Not Yet (in more ways than one)

I have "not yet" walked in. I was going to walk into the private school ("Hahk-Ooh..eon") yesterday, but realized it was definitely not time yet. If God will, I will walk in there when it is time. In the meantime, please pray for the children and staff there.

Oh! By the way, weeks ago, I stayed with a friend, whose marriage was "on the rocks"? Well, it has "not yet" failed (and I declare, by faith, that - God willing - it is not going to!) I stayed with THEM again, just recently, and THEY were still together! My friend said they love each other more than ever now, and described the salvation of his marriage a miracle!

I fought the break-up of their marriage with praise and prayers of faith. It did NOT look like they were going to make it at all. I was hoping against all hope, as I declared that God would save their marriage. Well, I have solid proof that prayer and praise "worketh" (i.e. works). Just in case ye needed, some "hard evidence" - ye have it! By all means, lets continue to uphold them in prayer and praise to the end that they may, indeed, not be put asunder. They may not have broken up, as far as I know, but the enemy is not giving up in his attempts to break them up, either.

Daniel

"Better Than I"

These are the lyrics for "Better Than I" - from the motion picture, "Joseph, King of Dreams" - "King James"-ed. Why, some of you, may ask, do I "King James" my English? In a nutshell, because I am a perfectionist, and I have come to learn that, for example, "thee", "thou", "thine" are singular pronouns. Therefore, when speaking in the second person, to only one person, I sometimes use those pronouns. Not always, however, because people some people might think I'm "cuckoo" if I did. When speaking to God, however, I acknowledge him as the one true God that he is, by addressing him as such, in the pronouns I use. Just in case ye ever wondered, that is a little insight into why I "do that". I do not mean to prove anything - although I have come to know my God as differing from me in that regard! Stay tuned!

Here's the link - and "King James"-ed lyrics (with the parenthetical word "might" added, as well ;)):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-wKM8d7Sfg

1.
I thought I did what's right -
I thought I had the answers;
I thought I chose the surest road -
But, that road brought me here!

So, I put up a fight,
And told thee how to help me -
Now, just when I (might) have given up;
The truth is coming clear:

Chorus:
Thou knowest better than I -
Thou knowest the way;
I've let go the need to know why,
For thou knowest better than I!

2.
If this has been a test,
I cannot see the reason -
But, maybe, knowing I don't know,
Is part of getting through.

I try to do what's best,
And faith has made it easy;
To see, the best thing I can do,
Is put my trust in thee - for...

Chorus

Bridge:
I saw one cloud, and thought it was the sky,
I saw a bird, and thought that I could follow -
But, it was thee that taught'st that bird to fly,
If I let thee reach me, wilt thou teach me? For...

Chorus
... I'll take what answers thou suppliest -
Thou knowest better than I.

Daniel

We Rest on Thee

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/e/r/wereston.htm

2Ch 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, [it is] nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou [art] our God; let not man prevail against thee.

Today, if God will, I return to my private school. Walking in those doors will be one of the ultimate "faith-walks" of my life. Thanks for praying and praising. By the way, ye can listen to, and sing along with, "Jehoshaphat" at Don Francisco's website:

www.donfrancisco.com

Go to the "MP3"' area.

Sincerely,

Daniel

One Night with the King

I just read the book with the above title, and was so blessed by it (it is based on the Book: "Hadassa"). I recommend it. The book I read was apparently based on "the movie", which I have not seen.

Daniel

"When Ahab heard Elijah's words..."

I recently wrote this hymn. The cyberhymnal (link below) has many "88.88.88" melodies. I like "Vernon", but a more familiar one is "Melita" (the tune commonly used for "Eternal Father, Strong to Save"):

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/e/t/eternalf.htm



http://www.cyberhymnal.org/mid/met/met.htm

1. When Ahab heard Elijah's words,
Contrition gripped his broken heart;
He softly went, with sackcloth girt,
And mercy did the LORD impart!
LORD, let us here with Ahab fall -
And, on thy name, repenting, call!

2. Did Ahab not the LORD provoke,
And, all before him, thus exceed?
Were not his "just desserts" the stroke?
Yet at the chapter's end we read:
"Because of his humility -
He shall not live that day to see"!

3. If Ahab, who had all outdone,
In wicked works, a pardon won;
What cloak have we to doubt his love?
His ways, - as heaven - our ways above!
There is forgiveness with the LORD ,
That, feared, he may be - and adored!

4. Our opportunity to pass;
That far from us be - let us cast,
Ourselves before the throne of grace;
With all our hearts look for his face;
Let us not laugh, but - rather - mourn,
With hearts, as well as garments, torn.

