OBEDIENCE -- THE VERY BEST WAY

Yesterday, I was convicted...God had spoken to my heart about something and I was still hemming and hawing about whether I would do it and if I did, how I should do it.

Then, unexpectedly to me (but I see this as the working of the Holy Spirit), I had this little song that I learned at Dorion Bible Camp ringing through my mind...

                                  Obedience is the very best way 
                                  To show that you believe: 
                                  Doing exactly what the Lord commands,
                                  Doing it happily. 
                                  Action is the key--do it immediately, 
                                  The joy you will receive! 
                                  Obedience is the very best way 
                                  To show that you believe. 

It didn't take long! I knew what I needed to do, and as I bowed my heart in obedience and then took the action that God had been nudging me to do, I realized that the issue was not the exact details of the action, but rather my willingness to obey.

And yes, as soon as I obeyed, I received three joys -- the joy of release from my internal struggle, the joy of giving freely, and the joy of knowing I had pleased my Father.

Obedience is the very best way to live -- and to show that you believe God's Word to be true and His working for good in your life.

                                  When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
                                  What a glory He sheds on our way;
                                  While we do His good will, He abides with us still, 
                                  And with all who will trust and obey.
                                  Trust and obey, for there's no other way 
                                  To be happy in Jesus, 
                                  But to trust and obey. 

BY HIS GRACE

It's been almost a month since I wrote on my blog, and I'm a little disappointed in that, truthfully. But, as someone once wisely said, "You can't go back, but you can go forward." And that's exactly what I'm going to do.

I'm a writer, and poetry comes quite easily to me, so here's a new poem that's been cogitating in my mind for a little while now - I just didn't quite know how to begin it until today.

"By His Grace"
Written by Darlene Joy Koop, March 22/2011

My Lord is so faithful, so merciful and kind,
He has given new sight to me, who once was blind.
He speaks to my heart so tenderly
And, by His grace, enables me to believe.

When I stumble and feel oh, so weak,
By His grace He gives strength as I kneel at His feet.
I'm learning to rely on my Lord day by day,
In Him I'm protected and cared for always.

Sometimes this life seems so weary and long,
And I feel like I have lost the song.
Then God reaches out by His grace to me,
And breaks the chains, setting my heart free.

My future is uncertain and fog oft obscures my way,
Yet by His grace the Lord teaches me to trust and obey.
And though I still have such a long way to go,
Each day I can see how He helps me to grow.

Jesus has promised to never leave us alone,
And He loves us like no other could ever have shown.
He called me and chose me to bear His Name,
And by His grace, I will never be the same.