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Aug 30,2006
Broken Heart?

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Have you ever noticed that when you have a broken heart or crushed spirit, God seems far away? When you are in pain it is very hard to 'be still' and wait on the Lord, to wait for His voice, His comfort.

These verses really encouraged me during a time when my heart was completely shattered. It brought comfort knowing that He was especially close to the broken hearted. He saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good. He protects those who trust Him in times of trouble.

Turning to God's word did help me 'be still', and wait for Him to start healing the pain, to bind up the wound so it wouldn't be unbearable. God's word does bring comfort.

Psalm 119:25,52 I am completely discouraged...revive me by your Word. Your Word has been my comfort.

If you will go to the Lord with your pain, go to His word, wait on Him, He will heal it and bind it up. He is faithful. You will feel Him close once again. He's promised this pain won't last forever. For He is faithful.

The heart of Jesus was broken for you, and God's heart was broken as He gave His only Son to die. We serve a wounded Savior, one who has suffered and understands the broken heart. But the great news is, He is also our Great Physician and He is the one who can heal your broken heart.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful!

Related:
I Will Wait
Every Time
Wait for the God of ALL Comfort

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Aug 23,2006
Praise the King of Glory

Are you surrounded on every side? Does it feel like you are being crushed? Lift up your voice, lift up your hands in worship. Lift up your head and praise Him, that the King of Glory may come in. There is joy in His presence, there is deliverance and victory, for He is the King of Glory, the LORD Almighty. The King of Glory, strong and mighty in battle.

Praise Him!
Praise the King of Glory!

Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

Psalm 24:8-10
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty— he is the King of glory.

Psalm 16:11
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 63:4
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

.
.
.

Eight raised hands.
Eight hands reaching upward in celebration and surrender to MORE!
Eight, the number of new beginnings.

This painting speaks of freedom,
speaks of the nations and
speaks of coming together to bask in the glory,
the presence of the Almighty!
The King of Glory & marvelous light!

From:
http://www.drawneartogod.com/ArtDetail.asp?ID=20060120a

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Aug 23, 2006
Prepare Hearts

Zeph 3:17 The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing.

Lord, prepare hearts to freely give and recieve Your unfailing love. Thank You that as each freely gives and receives, Your Spirit will move in a powerful way touching many hearts.

Prepare the Way
Karen Holland ... 8-23-06

Prepare the Way
Prepare the Way
Make straight the highway
Remove the stones
Build up, build up the Way
The Way of Holiness.

Lift up hearts of praise
Go thru the gates
A banner for the nations raise
The LORD your God is with you
He is mighty to save
He will bring you to the banquet hall
His banner of love displayed -Song 2:4
Trust Him, Trust in His Holy name.

Prepare the Way
Prepare the Way
Freely give what you recieve
Lift up hearts of praise
A banner for the nations raise
The unfailing love of the Lord surrounds and abounds
Everlasting joy crowns.

Prepare the Way
Prepare the Way
Freely give what you recieve
Lift up hearts of praise
A banner for the nations raise.

***

Isaiah 35:8-10 And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 62:10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations. As I thought about this I wondered what the stones might be ... Ezkiel 36:26-27 A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. Remove the stones from your heart! Remove the sin - creating a clean heart (Ps 51:10) This can be a painful, pruning process. Why is it that the heart so important? Maybe because it has to do with the most important commandments. Deuteronomy 6:5-6 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Matthew 22:37-40 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." The heart is also the place where God's words are to be kept. Not just in our heads -- active in our hearts! : ) Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

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Aug 18, 2006
Hungry Hearts

Hungry Hearts
Karen Holland ... 8-18-06

Hungry hearts seeking seeking
So hungry in a dry and parched land
So desparate for a taste of living water
Mouthes opening wider and wider still
Just waiting yearning to be filled
Hungry hearts burning with a holy passion, a consuming fire
Mouthes open wide, empty, panting
Come Lord Jesus come
Come and fill

***

Psalm 84:1-2
How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts!
My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 42:1-2
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and see the face of God?

