Be Still and Hear Him

Be Still and Hear Him

Oh that I might understand
God within, and so expand
Across the nations to every land
Be still! Be still! and hear Him!

God, He speaks inside your soul
His word is present and takes control
Go within and you’ll be whole
Be still! Be still! and hear Him!

Too many times we search without
And hear the preacher who loves to shout
But this is not what God’s about
Be still! Be still! and hear Him!

Heaven’s not so far away
When you invite the Lord to stay
From within, He’ll hear you pray
Be still! Be still! and hear Him!

Go within and shut the door
Meet him there, He’ll not ignore
Your hope, your Joy, He will restore
Be still! Be still! and hear Him!

Oh the sweetness of His voice
And to know that you’re His choice
He will make your heart rejoice
Be still! Be still! and hear Him!

Written by Elizabeth A. Van Cleve

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A Time to Dance

(Ecclesiastes 3:4)

A time to sing
A time to rejoice
A time to lift up
high your voice

A time to praise
It’s not by chance
God tells us very clearly
There’s a time to dance!

A time to celebrate
A time for fun
A time to laugh
For all the good He’s done

A time to take your love
And with a little Romance
Hold them very close
And take the time to dance

God’s word is very clear
There’s a time to dance
Let that Joy that bubbles up inside
cause your feet to prance

A time to sing
A time to praise
A time to laugh
A time to celebrate
A time of joy our spirits to enhance
God is very clear
There’s a time to dance!

Written by Liz Ann

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!” Psalm 30:11

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Why I LOVE Christmas!

Every year at Christmas time I see so much increasing negativity about this holiday season; especially amongst religious people. They get out their research tools and begin to post all the history about the so-called “pagan” beginnings of Christmas and why Christmas is not Jesus’ birthday and how it is a tradition of men and why we as Christians shouldn’t partake of it.

Years ago, when the idea was first introduced to me that as a true Christian I should not celebrate Christmas because God never “ordained” it in the word of God as a holiday, I was troubled about it in my mind. I thought for a long time about it. I prayed over it. I looked around and I saw all the negative aspects that were obvious. Santa Clause was a pagan conceived idea that was a lie told to children every year. People were running around spending money they didn’t have to heap up more toys that their children didn’t need, while other children in the world were starving. Historically Christmas was obviously not a christian holiday but had evolved into one. So really, should we as Christians be celebrating this holiday?

I thought of my little children. They were so excited about Christmas ~the most wonderful time of the year. How would I break the news to them that we would no longer partake of such a wonderful holiday celebration? I already never did teach them that there was a Santa Clause. We celebrated Christmas as a celebration of the birth of Christ.

I made this an earnest matter of prayer to get the mind of God crystal clear; At this time, this is the scriptures he brought me. It is from the book of Esther, at the very end of the story, when the Jews had experienced a great victory over their enemies who had tried to destroy them; They were rejoicing over their victory and here is what they did.

“This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.” Esther 9:15-19

The Jews made a holiday of feasting and giving each other presents to celebrate the victory they had won that day. God had not told them to make this holiday. But they observed it year after year.

“But,” some argue, “we do not even know when Jesus was really born? And God did not tell us to celebrate his birthday.” Well, God did not tell you to celebrate your birthday either, yet most of you do and who cares if we know the exact day he was born or not. Many people throughout have never known their real day of birth but have designated a day to celebrate every year anyhow. It does no harm.

This year God has shown me even more. God has spoken to me in regards to the “pagan” beginnings of Christmas and said, “Every seed is sown in mud.” He also brought to mind the story of Joseph and how his brothers sold him into Egypt out of hatred and jealousy, but in the end of it all, Joseph said, “What you meant for evil, God used for good.”

Many go to great lengths to point out of all the “bad” that comes with Christmas, but what about all the good that comes as well? In this world, in every home, in every neighborhood, distict, town, business, state, culture, religion etc… there is good and there is bad. God has placed us in a world of good and evil and we have a CHOICE ~ to choose the good. To say that Christmas is the cause of all kinds of evil, goes hand in hand with the argument that guns are the cause of crime. It makes no sense. Its not the celebration, but the heart of those who practice it that matters.

