(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

Upon this earth we strike and turn,

Ungoverned hate in man’s heart burns.

With guns and knives, fists and words,

We wound and kill, no mercy heard.

 

 

Our hearts we close in capricious abandon,

We turn our backs, our disdain tis random.

In pride we judge our brother near,

Our own cold heart devoid of care.

 

 

“Oh I would never harm that way,

To rape and slaughter is crime,” we say.

Yet daily we turn callously, indifferent to other’s cries and pleas,

We spurn the need, claim pain is earned, with hardened hearts that give no ease.

 

 

Our arrogance it is the same,

But we use words to play our game.

We seek to grind our brother down,

Our ears are closed to their anguished sound.

 

 

Infested with the same sporn evil,

We shove and jostle for our own self will.

We stop at nothing to have our way, we use whatever’s in our hands,

We do not care on whom we trample, as long as it is we who stands.

 

 

Automatics and machetes, vicious words and hearts that spurn,

To fight and destroy, our common goal, to kill our brother we plot and yearn.

The sickness it runs deep within,

We’re all infected, the blight of sin.

 

 

Instead of help we offer harm,

“You lean on me, I’ll break your arm.”

We brutalize, desensitise,

Rip out their heart, and silence their cries.

 

 

In all the world we are as one,

We will not stop till death has come.

In Africa or South East Asia, America or Australia,

Our desperate need is our hearts SAVIOR.

 

 

In the west we think we’re fine,

We don’t use weapons – we use our minds.

We strike and wound with same intent,

On hellish paths our hearts are bent.

 

 

Tis only CHRIST upon the cross,

Can rescue desperate man so lost.

Our hearts are stone, must be reborn,

The love of GOD in us needs formed.

 

 

We cannot do it on our own.

If we would reap what we have sown,

To oblivion hurtles this earth our home.

Can you not hear all creation groan?

 

 

That we would treasure our brother’s heart,

From selfish desire we would stand apart.

Instead of wounding and lashing out,

We would hear with compassion the whisper, the shout.

 

 

We need a GOD so rich in love,

That HE would reach down from above,

And redeem us from our cruel heart’s self,

And change us with HIS life – true wealth!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

We all of us suffer from the insidious stain of pride - its stench is pervasive amongst humanity. It is the root of all our sin and rebellion against our CREATOR and LORD. It is pride that whispers ‘we can be as GOD’ - but we can’t claim original ownership of it, it came to us via a once beautiful angel who once worshipped The ALMIGHTY; before he became enamoured with his own beauty, before he began to whisper aloud the deception that had taken up residence in his innermost being - ‘that he could be GOD”!

His plot to overthrow The LORD began then, and vanity took the place of beauty, and his lies began their cancerous spread - to one third of the angels, and then to humanity; to Adam and Eve, living in innocence in paradise. They were willing sponges for lucifer’s brand of ‘truth’ - and we today are not so different.

 

Power                      …..  over GOD or another …. that leads to

Rejection               ….. of GOD or another …. which in turn leads to

Independance “I”   ….. from GOD or others (elevation of ’self’)… and leads to

Denial                    ….. of fault to GOD or another … that finally leads to

Enmity                     …..  between us and GOD or one another - ’separation’!

 

How earnestly we need the washing of GOD’s words in our lives, how desperately we need the truth of all HE is, and says, to permeate our beings - to set us free from our own propensity towards self deception and lies; for we cannot trust in ourselves. Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, The LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” ALMIGHTY GOD alone truly knows us - and we will shout HIS praise for all eternity, that knowing us fully, HE still chose us to be HIS own special people! 

 

We are not so ‘good’ as we think we are - but nor are we worthless, as so many of us believe. We need CHRIST, The Living WORD, to live as LORD and SAVIOR in our lives, for if we search for truth within ourselves, apart from HIM Who is TRUTH, then we will fall into the same hole lucifer fell into, the one he dragged Eve into! The pit of pride, rebellion and separation! There is no Truth apart from JESUS CHRIST.

