Sometimes there is nothing that needs to be said more than praises to God.
Psalms 34:1-10
I will praise the Lord at all times;
His praise will always be on my lips.
I will boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear and be glad.
Proclaim with me the Lord's greatness;
Let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord the Lord, and he answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant with joy;
Their faces will never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
And saved him from all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps
Around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Fear the Lord, you saints,
For those who fear Him lack nothing.
Young lions lack food and go hungry,
But those who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing.
You know what else I like about this psalm? It was written by David after he pretended to be insane to keep from being captured or killed by a foreign king. Perhaps we don't praise the Lord in our insane moments enough.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Alive
We've all heard and read that the Word of God, the Bible, is alive. Have you ever really taken the time to think that through? God is so beyond our understanding, that He is able to make specific, written words live. They don't come alive - they are alive.
Think of it: Words written 3000 years ago, still teach and speak to us in very real personal and corporate ways. That's mind blowing in and of itself. Another amazing thing to ponder is what John 1:1,14 says. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Think of it. Our God is so powerful that He can make His Words becoming living flesh and then place Himself within them to save us. It's not a metaphor - it's real. So, if we love God, we have to love His Word.
How much have you loved and appreciated Him lately?
Think of it: Words written 3000 years ago, still teach and speak to us in very real personal and corporate ways. That's mind blowing in and of itself. Another amazing thing to ponder is what John 1:1,14 says. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Think of it. Our God is so powerful that He can make His Words becoming living flesh and then place Himself within them to save us. It's not a metaphor - it's real. So, if we love God, we have to love His Word.
How much have you loved and appreciated Him lately?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Soap Box 101
I heard a statistic the other day on a groundbreaking finding which was presented at prestigious conference. This multi-year study revealed that children who were spanked more in childhood tended to have lower IQ's.
Now, before you use your "spankin' spoon" for kindling, I'd like to pose this thought:
PERHAPS THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAD LOWER IQ'S AND DIDN'T GET IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THUS NEEDED TO BE SPANKED MORE.
Let's use our heads and not let people guilt us into a lack of discipline. I'm not saying you have to spank your children - I have many friends who don't. They choose to discipline by other means. But for those of us who do spank in the loving manner, don't let the world stack the stats in order to belittle you.
Proverbs 13:24
The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Hebrews 12:6-7
for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives. Endure it as a discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?
*Please understand - this is NOT talking about beating a child or hitting in anger. These are as different Scripturally as sex within a marriage is to sex outside of it. It's still sex: just a different context.
Now, before you use your "spankin' spoon" for kindling, I'd like to pose this thought:
PERHAPS THIS IS BECAUSE THEY ALREADY HAD LOWER IQ'S AND DIDN'T GET IT THE FIRST TIME, AND THUS NEEDED TO BE SPANKED MORE.
Let's use our heads and not let people guilt us into a lack of discipline. I'm not saying you have to spank your children - I have many friends who don't. They choose to discipline by other means. But for those of us who do spank in the loving manner, don't let the world stack the stats in order to belittle you.
Proverbs 13:24
The one who will not use the rod hates his son, but the one who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Hebrews 12:6-7
for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and punishes every son whom He receives. Endure it as a discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there whom a father does not discipline?
*Please understand - this is NOT talking about beating a child or hitting in anger. These are as different Scripturally as sex within a marriage is to sex outside of it. It's still sex: just a different context.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
War
I love Paul in the New Testament. He is just so real to me. I relate with him better than any of the others, because he was passionate yet struggled with how flawed he was constantly. As his relationship with God matured over the years, he saw more and more of his own flaws. Towards the ends of his life he even wrote to Timothy, his spiritual son, that he considered himself to be the worst of all sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)
I say all this to let you know that even though I know what God has called me to do, and I know the standards He desires for my life, I struggle constantly with actually doing them. One thing I have come to respect in preachers, teachers, and mentors is that they all struggle as well. Just because you know the truth, doesn't mean you don't fall for the lie. We are human in every way.
This was brought to my attention once again last night by the Holy Spirit's guidance as I went to bed late after getting sucked into watching an hour and a half of useless, yet funny, videos. I just talked about learning my lesson in this Sunday! Doesn't take long does it?
Here is the passage the Lord brought to my mind. As you read over what Paul wrote, reflect on one or two things that always tend to get you.
Romans 7:15-25
For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin.
Praise Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord! For He said Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed," (Luke 4:18)
Just think, as messed up as we are... we are free!
I say all this to let you know that even though I know what God has called me to do, and I know the standards He desires for my life, I struggle constantly with actually doing them. One thing I have come to respect in preachers, teachers, and mentors is that they all struggle as well. Just because you know the truth, doesn't mean you don't fall for the lie. We are human in every way.
This was brought to my attention once again last night by the Holy Spirit's guidance as I went to bed late after getting sucked into watching an hour and a half of useless, yet funny, videos. I just talked about learning my lesson in this Sunday! Doesn't take long does it?
Here is the passage the Lord brought to my mind. As you read over what Paul wrote, reflect on one or two things that always tend to get you.
Romans 7:15-25
For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good. So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.
So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh to the law of sin.
Praise Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord! For He said Himself, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed," (Luke 4:18)
Just think, as messed up as we are... we are free!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Prayer Time
What is your prayer time like?
I ask because I'm beginning to wonder if we ever feel like we've prayed enough. Yes, there are times where I get tired of praying for the same thing over and over, but even then I wonder if I'm wimping out on persistence. Or, perhaps I'm not in the will of God with that request and if I was praying more I'd know better. How do I figure that out? Yep. By praying about it.
