O God, Thou art My God; early will I seek Thee....

" And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out and departed into a solitary place and there prayed. " Mark 1:35

While reading through the first chapter of Mark this morning, I was yet reminded of the Lord's need to rise up early and find a solitary place to pray. How important it was for Him to withdraw from the daily activities and be strengthened in the presence of the Father.

Thinking about the Lord Jesus...

... tired and weary while living on this earth, 

... yet finding solace and strength in rising early and praying.

Once again I found encouragement... through the example of the Lord Jesus.

How I need to follow in His steps.

Over the past few years I have been blessed to write my thoughts here... to pray and thank the Lord for His wonderful reminders He gives me through His Holy Word. And while I don't write daily, I continue to set aside time in the mornings to be in the presence of my Lord.

I continue to pray that He would draw me closer and closer to Him. 

For I long to grow  more and more in the knowledge of Him...

... to know His power.

... to know His strength,

... to see His glory.

The world may bring all sorts of  "weariness"... but I want to be able to lay aside every weight that hinders me from setting aside time to be strengthened in His presence.

Psalm 63 says it so well,

1. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: 

my soul thirsteth for thee, 

my flesh longeth for thee 

in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

2 To see thy power and thy glory, 

so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.

3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, 

my lips shall praise thee.

4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: 

I will lift up my hands in thy name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; 

nd my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

6 When I remember thee upon my bed,

 and meditate on thee in the night watches.

7 Because thou hast been my help, 

therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

8 My soul followeth hard after thee: 

thy right hand upholdeth me.

In the presence of the King...

... I see His might. 

... I feel His peace. 

....I rest... because He works... to complete that which concerns me.

He alone gives strength to the weary . For when I am weak, He is strong.

" GOD hath spoken once; 

twice have I heard this; 

that power belongeth unto GOD. " 

Psalm 62:11

Oh, the need for each of us to set time aside... and be strengthened in His presence.

May you be drawn to the mercy of the Lord... finding rest and peace in His Holy Word.

~Ellie

... in Him we shall have peace.

"Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" John 11:40

I've always wondered how peaceful my life would be if I'd see things from God's eyes. If I would be totally aware of the Father's plan for me...if I could see how all things would unveil in the end. 

Then..

...I wouldn't worry. 

...I wouldn't be fearful. 

...I wouldn't doubt.

I'd be totally at peace....knowing my Father holds eternity in His hand... and my life. 

And yet God has given us His Word... full of promises... to help us "see" His plan for our lives. He doesn't withhold His knowledge from us.  

Yes, I often struggle. I worry. I'm fearful. I doubt.

Yes, we will have tribulations.

But how wonderful to find peace in God's HOLY Word... to be reminded that not one of His promises will ever fail me. He encourages us  and reminds us that... IN HIM WE SHALL HAVE PEACE.

" These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. 

In the world ye shall have tribulation: 

but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

John 16:33

So today I was again encouraged to look outside of my struggles and fears... to trust my Heavenly Father and believe in His might... in His wisdom... and in His perfect plan for me.

How wonderful to rely on His Word... knowing that it will stand forever... and  all promises will be fulfilled!

" Heaven and earth shall pass away,

 but my words shall not pass away." 

Matthew 24:35

"For verily I say unto you, 

Till heaven and earth pass, 

one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law,

 till all be fulfilled." 

Matthew 5:18

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

 but the word of our God shall stand for ever." 

Isaiah 40:8

God's promises never fail. It is not in His character to say something... and not fulfill it.   

"God is not a man, that He should lie;

 neither the son of man, that He should repent: 

hath He said, and shall He not do it? 

or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" 

Numbers 23:19

Isn't it wonderful to be dependent on God... to allow Him to direct our steps... to believe that His way is perfect? 

For when we believe, we shall see the glory of God! 

Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that worketh in us,

to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus 

to all generations forever and ever. 

Amen." 

Ephesians 3:20,21

May you trust the only wise God to direct your ways... and find peace in Him.

~Ellie

Be STILL and know that I am GOD...

"Wherefore glorify ye the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD GOD of Israel 

in the isles of the sea." 

Isaiah 24:15 

Do you ever have a hard time being still before the LORD? I'll be honest I struggle often to be still. 

