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What’s God’s Music?

What kind of music is God playing for your theme song at this moment?…

Perhaps He’s playing the Rocky theme and you need to get-up-and-get back in the game knowing He is giving you the strength.

Perhaps He’s playing that calliope instrument and life is bubbly and fun and filled with joy.

Perhaps it’s a great organ playing Count Dracula scary suspense music and Lord knows where the dark shadows lie in your life…

Perhaps He’s playing the Jeopardy theme song and is waiting for you to make a decision of the answer you’re going to give Him.

Perhaps it’s a Weird Al parody – and your life is seemingly filled with goofballs, but you still have to deal with it all…

Perhaps it’s a vast Broadway chorus and you are in the show-stopper biggest most intense moment of your life…

Perhaps it’s quiet – but you still hear the clock ticking… Perhaps God is telling you to stop marking time… perhaps God is telling you to start making time…

Perhaps God is singing you a lullaby, gently telling you to rest in Him…

Perhaps it’s time for you to be quiet and not hear music, just hear Peace…

Listen to God to hear Peace….

Just Peace….

Peace…

Peace…

Peace…

God’s Music surely is hearing PRAISES for PEACE…

Amen

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Trickle Effect – rerelease, 14Oct

Revisiting the awakening connections that God established, I edited this email turned blog for re-release… Faith is spread as a trickle effect…

I hesitate changing the exuberant way I wrote the original email… really all my discussions that have the phrase “oooooooh” are how I felt,  learning about Jesus and poking around the new paths in my brain that God set aside for His connections space – that’s all “oooooooh”…  maybe that’s why we have such ripples in our brain,  God can use them when we let Him… Jesus loved discussing faith as the good rabbi He was… using our whole heart, soul and MIND continues as a trickle effect of increasing our faith… sometimes Jesus comes in floods (like for me) and always we need to let the Living Water keep seeping into our lives…. let us all want to be dripping wet with faith….

this was the original dripping wet with exuberance at: https://debbieupper.wordpress.com/2016/12/23/email-with-professor-about-trickle-effect-05sep-257/

Trickle Effect, 05SEP – #257 edited

It interests me how Jesus truly didn’t want to be considered a sideshow attraction… He wanted people to dig deep within themselves, He wanted individual conversions…. And even though miracles also worked to convince folks, Jesus’s intent was simply showing mercy – simply kindness to deserving believers who were in bad straights…. He could have done flamboyant miracles with grandeur, but He didn’t… I was all about the faith of the person asking for mercy.

Thinking about our avenues of teaching and trying to spread the Gospel to the masses, we wonder: what is the best way to reach people? God could have waited and sent Jesus now, in our day and age, when mass media would have spread (or squashed) His message like wildfire… But He didn’t…

But God choose a trickle effect of spreading the Good News…

Some mega churches try a big scale approach… Kinda like the debate people had with free education when it started, questioning if it is better to water down education for all to understand?, or keep education at high level for a few?… I think with faith, God wants the trickle effect – Yes, even at mega churches there is the trickle effect – it might be the person sitting next to you, with whom you can discuss the message’s meaning, where conversations about Jesus occur… It’s the way of the personal trickle down/bleed over effect – where God becomes REAL to you…

I am always wondering where God will take all these pockets of faith next….. Hmmm…. God sure is interesting in His approach….

Feeling and seeing the trickle effect of faith is watching and seeing the Holy Spirit in action…

God wants us to come to Him – one by one – by our own realization that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

AMEN

---

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

from John 14:10-12, 27 (NIV)

“… The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…”

“…the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

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Wakefulness, 17Sep/13Oct

I doubt life is all fate because we have so many choices…

When do you ponder life choices?  Personally, I’m the early morning thinker… and when I finally get up it means I am also the early morning do-er too.

Is it sleeplessness or wakefulness? Depends…

It is best to turn to God to ask.

