ISAIAH 55: 6-7
Seek the LORD while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
Good morning everyone! Don’t you just LOVE the Lord? This morning I woke up with a song that my not yet 2 year old grandson absolutely loves (highlighted,
exclamation-ated & underlined!) When Liam is in my home he wants to “dance dance” which means we need to listen to this song to make him happy, at least 50 times! When we turn on this little song, his feet get moving, the smile on his face lights up the room, and he twists and turns with his arms up…. and of course, Lollie sings along with him as loud and screechy as I can, because this is what Grammy’s do, and we dance! Therefore, this silly song (want to call it a stupid song, but it isn’t) is stuck in my brain day and night now, so I change the words, and it is the Lord who makes me dance dance dance! It’s wonderful to have a song in your heart. Liam has one that makes him happy, that’s for sure!
We, the righteous, have something to sing and dance about! We know where God is. We find Him in our thoughts, and in our prayers. He is around us in the tea olive bush, and the wonderful smell of a blooming rose. He is in the bubbling brook. He is in the rising sun when it comes up and when it is time for it to go to sleep and set. We get to see God’s smile in our blessings as He kisses us joyfully on our cheek. We hear him thunder in the storm, and wash the earth and feed it with the rain. And even watch the birdies sing their hallelujahs to the Master!
I see God in my husband’s wisdom as he blesses our family and friends. I see God in my daughters as they raise their children to be godly. I see God in my prayers as I call on him while he may be found, and as I call because I know that He is near me.
I see God who changed a sinner-lost into a child of God- free. Me. He changed me, and I am so glad. Because when you walk away from God backslidden, wickedness surrounds you, influences you, and stupidly I fell in the STUPID-TRAP until God intervened. Praise God! \0/ God didn’t allow me to be stupid for long!
However, it was long enough for me to realize, hey, I need to change my ways, God says so! So, with God’s help Sin was Banished from me. The very thought of “going back” into that sin ever again flees me. Praise God again, because, finally after 17 years of kicking myself with shame, Mercy came and washed me for a final time. Not only for one sin, but the revelation of Mercy came for all my sins and wrong doing. What I learned was that forgiveness is the integral part of our growing in God, and Mercy will come and free you. Mercy came and freed me, like a wave. Knocking me over, bowling me over rather for 3 days. I was a mess, I was undone. Jesus came and thoroughly washed me.
When you turn to the Lord, “seek Him first” Mercy comes, and our life “in Him” falls into place. In addition, our life on planet earth also falls into place. Because we have God to lead us. He forgives when we fail. He forgives as far as the east is from the west. It is us, me, who likes to hang on, but no longer, Mercy came!
There is a scripture that says that if we walk in Light, the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. He cleanses and purges every dead work that is bombarding our mind. I couldn’t forgive myself my sin. Now, my thinking is SIN ISN’T MINE- never say: My sin! I don’t want it. So when I ask God to forgive me of sin, That’s how I ask Him to forgive me. I don’t want to own it any longer. It is now forgotten when God takes it!
So let us take this Word to heart- Be a vessel of honor- purge yourself of sin and what is unfit, and unacceptable to God. Flee it! The scripture says to get out of the STUPID TRAP- this way: Pursue Righteousness, faith, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Surround yourself with the ones who LOVE God & who PERSUE God, who live godly lives unto God, walking in holiness…
This is how to get out of the stupid-trap! Me, I had to see the eyes of God, and hear His voice telling me to STOP WHAT I AM DOING, AND TURN TO HIM… He told me this twice in a church service (that I didn’t want to be at) that I attended to please my mother. I am so glad that Jesus had my attention though! Mercy was talking to me. I couldn’t leave His eyes, or turn my head away, just look and listen. Although, I was rebelling and getting agitated, Jesus didn’t, and His love covered a multitude of sin- old sin- no longer mine, hallelujah!!!!
In my case, God so generously forgave me. He allowed me to forgive myself. He taught me to be a teacher of the Word (the best part of this stupid-trap story), and allows me to live out Mercy that He has shown to me.
I am no longer a slave to sin, I am a child of God!
Well, Lord, this message turned out to be so far from what I thought You were going to say! Thank you for ministering to me this morning. Please allow the ones who read this to have patience with me this morning, as I shared a story about myself. Please allow them to see only Jesus in this story. Jesus in Liam’s dance, Jesus in my husband’s wise words to my daughters and grandchildren and friends, and Jesus in a once sinner who had ears to listen to the Cry of the Lord telling me to “come back to Him.” I do thank You, Jesus, for coming to church that day, and speaking through that pastor twice. I was so stuck on stupid, Lord, you had to shake me up, twice. Thank you!
I know now that when I call You, our very present help in time of trouble, You come. Or, when I am weary, You are only a whisper away, sometimes a mere breath away. Sometimes, Lord, our conversations are in my mind, and You come! Thank you Lord, for loving me, for loving us. You are Mercy, and I love you, too.
Please be with the one who needs this Word today, Abba. I pray that You come to the one who needs to see Your eyes Jesus, and to hear Your voice, like I heard. Lord, I know, someone must have been praying for me, and I thank you. So, Lord, please let Your momentum continue for the one who needs this message. Let them call on You and do all You say to do in Your Word, and be free, once and for all. This I ask in Jesus name. Amen Jesus! and, Thank you
p.s.Is 59:1 Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear!
Amen,
God is so perfect!
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