tysthatbind

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? - Romans 8:31 Sometimes there are no words. Yet, there is always the Word of God.  Within the scriptures there is hope. There us comfort.  Sometimes there are no words. But always there is the Word of God.  God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.   - Galatians 6:9  The Bible teaches us that there is a time for everything. To everything there is a purpose. Sowing and reaping this is the process.  I love lilacs. When I plant lilacs I expect lilacs to bloom not lilies. Now I love lilies too.  But if I don’t plant them I cannot look for them in my garden.  Spiritual plants need to be planted also. Sow peace. Plant love. Sow hope. Plant joy. Row by row and role by role. What do you mean Tyus? Garden landscapes change. Seasons change.   For me this current life chapter is peace. I’m seeking it. I am pursuing it. In the process I hope to sow peace.  Jesus said Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Continue to do good. Keep sowing good seeds. It will be all right in due season. Don’t give up! God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.          - Philippians 3:13-14  Forgetting what is behind.  Putting one foot in front of the other we forge ahead.  We will not go backwards.  We will not give up ground.  The songwriter penned: "Just can't give up now.  Come too far from where I started from."  Press delete and then move forward. When the enemy comes to accuse and throw the past in your face,  tempting you to look back at who you were before you were a believer, forget it  God has.  His word says:   For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.   As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.  (Psalm 103:11-12)  It may not be clear to you, the purpose of what's goin

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.         - Isaiah 26:3 I was looking at my computer key board and my eyes fastened on two keys: ctrl and shift. Shift control. Control shift. Fasten our eyes and look to Our Present Help.  Control shift. Have faith in God. We cannot manage life on our own.  We cannot in our own strength overcome the challenges bombarding us daily.  God can and will manage the life yielded to him.  God can quiet the storms.  Control shift. Have faith in God. Fear is rampant.  Worry is prevalent in the hearts and minds of many. Despair and loneliness threaten the well being  of multitudes.  Control shift.  Have faith in God. Faith in God must be our focus.  Faith in God will cause mountains to move. Faith in God will settle us  Faith in God will add strength.  Faith in God works. Control shift. Shift control.  Have faith in God. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:                 - Romans 5:17-20 “Through many dangers, we’ve already come. ‘Twas grace that brought us safe thus far and grace will lead us on.“ God’s grace. Grace, unmerited favor. The Lord God has bestowed. We do not deserve it. Grace. We cannot pay for it.  Grace.  We cannot earn it.  Grace.   God has redeemed.  By grace we are saved through faith. A gift. Grace.   God supplies our needs. God is gracious.  The s

Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.  Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord : he is their help and their shield.     - Psalm 115:1-8,11  Heavenly Father, We thank and praise You and glorify Your Name. Today we come in bold approach to Your Throne in the Name of Jesus Christ. The Lord Our Help and Shield.  You have instructed us in Your Word to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those

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.                    - Psalm 37:3-8  Have faith in God. Trust. Be joyful in salvation and in the Word of God. Delight. Acknowledge God by putting Him first. Commit.   Be confident in the knowledge that the Lord is always with you. Rest.   Don’t get distracted by wrong. Cease from anger. Forsake wrath.  Fret not. The battle has already been fought. The victory has been won. Jesus Christ reigns. King of Kings. H

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.        - Hebrews 4:12  Quicker than right now.  There is help. There is consolation. Counsel is available. It is available in addressing past issues, present concerns and whatever may come in the future.  God’s Word is all encompassing. There is a remedy for what “ails.”  There is hope. Direction. Guidance. Authority. In the quick and powerful Word of the Lord, we can get to the bottom line.  Jesus Christ is Our Bottom Line. He is Yay and Amen. All Powerful.  Quick! Sharp! Powerful! God’s Word is. Jesus the Living Word. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” - Proverbs 15:1 “Excuse me,  may I get by please?” Sure “hon”, was the response. “I’m sorry I can’t get past your cart.” And then I heard: The cart don’t move? I turned and looked at the store manager who had rang me out. I then moved my fellow shopper’s cart out of the way. As I was leaving I said: “You all have a good day! God bless you!”   Now let me say, I don’t know if the soft answer turned the other person’s wrath away. I don’t know if there was intended malice in what was said. But I do know that through the grace of God my soft answer turned away my wrath. I left the store with a smile. When I got inside my car I was still smiling.  For certainly I was reminded that carts don’t move on their own. Something or someone has to push.  Push. Keep going. Pray and climb the mountain. Sing and escape the rage. Remember how far you’ve come and get your praise on.   Ooo—oo there was a time when the flesh would have s