We must receive from our Hevenly FATHER, and then diligently nurture and cultivate, a love for the Truth in our lives! (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10)

HIS Word is Truth - it is a sword that will divide and expose; revealing what needs ‘cutting out’ and showing us where and when we need to throw ourselves upon HIS mercy and grace, to receive HIS empowering to transform us - to “Create in us a clean heart and renew in us a right spirit!”(Psalm 51:10) 

 

Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of GOD is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from HIS sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of HIM to whom we must give account.” What a sobering thought - our SAVIOR knows us better than we know ourselves, and to HIM alone must we give an account of our lives; hallelujah that HE took on the task of redeeming us and of transforming us into HIS likeness - and praise HIS goodness that we can’t hide the true state of our hearts from HIM and that HE will not rest until HIS ‘good work’ in us is completed - so let’s choose a humble, obedient, transparent and yielded life!

 

Psalm 119:9-11 “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to YOUR word. With my whole heart I have sought YOU; oh let me not wander from YOUR commandments! YOUR word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against YOU.”

John 8: 31-32,36 “… ‘If you abide in MY word, you are MY disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and The Truth shall make you free!’” “Therefore if The SON makes you free, you shall be free indeed!’” To abide is to stay, to remain - so let us abide, abide, abide - in HIM; our Safety, our Deliverer, our Redeemer … in HE Who is The TRUTH!

(C) Cheryl Howard 2009

Almighty GOD HE holds the future in HIS wise and loving hands

So I’ll not stress about tomorrow for tis HE who helps me stand

I may not know what lies ahead nor what a new day brings

But of this I’m sure – my life is safe in HIM who forgave my sins

 

 

Today is a gift HE offers, tis full of life and so profound

An opportunity for more of CHRIST, to be closer to HIM bound

There is no room for worry here, no place for dread despair

For my SAVIOR rescued me and holds me secure within HIS care

 

 

HE knew what yet must come even before my life was formed

HE knew for me HE’d face the Cross, and that its shame HE’d scorn

How could I ever doubt such love, such unimaginable kindness?

How could I fear tomorrow when I’m held by HIS power and goodness?

 

 

For me HE gave HIS everything, laying down HIS all

And all HE asks of me is to trust HIM, and obey HIS call

To follow HIM in childlike faith, knowing HE’ll lead me true

For HE is GOD Incarnate Who came to earth, our good to do

 

 

So no matter what the future holds, the challenges it throws

I won’t be swayed or overcome, for I know HIM Who knows!

On HIS promise to bring me home to HIM, my life in faith does rest

And every obstacle that I face, an opportunity of proving my trust, a test!

 

 

Whatever tomorrow brings your way, don’t let it your joy steal

Entrust yourself into the loving hands of YAHWEH – HE is real

When there’s no way to move forward and you’re hemmed in from behind

Throw yourself into HIS arms - HE will light your darkness when you’re blind.

 

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey ….

 

Matthew 6:33-34 “But seek first the kingdom of GOD and HIS righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

 

One day at a time!

Worry adds nothing to our lives - except a burden too heavy to bear; we can’t change anything by worrying - except maybe the state of our health (physical and mental), and the color of our hair. That is why our loving, powerful HEAVENLY FATHER tells us in Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to GOD; and the peace of GOD, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS.”

 

The power of ‘but’ - “but in everything” … every worry, every anxiety, every care, burden and concern … “by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving” - how important it is for us to take our every worry, our every need to our SAVIOR, to lay it before HIM in prayer, trusting HIM and HIS wisdom and thanking HIM for HIS provision, protection, goodness and care … and then we will have HIS peace, guarding and keeping our hearts and minds safe in HIM, our Redeemer JESUS! HE knows we will be assailed with worries and burdens, that is a given in this life - it is what we do with them that determines whether we live crippled by them, or whether we live overcoming and victorious, secure in HIS peace. That choice is up to us - will we hold on to our worries or will we trust, releasing them into the capable hands of our wise and loving HEAVENLY FATHER?

 

Lamentations 3:21-25 “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for HIS compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is YOUR faithfulness. ‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I have hope in HIM.’ The LORD is good to those who wait for HIM, to the person who seeks HIM.”

 

 

 

(c) Cheryl Howard 2008

 

HIS heart it is steady, pure and true,

HIS love is enduring and HE won’t betray you.

HE is goodness and kindness, gentleness too,

HIS patience unending, for your good does HE do!

 

 

HE is the Bastion of all ages, safe and secure,

A bulwark of hope in a world so hope poor.