I always wonder what to do at a 4 AM wake up. I have a choice of a handful of activities, and this morning I would choose going back to sleep, and yet this gifted quiet time, while the noisy world is semi-quiet, is a gift of quiet time with the Lord…

This morning I hear crickets, cicadas, cat, crab and cars…. and just now the creak of my child turning in her sleep…

We turn and turn things over in our minds, we turn and turn so much… We turn all the time while we are awake, therefore we turn in our sleep too…

If I have an ache, I turn over…

If I have a bad dream, I turn…

I have something on my mind, I turn…

I turn in sleeplessness… I turn in wakefulness…

I turn to God…

I believe in God and know that He wants the best for me. When I turn to Him I believe that He will turn my existence into His fruitfulness.

When I focus on God, the turning to Him often causes me to turn my existence into action, if only in my thoughts… To step out and move forward… Whenever and wherever we make plans that may or may not work out in our thoughts, God can make alternate plans for us, we can pray on them and we can evaluate and choose our path, either way we still have roads to traverse.

God’s active love allows us to also turn back to Him when we need a complete U-turn. He gives U direction, but U still need to turn. It’s up to U.

God would prefer we “turnover” our problems completely to Him…

Wakefulness is a gift to hear Him calling us, it’s our turn to listen…

Be still and listen…

Amen

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Puzzlemaster Jesus, 02Sep/13Oct

Life is being pieced together in front of our eyes… PEACE pieces are being placed… We are the puzzling people Jesus came to save.

Loose pieces butt up against other loose pieces, so we can talk it out with different people and get an appreciation of the other side of the box…

Jesus came to collect those loose pieces (us) and funnel them thru Himself – He knows where you fit – Jesus will glue you in – Jesus will clue you in too.

We are puzzling people! Each of us a puzzle ourselves within the larger plan. Jesus is sorting thru the loose pieces in our hearts with God’s plan in mind. Likewise, we are being set next to other puzzling people in varying stages of progress. When we see others with similar and harder challenges, this gives us courage and perspective to keep sorting thru our internal issues to serve Him better. He knows how to fit you – Jesus will be your glue.

Look to reflect in Jesus as a finished person, a model of perfected love, and see where you may have put a priority out of place. Be accepting of giving up pieces of your life that you tried to hold onto but were not yours to keep. Jesus will justify it all.

Likewise reflect on His instructions and make room for the pieces of the picture you may have missed.  Be accepting of pieces you never knew were for you… Grow… Practice peace at whatever stage of togetherness you are…

Be pieces of Jesus’s PEACE. Help others find their pieces, show them what you know of the box, and especially show them Jesus shining thru the incomplete puzzle of you too.

Be still and let God’s Hand find you without scurrying away. He needs to move your piece into place.

Be at peace amongst all God’s pieces..

AMEN

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A Peaceful Easy Feeling, Oct 11

I don’t always have a feeling of peace and I probably shouldn’t knowing how bad things are happening in the world, yet God sometimes gives me that peaceful easy feeling – a slice of peace that He shares so that I understand His goal for everyone… The Eagles song of the same name came as a reminder this evening, and I can see that God always gives us reminders that we will have peace (eventually) when focusing on Him… and it’s important for us to be grounded…

For me, I am newly adventuring in life things, and I am “learning to fly, but I ain’t got wings” (thanks to Tom Petty for that lyric reminder)…  Things don’t always go as planned or things don’t always work out – but I try to remember that I am still a daughter of God… Maybe the uneasy feeling is purposeful as a warning or a lesson – maybe if I look at life in that way I will learn more… and I am learning because I am aware that I am a child of God. And God’s timing is His, not mine.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

How we feel does not change the gifts that God gives us – we are praying to feel His love but He doesn’t withhold that – and God does not withhold the one who helps us achieve ultimate peace – He gave us Jesus, the one and only Prince of Peace to help….