I have sung for years at the homes for the elderly and brought the message of Christ to them. I have seen them cry and rejoice and light up as we sing to them the familiar Christmas carols. I see shoe boxes for children being put together in abundance with love and sent all over the world to brighten up little children’s lives. I hear laughter and music and families that come together that may never otherwise see each other, but make that time, because its Christmas. This is just a tiny fraction of what goes on for good in the name of CHRISTmas!

Some will practice with greed and malice and the absence of Christ; But others will lift up the babe, and once again, the beautiful story of the virgin birth will fill the land.

I for one could not even imagine ending the year without the beautiful renewing spirit of Christmas. The spirit of giving, and forgiveness and the good news that a SAVIOR was born into the world. What a dry, empty, end of the year it would be without Christmas~ that one time of year that we hear the carols of ANGELS once again.

Yes, there are a lot of not-so-good things that come with the season as well, but let me end my rejoicing with a quote from the apostle Paul when he was imprisoned for his faith and some were slanderously speaking of the gospel throughout the palace;

“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” Philippians 1:18

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ GOD BLESS YOU!

A Christmas Poem

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Finding a True Friend

“There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother”
Proverbs 18:24

Finding a True Friend

When she met you face to face
and you smiled tenderly;
And you said, “How do you do, its so nice to see you.”
When she turned her back away. Did that smile fade away?
And the whispering began? Did you run to tell your friend?
“Guess who I saw today?
Guess what she was wearing today?
Guess who she was with today?
Guess what she looked like today?
Oh I am in so much dismay,
That she would go so much astray!”
Oh those naughty nasty words,
carried on by winds and birds,
Find their way back to the one,
Who was scourged from tongue to tongue.
And the wounds they cut so deep,
that she cannot even sleep;
She will never trust again,
Those she once thought were her friends;
For their smiles she learned were fake,
She had made a grave mistake.
But she learned through all the pain,
that a true friend would remain.
And so rare if truth be told,
they are worth their weight in gold.

Written by Elizabeth Ann Van Cleve

“We don’t lose friends, we just learn who our real ones are.”

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Borne Up On Angel’s Wings

Wednesday I was scheduled for surgery. I had originally thought this surgery was fairly simple and would take about an hour. But a few days before, I found out it was a little more complicated than I thought and would take closer to four hours. I became a little nervous even though the surgery was a procedure routinely and successfully done. I have never had surgery except to fix a broken nose back in 2000 and so this was major for me.

I have been under a huge spiritual battle due to some major shifts in my spiritual walk with God and fighting hard to take and maintain new ground. People everywhere all have different opinions about God, and in these days you really have to anchor yourself firmly in the solid rock of Jesus Christ. You have to know that you are hearing and following what HIS voice is speaking to your heart, and not another. Because we are on a battlefield right now and the battle is raging and in a battle, their in much confusion.

So prior to surgery the thoughts came that I could possibly die and since people all around me are questioning my position before God because of these changes I have made in my life, it has had an affect on my mind even though I fight hard against it. If you tell a smart person they are stupid, over an over again, after awhile, they will come to believe it. You can convince someone of anything. The mind is a powerful thing.  The apostle Paul says in  2 Corinthians 10: 5, concerning the mind,  “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

I asked two of my dear friends in Africa to pray for me and they were so earnest in their affections toward me and their Christian love and zeal was so fervent in my behalf. They told me they were going to be in prayer and fasting while I was in my surgery and assured me that God was already with me. I had such peace that morning. Then I put out a last minute prayer request on FB and many others added me to their prayer list.

I came out of surgery cradled in Gods arms. I was literally being borne on Angels wings. My husband said to me he has never seen someone smiling so much coming out of surgery. God was talking to me too. He was holding me in the most beautiful heavenly light I have ever known and I was full of peace and happiness and he was assuring me that I was his child and he was speaking a special message to me that I will not particularly speak of now. I could not help but smile. I was in heaven with God. It was incredible. The following poem began to form in my heart and this morning I finished it.

God also witnessed to me later that I was to pass through more trials and testings and the heavenly witness was given to me to strengthen me. Very soon after I was severely tried and wounded so much so that my heart despaired. But this morning I took my pen in hand and went back to the place of God and finished my poem and I am encouraged. God is my helper ~ therefore I will not fear!

