SEVEN TIMES A DAY DO I PRAISE THEE

Photo provided by Irma Pi 

 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth 

great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: but 

thy law do I love.  Seven times a day do I 

praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Great peace have they which love thy law: and 

nothing shall offend them.  LORD, I have hoped 

for thy salvation, and done thy commandments.  

My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love 

them exceedingly.  I have kept thy precepts and 

thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.

Psalm 119:162-168

FAITH AND FEAR

Photo by Irma Pi 

I have watched so many lives over the years. The

one thing I have seen far too many times is; when

a person walks to the crossroad of faith and fear

and the choices they make. 

On the other side of the bridge of faith, is the 

unknown.  

The bridge of faith could be a casual life living 

in the town of their choice, hanging with their 

childhood friends, and working the same job.  

Although, faith may mean the very thing that

could take them to living their dream, 

whether traveling the world singing, speaking, 

teaching, preaching or being a comedian, doctor

lawyer or president.

At this bridge, I have stood on the sideline 

and watched a many a soul hesitate and then decide 

to walk over with fear, hand in hand, to the other 

side, instead of allowing faith to take their hand 

and to cross over with this companion.  

Faith demands trust and commitment, it might mean

more work, less pleasure.  Faith might mean 

something far greater for their life than fear could 

provide, but not what they had their onw dreams 

set on, so they take their chance by taking the hand

of fear and crossing over locked up instead of free.   

They hang with fear and all the people they feel

 most comfortable with.

After all, they are the same age and enjoy the 

same sort of things and they snuggle into the comforts 

of sleeping with fear instead of walking by faith.  

Due to living with fear; they begin to

change their lifestyles and let things enter into 

their lives that they would have never considered, 

had they allowed faith to cross over. 

Many times their finances fail, their relationships 

fail, because crossing the bridge with fear, is not all 

they are afraid of, but they are afraid 

of all unknown situations and when confronted 

about things they spew out accusations.  Not 

truths, but accusations.   

Accusing people they love of not supporting them, 

not standing with them, not funding them, and 

the list goes on.  

When in fact many times; had they allowed faith to

cross over the bridge, all those things would have 

come their way. Instead they walked hand in 

hand with fear. 

As their jobs crumble and most of the other areas 

of their lives, they remember the bridge is still there,

although it is very hard to make their way back to change

partners and to allow faith to cross over and 

enter into a new way of life.  A life of trusting and 

not always knowing what will be the next step.

  Just letting go and letting the Lord have his

will for their life. 

Instead, they continue to 

dwell with fear their entire life.

This doesn't have to be you!

  

Stop being afraid of all the things that weigh

you down.

Take the chance and walk in faith and find 

what great plans God has in store

for your life. 

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 

saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not 

of evil, to give you an expected end. Then 

shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray 

unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye 

shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall 

search for me with all your heart.  And I will 

be found of you, saith the LORD:

Jeremiah 29:11-14a 

THE SEED SHALL BE PROSPEROUS

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For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall 

give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, 

and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause 

the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

Zechariah 8:12

HE IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, 

and to present you faultless before the presence 

of his glory with exceeding joy,  To the only wise 

God ou Saviour, be glory and majesty, 

dominion and power, both now and

ever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

MY HELP COMETH FROM THE LORD

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from 

whence cometh my help.  My help cometh 

from the LORD, which made heaven 

and earth.  He will not suffer thy foot to be 

moved: he that keepeth thee will not  

slumber.  Behold, he that keepeth Israel 

shall neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD 

is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade 

upon thy right hand. The sun shall not 

smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all 

evil: he shall preserve thy soul.  The LORD 

shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in 

from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Psalm 121:1-2

THAT YOUR GOOD DEEDS POINT THEM TO CHRIST

Photo provided by Kathy Mitchell

One of my older sisters posted this photo and made a 

comment about our father who many times had

a ladder hanging on the side of his truck, had a trailer

loaded down to the brim with watermelons or pumpkins. 

My father has been ribbed a few times about how he

loads things up or leaves things out.  Although he 

isn't a man to focus on perfection, he is a man 

who focuses on the needs of others.above his own. 

He spends much of his time taking food to others, 

going and assisting them with projects, preaching, 

and meeting with pastors and leaders planning how 

to assist ministries the best way possible. 

He is a man of faith.  

Some would say he believe so 

much in the power of God and faith that 

he, at times, has been unrealistic.  

Many times we ourselves try so hard to paint the 

outside so well that folks see us as perfect and yet

never get around to meeting the needs of those 

around us, sharing the gospel or giving funds to

ministry so that they may thrive and grow.  

For us, it would be far better to look like the 

old piled up truck and have hundreds enter 

into heaven for eternity than to live a 

perfect life on this earth and enter the kingdom

without anyone else being there because we

shared the truth with them or even be able 

to see the many who were cast into eternal 

darkness because they followed our path 

which lead them to selfish, ungodly living. 

For my father, I am thankful he is who he is. 

He didn't live a perfect life but he has 

served a perfect God and lives daily 

to point others to Him although his 

house isn't perfect, his yard not 

plush and perfectly trimmed or 

his vehicle the newest off the car lot, 

he has chosen to put others first and 

their need to know the savior. 

 

What are you known for?

Let's have our eyes focused on Christ 

and realize we are just traveling through

this land headed toward the perfect 

kingdom where all these things here will

vanish away and all that will matter is 

what we have done with Christ. 

HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my 

words shall not pass away. But of that day 

and hour knoweth no man, no, not the 

angels of heaven, but my Father only. But 

as the days of Noe were, so shall also the 

coming of the Son of man be. For as in the 

days that were before the flood they were 

eating and drinking, marrying and giving 

in marriage, until the day that Noe entered 

into the ark, And knew not until the flood 

came, and took them all away; so shall 

also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:35-39