The Lord's Day

I feel like a world traveler...........unfortunately some things have suffered more than others this blog being one of them. I am praying to be back on track....... traveling is finally coming to a halt for a few months. I love this prayer.........found it during my quiet time........I pray it blesses you as it did me!

O Lord my Lord,
This is thy day,
     the heavenly ordinance of rest,
     the open door of worship,
     the record of Jesus' resurrection,
     the seal of the sabbath to come,
     the day when saints militant and triumphant unite in endless song.
I bless thee for the throne of grace,
     that here free favour reigns;
     that open access to it is through the blood of Jesus;
     that the veil is torn aside and I can enter the holiest
          and find thee ready to hear,
                                waiting to be gracious,
                                 inviting me to pour out my needs,
                                 encouraging my desires,
                                 promising to give more than I ask or think.
But while I bless thee, shame and confusion are mine:
I remember my past misuse of sacred things,
         my irreverent worship,
         my base ingratitude,
         my cold, dull praise.
Sprinkle all my past sabbaths with the cleansing blood of Jesus,
   and may this day witness deep improvements in me.
Give me in rich abundance
   the blessiings the Lord's Day was designed to impart;
May my heart be fast bound against worldly thoughts or cares;
Flood my mind with peace beyond understanding;
   may my meditations be sweet,
     my acts of worship life, liberty, joy,
     my drink the streams that flow from thy throne,
     my defence the shield of faith,
          and may my heart be more knit to Jesus.


all of grace,
Robbie
Prayer from the book (Valley of Vision)

In God's Presence

 

It is impossible for us to grasp the greatness of God. It is simply beyond our comprehension. However, God's word give us some really amazing insight into his character.

In the Old Testament very few people were allowed into God's presence in the Holy of Holies because God is just that- Holy.

Now,  because of Christ's blood, that veil separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies has been torn in two. Jesus is our High Priest, and because of that we have access to the Father. This doesn't make God less Holy. It just means that because of Christ's blood those barriers have been removed.

In God's presence are glory, honor, strength, gladness, and a host of other wonderful characteristics. Our God is truly awesome. We can see that in creation, at Calvary, at the Garden tomb, and in our own lives.

 

God wants very much to be involved in our lives. He wants to be included in every aspect our our marriages, families, careers, etc. God is Great. He cares for us- each individually - even with all of our fears and failures. He can see to finished product in us. Will you let him have a primary place in your life. Give him your cares and concerns. He loves us and wants a relationship with each and every one of us.

Amy

grabbing the Saviors feet

May your weekend kindest friends be one of grabbing the Savior's feet..............although we are unworthy may we hold on even tighter........not willing to let go! May you let His light fill you and allow His blood to cleanse you.

We must remember it was the stench of our ugly sins.............that nailed Him to the Cross and each time we refuse the cup that has been passed to us is when we drive the nails a little deeper.........causing Him more pain and knowing that He stayed up on the Cross willingly!

May we continue to live Easter Sunday over and over again................full of Joy as we.....willingly  learn to die daily!

May we never forget Easter.................that this was our moment..............that we were engraved into the palm of our Savior's hands!

all of grace,

Robbie

 

God's hands and feet

 Oh God let our praises be from our hands as we clothe the naked and use our arms to bring comfort to those who are sick

"We become like the things that we love..."

What is a sacrifice to God?
.............a broken spirit.
I have seen the broken.......I have held the hands of the dying.........I have listened as a husband cried that cry that only comes from losing your soul-mate, I have even held dying children!
I have seen the broken BUT have I been the broken?

     As the world keeps turning and the people keep aching.......it is the me who questions the most high? As Ann Voskamp says; "Practical Atheism?"  She brilliantly said it all with those two words.
Where are our praises?  Do we only reach out our hands only when it's the taking?  We the takers?  We continue to look through the eyes of reason........instead of seeing through the eyes of our Saviour who is the intimate with, "grief."
Romans 8:17;
and if children, then heirs- heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we SUFFER with HIM in order that we may be glorified with him. (our sufferings here in the present are insignificant in comparison with the glory that is to be revealed to us!)Romans 8:18.
    
     If we are the called to give thanks in everything........then why are we selective?
When the emptiness does sing where is our gratitude?

