Psalm 66:16 All of you who fear God, come and listen, and I will tell you what he has done for me. 17 I cried out to him with my mouth and praised him with my tongue. 18 If I had known of any sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened to me. 19 But God has listened; he has heard my prayer. 20 Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or hold back his love from me.
I read this scripture in another translation today. And I love it. I just love the Psalms. A long while back I was going through the psalms, reading one or two every day and journaling about something. But... someone told me they were kind of tired of my writing on the psalms. And I stopped. And that was a mistake... because, the psalms speak to my heart, to the very depths of my soul. There is so much depth of emotion within them, so much to learn about how to praise the Lord, how to go to Him no matter what your problems, how to request His help. And when I don't have the words to say, I can pray the psalms. I can apply them to my own life, and pray God's own Word back to Him, which He loves to hear and He makes is really easy for me to tell Him my needs, because David (and a few others) wrote about every emotion we might have, every need that needs filling.
These words stuck with me because the psalmist is saying is that he repented of everything he might have done wrong to the Lord. He told the Lord everything about him that needed forgiving. And God loved him anyway. God listened to the prayers of the psalmist because he went to the Lord with a pure heart, open to allowing the Lord to change him into a better man and knowing of his need for the love of the Lord.
Here is my prayer, using the psalm:
16 Listen, my friends. God has done great things for me!! Thank you Lord, for making me new in Christ (even if those I love do not understand or even believe I am changed or better). Thank you for being the Lover and Savior of my soul. You are mighty to save Lord and You chose me! 17 I praise you Father. You are more than I could ever hope for in this life. 18 Lord, I know there is junk and I just ask you to take it from me right now; I repent. That moment of gossip I shared with my coworker is as bad as my living my life knowing just how much I have and still holding onto every penny so tightly. Please Lord, listen to my prayers because you know my heart. 19 Thank you Lord, that You do hear my prayers. Thank you for listening. 20 Praise you Lord, for loving me despite all my shortcomings. Thank you for filling in all my cracks with the love of Christ and using them to show your might and power to those that need you, even when I have no idea what you are doing.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
2 Kings 5: 11 Naaman became angry and left. He said, "I thought Elisha would surely come out and stand before me and call on the name of the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over the place and heal the disease. 112 The Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, are better than all the waters of Israel. Why can't I wash in them and become clean?" So Naaman went away very angry.
13 Naamans' servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? Doesn't it make more sense just to do it? After all, he only told you, 'Wash and you will be clean.' "
I liked this passage SO much because it made me think of all the times when God said, Here you go. Do it My way and it will be all taken care of. But NO. I had to try and go my own way, without Him because I can't really need God can I? Sometimes we think our own way or our own stuff is so much better than what God gives or can give to us. And we choose ourselves over Him. But... look at the scripture. His way heals!! Even when there is something else out there that seems way more grand. His way heals.
I think this passage is a metaphor for salvation and grace. Jesus says He came that we might be saved, because we are sinners and we need a Savior. All we have to do is ask right? But we make it so hard. We think there has to be something we can do to get into Heaven, we have some kind of picture of how good we need to be, that if we just go wash in the bigger, better river we can get there. But we just can't get to Heaven if we are not willing to get there God's way (He did, after all, create Heaven in the first place right?). So, we have to set our expectations of ourselves aside and take a look at our real selves. We have to identify what parts of us are just not godly, what parts of us are just plain horrible. And we have to let ourselves know that this is the sin in us. And we usually need a reason to get rid of those things, to really push them out of our lives. And let me tell ya, just to be a better person is usually not a good enough reason, as much as we might want to believe it is.
Jesus wants every last one of us in Heaven with Him. He came so we could get there the easy way, although it was hard for Him. So today it is our choice. Do we wash in the grace of Jesus? Or do we keep trying to get there on our own, trying to be more good than the person next to us, trying to attain an unattainable righteousness?
13 Naamans' servants came near and said to him, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn't you have done it? Doesn't it make more sense just to do it? After all, he only told you, 'Wash and you will be clean.' "
I liked this passage SO much because it made me think of all the times when God said, Here you go. Do it My way and it will be all taken care of. But NO. I had to try and go my own way, without Him because I can't really need God can I? Sometimes we think our own way or our own stuff is so much better than what God gives or can give to us. And we choose ourselves over Him. But... look at the scripture. His way heals!! Even when there is something else out there that seems way more grand. His way heals.
I think this passage is a metaphor for salvation and grace. Jesus says He came that we might be saved, because we are sinners and we need a Savior. All we have to do is ask right? But we make it so hard. We think there has to be something we can do to get into Heaven, we have some kind of picture of how good we need to be, that if we just go wash in the bigger, better river we can get there. But we just can't get to Heaven if we are not willing to get there God's way (He did, after all, create Heaven in the first place right?). So, we have to set our expectations of ourselves aside and take a look at our real selves. We have to identify what parts of us are just not godly, what parts of us are just plain horrible. And we have to let ourselves know that this is the sin in us. And we usually need a reason to get rid of those things, to really push them out of our lives. And let me tell ya, just to be a better person is usually not a good enough reason, as much as we might want to believe it is.
Jesus wants every last one of us in Heaven with Him. He came so we could get there the easy way, although it was hard for Him. So today it is our choice. Do we wash in the grace of Jesus? Or do we keep trying to get there on our own, trying to be more good than the person next to us, trying to attain an unattainable righteousness?
Friday, October 15, 2010
1 Kings 21:25 There was no one like Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the Lord said was wrong, because his wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil.
I stopped here at the scripture today because it made me think: whose "Jezebel" am I? Or, who are the "Jezebels" in my life, influencing me away from the Lord. I am already at risk of sinning every day of my own accord, and I surely do not need anyone in my life helping me out in that area. This is why it is so important to make sure the people I hang with are people who I trust to build me up, call me to be better, even when that makes me uncomfortable. Lately I have found myself pretty well out of touch with people. Oh, I have made plans here and there, and kept busy with the boys doing fun things, but I just have not had the kind of one-on-one fellowship with another Christian lady or mommy that I have had in the past. And... while I am hoping that the Lord blesses me with some new mommy friends soon, I am okay with Him taking His time. I am okay with waiting, enjoying my kids and my time alone (even though sometimes that does seem to drag on and on.) I want to make sure that the people I invite into my life are the quality kind of people who are going to help me grow in my spiritual journey, as a woman, a mommy, a daughter, and a wife. I want also to be that friend to those I meet and engage with.