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your seed, And My blessing on your offspring.

Psalm 81:10
I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

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Aug 17, 2006
Anyone Sighing?

My heart and soul were heavy this morning, I was sighing, until I read the following verses. Hope this encourages you as much as it did me.

Psalm 12:5 “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now I will arise,” says the LORD; “I will set him in the safety from him that puffeth at him. ”

Is your soul weary? Is your heart growing faint from the weight of oppression bearing down on it? Is everything within you crying out for the living God? Lift up your head, fix your eyes on the Lord Jesus. It is only in His strength that you will be able to stand firm, upright and tall. Lift up your head, the Lord hears your sighing, He will arise. Lift up your head and let the King of Glory come in. Be lifted up!

Psalm 84:1-2 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints For the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

Psalm 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consid er my sighing. Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God, For to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up waiting in expectation.

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.

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Aug 15, 2006
Strong Wind Blow

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Psalm 147:18 He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.

Joel 3:18 In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD's house and will water the valley of acacias.

Psalm 57:5, 7-8, 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. ... My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. ... Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Psalm 138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands.

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Aug 14,2006
Storms and Oaks

The following quotes and pic really speak to me.

Storms make oaks grow deeper roots

Oaks grow strong in contary winds

Good timber does not grow with ease
the stronger the wind the stronger the trees

The oak tree's extensive root system anchors it against storm conditions ...

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, 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 a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.

Seems that there are 2 kinds of oaks -- those that trust in the Lord and are His plantings and those that do not trust in the Lord, who are not planted by Him. When the storms come, only those that trust in the Lord are left standing firm, standing firm forever.

But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish. "You will be ashamed because of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be disgraced because of the gardens that you have chosen. You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire."

See, the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand this.

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

Trust in the Lord, let Him plant you near His living waters and then by His hand grow strong deep roots -- roots that become an anchor against any storm. It's these deep roots of trust in the Lord that allow you to have the Lord's peace and stand firm thru any storm.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

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Aug 10, 2006
Like A Dove

Psalm 55:5-8 Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, "Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest- I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.

Song 2:14 My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

Hosea 11:10-11 They will follow the LORD; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes," declares the LORD.

Psalm 68:13 ... the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.

Like A Dove
Karen Holland ... 8-10-06

The dove, the dove
with lovely face and voice so sweet.

The dove, the dove
carried to it's place of shelter
the cleft in the rock, its hiding place
on wings sheathed with silver
and feathers of gold.

It flees with trembling heart
far from the tempest and storm.

Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
My trembling heart, stilled
at peace
as I fly into His open arms
the arms of the Bridegroom
waiting, waiting
waiting to tenderly, gently enfold His dove at last.

Like a dove I will fly
with trembling heart
into His arms
my shelter, my refuge
my sweet hiding place.

____________
Related:
The Dove

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Aug 10,2006
Roll Away the Stone

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said.

When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

After I looked at the command 'Ephphatha! Be opened!', Lazarus came to my mind, Jesus commanding the stone on Lazarus' tomb be rolled away and then commanding him to come out.

Jesus could have just as easily used the 'Be opened' command to raise Lazarus from the dead.

'Be opened' could also have been have been the very word spoken by God that morning that He called for the tomb of his Son to be opened as well!

'Be opened'

This command brings life,

new life,

resurrection power.

    Roll away the stone!
    Come Out!
    Ephphatha! Be opened and live!

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Aug 9,2006
Ephphatha! Be opened!

Do you hear the Lord Jesus Christ's voice?
I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.
       "Ephphatha! Ears be opened!"

***

Do you see the Lord Jesus Christ?
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
       "Ephphatha! Eyes be opened!"

***

Do you smell the sweet fragrance of the Lord Jesus Christ?
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
       "Ephphatha! Smell be opened!"

***

Do your hands feel the Lord Jesus Christ?
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.
       "Ephphatha! Touch be opened!"

***

Do you taste the Lord Jesus Christ's goodness?
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
       "Ephphatha! Taste be opened!"

