December 17, 2024

Faithful

October 4, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Forever, O Lord,
Your word is settled in heaven [standing firm and unchangeable].
Your faithfulness continues from generation to generation;
Psalms 119:89-90

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

You know my future
like You knew my past
Your word concerning me
was made to last forever

I know Your Word is Your integrity
And that You’ll do
just what You said You would
You are faithful

Heaven and earth will pass away
But Your Word will remain
Your Word will remain faithful
Though all I have is stripped away
To You I remain
To You I remain faithful

I know that Your love is forever strong
And I will sing about it
All day long, forever

I know that there is
no one else like You
No one else can do the things You do
You are faithful

Hillsong United

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Word of our God will Stand Forever

October 1, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:8

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

from the folks over at Fighter Verses.com
click through to go to their website;
an excellent source of great Scripture memorization tools

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

In You I Rest (Be Still My Soul)

October 1, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God to order and provide
In every change He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul; thy best, thy heavenly, Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end

Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below

in You i rest
in You i found my hope
in You i trust You never let me go
i place my life within Your hands alone
be still my soul

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last

Kari Jobe
traditional lyrics by Katharina von Schlegel, translated by Jane Borthwick
tune, Finlandia, by Jean Julius Sibelius
additional chorus by Kari Jobe & Jason Ingram

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

<sigh!>  How many times have I encouraged…commanded even…my own heart to simply ‘be still.’  (Or perhaps more honestly: “BE STILL!!!!!”)  How about you?  I know that some of you are going through difficult times. There is doubt and uncertainty in your hearts.  There is turmoil and strife in your homes.  There is worry and fear.  There is unrest in the politics of this world.  There are many, many unanswered questions.

Here are a few passages that I call to mind (and heart!) when the struggle to be still is most difficult.  They help me to renew my mind and come back into His Presence.

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.
He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Stronghold; I will not be shaken.
My salvation and glory depend on God, my Strong Rock. My Refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our Refuge. Selah
Psalms 62:5-8

You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he commits himself to You, leans on You,
and hopes confidently in You.
So trust in the Lord
(commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever;
for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock.
Isaiah 62:3 and 4 AMP

But I trust in You, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
The course of my life is in Your power;
deliver me from the power of my enemies
and from my persecutors.
Show Your favor to Your servant;
save me by Your faithful love.
Psalms 31:14-16

I love this old hymn! Both the lyrics as well as the tune always lead me into His Presence and acknowledging that He IS on my side…and He DOES guide the future and the past…and the hour is coming when we WILL be forever with Him!  Take these promises made to God’s man, Jeremiah, and claim them as your own….

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you.
You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you, declares the Lord….
Jeremiah 29:11-14

Sing along with me, friends!  Let us choose to be still before our God recognizing all that He has promised to do when we are in humble submission and in quiet rest at His throne.

in You i rest
in You i found my hope
in You i trust, You never let me go
i place my life within Your hands alone
be still my soul

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer

September 30, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The Watches of the Night

I look towards the wintering trees to hush my fretful soul
As they rise to face the icy sky and hold fast beneath the snow
Their rings grow wide, their roots go deep that they might hold their height
And stand like valiant soldiers through the watches of the night

No human shoulder ever bears the weight of all the world
But hearts can sink beneath the ache of trouble’s sudden surge
Yet far beyond full knowing there’s a strong unsleeping Light
That reaches round to hold me through the watches of the night

I have cried upon the steps that seem too steep for me to climb
And I’ve prayed against a burden I did not want to be mine
But, here I am and this is where You’re calling me to fight
And You I will remember through the watches of the night
…You I will remember through the watches of the night

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer

Jesus, draw me ever nearer
As I labour through the storm
You have called me to this passage
and I’ll follow, though I’m worn

May this journey bring a blessing
May I rise on wings of faith
And at the end of my heart’s testing
With Your likeness let me wake

Jesus, guide me through the tempest
Keep my spirit staid and sure
When the midnight meets the morning
Let me love You even more

Let the treasures of the trial                                 
Form within me as I go
And at the end of this long passage
Let me leave them at Your throne

Getty Music
The Watches of the Night
Mrs. Kristyn Getty
♥   
Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer
Music by Keith Getty; Words by Margaret Becker

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

I venture to say that you, too, have had times of sleeplessness, leading you to prayer and remembering ‘through the watches of the night.’  In each of our lives there are situations and circumstances that seem to be are a burden we do not want to bear.

