March 13, 2026

As Long As I Live

SeekingHimLogo

I love the Lord, because He has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because He inclined His ear to me,
therefore I will call on Him as long as I live.
Psalms 116:1-2

From generation to generation, God has sustained His people.  He has carried them through the difficulties they have had to endure.  In these verses, we see where it begins.  ‘I love the LORD;’ perhaps we need to say that more.  If we do love Him, let’s proclaim it!  The psalmist goes on to say why He loves God… “because He has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy, because He inclined His ear to me.”  If you have walked with the Lord for any length of time, you know these two verses to be true.  Our hearts should burst with love for Him because He’s been attentive to our pleas for mercy and has helped us.  And you know full well that once you’ve tasted how wonderful life is with Him, you desire to call on Him all the days of your life!  And in doing so, He will be your strength for you!

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8

I do not deserve what God has given me.  He has lavished love, mercy, and grace on me!  And the more He does, the more I find myself loving Him more!

Because the Lord sent Jesus to die on the Cross in my place and has forgiven me of my sins, I now have a relationship with Him that will last for an eternity. And no matter what I have to endure on this earth, I know Jesus walks beside me.  No one can separate me from His love.  If you know and love Him, the same can be said for you.

Who can separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written, ‘For Your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, not angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35-39

Friends, pray.  Call on Him as long as you live!  Love Him!  Have a deep and personal relationship with the Almighty God!  He loves you and cares for you!

Dear Lord,
I love you, and I thank You for hearing my voice when I cry out to You—the first time I knew I desperately needed You and every time since then.  Every time, You have been there to help me, forgive me, comfort me, understand me, and restore me.  You are my precious and wonderful God! Thank You for hearing my pleas of mercy and for always being there!  I will call on You as long as I live!  In Jesus’ precious Name I pray, Amen.

The Lord Protects Me

SeekingHimLogo

Then I called on the name of the Lord : “Please, Lord , save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good He is! So merciful, this God of ours!
The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.
Psalms 116:4-7

The Lord is my protection.

I had almost forgot.  In my busy daily routine, I’d almost forgotten this important fact.  I’ve been spending quite some time creating a comfortable and safe environment for myself.  I’ve got my group of close friends, established myself at both jobs, gotten my apartment fixed up and feeling “homey” and established comforting routines.  All factors that contribute to me feeling safe.

But things are changing too fast and I feel like my safety zones are falling apart.  I’m moving back home with my parents.  So, packing and the “un-homey” feeling in my apartment is a current task.  I’m significantly reducing my hours at one job.  I’m feeling isolated from my friends and family and, to top it all off, I’m facing a dilemma at the other job that is directly assaulting my safety zone and I feel nothing is being done to address the issue.  I no longer feel safe.

The Lord is my protection.

After relying on company policies and trying to do things, in what seemed to be, the right way; and, in my opinion, being shot down, I’ve pondered and mulled over trying to make sense of my world.  The world that I thought I’d isolated so well; that I was untouchable from the injustice of this world’s system.  Then it dawned on me: I was relying on the comforts and safety I could set up to protect me.  (I must have forgotten I am only human.)

During all of this, I’ve talked to the Lord and explained how I feel.  I’ve taken each emotion to Him.  I’ve even stared into the sky and told Him that I didn’t feel this was something I should have to deal with.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“Please, Lord , save me!”  How kind the Lord is!  How good He is!
So merciful, this God of ours!  The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and He saved me.  Let my soul be at rest again,
for the Lord has been good to me.
Psalms 116:4-7

The Word of God says that the Lord protects those of childlike faith.  Given my current situation I can bring nothing to the table but childlike faith—because I have nothing left.  After I paused and went to the Word, I found a Scripture that fits my situation perfectly:

Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Ultimately, what I’m struggling with is fear. My ‘safe’ doesn’t feel safe and I’m afraid. The fact that I already have a lot going on does not help the situation, and neither do my sleepless nights.  The fact that I feel helpless and misunderstood doesn’t help either, but God’s Word says trusting Him is safety.  And, as we know God’s Word is truth, I need to trust Him.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Lord, I am thankful that no matter what I’m going through You always have something for me in Your Word to guide me.  And although fear is threatening to paralyze me, I know that You are greater.  Thank You for watching over me, and I trust that Your understanding of these situations is far greater than mine. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Perfect Protector