***

... I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

       "Ephphatha! Be opened and live!"

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Aug 8,2006
Fishers of Men

He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?"
"No," they answered.

He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.

__________________

Are your nets empty?
Have you been fishing all night with no luck?

Listen for His voice

and then follow His instructions.

Your nets will overflow because of the large number of fish.

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Aug 4, 2006
Glory Revealed

Isaiah 40:3-5 In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Revealtion 1:7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him ...

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

_________

Here is a wonderful truth -- the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and ALL mankind TOGETHER will see it! Think about this, all people will stop what they are doing and see together. All walks of life stop, stop in their tracks and look together. All will stop and all will see the glory of the Lord being revealed.

Every eye will see Him, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord -- the name above every name. WOW!

What might this glory look like?

_________

Ezekiel 1:25-28 Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
    This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Revelation 4:1-3 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.

_________

Beautiful, radiance, brilliant light, like the appearance of a rainbow, this is the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord described by Ezekiel and John. It's interesting that they saw this glory around both the throne and the 'figure of a man' on the throne.

_________

Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

_________

The Son, Jesus is the radiance of God's glory. When the King of Kings returns, all mankind together will see God's glory revealed - the Son.

How do I know?

Because the mouth of the Lord has spoken it!

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Aug 4,2006
Seek His Face Always!

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed, when you are losing hope, when you feel like the LORD is far and may not hear your cries for help? What do you do when darkness threatens to swallow you up?

Remember the light of Christ's face - that this light shines out of darkness and is not overcome. That it is in BOTH His mighty hand/arm AND the light of His face we find victory.

It is precisely at this time - the time when darkness threatens to overtake, that your heart must shout - "SEEK HIS FACE"!

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Aug 2,2006
Heaven's Dew

Proverbs 19:12
A king's rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

Numbers 11:9
When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.

Lamentations 3:23
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Psalm 90:14
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

One of the Lord's most beautiful gifts to the earth is dew. It's interesting that the manna from heaven came when the dew settled. Like manna it shows God's sweet favor and provision, His faithfulness. Dew is released when all is still, calm, when the air is at rest, before dawn. Dew doesn't last - as soon as the new morning breaks it evaporates - you always need a new supply.

Dew is a sign of God's provision and favor as we follow His lead, provided in stillness.

Heaven's Dew
Karen Holland ... 8-2-06

Heaven's dew, heaven's dew,
every morning made new.

Like a flower in the field
Lift my head Lord, to you
To You alone may my spirit yield
Still my soul, my mind renew
Clothed in Your splendor
Soak me in heaven's dew

Heaven's dew, heaven's dew,
every morning made new.

Fall on this flower so tender
O Lord, great is Your faithfulness
With compassions that never fail
My heart melts in surrender
Fully satisfied in unfailing love rendered
At rest, strivings cease
held in perfect peace.

Heaven's dew, heaven's dew,
every morning made new.

***

May we each 'be still' and 'soak in' the dew of heaven, every morning made new to follow His lead.

Genesis 27:28
May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness— an abundance of grain and new wine.

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Aug 1, 2006
By His Blood

Isaiah 35:8-10 A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Only the redeemed shall walk on this Highway of Holiness. Only those who are willing to be made clean by the blood of Jesus. Only Jesus the way, the truth and the life can make your sins white as snow, by His blood. This is the only way to the Father. The only way to walk this Highway of Holiness to everlasting joy, everlasting life.

By His Blood
Karen Holland ... 8-1-06

Come
Walk in the way
The way of holiness, a great highway.

Whoever walks this road will not go astray.
No lion or ravenous beast will walk this way.
All sorrow, sighing and darkness will flee away.
Only light, gladness and everlasting joy will remain
The joy of the redeemed, which will never pass away.

Come
Come to Jesus
Be washed in His blood, be made clean
Though your sins stain scarlet white as snow you shall be.

Come
Walk in the way
The way of holiness, a great highway
By His blood, Jesus the way.