HE is LORD of Eternity, Ancient of Days,

In HIM you can trust all of your ways.

 

 

In a world always shifting, failing and flawed,

HE alone is The One to be safely adored.

A heart that is Love, it beats in HIS breast,

Only in HIS embrace can you truly find rest.

 

 

HE is FATHER and SON, SPIRIT, yet One,

Creator of all, and to us did HE come!

HE has proved beyond doubt in the death of HIS SON,

That HE gives us HIS Life - if to HIM we will run!

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

What foundation is your life built upon?

How you honestly answer this question will have great bearing on how you navigate a dramatically shifting future. The world is changing (whether you like it or not, whether you admit it or not) - and in many ways it is becoming incresingly hostile to a faith that is based on The CHRIST of the Bible. HE who claimed (in a pluralistic society) to be The Only WAY, TRUTH and LIFE!

Do you truly believe HIM?

Is HE your ROCK of endless ages? Or is your faith built upon shifting sands?

Sobering questions, but ones we need to address, and to settle within our own hearts. We need to know WHOM we have believed in. For only HE can carry us safely through the stormy seas that lie before us, as we navigate the journey from this life into eternity.

 

Some people are already in the midst of wild seas and churning waters, others are still sailing in relatively calm waters - but all the evidence is screaming at all of us, Storms ahead!

 

Matthew 7:21-27 “Not everyone who says to ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of MY FATHER in heaven. Many will say to ME in that day, ‘LORD, LORD, have we not prophesied in YOUR Name, cast out demons in yOUR Name, and done many wonders in YOUR Name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from ME, you who practice lawlessness!’ Therefore whoever hears these sayings of MINE, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of MINE, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

 

The best time to make ready and to prepare for difficult, challenging and stormy times ahead is before they hit - when things are still relatively calm. Learn to run to our GOD and SAVIOR - HE will not fail us, in fact HE has promised to never leave nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13:5) Spend time with HIM, in HIS word, getting to intimately know HIM, to recognise HIS voice, HIS guiding and leading of you. The more you learn of HIM - HIS heart, HIS character, the more secure you will be, for you will discover the truth; HE is faithful, good, merciful, powerful, holy, real and true…..

 

Proverbs 22:3 “A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

Let’s not suffer needlessly; let’s learn Where our help comes from, and WHO to run to in times of need! Let’s develop the habit of running to HIM so frequently that it becomes our default setting - so that when we find ourselves in the midst of overwhelming, towering waves; we instinctively run to HIM - our VERY PRESENT HELP! 

Psalm 121:2 ”MY help comes from The LORD Who made heaven and earth.” 

Psalm 46:1 “… GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

I was birthed to know YOU,

I was made for YOU,

It is YOU who does complete me,

Wherever I am whatever I do.

 

There is no Life without YOU,

No river running sweet,

No joy within my heart,

No wind beneath my feet.

 

O LORD YOU complete me,

Fill my cup and make me see,

The wondrous gift of Life within YOU,

The bliss of water running free.

 

I soar within YOUR Presence,

A wingless bird flying high,

Released, restored, unhindered,

For YOU I’d gladly die.

 

This life I know hold loosely,

This world contains no gain,

It’s treasures are deceptive,

Promise much while yielding pain.

 

Only in YOUR endless love,

In the strength of YOUR embrace,

Is the pearl of life so sought for,

The wonder of YOUR grace.

 

For YOU was I created,

For YOU each breath I take,

My broken life YOU rescued,

A thing of beauty did YOU make!

 

 

 

thought for the journey ….

 

To know ALMIGHTY GOD - what a calling, what a destiny! Reconciled, redeemed, forgiven and restored - through HIS Only Begotten SON and the completed work of HIS Cross as HE bore our sins and their judgment.

To know ALMIGHTY GOD - what treasure, what riches! 2Corinthians 4:6-7 “For it is the GOD who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the Face of JESUS CHRIST. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of GOD and not of us.”

To know ALMIGHTY GOD - what will you do with this invitation? GOD in CHRIST has already made HIS heart and desire blatantly clear “HE is willing that NONE should perish”

You are as close to The LORD as you want to be - it is we who limit our closeness to GOD - by indifference, disobedience, cares and carelessness, by sin ….