 

Borne Up On Angel’s Wings

Cradle my heart, great God of mine
Upon Thy bosom , so soft divine;
Thou hast borne me up on Angel’s wings;
While heavenly choirs softly sing.

Raptured on wings, gentle and warm;
Cradled like a child,
Safe from all harm;
Embraced in your glory,
 Loved clear and bright;
Speaking to me
Your truth with delight;
Upon my heart you’ve written the call;
God is love! God is light!
In Him is no darkness at all!

For heaven came down and visited me
And Jesus has talked with me personally;
I understand now why nature joyfully sings
For I have been borne up on Angel’s wings!

Written By, Elizabeth Ann Van Cleve

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Wondering . . .

“And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will grow cold”

Matthew 24:12

A person has to wonder
Does anyone really love at all?
Words so shallow and meaningless;
Like thin glass, shatter when they fall.

A person has to ponder,
Does anyone truly care?
If the grave were dug and you buried,
Would your memory perish there?

A person has to meditate,
of all that they’ve come to meet;
How many linger to know you,
And how many in fear retreat.

In fear that they may have to notice
That too long face to face, may reveal;
That your eyes carry pain and hunger,
And your heart has deep wounds unhealed.

So they offer a handful of sentiments;
And walk away with judgments unfair;
Pleased with their sense of discernment,
And shake off any dust of real care.

They haste from the house of mourning,
to the house full of laughter and mirth;
Too hard to sit with sorrow,
They bury their treasure in the earth.

And the Lord said, “when I’m hungry, feed me;
When I’m thirsty, cool water I need;
If I am wounded and bleeding;
Stay beside me and take care of me.

How many take time to notice?
To really love and to care?
To empathize with ones heartache;
Take time to linger there?

And a person has to wonder,
Of all who call you their friend;
Why does one feel so lonely?
Why has the hunger no end?

Written by Elizabeth Ann Van Cleve

“To him that is afflicted pity should be showed from his friend; “ Job 6:14

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews 13:2

” Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Matthew 25:40

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Is God In Your Box?

So many have so much to say about God. They think they understand what he has to say, what he is doing, who he accepts and doesn’t accept. They, sit in the temple of God, and believe that they are as God. But God says, “My ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.”

 

Is God in your box?

Open the lid and see-

What is your box made of?

What is it’s personality?

Many say, “God teaches through our creed!

You will learn about God when you practice our deed.”

But up on the Mount the crowds sat at his feet-

and learned about life and his sermons were sweet.

Is God in your box?

Open up the lid and look

What is in your box

tell me what book?

Many say, “God is not looking

God does not see

He does not care if I’m bound or I’m free.”

But on the cross Jesus saw the thief by his side

the thief, though condemned

The Lord heard when he cried.

Is God in a box?

What box have you created?

Where you put what you love-

and discard what you’ve hated?

Many look down on the helpless and weak

Then go inside their box for the God whom they seek.

But Jesus is with the broken and fallen;

The little lost lamb is the one he is callin’

 

Is God inside your box?

Is he hidden in there?

Does he sit there and wait

for your dutiful prayer?

Many say God is so Holy and pure;

He cannot be near all those sinners they’re sure!

But Jesus is loving a horrible harlot,

and he washes her white, though her sins were like scarlet

Is God in your box?

Do not touch me, you say;

It would not be proper

to do things that way!

But Jesus is sitting

while gentle hands, loving kisses

washes his feet with her tears

she reminisces

of all of the sins he so patiently bore

knowing that she will be his evermore.

Is God in your box?

No he’s not there at all!

He is too big for our boxes,

they are way too small!

He walks in the earth, going to and fro

seeking the the lost, the broken, the low

He is everywhere looking,

that one heart might hear

He is not in a box but to All very near!

~Written By Elizabeth A. Van Cleve

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From Strength to Strength

. . .[M]y heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. . . .Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee;. . .They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. . .For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee. Psalms 84

“From strength to strength” -not from strength to weakness. But How, when I feel so weak? How, when I feel I cannot go on another day? How, when my heart hurts? How, when my body is wracked with pain? How, when sorrow engulfs me? Where is my strength?

