Category: Hiding His Word

Posted in Hiding His Word

Elections, Prayer, and My Little Sister

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Elections make me think of my little Sister, Karen, because I had to return to Virginia to vote on the day of her second funeral. She had one funeral at her church in Mississippi and one at the church we grew up in the morning she was buried.

It was cold and dreary and so hard to leave my mom to return. I was with her for two weeks following my sister’s fall in the bathroom that ended in her death. I sat in silence and cried most of the way while Dan and the kids sang to the radio and played travel games to pass the time.

We had been through a loss I didn’t think mom could bear, and I had lost my only sister and my lifelong best friend. I didn’t feel in the grand scheme of things I should care about such things as voting, but I knew it was something I should do even still.

We were one of the last through the polls that evening. I voted for Bob Dole. He lost…but I had done my part. Voting is both a duty and a privilege.

Karen has been gone 24 years now. Mom was younger at the time than I am now. It was one of the hardest losses of my life, and I didn’t like or understand why I had to lose my sister, but even so, I saw so many miracles during those two weeks and beyond. Though it would take another decade of me fighting God and even feeling angry at God for my loss, Karen’s death is part of what would ultimately bring me back to Jesus, and her death would help me surrender my life fully to Him. Karen’s death is also part of why I am back in NC and living and serving where I am today. I am fully convinced the miracle of my salvation was an answer to her very own fervent prayers.

24 years! Life goes on. Some days when things make no sense…we forget even why!!! But we are all still here – for such a time as this!!! Just as voting is a duty and privilege, so is prayer! Pray, pray, pray! Pray fervently! There is no telling how God will use our prayers and the things we don’t understand for His purposes and our good (or someone else’s).

Still miss you KK, but I am so very thankful for your love and your prayers for me. See you soon, my Thumbelina 😘❤️

Posted in Hiding His Word

A Rushing, Mighty Wind

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Last night, my husband was not feeling well, and so around 3:30 am, I had to get up to take the dogs out. When I opened the back door, the wind was blowing pretty hard. It was blowing in my yard, but I could hear an even stronger wind in the distance coming through the trees. It was so loud that it scared me, but I had little dogs out, and I couldn’t go back in. Within a minute, the wind came through the yard, and although it was strong, it settled after the initial impact.

Even at 3:30 am, when everyone and everything is asleep and most all the world is and should be quiet. Even when I am standing outside, alone in the middle of a dark night…My God is still and always there! Last night the Holy Ghost came, even to me, in the mighty rushing wind that came quickly, made the impact, and then settled right alongside me. Of course, then I couldn’t go back to sleep. So we continued in that blessed Nightwatch.

Have you ever wondered what that mighty rushing wind of Acts 2 sounded like? I have, and I believe now I know.

“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” ~ Acts 2:2

Posted in Hiding His Word

New Wine

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. 16 No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. 17 Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. ~ Matthew 9:14-17

On Tuesday nights, I usually attend an online Bible Study and prayer meeting with some friends from all over the world. Last night we read Matthew 9:14-17 about new cloth on old garments and new wine in old wine bottles.

The following statement was made by the one leading the study. “New bottles (new wine skins) for the new wine is about the next and the new season. You can’t keep everything of the old season when God is taking you into the new. God wants you to lay it all down, and He will take away whatever is necessary so that the new wine is His best wine.”

I felt it was a Word straight from God’s heart into mine.

Then today, as I looked up this scripture, this song, “New Wine,”  came up. I have listened to it all day and pondered it. Now, I share it here – as a devotion and a prayer—one of the most personal songs I have ever shared.

“So make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
God, I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me!”

~ Brooke Ligertwood

Posted in Hiding His Word

My Seven

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Yesterday I was challenged to get into the Word and seek the Lord for seven verses to stand on in the midst of the trials and circumstance of my life. Now verses! Living Words to declare over my current situation that God has given to me. They may be different tomorrow, but for tomorrow’s troubles there is also a Word. As the Lord challenged me, I then challenged others. Here are my seven with headings related to my circumstances (and a few notes for context).

