I Need to Start Blogging Again

Ukraine lies heavy on my heart. I need to start blogging about it. If even one person reads and can join me in praying, then it is worth it.

I have updated the header with a beautiful picture (taken by Polina Rytova) of a wheat field in Eastern Ukraine.

I listened to President Biden's speech in Warsaw this afternoon, maybe one of his best speeches. I was shocked by the way he ended it, so was the White House as they back pedaled and said he was not speaking about regime change. The more I've thought about it I think he spoke from his heart:

"A dictator bent on rebuilding an empire will never erase a people's love for liberty. Brutality will never grind down their will to be free. Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness. We will have a different future, a brighter future, rooted in democracy and principle, hope and light. Of decency and dignity and freedom and possibilities. For God's sake, this man cannot remain in power."

 I have been very frustrated that we aren't doing more to help Ukraine. I think President Zelenskyy is too. He has shown remarkable restraint. Here is his nightly broadcast to the citizens of Ukraine:

I've also been forcing myself to pray for Putin. It is so easy to hate him.

Слава Україні

He's Enough

These verses spoke to my during my devotions tonight.

First an admonition to myself:

"Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him."   I Chronicles 16:11

Second, these verses bring comfort that God does see what's going on and will bring justice.

"LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so mere people can no longer terrify them."      Psalm 10:17-18

Photo from Kaitlyn Bouchillon's July 12 Instagram Stories.

According to His Own Mercy

I Will Help You

I AM THE ONE WHO HELPS YOU, DECLARES THE LORD. —ISAIAH 41: 14 

This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speak to each one of us: “I will help you.”“It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more. Before the world began I chose you. I made the covenant for you. I laid aside My glory and became a man for you; I gave up My life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need, but it is nothing for me to bestow. Help you? Fear not! If there were an ant at the door of your granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; and you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency. I will help you.”O my soul, is this not enough? Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of the united Trinity? Do you want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring here your empty pitcher! Surely this well will fill it. Hurry, gather up your wants, and bring them here—your emptiness, your woes, your needs. Behold, this river of God is full for your supply; what else can you desire? Go forth, my soul, in this your might. The Eternal God is your helper! 

Fear not, I am with you, oh, be not dismay’d! I, I am your God, and will still give you aid.

Morning and Evening by CH Spurgeon

The Story Behind "Praise You in This Storm"

Praise You in This Storm

My absolute favorite Casting Crowns song.

I was sure by now, God you would have reached down
And wiped our tears away,
Stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
That it's still raining
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear your whisper through the rain
I'm with you
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
The God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry you raised me up again
My strength is almost gone how can I carry on
If I can't find you
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear you whisper through the rain
I'm with you
And as your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
The God who gives and takes away

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The maker of heaven and earth

And I'll praise you in this storm
And I will lift my hands
That you are who you are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

O I want to know You more!

"Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful.

The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him."

~Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Oh how I long for that intimacy! But how many times I've turned to everything but Him to satisfy that longing.

Thanks be to God, that He pours His grace on me time and time again. Thank you Jesus that you keep wooing me back.

As I was reading this tonight, this song came to mind. I first heard it over 30 years ago when the church I was attending put on a musical by Steve Fry entitled "We Are Called."

It is the cry of my heart. 

"Just  the time I feel
That I've been caught
In the mire of self.
Just the time I feel
My mind's been bought
By worldly wealth.
That's when the breeze begins
To blow I know,
The Spirit's call
And all my worldly wanderings
Just melt into His love.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
To feel Your heart and know Your mind,
Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me,
Cries that says I want to know You
Oh, I want to know You more.
Oh, I want to know You more.

When my daily deeds
Ordinarily lose life and song,
My heart begins to bleed,
Sensitivity to Him is gone.
I've run the race but set my own pace
And face a shattered soul,
But the gentle arms of Jesus
Warm my hungering to be whole.

Oh, I want to know You more!
Deep within my soul I want to know You,
Oh, I want to know You.
And I would give my final breathe
To know You in Your death and resurrection,
Oh, I want to know You more
Oh, I want to know You more
Oh, I want to know You more"