Here’s the Truth, my friend: we are not to bear our burdens, our cares, our anxieties, our worries alone.  Our heavenly Father loves you so much and wants to be the Bearer of your burden.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you;
He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22

Blessed be the Lord, Who bears our burdens and carries us day by day,
even the God Who is our salvation! Selah.
Psalm 68:19

He is

  • Jehovah-Jireh (He Who provides)
  • Jehovah-Shalom (He Who is our peace)
  • Jehovah-Rohi (the Shepherd of our souls)

Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4

I love this promise from my God…it settles my heart each and every time I read it.  He has already done the bearing of any burden I could ever perceive!  As Mrs. Getty writes in her poem,

“There’s a strong unsleeping Light that reaches round to hold me
through the watches of the night.”

Almighty God will carry us throughout any wearisome, worrisome, troublesome  situation we are in.  His promises are true and Amen!

So I encourage you (me, too!) to always remember God’s heart towards us when we are feeling overwhelmed and burdened.  He is faithful to His promises, and He cares for you!

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you at the proper time,
casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Apple-Butternut Soup

September 29, 2015 by

Oh!  ‘Tis the season…apple season, that is!  Here in NY State, our farmers grow a huge portion of the country’s apple crop…and it is a GOOD one this year!  We are going apple picking next week but I didn’t want to wait to start with the recipes.  This one, Apple-Butternut Soup, included a few tart green Granny Smith apples. The tartness of the apple along with the sweetness of the squash melded together nicely.  This recipe is simple and easy, (and quick too!) and makes a smooth, thick soup which was very filling and satisfying.  If you would like to keep your soup vegetarian (or vegan), just use vegetable broth.  This soup fits perfectly into our healthy but oh-so-yummy POV, too.  Enjoy!

And please don’t let the task of cutting up the squash scare you off!  Be sure to use a sharp knife and just be careful.  I used a melon baller to scoop out the seeds and all the string-y business.  Here are a couple of pics of the process.

2015-09-26 16.43.57

2015-09-26 16.48.37

 

 

 

 

 Apple – Butternut Soup

2015-09-26 18.38.34

ingredients:

1 large butternut squash (3#), peeled and seeded, cut into 1-1+1/2″ cubes
2-3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
sea salt and freshly ground pepper (I use lemon-pepper blend)
1 sweet onion, chopped small
2 tablespoons finely minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons chopped garlic (I use jarred)
2 or 3 apples, peeled and chopped
2 quarts chicken stock
1 cup cider (or additional broth)
1 cup water
big handful fresh greens (baby spinach, kale, arugula), sliced thinly

directions:

  • preheat oven to 425
  • line large baking sheet with parchment paper
  • in a large bowl, use just enough olive oil to lightly coat the squash and season well w/ s&p
  • pour seasoned squash onto the baking sheet; spread them out in a single layer…use two pans if necessary (I needed two)
  • roast until just beginning to brown, about 20-25 minutes; remove from oven and set aside

meanwhile…

  • in a 6 quart stockpot, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and saute onion for 8-9 minutes over medium heat (or  ‘til softened and translucent)
  • reduce heat to low; add ginger and garlic and continue to cook for 1-2 minutes stirring constantly ’til fragrant
  • add chopped apples, cider, chicken stock and water; bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer
  • save out a cup or so of the roasted butternut; add the rest to the pot and simmer  for 15 minutes or  so
  • using an immersion blender**, puree soup ’til almost smooth
  • carefully taste and season, if necessary, with salt and pepper
  • place a handful of sliced greens and some of the reserved squash in bottom of bowl; fill with soup

