In 1741, a minor poet, Charles Jenners, wrote a libretto entitled "A Sacred Oratorio." The collection of biblical excerpts was sent to George Frederick Handel, with the reminder that "the Lord gave the Word." The package came at a time when Handel was going through a severe depression. He had been rebuffed by England's nobility, business misfortunes had left him deeply in debt, and at fifty-seven years of age, tired of working, he had retreated into seclusion.
As the listless Handel leafed through the manuscript, his eyes fell upon the words: "He was despised and rejected of men... He looked for someone to have pity on Him, but there was no man; neither found He any to comfort Him." With a growing feeling of identity, Handel read on: "He trusted in God... God did not leave His soul in hell... He will give you rest." The words began to throb within his breast. "Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace... I know that my Redeemer liveth... Rejoice... Hallelujah!"
Feeling the triumph of heavenly song, Handel grabbed a pen and started writing. Music for the words began to flow through his mind with such swiftness that he could scarcely write the notes fast enough.
For twenty-four days, the composer remained in his room on Hanover Street in London. His manservant would bring him food, but often it was left untouched. Sometimes he would take a piece of bread, start to eat, then let it drop from his hand, as some new inspiration called forth expression.
His servant watched in astonishment as his master's tears dropped on the page and mingled with the ink. At times he would jump up and run to the harpsichord, waving his arms in the air, singing aloud, "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"
Later Handel confided, "I think I did see all heaven before me, and the great God Himself!"
It should not be surprising that the composition and rendition of The Messiah should lift people to nobler thoughts and actions. There is something elevating about the praise of God. When we magnify His name and celebrate His glory, our own souls take in greatness, for God inhabits the praises of His people!
Around the throne of God the celestial choirs sing and say praise to God, day and night. They do so at this very moment- They are singing and shouting PRAISE to Almighty God and to the LAMB! Should we not join them? [The above paragraphs are edited from SONGS OF HEAVEN, by Robert E. Coleman, pages 137-139]
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Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven; To His feet thy tribute bring. Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore His praises sing: Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise the everlasting King.
Praise Him for His grace and favor To our fathers in distress. Praise Him still the same as ever, Slow to chide, and swift to bless. Alleluia! Alleluia! Glorious in His faithfulness.
Fatherlike He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He knows. In His hands He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes. Alleluia! Alleluia! Widely yet His mercy flows.
Frail as summer's flower we flourish, Blows the wind and it is gone; But while mortals rise and perish Our God lives unchanging on, Praise Him, Praise Him, Hallelujah Praise the High Eternal One!
Angels, help us to adore Him; Ye behold Him face to face; Sun and moon, bow down before Him, Dwellers all in time and space. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace.
I pray your day and week will be blessed and filled with His goodness ~ and that all your problems me only minor glitches ~ and can be overcome with prayer.
Thank God for this Free Country ~ and our ability to pray freely ~ to speak freely ~ and to come together in spirit. Praise Him, Praise Him.
Saundra
**Please note: the above photo is from my own collection and one that I took on the day I was photographer for a friend's wedding. Please do not copy it without my sole permission. Thanks.
It is to expect an answer. Otherwise ~ it would be like pulling up to the window of a Fast-Food Place, placing an order at the first window ~ and not expecting the food to be there at the next.
To be honest with you ~ there have been times when I have prayed ~ simply going through the motions and yet remaining detached. Easier and less emotionally involved!
In the past months of my life ~ there has been devastating and emotional family upheaval. Without going into minute details ~ suffice it to say that it has been astoundingly hurtful and detrimental to my good health.
I began to pray ~ initially to be heard. Through tears and anguish ~ I prayed. While driving ~ I prayed. While crying ~ I prayed.
And, then, I began to pray in earnest. To better understand the "WHY" OF ALL THIS...which just was not making sense. Rather than be a whiner about all of it ~ I began to really see another side.
I then prayed in earnest ~ knowing that He would provide to me the answers I would need. I literally let go and Let God!! I decided this burden was just too much for me. It was too great a stone and albatross around my neck and I could do nothing about it. I had no control.
Instead, I prayed that those involved would not be able to rest ~ until their heart was changed. That they could not find peace ~ until their heart softened and broke. And, I continued to pray.
Through it all ~ suddenly, doors opened up to me ~ and the joy has been overwhelming to me. Flooding me with the spirit of the Lord ~ giving me the peace and direction I have needed in this ~ and coveting to my heart ~ this answer to prayer.
