Psalms Of A Woman

 

Whose Faith Follow

God asks me to go to Nineveh, that great city
God asks me to bless Him when I am full of sores
When my children have all been killed
And all my friends have turned against me
God asks me to build a ship on dry land
Give my firstborn and only son for a sacrifice
He asks me to take a city by walking in circles around it shouting
He asks me to bring water from a rock
To expect bread to fall from heaven to feed me
He asks me to feed 5,000 with just five loaves of bread
and two small fish
Kill a giant with one small stone
Move to a strange land with a people I do not know
God asks me, who studders and stammers, to go before pharoah
and lead one million + slaves out of an empire
with a shepherd staff
He asks me to walk across the sea on dry land
He asks me to jump into the fiery furnace
rather than to worship any other God
Wash seven times in a river to be healed
Remove a mountain with my word
Catch multitudes of fish when there are none
Walk on water
Then, He asks me to dream when there is no hope
To have faith when there is no way out
Run the race without limbs
Love my enemy
Bless those who curse me
Do good to those who persecute me
Be a light in darkness when I have no light
Yea, I can do all things through Christ
Who strengthens me
Who gave Himself for me
For we are more than conquerors through Him
Who loves us and gave Himself for us.

Therefore, let us go forth with confidence!

Onward!!

October 1996

 Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Scriptures

Jonah 1:2

Job 1:19, 2:7

Noah Gen 6:14

Abraham Acts 7:6, Hebrews 11:14

Joshua Hebrews 11:30

Moses Numbers 20:8

Israel Wilderness Psalms 78:20

Miracle Loaves And Fishes Matthew 14:17

David Slays Goliath I Samuel 17:49

Moses Exodus 4:10, 14:16

Fiery Furnace Dan 3:26-27, 28

Naaham 2 Kings 5:10

Faith Removing Mountain Matthew 17:20

 God is our Light 1John 1:5

Healing of Limbs  John 5:8

Fish Miracle John 21:11

Peter Walking on Sea Matthew 14:29

Running With Faith Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 

Remember when the children of Israel were trapped at the edge of the Red Sea:

 Exodus 14:15 And the LORD said unto Moses….speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward!!

For  Today:  Let’s consider these great miracles of God that were recorded throughout history for us to believe and have faith that we can overcome with the power of Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit.  If you believe, all things are possible. 

 Mark 10:27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

 

Is God Listening?

 Anyone who has seen a child, at one time or another, fallen asleep unawares, feels a warmth passing over them and they can be filled with awe and wonder of the precious gift of life that God has given them.  Words are hard to find when this happens.

God sees us in similar manner.  Every one of us is a unique creation, having been knit in the womb by God Himself for a very special purpose.  He has a plan in mind for each of us, from the time we were conceived, to look like Him and to be formed into His very image!  He takes delight in watching us grow becoming patient, longsuffering, gentle, kind, etc. – all the wonderful aspects of our Father.

Creating such a masterpiece is in God’s hands alone.  Our minds cannot comprehend how we are formed spiritually, just as we do not understand fully how God knits us together in the womb.  Psalms 139:15 His ways are far above our ways, and past finding out.

In suffering, we grow…

In want, we grow…

In perseverance we grow…

God assures us, that He is the master potter and we are the clay.  Just as in the womb, we see through a glass darkly. One day we will see Him face to face in full light and understanding.  I Cor 13:12

Do we trust Him?  He says we can rest assured in that. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Yes, but how about when He doesn’t answer our requests right away? You might have said, “But I’ve gone to Him time and time again.  How do I really know He is listening?  Am I an evil person, because He isn’t listening?  What I’m requesting isn’t an evil thing.  It is a valid.” In some cases, this may go on for years. What can be said to that? 

Can the clay say to the potter, ‘Why are you doing that to me?” Jer 18:6

God knows that we are beset by these questions and wonder if God loves us enough to answer us or even hear us. God doesn’t leave us without assurance. He is creating in us His very mind, heart, and being. We are to be just like Him. He cares for us.

He hears every prayer.  He hears every sigh

He sees every tear that falls from our eyes

He saves them in a bottle and promises to change

Into the oil of joy our trials and our pains

Remember the woman who continually went to the king with her requests and he finally granted her wish because of her continual coming?  God looks upon with so much more compassion than this human king. You are much more precious to Him.  Luke 18:1-8

Remember the sleeping innocent children we first began to discuss?  Would you deny something good that they needed if you, indeed, had the power to give it? God grants us what we truly need.

Peter said concerning the trials that beset us in life:

1Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

1Peter 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

1Peter 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The fruits born from enduring are those qualities can only be knit in the womb of this life through our trials as He allows them.  Some things take a short time, and others longer than we would like, but God is faithful.  We can rest assured that He is only allowing them for our good and/or someone else’s good in our life.  We should consider that our trial could be a part of a loved one’s growth and strengthening, helping them become like their Father.  Someday, God may look us in the eye and say, “Thank you for helping me to build My likeness in your husband, children, friends, or family?”  Wouldn’t that be an awesome thing – God thanking you for something so beautiful?