SeekingHimLogo

As for God, His way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
He shields all who take refuge in Him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except out God?
It is God who arms with strength and keeps my way secure.
Psalms 18:30-32

Perfection.  I will go ahead and say that I have tried many times to be perfect. Have I ever achieved it?  No.  I never will. I have flaws.  I was born that way.  God made me with flaws for His own reasons.  I can either take advantage of those flaws to make myself better or let those flaws bring me down.  God gives me the strength to get past these flaws.

If we let our flaws bring us down, we can take refuge in a God who understands us because He made us.  God knew us before we born.  He knit us in our mothers’ wombs; therefore, He knows every fiber of our body.  This is one way He is our Rock and Shield.  He knows where we need protection and a fighting way against the evil of the world.  He arms us with the ways to stay strong and secure in our lives.

As Psalm 18:2 says, “The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer; my God is my Rock, in Whom I take refuge, my Shield and the Horn of my salvation, my Stronghold,” God delivers me from my flaws which allow me to fall into temptation and to feel down.  He arms me with the strength and tools I need through His Word—the Bible. I only have to make the choice (which I already have) to accept Jesus into my heart and to pick up the Good Book. Through this, I am armed with God’s Shield to protect myself and my loved ones from Satan, and I have a Rock to lean on in hard times.

God  does not just not only makes me feel secure…He is my security. Just like a child depends on a blanket for security, God envelops us with His loving and strong arms to protect us. We can get that same security blanket feeling if we just depend on the rock that is always giving us protection and love.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us the flaws that make us what we are. We can use those to make our lives our betters if we let You show us how to deal with them. You are perfect. We are not. Your perfection is what makes You our great Protector and Father. Without you, we would be lost to the world. In Jesus name, Amen.

With His Help

SeekingHimLogo

Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our Help and our Shield.
Psalm 33:20

I read this verse, and I’m simply grateful that God’s always there to help me!  The Lord is always my Help and my Shield.  Friends, this is huge!  If you are a believer, you too, can say the same!  (When we call out to Him in prayer, serve Him, express our hearts about God to others, face struggles, and do life, HE IS WITH US AND WILL HELP US.  WE ARE NOT ALONE!  The Holy Spirit lives inside of us, and we have HIS POWER working in us.  Let’s be amazed and thankful for that every day.)

Bow to Him, and be amazed by Him!  (He will help you.)

Because He is the great and loving God that He is, friends, go to Him.  Yield your heart to Him first each day!  Ask the Holy Spirit to let you realize He’s your Help and Shield in every possible way.  Live each day/your life in a prayerful way.

Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17

Be strong in Him, and be amazed by Him!  (He will help you.)

God is greater than any spiritual warfare that we may face!  You will face it, as a believer.  Be ready!  Put on the shield of faith-believing in Him and what He can do. In fact, put on the whole Armor of God every day, and be strong in the Lord!  He will protect you!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
Stand therefore, having as shoes for your feet,
having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith,
with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God,
praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication.
To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
Ephesians 6:10-18

Follow Him, and be amazed by Him!  (He will help you.)

With the Holy Spirit living inside of me, sometimes, He wants me to “go out on a limb” for God’s glory. It may not be a popular place to be. It may take boldness and courage to go! It may not be safe! It may be lonely because others may not be with me! Some may not understand what I’m doing at first. But if that is where God wants me to go, I go because I love Him! He will help me as I go, whatever the situation is! (Lord, help me follow You wherever You lead me.)

When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them,
and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice.
John 10:4

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Lord, we love You.  Let us recognize that You are our Help and Shield in every possible way.  We desperately need You.  Let us bow to You, be strong in You, and follow You—wherever You lead us—all for Your glory! In Jesus’ precious Name, I pray.  Amen.