Being still before the Lord is one of the hardest things to do, especially when circumstances around us may seem like they need our attention. 

I don't know, but I often struggle with the idea that I need " to do something about it ".  And usually that sense overrides my LORD's desire... to abide in Him... without struggling... and to bring everything before Him.

I thought about the well known verse: 

" Casting ALL your care upon HIM, 

for HE careth for you." 

1 Peter 5:7 . 

HE cares!  The LORD cares about our struggles. He desires that we be still before Him... and allow Him to work on our behalf.

This morning as I was reading through Isaiah, the Lord brought a beautiful verse to my attention. I'm always amazed at God's mercy... and His grace poured forth to us in time of need. It was a verse I truly needed this morning. A verse that I need to apply daily in my life.

" Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, 

even the name of the LORD GOD of Israel 

in the isles of the sea." 

Isaiah 24:15   

The Lord reminded me not only to be still before Him, but to also glorify Him... even in the "fire" or "remotest place" I may find myself in.

Our joy is in the LORD. We find comfort and strength in Him alone. We can triumph through faith in the ONE who is a LIGHT unto our path.

"For with THEE is the fountain of life;

 In THY light, we see light." 

Psalm 36:9

What a beautiful thing it is to see God work... to be still before HIM... even in the midst of fiery trials.  

Thank you, Lord... for the beautiful reminder today... to glorify you in every place, however "hot" or "remote" it may seem.  

" Let us set aside every weight... 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith... 

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. "

Hebrews 12:1,2,12

May you know today...the PEACE the LORD gives... not the "peace" the world gives.

~Ellie

Cause me to hear THY LOVINGKINDNESS in the morning...

" With my soul have I desired THEE in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek THEE early..." Isaiah 26:9

The LORD has been gracious to me over the years. He's always been my strength, my guide, my friend. He continues to be with me through trials, through joys...

How often I have seen HIS lovingkindness poured forth in the early hours when reading HIS word. How often HIS WORD was my comfort. How often HE lifted my spirit and encouraged me through a verse or passage in the Bible.

He is a constant FRIEND that never faileth. He never forsakes. HE never leaves us. HE is faithful.

I've found many a times divinest comfort through the night... by just meditating on HIS promises. And yet, I find myself not praising Him enough.

Do you ever feel the same way and wonder why God has been merciful to you? I know while living on this earth, in this body, we will have tribulations, sufferings, even persecution for His name's sake.

I'm constantly reminded of how some people really suffer. This week especially so. And yet I've also seen how God continues to uplift HIS own... even through suffering.

And so today I was overwhelmed with the LORD's GOODNESS to me... for indeed HE has done wonderful things in my life.

My desire is to come to a point where I give Him thanks and praise for... and in ALL things.

Now, giving thanks in ALL things is hard for me. But I know that is what my LORD desires.

" In everything give thanks: for this is the will of GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you." 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 

I'm encouraged to trust HIM, because HE has NEVER failed me. No never.

LORD, help me not to take your blessings for granted.

" For THOU hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat..." 

Isaiah 25:4

It is good to remember God's goodness to us.... for one day we will be able to say:

" ... This is the LORD, we have waited for HIM, we will be glad and rejoice in HIS salvation" Isaiah 25:9

May you be encouraged today to give HIM thanks for HIS goodness to you. HE merits our praise.

~Ellie

Lead Me to the ROCK that is Higher than I...

" From the end  of the earth will I cry  unto THEE, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the ROCK that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2

I am so thankful to have such a loving heavenly Father that cares for me today... and each and every day! Have you ever felt your heart overwhelmed? Do you have a safe haven where you can turn to?

Oh, what a joy to have a permanent unchanging shelter... a shelter you can run to from the overwhelming pressures of today. My heart was filled with joy as I read this psalm... Psalm 61. A psalm where each Christian finds rest for their weary soul.  Trusting in the shelter of the Almighty.

God alone is the strong tower, the ROCK in whom we trust.  What peace we have when we trust in our Heavenly Father. Trusting that HE will make us rich in mercy and truth...

