I'm not cursing...I'm calling on ya!

I have a bad habit of saying things like, "Oh Jesus!" and "Jesus, take me now."

Churchy, legalistic people would surely take offense to such statements.
But my God loves me, has a great sense of humor, knows my heart and understands where I'm coming from.

He's not offended by my sass. He's seen and heard it all.

In fact, I had to smile at church a few weeks ago as we were singing one of the old hymns.
I don't know any of them by heart....that's fine.

It's called a sacrifice of praise. :)

And though it's true that I have a preference to contemporary worship music, I can and do participate in true worship even with old songs that don't have a driving rock beat behind them.

I have to purposely check my heart and my attitude at times if I'm really being truthful, but I do come around.

I'm sure hymn lovers wish they would pass out ear plugs!

It's okay that we are all different. It keeps it interesting.
And we really are all one body, made up of many, many parts.

One of the lines in the song was, "Take me now, Jesus," or something like that.
Like I said, I'd never heard it before.

I laughed, inwardly of course and a smirk came across my face.
I'm always amazed at how God speaks to me in even simple moments like that.

'Cause really, that's exactly what I was thinking just before the next lyric slide came up with that same phrase!
"Jesus, take me now." :) or was it, "Take me now, Jesus" ?

He won't of course.
Billy Joel was right all along. Only the good die young.
Or so it seems.

And it looks like I'm gonna be here a while.

I am very aware that one of the first commandments is "Do not take the Lord's name in vain."
It's not the first but I'm pretty sure it made it to God's Top Five list.

Personally, I can't stand hearing kids say, "Oh my God!" I usually even OMGosh when texting.
Truly.

But sometimes I  have to ask to be excused for my outbursts.

Just in case his heart reading radar is not on when I might yell an, "Oh, Jesus!"
I quickly add, "I'm not cussing. I'm calling on ya!!" And I mean it.

"For the love of God, people please!" is another Fave.
Used usually in times when I am trying to evoke some sort of peace into a situation.

Blessed are the peacemakers ya know. They shall inherit the earth.

Then there is one of my all time favorite go-to line/verses.

The one I use when I have had enough and need him to move mightily on my behalf.
I've been using it a lot lately.

Before I share it I will say that I use it only on days when I can fully comprehend and understand what the word GRACE means.
Those times when I know that I really am the righteousness of Christ...

Days when I know that I know, despite the enemy's tries and lies of convincing me God's not going to move on my behalf, because I'm not "good" enough.....

In those moments when I have a firm & deep understanding of who I am in Christ, I pull out this one.....

"God, you see this situation...you know all that I've gone through...you know all of my faults and failures...but I know that you love me and YOUR word says that it is not because of my deeds, or because I am good or right, but for YOUR holy names sake (getting louder on this part) again, not because of me or anything I've done, but for YOUR HOLY NAME'S SAKE....please! Come to my rescue!"

yada, yada.

Specifically, I shared this recent prayer tonight with my friend Pat. I told her exactly what I've been telling God.

 "People are looking! Everyone is watching to see how this is all gonna play out, ya know. My life has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. And we both know that I have a big mouth, and well, honestly, right now, it's not looking so good...so, again, not for me, but for you, Lord! 'Cause otherwise, I'm just looking like an idiot! And you wouldn't want that would you? "

Then Pat says to me, in her very straightforward, no nonsense tone, "Well, it'd just be embarrassing for him really."

I love this woman!!!

Bahahaha! Can I get a witness?

“Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone." Ez. 36:22  


By Ez. 37:11 it says, "Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. ¹⁴ I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the LORD have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD."


Can I get an Amen???