So, I will wait. I will go to church, take the kids out, play at the park with them. I will enjoy my time in God's Word and at Bible study. I will get all the stuff around the house done that I want to. I will talk to the hubs whenever I have the opportunity. And... I will wait on the Lord to help me see my new friends in His time and with His eyes.
I stopped here at the scripture today because it made me think: whose "Jezebel" am I? Or, who are the "Jezebels" in my life, influencing me away from the Lord. I am already at risk of sinning every day of my own accord, and I surely do not need anyone in my life helping me out in that area. This is why it is so important to make sure the people I hang with are people who I trust to build me up, call me to be better, even when that makes me uncomfortable. Lately I have found myself pretty well out of touch with people. Oh, I have made plans here and there, and kept busy with the boys doing fun things, but I just have not had the kind of one-on-one fellowship with another Christian lady or mommy that I have had in the past. And... while I am hoping that the Lord blesses me with some new mommy friends soon, I am okay with Him taking His time. I am okay with waiting, enjoying my kids and my time alone (even though sometimes that does seem to drag on and on.) I want to make sure that the people I invite into my life are the quality kind of people who are going to help me grow in my spiritual journey, as a woman, a mommy, a daughter, and a wife. I want also to be that friend to those I meet and engage with.
So, I will wait. I will go to church, take the kids out, play at the park with them. I will enjoy my time in God's Word and at Bible study. I will get all the stuff around the house done that I want to. I will talk to the hubs whenever I have the opportunity. And... I will wait on the Lord to help me see my new friends in His time and with His eyes.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
1 Kings 18: 27 At noon Elijah began to make fun of them. "Pray louder!" he said. "If Baal really is a god, maybe he is thinking, or busy, or traveling! Maybe he is sleeping so you will have to wake him!"
This is the second time I have read this scripture within a week or so. Hear something once and you might forget it, but the second time it starts to stick in your mind. Elijah is the prophet of the Lord. God sent him to meet the king and Elijah challenged the prophets of the false God, Baal, to pray to him and make him bring rain, as there had been a drought. And they prayed and prayed, worshipped, cut themselves, and... what do you think? Right! Nothing happened. But then Elijah called on the true God of Israel and did what He said, and guess what? Right! The rain came, proving that the God of Israel exists and loves the people of Israel.
My God is an awesome God. He answers prayers. I was thinking about the "idols" we can have in our lives: people we love, our material things, our car... basically anything we put before the Lord. These things can never answer our prayers (although they might be an answer to prayer.) We cannot expect people or things or hobbies or money to fulfill the longing that was placed in us from the existence of man, a longing to know that there is something bigger and better than us. A longing to know that we really were created to be just who we are, that we were created to love and give to others, that we were created to be loved and be in relationship with the God of the universe. Do you notice how often we expect those things to fulfill us though? I know I do it all the time. And part of that is just because there is not enough time in the day to fit everything in. But... this is when we have to get rid of the distractions and allow God to multiply our time. We plan Him into our day, giving Him the glory and honor He deserves (and He created us to give Him) and He will surely show us that He does not sleep on the job, that He hears every little thing we say to Him and that He loves us beyond our comprehension.
This is the second time I have read this scripture within a week or so. Hear something once and you might forget it, but the second time it starts to stick in your mind. Elijah is the prophet of the Lord. God sent him to meet the king and Elijah challenged the prophets of the false God, Baal, to pray to him and make him bring rain, as there had been a drought. And they prayed and prayed, worshipped, cut themselves, and... what do you think? Right! Nothing happened. But then Elijah called on the true God of Israel and did what He said, and guess what? Right! The rain came, proving that the God of Israel exists and loves the people of Israel.
My God is an awesome God. He answers prayers. I was thinking about the "idols" we can have in our lives: people we love, our material things, our car... basically anything we put before the Lord. These things can never answer our prayers (although they might be an answer to prayer.) We cannot expect people or things or hobbies or money to fulfill the longing that was placed in us from the existence of man, a longing to know that there is something bigger and better than us. A longing to know that we really were created to be just who we are, that we were created to love and give to others, that we were created to be loved and be in relationship with the God of the universe. Do you notice how often we expect those things to fulfill us though? I know I do it all the time. And part of that is just because there is not enough time in the day to fit everything in. But... this is when we have to get rid of the distractions and allow God to multiply our time. We plan Him into our day, giving Him the glory and honor He deserves (and He created us to give Him) and He will surely show us that He does not sleep on the job, that He hears every little thing we say to Him and that He loves us beyond our comprehension.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Ephesians 5: 15 So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely. 16 Use every chance you have for doing good, because these are evil times. 17 So do not be foolish but learn what the Lord wants you to do.
Ephesians 4: 32 Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
Funny huh, how things come at just the right time? I tell you all, I have been having kind of a pity party the last few days. I have been thinking about how I don't have a close friend here in Oklahoma right now. I have been thinking about how I have made people feel unloved and how others have made me feel unloved. I have been thinking about how selfish we all are. And... I have been thinking about how my husband is many miles away and unable to distract me from all this thinking. And then, I was reading my devotional this afternoon. In it, the author questions how we can daily be people who extend grace to others and to ourselves. At the end of her writing she challenged us to do something nice for someone who has hurt us and/or to do something for someone who cannot return the favor. This was the Lord speaking to my very heart, helping me to learn what He wants me to do. Jesus forgave me when I did not deserve forgiveness. And He calls me to do the same for others. Forgiving someone I do not want to forgive or who has hurt me is one way I can use every chance I have for doing good. Doing good means letting go of all the hurts I have been thinking about lately. It is letting go of all the expectations I have for people. All I need to do is be kind and love them, whether or not they return my favors or love me back. Doing good is giving into the lives of others when I have the chance and when I can actually plan to do it.
Living wisely means following God's Word, all of it. I better get back to reading. I know I have a few more lessons to learn.
Ephesians 4: 32 Be kind and loving to each other, and forgive each other just as God forgave you in Christ.