 

1 John 2:3-6,15 “Now by this we know that we know HIM, if we keep HIS commandments.He who says, ‘I know HIM’, and does not keep HIS commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps HIS word, truly the love of GOD is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in HIM. He who says he abides in HIM ought also to walk just as HE walked.” “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of The FATHER is not in him.”

Our lives - how we actually live, manifests the truth about us - about ‘who’ we really live for, and ‘who’ we truly belong to; and whether the love of GOD The FATHER does in fact abide in us. For it is this love, HIS love, that marks and identifies those who are HIS!

It is HIS love in us that will compel us to:  live righteously

                                                            keep ourselves pure (and purify ourselves - 1John 3:3)

                                                            be obedient to all HE commands

                                                         & cause us to love each other.

This is the ‘proof’, the ‘evidence’ that we do truly love HIM - and that we belong to HIM in intimate and righteous relationship! That we ‘know’ HIM!

 

(C) Cheryl Howard 2009

A lamp it glows the brighter when all about is grey,

Its light it radiates when darkness swamps the day.

When lies and deception they abound,

Tis YOUR living Word that’s true and sound.

 

 

Our world it turns lacklustre, heavy weighted and leaden,

When the fog of half truths try YOUR light in us to deaden.

To YOU LORD must we run, YOU are our Tower of Strength

YOU will flood us with YOUR Truth, its light covering us as a tent.

 

 

The fire of the furnace, it purifies the gold,

The pressures of persecution, YOUR character in us can mold,

The more that we resist, the greater is our pain,

But if to YOU in trust we yield, then our loss will become gain.

 

 

YOU Who inhabit eternity see our final end,

Of our lives YOU’ll form a diamond, if our will to YOURS we bend.

The weight of trials and testing, a greater brilliance will reveal,

If in love and faith we surrender, and are by YOUR SPIRIT sealed.

 

 

BELOVED, YOU went before us, YOU walked a most difficult path,

To secure for us a place with YOU, ordained before eternity past.

In YOUR FATHER’s house are many rooms, emblazoned with YOUR Presence,

Soon Most High will YOU return, for YOUR own, in YOUR Glorious Magnificence!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

1 John 5:20 “And we know that The SON of GOD has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know HIM Who is true; and we are in HIM Who is true, in HIS SON JESUS CHRIST. This is The True GOD and eternal life.” 

 

These inspired words contain the inherent power to change our very lives; they are words that can shape our destiny both now and for eternity, if we choose to heed their challenge ‘to know HIM Who is True’ … HE is True and HE is Truth - absolute, unchanging, unshakable; and that is why HE Alone is the one Rock upon which we can securely rest our life, The ROCK upon Whom we must be built. HE is the Chief Cornerstone (Matthew 21:42), The Alpha and The Omega; it is GOD who has begun a good work in us in CHRIST, and HE Who will bring it to completion in The Day of CHRIST JESUS (Philippians 1:6)

 

CHRIST never claimed to be ‘a’ truth among many - HE claimed to be The TRUTH! (John 14:6)

HE has made a way for us, HE is the WAY for us, and all we need do is place our lives in HIS hands, our trust in HIS heart and our feet in HIS footsteps! HE will lead us home, home to HIS FATHER - and home to our FATHER.

 

John 14:2-3 “In MY FATHER’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to MYSELF; that where I am, there you may be also.”

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

   

Because we have JESUS as our HIGH PRIEST and HE has compassion for us and HE sympathises and commiserates with us in our weaknesses in every area of our lives – our feebleness, our moral frailty, our sickness and our lack of strength and power – and not ony that, HE understands us; our needs, our struggles and our suffering. So because HE knows what we are going through, let’s come with boldness and confidence, with assurance of a loving welcome; let us approach openly, not hiding or hanging our heads afraid of our reception, but with frankness, bluntness and freedom of speech, let’s be unreserved, speaking openly and clearly and saying exactly what we’re thinking - to the Throne of Grace! To the seat of GOD’s own power, and of HIS very graciousness toward us and of HIS favour to us and on us!

Let us not hold back, but rather come to this throne of our Gracious GOD so that we may lay hold of, seize, obtain and receive the very mercy that HE offers us – HIS compassion that removes the misery that sin brings into our lives! And also at this throne of GOD’s gracious favour we are able to find, to see and perceive, to obtain and to get help – timely help and aid from our GOD Who gives us HIS favour and grace.

