God amazed me yet again. Yesterday I was blessed to be able to go and buy a new laptop that I could not afford. A few weeks ago we decided that it was getting close to time to start earnest prayer for a new one, and this past week the finances for it came in. Here's the best part: I was given through several gifts, $1,070.00. Do you know how much everything came to that I needed? $1,069.98.
I suppose God needed to make sure I kept my two cents worth.
We had asked Him to provide no more than what we needed so that we would know what He knew was best for us, and He did. That's the best way to shop! I prayed while shopping around and comparing prices and deals that He would guide me to the right one, and He even gave me a secondary confirmation that this was the right laptop. God knows that I am a natural worrier: What if that better deal was just around the corner? What if I was ripped off? What if...what if...what if? So He taught me to take it all to him in prayer. It's not like He doesn't know what the best deal is and what I will need down the road, so why not trust Him?
Do you take your purchases to the Lord? Take some time today to ask the Lord what it is He wants you to have and to change your heart's desires to match.
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.
Psalm 37:4-5
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
The One
God woke me up this morning.
There was a thunderstorm that came through our area a little after 5 A.M. and I awoke to lightning and clashes of thunder. Instead of thinking of the storm and enjoying it, a beautiful gift was given to me: I imagined I was in heaven with the glory of God flashing around me and I worshiped Him. Revelation 4 came to my mind...
Revelation 4:2-3, 5-6, 8-10
...and there in heaven a throne was set. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne... From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder. Burning before the throne were seven fiery torches, which are the seven spirits of God.
Also before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back... Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stopped saying:
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:
AMEN and AMEN. Come soon Lord Jesus! Thank you Father for the reminder of Your majesty and glory; I long for the day I may worship You before Your throne!
There was a thunderstorm that came through our area a little after 5 A.M. and I awoke to lightning and clashes of thunder. Instead of thinking of the storm and enjoying it, a beautiful gift was given to me: I imagined I was in heaven with the glory of God flashing around me and I worshiped Him. Revelation 4 came to my mind...
Revelation 4:2-3, 5-6, 8-10
...and there in heaven a throne was set. One was seated on the throne, and the One seated looked like jasper and carnelian stone. A rainbow that looked like an emerald surrounded the throne... From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and thunder. Burning before the throne were seven fiery torches, which are the seven spirits of God.
Also before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the middle and around the throne were four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back... Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stopped saying:
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God, the Almighty,
Who was, and is,
And who is coming.
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the One seated on the throne, the One who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before the One seated on the throne, worship the One who lives forever and ever, cast their crowns before the throne, and say:
Our Lord and God,
You are worthy to receive
glory and honor and power,
because You have created all things,
and because of Your will
they exist and were created.
AMEN and AMEN. Come soon Lord Jesus! Thank you Father for the reminder of Your majesty and glory; I long for the day I may worship You before Your throne!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Fish
I discovered yesterday that I thought I had God figured out some. Usually, God works at the last possible second, so that's what I was expecting, to be quite honest. I had prayed for Him to provide something - and fully expected Him to - when desperation set in. But He surprised me! I was settling in for a long wait, when WHAM! He blessed me!
Sometimes my Abba loves to spoil his little girl...
Thank you to those of you who helped Him do this. I am humbled. Spend some time today to praise him for giving us fish instead of snakes! I sure am :D
Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask of Him!
Matthew 7:7-11
Sometimes my Abba loves to spoil his little girl...
Thank you to those of you who helped Him do this. I am humbled. Spend some time today to praise him for giving us fish instead of snakes! I sure am :D
Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask of Him!
Matthew 7:7-11
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Seek, And Ye Shall Find?
Sometimes I just need a good laugh. Why is there no blooper "Easter Egg" for the Bible?
I'm sure there are several things, but I can't come up with many right now. Here are a few I can think of- add some of your own!
- The worshipers of Baal who did their lame dance in 1 Kings 18:26
- I would have loved to see the look on Jeremiah's face when God told him to go buy new underwear, wear it without washing it, then go and bury it next to a river a few hundred miles away. Jeremiah 13:1-7
- Peter was described as saying something was "good.........because he did not know what he should say..." Mark 9:5-6
- Here is honesty: Abigail says to David, concerning her husband, "My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name is Nabal, and stupidity is all he knows..." 1 Samuel 25:25
What others have you found in the Bible?
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Nothing
God reminded me yesterday that I know nothing.
Actually, He reminded me that what I think I know isn't worth knowing and has been taking up most the space of the "nothing" I should know. Uh-huh.
What "nothing" is that?
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (Emphasis mine)
What does it look like to know nothing among people except Christ? I am so grateful Paul elaborated...
