Out of Harms way

Here is a song by Gospel Express that I’d like to share; it has spoken to me in a number of ways lately.

1. Walking along so unaware, that one step ahead was Satan’s snare
His plan was to hush my praise and bring me down in defeat
Satan’s big scheme just might have worked, but there was one thing he overlooked
Some little saint had listened to God and got on their knees

And somebody prayed
(Glory to God they prayed)
Me out of harm’s way
(Prayed me out of harm’s way)
Some spirit filled child has touched the Lord for me today
(For me today)
The Father just told them of my need, and they prayed me out of Satan’s reach
Rejoicing in victory they prayed me out of harm’s way

2. If I had a choice that I could make, to be very rich or to be saved
I’d have to remember all the times I’ve needed the Lord
How badly I needed Him today, and how He just told someone to pray
Knowing my God He’s sweeter and far more precious than gold

You know when you become burdened for someone and you get this sense of worried thought or erg to pray for them? I have come to believe that it’s God’s cue. It happened to me a while ago, a friend called me on the phone when I really needed it with some advice that was heaven sent.


The one line in the song “His plane was to hush my praise and bring me down in defeat” also jumped out at me because I’ve been struggling with a little issue about singing. I’ve had a few directed and judgmental comments from sisters who I love dearly that have really discouraged me. We all love to sing at work in the basement, cutting veggies or whatever our summers work is, but I have been doing so with fear and trembling lately. I used to be able to sing freely from my spirit, and it would flow from my heart but I can’t any more.


It is interesting to note that this is the devil’s work. I was pretty shocked the first time I heard a preacher say that the first thing that is gone when God is gone is that His praise is nowhere to be heard. That was in the days when our choir was at its lowest, and I guess that’s why I was so startled.


The devil has no shame; he will steal everything he can get from us, our relationships, our home, our faith, our marriages, our peace, our future, our family, our health, and our joy. Did you know he will try and keep us from something as pleasant as a good cup of hot chocolate? Simply because it gives us a nice feeling of enjoying something through our senses; it makes for pleasant thoughts, fellowship, and maybe even, the unthinkable, thoughts about God’s goodness. He likes hearing God praised as much as we love something praised that we detest.


I remember a time at Crystal Springs when there was a drought and I was standing by the window with Cilia, an African woman, and it began to rain. So I burst out in song! One that we learned from our missions to Africa: “I am saying thank you Jesus.” It seemed so perfect and fitting to me and I was thankful, but I turned around and the dining room was starting to fill with hungry people and I had thought that there was nobody who could not sing along, and there were about three of us singing. Now that I think back on it I was presumptuous, but that’s just the way I am.

Tornadoes

I’ve finally been back to Decker after two years, and it was great seeing them all again. I had the privilege of seeing my cousin Phillip merry his sweetheart, Marlene, Rodney’s cousin.

I got inspired to write a poem from hearing Uncle Sam talk about husband looking after wife and the other way around, making it a continuous circle. Also God being head, then Jesus, husband and wife in order, and then back to God also forming a ring that has no end.

That idea came together from having watched a tornado a few months ago, and I know the people of Decker had the same experience a number of years back. If you understand how a storm starts, with the friction from the hot and cold air causing the lightening, you should "get it."

Tornado
I am the warm air, ascending. He is the cool, Lightening strikes, sparks fly
I care for him, he cares for me, it’s a circle, spinning
Faster and faster, stronger and stronger
We whether the storm ‘till the finger
Of God touches the earth and
Destroys the work
Of the evil
One

Things

Just the other day I found a sweet little piggy in my laundry, and it was so warm and rubbery right out of the dryer that I kissed it, and put it in my pocket. It brought back such sweet memories of days long gone, and I asked the little pig what he had to say to me about the One who created all things, and he admonished “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman with a rebellious disposition” Proverbs 11:22

You know, we all have our own special way of keeping up our relationship with God. For me it’s walking and talking with Him wherever I am. Doing laundry, I'll be praising Him in song, working together; I can be showing His love and understanding to others. Caring for my children amazes me at how God is looking after all our needs, and sometimes He has to discipline us as well. Watering plants, it’s “Let anyone who thirsts come to Me and drink.” Looking at flowers: “The flowers wither and the grass dies, but My words are forever.” The beauty of the relationship between God and Adam and Eve seems to have been restored because God is accessible at all times and places when He lives inside us. Having Him in our hearts and before our eyes we can walk and talk with Him just as the disciples did. Just thinking or writing about My God doesn't make Satan very happy either.

I was taking a walk a while ago and found a beautiful, red, (my favorite color) small, stone. I picked it up to admire the glitter and asked it to tell me something about its Creator, and it promised “I will remove the stony heart from within you and give you a new heart.” Sometimes I think I’m from another planet, I’m so not interested in talk about shoes, or dresses, food, who’s getting married when, who’s related to who, and who cares about what news. I’m so out of it, but I get so excited discussing things you can’t see with your eyes, like relationships, ideas, humor, feelings, moral issues, things God made, and attitudes.

We were snipping beans a few days ago and they “told” me they do what they were created to do according to His will. They are made for food and praise God by fulfilling their purpose. Wow! What a big job little bean!! You think it’s that simple? Well, what was I created to do then? What is the will of God for me?

1. Show His love, His No. 1 command. To me, that means overlooking other's faults, since we all have them, if I'm going to look for them I can find tones in the mirror. I have been given so much grace by God, worm that I am, I think I can pass this on to the next person as well. I guess one could write forever about love, because there is simply no end to the wonder of it all.

2. Live as sinless as possible. That is a tough one, not only for me, but for all humans. “Sin clings to us like a bur in the woods on our dress” our Reverend Uncle Ernie reminds us often at church. We only have to pass by and it sticks to us like dirt as we live our lives, but thank God we have a fountain in which to wash our hands (souls) as soon as they get dirty.

3. Keep His words; do as He says in the bible. (Refer back to number 1.) Isn't His word what saves us? It is a direct link from Him to us, no wonder it says Holy on my Bible.

4. Praise Him too. I have more means and reason than the beans that have no mouth or tongue. (Well, I just couldn't squish the erg to sing.)