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.        -Psalm 42:8 Day and night the Lord is loving. The Lord is kind. His loving kindness wakes us in the morning. His tender mercies grace our day.  In the evening when the sun is setting, God is near. At midnight we are not alone. Thank you Lord for being loving, gracious kind and merciful. Always. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

  "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."  - Jeremiah 6:16a “Still Standing” - by sdktyus@2020 Still standing when the road is rough  Standing when the going is tough Still standing in the way of Christ the Lord  Standing by faith today  Still standing while facing forward  Standing, pressing toward the goal  Still standing, trusting, believing  Standing in the paths of old Still standing and praying Standing in the light of The Son Still standing till the journey is over  Standing till victory is won  Still standing  God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

Daniel 3:16-18 16  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had their minds made up.  They knew in Whom they had put their trust.  They  were steadfast in their faith.  Whether things worked in their favor or not they refused to doubt God. For many years  my favorite portion of this passage has been: Our God whom we serve is able..."   If troubles persist, the desired healing doesn't come, if dreams die -- Our God is still able.   If it be so that friends do not understand  hold onto your faith.  If it be so that sometimes you must stand alone, hold fast and trust in God.  We all have

Romans 5:1-6 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.   And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Yesterday was such a beautiful day.  I enjoyed watering my plants and cleaning counters and washing clothes. Wow, you might think, that doesn't sound  very exciting.  Yet, I looked at the nice bushy ferns and the spider plant my friend potted for me and I thought, "I am so blessed to be able to have running water, and the strength and presence of mine to do these tasks.” Just as I  water the plants and they continue to gro

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 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 1:2-6  I am so thankful for the many kindnesses shown to me throughout the years. An unexpected gift from a friend. A cousin who always baked my favorite pie for my birthday. This same cousin when I was a little girl and she was a young adult, would catch the rapid on pay day to pick me up and take me downtown to eat. This meant we had to get back on the rapid (train).  I was taught that people don’t have to be nice to you. When they are you should say thank you. I have tried to remember and live by this rule and have taught it to my daughters.  Please and thank you.  Manners count.  My gra

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. - Psalm 23 Because the Lord is Our Shepherd we can be confident that He knows our needs. He will lead us in the way that we should go. Much depends on our willing obedience. Shepherds don’t drag sheep.  They don’t have to. Sheep recognize the voice of the shepherd. They know that the shepherd has their best interests at heart. Our Heavenly Shepherd is Faithful. We have nothing to fear.  God bless!

Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord.            - Psalm 25:6-7  When I look back over my life I marvel at the goodness of God.  I think about how naive I was. I was full of pride and could be very hard headed. In many ways my naivety remains. I can still be prideful and hard headed. But God. God has been merciful. I recognize my many shortcomings. I see that but for the goodness of God I would have no hope.  Songs I used to sing, standards, the old hymns, I sang because that is what we did growing up in church. But God. He has blessed my soul and instructed my spirit. When the songs of the past are sung now, all of me is reaching to achieve melodious praise: “Then sings my soul...O Lord how great Thou Art.”    I pray Lord God remember me for thy goodness sake. When I look back and remember just ho

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;              - 2 Corinthians 3:5  Whoever you are...wherever you are...whatever you are going through I pray that you will know that Sufficient God cares. I think about the unprecedented season of life  we are in. My heart is touched by the grief and uncertainty that surrounds us. I pray for the comfort of the Holy Spirit to embrace  those who have lost loved ones. Today I pray that you would experience sufficient joy, sufficient peace, sufficient guidance and abounding  hope. Sufficient in all things...whoever you are...wherever you are...whatever you are going through...may Sufficient God bless you! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

