In my church life group this week, we did a little exercise where we were supposed to bring something through which the Lord had spoken to us as individuals, or through which he may speak to us as a group. I was unable to attend the last session during which this was discussed, so was a bit perplexed, didn’t really understand the assignment and so didn’t take anything!

As the evening progressed and we’d worshipped and thanked the Lord for all he’d done for us, I kept thinking about my keys! This is what he wanted me to share to bring him glory…!

On my keyring I have three door keys. Two belong to my own front door. Nearly 28 years ago, as new Christians, the Lord brought us half an hour away from our previous home, which I will just say was in a “difficult” area where we didn’t feel safe and secure, to the house we now live in.

At that time, we had no plans to move, though it was certainly the desire of our hearts! We didn’t have the money to move or put a deposit on a house in a nicer area and had negative equity because of the UK housing market crash in the first half of the 1990s. We had no children, so weren’t even thinking about what schools were around us, yet here we are blessed with excellent local schools where our boys have thrived and made significant friendships. Here we also had a vibrant local church where we grew in faith and understanding over many years and made friends for life. Perhaps I will elaborate on this in another post, as it was a miracle we moved house at all, but the Lord kept his promise to us!

The third key is for my sister in law’s flat. She is sadly very disabled following a number of strokes at a relatively young age. Now my husband has gone to be with the Lord, I have sole legal responsibility for her. When her son was only very young, and she was in good health, I felt the Lord told me I would become a parent to him. He is now a young man who has been through many upsets and struggled through his teenage years, due to his mum’s illness. We have built a close relationship and I have become a parental figure to him in recent years, as his mum had not been able to discuss things with him and nurture him herself, as she would have wanted. 

Finally, my car key… I have already told the story of my car,  how I lost the last one,  gained this one, what it means to me as a place where I pray and worship as I drive, and how God prepared me for the loss of my husband, through the loss of my car (see “Let go and let God… part 2”) The Lord is so, so good…

I have a wooden key ring with the word JESUS on it and an icthus on the reverse. Each key is on a separate ring and the rings are all interlinked into the main key ring. He holds all the aspects of my life, linked together through him!

Col1:17  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Every promise and prophecy that has been given since we moved here, our provision, our security, our children, their circles of influence… All in his hands!

I had to apologise to the Lord for thinking that this exercise seemed a bit silly and a waste of time, because it certainly wasn’t! It reminded me of his constant love and faithfulness and was an uplifting testimony of the goodness of God to the rest of my life group too! 😊

Acts 4:12 NKJV
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

That name is Jesus! Yeshua! His name means salvation. Emanuel means God with us. How much clearer could it be?!

When I was a new Christian (born again 8th March 1994 around 8.30pm!) the church we were attending used a lot of simple and biblically accurate worship songs. One I remember well was “There is One Name” by Robert Critchley; beautiful both musically and in sentiment. These worship songs planted the word of God in me, and the truth of salvation, when I was very new to scripture and just a baby in the faith. When I hear someone quote certain bible passages now, I’m often taken back to a song that contains those words!

There are, of course, still many biblically sound and melodic new worship songs being written, which inspire faith and a heart filled with praise. There are also some others which seem to say the right things, but have the air of a rock anthem and are “performed” by the band, rather than being lifted up to the throne room by the body of believers with the help of the musicians. I think this is where discernment comes in. When the Holy Spirit in you witnesses with both the words and music and you can enter into a place of genuine worship, you can call that song anointed.

There are a few songs where I have to pray and not sing, or sing in tongues, over particular lines or verses because I’m aware that the there is power in the tongue and I don’t always totally agree with the sentiments, therefore I don’t voice them! Obviously I don’t choose these songs for times of personal worship, but some of them are very well known and do seem rather popular for corporate gatherings!

Psalm 145:1-7 NKJV
I will extol You, my God, O King; And I will bless Your name forever and ever. [2] Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever. [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. [4] One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts. [5] I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, And on Your wondrous works. [6] Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, And I will declare Your greatness. [7] They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, And shall sing of Your righteousness.