5. Indeed, a broken, contrite heart;
The LORD, no wise, in, will despise;
To condescend and take their part,
Run to and fro his searching eyes;
As Ahab proved so long ago;
"To wrath - omnipotently - slow!"

6. Then praise the LORD, ye holy saints!
Come, ever let us ever shout for joy!
His mercies new, he ever reigns!
To pardon, longing - not destroy!
For this, with thankful hearts we sing -
And every good and perfect thing!...

7. ...And by the way records the book,
That God, on Ahab's offspring, took;
The vengeance he had promis-ed,
Until they were completely dead;
God is not mocked, make no mistake -
Then fear him for his mercy's sake!

I Kings 21.29 "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in the days of his sons will I bring the evil upon his house."

"Kicking" "the kicking of habits"!

I believe God revealed something that really blessed me, and it may bless you: there is more to life than "kicking habits". In fact, there is more to life than habits, period (or "full stop"). By all means, habits are an important matter, but not the most important. God cares about what we do, but Oh, does he ever care just as much about HOW we do it. In short, God sees through the outward appearance of what we do, and into our hearts.

Jesus was a friend of "sinners" - people with "bad habits". When others complained about this, he explained that he had come to call - not the righteous - but sinners, to repentance. Sinners - people with bad habits - people who "need help".

How much of our time and energy do we spend trying (and FAILING) to "kick bad habits"! What should we do? Walk with God! When we do that, bad habits "drop off" - just like the cocoon the butterfly leaves behind as it flies away. This I happily and joyfully speak from experience.

It is not hard to walk with God - it is the easiest thing I have ever done! It is not only hard, however, to "kick bad habits" - it is I-M-P-O-S-S-I-B-L-E! I am so fed up with "trying to kick bad habits", that I am going to give that exasperating practice a proverbial "kick"!

(The following highlighted portion is being written on 15th day/10th month/2009) "Kick!" Now I'll just wait on God to deliver me from activities that are keeping me from his best for me. Thanks, Joel Osteen, for helping me relax and not beat myself all up; while at the same time resolving to turn some important corners (by the way, he did this in "Become a Better You", which I am reading a second time. And, yes, I recommend it (of course, acknowledging that there are some moments where you just plain have to bear with dear brother (and Pastor) Joel.

Love,

Daniel Robbins

Psalm 85:6

"Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

New blog...

"Psalms and Proverbs once a month"

http://psprom.blogspot.com/

Unusual

I realize that what I have been sharing has been "off the wall". Perhaps it has served to cause the rest of us to think. If so, Hallelujah (and all glory be to God for that)! I do, by all means, believe it is time for us to repent, and - please, let me start: "God be merciful to me, a sinner - and be merciful to us - sinners! In Jesus' name, amen." We, I think, only repent, when we realize that something is wrong with us - and, with that in mind, I repent! If my posts can help wake us up to our need for repentance, then I give all the glory to God for such success, again, in Jesus' name - amen!

Sincerely,

Daniel

I know, O LORD, that thy judgements are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Psalm 119:75

Still alive - by the grace of God!

I am still alive - by the grace of God; but because of the grace of God, even the most vicious attempts of the enemy to rob, kill, and destroy me are utterly futile. Last night, I knew there were three places I would not be staying - and they were the only three options I had, except one...

...Problem was, I thought at the time, it would be kind of nice for my cell phone BATTERY to be CHARGED so I could call my friend! My phone keeps dying, and I do not have the charger. Furthermore it is a very old phone, so most methods of charging do not work. Only "LG" shops seem to be able to do it - and I have been staying in unfamiliar places, so getting my phone charged just plain has not been happening.

I found my friend's number in my pocket, however, and called him from a payphone. It was late in the day, however, and - for all I knew - possibly too late. Praise the LORD, it was not. We agreed to meet somewhere "between 10 and 11 PM." As payphones do when I am calling someone's cellphone, it "schreeched " (no, wait, actually "BLARED") in my ear, and not too long after, "died". Oh well, I thought, I would just have to be there by 10 PM... Later, I arrived at the place at 10:15 PM. He was not there, so I went and called him from a payphone again. He had left, assuming I was not coming, and was already on the highway (he had been waiting there since at least 9 PM!)

I apologized for being late. He asked me where I would stay. I said I did not know, but knew God would provide. He said to go wait at the place, and he would "double back" to get me! I waited a very long time, and even had to resolve in my mind I would simply trust that he would come back, as he had said. Finally, he arrived. He said it had cost him about 150 KILOMETERS to double back like that! Again, welcome to Korea (where they bend over backwards for you when you need it)! I told my friend he had come to my rescue that night, because I simply had no other place to go. I was at the end of my rope - plain and simple. But he did come back - Hallelujah!

Revived!

Daniel Robbins

P.S. Here is a great John Newton hymn:

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/h/p/whpwgref.htm