    For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.             - 2 Corinthians 5:1 Heaven is real.  Our hope our life is hid in Christ Jesus.  It is important that as we move from day to day, we keep our view heavenly.  For this is where our true citizenship lies.  While we journey on this earth it is the will of the Lord that we have life and that more abundantly.  May we live confidently in this truth. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie       

  Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.  - Psalm 60:11  Lord help us. The hymn writer wrote: Father I stretch my hand to Thee. No other help I know. If Thou withdraw Thyself from me oh wither shall I go? We know where our help comes from. You are Our Present Help.  Lord help us is our prayer. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

  The   Lord   also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.   And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou,   Lord , hast not forsaken them that seek thee.   Sing praises to the   Lord , which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.           - Psalm 9:9-11 The songwriter penned: "The name of Jesus is so sweet. I love its music to repeat. It makes my joys full and complete. The precious name of Jesus. No word of man can ever tell. How sweet the name I love so well, Oh, let its praises ever swell, Oh, praise the name of Jesus." Praise the name of Jesus.  The Name we can go to for refuge.  The Name where safety is available.  The Name above all names.  Bless the Name of Jesus. Savior. Jesus.  Burden Bearer. Jesus.  Bright and Morning Star. Jesus.  The Joy of My Salvation. Jesus. The Branch. Jesus. The Healer of the Breach. Jesus.  Only Begotten Son. Jesus. There is power in the name.  Jesus. Bridge over troubled wat

For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. - 1 Corinthians 12:12  One body.  Many members.  One purpose, and that is to glorify God.  Every member of our natural body has a function.  The nose doesn’t try to hear.  It functions in harmony with the other members. But, it does not try to be something it is not or perform tasks not assigned to it. Within the body of Christ we all have a duty to fulfill. Every one is necessary. We all are “gifted”. In some instances, multi gifted.  Do you recognize your gifts? More importantly are you using your gift? Stay at home orders and shelter in place mandates do not negate our ability to represent our place in the body.  Yes, it may require a bit of creativity, but rest assured, the Word of God is not bound. Stir up the gifts.  If you are a singer, sing! If your gift is hospitality keep greeting and ushering out kindness. And should it be that you are uncertain a

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.        - Proverbs 3:5-6   Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my favorite passages. Trust in the Lord.  The Lord  can be trusted at all times. I trust  in the Lord.  I have learned that the plans He has for me have been designed by His own hand. There is nothing in life that escapes God’s attention.  Acknowledging Him in all things is a day by day walk. God, true always to His Word, will lead. He will guide. He shall direct.  Thank you Lord. I trust you with my life. This life you have so graciously given to me. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

    Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.                     - James 4:9-10 Affliction, mourning, weeping and heaviness have their purpose.  Yesterday was such a day. I was wondering why.  Hurt feelings can be an affliction if we allow ourselves to become saturated by the hurt instead of casting our cares on the Lord.  In my weak moment I starting swimming "in my feelings."  But God.  God has a way of reminding us not to think too much of ourselves.  And then, what was left to do? Ask the person who was offended  to forgive me.  I did not want to do that.  Why?  I did not think I did anything wrong. I thought I was helping. However, there is something I learned from a colleague some years ago: "intent versus impact."  I intended to do something I thought was helpful but the impact did not match the intent. I asked for forgiveness

  For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.        - Isaiah 33:22 The Lord is. He is Judge  He is the giver of the law.  The Lord is Our King  He will save us   Promise Keeper.  Provider.  Protector.  The Lord is. His ears are open to our concerns. His love is never ending. He will save us. We may not know how or when deliverance will come.  Yet, we know who Our Deliverer is.  The LORD is. God bless! In Christ, Sis. Stephanie 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. - Isaiah 55:9-12 Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.  The Lord, All Wise.  The Lord, All Knowing.  The Lord,  Always Present.  He is High and Holy,  He is the Rock that is higher than I.   So many things we cannot comprehend.  There are a myriad of things that we do not know now, nor will we e

