Clouds Over My Head

“And the clouds are the dust of His feet.” Nahum 1:3b

Are there clouds hanging over your head today? Are you in a place of uncertainty or indecision? Are you struggling with illness or a financial strain? Are you concerned about your friends, spouse, children or grandchildren?  Do you fear where our great nation is headed?

When you see a cloud, small puffy fluffs of white or a multitude of ominous   dark grey storm clouds that obscure the whole sky, Don't fear!  Smile!

Clouds are the dust stirred up by God’s feet as HE acts.

Remember Paul and Silas in jail, their feet chained in stocks. The jail is a dungeon. It is dark. It stinks. Most likely there are rats, bats, spiders and all kinds of pestilence.

What do our friends Paul & Silas do? Do they whine or doubt or fear?

Not our guys. They pray and sing praises to their God and King.

Suddenly there is an earth quake and the doors are opened and their chains drop away. (Acts 16: 25 & 26)

Why?

Well, God heard their praises and he began to tap his feet. We know that God sits on his throne and that the earth is His footstool. (Isaiah 66:1) So, when God taps His feet things begin to happen here on earth.

When you see the clouds over head or feel that you are shrouded in clouds of uncertainty, pain, or fear, know that HE is there and actively working on your behalf. Sing a song of praise to Him, even if it has a whinny sound, and you will be amazed at the way HE will act in your behalf.

Dear Ones, now go on and read the first part of Nahum 1:3

“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm….and the clouds  are the dust………”

Never fear dear ones of the Lord. HE is active in all your situations! The clouds are the dust under His mighty feet as HE stirs things up.

With overwhelming praise and thanksgiving to the ever-present Lord who acts on our behalf.  With a smile of deep gratitude; I remain His child ever in need of reminders of who HE is..the I Am that I Am…..

mary schmerker

Bible verses from NKJV

Singing to The Lord in a Foreign Land

How can we sing songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4

It is hard Lord to sing a joyous song to you when we are in an uncomfortable place or surrounded by uncomfortable circumstances. It is hard Lord to remember to sing when those around us are not singing or are difficult personalities, or see things differently than we do. It is hard Lord to remember that you are with us when we are surrounded by so many things that pull at us and attempt to influence our thinking and attitudes.

I am reminded Lord, that singing of Your goodness, Your greatness, Your provision for us and Your great love for us is the only way to be whole. Singing Your praises Lord,  reminds me that surrendering to Your will and following You is the only path to true peace, joy and contentment.

I thank and praise You for all you have done in my life. Keep me singing Your praises all the days of my life Lord. Keep my memory of Your faithfulness and goodness ever awake and active. Remind me Lord, that You are present with me always and that You live in my praises. Remind me that when I praise You I enter not only into Your gates but travel all the way through to Your inner courts.

Thank you for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ who makes it possible for me to approach you and to call Him Lord, savior and friend. Amen

Keep it Simple Sweetheart

Last month I started a file cleaning project and with that project decided to type and put in written form some scattered notes I had made for various Bible teaching assignments over the years.

  

 One assignment had me struggling in 1995. The thrust of my talk was about comfort and caring by the Lord as he leads us, his flock. I called it a “Good Night Kiss.”  But in my early thoughts and struggles on what to teach I kept repeating to myself a common catch phrase at the time: “Keep it simple stupid.” 

After a time spent struggling with what to share all those years ago, in faith, I felt a nudge from the Lord saying, and correcting me: “Keep it simple sweetheart.”

The Lord frowns when we degrade ourselves or when anyone degrades us. We are His creation and He loves us intensely. He did not like having me call myself stupid. So, He sent correction. Keep it simple and understandable my child was the direction I heard all those years ago. The words were loving and affirmative. While admonished, I never felt shame, just love and encouragement. The Lord never ever shames us. He might bring correction but we know we are loved beyond all reason when He does bring correction. (Proverbs 3: 11 & 12 “My son do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, as a father the son he delights in.” 

Thank you Lord. I'll remember to keep it simple.