1 Corinthians 2:3-7
And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not be based on men's wisdom but on God's power.
However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory.
There are two "nothing"'s in "knowing nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified." The first is to unbelievers. We are to show nothing but the power of the Spirit to them, so that they are not convinced with fancy words and sound logic, but with the Spirit. In this way we will not help them deceive themselves so they someday hear, "...I never knew you! 'Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'" (Matthew 7:23)
The second "nothing" is for those who are mature in Christ. We are to speak nothing of this age and it's wisdom's understanding, but of "God's hidden wisdom in a mystery". It's nothing that should make any sense to a sinful and unbroken heart, but it's life and beauty to us.
There is a great freedom and trust in knowing nothing; For we are then free to trust God in everything.
Actually, He reminded me that what I think I know isn't worth knowing and has been taking up most the space of the "nothing" I should know. Uh-huh.
What "nothing" is that?
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I am determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. (Emphasis mine)
What does it look like to know nothing among people except Christ? I am so grateful Paul elaborated...
1 Corinthians 2:3-7
And I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that your faith might not be based on men's wisdom but on God's power.
However, among the mature we do speak a wisdom, but not of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. On the contrary, we speak God's hidden wisdom in a mystery, which God predestined before the ages for our glory.
There are two "nothing"'s in "knowing nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified." The first is to unbelievers. We are to show nothing but the power of the Spirit to them, so that they are not convinced with fancy words and sound logic, but with the Spirit. In this way we will not help them deceive themselves so they someday hear, "...I never knew you! 'Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!'" (Matthew 7:23)
The second "nothing" is for those who are mature in Christ. We are to speak nothing of this age and it's wisdom's understanding, but of "God's hidden wisdom in a mystery". It's nothing that should make any sense to a sinful and unbroken heart, but it's life and beauty to us.
There is a great freedom and trust in knowing nothing; For we are then free to trust God in everything.
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Instruction Of The Lord
The instruction of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul...
Psalm 19:7a
Do you really believe that? Really. I admit that it has only been in the last several months that I realized I never truly did. When you get down to the heart of it, if we believed it we would act upon it.
Upset? Depressed? Heartbroken?
Go to His Word...
Angry? Frustrated? Impatient?
Go to His Word...
Weary? Tired? Indifferent?
Go to His Word...
He promises through His Word, that His Word will revive not only our strength, joy, or happiness, but our very soul. Why is it then that we turn to just about any other means, before we turn to Scripture? We take vacations, read a book, watch a show, have a pedicure, eat some chocolate, go shopping.... whatever we feel would revive us. What we turn to is what we put our faith in.
The amazing thing is how well reading Scripture works! Now, it is no instant cure, miracle pill, but it does revive. I have put it to some very strenuous tests in the last few months, and have been blown away and humbled at the power, grace, and mercy the Lord has made available to us: If only we reach out to Him this way.
Next time you find yourself needing a "fix" for some reason, open the Bible. Go to the Lord and ask Him to revive your soul at that moment, and remind Him of His promise in Psalm 19:7. Then listen, search, read, and be revived.
Psalm 19:7a
Do you really believe that? Really. I admit that it has only been in the last several months that I realized I never truly did. When you get down to the heart of it, if we believed it we would act upon it.
Upset? Depressed? Heartbroken?
Go to His Word...
Angry? Frustrated? Impatient?
Go to His Word...
Weary? Tired? Indifferent?
Go to His Word...
He promises through His Word, that His Word will revive not only our strength, joy, or happiness, but our very soul. Why is it then that we turn to just about any other means, before we turn to Scripture? We take vacations, read a book, watch a show, have a pedicure, eat some chocolate, go shopping.... whatever we feel would revive us. What we turn to is what we put our faith in.
The amazing thing is how well reading Scripture works! Now, it is no instant cure, miracle pill, but it does revive. I have put it to some very strenuous tests in the last few months, and have been blown away and humbled at the power, grace, and mercy the Lord has made available to us: If only we reach out to Him this way.
Next time you find yourself needing a "fix" for some reason, open the Bible. Go to the Lord and ask Him to revive your soul at that moment, and remind Him of His promise in Psalm 19:7. Then listen, search, read, and be revived.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
I Love You This Much
Last night I read about the end of days in the book of Mark, it came to me that it doesn't matter your view on the timeline of what we are shown in Revelation. The only thing that counts is your heart:
Do you trust Jesus Christ and love Him enough to live through the entirety of the Great Tribulation if He deemed it best, or do you not?
Do you trust Jesus Christ and love Him enough to live through the entirety of the Great Tribulation if He deemed it best, or do you not?
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