       "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."                          - Psalm 119:130 "I wonder if the lighthouse will shine on me.  Shine on me. Shine on me.  I wonder if the lighthouse will shine on me." "Walk in the light beautiful light.  Come where the dewdrops of mercy shine bright.  Shine all around us by day and by night.  Jesus the light of the world." "Everywhere I go I'm going to let it shine.  Everywhere I go, I'm going to let it shine.  Everywhere I go, I'm going to let it shine.  Let it shine. Let it shine.  Let it shine." We need to get the lights turned on.  We need to utilize the three way intensity lamp: Father, Son, Holy Ghost.  There is not time to run away.  While holding the light of Jesus Christ, we must advance.  No retreat.  Hold the light.  Hold it high.  Hold it steady. Move forward. No matter how dark things seem, keep shining.  No matter how loud the talk of des

Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. - Jeremiah 33:2-3 God is still on the throne.  The Lord. He is Alpha and Omega.  He will finish what He has started.  God has not forgotten to be gracious.  He has not failed to be kind.  There are still days full of sunshine.  There are days of rain.  Great and Mighty is the Lord. God is still in control. Birds still greet the morning with a song.  Flowers are still blooming.  Babies are being born. God is near.  He has never left us.  There are still times of joy.  There are times of sadness. Great and Mighty is the Lord. God is still God.  There is none like Him.  He is the God of "Let there be..." and it came to pass.  At His Word things fall into place.  At His Word the wind blows.  The rivers flow.  There are times of glad shouting in praise.  There are awesome times fi

In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. Psalm 138:3 Poetry. I love the Psalms. This particular verse in the 138th Psalm is a source of great comfort and joy for me.  Reciting the verse out loud is beautiful. Strength in my soul.  It’s personal. None of cries are the same. Yet, I believe that many cries come from the same place in each of us. This place of the soul.  So it is there, in my soul that God strengthens me when I cry out to Him.  Sometimes the cry is short. At other times long.  Sometimes the cry is mingled with joy and sorrow. Jesus knows. Sometimes the cry produces a single tear. Then there are the cries that produce enough water to empty a tissue box.  This what I know. In the day when I cried God answered me and He strengthened me with strength in my soul.  There is strength in my soul.  God bless! In Christ,  Sis. Stephanie 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.   -  James 1:22 “Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart. Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart, in my heart.” Consistency. This is a part of hearing and doing. Today Lord God help us to walk our faith. Teach us daily how to be faithful in our witness. Consistent. Consistency, let this be embedded in our testimony. The word of the day: consistency.  God bless! In Christ,  Sis. Stephanie 

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.        - Psalm 42:3-5  I praise God for memories. Memories of great songs and powerful sermons.  There are memories of family reunions and the taste of many delicious entrees. I remember the tradition of going out for Sunday dinner, enjoying sit down meals and buffets.  Memories. Great conversations over breakfast or coffee with friends.  Concerts, sporting events, attending conferences and leisurely hours spent at the Library.  Once again, so many things sometimes taken for granted. And now time seems to stand still and pass swiftly at the same time.

  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. - Colossians 3:17 You can make a difference. There is no one else who can complete the work God has assigned to your life in the way that you can.  It is true that each of us has a unique blueprint.  The Lord does not confuse details of our lives.  Everything is synchronized by the hand of God.  I continue to dwell on the truth of scripture "fearfully and wonderfully made."  This is what God says about us. There may be days when we doubt our abilities and the "wonderfully" in the verse is something we may struggle with.  Yet, always and in every situation the Word of God is true.  In spite of how we feel the Lord declares truth.  So we, in the might of fearfully and wonderfully makings can make a difference.  We must make a difference. Move ahead as lead by the Spirit of God and make a difference. God bless! in Christ, Sis. Stephanie