I run to my friends when I am hurt, sad or defeated.  I talk and talk and talk about needing revival,  transformation........a circumcised heart! But have I ever told God?
     Maybe it's the me with my me-ism self that has worked for immediate gratification of earthly rewards rather than waiting for the greatest reward God is keeping for me in heaven?
After church on Sunday I had a revelation....(a life lesson.)  It redefined who I am.  A servant!!!!
  So I will continue to kneel by the beds of the dying..............whispering...........His name.....the only name that matters- "JESUS.........JESUS." And when I look into the eyes of my patients......I will look to see HIS face!  I will quietly whisper praises of thanksgiving knowing in His timing we will see an end to the suffering as we know it and meet Him on the other side of  "glory."
Although the world will keep spinning......and people will keep suffering.... remembering to thank Him in the mist of our pain, or broken-ness proclaims who He is!
     For He who was created for Sin but was sinless.....out of suffering comes Grace!
For He who is the WORD....how much more should we know the WORD first!!!!! The WORD with nail scarred hands.......The WORD who breathed life into the written word.

all of  grace,
Robbie

a quiet repost........as I try and conquer 14 loads of laundry from our travels. Thank you for grace.

for the gifts that keep on coming:
For He who is our peace
For He who is our strength
For He who is our comfort
For the blood of Jesus
For a God who speaks
For a sermon that was handwritten for me
Seeing the living waters flow out of my pastor
Sensing the Holy Spirit in a stranger
Seeking His face
For the ever present God




    
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The Empty Tomb

Trying to live Easter all over again......Aren't we supposed to die daily?
Wanting so badly to live my life like the tomb is empty.........to understand what our Saviour has truly done. Wanting to have the world's biggest conference call.......screaming......."don't miss it!"  The tomb is really empty!
Knowing that the only thing that should be empty in our life is that tomb! Because we are full of His Spirit;  but are we choosing to really live?

Fearful but full....................is how I live.

I can see it...........their eyes wide open with disbelief.........shocked that His body was not there.
They listen! They run.................and in that moment..........they knew what it felt like to truly live like the tomb was empty.

Beauty from Ashes.........from His blood that dripped that day.........which brought us Salvation!

Jesus choose the Cross.....his willingness to take our sin on himself....... to prove once and for all.....his supreme power over death. 

 Why? Why did you do it God? I think about His blood that still runs warm today! I think about Him who was fully God but fully human........He who sweated blood! Wondering if maybe even He had fear of what might come at the father's hand?  He who said;  "not my will but yours!"


Do we realize the suffering that Jesus endured for us? He was God, and with one inhale or exhale He who created the World with a Word could have STOPPED IT ALL!  But He didn't.
He proved to the world that he understands! He knows SUFFERING.
The Word Himself became FLESH.........the Creator who became His creation;  to feel what we feel.........hurt,  pain, He even tasted death.......all for us! 

In John 12 Jesus explains a key reason for his death:  "Salvation." John 12:23 The hour has come for the son of Man to be glorified. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and DIES, it remains only a single seed. But if it DIES, it produces many seeds.

This is a beautiful illustration of the necessary SACRIFICE OF JESUS.
Jesus had to die to pay the penalty of our sin, but also to show His power over death. His resurrection proves he has eternal life. Because Jesus is God.
Jesus can give the same eternal life to all who believe in him. In the very next verse he explains the attitude of his followers. John 12:25, The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

                                                       To enter through the gate which is Jesus Christ himself, we have to die to the old self.
2 Corinthians 5:17;
 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Christians are "New Creations."

 The Holy Spirit gives us new life. It's a gift.....Can we except it?


 This idea is shown in the parable of the wheat kernel. One thing dies in order to become something else. Look at Paul's discussion of the death and resurrection of Christ in:
 2Corinthians 5:14-15,;
For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15, And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
We should no longer live to please ourselves; we should live our lives pleasing Christ who died for us and rose from the grave.
Daily I live my life in distrust..............with building my own golden calf............falling to my knees crying out HOW? How do I trust? 
And all along it is Jesus himself who has shown us personally, death to self through submission to God.  Not just once a year but daily.....sometimes hourly..............or minute by minute!
Grab tight to the slaughtered Son.........let his blood run over you..................let Him bring you up in His Glory as you....Remember Christ's Crucifixion and Celebrate his Resurrection!
 Let us strive to live our lives pleasing God!

Father we thank you today that You sent Jesus to die on that cross for our sins. Thank you Father for your power over death. Help us to remember to die our flesh daily. Help us to live a life that is pleasing to you. Let us wake up each day remembering......that the tomb is empty!


all is well,
Robbie

In the middle of Holy Week............I can't seem to catch my breath! Husband is in Florida.....youngest child with Nana.......middle one with friends who I haven't even seen............and it's me who flew right in here on Wednesday night in the middle Holy week not able to breath.