Funny huh, how things come at just the right time? I tell you all, I have been having kind of a pity party the last few days. I have been thinking about how I don't have a close friend here in Oklahoma right now. I have been thinking about how I have made people feel unloved and how others have made me feel unloved. I have been thinking about how selfish we all are. And... I have been thinking about how my husband is many miles away and unable to distract me from all this thinking. And then, I was reading my devotional this afternoon. In it, the author questions how we can daily be people who extend grace to others and to ourselves. At the end of her writing she challenged us to do something nice for someone who has hurt us and/or to do something for someone who cannot return the favor. This was the Lord speaking to my very heart, helping me to learn what He wants me to do. Jesus forgave me when I did not deserve forgiveness. And He calls me to do the same for others. Forgiving someone I do not want to forgive or who has hurt me is one way I can use every chance I have for doing good. Doing good means letting go of all the hurts I have been thinking about lately. It is letting go of all the expectations I have for people. All I need to do is be kind and love them, whether or not they return my favors or love me back. Doing good is giving into the lives of others when I have the chance and when I can actually plan to do it.
Living wisely means following God's Word, all of it. I better get back to reading. I know I have a few more lessons to learn.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
i have been in the mood to journal lately:-) as usual, i just have not had much time to write. i have been thinking a lot about waiting lately. the fact that after mike leaves, i will be waiting for him to come home. waiting to hear where the Air Force might one day take us. waiting to get to michigan for our visit. waiting for all the fun things ahead with our kids. this scripture caught my eye because of the "hope in the Lord" part. while i am waiting what am i thinking about? who am i allowing to control my attitude and my joy? is it those people on whom i am waiting? is it my circumstances at the time? or is my hope in the Lord; in the knowing that He has a rich and amazing plan for me? am i allowing Him to renew my strength in preparation for the next thing to come in my life? or am i letting the other things in my life zap my strength?
i think i am an optimistic person to begin with. but that does not mean that the ins and outs of this life do not get me down, that i do not allow circumstances and people to zap my joy and my strength. but i find that when my hope is in the Lord instead of all the earthly things around me, i am able to adjust my attitude to be one of joy instead of worry, laughter instead of anger or upsetment. there are so many reasons i want to have a joyful attitude, but two things stick out right at the moment. 1) i want to be a happy person for my husband and my kids 2) i want to be ready to be joyful for when the waiting is over and the next things happens in my life
i have been in the mood to journal lately:-) as usual, i just have not had much time to write. i have been thinking a lot about waiting lately. the fact that after mike leaves, i will be waiting for him to come home. waiting to hear where the Air Force might one day take us. waiting to get to michigan for our visit. waiting for all the fun things ahead with our kids. this scripture caught my eye because of the "hope in the Lord" part. while i am waiting what am i thinking about? who am i allowing to control my attitude and my joy? is it those people on whom i am waiting? is it my circumstances at the time? or is my hope in the Lord; in the knowing that He has a rich and amazing plan for me? am i allowing Him to renew my strength in preparation for the next thing to come in my life? or am i letting the other things in my life zap my strength?
i think i am an optimistic person to begin with. but that does not mean that the ins and outs of this life do not get me down, that i do not allow circumstances and people to zap my joy and my strength. but i find that when my hope is in the Lord instead of all the earthly things around me, i am able to adjust my attitude to be one of joy instead of worry, laughter instead of anger or upsetment. there are so many reasons i want to have a joyful attitude, but two things stick out right at the moment. 1) i want to be a happy person for my husband and my kids 2) i want to be ready to be joyful for when the waiting is over and the next things happens in my life
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
i read this awesome devotional today about perspective. the author talked about perspective being one of the things that hinders or helps in your walk with Christ. are you able to forgive yourself for past regrets and actions? or are you stuck thinking about the things that could have been or you could have done better? how about looking at yourself and your life from a God perspective? the God i know, is a loving and forgiving one. He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west. He lets go of the things we have done wrong once we have confessed that wrongdoing to Him.
sober judgment... the words themselves seem sober. i just think they mean to be realistic about yourself. i am not the one this world centers around. i am not the only one who needs things. i am not better than anyone else given the gift of life on this earth. in fact, i am much less. but... i am worthy of God's love and forgiveness. i am worthy of the plan He has for me, the Good plan. this is the perspective i want to have for myself: that i need the Lord as my Savior, that i am worthy of His love, and that He has great things for me. but also: that i am blessed to BE a blessing, that i have sinned and need His forgiveness, and that i need to live a faith filled life in order to live out the plan God has for me.
i read this awesome devotional today about perspective. the author talked about perspective being one of the things that hinders or helps in your walk with Christ. are you able to forgive yourself for past regrets and actions? or are you stuck thinking about the things that could have been or you could have done better? how about looking at yourself and your life from a God perspective? the God i know, is a loving and forgiving one. He casts our sins as far as the east is from the west. He lets go of the things we have done wrong once we have confessed that wrongdoing to Him.
sober judgment... the words themselves seem sober. i just think they mean to be realistic about yourself. i am not the one this world centers around. i am not the only one who needs things. i am not better than anyone else given the gift of life on this earth. in fact, i am much less. but... i am worthy of God's love and forgiveness. i am worthy of the plan He has for me, the Good plan. this is the perspective i want to have for myself: that i need the Lord as my Savior, that i am worthy of His love, and that He has great things for me. but also: that i am blessed to BE a blessing, that i have sinned and need His forgiveness, and that i need to live a faith filled life in order to live out the plan God has for me.
Psalm 146:3, "Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save." (NIV)
i was just thinking today about mike leaving and also, all my good friends being strewn across the country. i have so many people to love, and almost none of them (adults anyhow:-) are here with me, in person. most of the time, i miss people. everyone knows i am a "people person." but... i am choosing to think of this deployment as my time to improve on, expand on, and give more time to my relationship with the Lord. all the time, i am saying that i don't have enough time to pray, read, journal and live out a relationship with God that involves... well, relationship. relationship means talking to one another, and listening. it involves time spent and time to be given. so... i am going to put my trust in my Creator, because He is the one who saves me. He is the one who can guide me and help me know who i am in Him, and who i need to be in order to be and grow into the person He wants me to be. i love all the people in my life, including my Lord and Savior, with whom i am looking forward to spending a little quality time.
i was just thinking today about mike leaving and also, all my good friends being strewn across the country. i have so many people to love, and almost none of them (adults anyhow:-) are here with me, in person. most of the time, i miss people. everyone knows i am a "people person." but... i am choosing to think of this deployment as my time to improve on, expand on, and give more time to my relationship with the Lord. all the time, i am saying that i don't have enough time to pray, read, journal and live out a relationship with God that involves... well, relationship. relationship means talking to one another, and listening. it involves time spent and time to be given. so... i am going to put my trust in my Creator, because He is the one who saves me. He is the one who can guide me and help me know who i am in Him, and who i need to be in order to be and grow into the person He wants me to be. i love all the people in my life, including my Lord and Savior, with whom i am looking forward to spending a little quality time.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Romans 8: 4 He did this so that we could be the kind of people the law correctly wants us to be. Now we do not live following our sinful selves, but we live following the Spirit.
