Day: July 1, 2021

Posted in Journal

Something of My Very Own?

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

The Challenges
On January 1, I took a 100-day Blogging Challenge. Today is the 182nd day. I have just kept on posting daily. What a journey!!! Some days the writing has flowed, and some days it has taken all day long (literally). But, by the close of every day, I have posted what I feel God laid on my heart and so I knew every single minute was worth it. I write primarily about what I receive from the Holy Ghost while reading aloud the One-Year Daily Bible (KJV), what I have studied in response to questions from the reading, what God has laid on my heart during my time in my tiny prayer closet, my struggles along the way, my victories. Each day I have also created and posted an original scripture picture using the verse that most touched me that day. These are not someone else’s pictures but totally my own with the watermark – Melissa Lynne. 

From Glory to Glory
“From Glory to Glory,” His Word says. I took the 100-day Blogging Challenge because I was in a place at the first of the year that I felt like I needed something that was my own. My kids and grandkids were in the process of moving away, my husband suddenly couldn’t hear which made communication almost impossible, and I felt so lonely and was fighting so many mind battles that I was weary. In a moment of incredible heartache and confusion, I went to the only one that could help me. I asked God to help me find my focus again. I wanted to focus on Him, focus in prayer and focus on the Word. I wanted to be on FIRE for GOD and the things of GOD.

Well, I asked and He answered. He challenged me to get up every morning and go into the prayer closet and then immerse myself into His Word. Not only reading it but reading it aloud and seeking for understanding. He challenged me to yield to the Holy Ghost as He taught me. I took the challenge and as I stepped out to begin, the 100-Day Blogging Challenge came. I felt it was directly from my Heavenly Father. Something of my very own? Well, it was His direction to me and it was so personal at the time. Because of that, until this week, I have told absolutely no one, except Him. But this week I felt His release. Of course, anyone that reads my blog knew that I was suddenly posting every day and so they knew.

The Results of the Challenges
I thought as blogging goes, the process might help my writing. Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. I have learned not to worry too much about whether everything is perfect. I write to glorify God only. I don’t worry if anyone else reads it or gets what I write. I just go with what comes into my heart and leave it at that. Some days I write a lot and other days no more than the Scriptures He highlights, a prayer, and a picture. I have readers from 135 nations across the world. The faithfulness of a handful of followers from around the world has been my greatest surprise. The community of bloggers that I follow and interact with have also helped me to grow in Christ and in the Word…as well as blogging.

One hundred and eighty-two straight days on this path and it is has changed me, given me focus, toughened me up, and drawn me closer to Jesus than I ever thought possible. The Bible has come alive to me and God is weaving His story together for me and with me in ways I never quite got in Sunday School or through Bible Studies. There is something so special about reading the Word aloud and knowing that if I continue on this year I will be hearing every single Word of God’s Word come out of my own mouth.

Half Way Through the Year
Today is July 1 and we are officially half way through the year and halfway through the Bible. We all have lots of resolutions at the first of the year but how about looking at the second half in the same way. What will you do with the rest of this year? 

Something Not My Own, But Totally His!
For me – Tomorrow is day 183 and I will start it like I have every single morning for the last 182 days. First in prayer, then reading the Word aloud, digging into the Word further to answer any questions that arise, and writing all about it (all as I sit alongside my Jesus). Then I will create a picture as I plant one special verse into my heart. I wanted something of my own. Did I get that? Kind of…but mostly I got something that was not my own, but totally His…so I got so much more. Thank You Jesus for taking me with You on this incredible journey!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Praises in Their Mouth and a Sword in Their Hand

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

2 Kings 18:13–19:37; Acts 21:1-17; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 18:8

Praises in Their Mouth, and a Sword in Their Hand
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; – Psalm 149:1-6

That All the Kingdoms of the Earth May Know
And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only. – 2 Kings 19:14-19

In yesterday’s reading, the Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and sent ten of the ancient tribes into exile. In today’s reading, the Assyrians attempt to overthrow the kingdom of Judah. Assyria’s king Sennacherib sent officials to intimidate them into surrender. The officials taunted Jerusalem saying: “Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand? – 2 Kings 18:35.

King Hezekiah took off his robes and put on a sackcloth. He went to God’s Temple and dispatched messengers to find the prophet, Isaiah. Isaiah’s message was that the Assyrians would withdraw because they would hear a rumor of threats from another army. Sennacherib sent a threatening letter to Hezekiah, recounting all of his conquests and telling Hezekiah that Jerusalem would fall next.

Here was Hezekiah, with the enemy there threatening and taunting. Finally, Hezekiah took Sennacherib’s letter into the temple, laid it before the Lord, and confessed his powerlessness. Then – God wiped out the Assyrian army. Sennacherib withdrew to Nineveh, the capital city of his kingdom. There he was killed by two of his sons, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah that we also read in these passages today.  

There is a lesson here for times that we feel intimidated and backed against a wall. Sennacherib’s letter was meant to scare Hezekiah into defeat, but the intimidation was nothing more than idle words next to God’s mighty power. When we find ourselves in these situations, we have a choice—we can believe the threats of the enemy, or we can believe and act on God’s holy Word –  casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. – 1 Peter 5:7

For I Am Ready Not to Be Bound Only
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. – Acts 21:10-14

The Words of a Talebearer are as Wounds
The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. – Proverbs 18:8