Things are not perfect, but they are increasingly better.
The peace that has come is tremendous.
The moral of this is to encourage you ~ no matter what ~ seek the prayers in your life and pray without ceasing. Prayer changes things.
And, in His time ~ not mine ~ He has given to me the answers to my prayers ~ and I am praising Him today.
Take the time to pray ~ take the time to give Him praises when you receive your answer.
God changes lives ~ and hearts.
Amen and AMEN!!
Live life to the fullest, sisters ~ and give THANKS to Him who blesses you every day....
"Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
GIVING THANKS IS A GIANT ACT OF FAITH!
The ultimate objective of our Heavenly Father is to bring us to a place of unwavering trust and confidence in Him. A promise from God is reality. It need not be visible or tangible. The promise need only to be from God to be real! Giving Thanks is acting on the Word of God, in faith!Giving Thanks is anchored in one or more of God's promises, appropriate for the situation, and then praising Him in advance for the coming fulfillment! Thanksgiving is Giving Thanks to God for the answer before it is received! Giving Thanks is most powerful when we do it on the basis of God's promise rather than on the basis of the fulfillment of a petition.
GIVING THANKS IS AN ACT OF FAITH IN THE GOOD SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD!
God in His good sovereignty has the total freedom to do all of His good pleasure. He does as He pleases and with whom He pleases and when He pleases. He ordains "sowing and reaping"; He even grants satan permission to "sift" us as he did Peter; or to torture us as he did Job. Often we do not have any idea what is going on-- the deformity of a baby, the earthquake, the tornado, the hurricane and flood, the gunman and the drunk...and the list goes on and on.BUT IN EVERYTHING WE Give Thanks, resting on God's good sovereignty. SOVEREIGNTY enables us to Give Thanks to the One who has brought and/or allowed whatever it is that's the cause of our anxiety; and to know that He could have controlled or stopped it if He had so wished. And since He did not stop "it".....or since He allowed "it"---We rest in the reality that Infinite Wisdom and Unchanging Love conspired with Almighty Power to cause something that's for His great glory and our ultimate good!
PLEASE NOTE: Giving Thanks is not "Praise God, the child is deformed....or Praise God, I have terminal cancer!".. BUT RATHER, "I Give Thanks, O Good and Sovereign God that all things have a divine reason; and are ordered by You to work for good." Giving Thanks is not a psychological ploy or tool designed to lessen the impact of life's problems that may rush in like a flood in this fallen world... BUT RATHER, I Give Thanks, and I find my mind's focus put in order. "Shall the clay say to the Potter, ‘What doest Thou?"Giving Thanks is not intended to change cir****tances nor to change other people! It's purpose is to transform my attitudes, keeping me free from resentment and bitterness and bringing me back to humility and to valuing the soul! Giving Thanks is to be in everything; but not necessarily for everything. For at the very least, I am humbled and moved to live by faith in the good, sovereign wisdom of God. Giving Thanks lifts the gaze of my heart from self and cir****tances and people to Almighty God, so that now I cry out,"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33)
GIVING THANKS IS "STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD!"
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)Thus, Giving Thanks for the reality of these truths is faith in the forgiving grace of God. In fact, how often I have confessed my sin and asked God to forgive me... but there was still a dark cloud of awareness of guilt and feelings of "God won't forgive me this time!"-- SO, IN SPITE OF THESE FEELINGS, I GAVE THANKS to God for forgiving me! Such is the ongoing power of the blood of Jesus! Such is the reality of Holy God's total satisfaction with what Christ accomplished on the Cross! Giving Thanks causes the heavy burden of guilt to fall off!!!
NOTE: There are an uncountable number of objective truths in the Word of God, which the Holy Spirit will bring before us...but we only experience them by active faith and trust. Giving Thanks is powerful, active trust in God and His Word!
GIVING THANKS... FOR THE UNKNOWN!
Giving Thanks is an act of faith in God's ability to guide His children with supreme wisdom, unfailing love and unconquerable power. Giving Thanks empowers us to walk into the unknown and stand in the presence of the unfamiliar, because Giving Thanks is faith that God is capable of showing His children what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go; and that He has the power to make sure that we get home safe! "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with My eye" (Ps. 32:8).
Giving Thanks is thanking God in the midst of the problem-- not for the problem, but for the outcome! (Heb. 12:11) Giving Thanks says, "Thank you, Father, that even though all discipline seems not to be joyful but sorrowful, yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness." Giving Thanks focuses on what we know to be true based on God's Holy Word, in spite of what we may see or feel; it is Giving Thanks to God for triumph even though present cir****tances suggest defeat!