HE will wrap ropes around us, to hold us up out of danger, to prevent our demise just like sailors do to save a ship or a boat that is in danger in treacherous conditions. HE will lift us up and rescue us with well-timed, opportune aid – right when we need it!

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

The Throne of Grace!

We should be forever grateful that such a throne exists ….. imagine our worlds without it! How blessed we are that not only does our GOD sit enthroned upon a throne of grace, but HE bids us meet HIM there! Because of CHRIST - our GREAT HIGH PRIEST! Not only are we invited to meet with HIM there, but we are called to run to HIS throne of grace whenever we are in need - in any and every area of our lives; and there HE offers us real and literal help.

 

Hebrews 5:9 “And having been perfected (greek ‘teleioo’ = to fulfil), HE became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey HIM,” As we follow and obey our SAVIOR we can rest confident in the completeness of HIS work of grace on our behalf upon The Cross - HE made a way where there was no way, HE opened wide the throne room of ALMIGHTY GOD’s grace for us, paving a path that was washed in HIS Blood - HE is The WAY!

 

Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of YOUR Throne; mercy and truth go before YOUR face.”

A Throne of grace founded on righteousness and justice, of The One True GOD Who is full of mercy and truth, - righteousness that has been imputed to us who believe in GOD Who raised up CHRIST JESUS (Romans 4:24), at Calvary- and is the reason we can approach our Heavenly FATHER with such unquestioning confidence …

2 Corinthians 5:21 “For HE made HIM Who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in HIM!”

Romans 3:22-24 “even the righteousness of GOD, through faith in CHRIST JESUS, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD, being justified freely by HIS grace through the redemption that is in CHRIST JESUS,”

We are welcomed, desired, called and embraced because of The CHRIST - EMMANUEL, MESSIAH … HE has justified us, made us righteous and ransomed our lives with HIS own, rescuing and redeeming us because of HIS Great Mercy and Grace. HE represents us to The FATHER - JESUS our Great HIGH PRIEST; so let’s not waste a moment standing in the shadows outside The FATHER’s Throne of Grace, ashamed and hesitating in our injured pride…. but let us run and hurl ourselves in humility upon HIS lap, crying out for HIS help, trusting how dearly HE longs to provide it - for HE knows better than we, how desperately we need it!

(C) Cheryl Howard 2008

When your cup of sorrow overflows,

To get through today you just don’t know.

When those closest let you down,

And comfort just cannot be found.

 

It’s HIS promise that you must hold,

HE’ll not forsake when young or old.

When your dreams lay at your feet,

Hurt so bad your heart scarce beats.

 

Though storm clouds obscure your view,

And try to steal all hope from you,

HE is constant, HE is true,

HE is holding tight to you.

 

When you walk a lonely road,

It is HE who bears your load.

In the darkness of your night,

HE has sworn to be your light.

 

When your heart it quails within,

Your courage fading it’s so thin.

Reach out your hand HE is right there,

HE fought to rescue you, child so dear.

 

HE is The KING who conquered all,

Into HIS loving arms do fall.

HE is The LION on the throne,

And HE protects and guards HIS own!

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

The Faithfulness of GOD …. how often we fail to truly comprehend it.

Yet it is an essential part of HIS character - of WHO HE is. HE will never forsake us, HE is not weak or powerless, fickle or faithless, HE is not mercurial or whimsical! HE is The ROCK; solid, unchanging, dependable, reliable, faithful, true and constant. HE is Strength, Power, Might and Force - Uncontainable and Unpredictable (at times); but HE is TRUE and HE is always true to HIS Word and HIS Nature - a Loving, Gracious, Merciful, Forgiving, Holy And Righteous GOD …

Hebrews 13:5b-6 “be content with such things as you have. For HE HIMSELF has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say; ‘The LORD is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

 

In the Hebrew the words ‘faithful’, ‘faithfully’ and ‘faithfulness’ come from the words ‘Aman‘ and ‘Emunah‘.