In God! Our strength is found when our heart and flesh cry out for the living God- when we continue to trust God, placing our cares in his hands, enduring hardness as a good soldier, doing what is right inspite of how we feel. Our battle is won in our secret closet of prayer. Our battle is won in God.

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31

The days are evil. Darkness surrounds us. But did not the Lord Jesus Christ warn us of this? Can we not take courage that Christ has told us, “be of good courage; I have overcome the world.” Don’t lay down your armour dear soldier. Do not go AWAL. Hang in there. The Lord will never leave us nor forsake us. Get on your knees and gather strength from God. Be a proper representative of Christ in this present world. Press the battle on!

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalms 27:13-14

From strength to strength, we sometimes go;

Then again, we’re sinking low

In the shadow, of a mountian

looming high above our head.

We need not fear, what lies ahead;

For the word has clearly said,

That our faith, would be sufficient

to make the mountains disappear.

Speak to the mountain,

You’ll not triumph over me;

Be thou removed from here to yonder

disappear into the sea

Speak to the mountain

Speak with authority

and the mountain must move

and you shall claim victory!

In the midst, of the battle

When the foe is gaining ground

Look up!!! and see the MIGHTY

hand of GOD, reaching down

Speak Gods name, Satan trembles;

Speak God’s word and watch him flee.

Once again, our GOD delivers

The mountains crumble at our feet!

Author Unknown

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Secret Faults

“…out of the serpents root shall come forth a cockatrice…”  Isaiah 14:29

Oh secret faults, come forth I pray,

Into the light of endless day.

Like Cockatrices they hide in dark places,

beneath the shadow of other graces.

Proud and Haughty one be named,

who would the applause of men be gained;

He hides in the shadow of Grace Good-deed,

And shows his grandeur in the night of need.

His friend is pompous vanity,

who hides behind sweet charity;

A mirror is his favorite vice-

to take a look at Mr. Nice.

And then there’s fleshly appetite,

who sleeps the day and revels at night;

and works beneath Pleasure’s employ;

who wears the mask of “full of Joy”

But when the cross is hard to bear,

You’ll find a selfish spirit there.

And just beneath of God’s Protector,

You’ll find the creature, Man Respecter;

who’ll love the one and despise the other-

and never stick close as a brother.

If you’ll look closely under Zeal,

there’s a secret Jealousy to conceal;

She’s elusive and hard to discern,

but when overlooked she doth burn.

Oh secret faults, come out I say!

The light of God to sweep away;

If Honesty be strong and firm,

He’ll furrow out every worm.

And Love will drive out every ill,

and prepare the heart to do God’s will.

look not to neighbor to justify or condemn

But yield to God and he will cleanse.

Would you, your soul, by God be lead?

Then secret faults must all be dead!

Author EVC

“Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults”  Psalms 19:12

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Help Me to Crucify Me!

“And HE said to them all, If any man come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”

Luke 9: 23-24

The more I look unto THEE,
the more I see too much of me.
Oh, help me this life crucify;
Remove from my midst me, myself, and I.

The more I seek THY face,
The more I need thy saving grace;
And mercy is my chosen friend,
In longsuffering I’ve come to depend.

The harder I pant after THEE,
the more my corruption I see.
The closer I draw near to thee,
The clearer my depravity.

And so to my Savior I cling!
For I know in me dwells no good thing;
I must trust in the pure HOLY LAMB,
to accept me just as I am.

    HIS righteousness given to me,
from the world, sin and self to be free.
Lord, help me to die today,
every passion of self I must slay!

My heart is sorely oppressed,
For the foe is peculiarly dressed.
On a hunger within he does prey,
from my JESUS to draw me away.

But I cleave even more to THY cross;
I am willing to suffer the loss.
Please fill me so full of THY grace,
That the enemy will not find a place.

LORD, you know I am looking to THEE,
Help me to crucify me!
That through this vessel THY glory would shine,
and I would be wholly THINE!

Author: Elizabeth Ann Van Cleve

I love you my dear Jesus, sweet Savior!

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