GIVING THANKS AND ANXIETY ABOUT GOD'S PROVISION!
Giving Thanks is not a means of getting what we want; rather, it rests in the promise of God to provide us with what we need. It is not a plea for provision; it's a response to a promise. Giving Thanks is not only for what God has given; but also for what God is going to give! Giving Thanks is relaxing in the promises of the sustaining grace of God and enjoying His peace as we trust in His good providential care! Giving Thanks is most powerful when focused on expressing gratitude over the incredible attributes of Almighty God! Faith is fueled!
GIVING THANKS and OVERCOMING ANXIETY ABOUT GOD'S TIMING!
Giving Thanks is not designed to change God's timetable or speed up the divine program. Rather, it helps me adjust myself and my schedule to His! Giving Thanks does not get my wishes granted quicker...it helps me to patiently wait...to Thank Him for His infinite wisdom that controls all His decisions and His perfect timing.
GIVING THANKS and OVERCOMING ANXIETY ABOUT PRAYER!
Giving Thanks and Praise to God is the primary form of prayer in Scripture! Giving Thanks to God for who He is focuses our confidence, not in the act of prayer, but in the Living God who solicits prayer, hears prayer and answers prayer. We do not always know how to pray, but the Holy Spirit enables and empowers our Thanks Giving.
GIVING THANKS and OVERCOMING ANXIETY ABOUT DEATH!
THANK YOU, FATHER, for the promise of the resurrection...that I will be with You forever! (1 Thess. 4:13-18) THANK YOU, FATHER, that you have already prepared a place for me (John 14:1-2); that You designed it (Heb. 11:10); that You have even described it and that it will be my eternal home (Rev. 21-22). {This article edited from Thank-You Therapy: The Cure For Anxiety, by Don Baker}
THANK YOU, FATHER for plentiful mercy, plentiful pardon, plentiful peace, plentiful redemption, plentiful forgiveness, plentiful grace and abundant love!
Do we give benefit of the doubt? Do we make up our minds right on the spot? Do we become analytical? Complacent? Do we "go along" with those who we believe to have it "right"?
Are we more forgiving?
What is our gain should we make the determination on something we view? Is it based on our own beliefs? Is it based on how we were raised? Do we yell and do so because this is what we have known in our formative years? Do we become loud and obnoxious because it is the expectation?
Are we products of our environment?
Indeed...
So ~ being cautious ~ less to being judgemental ~ less of being angered ~ less of being so opinionated ~ BECAUSE we know it is environmentally-based.
All we have known our lives ~ stems from our learning process as a child ~ whether it was from a loving home ~ or ~ one that was not ~ we have learned...
What have we learned? And, what do we share...
"..for all have fallen short...".........none of us are perfect ~ none of us can say we are without faults ~ none...
In our quest to do right ~ the least of which is to make certain that what we say and do...is a matter of right vs. wrong ~ rather than our environmental lives...and what may have been thrown at us as a child as being correct.
I know my parents' did not have all the answers ~ they just did the best they could with what they had. They were not scholars ~ and their background could be overlooked in the world of books for anything challenging. Living private lives ~quiet-lives ~ being more of an example rather than dictatorial...I learned there is goodness in everyone.
Be kind today ~ be kind tomorrow ~ you will be remembered for it ~ and your wave of gentleness will preceed you ~ as fresh air on a spring morning after the spring rain.
As diverse as this world is...I am always able to decypher the good from the bad ~ most times. And, sometimes this world doesn't make it easy on us...but, having faith and believing what is right and wrong..and making our way in this world is never easy, is it...
I hear of things all the time ~ news being blasted across the airways..and I think how utterly awful. Just the other day ~ scenes of a parent at a carwash...turning the power hose on a child she says was throwing a tantrum ~ and the "Mother" used this power hose to calm the child...and those scenes are haunting me today...of this Mother ~ this parent ~ this "loving" parent ~ teaching her child that crying will be dealt with in such a fashion ~ that the power of a hose ~ a hose with such strength that it can knock someone off his or her feet ~ and take a layer of skin with it ~ would use such a weapon to calm a child ~ not even 4 or 5-years of age. Yes, the Mother turned herself in ~ but, as of yet ~ no charges have been filed...
Because, it appears ~ there are no "marks" on this child that could be seen.