Faithfulness

SeekingHimLogo

Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the skies.
Your righteousness is like the highest mountains,
Your justice like the great deep.
You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.
How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God!
People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They feast on the abundance of Your house;
You give them drink from Your river of delights.
For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.
Continue Your love to those who know You,
Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Psalms 36:5-10

Our God loves us in such a powerful and wonderful way.  From the beginning of time He has desired to have an intimate relationship with all that dwell here.  As the psalmist says, “His love reaches to the heavens.”  I wonder, could ours reach that far?

A friend of mine and her husband were awaiting genetic testing results for a disease his mother and aunt have. The period of waiting was beginning to take its toll on each of them. What with their already demanding work (they are both in the medical field), and raising a 12 year old daughter, they have their share of commitments. Finally the results came in—he had no indicators of the disease and all of the symptoms of the disease left hm.  I know some of you are thinking, “If he was/is a believer, then why was he worrying.”  It is mainly because he does/did not have a close relationship with God.  He could have focused on the positive outcome, rather than the negative which would have allowed them both to have truly “lived” this past year.

As our lives continue and we are faced with new challenges and concerns, we need to remember to keep God first in our thoughts.  It is a learned thought process, one that is cultivated, and should be encouraged in others.  Our God delights in us when we truly seek Him and want to know Him.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Father,  thank You for Your provisions for us Your children. We want to be jealous for You, we want to know You more fully as we begin this new year.  Show us places where we can improve and where we can be brave enough to share our hearts with You. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

In Your Light, We See Light

SeekingHimLogo

Your mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep;
O LORD, You preserve man and beast. How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.
They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house,
And You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
Oh, continue Your lovingkindness to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright in heart.
Psalm 36:5-10

There is such beauty in these words! As this psalm is read, it creates such a feeling of safety and peace. Of all these words the line that stood out the most was this: “In Your light we see light.”
I was reading an article this morning that detailed the recent shootings that have taken place in schools, shopping centers and even movie theatres. The article stated that all of these shootings were in areas where “we once felt safe”—areas that were made for education, recreation, fun times; places that may now have people looking over their shoulders and wondering what the person next to them is thinking.

The world seems like a very dark place right now, so when I read that in God’s light, we see light, it reminded me that despite what I see happening in the world today, or even in our personal lives, that there is a Constant Light. There is constant light because God is a constant— He is constantly merciful, constantly faithful, constantly righteous, He constantly preserves, and, most of all, He is constantly loving.

“In Your light we see light.” His light is ever present, we need to stay close, we need to study His word, we need to pray, and we need to listen to music that draws us closer to Him. Oscar Wilde said that “it takes a great deal of courage to see the world in all of its tainted glory, and still love it.” Because of the light we are constantly surrounded by, because of His unyielding love, we have the courage that is needed to love this world and the people on it. So when things seem dark, tell yourself that in His light we see light.

Let’s pray: Dear Heavenly Father, darkness seems to surround every news story, every television show and every newspaper. Thank You for Your light that shines through this darkness and reminds us of your constant presence and love. Please give us the courage to love the world despite what is happening around us. And in dark times please help us to remember that in Your light, we see light. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Finding Peace

SeekingHimLogo

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12 NIV

Ever had one of those days where all you want is for someone to listen to you and there is no one around who does not seem to have issues that far outweigh yours? I have. There are some days where I want to vent and I have no one to speak with. Sometimes when I do, and I start to describe what I believe is occuring, it all seems rather silly and unimportant. I begin to wonder why I allowed those thoughts to come in and linger as long as I did. Then I remember that I have God who can and will hear me.

God sent His son Jesus to be that perfect example of what it looks like to share His thoughts.  Ultimately, we have to put our ‘self’ to the side and wait for the Holy Spirit—the Helper—to relay the message from our Father.  When we truly seek our Lord and truly share our burdens, then God is able to use us, an empty vessel for His Kingdom.  When we choose to let go of past hurts and even current ones, God can make us clean. We have to be willing to be on our knees or on our face and have a heartfelt cry out to our Father. Without God at our center, we are nothing but a bag of bones floating along life’s way. I want to dance, I want to sway to the music of God in my soul!