We can be confident, as His children,  that we are most rich... rich in HIS unbounded love for us. And what a delight to be given the inheritance of salvation. "  The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." Psalm 16:6

Let us be confident and wait on the LORD ... for from HIM cometh our salvation! So let us  sing praises unto HIS name for ever and ever.

When my heart is totally overwhelmed,

Lord, pick me up and help me stand.

Give me strength and take me by your hand,

Heal my heart  you alone can mend.

~

Help me to know by your mercy I stand,

Every moment every hour you show your power.

You are the fortress, the shield, my strong tower,

The horn of my salvation, held only by your hand.

~

I sing my praise to you, 

My rock and my deliverer.

You are the strong tower,

My hope is in you .

~

I can trust in your mighty wings,

To shelter me from the storm.

For when  the waves begin to form,

My heart  finds peace under your Almighty wings.

~Ellie~ 2/25/14

May you cry out to God . When your heart is overwhelmed, trust in HIM.

~Ellie

For THY Mercy Is Great...

"Be THOU exalted, O God, above the heavens: Let THY Glory be above the earth." Psalm 57:11

My husband and I are reading through the Psalms as part of our daily Bible reading. This Psalm was such a comfort to both of us today. It's simply beautiful to meditate on God's glory... and to rest in the shadow of HIS wings.

Can you believe it? We find rest and protection ... even in HIS shadow! Oh, that made me to stop. I hadn't thought about His shadow alone being so powerful.  But, God is  almighty... and all powerful. I'll never really comprehend  God's magnitude with this, my earthly mind. But this I know... true rest is found under the wings of the Almighty God!

Where do I find refuge in times of calamity? The Psalm clearly lays it out ... under the shadow of HIS wings.

" Yea, in the shadow of THY wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."

 Psalm 57:1.

We clearly need  to abide and rest under God's protection whenever we face trials of all sorts.

The amazing part of resting in HIS protection... is that God does all the work in regards to our difficulties. Whatever concerns us, we cry out to HIM who saves us. HE is not slack. No, HE works on our behalf!

"I will cry unto God most high;unto God that performeth ALL THINGS for me." vs 2.

And look what He will do for us!

" HE shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up."  vs.3

Isn't that amazing! And to top it off, HE continues to send even more blessings...

" God shall send forth His mercy and His truth." vs 3.

Did you know HIS mercy and truth is quite BIG? It's not something small, but rather when God gives, He gives to overflowing.

" For THY mercy is great unto the heavens, and THY truth unto the clouds. "vs 10

Now, that is some storehouse!  Let us rest in HIS mighty power. And let's praise HIM... for HE works on our behalf.

May You  rest in the shadow of HIS wings today.

~Ellie

I will never leave you...

I woke up this morning feeling much better than yesterday. Yesterday was a bit difficult. My head was throbbing, my eyes were burning. I don't normally suffer from headaches. Slight headaches have come and gone in the past, nothing to worry about. Then there are those rare headaches that sort of debilitate me for the day. I feel dizzy, have a throbbing headache and don't feel like doing much. Yesterday was such a day.

But this morning I woke up feeling better. I read about the Lord's mercy over us... Psalm 44. How He has saved us from our past enemies, and of His promise found in verse 5: " Through Thee we will push down our enemies... through Thy name."

I rested in His love, " Thou art my King, O God.." ( v.4) ... Found strength in the fact that God redeems us for HIS mercies sake... not our own. (v. 26)

And then  at breakfast, a wave of anxiety overcame me... my body just felt anxious.  The anxiety came from nowhere. Came all of a sudden. I tried to shake it off. But a feeling of sadness came with it. I'm wondering if it has to do with hormonal changes in my body. Whatever it is, I don't like the feeling...

So this morning I especially looked forward to my morning prayer time with my Lord. He always understands. He always cares. He knows exactly what we go through. I can be myself. I told Him about my feelings and asked His strength to carry me through the day. He answered by calming my body and giving me hope through His promises. 

"I will never leave you nor forsake you!" 

Joshua 1:5

And then I found peace by singing the hymn, "In Tenderness He Sought Me"... how much the Lord, my King loved me...  "I wondered what He saw in me, to suffer such deep agony" It doesn't compare to my pains here, though He totally understands. And yet He loved me... enough to die for me! Blessed be His name...

May you know God's peace today.

~Ellie