Following His Lead...

Our visiting speaker quoted the poem below to go along with his theme that God is everything, we are nothing, God in us is everything. God Who was everything, came down to earth, making Himself nothing, so that we who are nothing could be made everything in Him. Christ in me, the hope of glory. The Son never took a step without the Father's leading. John 5:19-20 (The Message) says...
So Jesus explained himself at length. "I'm telling you this straight. The Son can't independently do a thing, only what he sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes him in everything he is doing.

So where does that leave us? Think about it.

Dancing with God

By: Elaine L. Guercio

When I meditated on the word “Guidance”,
I kept seeing “dance” at the end of the word.

I remember reading that doing God’s will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quite
uncomfortable and jerky.

When one person realizes that and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to
flow with the music.

One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing
lightly in one direction or another.

It’s as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness, and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

My eyes drew back to the word “guidance”.
When I saw “G”, I thought of God,

followed by “U” and “I”. “God”, “U” and “I” “dance”.

God, you and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that I would get guidance
about my life.

Once again, I became willing to let God lead.
My prayer for you today is that

God’s Blessings and mercies be upon you on
this day and every day.

May you abide in God as God abides in you.
Dance together with God,

trusting God to lead and guide you through each
season of your life.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

I invite you to go to my previous post for today's songs.
Then pop by Amy's to hear more songs that minister.
Blessings to all who enter.

Love, Sita

Michael Jackson, a precious part of my past...

Just heard the news. Michael Jackson has died at age 50...
...the musical genius...
...the troubled soul...

It has affected me in much the same way as the death of Princess Di. I have deep emotional and historical ties with Michael. I grew up hearing him sing ABC, Rocking Robin, Got to be There and so many others. I loved his voice, I loved his moves. In his later more controversial years, I felt a deep pity but never lost my respect for all that this 'child' had undergone. It is rumored he had been surrounded by some real sharks in the entertainment industry. My child's heart cannot comprehend why people would be so evil to me. What did I ever do to them? I can only imagine what Michael went through. He was deeply betrayed and I know I am not the only one who really cared enough to pray for him.
Here are the words to his song he said spelled his heart:

Have you seen my Childhood?

I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood
I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates in adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me,
Look within your heart then ask,
Have you seen my Childhood?

People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things,
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like fantastical stories to share
The dreams I would dare, watch me fly...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me.
The painful youth I've had

Have you seen my Childhood...

My heart breaks.
Lord, did he ever get to see Your Father's heart?
To know security and love? Did he see You running to meet him?
I pray he did and that even now, he is with You living life fully for the first time in his life.
I dedicate this song to his memory:


and this is the classic Michael, the child's heart...

Love lifted me...

God has been doing a 'work' in my heart in recent times...a work as described here in Spurgeon's devotional this morning...in a heart that looked more like this picture of angry waves versus the peaceful header above...

C.H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening Devotional
Tuesday June 23, 2009
http://bible.christiansunite.com/devotionals.shtml

"Ephraim is a cake not turned."-Hosea 7:8

A cake not turned is uncooked on one side; and so Ephraim was, in many respects, untouched by divine grace: though there was some partial obedience, there was very much rebellion left. My soul, I charge thee, see whether this be thy case. Art thou thorough in the things of God? Has grace gone through the very centre of thy being so as to be felt in its divine operations in all thy powers, thy actions, thy words, and thy thoughts? To be sanctified, spirit, soul, and body, should be thine aim and prayer; and although sanctification may not be perfect in thee anywhere in degree, yet it must be universal in its action; there must not be the appearance of holiness in one place and reigning sin in another, else thou, too, wilt be a cake not turned.

A cake not turned is soon burnt on the side nearest the fire, and although no man can have too much religion, there are some who seem burnt black with bigoted zeal for that part of truth which they have received, or are charred to a cinder with a vainglorious Pharisaic ostentation of those religious performances which suit their humour. The assumed appearance of superior sanctity frequently accompanies a total absence of all vital godliness. The saint in public is a devil in private. He deals in flour by day and in soot by night. The cake which is burned on one side, is dough on the other.