i have been thinking lately about how much those of us, myself definitely included, allow the world to invade or control us even though we have been given freedom in Jesus Christ. i have thought about how i have failed in the past and how i want to be better in the future: to love better, give more, and allow the Holy Spirit to invade me and allow me to live to the higher standards of the Lord. i am sure most people would look at me from the outside and see a "good person." but i know myself, my thoughts, my reactions to things that happen to me, the way i judge others inside my head. if my heart were truly good, my first thoughts would be ones of love, not jealousy, envy, or anger. that is what the Spirit helps us to be: truly good, acting and reacting with love to all the people in our lives, those we love and those we just happen to interact with.
i have been thinking lately about how much those of us, myself definitely included, allow the world to invade or control us even though we have been given freedom in Jesus Christ. i have thought about how i have failed in the past and how i want to be better in the future: to love better, give more, and allow the Holy Spirit to invade me and allow me to live to the higher standards of the Lord. i am sure most people would look at me from the outside and see a "good person." but i know myself, my thoughts, my reactions to things that happen to me, the way i judge others inside my head. if my heart were truly good, my first thoughts would be ones of love, not jealousy, envy, or anger. that is what the Spirit helps us to be: truly good, acting and reacting with love to all the people in our lives, those we love and those we just happen to interact with.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Romans 5:7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else. Although perhaps for a good person someon might possibly die. 8 But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
The part that struck me about this passage was the "perhaps, for a good person" part. I would like to think there are many people I would die for. Certainly my kids or husband. I love them more than this life for sure, not to mention, I know where I am going when I die. But what about those that I love deeply? Would I give my life for them? I suppose it depends on the circumstance or the time I would have available to mull it over. How lame is that answer? The answer should be, "of course I would lay down my life for someone I love, no matter who that person is." And I would like to believe that in reality, if I had to make a choice, I would decide that I would give up my life for those people I love. But we are human. And we often choose ourselves first. I am reading this back to myself and wondering if I should delete... but I won't. Because this might be as honest and raw as it gets. I love my life, and the people in it. Why would I want to leave my life and those in it?
Maybe for the simple reason that Jesus did that very thing for me. He left Heaven, seated with God the Father to come down here and be a man. A man that died on a cross to reconcile me to God, that my sins might be forgiven and I can spend eternity in heaven when God decides to call me away from this life I love. Jesus: the most unselfish person to ever live, a God/man who actually did die for me, even though there is not a "good" bone in my body.
The part that struck me about this passage was the "perhaps, for a good person" part. I would like to think there are many people I would die for. Certainly my kids or husband. I love them more than this life for sure, not to mention, I know where I am going when I die. But what about those that I love deeply? Would I give my life for them? I suppose it depends on the circumstance or the time I would have available to mull it over. How lame is that answer? The answer should be, "of course I would lay down my life for someone I love, no matter who that person is." And I would like to believe that in reality, if I had to make a choice, I would decide that I would give up my life for those people I love. But we are human. And we often choose ourselves first. I am reading this back to myself and wondering if I should delete... but I won't. Because this might be as honest and raw as it gets. I love my life, and the people in it. Why would I want to leave my life and those in it?
Maybe for the simple reason that Jesus did that very thing for me. He left Heaven, seated with God the Father to come down here and be a man. A man that died on a cross to reconcile me to God, that my sins might be forgiven and I can spend eternity in heaven when God decides to call me away from this life I love. Jesus: the most unselfish person to ever live, a God/man who actually did die for me, even though there is not a "good" bone in my body.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Proverbs 31:26 She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind.
i was looking for a scripture that basically would go with what i am feeling this last week or so. i knew i could find something in Proverbs 31, as i want to be the woman in this passage.
something happened. and then i told the story to someone i think is very wise. and she said she would have handled it differently. she said in some form or another, that she tries to think about whether what she says or does is going to bring someone closer to Jesus. and that lead to all sorts of other thoughts from me. how did i handle the situation? was i wrong? will the person i interacted with be farther from the Lord because of what i said or did? have i made people feel judged or unloved? was i showing off who Jesus is in me?
and then... i went on to think back on my life. and i ended up on my knees asking the Lord for forgiveness. because i can think of a time, an action. a big time in my life where i made a decision, took an action where the consequences were just that: taking people farther from the Lord, and certainly not showing His love and power in my life and not showing the Jesus in me. i was a younger Christian (and human) then. i was still on my way to learning how to slow down and really think before i speak or act. and at the time, i thought i had made the right decision, thought it through. but now, looking back, i realize the consequences are much bigger and last much longer than i ever imagined.
you see, i think what we don't even consider is that people perceive things differently than we do or than we want them to. we might say one thing, but our actions say something different. or we might have a split second to respond to something and we don't do the right thing. for myself, i know i need to slow down, pray, think things through, even if that means telling someone i need a little time to think about it. often, the Holy Spirit will be there to guide me and i will know what the right thing is. i have to open myself up to His speaking to me though. i have to think about the person with whom i am interacting. how will they feel about how i respond to them? what will they perceive as judgment v. love? what is the thing i can do that will show them that i love Jesus and i want to love them like He loves them, and His power gives me the foresight to think about how they feel? it is all about perception. it does not matter if you acted rightly, if that person you are interacting with feels unloved or judged. it is hard to know the right thing to do sometimes. but that is what the Holy Spirit is for. and if i can just let Him help me be wise and show kindness to others, then i am at least learning to be like Jesus in some small way.
i was looking for a scripture that basically would go with what i am feeling this last week or so. i knew i could find something in Proverbs 31, as i want to be the woman in this passage.
something happened. and then i told the story to someone i think is very wise. and she said she would have handled it differently. she said in some form or another, that she tries to think about whether what she says or does is going to bring someone closer to Jesus. and that lead to all sorts of other thoughts from me. how did i handle the situation? was i wrong? will the person i interacted with be farther from the Lord because of what i said or did? have i made people feel judged or unloved? was i showing off who Jesus is in me?
and then... i went on to think back on my life. and i ended up on my knees asking the Lord for forgiveness. because i can think of a time, an action. a big time in my life where i made a decision, took an action where the consequences were just that: taking people farther from the Lord, and certainly not showing His love and power in my life and not showing the Jesus in me. i was a younger Christian (and human) then. i was still on my way to learning how to slow down and really think before i speak or act. and at the time, i thought i had made the right decision, thought it through. but now, looking back, i realize the consequences are much bigger and last much longer than i ever imagined.
