said…
Hebrews 13:5
Friends
  Â
‘Two are better than one;…. For if they fall, the one will lift the other up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
A Rock and A Hard Place
A Place Called Hard
Lord, I have me a mountain,
I need You to remove
I have me a situation
only You can improve.
Lord, I got me a dilemma,
that needs to be resolved
I have me a problem
I need You to be involved.
Lord, I have me a river,
itâs as wide as it is deep
I have me a condition
that I donât want to keep.
Lord, I have a clear view,
of the storm thatâs ahead
I have me an idea
itâs going to be widespread.
Lord, Iâm between a rock,
and a place called hard
so I am going to need You
to be my constant guard.
Lord, Iâm placing my life,
in the palm of Your hand
trusting this predicament . . .
is just a part of Your plan!
-Deborah Ann Belka
Reaches To The Heavens
Your love, oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
And Your faithfulness
Stretches to the skies
And Your righteousness
Is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows
Like the ocean’s tide
And I will lift my voice
To worship You, my King
And I will find my strength
In the shadow of Your wings
Your Love, oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness
Stretches to the skies
-Third Day
Precious
“He cuts out rivers among the rocks; and His eye sees every precious thing.”
Job 28:10
Every Morning
“God of second chances, Your mercies are new every morning, and by Your grace
we can begin again!”
Moving Forward
I’m not going back, I’m moving ahead
Here to declare to you
My past is over in You
Things are made new,
Surrendered my life to Christ
I’m moving forward
You have risen with all power in Your hands
You have given me a second chance
Hallelujah!
You make all things new
And I will follow You forward.
Israel Houghton
Recipe for Happiness
You Can Change
…Sometimes pain’s the only way that we can learn
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can’t get back when you’re lost, where you are,
It’s never too late, so bad, so much,
That you can’t change
Who you are, you can change who you are,
You believe in freedom,
But you don’t know how to choose
You gotta step out of your feelings
That you’re so afraid to lose, and everyday,
You put your feet on the floor…got to walk through door
Its never going to be easy
But its all worth fighting for
You can never fall
Too hard, so fast, so far,
That you can’t get back
When you’re lost where you are,
Its never too late, so bad, so much
That you can’t change who you are
You can change who you are.
So let the ashes fall where ever they land
Come back from wherever you been
To the foot of the cross
To the feet of Jesus
To the feet of Jesus
You can never fall too hard, so fast, so far
That you can’t get back when you’re lost
Where you are
It’s never too late, so bad, so much
That you can’t change
At the foot of the cross
It changes who you are
At the foot of the cross you can change
Who you are.
You can never fall
Too hard, so fast, so far,
That you can’t get back.
Lyrics- “Who You Are” by Unspoken
The Microwave Treatment
Sometimes it’s hard to wait when you’re praying for something special to happen, and I know what that feels like…
Once, while I was waiting for my miracle, I had a dream. It had been about 6 months since I had surgery and I was growing more and more impatient about having a baby. I thought I’d get pregnant right away. But that’s not what happened.
One night, I had a very interesting dream
There were two parts to this dream. First, I dreamt that we were visiting some friends for dinner and as the men talked in the living room, I sat in the kitchen while the food was being prepared. I was shocked to see that my friend was spooning raw, runny, red, hamburger meat, into taco shells and placing them in the microwave to be cooked. “YUCK!” I thought to myself, and when she had finished cooking, she topped them with all the trimmings, but I just couldn’t bring myself to eat any, because I saw the way that they were prepared with raw meat, and this really grossed me out!
In the second part of my dream, I was in a meat shop, and I was trying to buy a beef roast which was turning slowly on a spit. I was in a hurry, and I told the man cooking the meat that I had been waiting a long time, and was ready to go. He looked at me and said “I’m sorry ma’am but it’s not ready yet. I said “Are you sure? It looks like it’s done.” then he pulled out a long sharp-pointed thing, and pierced through the meat, and all of this red, runny, gook came pouring out. He was right. The meat was not ready… It was as if both parts of the dream had the same meaning.
When I woke up, I thought that maybe this dream had something to do with my healing from surgery, and how I was not yet healed up enough on the inside.