In conclusion, let’s remember, that when we go through difficult times and we think God is not hearing us, that His eye is indeed continually upon us. He is not off somewhere, not seeing our suffering, but is intimately involved.  We are attached to His vine, as a child is in the womb, as He daily creates us to look more and more like Him. He IS answering our prayers in the way that creates in us His very mind and heart. We ARE growing because we are a part of Him!! What a wonderful Father we have! What a wonderful future He has in store for us! 

 

Find out more about God’s plan for you in His family below!

http://www.freebiblestudyguides.org/bible-map/eternal-life-as-gods-sons-and-daughters.htm

 

Psalms of a Woman

 

OUR PASSOVER

T’was never a moment in time

When He has not been near

To share with you each trial

To share with you each fear

 

Yes, in a bottle He did save

Each tear that you did cry

To turn each one to oil of joy

For this He came to die

 

If fiery trials burned your soul

And all that does remain

Are ashes left inside your heart

When pain has seemed in vain

 

Then bring your ashes to the Lord

All those who mourn and grieve

And beauty He will give to you

If only you believe

 

So as this great memorial

Of Christ’s death does appear

Let us boldly come to God

Without our guilt and fear

 

For victory He does proclaim

O’er death and all our sin

So we can reconcile ourselves

To Father once again

 

By taking in Christ’s sacrifice

In doing this we’re shown

That now through all our joy and pain

We’ll never be alone

 

~ Diane Stewart

Passover  1992

 

You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?  ~ Psalm 56:8

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.  ~Isaiah 61:3

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.  ~ Luke 4:18

 

 

Psalms of a Woman

New Birth

You who walk in hopelessness

Because you’ve been oppressed

When dignity has fled you

And in you lies no rest

When your head is bowed in sorrow

And eyes cast to the earth

Remember winter’s darkened days

Bring springtime’s fresh new birth

And know the One who governs it

Can also quicken you

Like seasons in the life of man

He’ll make the old man new

For this He came to die for

To give us life anew

To bring a spring from winter’s death

To carry all year through

 

~ Diane Stewart

April 1992

 

 

Psalms Of A Woman

 

Prodigal No More

A mighty fortress is our God

A place of refuge, place of peace

He takes the downcast, laden down

Invites them to His feast

 

Come all of your who labor

With sin you daily bear

Come partake of mercies great

Which willingly I share

 

Come to feast in linen white

I’ve waited long to clothe you

To share with you, to comfort you

My arms have longed to hold you

 

I see you coming down the road

Your eyes cast to the ground

Your clothes are torn and worn with time

No hope in you is found

 

My heart pours out like rivers swift

To run to take you in

To bind your wounds with tender care

To cover all your sin

 

Why do you listen to the one

That I have cast on down?

He wishes only death for you

To take away your crown

 

He whispers thoughts that you aren’t Mine

That I have you forsaken

That I have love conditional

So that you might be shaken

 

No, my child, don’t listen to

The way He pictures me

To see you walking towards My throne

Means everything to Me

 

We’ll feast a feast you’ll not forget

I’ll grant your soul with peace

Come sit with Me and talk to Me

Your burdens I’ll release

 

And in the light, we two shall be

Together, yes, eternally

No more a prodigal in chains

But one who now can with Me reign!

 

~ Diane Stewart 1994

 

Luke 15:11-32

Rev 20:6

Rev 3:21

 

 

 

 

True Higher Power

True God As Higher Power

The Beginning of God’s Steps To Healing

The Twelve Step Program of all the anonymous meetings is a step by step plan, a spiritual practice.  It was formed with the goal in mind to establish a relationship with our “Higher Power” of choice and service to others.

Whose Power do you rely on?  Can all these Powers actually give you a true, lasting relationship with One who can truly heal you?  Is this part of the purpose for which Christ came?  You bet! Here Christ reads His own words, quoting from Isaiah 61:1.

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

How will He do this?

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Who has that power to heal? Jesus Christ!

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit (Power of God).

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you (Bible – The Book of true Healing): and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.  Amen

Will you ever be alone again?  No!

But what does it matter which Higher Power you serve and rely on for permanent healing?  You may say, ‘I heard that many were healed from their addictions through their “own” Higher Power.’  Jesus Christ alone can heal you physically and also give you eternal life, which no other imagined Higher Power can do.  He can heal you from your addictions and negative way of living that led you away from or hindered you from having this relationship with God (Higher Power) in the first place — hindered you from the true power of God.