One day, when I am at the Lord’s feet, I have prayers that Jesus will stand there and plead my case of life choices – the good and bad – the uninformed and the knowing choices… Those peaceful pauses you might hear during crying for help would be from Jesus’s urging to me to catch my breath… Tissues made from the big robe sleeves, mercy in the touch of the fringes, peace as a gift after pleading my case… Jesus says it is OK, it is OK!… We do have an advocate – a Savior – a new life – we are pulled up and out of our angst by Jesus Himself…

Tonight, things did not work out according to my plans – but maybe they did according to God’s plans… I re-thought it out and once again I realized I have to leave my life plans in the hands of God ,  if things happens they happen, if they don’t they don’t… maybe this or that didn’t… but God did…

God did happen either way…

I love to sing along in life,  so tonight, after things did not work out (or maybe they did) I was scanning a song collection and I “randomly” picked something that popped up in my head: “Peaceful Easy Feeling” the Eagles – the lyric to my pensiveness – God answered lyrically because I was listening – He said that I would be OK –  “I’m already standing, on the ground” – I didn’t know why that song popped up in my head – but the Spirit did – and it was good to have the answer that I didn’t know I was looking for… I’m “already standing on the ground” – at least wanting to very much – standing on solid ground – that realization (again) of being grounded in God – that is what brought me peace. Always our desire to find peace must be formed in the deep belief of God – the lyric registered with me because it matched my recent ongoing brain song from Psalm 1 – “I will delight in the law of the Lord, I will meditate day-and-night,  and like a tree firmly planted I’ll be, grounded in your Word. ” Sometimes Jesus sends His spirit to sing us a soulful song to soothe… That’s what Jesus did tonight…

Peace is in the Word.

Peace is felt in God holding us and by Him reminding us to keep studying and keep trusting, keep swimming, keep paddling,  keep calm, keep focusing on things above… Keep loving God…

While focusing on the LIGHT, I can get “a peaceful easy feeling” – which is simply and exclusively from feeling God’s LOVE shining thru my own unknown situation… I know that my inner moth is attracted to the LIGHT from the best source – the Spirit within…

And whether I am right or wrong on those occasions, that I put my hope in an unknown event, I will try to remember that Jesus will still hold me until my spirit is re-stoked, re-sparked, re-stored…

I’m just learning to fly – learning again in life.  How about Jesus? Well, He already knows how to catch… and He caught me tonight – He catches us when we are learning to fly – without wings….

That’s a peaceful easy feeling – Jesus won’t let us down.

Amen

———–

Thanks Lord for You – thanks Lord for your grounding…

Psalm 1

¹ Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
² but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
³ That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.

———

Eagles – Peaceful Easy Feeling:

https://youtu.be/NjofshOBV5s

‘Cause I get a peaceful easy feelin’
And I know you won’t let me down
‘Cause I’m already standin’
I’m already standin’
Yes, I’m already standin’
On the ground

 

The craving for spiritual milk is really gifted to His followers by the Lord – He knows that they will need Him – in toughest times it is feeding on the cream of spiritual milk. Life’s turmoil churns the spiritual milk we have held in our souls and the cream of comfort rises to the top.  It is getting the rich stuff, not at the bottom of the barrel, but rising to the top when we slow down to let our turmoil settle – and the cream – yes the cream rises.

Our understanding and hungering for the Lord, in joy and in pain, is wanting to partake in pure spiritual milk, because we know that the Lord is good….

As we grow towards our salvation. Jesus rises us to the top.  We are saved by Him and only Him. We are God’s children – He wants to nurture and nourish us here and forever…

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2

Photo credit Living History Farms, Des Moines, IA

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The Cream of Spiritual Milk, 08OCT

Do you know people who shun their spiritual beliefs? Not only do they not realize their salvation, they can’t figure out where to find their joy? It shows – they move thru life OK but deep joy is not there – their comfort during tough times is also not there. While we walk our spiritual journeys we often see others not rooted in His Word – just as Jesus spoke of in the four soils parable, they are dried up seedlings that sprouted without placing their roots in a firm foundation, nothing to feed their roots… I feel bad for those folks… It’s one thing to not know enough about one’s faith – but for some to actually shun it, that is the saddest thing – it is like going to the bank and then refusing free gifts of money – and then mocking the bank for trying to give it away to you…  sad…

My wish is that everyone would want to know the Lord. To know the Lord is to know His Joy, His protection, His compassion,  His mercy.  We are to give God highest praises – all praises – even if we think all we can muster is a little drummer boy’s effort, it is still pleasing to God to give what we have – to be in praise brings so much increased internal joy. I want everyone to feel the joy.  I am a campaigner for God’s Joy – of course God is the only one who can make the folks realize His Joy – my wish is but a minor drop in the bucket of God’s power to help the world realize their Joy is in the Lord.