So, like many of the outstanding old hymns, which have stood the test of time and inspire worship today as much as they did when they were first written, let’s exercise discernment over what we chose to sing to our Beloved, and teach our children to do the same! Our words matter; the state of our hearts matters…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is One Name by Robert Critchley from Catch the Fire, Toronto album.. “Mercy Over Me”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=1h1wQAG1zbY&feature=share

We have just passed the first anniversary of the death of Judith Durham, lead singer with The Seekers, a musical group formed in 1962 in Australia. They had a string of memorable hits, including Georgy Girl, I’ll Never Find Another You, and The Carnival is Over, and became widely known and loved. I remember hearing their songs on the radio as a young child and especially enjoyed the harmonies. Listening to music like this, plus hearing my dad often whistling harmonies to classical music, is probably what has enabled me to be able to sing harmonies to practically anything, even songs I don’t really know and even though I can’t read music! My brain just knows how!

A dear elderly friend I used to visit, passed away and into the arms of Jesus whilst being serenaded by her daughter and myself as we sang along to her favourite Seekers CD, which was playing in the background. Every time I hear their music, I think of her and look forward to meeting her again one day. ❤

I did wonder about the name of their group though… What were they seeking exactly?! I have yet to find any clues to that question, but it did get me thinking!

For a Christian, or indeed any person who has faith in someone or something, a “Seeker” is someone who is looking for the same thing but hasn’t yet found it. However, the bible has a few things to say about seeking too…

When warning the Israelites against idolatry…

Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

1 Chronicles 16:8-11 NKJV
Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! [9] Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works! [10] Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! [11] Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!

2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Matthew 7:6-14 NKJV
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking
[7] “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [8] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. [9] Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? [10] Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! [12]

Even when we have believed on the Lord Jesus and are saved, we are still to keep seeking. To seek a deeper relationship with Him, to seek spiritual gifts, to seek to grow in holiness, to seek Him in times of trouble…

Imagine a child seeking out a beloved parent when something has gone wrong or made them frightened or sad, and snuggling in close to their side without even speaking. The loving touch of the parent as they enfold the child and draw them close provides comfort and reassurance, and a sense of protection and shelter from the big, bad world. The world won’t get any better, but knowing that someone strong and loving is providing shelter, as a hen covers her chicks with her wings, soothes, reassures and restores a sense of calmness and balance. There is a physical reset as the fight or flight reflex subsides and hormones settle, when someone is shown love in this way. The Lord knows this because He made us! He wants us to seek Him and be comforted and restored.

In these last days, Isaiah 55 has wise words for all!

Isaiah 55:6-7 NKJV
Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Let our response be…

Psalm 63:1-8 NKJV
O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. [2] So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. [3] Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. [4] Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. [5] My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. [6] When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. [7] Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. [8] My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Thro’ death into life everlasting,
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion–
For more than conqu’rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

By Helen Howarth Lemmel

https://youtube.com/shorts/brkglS9-WAc?feature=share

We’ve all been in a prison – sometime, somewhere – but with the Lord there is freedom!

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord-who is the Spirit-makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

A child of God;
The daughter of the King who owns the cattle on a thousand hills;
Forgiven of all my sins;
Redeemed from the curse;
Restored to the family;
Loved unconditionally;
Provided for in abundance;
Blessed beyond measure.

I am the righteousness of God, in Christ!

2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Therefore…

Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.

AMEN!

Psalm 27 is described in the New King James Version as “An exuberant declaration of faith. A psalm of David.” Personally, I think the first sentence should be followed by an exclamation mark!

Our “times”, those for which we need hope, are becoming ever more chaotic, frightening and dark, and give us good reason to believe we are hurtling towards the end of the age of grace. Jesus is preparing to come for his bride! Yet, however long that may take, God’s faithfulness never changes and brings hope and reassurance to us today, just as it did to David…

The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple.

For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.” Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation.

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the LORD!

https://youtube.com/shorts/6o8bWgiFG5U?feature=share

This appeared in my feed and really witnesses to my spirit in these end times. There is nothing in it that sounds phony or inconsistent with the Lord’s heart. Please listen…