you see, i think what we don't even consider is that people perceive things differently than we do or than we want them to. we might say one thing, but our actions say something different. or we might have a split second to respond to something and we don't do the right thing. for myself, i know i need to slow down, pray, think things through, even if that means telling someone i need a little time to think about it. often, the Holy Spirit will be there to guide me and i will know what the right thing is. i have to open myself up to His speaking to me though. i have to think about the person with whom i am interacting. how will they feel about how i respond to them? what will they perceive as judgment v. love? what is the thing i can do that will show them that i love Jesus and i want to love them like He loves them, and His power gives me the foresight to think about how they feel? it is all about perception. it does not matter if you acted rightly, if that person you are interacting with feels unloved or judged. it is hard to know the right thing to do sometimes. but that is what the Holy Spirit is for. and if i can just let Him help me be wise and show kindness to others, then i am at least learning to be like Jesus in some small way.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Hosea 12:9 But I am the Lord your God, ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents, as in the days of the appointed feast.
i read another devotional this morning and this was the scripture. i have been meaning to look up just such scripture because a few weeks ago i got some good advice from a friend/teacher. he said, "if you don't know where you are with God, or you are confused about what step to take, go back to the last time you know you were hearing Him and following His will for your life. do whatever you were doing at that time, and wait to hear from Him." sometimes we don't want to go backwards, but sometiimes this is the only way we can be sure we are obeying the Lord. sometimes it is His plan to take us backwards, so that we can hear Him and be back in relationship with Him the way He wants us to be. He desires to really be the Lord of our lives. going backwards might be the only way to put Him first.
i read another devotional this morning and this was the scripture. i have been meaning to look up just such scripture because a few weeks ago i got some good advice from a friend/teacher. he said, "if you don't know where you are with God, or you are confused about what step to take, go back to the last time you know you were hearing Him and following His will for your life. do whatever you were doing at that time, and wait to hear from Him." sometimes we don't want to go backwards, but sometiimes this is the only way we can be sure we are obeying the Lord. sometimes it is His plan to take us backwards, so that we can hear Him and be back in relationship with Him the way He wants us to be. He desires to really be the Lord of our lives. going backwards might be the only way to put Him first.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
for some reason the last couple days i have been thinking about heaven. maybe b/c i just read "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper. of course, you figured already, that i DO believe in heaven. contrary to what some people probably think, i believe it is a rational perspective: i believe there must be a point to this life....
the very fact of life (human beings) begs questions about death. what comes next? is there a heaven? assuming you believe there is a heaven, how do you get there? what makes you good enough? who is the judge?
what i love about the gospel (the Bible) is that it answers just such questions, albeit, you might have to take a step of faith to believe the answers.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
so how do we show the world of our belief? (because otherwise, what is the point and... are we really believers?)
Romans 10:9 If you use your mouth to say (audible confession), "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.
so... there is nothing that makes us good enough. there is no amount of works we can do to get us to heaven.
Romans 3:10 There is no one who always does what is right, not even one.
and... God judges our hearts. did we really know Him in the first place? did we believe in what His son Jesus did for us on the cross?
2 Corinthians 5:10 because we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive what we should get--good or bad--for the things we did in the earthly body.
Romans 2:2 God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that His judging is right.
the very fact of life (human beings) begs questions about death. what comes next? is there a heaven? assuming you believe there is a heaven, how do you get there? what makes you good enough? who is the judge?
what i love about the gospel (the Bible) is that it answers just such questions, albeit, you might have to take a step of faith to believe the answers.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
so how do we show the world of our belief? (because otherwise, what is the point and... are we really believers?)
Romans 10:9 If you use your mouth to say (audible confession), "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved.
so... there is nothing that makes us good enough. there is no amount of works we can do to get us to heaven.
Romans 3:10 There is no one who always does what is right, not even one.
and... God judges our hearts. did we really know Him in the first place? did we believe in what His son Jesus did for us on the cross?
2 Corinthians 5:10 because we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive what we should get--good or bad--for the things we did in the earthly body.
Romans 2:2 God judges those who do wrong things, and we know that His judging is right.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Deuteronomy 30:1 When all these blessings and curses I have described happen to you, and the Lord your God has sent you away to other nations, think about these things (the things we know, mentioned in the last paragraph of chapter 29). 2 Then you and your children will return to the Lord your God, and you will obey him with your whole being in everything I am commanding you today. 3 Then the Lord your God will give you back your freedom. He will feel sorry for you, and He will bring you back again from the nations where he scattered you.
i am loving deuteronomy in a way i can't even begin to put words to. i love comparing myself to the Israelites and knowing that they disobeyed God, but He loved them so much, that He kept bringing them back to Himself. and... He loved us that much too. He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. He gave us back our freedom. and talk about complexity: we, as people, are scattered from one another. we are spread all over the earth, and the Lord gets us back to where He wants us. then, in addition, we have all this "scatteredness" going on within us and God gets us back on track with that too.
FREEDOM: i was thinking about the idea of being free within the confines of God's Word (His Rules, if you will). the idea itself seems backwards. free within a set of rules? doesn't make much sense. but you only need try it out and you will see what i mean. i truly don't worry about what others think of me because i am not worried about this life, but i think about the life ahead, in eternity with my Father in heaven. and i think about the Rules... they are things like: treat your neighbor as yourself, love the one and only God, submit to your husband and be his helper, train up your children to know these things. wow... they don't really seem like hard things to do, especially if i want to live a life of LOVE and i want to be treated with respect and dignity myself. i just have to LOVE others and treat them with respect and dignity. the "Rules" mean a life of freedom from regret, freedom from hurting others, freedom from bad marriages and divorce. Freedom begins with belief and faith, in God and in His Son, Jesus. Freedom means figuring out what the "Rules" are, so that i can live by them, and then see their fruits in my life. i know i do not follow the rules perfectly, consistently, or even well sometimes. but i want to, and i love the reminders in deuteronomy, that God wants to bring us back to that freedom within His love for us, because He loves us and we are His chosen people
i am loving deuteronomy in a way i can't even begin to put words to. i love comparing myself to the Israelites and knowing that they disobeyed God, but He loved them so much, that He kept bringing them back to Himself. and... He loved us that much too. He made a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus. He gave us back our freedom. and talk about complexity: we, as people, are scattered from one another. we are spread all over the earth, and the Lord gets us back to where He wants us. then, in addition, we have all this "scatteredness" going on within us and God gets us back on track with that too.