Actually, I often feel I have much more joy than I am allowed to have…. I feel bad if folks think that I am a Pollyanna – I just wish people could tap into their own joy – I really do… and that would help them tune into God in the rough times too…

The craving for spiritual milk is really gifted to His followers by the Lord – He knows that they will need Him – in toughest times it is feeding on the cream of spiritual milk. Life’s turmoil churns the spiritual milk we have held in our souls and the cream of comfort rises to the top.  It is getting the rich stuff, not at the bottom of the barrel, but rising to the top when we slow down to let our turmoil settle – and the cream – yes the cream rises.

God knows our pain. God also gives until it hurts. Jesus knew the physical pain to take on our burdens to allow us entry into the kingdom…. Jesus’s tears flowed until His blood flowed… and His spirit flowed thru His tears some more – flowing the deepest sorrows of emotional pain for the lost children of God. Surely His emotional pain was severe – and He had compassion for those who believed…

Our understanding and hungering for the Lord in joy and in pain is wanting to partake in pure spiritual milk, because we know that the Lord is good…. all the time…

We are blessed to grow towards our salvation. Jesus rises us to the top.  We are God’s children – He wants to nurture and nourish us here and forever…

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.” 1 Peter 2

Photo credit Living History Farms, Des Moines, IA

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God is NOT a Fairytale, 06Oct

I’m attending a wonderful wedding today – I know it’s going to be beautiful, sweet, fairytale-like and fun!

We may wish fairytales in life, but life is really NOT a fairytale if God Himself is the one directing.

God is NOT a fairytale. God is real – and really at work today!

We are sure that God brought our bride and groom together for His plan. We are filled with JOY watching our bride and groom together.

JOY! Today there will be JOY! Joy will be spilling out from all the happy moments and friends enJOYing the day. Our joy comes from knowing the Lord, knowing He has us in the palm of His hand. So much JOY will overflow that we must spread our joy to others.

Our bride and groom know JOY because they know the Lord, and love Him, and because they share Him with others.

HOPE! Today there will be HOPE! Hope springs from knowing the Lord Himself gives us HOPE. Hope that ultimately we have a life together, with Him, eternally allows us right now to live more hopefully in His love. So much HOPE will bloom that we need to show others that they too can find HOPE.

Our bride and groom know HOPE because they know Jesus, and love Him, and because they share Him with us.

Today there will be LIGHT! LIGHT from the Lord will shine! His light will beam today from everyone’s smiles and darkness will not overcome it! Let us let the LIGHT from the SPIRIT inside each of us spill out – let us watch for the GLOW today – let us share our LIGHT with others. Just allow love to GLOW!

Our bride and groom will GLOW! They beam the LIGHT because they know the Spirit of the Lord moves them, because they love to be moved by the Spirit, and because they share the Spirit openly.

Today there will be LOVE

LOVE from the original source

LOVE in all its forms.

LOVE from God

LOVE to God

LOVE

Our bride and groom today will show LOVE, know love, experience love, and give love. Today they will allow their new love to grow even more.

Love is not a fairytale – God’s emanating love is alive. Our sharing of love needs nurturing, needs studying, needs reality checks.  Love is a process, love is powerful, “love is enough” ONLY if love drives everything else. Love must be allowed to grow.

Love from God – shared AGAPE- must be the foundation of our growth, our JOY, our HOPE, our GLOW.

LOVE FROM GOD WILL GROW.

Love is no fairytale because love is the plan.

God is no fairytale because God Himself is writing this story for our bride and groom, writing this story for us, writing this story for Himself.

The end of this story is the same as the beginning of the story – LOVE.

GOD IS LOVE.

GOD bless our bride and groom, as they continue to show us His love.

AMEN