Isaiah 26:3 (Peace)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: cause he trusteth in thee.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (Loneliness)

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Note: What a strange season. I guess we all face times of loneliness and I do as well. Mine are sometimes very intense and seem to come out of nowhere. Years ago, God told me when this happens to go to those that are lonelier than I. I started visiting the nursing home residents and shut-ins of our church and it was life changing. Maybe now it is time to pray for someone else or make a few calls. It surely is a time to declare this verse over my life.

Exodus 15:26 (Health and Healing)

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

Genesis 26:1, 12. (Sowing and Reaping)

26:1 – And there was a famine in the Land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

26:12 – Then Isaac sowed in that land, and receive in the same year an hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

Note: These two verses I counted as one. In Genesis 26 there was a famine in the land but when Isaac sowed in the time of this trial, THAT SAME YEAR he was blessed an hundredfold. Wow! What a season we are living in to sow and to reap.

Jeremiah 29:11 (God’s thoughts about me)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Philippians 1:6 (God will complete His work in me)

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 4:9 (God is with me; Peace)

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Note: I intentionally started this and end it with a verse about “peace.” No matter what I deal with presently, I want to be a peaceful (peace filled) woman of God with God’s peace flowing out of my life. Please grant it, Lord…In Jesus Name! Amen!!!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Choices, Choices

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

“He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” ~ Psalms‬ ‭103:7‬

In Psalm 103:7 we see two different things regarding two different groups of people. You have to decide if you are going to be a part of the Moses group, or part of the children of Israel group.

God showed His ways to Moses. Moses knew how things worked; how things came about. He knew how to cooperate and initiate with what God’s plans were. He knew God’s ways because God Himself made them known and He used Moses to help create His purposes on earth.

God showed His acts to the children of Israel. The Israelites watched it all happen, sometimes from a distance. They were very blessed – the blessing to see miracles take place and to feel the peripheral power of the miracles that Moses walked in. Yes, they were blessed but they were not a part of walking hand-in-hand with God to make something altogether glorious and impossible happen on the earth.

Remember the story where Moses was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments. He was with God on the mountain. The mountains rumbled and the children of Israel heard that and saw that. Moses came walking down and his face shown like the sun. The Israelites told him to get away from them and go back up the mountain because the glory of God on him scared them. THAT is the difference between knowing the ways of God and being at the heart of what He is doing as opposed to just being a part of seeing the acts of God and feeling the peripheral power of His presence.

In the Old Testament Moses was the leader and the people were the congregation or the followers. That was the order God set into place. But in the New Testament, once Jesus came and died for us, we were given personal access to our Father in Heaven and we were given the opportunity for a personal relationship with Him. You don’t have to go through a leader to be with God and to know God. You have access! You!!!

That blessing though comes with a choice. You can take what God has made available and draw closer to Him, walk with Him, know God and His ways. You can be a part of the move of God happening today. Or, you can remain in what may seem the safer place – on the outside seeing the miracles, hearing the testimonies, and being inspired in what God is doing but content to continue where you are and in what you are doing.

God made His ways known to Moses and to the children of Israel His acts. Are you a ways person or an action person? The choice is yours!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Choices, Choices

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

“He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.” ~ Psalms‬ ‭103:7‬

In Psalm 103:7 we see two different things regarding two different groups of people. You have to decide if you are going to be a part of the Moses group, or part of the children of Israel group.

God showed His ways to Moses. Moses knew how things worked; how things came about. He knew how to cooperate and initiate with what God’s plans were. He knew God’s ways because God Himself made them known and He used Moses to help create His purposes on earth.

God showed His acts to the children of Israel. The Israelites watched it all happen, sometimes from a distance. They were very blessed – the blessing to see miracles take place and to feel the peripheral power of the miracles that Moses walked in. Yes, they were blessed but they were not a part of walking hand-in-hand with God to make something altogether glorious and impossible happen on the earth.

Remember the story where Moses was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments. He was with God on the mountain. The mountains rumbled and the children of Israel heard that and saw that. Moses came walking down and his face shown like the sun. The Israelites told him to get away from them and go back up the mountain because the glory of God on him scared them. THAT is the difference between knowing the ways of God and being at the heart of what He is doing as opposed to just being a part of seeing the acts of God and feeling the peripheral power of His presence.