FREEDOM: i was thinking about the idea of being free within the confines of God's Word (His Rules, if you will). the idea itself seems backwards. free within a set of rules? doesn't make much sense. but you only need try it out and you will see what i mean. i truly don't worry about what others think of me because i am not worried about this life, but i think about the life ahead, in eternity with my Father in heaven. and i think about the Rules... they are things like: treat your neighbor as yourself, love the one and only God, submit to your husband and be his helper, train up your children to know these things. wow... they don't really seem like hard things to do, especially if i want to live a life of LOVE and i want to be treated with respect and dignity myself. i just have to LOVE others and treat them with respect and dignity. the "Rules" mean a life of freedom from regret, freedom from hurting others, freedom from bad marriages and divorce. Freedom begins with belief and faith, in God and in His Son, Jesus. Freedom means figuring out what the "Rules" are, so that i can live by them, and then see their fruits in my life. i know i do not follow the rules perfectly, consistently, or even well sometimes. but i want to, and i love the reminders in deuteronomy, that God wants to bring us back to that freedom within His love for us, because He loves us and we are His chosen people
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Deuteronomy 27:9 The Moses and the Levites who were priests spoke to all Israel and said, "Be quiet, Israel. Listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God. 10 Obey the Lord your God, and keep his commands and laws that I give you today."
i read this last night during our nightly reading. and i have not been able to get it out of my head. again, how like Israel are we? the day of our own salvation is just like the day Israel became the Lord's own people. on that very day we are new creations, dearly loved and honored by our God. and on that day, we should start obeying His Word, His commands. Moses said obey the Lord your God TODAY. we should show the world that we are children of God. but... we all know that in a new Christian there is not instant change (and actually, there is not instant change in an old Christian either). Israel never got it right, what makes us think we can do it any better? we are fallible, human. we are made in God's image, but we are not god, and so, we cannot be perfect and without sin. we can choose to be apart from Him or we can choose to draw near to Him. most of the time the choice is not easy, as was true for the Israelites. they had to follow all sorts of rules and make all kinds of crazy sacrifices. and the choice is still not easy today, in a society that does not value the Lord, ethical decisions, or even value people the way God does. His standards are so much higher and better and yet, we choose the world, from which we can never truly be satisfied. so the question is... what am i doing today to draw near to God, to know Him, to show the world that i am obeying His commands to me and that i LOVE Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength?
i read this last night during our nightly reading. and i have not been able to get it out of my head. again, how like Israel are we? the day of our own salvation is just like the day Israel became the Lord's own people. on that very day we are new creations, dearly loved and honored by our God. and on that day, we should start obeying His Word, His commands. Moses said obey the Lord your God TODAY. we should show the world that we are children of God. but... we all know that in a new Christian there is not instant change (and actually, there is not instant change in an old Christian either). Israel never got it right, what makes us think we can do it any better? we are fallible, human. we are made in God's image, but we are not god, and so, we cannot be perfect and without sin. we can choose to be apart from Him or we can choose to draw near to Him. most of the time the choice is not easy, as was true for the Israelites. they had to follow all sorts of rules and make all kinds of crazy sacrifices. and the choice is still not easy today, in a society that does not value the Lord, ethical decisions, or even value people the way God does. His standards are so much higher and better and yet, we choose the world, from which we can never truly be satisfied. so the question is... what am i doing today to draw near to God, to know Him, to show the world that i am obeying His commands to me and that i LOVE Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength?
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Deuteronomy 7:23 But the Lord your God will hand those nations over to you, confusing them until they are destroyed. 24 The Lord will help you defeat their kings, and the world will forget who they were. No one will be able to stop you; you will destroy them all.
i have read deuteronomy before. but this time, i think i am paying attention. you know how you read stuff sometimes, and you have to go back and reread because something just did not stick? well, it has taken a few years, but i am reading this great book again. God is telling His people, the Israelites, His commands again because He wants them to understand how important they are. it is not as redundant as i thought it might be. it is like the first few chapters of this book are a father's pleading to His children to listen to His good instruction, to obey Him because He DOES actually know what He is doing, and because He has brought them through hardship and out of slavery before. it is how i think i should be praying to Him for the good of my own children.
amazing how much we are like the Israelites huh? God brought me out of my own Egypt and i continually question Him and wonder what more He will do for me, just like His chosen people did years ago. but... when we give our lives over to Him and allow Him to part our Red Seas we will see miracles in our own lives. we can be delivered from all kinds of weaknesses, from the things we hold as idols in our lives, from sickness, from addiction or just plain bad decision-making. i know i was. i have to admit, when i think of being delivered, so many people come to my mind. but... i have to backtrack, because i am the first one in my life who needs that deliverance. the Lord keeps breaking me down and showing me that i have to give over EVERYTHING to Him so that He can take care of all my needs. He will confuse my "nations and kings" (things in my life that are bad) until i have overcome them. He will defeat the enemy for me and maybe one day people from my past, present, and future will look at me and only see the person i have become in Christ and not the old person i was before.
i have read deuteronomy before. but this time, i think i am paying attention. you know how you read stuff sometimes, and you have to go back and reread because something just did not stick? well, it has taken a few years, but i am reading this great book again. God is telling His people, the Israelites, His commands again because He wants them to understand how important they are. it is not as redundant as i thought it might be. it is like the first few chapters of this book are a father's pleading to His children to listen to His good instruction, to obey Him because He DOES actually know what He is doing, and because He has brought them through hardship and out of slavery before. it is how i think i should be praying to Him for the good of my own children.
amazing how much we are like the Israelites huh? God brought me out of my own Egypt and i continually question Him and wonder what more He will do for me, just like His chosen people did years ago. but... when we give our lives over to Him and allow Him to part our Red Seas we will see miracles in our own lives. we can be delivered from all kinds of weaknesses, from the things we hold as idols in our lives, from sickness, from addiction or just plain bad decision-making. i know i was. i have to admit, when i think of being delivered, so many people come to my mind. but... i have to backtrack, because i am the first one in my life who needs that deliverance. the Lord keeps breaking me down and showing me that i have to give over EVERYTHING to Him so that He can take care of all my needs. He will confuse my "nations and kings" (things in my life that are bad) until i have overcome them. He will defeat the enemy for me and maybe one day people from my past, present, and future will look at me and only see the person i have become in Christ and not the old person i was before.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Romans 1:21 They knew God, but they did not give glory to God or thank him. Their thinking became uselss. Their foolish minds were filled with darkness. 22 They said they were wise, but they became fools. 23 They traded the glory of God who lives forever for the worship of idols made to look like earthly people, birds, animals, and snakes.
