Stevemidkiff's Blog

I will go before you & make the crooked places straight:

I will break in pieces the gates of brass & cut apart the bars of iron:

And I will give you the treasures of darkness & hidden riches of secret places, that you will know that I,

the LORD, which calls you by your name, am God

Isaiah 45:2-3

God is taming the nations,

God is terrifying their kings—

God has given us a direct connection

to His throne through prayer

Through God In prayer

We are unrestricted:

We can clear & pave the road.

We can break down the resistance,

We can smash the locks,

We can kick down barred entrances.

Our Lord leads us to His buried treasures,

Our Lord opens to us His secret caches of valuables—

He assures us by calling us by our name

This is amazing individualized intimacy.

God is here,

His presence surrounds us

He who fills the expanse of vastness

has come down to us where we are

We bow at His feet & speak to Him. . . .

It’s not our idea it’s His

How amazing that He wants to be with us

We pour out our desires to Him

He wants all our aches & impossible longings

Not one syllable from our lips escapes His ear.

We speak to him as we would talk to our closest friend

It is hard to ask for help.

It’s difficult to admit our brokenness.

It’s hard to accept help,

We live in an individualistic society,

We think we can make it on our own.

But actually we can’t manage alone.

Yes, it is hard to open ourselves up

There’s the potential of rejection

There’s the possibility of ridicule.

And still it’s hard to accept the help

even when help is gladly, openly, freely given.

It is humbling.

Our pride is dented.

The façade we have so carefully constructed is cracked,

Then what about our reputation of independence

Is it shattered irreparably?

It needs to be

Being helpless is a beautiful thing.

God designed us to be helpless.

Being helpless is part of growing.

Being helpless is the doorway to salvation

Saying

“Help”

Is the golden key to prayer

Crying for help is a simplistic prayer

Why not be simple

The LORD preserves the simple:

I was brought low,

and he helped me.

Psalms 116:6

The sorrows of death surrounded us,

The pain of hell held us tight:

We found nothing but trouble & sorrow.

Then we called

We called on the name of the LORD;

O LORD, we beg You,

deliver our soul.

You are full of grace LORD,

You are righteous; yea,

You are merciful.

O my soul; for our LORD deals bountifully with us.

You deliver our soul from death,

You deliver our eyes from tears,

You deliver our feet from falling.

We will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Psalms 116:3-8

The Lord is our helper

O God

Surround us with those who support our soul

Psalms 54:4

Hear us, O LORD & have mercy on us!

O LORD, be our helper.

Psalm 30:10

Lord! You have promised!

That the arms of the wicked will be broken,

So yes! Break their arms.

but You LORD uphold & protect us

who want what’s right & good

Psalm 37:17

Lord! You promised!

That even when we stumble & fall,

We will not be overwhelmed,

for You LORD are holding our hand.

Psalm 37:24

Lord! You help & deliver us;

You rescue & save us from the wicked liars,

because we take refuge in You.

We find our help in You

Psalms 37:40

The LORD is with us; He is our helper.

Therefore we will look in triumph

At those who hate us.

Psalm 118:7

Our Lord keeps saying!

Do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be afraid, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you;

I will surely help you;

I will hold on to you

with My right hand of righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

God will give us strength.

God will help us.

God will hold us & give us stability

We love His firm grip

We love His tender voice

We don’t get peace & security

by eliminating our enemies.

When we face Intense opposition it’s frustrating

But our lives are riddled with

the ebb & flow of constant battles

We don’t find peace through less battles

We get peace & security by trusting in Jesus.

There are always enemies

There are those we thought were are friends

Who suddenly turn against us

But in time God will stop

The spreading of lies.

For a season they deceive.

But!

Our enemies are Gods foes & He will battle for us.

We cry to the LORD

and He hears us

We slept; we awake; because the LORD sustains us.

We won’t fear ten thousand people,

that are against us

Even if they surround us

O LORD; save us,

O our God:

Please slap our enemies on their cheek bone;

Would You please

break the teeth of God rejectors

Take their mouth

This defiling receptacle of vile noise

And crush their polluting noise to nothing

Salvation belongs to You LORD:

Place Your blessing on us. You’ve promised Your blessings are on us!!!

Psalms 3:4-8 paraphrased

Jesus called the crowd together & said,

If your heart yearns for Truth,

pay close attention to My words—

let them change you from the inside out.

Mark 7:14 Paraphrased

Come to our rescue, God;

bathe us in

Your never-ending incredible love.

Psalm 6:4 Paraphrased

Jesus promises,

What humans perceive

as impossible is possible with God.

God makes the impossible possible.

Luke 18:27 Paraphrased

Getting rid of garbage & clutter is a proven cure

Not just the mess that surrounds us

But the internal mess

We find ourselves at many forks in the road in life

Which road should we take?

Stay off the dead end road of sin

Admit our wrongs

Acknowledge our weaknesses

Agree with Jesus

He’s our strength

He’s our salvation

He leads us on the road of righteousness

The birth of Christ is a lesson in

The immensity or littleness

Jesus is the world’s Light. He is our light

No one who follows Him stumbles around in the darkness.

He provides all of the light needed to live

CHRIST IS ALL IN ALL

Oh CHRIST! there is no greater fame than Yours,

Which history’s pages have engraved in gold;

No record of great deeds could ever outshine

The princely labors of Your love untold.

Oh CHRIST! there is no sweeter theme than Yours,

That heralds to a restless world God’s peace;

No truth nor tidings ever did enshrine

So grand a message of such full release.

Oh CHRIST! there is no dearer name than Yours,

Which time has blazoned on its mighty scroll;

No wreath or garland ever did entwine

So fair a temple of so vast a soul.

Oh CHRIST! there is no stronger love than Yours,

More strong than death & mightier than the grave;

That triumphed over sin with grace divine

And brought to man God’s matchless power to save.

Oh CHRIST! there is no brighter home than Your,

Which bids us welcome to its mansions fair;

Amid the treasures that are superfine

We share the glories with Thyself, the Heir.

Oh CHRIST! there is no wiser plan than Yours,

Founding a kingdom none can undermine

Your very self, the chief foundation stone;

With fadeless glory that is all Your own.

Oh CHRIST! there is no higher throne than Yours,

Replete in holiness of truth subline;

Where beauty, purity & love combine

In perfect righteousness, with joy divine.

Charles J. Rolls