As we go through our week, let’s put away—one by one—the past. Let us focus on what can be, not what could be. Let us remember what it was like when we first believed in our Father. Remember the excitement and longing to do all that God has planned for us.

Paul writes in Galatians 5,

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

We have to make an effort to follow these seemingly simple instructions. Each day it can become easier with God’s help and seeking His peace in our frantic, busy lives. We just need to make time for God!

*  ~  * ~  * ~ * ~ *  

Father, help us today to not get so caught up in our busyness that we forget to focus on You. We desire to have the relationship that brings us peace. A peace that is only accomplished by a more intimate relationship with You, putting You first in our lives. We want Your love and light to shine so brightly, that others desire to know what is creating our joy. Help us to choose joy in our everyday life. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Pray to the Father

SeekingHimLogo

You will call to Me and come and pray to Me,
and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12

 Do you ever feel alone? Do you ever feel like you have more on your list than you can handle? Do you ever feel like there is no hope? Do you look for a miracle; perhaps you receive it or you do not receive it? Do you ask for something only not to get it? I think that everybody can answer yes to these questions—at some point in their lives.

Yet, many people rely on the outside world to find answers to these questions. However, the world itself cannot truly fulfill the answers to these questions/feelings. We must call on the highest power—the power of God—to answer these questions. He does not leave us. He will be there for us and help us when we feel like we have too much to handle. God brings us hope, love, and peace. He gives us the miracle we need (not what we may think we need).

Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God.
Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.
Psalm 4:1

 Prayer is our way of talking to God. We should pray daily. Through prayer we can talk to God about our problems and request help for situations that we cannot control. If we hold true to our faith in God, He will bring relief to us. He will show us mercy and listen to us. As His children, God always has our best interest at heart. We may not like how God answers our prayers, but He answers them in ways that are always for our good.

Our Father loves us dearly. He answers our prayers in the ways that He knows we need. We may want something very much, and pray for it, but if God knows that it is bad for us, He will answer us in a way that protects us. He answers our prayers in the ways that are best for us. He knows what will harm us, and as any father would do, He protects us from what is not good for us.

*  ~  * ~  * ~ * ~ *  

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for looking out for us. Sometimes we do not know what is best for ourselves or our families. You do. Without You, we might make the wrong decisions and put ourselves in harm’s way. Continue to protect us and look out for us. In Jesus name, amen.

 

Came AND Coming: with Purpose

SeekingHimLogoA favorite picture of mine has a scene where a white lamb’s in the background and the face of a transparent lion is largely spread over a scene of earth showing God’s great and rich creation in all of its splendor and beauty! So, there are three reminders of God there, but today, I’ll focus on two of them:
1) Christ as the Lamb of God- He sacrificially came to rescue us from a life where we were set apart from Him because of our sins. He died for our sins in our place. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).  John the Baptist said of Jesus, “…Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
2) Christ as the Lion of Judah- “…See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelations 5:5). I’m reminded of His power and strength and that He’s coming back.
***********************
This image is powerful. Jesus both came and is coming again with purpose!
If I had the equipment/means to present a short piece on visual media, I’d do this:
Soft music plays as a video camera captures the blue skies, then pans down on a white lamb climbing a large green hill (an attempt to symbolically depict that Jesus came), and once it crests the top of a hill, there in front of him is a large rugged wooden cross towering. The music builds and then, it abruptly stops as the scene cuts to one dressed as a Roman soldier as if hammering a nail in the hand of someone (depicting Jesus) lying on a cross. The clanging of the hammer hitting the nail is piercing each time hammer hits nail. The music begins again and grows darker along with the scene. The cross is lifted up. Camera’s high and behind the cross viewing the Biblically-dressed people with different emotions gazing up toward the cross. The skies are dark and there are “trembling” special effects depicting an earthquake. The image of a veil is torn (seen and heard). Then, dark skies and howling wind are on-going as the cross is lowered, but one sees only the top of the cross going down as the camera stays on the dark skies. The scene cuts to a tomb where light spreads across the entry rock and darkens 3 times to depict the passing of 3 days. Suddenly, an earthquake is portrayed, then, the rock is rolled away with a bright flash of bright light (depicting an angel’s presence). Music is intense and celebratory while building…and then, abruptly stopping. Camera pans up to blue skies, then, down on modern-day people walking in the streets amidst loud city noises then, the street noises start to fade. The people walking phase into slow-motion and the ticking sound of a clock gets louder and louder, then, stops. Then suddenly, a burst of a loud, roaring lion pierces the silence (an attempt to symbolically depict that Jesus is about to return but people in scene don’t hear it). Pause 3 seconds. Lights brighten on scene to depict that the clouds part. All look up into sky as look of awe spreads onto each face. Freeze-frame camera on their faces. Overall, there is the sound of the Scripture being read as the words are scrolled over the screen.