While looking up some Scripture today about prayer, I was humbled and ashamed seeing all the time Jesus took for it. At times it was early in the morning (Mark 1:35), and at other times He was up all night praying (Luke 6:12). I may have times where I spend more specialized time praying, and at other times I can say I lean towards 1 Thessalonians 5:17 when it tells us to "pray without ceasing". Those are the times I relish, for I basically carry on a conversation with God as I go throughout my entire day. Yet, it never seems to be too long before I've found once again that I'm getting in bed and haven't really spoken with the Lord at all that day.
So I'd like to ask you how your prayer life is right now. So-so? Pretty good? Virtually non-existent?
What are you going to do about it?
I ask because I'm beginning to wonder if we ever feel like we've prayed enough. Yes, there are times where I get tired of praying for the same thing over and over, but even then I wonder if I'm wimping out on persistence. Or, perhaps I'm not in the will of God with that request and if I was praying more I'd know better. How do I figure that out? Yep. By praying about it.
While looking up some Scripture today about prayer, I was humbled and ashamed seeing all the time Jesus took for it. At times it was early in the morning (Mark 1:35), and at other times He was up all night praying (Luke 6:12). I may have times where I spend more specialized time praying, and at other times I can say I lean towards 1 Thessalonians 5:17 when it tells us to "pray without ceasing". Those are the times I relish, for I basically carry on a conversation with God as I go throughout my entire day. Yet, it never seems to be too long before I've found once again that I'm getting in bed and haven't really spoken with the Lord at all that day.
So I'd like to ask you how your prayer life is right now. So-so? Pretty good? Virtually non-existent?
What are you going to do about it?
Sunday, September 27, 2009
A Little Rest
The Lord has been popping a specific Scripture into my head for the last several days, but I couldn't figure out why. Even though I've been very busy and on the edge of sick, He kept repeating it to me over and over:
Proverbs 6:10-11
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, your need like a bandit.
First of all, even though I wanted to complain to Him that I was too busy, I knew there were times that I did just sit there and rest. Now, don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with resting. In fact, I believe that we really need to more often in our modern lives. I'm not, however, talking about cutting corners. I'm talking about cutting out. "Sorry, no. I can't be on that committee." "No. We really don't have time in our schedule for that sport." "I'd love to help you out once a week, but I just can't." Rest from multi-tasking ourselves to death is a good thing.
So what, I wondered, was He talking about? Two different lessons came to me today as I asked Him once again, to please explain:
1. What kind of resting are we doing?
After that question came to me, I realized that the resting I was doing was certainly not profitable in any way except for slowing my metabolism. I was typically watching a movie, a video, or surfing the web. None of these are wrong in moderation, but there was no benefit I was getting from it either. All I was doing was losing sleep and quality time with my family. I suddenly realized that I had not read a book or played a game with my kids in two weeks and was more exhausted than ever. I had been robbed of them both and didn't realize it. The problem was that my mindset was wrong in resting.
2. What about resting a little in the spiritual sense?
That made me stop and think a bit. These verses were also speaking about losing quality time with God. Read Proverbs 6:10-11 again and think about what happens when we put off our quiet time with God because we get too busy or want to relax in another way? We come to a point of spiritual poverty and our need becomes very great. This is not to say we are not busy doing God things or even studying His Word. I have discovered over time that I desperately need time each day to just read the Bible and not study it. To have no agenda or specific verses to read, but to just love it. This is something I had rested from lately. Oh, I was studying for three different Bible classes as well as writing everyday, but I had forgot to love it, just because it's there, and I found I was becoming impoverished.
Have some quality time with God today. Ask Him to let you know if poverty or need is sneaking up on you because of resting in the wrong way. Pray that you will have a heart willing to listen and change anything you might need to. Then praise Him for loving you enough to care in reshaping your heart for Him.
Proverbs 6:10-11
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, and your poverty will come like a robber, your need like a bandit.
First of all, even though I wanted to complain to Him that I was too busy, I knew there were times that I did just sit there and rest. Now, don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with resting. In fact, I believe that we really need to more often in our modern lives. I'm not, however, talking about cutting corners. I'm talking about cutting out. "Sorry, no. I can't be on that committee." "No. We really don't have time in our schedule for that sport." "I'd love to help you out once a week, but I just can't." Rest from multi-tasking ourselves to death is a good thing.
So what, I wondered, was He talking about? Two different lessons came to me today as I asked Him once again, to please explain:
1. What kind of resting are we doing?
After that question came to me, I realized that the resting I was doing was certainly not profitable in any way except for slowing my metabolism. I was typically watching a movie, a video, or surfing the web. None of these are wrong in moderation, but there was no benefit I was getting from it either. All I was doing was losing sleep and quality time with my family. I suddenly realized that I had not read a book or played a game with my kids in two weeks and was more exhausted than ever. I had been robbed of them both and didn't realize it. The problem was that my mindset was wrong in resting.
2. What about resting a little in the spiritual sense?
That made me stop and think a bit. These verses were also speaking about losing quality time with God. Read Proverbs 6:10-11 again and think about what happens when we put off our quiet time with God because we get too busy or want to relax in another way? We come to a point of spiritual poverty and our need becomes very great. This is not to say we are not busy doing God things or even studying His Word. I have discovered over time that I desperately need time each day to just read the Bible and not study it. To have no agenda or specific verses to read, but to just love it. This is something I had rested from lately. Oh, I was studying for three different Bible classes as well as writing everyday, but I had forgot to love it, just because it's there, and I found I was becoming impoverished.
Have some quality time with God today. Ask Him to let you know if poverty or need is sneaking up on you because of resting in the wrong way. Pray that you will have a heart willing to listen and change anything you might need to. Then praise Him for loving you enough to care in reshaping your heart for Him.
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