In the Old Testament Moses was the leader and the people were the congregation or the followers. That was the order God set into place. But in the New Testament, once Jesus came and died for us, we were given personal access to our Father in Heaven and we were given the opportunity for a personal relationship with Him. You don’t have to go through a leader to be with God and to know God. You have access! You!!!

That blessing though comes with a choice. You can take what God has made available and draw closer to Him, walk with Him, know God and His ways. You can be a part of the move of God happening today. Or, you can remain in what may seem the safer place – on the outside seeing the miracles, hearing the testimonies, and being inspired in what God is doing but content to continue where you are and in what you are doing.

God made His ways known to Moses and to the children of Israel His acts. Are you a ways person or an action person? The choice is yours!

Posted in Hiding His Word

Go in Peace!

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Such a beautiful morning on my back porch. The gardenias smell so good. I can watch the cars pass by, people walking and getting their exercise, walking their dogs. I can hear neighbors greeting each other as their paths cross and the birds singing their morning songs. There is a breeze and at least for this hour it feels wonderful.

Such a beautiful morning. But the main reason I am out here is to spend time with God, in His Word, and in prayer. In His Presence is fullness of JOY (Psalm 16:11) and no matter what is going on in the world, in my heart and my world this morning, I feel truly joyful.

I woke up with this song on my heart and this passage of scripture before me during my morning devotions. God bless you all as you go forth into your world and whatever this day holds for you. Every word of the song is my prayer for you!

-Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
-For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
-Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
-Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
-Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
-And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
-Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
-Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
-For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
~ Psalms‬ ‭37:1-9

Posted in Hiding His Word

In the Closet

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

Below is an excerpt taken from a little booklet titled Helps to Holiness. Such a great teaching tonight by the author, S.L. Brengle, about waiting on the Lord.

Here I sit trying to honor our President’s request that we stay in so we can “flatten the curve” of the spread of this coronavirus. Here in the confines of my home though I am not alone… it is truly in this special place (my little prayer closet) that it is just me and God. There is no one to draw from, no one to compete with, no one for me to distract or to be distracted by. And still, even here, with God as my only companion and source, it is so hard to wait on Him.

But this was encouraging to me and made me search my heart.

David said, “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him.” (Ps. 62:5); and again he declares: “I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His name do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning” (Ps. 130:5); and he sends out this ringing exhortation and note of encouragement to you and me: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Ps. 27:14).

The secret of all failures, and of all true success, is hidden in the attitude of the soul in its private walk with God. The man who courageously waits on God is bound to succeed. He cannot fail. To other men he may appear for the present to fail, but in the end they will see what he knew all the time: that God was with him, making him, in spite of all appearances, “a prosperous man.”

Jesus puts the secret into these words: “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly” (Matt. 6:6).

Know, then, that all failure has its beginning in the closet, in neglecting to wait on God until filled with wisdom, clothed with power, and all on fire with love.
~ S.L. Brengle, Helps to Holiness

What does it mean to wait?

Wait – to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens; to remain neglected for a time; to be postponed or delayed; to be available or in readiness.

Looking at those definitions, I can easily find the reasons I have such a hard time. Over the last years, I have become a person that loves to do and to go. We can fill our lives with many things. Even very good things things can become a hinderance when we allow them to keep our bodies and our minds occupied at all times. The first day I deliberately stayed home, all I wanted to do was go, go, go though I had no where to go and needed nothing. Obviously I don’t like “remaining neglected” for any amount of time. Does anyone?

So how then do we wait?

By God’s grace and by making a deliberate decision to press in to the waiting.

I have to get in the posture and attitude of waiting. Oh yes, it will be so much easier to move on toward the next sight or sound in the adjacent room. It will be easy to jump on Facebook or Twitter and lose an hour or two there…but the moment I give in, I know I will begin that same old descent that leads to discouragement.

What will be the benefits of waiting?

WISDOM, POWER, FIRE with LOVE!

Give me the grace to wait upon You, Lord…in Jesus Name. Amen!

Posted in Hiding His Word

A Good Reason To Fast

Posted on by Melissa Lynne

A good reason to put fasting alongside your prayers!

  • And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
  • Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
  • And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
  • Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
  • And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
  • Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
  • And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
  • Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

    • Matthew 17:14-21