Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

I have had to come to a realization this past week. I think it came on Thursday actually. I knew all this, I believed it, I've read it, and I've been told it.....but I have to "walk the walk".  Lately, my walk has been weary and heavy laden and I have not considered my personal walk with my God and Jesus Christ. I have been wayyyyy to wrapped up in "pleasing"   and "pacifying"  and it has affected my physical, mental, and spiritual life.  My family and I are getting back to the priorities.  Without boring you with my issues, my family is heavily burdened with pressures and accusations from my sibling as I care for my Mom with Alzheimers. As my parent's Power of Attorney, I put my Mom's needs first and foremost at all times. I will continue to and I will not be distracted anymore in the care of my mom. And I will be Leaning on the Everlasting Arms to do so. Sometimes we (well I !) get so consumed with pleasing others that I lose sight of my priorities. Serving God is number one! 

Matthew 22:37-40

King James Version (KJV)

 ³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

 ³⁸This is the first and great commandment.

 ³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Lately (the past year!) I have felt I have lost sight of my focus. Circumstances beyond my control have really shook things up. Losing my Dad and my Dad in Law in one year, tending to my Mom and Mom in Law has really changed things for our family. I visualize it as sinking in water and trying to keep my head above the water surface to just survive. Thursday God spoke to me after a long hard couple of weeks of many tears and heartache, and I had a peace come over me. The Holy Spirit comforted me. Jesus left the Holy Spirit for us while he is gone. We are never alone.

John 14 >> King James Version

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1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

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I feel lighter, I feel happier, I feel more joy. Rodney and I are on a quest to appreciate every day and get every thing in perspective again. My hubby is a "program" man....so we are getting focused with Spiritual as the main one. When that is first, everything else falls into place. Now I don't mean to sound like I've gone off the deep end or anything....I'm way to boring and conservative for that!!....I just have been feeling so pulled and torn and pushed in way too many directions. And sometimes saying NO to things is a good thing. And it is my responsibility to take the bull by the horns so to speak.
Have you been there? Have you felt torn and worn? Your words of encouragement inspire me.....I welcome them.


And a happier note...
Darbey Rhea was nominated as a Homecoming candidate. Festivities were Friday. She was not the Queen but she's our little Queenie every day! We were very proud of her. 

Cody and Darb are great friends!

 They are having way too much fun!

 Daddy coaching....not a good night for a win!

Dance team performed before the game. Darb choreographed this night's dance!