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has the name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Revelations 19:11-16

Hold camera on their faces, then, fade scene away.

*********************************************

The Book of Revelations is Truth and is packed with symbolism. (I suggested the visual of a literal lamb and the sound of a roaring lion in the scene to accentuate His Presence in that Jesus came to sacrificially redeem us, and He’s coming back to rule and reign with power!)
For the full account of Jesus’ birth, life, crucifixion, resurrection, and future return, see the books: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Revelation. God’s Word trumps all words.
I’m a simple, ordinary person, and I shared with you. What can you do with the opportunities God gives you to impact others for Him? The clock’s ticking… Don’t let time get away from you.

Dear Lord,
You’re worthy of all praise! Let us worship You! Let us not waste time, and let us keep telling others about You. You came to redeem, and You are coming again to rule and reign! We await Your return! Let hearts be ready!!! In Jesus’ precious Name I pray,
Amen.

Praise Heart

We cannot praise God if we don’t know Him personally. It takes our relationship with Him for us to adore and admire His good works over our lives.

I stand in awe of Him because I personally know who He is to me and what He has done. He is so great, and so worthy to be praised. It is only when I realized this when I will truly worship, praise and admire and appreciate His works over my life.

For You are awesome God of Nations,
Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Alpha, Omega
You are worthy of all praise
More that these hands I’ll raise
I’ll live a life of praise!

from Life of Praise ~ Casting Crowns

When I say, “You are awesome!” it means I have run short of words— He is so wonderful! When I say, “Lion of Judah” it means I know He is reigning over every situation. Think of a lion the way it roars and what do other animals do when the lion is near? They flee for life. How about this Lion of Judah? At His name every knee will bow.

Lets just look at what He has done?  Read through this praise-filled psalm, Psalm 103.  He has done great and mighty things; looking from the time we were born to now; and the greatest thing of sending Christ to die on our behalf for us to have eternal life…don’t I have to jump with praise and live a life of praise?

What else do I want when I know He is worth it. He created me to praise Him again and again…He is mighty, awesome, excellent, great in battle!

There is a song I have composed (of course, have not taken to the studios yet!)…part of the lyrics says:

Adonai, I worship You today
El Shaddai, I worship You today
You are worthy of the praise
You are worthy of the glory
Adonai, I worship You today

And when I sing this song I feel His presence near me. Remember when our praises go up high to Him, His glory comes down and this song gets me closer to His throne.

It is the same with you, praise can be done anytime as long as you know Who you are praising, what He has done, and things He is yet to do—for they are awesome. Nothing compares to Him; hence He is the Alpha and Omega (He’s the beginning AND the end.)
He is our Rock of ages—solid rock. All other grounds are sinking sand hence us praising Him for He is the solid one never shaken even when the storm rages and it is because He is in me and I am in Him I don’t fear no storms and I am covered under this Rock. The Rock Who is Christ Jesus and this means if devil wants to attack he should start with the shelter (who is Christ) then come to me otherwise I am under maximum protection—hence my praise.

Father, I praise You and worship You for You are the great I AM!  In Jesus’ name, I pray. AMEN!!!