If it be so with me, O Lord, turn me! Turn my unsanctified nature to the fire of Thy love and let it feel the sacred glow, and let my burnt side cool a little while I learn my own weakness and want of heat when I am removed from Thy heavenly flame. Let me not be found a double-minded man, but one entirely under the powerful influence of reigning grace; for well I know if I am left like a cake unturned, and am not on both sides the subject of Thy grace, I must be consumed for ever amid everlasting burnings.

And I was driving my son to school this morning, God so graciously brought these words from an old hymn to me..it touched that spot that needed ministry...
Sing with me Love Lifted Me...

Love Lifted Me

James Rowe, 1912, Copyright: Public Domain

Main subject: Love

Scripture: Matthew 14:29-31

1. I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

* Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

2. All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

3. Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Facing the Giants is one of the finest family time movies I have ever seen. Its message is timely and relevant and the accompanying music resonates deeply. We all have our 'giants' that we face, the seemingly impossible, the overwhelming. Yet we are not crushed down, because our Redeemer lives and we can drop and surrender completely to Him.
Sing with Ana Laura the song Completely.

Then drop by Amy's to hear more songs that minister.

Snapshots of Trinidad & Tobago

Yep, another gray, rainy, cool day, another day to revisit the land of my birth, the island of Trinidad & Tobago. Enjoy the snapshots on this video clip, the beaches, the cricket, the oil, the Carnival, the scenery, the people, the music...:

By David Rudder & Carl Jacobs
Trini to de bone

[intro]
Islands in the sun
Islands in the fun

[verse 1]
Welcome, welcome one and all to de land of fete
Trini to bone, Trini to de bone
When it come to bacchanal, well they can't beat we yet
Trini to bone, Trini to de bone
Look, sweet women parade abundantly
De bredren dey full ah energy
Some people say God is a Trini
Paradise and all convincing me
God gave us a spirit fiery
But nut’in in de world don’t bother we
But look a smart man gone wid we money
We still come out and mash up de party

[chorus]
(Sweet sweet T and T) Oh how I love up dis country
(Sweet sweet T and T) No place in dis world I'd rather be
(Sweet sweet T and T) Oh how I love up meh country
(Sweet sweet T and T) All dis sugar can't be good for me

[sub-chorus]
(Oh oh) From Toco to Caroni
(Oh oh) Maraval to Sans Souci
(Oh oh) From Scarborough to Buccoo Reef
(Oh oh) Profiling on Fredrick Street

[chorus]

[verse 2]All these years I spent abroad in de cold, longing to be home
Trini to bone, Trini to de bone
God I pray that some sweet day, I will no longer have to roam
Trini to bone, Trini to de bone
De problems we have are plain to see
We prove we could stand de scrutiny
All and all, a true democracy
How we vote, is not how we party
There's no place like home some people say
Though some have to leave to make their way
But in their hearts I know their destiny
To come home and big up they country

[chorus]

[sub-chorus]
(Oh oh) From Couva to Signal Hill
Oh oh) Arima to Charlotteville
(Oh oh) Matelot down to Port-of-Spain
(Oh oh) We playin' mas sun or rain

[chorus

bridge]
(rudder chant)
Look ah Trini gyal dey, she breaking away
Tobago gyal, oh what a bacchanal
De men gone wild, de wickedest style
De gyal look back, dey on de attack
De style just change, man re-arrange
De fete gone clear, cause nothing can compare to a Trini rising
Oh no no, nothing can compare to a Trini rising

[verse 3]
As crazy as we might seem to be
We still fight to be a family
Indian, African or a Chinee
Syrian, French-Creole and Portuguese
We vex with a spirit fiery
Some people say God is a Trini
Sweet women parade abundantly
Now de problem is plain to see

[chorus]

[sub-chorus]
(Oh oh) West mooring to Los Iros
(Oh oh) From Sando to Mayaro
(Oh oh) From Penal to Grand Riviére
(Oh oh) Sweetness in abundance everywhere

[chorus]

[end]
No no no no
Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah
Sweet T and T

Psalm 71 - pray with me

Psalm 71 (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 71

¹IN YOU, O Lord, do I put my trust and confidently take refuge; let me never be put to shame or confusion!