how often do we do this very thing? we make so many things in our lives out to be more important than seeking and knowing the Lord. i put so many things before Him: my fam, cleaning my house, other books, scrapbooking. i find that i want to spend time with Him, but there are so many other things i enjoy that i also want to do (or just need to do). but... i need to let go of these things. my pastor says that praying will actually save you time. and i know this is true because i have already covered my day and many of the situations and people i will face in prayer and blessings. the Lord works in your days when you call on Him. it is like He is proactive for you when you have already given things over to Him. but He cannot do so if we put a bunch of things before Him. sometimes we don't want to seek out the Lord or we feel apathetic about Him. but we must strive on toward that relationship with Him, reminding ourselves how important it is to worship Him, giving Him the glory for where we are at, the troubles we have come through and all the blessings in our lives.
how often do we do this very thing? we make so many things in our lives out to be more important than seeking and knowing the Lord. i put so many things before Him: my fam, cleaning my house, other books, scrapbooking. i find that i want to spend time with Him, but there are so many other things i enjoy that i also want to do (or just need to do). but... i need to let go of these things. my pastor says that praying will actually save you time. and i know this is true because i have already covered my day and many of the situations and people i will face in prayer and blessings. the Lord works in your days when you call on Him. it is like He is proactive for you when you have already given things over to Him. but He cannot do so if we put a bunch of things before Him. sometimes we don't want to seek out the Lord or we feel apathetic about Him. but we must strive on toward that relationship with Him, reminding ourselves how important it is to worship Him, giving Him the glory for where we are at, the troubles we have come through and all the blessings in our lives.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Matthew 10:29 Two sparrows cost only a penny, but not even one of them can die without your Father's knowing it. 30 God even knows how many hairs are on your head. 21 So don't be afraid. You are worth much more than sparrows.
Luke 15: 31 The father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found."
in class last week we talked a moment about prodigals, those people who either are getting saved for the first time or those who have distanced themselves from God and come back to Him. God's heart aches for these in His desire to have them know Him. His heart breaks every time one of us makes a choice that takes us further from Him. He sent His Son to die on a cross so that we could be reconciled to Him. He knows how many hairs are on our heads, even for those who do not know Him. He knows every detail. and He wants us to choose right: choose to live for Him, choose to repent of our sins, choose to know Him for the first time. i have prayed that i would have the eyes to see people as God sees them: with the love and compassion of Christ. there are people in my life for whom i ache that they will know the Lord, intimately and personally know Him and believe in the cross. and there are people in my life for whom i ache that they will come back to Him and follow His ways. imagine: He aches for them 100 times more than i do. if i am crying tears for them, then i can be sure the Lord is as well. His love is a greater gift than we can ever imagine. and He wants to give it all to us.
Luke 15: 31 The father said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate and be happy because your brother was dead, but now he is alive. He was lost, but now he is found."
in class last week we talked a moment about prodigals, those people who either are getting saved for the first time or those who have distanced themselves from God and come back to Him. God's heart aches for these in His desire to have them know Him. His heart breaks every time one of us makes a choice that takes us further from Him. He sent His Son to die on a cross so that we could be reconciled to Him. He knows how many hairs are on our heads, even for those who do not know Him. He knows every detail. and He wants us to choose right: choose to live for Him, choose to repent of our sins, choose to know Him for the first time. i have prayed that i would have the eyes to see people as God sees them: with the love and compassion of Christ. there are people in my life for whom i ache that they will know the Lord, intimately and personally know Him and believe in the cross. and there are people in my life for whom i ache that they will come back to Him and follow His ways. imagine: He aches for them 100 times more than i do. if i am crying tears for them, then i can be sure the Lord is as well. His love is a greater gift than we can ever imagine. and He wants to give it all to us.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Numbers 2:1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron....
Numbers 2:33 Moses obeyed the Lord....
mike and i are reading the Bible through in a year. yes, yes, we have tried this before. and no, we did not make it, but what the heck we are gonna try it again. anyhow, that is not the point. my point of these two phrases taken from Numbers (which is one of today's chapters) is that the Lord spoke to Moses and Moses obeyed. he questioned the Lord at first (like back in Exodus when God first wanted Moses to do things for Him). and Moses made excuses too. but God can use us anyway, if we let Him. we just have to learn how to obey.
i really do know this is not the easiest thing in the world. just like with our earthly parents, we sometimes do not want to obey them. it is like we think "obey" is a bad word these days. 1 John 2:3 We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands. John 15:10 I have obeyed my Father's sommands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.
so... obedience is about showing our love and loyalty to someone (of course, right now, we are talking specifically about the Lord.) for me, it is hardest when the Lord is asking me to do something that i feel might embarass me or make me uncomfortable. like, the other day, i was sure i was hearing Him urge me to witness to a patient. i tried, but i know i did not go all out like He would have wanted me to. He wants us to be BOLD for Him, and sometimes i am just too meek.
our obedience to God's Word and commands is also a living testimony that we know Him and desire to follow His will for our lives, which is not always the path of least resistance. Moses and the Israelites wandered in the dessert for 40 years because of their disobedience. i wandered in my personal life for a while because i was not willing to get down and dirty and change some things for God. His will and plans for our lives are always better than our own. it is like we have to learn that lesson over and over, and sometimes we still don't believe it.