This is not new to mankind.  False Higher Powers of all kinds have been with us from the beginning of mankind.  Paul encountered this on the streets of Athens:

He stood in the streets of Athens, noting the myriad of statues, their idols lining their streets.  In fact, there were so many that the Athenians would even be seen as “religious.”  This is very much likened to our “religions” of the world, so many different views of God with even fractioned denominations of their own religion!  Now, we have our own ‘gods’ such as Mother Nature, the inner man, the ‘Light,” etc. The Athenians didn’t depend on the God who created them, even though their own poets acknowledged this, that they were the sons of Adam.

Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Acts 17:28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Here is the God who will hear you, who even some of their own poets realized that we are God’s offspring physically.

The real power is waiting for you for ask for help.  He has always been there.  He will show you a way of living that will heal you of your enemies (addictions).  The Bible is the ‘Big Book,’ and His words are the salve to bring you peace.  It changed my life and it can change yours.  Understanding that we as human beings do not have it within ourselves to overcome sin, which truly is the cause of our addictions is the beginning of understanding.  God gives us the power through His Holy Spirit and even the will to do his work.

  Philippains 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The first step of the journey in your quest for healing is to realize that we cannot change on our own power:

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Join us as we take the true steps to begin to see our Higher Power, Jesus Christ and His love, mercy, and compassion and Power that can truly heal!

http://www.ucg.org/booklets/WD/god-own-literal-children.asp

 

Psalms of a Woman

Peaks And Valleys

Someone once had told me

The story of a one

Who had to climb a mountain

The reach the very “Son”

 

Someone once had told me

How hard that climb would be

That valleys stood between us

That block my way to Thee

 

And when my eyes are looking down

The hope in me would die

Because my eyes aren’t lifted up

To see the Summit high

 But there would be some valleys

Stepping stones for me

That must be traveled in this life

The pathway set by Thee

 

But they’ll be peaks along the way

When victories are won

To make this journey bearable

This reaching for the “Son”

 

So, knowing this, I must go on

With vision even greater

The hope that in the climbing

I’ll meet my own Creator!

 

January 1992

 This poem was written in my search for a Power Greater than myself, a God who hears, who understands,  and who wanted to have a relationship with me.  I am so grateful He was there at the end of my climb!  He will be there for you too if you seek Him with your whole heart!

 Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

 

 

A Higher Power That Hears

 

When you get angry, does God want to hear you? How about when you’re frustrated? Will He hear you when you are struggling with your addictions?  How about when you hate yourself and are feeling unworthy of His love?  Have you felt He didn’t have time for someone like you?

 

I’ve been there and felt those varied emotions.  I wanted to feel part of God’s family, but didn’t feel a one-on-one relationship even when I tried.  When I prayed, I kept all my emotions inside.  I learned to keep my emotions in an imaginary box, locked up, protecting myself from being bruised by others, not to be judged or condemned for my weaknesses, especially God!

He has shown by his death on the cross His great love for us. 

 John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Bible gives us a glimpse of how very precious and loved we are. It is His great desire for us to be in His family, and He is dedicated to getting us there.  He longs for a one-on-one relationship with you.  Please see – Why were you born?

I John 3:1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

He is not far from us.

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Are you diligently looking for an answer to your pain and situations that are ruling your life?

He is gentle and tender towards those who seek Him who are bruised from life’s troubles and hardships. He is very aware of your pain and wants to lift you up and hold you in the palm of His hand.

Isa 42:3 (RSV) a bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice.

A bruised reed can be likened to a heart that has been crushed by life’s blows, trodden down from the weight of trials.

He will not break the bruised reed, but will strengthen it, that it may become a cedar in the courts of our God. He will not quench the smoking flax, but blow it up into a flame. Note, Jesus Christ is very tender toward those that have true grace, though they are but weak in it, and accepts the willingness of the spirit, pardoning and passing by the weakness of the flesh. ₁

…he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted
see Isaiah 61:1

He will keep you from the oppressor, those who would destroy you (addictions) if you look to this Higher Power!

Psalms 72:4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.

In the Psalms, David shows in many scriptures how God hears the cries of those in need.

Ps 55:16  As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.

 Ps 86:16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

 Ps 109:26 Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:

 Ps 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

 Ps 57:3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Do your addictions sometimes feel like you are being “swallowed up?”  Reading Psalms can greatly help you to understand God’s desire to hear your prayers of need. David certainly was a man who had experienced great trials.  Try substituting the word “enemy” with “your addiction” or trial while reading the Psalms.

Ps 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth your hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

Jer 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Is there hope for a relationship with God, those who desire to start anew with a spiritual Father and brother? Yes! Are you sure God will help me?  Yes!

Romans 8:37-39 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32.

FOR TODAY:  When we feel God will not hear us, let’s remember that God’s mercy is boundless.  He will hear the cries of those who turn to Him and give us the help we desperately need.  God, our Higher Power, is just that, a Higher Power, able to sustain a universe, yet gentle enough to hide us underneath his wings when we are in trouble.