Everything within me tells me this is not the first incident of abuse to this child...and what other methods of "punishment" or "corrective measures" would be utilized against this small innocent and crying child.
God in Heaven ~ look down upon us ~ with all our weaknesses ~ with all our failings ~ instill in us the parental feelings we need to express to others ~ give to us the courage to speak out when we need to ~ give us the power to do what is right and good in this world.
I know, Heavenly Father ~ that many times, I have failed in my life ~ said and done things that I would not be proud of ~ that you have viewed me ~ knowing my mistakes and loving me, anyway.
Forgive me of those times in my life when I have fallen short. Forgive me those times when I have needed to be quiet ~ when I have needed for you to intervene ~ when I have needed forgiveness above all else.
Lord ~ help those in need today ~ help those who believe abusing a child ~ in any way ~ is the "right way"....
Teach us ~ Lead us ~ Guide us in the direction you would have us to go......
May we all learn ~ and may we Continue to hold our hands out to you ~ and that you will always be there for us....each of us...giving us the Hope and Encouragement we need every day of our lives.
May we be an inspiration ~ AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS.
Thank God you love me...so that I may also love others.
EVER FEEL LIKE GETTING EVEN? EVER FEEL LIKE SOMEONE "DESERVES" THIS?
EVER FEEL LIKE YOU NEED TO MAKE IT AS DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE ELSE JUST BECAUSE YOU "CAN" AND "WILL".
When someone "wrongs" us ~ we want to get even ~ we want payback ~ perhaps even revenge. We tell the entire world how "evil" they are ~ and put words out there which are not only inflammatory ~ but words that encourage others to simply blindly agree.
In Romans 12:17-21 ~ "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in all the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather giveth place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on this head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
DO NOT RETURN INJURY FOR INJURY! Those words and or actions of evil received from others DO NOT IN ANY WAY justify the same sort of words and actions in return. They never cancel out the call of God to manifest the Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-24). Vengeance belongs to God. Don't get in the way of God's wrath!
Instead ~ LOVE, BLESS, PRAY FOR! DO GOOD!! (Matthew 5:44-48). What about becoming emotionally focused? What if I refuse to forgive? EVIL WILL EVENTUALLY CONQUER ME!! On the other hand ~ if I radically choose to do good in return for evil ~ I will not be destroyed and the evil/enslaved on who did me evil will experience coals of fire...a burning sense of shame (Romans 12:20-21).
Never let bitterness get in the way of FORGIVENESS. I MUST BE EMPOWERED as well as motivated to forgive ~ because HE forgave me. At a time when I was unlovable ~ and undeserving...read Matthew 18 ~ verses 32-35....it is a warning to us all.
Never go into that fire ~ the fire of anger ~ of unforgiveness for one another. There have been times when I have been hurting over words of someone ~ or by the deeds of someone ~ and I did not take into consideration the entire picture. We all nurse our wounds ~ and this in turn causes us not to see or feel the wounds of others around us. We also desire to lessen our own faults ~ pointing out, instead, the huge faults and failures of others ~ and we certainly do maximize those. And, while doing this...we also minimize the others wounds...while maximizing our own. Think about it.
Think about it ~ and I call this VERTICAL FORGIVENESS. Vertical forgiveness is between the offended and God ~ regardless whether or not the offender asks for forgiveness ~ because it is in the forgiveness that keeps us free and from being destroyed by continual bitterness and anger. How can we walk in His footsteps when we are so blinded by our own unforgiving anger that we cannot see where those steps might be!!
Forgiveness is an act...RECONCILIATION IS AN ONGOING PROCESS!
Read Philippians 2: 3-4.
When someone wrongs us ~ our first instinct is to think and say, "How could they do this to me"...and the rush to reality begins.
There, but for the Grace of God, go I.
Don't become entangled in an UNFORGIVING nature ~ In so doing ~ we begin to expose our true selves....and what is it we wish to view?
Question: WHEN DO I MOST NEED GOD'S REDEMPTIVE LOVE, MERCY, AND FORGIVENESS? ....
AND THE ANSWER IS: WHEN I AM MOST UNWORTHY, UNDERSERVING ...AND WHEN I HAVE GREVIOUSLY SINNED AGAINST HIM.
I often receive emails from the Pastor of my church ~ his wisdom is astounding and I so appreciate him. When there is prayer needed, he makes sure to send out emails....and, if there is a timeline, he gives it. Today, I received such an email.
