Author: debrabee

Rebuilding Iraq is a common phrase we hear almost daily in a news snippet. My own thoughts sway like a pendulum between “squandering dollars” to “helping those in need”. It can be difficult to understand the truth of what is really happening on this foreign soil if all I can get for input is what’s on Fox News or the repetitive chatter of CNN.

I am blessed now and again by personal notes from friends who have family stationed in the distressed areas. Personal stories of helping real people, not just marionettes in some puppet theater.

Unlike Saddam Hussein who tried to rebuild the city of Babylon upon the old ruins, there is real hope for those who seek actual rebuilding of ourselves, but the bricks must be laid upon the cornerstone of faith.

Zec 10:4

From Judah will come the cornerstone, from him the tent peg, from him the battle bow, from him every ruler.

There are many times when we want to do something nice for others and yet when we check out the motivations within our own hearts, things become suspect don’t they? I am not talking about the buying someone a cup of tea or perhaps a soda from one of those vending machines. I’m talking about the real giving, the kind that hurts in some way or another. Those are the moments that truly test our character don’t they?

Suddenly we start doing the inventory of how much this gift cost us or if we are really in a twist we can even wonder what we may receive in return for our consideration. Honestly I find these moments to be a plumb line for what is really lurking inside the inner chambers, away from prying eyes. When I am able to give, even when it costs me something, and I still have a grin on my face and cheer in my heart then I know I am maturing!

2Sa 24:24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.

There’s a guy out there singing my heart…that is if I could actually express myself in a musical sense. Shawn McDonald gives life to the words living in my own heart and head with his lyrics for “Take My Hand”.

Take my hand to the promise land
And on You I want to stand
‘Cause I cannot do it all on my own
You’re what I need and I need to be
Right by Your side ‘cause I cannot hide
Lord, I know that I need You……

 

Without You I’m so alone
I am weak but You are strong
You pick me up when I’m falling down
And I am crying
Out to You inside of my heart
I need You, Lord, oh so, for the part
I want You to have my life, Jesus
I fall to my knees
And I’m begging You, please, oh, Lord
Won’t You change me
Make me new from the inside out
I want to shout out Your name,

When one puts their heart up for a fight, the target practice commences! I am taking hits for sure but my battle gear is not your normal stuff.

Eph 6:10-11 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

I have been carrying something rather large upon my back for a while and yet it didn’t ever feel too heavy until recently. Now I just need to relax long enough to put it down and walk away.

So what are you carrying around?

I love waking up with anticipation in my heart! This morning my alarm clock never beeped yet I could sense my Father’s presence so I got up very early. Anxiously I will greet the sunrise and on my lips will be words of joy to speak out into the atmosphere.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Does anyone remember those “Highlander” movies? They were pretty much geared for the testosterone audience, especially men who wanted to wield heavy swords and wreak carnage on an obvious bad guy. It drew the chicks in too because the guy could love an “older woman” to her dying breath, a feat not often seen in our news headlines of today’s world.

I can remember a line that was repeated over and over in its theme, “there can be only one!” Living in a pop culture society, I am inundated with such references but something in this sentence captivated my inner child. I was also fascinated by the “quickening” scenes where lightning flashed and the resonance smashed every window within a few hundred feet.

As my purpose in life is exposed I am still fascinated by these same things. “There is only one” true Lord and each time He comes near to me, my inner spirit is “quickened” in such a way I can sense the darkness being smashed by beams of light far beyond those small special effects I watched years back.

Eph 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.