From the Heart by B.Demaere

The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need.   He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right path, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.  Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.  You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.  My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. I love the book of Psalms, mostly because it was written by a man who loved God with all his heart and also because it is poetry. But as I dug deeper into this psalm one day, I discovered it had to do all with the presence of God and being with him forever.  Even here on earth. This psalm teaches about life and that everything will be...

The  Lord is my light and my salvation ---so why should I be afraid?  The Lord protects me from danger--- so why should I tremble? When evil people come to destroy me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear.  Even if they attack me, I remain confident. Where do you find comfort when you are hurting?  In your husband?  In your wife? In sex or alcohol or drugs?  Is your comfort in money? All of those things and people are unreliable because they could be gone in a blink of an eye.  Overnight! The Lord is my light - to light my way The Lord is my salvation - to save me What else do I need?  Why would I be afraid, he is my Comforter.  I am covered on every side.  Even when the tempest beats against the boat I won't drown.  The Lord protects me from danger --- does it say from some  danger, no if it doesn't say from all danger it's presume t...

Promises to Keep : Listen! (Isaiah 59:1-6) : Listen! The Lord is not weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf.  He can hear you when you call. But there is a problem---your sins ha...

Listen! The Lord is not weak to save you, and he is not becoming deaf.  He can hear you when you call. But there is a problem---your sins have cut you off from God.  Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.  Your hands are the hands of murderers, and your fingers are filthy with sin.  Your mouth is full of lies, and your lips are tainted with corruption. No one cares about being fair and honest.  Their lawsuits are based on lies.  They spend their time plotting evil deeds and then doing them.  They spend their time and energy spinning evil plans that end up in deadly actions.  They cheat and shortchange everyone.  Nothing they do is productive; all their activity is filled with sin.  Violence is their trademark. I just came across this passage last night and the Lord spoke to me through it.  "Don't be surprised when evil comes your way after many prayers and supplications.  I can hear you but sin is ...

Promises to Keep : Rejected but accepted (Luke 14:15-24) : Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a privilege it would be to have a share in the Kingdom of God!&quo...

Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, "What a privilege it would be to have a share in the Kingdom of God!" Jesus replied with this illustration: "A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitation.  When all was ready. he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to come.  But they all began making excuses.  One said he had just bought a field and wanted to inspect it, so he asked to be excused.  Another said he just had bought five pair of oxen and wanted to try them out.  Another had just been married, so he said he couldn't come. The servant returned and told his master what they had said.  His master was angry and said: 'Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the city and invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.'  After the servant had done this , he reported, 'There is still room for more.'  So his master said, 'Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges ...

Promises to Keep : A Noticeable Faith (Luke 5:18-20) : Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.  They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but couldn't reach him.  So th...

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.  They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus, but couldn't reach him.  So they went up to the roof, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on the mat, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." The effort that these men were willing to put in to have that man seen by Jesus, hoping against all hopes that something would happen to him was amazing.  They went with great expectations but nothing was guaranteed. What kept them going was their genuine faith over these obstacles.   They were willing to fight for their faith and do whatever it takes and even climbing over people to achieve the goal.  They were determined to succeed. They couldn't go around or go through so they went over the obstacle.  Do you have that kind of faith to trust Jesus and take him at his word? Jesus does not specifically say he will ...

Promises to Keep : Raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38-44) : Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across the entrance.  "Roll the stone aside," Jesus to...

Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across the entrance.  "Roll the stone aside," Jesus told them.  But Martha, the dead man's sister, protested, "Lord, he has been dead for four days.  The smell will be terrible." Jesus responded, "Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe?" So they rolled the stone aside.  Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, "Father, thank you for hearing me.  You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.  Then Jesus shouted, "Lazarus come out!" And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth, Jesus told them, "Unwrap and let him go!" Why was Jesus angry?  How could he be angry?  Can it be right to be angry?  Yes, it is called 'righteous' anger, anger that is about what is holy and being viola...