Heavenfirst's Blog

Only You Precious Lord

can ever know the fullness of my deepest sorrows.

Only You can truly help me to overcome all

in the journey called temporal life

I trust You Lord in all things

I trust You Jesus ...



Friends bless in prayer and words of comfort

perhaps speaking a kind and encouraging word

But I know the Healing Balm to my deepest heartache

comes only from Thy compassion bestowed upon me.

I trust You Father God ...



Only You Precious Lord

can take the piercing thorns of my heart away.

Only You can heal my deeply wounded spirit

and make me whole in Thy mercies shed upon me.

I trust You Jesus ...



In my trembling soul ~ O' Divine Lord of Love

I find strength in every remembrance of Thy suffering way

I adore You Jesus ~ You are most faithful in every way

I entrust everything to Thy Sacred Heart of Love ~ my Lord.

I trust You Jesus ...



You shine through in every moment of desolate darkness

You renew and refresh my mind and body and soul

The world is a cold place ~ You are The Light that warms the world.

Precious Saviour ~ I love you

I trust You Jesus ...



I have searched a lifetime for You Lord

You never fail me in the rise and fall of my performance

Your Love is Perfect, accepting me as I am ~ a sinner saved by Grace

I trust You Jesus ...



The greatest honor I can give is my full response to Thee Lord

I listen for Your Quiet and Ancient Wisdom ~ guide me in every way.

Let me hear the pervading sound of

'I am with you' in the Voice behind me

When long days have underscored life

I dwell in safety when I hear Your Voice

I trust You Holy Spirit ~ I trust You ...



O' God ~ bring the rains to me as well.

I serve a Most Worthy Master ~ I cannot be discouraged.

Thou art unlike any other. In Thee I am who I was created to be.

I trust You Father God ...



I entrust all I am, all I will ever be into Thy Hands

I was created to please You

You are Most Worthy of my highest praises

You encourage me steadfastly through all trial

I am humbled to be a child of Your Everlasting Grace

I trust You Jesus ...



I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has given me strength ...

that he considered me faithful appointing me to his service.

(1 Timothy 1:12)



Lord, thou hast given us Thy Word for a Light to shine upon our path:

grant us so to meditate on that Word and to follow its teaching.

That we may find in it, the Light that shines more and more until

the perfect day through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen



The meaning of our earthly existence lies not as we have grown

used to in thinking or prospering: but in the development of the soul.

(Alexander Solzhenitsyn)



Make us of quick and of tender conscience O Lord; that in understanding

we may obey every word of Thine and discerning may follow every suggestion of ...

(Thine indwelling Spirit)

Speak Lord ~ Thy servant heareth

I trust You Father, Son and Holy Spirit



For the Glory of God ~ Heavenfirst ~ Claire K ~ Copyright 6-7-08

Surrender is an unpopular word, disliked almost as much as the word submission. It implies losing, and no one wants to be a loser. Surrender evokes the unpleasant images of admitting defeat in battle, forfeiting a game, or yielding to a stronger opponent. The word is almost always used in a negative context. In today's competitive culture we are taught to never give up and never give in, so we don't hear much about surrendering. If winning is everything, surrendering is unthinkable. We would rather talk about winning, succeeding, overcoming, and conquering than yielding, submitting, obeying, and surrendering. Yet ironically, surrender is at the heart of the Christian faith.



True worship happens when you give yourself completely to God. Offering yourself to God is what worship is all about. This act of personal surrender is called many things: consecration, making Jesus your Lord, taking up your cross, dying to self, yielding to the Spirit. What matters is that you do it, not what you call it. God wants your life ~ all of it. Ninety-five percent is not enough. There are three barriers that block our total surrender to God: Fear, pride, and confusion. We don't realize how much God loves us, we want to control our own lives, and we usually misunderstand the meaning of surrender.



Trust is an essential ingredient to surrender. You won't surrender to God unless you trust him, but you can't trust him until you know him better. Fear keeps us from surrendering, but Perfect Love (Gods Love) casts out all fear. The more you realize how much God loves you, the easier surrender becomes. How do you know God loves you? He gives you many evidences in the Bible: God says you're never out of his sight; he cares about every detail of your life; he has good plans for your life; he forgives you; and he is lovingly patient with you. God loves you infinitely more than you can imagine. The greatest expression of this is the sacrifice of God's Son for you. God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.



If you want to know how much you matter to God, look at Jesus Christ with his arms outstretched on the cross, saying, "I love you this much! I'd rather die for you than live without you." God is not a cruel slave driver who uses brute force to coerce us into submission. He doesn't try to break our will, but woos us to himself so that we might offer ourselves freely to him. God is a lover and a liberator, and surrendering to him brings freedom, not bondage. When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus, we discover that he is not a tyrant, but a Savior; not a boss, but a brother; not a dictator, but a friend. His Perfect Love casts out all our fear.