A few days later, I was sitting in the park, watching my son and daughter at soccer practice, when I saw a friend from church. She asked me how I was recovering from the surgery. I told her that I was doing fine, but that I was really ready to have another baby, “After all”, I said “I’m 35 years old!”…She was nearly 50, and told me that I was still young enough to have another baby. “God’s timing is perfect… Just be patient!..I had my last baby when I was 40 years old. ” she said. I smiled, shrugged my shoulders, and said, “But I’ve been waiting so long already.” Then she said, ” Faith, you just had surgery… You need time to heal.” She laughed and said jokingly, .. “What you want is the Microwave Treatment!!”
When she said this, I knew that it was a confirmation of the dream that I’d had a few days earlier… “The Microwave Treatment”… It was true! I didn’t want to wait any longer.. I wanted my miracle,and I wanted it now! This instant… In fact, I wanted it yesterday!!
I was reminded by this incident, that God is in control, and I accepted that He knows best. I would just have to be patient and wait…
Three years later, I realized my miracle, and was expecting our little girl.
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage…”
Psalm 27:14
A Place of Forgetting
Happy New Year!
“…This one thing I do
Forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forward to
those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
 Philippians 3:13-14
My Sheep Hear My Voice
“…He calls his own sheep by name,
and leads them out….
He goes before them,
and the sheep follow Him: for they know His voice.
And a stranger they will not follow…”
 My sheep hear my voice,…
 I know them, and they follow me:…Â
 I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. Â
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all;
and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. Â
I and my Father are one.”
John 10:1-5 ,27-30
Like Gold
“Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil,
and let us see what we are made of.”
Charles Spurgeon
“But He knows the way that I take:
 when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.”
Job 23:10
Taking Flight
âGrace is what picks me up and lifts my wings high… and I fly!” –Â Joybell
Monarch butterflies take to the air on a 2 month, 2,000-mile flight over fields, forests, cities, plains, open water, deserts, and mountains to a tiny region of central Mexico where they’ve never been before, arriving at the exact same time each year!
“Until you spread your wings you’ll have no idea how far you can fly.”
– Unknown
Love It Here
“Lord, I love the house where You live, the place where Your glory dwells.”
Psalm 26:8
Perfect Timing
“As for God, His way is perfect:” Psalm 18:30
“There is a time for everything:” Ecclesiastes 3:1
God’s timing is perfect!
Unquenchable, Inseparable
“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it ”Â
“For I am persuaded
that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor demons,
nor things present nor things to come,
nor principalities nor powers,
nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Song of Solomon 8:7
Romans 8:38-39
It’s Gonna Happen!
“He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it…”
“Just as the earth brings forth her bud,
And as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth;
So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
To spring forth…”
Philippians 1:6 , Isaiah 61:11
We’ve Come This Far
We’ve come this far by faith,
Leaning on the Lord;
Trusting in his Holy Word.
He’s never failed us yet.
Oh! Oh-Oh-Oh! Oh-Oh-Oh!
Can’t turn around, Oh no!
We’ve come this far by faith.
Albert Goodson
It’s About Time
“As for God, His way is perfect:” Psalm 18:30
“There is a time for everything:” Ecclesiastes 3:1
God’s timing is perfect!
Psalm 138
“I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee.
I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.
In the day when I cried Thou answered me, and strengthened me with strength
in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly:
but the proud He knoweth afar off.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, Thou wilt revive me: Thou shalt stretch forth Thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and Thy right hand shall save me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me:
Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; forsake not the works of Thine own hands.”
Psalm 138
After The Rain
“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,”
“He is like dawn’s first light,
like bright sun, blazing on a cloudless morning,
glistening on grassland,
that flourishes
after a rain shower.”
Luke 1:78
II Samuel 23:4
My Time Will Come
 “…The race is not to the swift
 New Living Translation
“I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It…all (happens) by chance, …Â being in the right place at the right time.”
“Time and chance happens to them all” Â NKJV
Ecclesiastes 9:11
Promise of Passover
“And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, …”
“In Him we have redemption through His blood,
the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.”
Exodus 12:13 , Ephesians 1:7
Spring Forth
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
Simple But True
âThe ordinary acts we practice every day at home
are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest.â
-Thomas Moore
Breakthrough
“Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Corinthians 15:57
Spring is Just Around The Corner!
“Behold, I will do a new thing;
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall ye not know it?
I will even make a way in the wilderness,
And rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19
Make Your Appeal, Present Your Case
“…If I were you, Iâwouldâappeal toâGod, and would present myâcase toâHim.