**also can be pureed in a standard blender but be very careful and puree in batches

   ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥      ♥ 

God loves you!   ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Your Words

September 27, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.
Isaiah 40:8

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *   

Third Day along with Harvest Parker
writers: Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, Mark Lee, David Carr

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let me hear Your words
Above all other voices
Above all the distractions in this world

For Your words bring life
And Your voice speaks promises
Lord, Your love offers more
Than anything else in this world

Your words give us life that’s never ending
Your words bring us love that never fails
Everything else will fade away
But what will remain
Are Your words

Let us speak Your words
More than ours, more than ever
Let us share Your love with all the world

The grass will wither and the flowers will fall
But the word of our God will last forever
The grass will wither and the flowers will fall
But the word of our God will last forever

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

This Week…Psalms 139:23-24

September 25, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts;
And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me,
And lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalms 139:23 and 24

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

This week, here on the Seeking Him devotional blog, we have reached the conclusion of our series on this wonderful chapter, Psalm 139.  These final verses show the heart of a humble person who recognizes…and asks for…God’s help.  Here’s a little of what our devotional writers shared….

In Change, Ahmee encouraged us to recognize we need God’s help for this…

Do you believe that’s a person can change?  I do…I believe that a person can change, if they want to change.  We cannot change people, people have to want to change on their own or the change won’t stick.  I’m talking about true change not “appearances” of change.  Can people change on their own?  I do believe that even this is possible.  However, I also believe that the easiest change you will ever experience is with the help of God.  And by easy I mean that the tools are readily available if you will accept them. First, and foremost, a person needs to acknowledge that there is a need to change….

❦

In Search Me, Ann reminded us that nothing is ever hid from God…

‘Search me, O God’—this is an appropriate prayer for every believer.  Not only must we hate unrighteousness in the world but we must also be aware that there may be something in us that grieves God.  We should be willing to ask God to put us through any test that would further His work of sanctification in us.  If anything offensive is found, we must turn from it and repent.

  • We cannot hide anything from God for He is the All-Knowing God
  • Our God sees everything
  • This we should know: we cannot hide anything from the eyes of God.

❦

In Lead Me, Tina shared about the best leader—God and how He leads us…

Being a leader carries with it a lot of responsibility.  Some do it well, working hard to be available to their team and leading by example.  It is hard work to keep everyone motivated and on the right page. God is a great motivator.  He wrote us a manual for motivating ourselves and others..it is called the Holy Bible!

No matter what we are feeling, God is there with His words ready to fill our hearts.  He created the Holy Spirit to aid us to stay on the path that leads to an everlasting life….

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Loving Kindness

September 24, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I will give thanks unto You, Lord
For You are good, Your loving kindness never ends
I raise my hands, You heal my soul
Here in the presence of the Lord my heart’s restored
And You guide me in the paths of righteousness
And You hide me in the shadow of Your hand
I rest in You

Blessed be the name of the Lord
I’m my Father’s child forevermore
You heard every prayer
You broke every chain
You alone delivered me

My Prince of Peace, You lifted me
Where everything that’s named is placed under your feet
And may my praises be as incense to you, Lord
And may my worship be a sweet fragrance
To You alone, my King

The Son of God He reigns on the throne
King of Kings let all the nations know
That the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever

For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and ever
For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and ever
For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and ever

Miriam Webster/Darlene Zschech
 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!
Psalm 118:1

You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You;
You are my God, I will extol You.
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
Verses 28 and 29

Don’t you just love that the psalmist begins and ends this beautiful psalm with the very same words?  And such wonderful words!  Are they not similar to words that you and I use when we are praising our Great God?  In just a cursory overview with a concordance, I found over fifteen Scriptures with identical wording.  In fact, Psalm 107 uses this phrasing of praise in five separate verses.

The Almighty God is so deserving of every single praise that has ever been uttered since time began…and He will be praised by men and angels (and you & me, too!) throughout eternity.