A. W. Tozer said, "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves. We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us." We aren't God and never will be. It is when we try to be God that we end up most like Satan, who desired the same thing. We accept our humanity intellectually, but not emotionally. We deny our mortality and try and use science to stay young and live forever. When faced with our own limitations, we react with irritation, anger, and resentment. We want to be taller (or shorter), smarter, stronger, more talented, more beautiful, and wealthier. We want to have it all and do it all, and we become upset when we cant, when others wont let us or it doesn't happen. Then when we notice that God has given others what we don't have, we respond with envy, jealousy, and self-pity.



Many are unwilling to surrender their lives to God because they misunderstand the process. What does it means to surrender to God? Your attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus. (Philippians 2:5). Surrendering to God is not passive resignation, fatalism, or an excuse for laziness. It is not accepting the status quo. It may mean the exact opposite: God often calls surrendered people to give their lives for others as Christ did. Surrendering is not for cowards or doormats. Likewise, it does not mean giving up rational thinking. God does not waste the mind he gave you!



God does not want robots to serve him. Surrendering is not repressing your personality either. God wants to use your unique personality. Rather than its being diminished, surrendering enhances it. C. S. Lewis observed, "The more we let God take us over, the more truly ourselves we become ~ because he made us. He invented all the different people that you and I were intended to be. It is when I turn to Christ, when I give up myself to His personality, that I first begin to have a real personality of my own."



The night before his crucifixion Jesus surrendered himself totally to God's plan. He prayed, "Father, everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine. Jesus didn't pray, "God, if you're able to take away this pain, please do so." Instead he prayed, "God, if it is in your best interest to remove this suffering, please do so. But if it fulfills your purpose, that's what I want, too." Genuine surrender says, "Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another's, please don't take it away, give me strength to persevere." This does not come easy. Surrender can be hard work. If these are the three barriers to full surrender, fear, pride and confusion, what is the greatest blessing of surrender? REWARD.



Another aspect of a fully surrendered life is trust. Abraham followed God's leading without knowing where it would take him. Hannah waited for God's perfect timing without knowing when. Mary expected a miracle without knowing how. Joseph trusted Gods purpose without knowing why circumstances happened the way they did. Each of these people were fully surrendered to God.



You know you're surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, or control the situation. You let go and let God ~ work. The Bible says, "Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. (Psalm 37:7). Instead of trying harder, you trust more. You also know your surrendered when you don't react to criticism or rush to defend yourself. Surrendered hearts show up best in relationships. You don't edge others out, you don't demand your rights, and you aren't self-serving when you're surrendered to God. You listen and follow His lead.



Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4). The supreme example of self-surrender is Jesus. Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:6-7). Surrendering is best demonstrated in obedience. You say "Yes, Lord" to whatever he asks of you. To say "no, Lord" is a contradiction. You can say no, or Lord, but not in the same sentence and expect to get away with it. You can't call Jesus our Lord "Yes" and refuse to obey him! After a night of failed fishing, Peter modeled surrender when Jesus told him to try again: "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."



The Bible is crystal clear about how you benefit when you fully surrender your life to God. First, you experience peace: "Stop quarreling with God! If you agree with him, you will have peace at last, and things will go well for you." (Job 22:21) Next, you experience freedom: "Offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits, [his] commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!" (Romans 6:17). Third, you experience God's power in your life. Stubborn temptations and overwhelming problems can be defeated by Christ when given to him. As Joshua approached the biggest battle of his life, he encountered God, fell in worship before him, and surrendered his plans. That surrender led to a stunning victory at Jericho.



Victory comes through surrender. Surrender doesn't weaken you; it strengthens you. William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, said, "The greatness of a person is in the measure of his surrender." Surrendered people are the ones God uses. God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus, not because she was talented or wealthy or beautiful, but because she was totally surrendered to him. When the angel explained God's improbable plan, she calmly responded, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever he wants." Nothing is more powerful than a surrendered life in the hands of God.



Everybody eventually surrenders to something, or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego. You were designed to worship God ~ and if you fail to worship him, you will create other things to give your life to. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice. E. Stanley Jones said, "If you don't surrender to Christ, you surrender to chaos." Surrender is not the best way to live; it is the only way to live."



All other alternatives lead to frustration, disappointment, and self-destruction. Surrendering your life is not a foolish emotional impulse but a rational, intelligent and wise act. You cannot fulfill God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans. If God is going to do his deepest work in you, it will begin here. So give God your past regrets, your present problems, your future ambitions, your fears, your dreams, your weaknesses, your habits, your hurts. Put Jesus Christ in the driver's seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Don't be afraid; nothing under his control can ever be out of control. You will be like Paul: "I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency." (Philippians 4:13).



Paul's moment of surrender occurred on the Damascus road after he was knocked down by a blinding light. For others, God gets our attention with less drastic methods. Regardless, surrendering is never just a one time event. Paul said, "I die daily." There is a moment of surrender, and there is the practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong. The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar, so you may have to re-surrender your life many times a day. You must make it a daily habit. And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]. (Luke 9:23 ~ AMP) Surrender it all to God ~ it truly is the only way to live ~ for His Glory in a life filled with His Peace.