²Deliver me in Your righteousness and cause me to escape; bow down Your ear to me and save me!

³Be to me a rock of refuge in which to dwell, and a sheltering stronghold to which I may continually resort, which You have appointed to save me, for You are my Rock and my Fortress.

⁴Rescue me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the grasp of the unrighteous and ruthless man.

⁵For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my trust from my youth and the source of my confidence.

⁶Upon You have I leaned and relied from birth; You are He Who took me from my mother's womb and You have been my benefactor from that day. My praise is continually of You.

⁷I am as a wonder and surprise to many, but You are my strong refuge.

⁸My mouth shall be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the day.

⁹Cast me not off nor send me away in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent and my powers fail.

¹⁰For my enemies talk against me; those who watch for my life consult together,

¹¹Saying, God has forsaken him; pursue and persecute and take him, for there is none to deliver him.

¹²O God, be not far from me! O my God, make haste to help me!

¹³Let them be put to shame and consumed who are adversaries to my life; let them be covered with reproach, scorn, and dishonor who seek and require my hurt.

¹⁴But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.

¹⁵My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know.

¹⁶I will come in the strength and with the mighty acts of the Lord God; I will mention and praise Your righteousness, even Yours alone.

¹⁷O God, You have taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I declared Your wondrous works.

¹⁸Yes, even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not, [but keep me alive] until I have declared Your mighty strength to [this] generation, and Your might and power to all that are to come.

¹⁹Your righteousness also, O God, is very high [reaching to the heavens], You Who have done great things; O God, who is like You, or who is Your equal?

²⁰You Who have shown us [all] troubles great and sore will quicken us again and will bring us up again from the depths of the earth.

²¹Increase my greatness (my honor) and turn and comfort me.

²²I will also praise You with the harp, even Your truth and faithfulness, O my God; unto You will I sing praises with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

²³My lips shall shout for joy when I sing praises to You, and my inner being, which You have redeemed.

²⁴My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long; for they are put to shame, for they are confounded, who seek and demand my hurt.

===========

or in everyday lingo...

Psalm 71 (The Message)

Psalm 71

^1-3 I run for dear life to God, I'll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
you said your door was always open!
You're my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.

^4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough— my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I've hung on you from the day of my birth,
the day you took me from the cradle;
I'll never run out of praise.
Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
but you take me in stride.

^8-11 Just as each day brims with your beauty, my mouth brims with praise. But don't turn me out to pasture when I'm old or put me on the shelf when I can't pull my weight.
My enemies are talking behind my back,
watching for their chance to knife me.
The gossip is: "God has abandoned him.
Pounce on him now; no one will help him."

^12-16 God, don't just watch from the sidelines.
Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
and daily add praise to praise.
I'll write the book on your righteousness,
talk up your salvation the livelong day,
never run out of good things to write or say.
I come in the power of the Lord God, I post signs marking his right-of-way.

^17-24 You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders; I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray. God, don't walk off and leave me until I get out the news Of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, Your famous and righteous ways, O God.
God, you've done it all! Who is quite like you? You, who made me stare trouble in the face, Turn me around; Now let me look life in the face. I've been to the bottom; Bring me up, streaming with honors; turn to me, be tender to me,
And I'll take up the lute and thank you to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I'll make music for you on a harp,
Holy One of Israel.
When I open up in song to you,
I let out lungsful of praise,
my rescued life a song.
All day long I'm chanting
about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
slink off looking ashamed.