 

 Ps 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.

1 Matthew Henry, “Matthew Henry Complete Commentary on the Bible,” Complete Commentary on Isaiah.

 United Church of God ~ An International Association

 

 

 

Relationship From God To Man

 

 

Searching for love and a gentle hand

Kindness too distant to understand

Awaits me as I demand

This relationship from God to man.

  

Compassion is shown and I shed a tear

Emotions come close, but then I fear

The walls come between us as a distant land

This relationship from God to man

 

Love so plenteous and outpouring

Fill this cup that I’ve been holding

God is giving and unfolding

His gentleness towards me

 

But the cup that I hold has been given me

By the Father of darkness, who I cannot see

Who wishes to be provider for me

And fill my cup with death!

 

Please tear down the partition

Let me receive of your love

Let my cup run over

From truth from above.

 

So I can have strength to run the race

Not on my own, but with mercy and grace

What wonderful joy will then take place

This relationship from God to man

Stewart 1991

 

This poem was written when I didn’t understand that I was worthy of God listening to me, and for that matter ‘helping me.’  I carried this poem around the house all day, crunched in my hand, working up the courage to go to God.  Frankly I was afraid to talk to Him because I felt He would zap me for being such an awful Christian.  At the end of the day, I finally got down on my kness and talked to God from the heart and for the first time I cried in front of God, you could say, but it was a great relief!

 

Christians And Addictions

My Journey Through The Dark Tunnel

Psalms of a Woman

There are many support groups available for alcoholics, compulsive overeating, anorexia, bulimia, self-abuse, narcotics, stealing, sex addictions, and many others.

Most all have the 12-step program. Yet, members of these groups can believe in any kind of higher power (HP) they wish as the god that will guide them, be with them, and encourage them.  This idea is against scripture:

“Has a nation changed gods, when they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory for that which does not profit. Be appalled, O heavens, at this, and shudder, and be very desolate,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 2:11-12)

They pray to this higher power (HP) for wisdom and direction.  Some may use mother nature as their god, an angel, and even others in the group for their higher power,  anything or anyone that they desire to put their trust in.

The Lord tells us to “come out from their midst and be separate” for good reason. (2 Corinthians 6:14-17) God tells us (1 Corinthians 15:33) in like manner, exposure to bad theology often corrupts sound doctrine.

This world is headed for a time, unprecedented in the history of mankind, where if Christ did not return, there would no flesh be saved alive. 

 Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.

Please see the our booklets on The End Time.

www.ucg.org

I would like to take you on my own journey to discover the only God who created heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them.  It is this God I have drawn constant love and encouragement in order to overcome several addictions.

This love is shown through His promises and healing that He alone can provide.  This is the God who created us in His very image and has a wonderful plan for our life now and wants us to be in His very family!  It is the God that calls the weak of the world in order to confound the mighty.  You may feel small and unimportant, but God is able to help you to stand.

This God alone provides our daily bread and sustains every cell in our body through respirations and heartbeats that shows He cares 24/7,  whose  tender mercy and loving kindness can also heal you physically and emotionally if you look to Him and Him alone.  He will never ever leave us or forsake us, though we struggle to do His will and often fail. 

You might say, “Will God even hear me?  Who am I that God would even help me?  I’m hopeless and I deserve to die, let alone be in His very family.”  These are questions I sought to find and had them answered, and in doing so found a God that was not  judgemental, harsh, and condemning, but patient,  good, and encouraging.  This is the God that held my hand through withdrawal and never left my side as I dealt with emotions that I thought would never disappear. 

Yes, I have gone through this journey myself with several addictions and have come through the darkness of my tunnel, finding the Higher Power that can also give you encouragement through your struggles, hold your hand when you are without hope, encourage you and stand beside you when you fall and help you to stand again, giving you courage to try again until you succeed.

As His children, He teaches us our first steps to help us begin to walk, then to run the race of a Christian and to make it across the finish line.  We often fall at the start, but He stands ready to lift us up and encourage us to reach forward.

Many of you have come from broken homes, relationships that were degrading, abusive, or have put yourself into a situation that is such and may still struggle with.  For many, there seems to be no way out, and even succumb to suicide to end the pain.

Let’s look at the real “steps” that are  supported by God’s word in a way that is lasting, a way that will ultimately not only help us conquer our addictions but build a solid, sure, and encouraging foundation.  This God can also use you in the Kingdom of God to comfort others and hold their hand through their recovery if we turn to Him and desire to change our ways. 

I will also be posting poetry to I have written through my journey of healing, finding the promises of God through His word.

There is a way that we can conquer our enemies, our addictions, but it is only through a relationship with this Higher Power is Jesus Christ alone that it will be lasting and provide a way to help countless numbers of people in the near future.