‘Aman‘ means to build up or support, to foster as a parent or nurse, to be firm and faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet, to be true or certain - “to be firm, endure, be faithful, be true, stand fast…”

‘Emunah‘ means firmness and security, fidelity and faithfulness, truth, honesty, stability…”

In the Greek the word ‘faithful’ comes from the word ‘Pistos‘, which means trustworthy, trustful, faithful, sure, trusting and believing…

 

Deuteronomy 7:9 “Therefore know that The LORD your GOD, HE is GOD, the faithful (’Aman‘) GOD who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love HIM and keep HIS commandments;”

Psalm 36:5 “YOUR mercy O LORD is in the heavens; YOUR faithfulness (’Emunah‘) reaches to the clouds.”

Psalm 89:8 “O LORD GOD of hosts, who is mighty like YOU, O LORD? YOUR faithfulness (’Emunah‘) also surrounds YOU.”

1 Corinthians 1:9 “GOD is faithful (’Pistos‘), by Whom you were called into the fellowship of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST our LORD,”

Revelation 19:11 “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And HE Who sat on him was called Faithful (’Pistos‘) and True, and in righteousness HE judges and makes war.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 “Now may The GOD of peace HIMSELF sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. HE Who calls you is faithful (’Pistos‘), Who also will do it.”

 

It is not our faithfulness we are to depend upon - but HIS. HIS fidelity, HIS support of us; that HE endures forever and HE is our Firm foundation, HE is our Stability in a world made of quicksand - HE is Trustworty and True; on HIM and in HIM we can stand fast and believe, for HE is Certain and Permanent! What A ROCK our JESUS is!! So let us hold on, with unshakable confidence, to the Promise of GOD’s faithfulness - and let us guard the faithfulness of our own hearts in trust towards HIM.

 

(C) Cheryl Howard 2006

How subtle is that thing called doubt,

That clouds your mind and mutes your shout.

Embraced by it you tarry long,

In that nothing place where right seems wrong.

 

 

There days they blend, in quick succession,

A life poor spent – awaiting heaven,

Not knowing if to move, or be still,

You fritter time and avoid HIS will.

 

 

For doubt it robs the soul of faith and hope,

Instead of eyes on CHRIST it vacillates and mopes.

The purposes of GOD will never come to pass,

Unless you’re willing to obey, HIS bidding, when you ask.

 

 

For trust it rests in the Goodness of GOD’s Great Heart,

All obstacles it resolutely sweeps apart,

Believing what HE says, HE will surely do

Running joyfully beside HIM and labouring with HIM too!

 

 

 

 

thought for the journey …

 

Doubt accuses GOD - of neglect, of lack of care, of powerlessness; of being unwilling or unable to come to our aid , to meet us at our point of need, to carry us through….

Doubt at its’ heart is lack of faith and trust in Who GOD is; in HIS Love and HIS goodness.

Doubt is an assault on the character and integrity of our Heavenly FATHER.

 

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for he who comes to GOD must believe that HE is, and that HE is a rewarder of those who diligently seek HIM.”

 

To believe that HE is! WHO He is, what makes HIM HIM; HIS character, nature, integrity.

 

Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and HE knows those who trust in HIM.”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am GOD; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

 

To be still means to let go, to let drop, to cease, to relax, to be quiet, to leave off your own attempts, to abandon, forsake and refrain - it is a picture of ceasing from our own worrying, striving, resisting and doubting. Be still and know that I am GOD - to know is a relational word, not only head knowledge, but heart knowledge. It means to consider and experience GOD, to perceive and see HIM, to be instructed and to acquire knowledge by experiencing and understanding Who GOD is! It is a picture of intimate relationship with, and confident trust in The Ancient of Days, The Alpha and The Omega - GOD who is Omniscient (HE knows everything, past, present and future), who is Omnipresent (not ‘in’ everything, but unlimited by time or space), and who is Omnipotent (HE truly is All Powerful)!

 

To diligently, hungrily, earnestly seek and pursue HIM!  It is this kind of a people whom GOD is looking for, this kind of a people who thrill HIS heart and delight HIM - a people who not only believe him, but believe in HIM and who are willing to cast off every obstacle in their resolute determination to seek after HIS heart. A people who are so hungry for HIS Presence, so longing to know HIM - for intimacy with HIM, that no price is too high in their pursuit of JESUS. 

 

Phillipians 3:8-9a “Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of CHRIST JESUS my LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain CHRIST and be found in HIM,”