Two people were coming to his office to see if they could not reconcile their marriage, though they are divorced. They had a son ~ who was tragically murdered. The source of all this is the wife's inablity to let this go and to be at peace. Their meeting was set for 10:00 AM today...and, during this time, I assured the Pastor he could count on me to pray. After a time, the time came.
I sat here in my office, and began to pray. During this time, something came over me....and not only did I pray for this couple, now with a marriage that has fallen by the way side...I began to pray and ask for forgiveness in my own marriage ~ which failed. I prayed for forgiveness because I know it takes two to make a marriage, and, it also takes two people to fail. I prayed about that failure.
I prayed and asked for Forgiveness ~ and prayed that I would not place blame any longer. Suddenly, during prayer ~ chills came over me. It was as though God was merely waiting for me to take this step ~ to not try and justify my separation and final divorce..and that hearing me say the words...that I needed forgiveness for all this ~ He heard my prayers.
I began to weep because I knew this was long overdue and I needed to be at peace. God is so wise. He knows us and what our needs are...exactly at that precise moment. I am not perfect, I am merely Forgiven. May you ask for Forgiveness for any blank spots in your life today. Thank you, Lord, for seeing to my needs!!
And, from my Pastor...who writes:
There may be someone somewhere... but I am yet to meet someone who had a marriage to fail who was a 100% innocent victim... What I have found is that 2 people contributed to the failures.... So far as healing, percentages don't matter. I will never be free until I own up to my part, take God's point of view about it, call it sin and ask for and receive His wonderful forgiveness; and then even if the other party never repents or even if he/she is already dead-- I must, between me and God, FORGIVE EVEN AS GOD HAS FORGIVEN ME.... I am an old former apostle of bitterness... I rejoice that there came a day when by God's grace I repented of my un-christlikeness and resentments and bitterness and was forgiven and in my spirit forgave those who, in my view, had wronged me....
We are all His children ~ with all our resentments ~ all our anguish ~ all our sadness ~ all our hangups ~ all our sorrows ~ anger ~ and still He forgives. And, I am grateful that He is so. And, that He continues to hold my hand ~ and that He can wrap His love around me and protect me...and lead me.
May He lead you today. In all areas of your life ~ and may He walk and Talk with you. That is my prayer for you today.
LAY NOT UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES UPON EARTH, WHERE MOTH AND RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL: BUT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN, WHERE NEITHER MOTH NOR RUST DOTH CORRUPT, AND WHERE THIEVES DO NOT BREAK THROUGH NOR STEAL: FOR WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE WILL YOUR HEART BE ALSO.
There are currently about 5 or more paragraphs that are now missing from this Blog ~ of which I submitted today. The only remaining one is the first paragraph, above, and the rest have disappeared for some reason.
I am now going to test this to see if this remains or if this also disappears from view after some time. Please be patient with me on this and during this test time. I need to find out the reason and just when it happens with Blogs.
If you will be patient, this Section will soon have another new Blog but it will be written first in another area and then copied and pasted here in this section. Right now, everything with this Blog has disappeared and it was written Verbatim. So, there is no further information for this Blog except the first paragraph.
PLEASE DO NOT SNAG THE PHOTO. TO DO SO IS STEALING. STEALING IS A CRIME.
photo is sole property of author of this Blog.
The below information I wrote to my Pastor...and though it is personal in nature ~ I believe it also has a healing quality ~ not only for me ~ but ~ perhaps for someone else who may be feeling disenchantment in her life.
So, I share this with you, now...
Thank you for your reply/response. I appreciate your consideration in taking the time.
Indeed, I have beat myself up many, many times over choices and decisions that I have made in my lifetime ~ which would also include marriage and divorce for myself. Many times, words and lessons reach us at the most APROPO' times ~ when we least expect it ~ and, when we evidentially need it the most in our lives.
Isaiah 41:10-- "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10
In this promise-rich Scripture, there are 2 commands and 5 guarantees from the One whose air you breathe this very instant. Enjoy, receive, embrace, and be blessed:
"Fear thou not" (command) "I am with thee" (promise) "be not dismayed" (command) "I am thy God" (promise) "I will strengthen thee" (promise) "yea, I will help thee" (promise) "I will uphold the" (promise)
May your days be filled with Blessings ~ may your heart sing with the joys of knowing that He will intervene ~ and that He is listening. Open your heart ~ and He will enter in.
God Bless you, ALL ~ is my prayer for you this day.