âŻ
He does greatâŻÂ andâunsearchableâthings, wonders withoutânumber.âŻ
He gives rain toâtheâearth and sends water toâtheâfields.
He sets theâlowly onâhigh, and mourners areâlifted toâsafety.
He frustrates theâschemes ofâtheâcrafty so that theyâŻachieve noâsuccess.
He traps theâwise inâtheirâcraftiness so that theâplans ofâtheâdeceptive
Are quickly brought toâanâend.
They encounter darkness byâday, and they grope atânoon as if it were night.
He saves theâneedy fromâtheirâsharpâwords⯠and from theâclutches ofâtheâpowerful.
So the poor haveâhope, and injustice shuts itsâmouth.
See how happy theâmanâis Godâcorrects;
So do not reject theâdiscipline ofâtheââ˘Almighty. For He crushes butâalso bindsâup;
He strikes, butâHisâhands alsoâheal.
He willârescue you fromâsixâcalamities;Â No harm willâtouch you inâseven.
In famine Heâwillâredeem you fromâdeath, and in battle, fromâtheâpower ofâtheâsword.
You will be safe fromâslanderâŻÂ and not fear destruction whenâitâcomes.
You will laugh atâdestruction andâhunger and not fear theâanimals ofâtheâearth.
For you will have aâcovenant withâtheâstones ofâtheâfield, and the wild animals willâbe atâpeace withâyou.
You will know thatâyourâtent isâsecure,
And nothing willâbeâmissing whenâyouâinspect yourâhome.
You will alsoâknow thatâyourâoffspring willâbeâmany
And yourâdescendants likeâtheâgrass ofâtheâearth.
You will approach theâgraveâŻÂ inâfullâvigor,âŻas a stack ofâsheaves isâgathered inâitsâseason.
We have investigatedâthis, andâitâisâtrue! Hear it andâunderstand it forâyourself.”
Job 5:8-27
Two Cozy
“A friend loves at all times…”
Proverbs 17:17
Avenged
“They spread a net for my feet, I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path,
but they have fallen into it themselves.. Stop and think of that” Â Psalm 57:6
“When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.”
Isaiah 59:19
and
“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai.”
Esther 7:10
The Strait Gate
“Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,
which leads to life,
and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:14
It Doesn’t Matter What Things Look Like…
“For we walk by faith and not by sight.”
Seems Like Only Yesterday…
My how time flies!
Just wanted to share my good news with you. Yesterday I blogged my 500th post at Faithrises and this is my award!
So happy to have been blogging and sharing here and a special thank you to all of you who have visited, liked or followed Faithrises.
God Bless you!
Love,  FaithâĽ
Come To Daddy
“Come unto me,
all ye that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest”
Matthew 11:28
In Due Time, In Due Season
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you
in due time…” Â I Peter 5:6
Â
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Â Galatians 6:9
“Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.” Â Leviticus 26:4
In Parched Places
“The LORD will guide you continually,
and satisfy your needs in parched places,
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.”
Isaiah 58:11
My Strength, My Shield, My Song
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song will I praise Him.”
Psalm 28:7
Hope is Near
 There can be miracles … when you believe.
Though hope is frail,
Its hard to kill.
Who knows what miracles  you will receive
When you believe,
Somehow you will…
You will when you believe
They don’t always happen when you ask
And its easy to give in to your fears
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way safe through the rain
A small, but still resilient voice, says
“Hope is very near”
-Kenneth Edmonds and Stephen Schwartz
The High Place, I’ll Bring Down
I will make the darkness light before thee,
What is wrong Iâll make it right before thee,
All thy battles I will fight before thee,
And the high place Iâll bring down.
When thou walkest by the way Iâll lead thee,
On the fatness of the land Iâll feed thee,
And a mansion in the sky Iâll deed thee,
And the high place Iâll bring down.
With an everlasting love Iâll love thee,
Though with trials deep and sore Iâll prove thee,
But thereâs nothing that can hurt or move thee,
And the high place Iâll bring down.
Although Satan in his rage would tear thee,
And with all his winning arts would snare thee,
Even down to thine old age Iâll bear thee,
And the high place Iâll bring down.
I will make the darkness light before thee,
I will make the crooked straight before thee,
I will spread My wings protecting oâer thee,
“And the high place Iâll bring down.”
Charles P. Jones
“…I will make the darkness light before them.” Â Isaiah 42:16-
Faithrises 