Numbers 2:33 Moses obeyed the Lord....
mike and i are reading the Bible through in a year. yes, yes, we have tried this before. and no, we did not make it, but what the heck we are gonna try it again. anyhow, that is not the point. my point of these two phrases taken from Numbers (which is one of today's chapters) is that the Lord spoke to Moses and Moses obeyed. he questioned the Lord at first (like back in Exodus when God first wanted Moses to do things for Him). and Moses made excuses too. but God can use us anyway, if we let Him. we just have to learn how to obey.
i really do know this is not the easiest thing in the world. just like with our earthly parents, we sometimes do not want to obey them. it is like we think "obey" is a bad word these days. 1 John 2:3 We can be sure that we know God if we obey his commands. John 15:10 I have obeyed my Father's sommands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love.
so... obedience is about showing our love and loyalty to someone (of course, right now, we are talking specifically about the Lord.) for me, it is hardest when the Lord is asking me to do something that i feel might embarass me or make me uncomfortable. like, the other day, i was sure i was hearing Him urge me to witness to a patient. i tried, but i know i did not go all out like He would have wanted me to. He wants us to be BOLD for Him, and sometimes i am just too meek.
our obedience to God's Word and commands is also a living testimony that we know Him and desire to follow His will for our lives, which is not always the path of least resistance. Moses and the Israelites wandered in the dessert for 40 years because of their disobedience. i wandered in my personal life for a while because i was not willing to get down and dirty and change some things for God. His will and plans for our lives are always better than our own. it is like we have to learn that lesson over and over, and sometimes we still don't believe it.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Romans 12:1 So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him.... 2 Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.
mike and i are taking a Bible study class at our church. it is awesome. we were talking about the flesh, this temporary "house" we live in and what trouble it causes us. we stumble all the time because of our selfish nature, our desires to have things not good for us, our longing to be loved and noticed and appreciated. how difficult it is to set our "selves" aside and see the bigger picture and to see others! now that Jesus has come and died for our sins, the only thing we have left to offer God is our lives. we can live in worship to Him, we can live giving to others, we can live every day to fall more in love with the God of the universe. or... we can live for our "selves." Jesus called us to a higher standard. a standard no one can really, actually live up to (except Him of course), but the point is that we should live our lives trying.
mike and i are taking a Bible study class at our church. it is awesome. we were talking about the flesh, this temporary "house" we live in and what trouble it causes us. we stumble all the time because of our selfish nature, our desires to have things not good for us, our longing to be loved and noticed and appreciated. how difficult it is to set our "selves" aside and see the bigger picture and to see others! now that Jesus has come and died for our sins, the only thing we have left to offer God is our lives. we can live in worship to Him, we can live giving to others, we can live every day to fall more in love with the God of the universe. or... we can live for our "selves." Jesus called us to a higher standard. a standard no one can really, actually live up to (except Him of course), but the point is that we should live our lives trying.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Matthew 7:26 Everyone who hears my words and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and hit that house, and it fell with a big crash.
Luke 6:46 Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?
John 8:11 She answered, "No one sir." Then Jesus said, "I also don't judge you guilty. You may go now, but don't sin anymore."
Revelations 3: 15 I know what you do, that you are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold!! 16 But because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.
so today i talked with a good friend of mine. she has some tough choices in her path right now. not so tough, in that she knows already what the right thing to do is. but tough in that she does not really know if she wants or cares to DO the right things. and this got me thinking a bunch.
i did not know what to say at first. but as i thought and prayed about it, i began to think about being lukewarm; knowing what the Lord calls me to and still being unwilling to follow His way. i might go to church and read my Bible, but in my everyday life i make decisions that do not show my devotion to God or my appreciation of what Jesus did for me on the cross. i am on the fence, wavering between being for God, or being of this world. and the more i waver the further i actually go from God. i get off the fence and i go deeper and deeper into the things of the world. each choice i make contrary to the will and Word of God takes me further from Him.
what does it take to pull me back? Jesus said it best: "Do not sin anymore." a high calling for sure. decisions we make that are obviously in opposition to God's word are just that though: sins. and sometimes the only things we can do are the hard things. sometimes it even feels like our hearts are being broken, that we are not getting what we most want. but in the end, it is the narrow path that gets us to the Lord. i certainly do not always walk it well. i certainly have times when i am lukewarm. but i want to be ON FIRE for the Lord. and i want the world to know it by my life, my actions, my decisions, and my love. i have not always done it right, but each day is a new chance to make new decisions, better ones that follow the Lord's amazing will for my life.
Luke 6:46 Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but do not do what I say?
John 8:11 She answered, "No one sir." Then Jesus said, "I also don't judge you guilty. You may go now, but don't sin anymore."
Revelations 3: 15 I know what you do, that you are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold!! 16 But because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.
so today i talked with a good friend of mine. she has some tough choices in her path right now. not so tough, in that she knows already what the right thing to do is. but tough in that she does not really know if she wants or cares to DO the right things. and this got me thinking a bunch.
i did not know what to say at first. but as i thought and prayed about it, i began to think about being lukewarm; knowing what the Lord calls me to and still being unwilling to follow His way. i might go to church and read my Bible, but in my everyday life i make decisions that do not show my devotion to God or my appreciation of what Jesus did for me on the cross. i am on the fence, wavering between being for God, or being of this world. and the more i waver the further i actually go from God. i get off the fence and i go deeper and deeper into the things of the world. each choice i make contrary to the will and Word of God takes me further from Him.
what does it take to pull me back? Jesus said it best: "Do not sin anymore." a high calling for sure. decisions we make that are obviously in opposition to God's word are just that though: sins. and sometimes the only things we can do are the hard things. sometimes it even feels like our hearts are being broken, that we are not getting what we most want. but in the end, it is the narrow path that gets us to the Lord. i certainly do not always walk it well. i certainly have times when i am lukewarm. but i want to be ON FIRE for the Lord. and i want the world to know it by my life, my actions, my decisions, and my love. i have not always done it right, but each day is a new chance to make new decisions, better ones that follow the Lord's amazing will for my life.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
quiet times
hello everyone. my sister suggested i start writing my quiet times (journaling) on a blog site so that i can share with more people. she seems to think my thoughts are worthy of reading. i do not write often these days. my little ones keep me busy and i find that i have time to read and keep up with them, but sometimes writing down my thoughts takes too long. that being said, i do love to find time to write. it is cathartic for me and i like hearing what my friends and family sometimes respond with. i hope that maybe my words might just give them something they needed to hear that day.
i began daily journaling a long time ago, basically copying the idea from one of my best friends. i found i liked it. i would read a chapter from my Bible (sometimes more) and then write about whatever stuck out to me that day. my sister called it "just a bite," hence, the title of my new blog! i hope these little bites brighten your day, give you something to think on, but most of all, make you remember that you are loved by God, the Creator and King of the universe. He knows you by name, even if you do not know Him the way i do.
thanks for reading.
carla
i began daily journaling a long time ago, basically copying the idea from one of my best friends. i found i liked it. i would read a chapter from my Bible (sometimes more) and then write about whatever stuck out to me that day. my sister called it "just a bite," hence, the title of my new blog! i hope these little bites brighten your day, give you something to think on, but most of all, make you remember that you are loved by God, the Creator and King of the universe. He knows you by name, even if you do not know Him the way i do.
thanks for reading.
carla
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