Amen!

Bluer...Truer...Brighter

Today I 'chanced' upon this video clip which speaks for itself, the story behind the song "You Wouldn't Cry" which I had never heard before. At the end, Mandisa sings the song and these words just captured my heart along with the imagery...just to think of my loved one in heaven experiencing ...bluer...truer...redder...brighter...a million voices of praise... with Jesus.
May those who have lost loved ones today find comfort and hope as they listen.
***(video clip is about 1/2 hour long--song is almost to the end)

You Wouldn't Cry (Andrew's Song)

Verse 1

All you saw was pain.
All you saw was rain.
But you should see me now.

Moments filled with tears.
Lasted all these years,
disappeared somehow.

You never said goodbye.
On your knees you cried.
Your still asking why.

Chorus

Blue has never been bluer.
True has never been truer.
Honey never tasted so sweet.
There's a song in the breeze.
A million voices of praise.

A rose has never been redder.
The sun has never been brighter.
If I could find the right words to say,
If you could look at my face,
If you could just see this place,
You wouldn't cry for me today.

Verse 2

And what you think you see,
Really isn't me.
I'm already home.
You've got to lay it down,
Cause Jesus holds me now,
and I am not alone.

Your faith is wearing thin,
And I am watching Him.
And He is holding you too.

Chorus

Blue has never been bluer.
True has never been truer.
Honey never tasted so sweet.
Theres a song in the breeze.
A million voices of praise.

A rose has never been redder.
The sun has never been brighter.
If I could find the right words to say,
If you could look at my face,
If you could just see this place,
You wouldn't cry for me today.

Bridge

You wouldn't cry for me today.
Oh it may seem like years.
It will just be a moment.
Oh the day will come
when I show you where you are going.
I can't wait to show you.

Chours

Blue has never been bluer
True has never been truer.
Honey never tasted so sweet.
There's a song in the breeze.
A million voices of praise.

A rose has never been redder.
The sun has never been brighter.
If I could find the right words to say,
If you could look at my face,
If you could just see this place,
You wouldn't cry for me today.

You wouldnt cry for me today.
You wouldnt cry for me today.
You wouldnt cry for me today.
You wouldnt cry for me today.

A writing exercise - The Telephone

“Wow, what a weird place this is!”

“Brandon, watch where you’re going…”

Too late, the wall came crashing down. In slow motion, I watched my son as he collapsed under the barrage of …huh? …Styrofoam?

“Brandon! Son, Are you OK?”

“Of course, I’m Ok, Mom… would you quit looking at me like that…geez!”

“OK, hands off…hey, what’s that?”

“I dunno..”

Slowly we made our way over to a little table in the room that apparently was hidden behind the Styrofoam wall. It was some kind of plastic contraption with wires. I remembered seeing that in my cyberpedia. Suddenly, a rather shrill noise made us jump in alarm. It seemed to be coming from the contraption.

“Sweet, Mom, is it a bomb?”

I turned and looked at my son with a look that was supposed to bring up some genetic intelligence.

“Whoa…is this ever cool…”

So, Ok, nooo genetic intelligence there…

“No, Brandon, it is not a bomb, and if it was, hello, it would not be sweet or cool, it would be DANGEROUS! And, you should run, not stand and gape!”

OK, lesson done.

It was ringing. Yes, ringing. How strange to hear that noise. I had just seen it on a clip on HearTube.

“I think we’re supposed to pick this part up, like this, and put it to your ear…oops, no..try this way..”

“Hello, Mrs. Jolten…”

“Huh, who’s this?”

“It’s me, your telephone”

“Huh, what?”

I looked at my son who was watching me with those big brown eyes. I knew he could hear the ‘voice’ too.

“Alright, who is this and what do you want?” I was always the pragmatic type.

“I am your telephone.”

“OK, so what?”

“ I am calling to say hello.”

“So, OK, hello….bye now…”

I did say I was pragmatic, right?