The mattresses have no cover the tweens have picked such slumber..........I feel like I can't breath.

I beg and I plead to the teen please don't cry!

No-one here is the waiting...............or the ready for the biggest day of the year!

Watching your on fleshing blood..... heart crack right open is not what I call a walk in the park!

Maybe it's all just distractions.............coming at us from afar..........it's my mom that screams;

"time is short"

I feel like there is an elephant sitting on my chest...........my anxious heart awaits to be eased............"is this how He felt before He wore His flesh nailed to a Cross?"

He who knew what was ahead...........SERVED..............even to the one who would betray Him!

I sit in this broken place where it is the unclean and the teens are captivated by the things of the world. I sit because it is me who can't move until His Grace fills me!

I sit and I cry with my hands open............and I wonder if He hears?

And it's then that He gently whispers saying....." DIE.............die to self...................die to the world.....deny your self the things of this world!

So I open up my hands and I pray.............asking the; "the Kings of Kings and the Lord of Lords....."where are you?" And although my head is spinning me a bit disoriented......my heart knows.................God is right here in this mess..............in this pain............gently reminding me...........that He knows.............He knows what pain truly feels like.

Pain is what He did for us!

Willingly.....it was a CHOICE.

He chose it to save US! His Beloved!

all is well because of Him,

Robbie

grace from God

Come a morning in early spring with birds chirping and trees glistening I think

 back to New Year's eve..........how I wanted 2012 to be the different;
  "My mind was racing before the clock struck 12...... with a twinkle of fear; wondering what was ahead!"
In a world where right seems wrong;   Is there is still a glimmer of HOPE?

I think about my life and the years gone by and how I have wasted.......... valuable time. I look at my youngest who is already 12 savoring the moments because she still enjoys our family time..........while the others scurry and dress seeking pleasure from the world.

I think about the fast pace of this world and wonder why? Why does He drop Grace right out of the sky?

Our life is like a picture book............but only He can see the ending with all our days being the numbered.

In the weeks to come there will be many paths to take.....................and maybe I am crazy to think like this but wouldn't the world spin a little better if we all smiled a little more? What does my face say about me? What does your face say about you?

In a world that is the broken...... His light is still shining through disasters,  turmoil
 hunger.............. through sickness...............and even in death.....if only we could see with spiritual eyes.

The Creator who took on flesh to be with His creation..............to save us from ourselves.
Grace always precedes sin............the Word himself makes sure......grace..........grace..... more than enough for our every need.

And just maybe it is us that has been chosen for such a time as this!

Be careful making friends with the Holy Spirit because He will ask you to die!

It happened when I went to a prayer retreat last October..... the King Himself sat me in front of a dead, barren forest............He was asking me to die! I said I was ready but I haven't yet(died to self).........I can't seem to let go..........to surrender the all of me...............I have continued to give Him only a piece of me.  It's my soul I have held onto the longest.  He sat me in front of the most dead.......... dark place I have ever seen.......It was strange I could actually feel darkness.... coldness..........and he was showing me that the darkness was me and my sins! 
But if you looked close through the darkness in various places were these beautiful green sprouts of life. Although dead and dark new life was beginning to sprout up!

I often wonder when I return in a year........ will it still be cold, dark and barren?

So far I have spent 2012 wanting change that only comes from the inside................longing for transformation...............but continuing to live broken in all the wrong places!

It is true that every spring has new blooms............but what will I find when I return to the picture of my very own soul?  Life has a way of causing you to want to give up sometimes even shaking your fists in the air.........."screaming what are you doing to me?"   Sometimes the road less traveled looks like it is never-ending.

And when I think back to that...... cold.....dark.........barren...place........ it is then that His grace falls right out of the sky and says...."what looks dead may be dormant for a season"............"and what is barren.....may be about to explode with new life".............."and somehow this wild barren me may bloom new life this spring!"

Isaiah 43:19

¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

 Even wild things bloom............the dark will become light...........and in His will is where we will find our peace!
Hold on..........revival can be messy............it can hurt.........but when we resurface it will be His beauty perfected!

all is well because wild things do bloom,

Robbie


asking for grace please in New York this week with the oldest tween for her 17 birthday present......then on to the beach for a week with 12 tweens for spring break.