Joy and Strength (Christian life and music)

  Jesus heals.  He healed people when He walked this earth as a man and He is still healing people today through His power and Holy Spirit. Even when He was among us, He didn't have to be present to heal someone.  There is the account of the canturion (if you are not familiar with this account, please read here ).  And there is the account here in Luke 17:14, the verse I want to write about today. Three words stuck out to me: as they went.   Jesus could have easily touched the lepers and healed them right then and there.  But for whatever reason, He told them to go on.  He told them to go show themselves to the priests.   Now why would they want to go show themselves with their leperous bodies to the priests?  Did they simply do as Jesus asked, knowing that He is Lord, and not think why they were doing so?   Jesus didn't tell them that He would heal them on their way to the priests.  He simply told them to go.  D...

The Lord did many things for the Jews while they lived in the wilderness, but Exodus 19:4 sums up three of the ways He cared for them. He cares for us still in these same ways. 1.  He deals with our enemies.  He destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea.  You don't want to mess with God's people! 2.  He bears us on eagles' wings.  He lifts us up and carries us.  He helps us soar, even during our problems. 3.  He brings us to Himself.  This is His goal all along!  To bring us into intimate relationship with Himself. The Lord also provided daily bread in the wilderness - not too much, not too little - just the right amount.  But if the people hoarded His provision out of fear, greed, or doubt, the bread become full of worms and moldy. When, however, they saved two days' worth ( in obedience to God this time ) of manna so they wouldn't have to gather on the Sabbath, but instead rest, then the manna remained fresh and edible.  ...

How do you know God is calling you?  Are you waiting for a sign?  An audible voice?   You will most likely get neither. God can be as direct or subtle as He pleases.  But His foremost desire and purpose for us is that we know Him.  So if we're looking to do  something - even for Him - then we are putting the proverbial cart before the horse. First we are .  Then we do. So who are we?  Are we committed to Christ?  Do we trust Him fully?  Because if we don't have those two qualities, then He is not going to tell us what to do.   If you're itching to act but God is not through with your season of waiting yet, then you will have to learn how to live with that itch!   God's call is unique and specific.  It entails everything we've ever experienced, seen, heard, and lived.  He uses all of it and wastes nothing.  The good, the bad, the ugly - all of it.  Being the Master Designer, He knows exactly ho...

Why is this such a popular saying?  And how do we get good timing?  Is it an inborn quality?  Can it be learned? When we follow the Lord, we are in a prime position for great timing.  Why?  Because His timing is absolute perfection, down to the millisecond. Though His timing can seem "late" in our way of thinking, it never is.  Not even once. What are you waiting on the Lord for?  A desired outcome?  A promotion?  Release from a difficult situation where He has told you to stay put a while longer? Whatever it is you are waiting for - even after you have done everything you possibly could to "make it happen" but it still eludes you - trust that the Lord knows exactly what He is doing. He alone knows how to "make things happen" for you: - in the best way - at the best possible time - when it blesses you the most - when the time is right! Waiting is a fine art these days.  In past generations, waiting was a natural part of life much more so...

I wrote this song, "Seek the Lord," way back in 2001.  We still had our Steinway grand then.  Oh how I miss it.  How we came to sell it - that's for another blog entry! A friend once told me that my music was "for a time."  I never questioned what she meant by that, but I had a feeling that my music was for a hurting time, for those who are hurting inside.   I bring words of comfort and direction in my music.  And not everyone is in a "bad" place emotionally, spiritually, or in life.  So I have often felt that most people wouldn't "get" my music, be able to relate. But I would say the whole world is pretty much in a bad way these days with this pandemic affecting all of us. Maybe now is the time for this song.  Oh it has been there for a while and "spoke" to those who needed it before this time, I imagine. But I felt led to "re-release" it here for you all today.  Right now.  In this moment. For such a time as this. Wh...