“Ring…Ring…Ring!”

“Mom, MOM! Wake up! The phone is for you”.

“Wha…”…Groan…”Hello?”

“Hello, Mrs.Jolten, and how are you today?

“Well…I was sl…”

“We have a really special offer for you today..”

“Grrrr….Brandon…bring me that Styrofoam box!” Now put this phone away till 2025.”

Bye now!

How about you? in 350 words or less, write something about the 'telephone' on your blog if you have nothing to do like me...or rather so much to do, that you needed a creative silly break.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

Today I invite you to worship with me. Choose between a medley of:
-Part The Waters, I Need Thee Every Hour and Through It All (2 posts down)
-or You Are My Hiding Place and The Air I Breathe (previous post).

Either way, I pray you are blessed.

Then pop by Amy's to hear more songs that minister

My Hiding Place...the Air I Breathe

Sing and worship with me:

You Are My Hiding Place
Words and Music by Michael Ledner
© 1981 Maranatha! Music

You are my hiding place,
You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance.
Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.
I will trust in You.
Let the weak say I am strong in the strength of my Lord.

I will trust in You!

Psalm 32:7
"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;
thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance.

This Is The Air I Breathe

Michael W. Smith

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me

And I I'm desperate for you
And I I'm I'm lost without you

This is the air I breathe
This is the air I breathe
Your holy presence living in me

This is my daily bread
this is my daily bread
your very word spoken to me

And I'm, I'm desperate for you
And I'm, I'm lost without you

And I'm desperate for you
And I'm, I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.

I'm lost without you.

I'm desperate for you.

I'm desperate for you..

I'm lost, I'm lost, I'm lost without you..
I'm lost without you

I'm desperate for you

Do you need Him too?

Then sing with me the old hymn I Need Thee Every Hour, mixed with Part The Waters and Through It All. (Sounds like Selah is the singer for most of it.).
I found this compilation of music that resonates with my heart tonight.

Part The Waters (Selah)
"When I think I'm going under,
part the waters, Lord
When I feel the waves around me,
calm the sea
When I cry for help,
oh, hear me, Lord
and hold out Your hand
Touch my life
Still the raging storm in me"

I Need Thee Every Hour
I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
no tender voice like thine, can peace afford.
I need thee, O I need thee;
Every hour I need thee;
O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.

I need thee every hour; stay thou nearby;
temptations lose their power when thou art nigh.
I need thee every hour, in joy or pain;
come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need thee every hour;
teach me thy will; and thy rich promises in me fulfill.

Through It All
I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
There's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
but In every situation,
God gave me blessed consolation,
That my trials come to only make me strong.

Chorus:
Through it all,
Through it all,
I've learnt to trust in Jesus,
I've learnt to trust in God.

Through it all,
Through it all,
I've learnt to depend upon His Word.

I've been to lots of places,
I've seen a lot of faces,
There's been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
Yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus let me know that I was His own

Chorus

I thank God for the mountains,
And I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I'd never had a problem,
I wouldn't know God could solve them,
I'd never know what faith in God could do

Then Sings My Soul Saturday

This Saturday is a celebration of love. My hubby and I had our 20th wedding anniversary this week. As such I am sharing 2 songs that are special to us, one sung at our wedding, There is Love (aka The Wedding Song), and another my hubby sang to me at sunset on the beach in the Dominican Republic, I Can't Help Falling In Love With You.

Please go to the previous post to enjoy. Then pop by Amy's to hear more songs.

Error message

updated**...Just saw on Blogger Issues that they are looking into the problem. For now, they suggest that we remove the "Followers" page element from the sidebar, so that is what I did so far.**

Has anyone else been getting this message on some blogsites, including my own?

Windows Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer cannot open the Internet site

Operation aborted

When I googled it, one person said it was any site with Sitemeter. Anyone else has the problem and solution? The only thing I did 'new' was download the Internet Explorer 8. Thanks.