A New Song

Psalm 96:1
"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth". . . What is the song you sing? I remember as a child singing tunes in Sunday School. . .Father Abraham; Jesus Loves the Little Children; I am a C; Jesus Loves Me. But my song today is very different.
Psalm 40 is one that I have taken to heart.
Psalm 40
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

4 Blessed is the man
who makes the LORD his trust,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods. [a]

5 Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
but my ears you have pierced [b] , [c] ;
burnt offerings and sin offerings
you did not require.

7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll. [d]

8 I desire to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart."

9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips,
as you know, O LORD.

10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth
from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.

12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.

13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me;
O LORD, come quickly to help me.

14 May all who seek to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.

15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be appalled at their own shame.

16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation always say,
"The LORD be exalted!"

17 Yet I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
O my God, do not delay.

For what seemed like ages, I waited. And this Loving God turned to me. Physically facing my direction. He listened. He heard me. He raised me out of the depth of despair and set my feet upon a Rock. Jesus is my rock. He is my cornerstone. In Him I trust. I will never be put to shame (1 Peter 2:6). His love and mercy and grace have overwhelmed my life! My song I will sing forever.
My song plays the melody of His grace, the intonations of His love, the rhythm of His ways. I cannot name it... What would I call it? Amazing Grace is already taken; Thy Loving Kindness as well. . .It is Well Part 2? Or maybe Jesus Loves Me the Remix?
I will forever sing My New Song. . . It will remain in my heart and on my lips.

A Living God

He has created me and breathed life in me. He lives and He lives in me; 2 Corinthians 6:16, “What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
Not only was He alive in the days of Daniel; but He was also made flesh and lived and walked the streets of Jerusalem. John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
So what does that mean to me? Unlike a statue or an idol, God is alive! That tells me that He can hear me when I cry out. He can touch me when I hurt. He can hold me when I feel alone. He can catch me when I fall. I can turn to Him when I am in need. I can thank Him for my blessings. I can talk to Him when I am excited! My God has feelings. He can hurt. He can be happy or sad. He can grieve (John 11:35. Jesus wept). He can laugh. He is jealous. He can get angry. He can find pleasure (1 Timothy 2:3). Most importantly, He can love me. No other god/idol can do that. Can money love a person? Can possessions heal your heart? Would they want to? Can they show you compassion? He can be devoted to me if I give myself to Him.
My God loved me so much that He sacrificed the life of His only begotten Son to save that which was lost (Eph 5:2). He loves me so much, that He calls me child. “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.” 1 John 3:1. No they do not know my living God. But I want them to.

Tsuwr

He is alive. He is my rock. The Rock of Ages! “He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He (Deuteronomy 32:4).” “For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock, except our God? (2 Samuel 22:32).” Psalms 18:2; “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). He is my rock. My foundation. The center of who I am. He protects me and He defines me as His child.

Remove Me

"Open up my heartAnd You will findThis fire burns so deepIt burns so bright for You"

It starts with me.

Romans 8:27 states, "And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will." God, is my heart the issue? Then remove me....I keep reverting back to the conversation several of us began on Sunday night. Our visions, hopes, dreams, desire to see a movement of God greater than this World has ever witnessed. I want to behold it! God it is my desire ... Psalm 73:25, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you." Every night we pray.... I have been asking daily.... and He has given me this answer:It starts with you. "In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God ." You want to to see me? Then know this, "I will break down your stubborn pride ." You will humble yourselves, and seek My face...... Then will I hear you."You will love one another, as I have loved you ".... Honoring others above yourself ..... "if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully ..... Your words are bitter and they tighten the chains of your brothers and sisters..... Speak words to encourage their hearts and unite their love so that they may know the mystery of ME.....Ephesians 4:31, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice...." Titus 3:2, "to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men...." How can you confess your love of others while standing face to face; yet, speak hatred when they are not near?Submit yourself.... Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you." Above all, submit yourself to me....James 4:7..............It starts with me..... If in pride, I have set myself above you, I humble myself today. If I have failed to encourage you, then today I start. If I have slandered you, know that I am sorry..... I love you.