Way back, Melchizedek the high priest blessed Abram and  praised God saying,

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High, Who delivered your enemies into your hand.
Genesis 14:19 and 20

And in the endtimes, The Almighty God, The Great I AM along with the spotless Lamb of God will be praised and worshipped continually and throughout eternity.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13

Think about your own prayers and praises—particularly those that spontaneously come pouring out of a  thankful heart.  What do you find you praise God for over…and over…and over again?  Perhaps you might share it in the comments section below.  I look forward to praising our Great God along with you!

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Dear Lord, my heart echoes the words of the psalmist…and I give thanks and praise to You for You are SO good; Your mercy and loving-kindness will endure forever and ever and ever!  Amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lead Me In The Way Everlasting

September 23, 2015 by

SeekingHimLogo

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalms 139:23 and 24 NKJV

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Esther Mui/Christian Worship and Scripture Songs 

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Waiting Here For You

September 23, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

If faith can move the mountains
Let the mountains move
We come with expectation
Waiting here for You
I’m waiting here for You

You’re the Lord of all creation
And still You know my heart
The Author of Salvation
You’ve loved me from the start

Waiting here for You
With our hands lifted high in praise
And it’s You we adore
Singing Alleluia

You are everything You’ve promised
Your faithfulness is true
And we’re desperate for Your presence
All we need is You

Martin Smith and Sarah Bird
Songwriters: Chris Tomlin, Jesse Reeves, Martin Smith

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

This song sings of the proper heart-attitude of one who is waiting in expectation of God’s blessing.  It sings of quiet confidence in the Creator of the heavens and the earth…and His not being so big to not know the depths of each of our hearts.  It tells of desperately needing, yet expectantly waiting,  for God.  It speaks the praises of one who is convinced that God is present and faithful and loving.  It speaks the heart of one who loves and adores this great God.

As I’ve been listening again (and again) to this song, I’ve thought of some folks I know who are currently praying and waiting.  Their desires and expectations run quite the gamut as they wait…

  • as a loved one is dying, and expecting God to give them relief and comfort
  • for God’s provision in the area of their finances
  • for God’s blessing and healing of division in their marriage
  • for the safety and return of a loved one serving in the military overseas
  • to see God provide reconciliation amongst family members
  • on God’s timing to move their family cross-country
  • for miraculous healing from cancer
  • for the birth of their first child

Their needs are varied and their needs are great.  These are not small, inconsequential matters.  Yet each one remains convinced that God will provide and is waiting expectantly.  Their hope and trust is in Him.

My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him;
for my hope and expectation are from Him.
He only is my Rock and my Salvation;
He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.
With God rests my salvation and my glory;
He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God!
Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your hearts before Him.
God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah
Psalms 62:5-8

And we wait also for the <soon> return of our Lord to the earth to gather the saints.  This is a constant yearning and expectation of ours!  {Come quickly, Lord Jesus!}

…So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time,
not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:28

Perhaps, there is something that you are waiting for God to do in your life. Just as Jesus will faithfully fulfil His promise to return to the Earth, He will also fulfill His promises for your life.  We always base our expectations and our hope on the Truth—God’s Holy Word.  God will bring every promise He has ever made to pass.  He is faithful.

Yes, in the path of Your judgments, O Lord, we wait [expectantly] for You;
our heartfelt desire is for Your name and for the remembrance of You.
Isaiah 26:8

Just as Isaiah encouraged the people of Israel, so the same Truth applies to our hearts as we endeavor to faithfully walk as we wait on the fulfillment of God’s promises.  Isaiah 40:28-31 says,

Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

I pray that you will have courage and strength as you wait upon the Lord for deliverance and for Him to fulfil His plans and purpose for your life.  No matter where you are today in your waiting for the Lord…if you have been waiting one day or one year…I pray you remain filled with expectation!  No matter how large and life-changing your need might be, or perhaps it is very small and intimate—known only to you and your heavenly Father, I pray that You are filled with expectation.  I pray that your expectation is focused solely on the goodness, the grace, the mercy, the lovingkindness of the Great I AM.  I pray that you sing HalleluJAH in worship-filled praise today as you wait…and that you will sing HALLELUJAH! when your expectation is fulfilled by His love and grace.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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