Claire K ~ Heavenfirst ~ For the Glory of God

All things testify and lay witness to an Awesome and Divine Universal Power. Let us sing praise to the Lord of Hosts for it is by His Power we are created. As all creatures evidence The Almighty, let us praise God and bow Reverant. Yea, the Power of God witnessed in every commission of air and the planets. In every roar of thunder and every strike of lightning, in every drop of rain; in the driven snows of time lie the earthquakes and hurricanes; the seas roll in endless tides, in sync with God, Mighty and Majestic, Divine in Power! The great beasts of the earth speak of His might in great and mighty dinosaurs that once roamed the earth, in whales, a prodigious monument of God's power, specifically told of in the account of all creation: "And God created great whales." Together with and in His wisdom, His power is stretched out before us."Twice have I heard this, that Power belongs to God". (Psalm 62:11) Innumerable creatures and acts testify to God's Power. Each exceeding our full understanding. We are astonished! No mere man can conceive of God's Might!



Only God comprehends His Power Source, immeasurable in magnitude. We are limited. Our measuring rod is too short to acquire even an idea of the incomprehensible Omnipotence of our all Mighty and Powerful God. Thus it is no wonder that Power is used as a name of God. (Mark 14:62) His eternity and power are linked together equally demonstrable to all human minds. (Romans 1:20) Our God is called El Elohim, the God of gods! (Daniel 11:36) He is our GOD! He is Eternal, The Mighty of mighties! God communicates to the creature whatever power the creature exercises; consequently He posesses absolute power. (Psalm 94:10). It is He who teaches knowledge and He who grants all Power through His pleasure. Our God is indeed, The Original and Mighty Maker of every single and distinct power of the Universe! Our God is the first Being and the Original Divine Source of all being. He is and all other things are nothing to Him, "less than nothing and vanity" (Isaiah 40:17) and "reputed as nothing". (Daniel 4:35) God gives existence and all endowment to all his creatures in the world. (Job 38) All that is in heaven and earth is His and shows the greatness of His Power, His Glory, His Victory, and His Majesty (1 Chronicles 29:11)



The Heavens are so magnificent of His works they are emphatically called "The firmament of his power" (Psalm 150:1) "The firmament showeth His handy work! (Psalm 19:1) And the heavens are called "the work of his fingers" (Psalm 8:3) Majestic and Mighty is the Power of God! And though He rested after the creation, this was not rest from work, not repose from weariness for "The Creator of the ends of the earth is not weary". (Isaiah 40:28) He is the "Preserver of man and beast" (Psalm 36:6) Nothing has power to preserve itself!" Can the rush grow up without mire? Can the flag grow up without water?" (Job 8:11). Can humanity be maintained without it's Original Source of all Power? No, we cannot. We depend on and trust our Original Source of Power for all things. The One who commands is the same One who enables all things! When the appointed time set for the creature comes to an end it faints and returns to its elements, and perish. (Psalm 104:29) Our Saviour is called the wisdom and the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24) The way of salvation could not be contrived but by Infinite Wisdom, it could not be accomplished but by Infinite Divine Power.



"With men this is impossible," that is to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."God's Power is evident in the progress of all life, temporal and Eternal. God's power continues to be made manifest to this day in the sharing of the gospel. The gospel goes against the grain of human nature; natural man is averse to it and yet, it finds acceptance in the hearts of men. This is God's power for faith is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8) If God then be for us, who can be against us in faith of His Awesome Power? God powerfully calls us by His Word in Spirit and in Truth. God alone, is the Source of all Power and successfully preserves His elect unto Eternal Salvation and this, against all odds. Mighty is our God! Praise the Almighty, Original Power, The Infinite, Creator and Preserver of all things, great and small. Praise the High Power of our Father, The Son and Holy Spirit! Praise Almighty God, The Glory Divine, The Crown of all Creation!





Heavenfirst ~ Claire K ~ Copyright ~ May 2008)

Malachi 3:3 says: 'He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.' This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest so as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be ultimately, destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy, when I see my image in it.' If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. It would be nice to pass this on. This very moment someone needs to know that God is watching over them and, whatever they're going through, they'll be a better person in the end. Praise God :)

He is Good.

O' Beautiful Savior
Son of God
Son of Man
Truly I love Thee
Truly I serve Thee
You are the Light of my soul
My Joy, my Crown, and Everlasting Love,
You are My Savior King ...

How fair are the meadows,
how fair the woodlands,
robed in flowers blooming in spring
Jesus most Fair, Jesus most Pure
Jesus You shine in every living thing ...

Fair is the sunshine
fair is the moonlight
bright the stars on high
Jesus shines Brighter
Jesus shines Purely
Brightest Shining Star
Jesus, Savior King!

Most Beautiful Savior, Lord of all Nations
Son of God and Son of Man
All Glory and Honor, All Praise, Adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine