Take a few moments to watch this video. It cracks me up thinking about how childish we can still act at times trying to get sympathy and/or attention.
I'll let you come up with your own comparisons to the church body, so I don't get in trouble.
There are so many...
I'm not saying this to judges others, but for us to watch out for ourselves. How many times have you done this. Not sure or don't want to think about it? Ask God to reveal it to you. I admit I have in times past. The point is not to do it in times future!
Enjoy-
You Hurt My Feelings!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
My Two Cents
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
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
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?
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Pitty Party For One, Please...
I admit it. I had a pitty party last night. And though I know you are tired of hearing about it, I'm even more tired of dealing with it: My food issues.
I wasn't mad at God, or even questioning why He was allowing it, I just needed to vent to Him for a bit. I told Him - among other things - that yes, I was grateful that I had more than just manna to eat, but that none of those Israelite mothers had to cook all those delicacies for their family three meals a day while they had to resist. As I sat there refusing to eat anything while my family chowed down on fried hot dogs and french fries, I almost gave in. I almost ate them both not caring the horrid consequences. That combination didn't hold the possibility of hospitalization....most likely. I was just about willing to risk it, but I didn't.
So that's when God finally stepped in. As Kevin was cleaning up the dishes - bless that man - I sat down to read my Bible. I've been reading through a one year reading Bible that breaks it up so that every day you read some Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and New Testament. Since I have been reading a day's worth whenever I get a chance, I'm a little ahead and was reading March 15th. Guess what it was about? Food. Let me give you an overview of what God pointed out to me. I'll be skipping through Numbers 11 which tells about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt:
Contemptible people among them had a strong craving for other food. The Israelites cried again and said, "Who will feed us meat? We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to look at but this manna!"....
Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents. The Lord was very angry; Moses was also provoked....
The Lord answered Moses,..... "Tell the people: Purify yourselves in readiness for tomorrow, and you will eat meat because you cried before the Lord: 'Who will feed us meat? We really had it good in Egypt.' The Lord will give you meat and you will eat. You will eat not for one day, or for two days, or five days, or 10 days, or 20 days, but for a whole month - until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes nauseating to you - because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and cried to Him: 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?' But Moses replied, "I'm in the middle of a people with 600,000 foot soldiers, yet You say, 'I will give them meat and they will eat for a month.'....
The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's power limited? You will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you."....
A wind sent by the Lord came up and blew quail in from the sea; it dropped them at the camp all around, three feet off the ground, about a day's journey in every direction. The people were up all that day and night and all the next day gathering the quail - the one who took the least gathered 33 bushels - and they spread them out all around the camp. While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord's anger burned against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague. So they named that place Kibrith-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved the meat.
Numbers 11:4-6, 10, 18-21, 23, 31-34
You know what the very next verse I was to read?
Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8
OK, God. I got it, again. Thank You for Your patience and Your promises!
Pitty party is over. Check, please.
I wasn't mad at God, or even questioning why He was allowing it, I just needed to vent to Him for a bit. I told Him - among other things - that yes, I was grateful that I had more than just manna to eat, but that none of those Israelite mothers had to cook all those delicacies for their family three meals a day while they had to resist. As I sat there refusing to eat anything while my family chowed down on fried hot dogs and french fries, I almost gave in. I almost ate them both not caring the horrid consequences. That combination didn't hold the possibility of hospitalization....most likely. I was just about willing to risk it, but I didn't.
So that's when God finally stepped in. As Kevin was cleaning up the dishes - bless that man - I sat down to read my Bible. I've been reading through a one year reading Bible that breaks it up so that every day you read some Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and New Testament. Since I have been reading a day's worth whenever I get a chance, I'm a little ahead and was reading March 15th. Guess what it was about? Food. Let me give you an overview of what God pointed out to me. I'll be skipping through Numbers 11 which tells about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt:
Contemptible people among them had a strong craving for other food. The Israelites cried again and said, "Who will feed us meat? We remember the free fish we ate in Egypt, along with the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. But now our appetite is gone; there is nothing to look at but this manna!"....
Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents. The Lord was very angry; Moses was also provoked....
The Lord answered Moses,..... "Tell the people: Purify yourselves in readiness for tomorrow, and you will eat meat because you cried before the Lord: 'Who will feed us meat? We really had it good in Egypt.' The Lord will give you meat and you will eat. You will eat not for one day, or for two days, or five days, or 10 days, or 20 days, but for a whole month - until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes nauseating to you - because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and cried to Him: 'Why did we ever leave Egypt?' But Moses replied, "I'm in the middle of a people with 600,000 foot soldiers, yet You say, 'I will give them meat and they will eat for a month.'....
The Lord answered Moses, "Is the Lord's power limited? You will see whether or not what I have promised will happen to you."....
A wind sent by the Lord came up and blew quail in from the sea; it dropped them at the camp all around, three feet off the ground, about a day's journey in every direction. The people were up all that day and night and all the next day gathering the quail - the one who took the least gathered 33 bushels - and they spread them out all around the camp. While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the Lord's anger burned against the people, and the Lord struck them with a very severe plague. So they named that place Kibrith-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved the meat.
Numbers 11:4-6, 10, 18-21, 23, 31-34
You know what the very next verse I was to read?
Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Psalm 34:8
OK, God. I got it, again. Thank You for Your patience and Your promises!
Pitty party is over. Check, please.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Being Grateful For Issues
I am so very good at messing things up and making them as difficult as possible!
This morning, I was so excited that I had the opportunity to read my Bible and then write on what the Spirit showed me, but - as so often is the case - that isn't what happened. First, we have the stomach flu at our house again. All evening I was cleaning and disinfecting and even slept on the couch to both stay away from it (Kevin), and be available to the kids if they need me. Needless to say, I didn't wake up well this morning.
After getting Lauren off to school, I sat down to get the computer up and running since it takes a while to start up. (Not too bad, I suppose, but 8 minutes seems an eternity in our instant society, doesn't it?) But there was a little pop-up in the corner about something being blocked during startup. That was my demise: I tried to fix it. FYI, if you don't know what you are doing with computers and there isn't someone living in your house who can fix your mistakes, don't click APPLY...
One little click took me two hours to figure out. Oh sure, it offered me all kinds of help options, but I had somehow disabled them all. There was the option of online help, but I had disabled the internet as well. How about calling technical support? I figured I'd just look it up.... online. Oh, yea. There is a drummer at our church who works at Dell in customer support and occasionally has "Chat Interaction of The Day..." on Facebook with stupid questions from customers. I just knew I was next.
I finally figured out enough to get the computer up and running, but I have somehow managed to take that 8 minute start up time to about 15. It's a skill...
So what does this have to do with God? Everything.
All these things are life principles, but they are also God's principles:
I truly believe God can teach us anywhere and through anything as long as we remain in His Word regularly. That is what this blog is about. How well He reminded me of that this morning!
This morning, I was so excited that I had the opportunity to read my Bible and then write on what the Spirit showed me, but - as so often is the case - that isn't what happened. First, we have the stomach flu at our house again. All evening I was cleaning and disinfecting and even slept on the couch to both stay away from it (Kevin), and be available to the kids if they need me. Needless to say, I didn't wake up well this morning.
After getting Lauren off to school, I sat down to get the computer up and running since it takes a while to start up. (Not too bad, I suppose, but 8 minutes seems an eternity in our instant society, doesn't it?) But there was a little pop-up in the corner about something being blocked during startup. That was my demise: I tried to fix it. FYI, if you don't know what you are doing with computers and there isn't someone living in your house who can fix your mistakes, don't click APPLY...
One little click took me two hours to figure out. Oh sure, it offered me all kinds of help options, but I had somehow disabled them all. There was the option of online help, but I had disabled the internet as well. How about calling technical support? I figured I'd just look it up.... online. Oh, yea. There is a drummer at our church who works at Dell in customer support and occasionally has "Chat Interaction of The Day..." on Facebook with stupid questions from customers. I just knew I was next.
I finally figured out enough to get the computer up and running, but I have somehow managed to take that 8 minute start up time to about 15. It's a skill...
So what does this have to do with God? Everything.
- I did a lot a praying,
- I practiced patience,
- I realized how very little I know,
- I discovered a new appreciation for all that my computer has to start up in the 8, I mean 15, minutes it is starting up,
- I was reminded of the benefits of persistence even in seemingly overwhelming odds,
- and I remembered how important it is to have someone you can turn to if you get stuck. -Yea, David, I was about to call you :)
All these things are life principles, but they are also God's principles:
- Praying? We always seem to run to God- as we should. Even those who don't "believe" when things get desperate enough. James 5:16
- Patience is the fruit a long time in ripening, but I got a little closer today. Proverbs 16:32
- It's always good to remember we don't know as much as we think we do. It keeps up humble before God. Job 38-40
- Sometimes we just don't know why a person is behaving in a certain way. We don't know what they are experiencing, but God does, thus it is a good thing that He is our judge and not each other. Isaiah 11:3-4
- We are often called to persevere in a hostile world: A world offended by the Gospel, but He is Faithful and True, and that's what counts. 1 Timothy 4:16
- Thank God for my brothers and sisters in Christ I can go to for prayer, support, and teaching! Hebrews 3:13
I truly believe God can teach us anywhere and through anything as long as we remain in His Word regularly. That is what this blog is about. How well He reminded me of that this morning!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Waiting
Today is a day of waiting.
I'm waiting to meet some friends, waiting to get the internet at my house tomorrow (yea!), waiting for a Dr. appointment Friday, waiting to finish studying for my lesson tomorrow until the kids go to bed, and so on...
Psalm 27:14 tells us, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous and let your heart be strong. Wait for the Lord."
Romans 8:22-25 instructs with life-long waiting not only for us, but for all creation: "...For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits - we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience."
I love those verses. Honestly, how often to we wait eagerly with patience? Eager and patience almost seem opposite to us. These are a great reminder.
What do you do while waiting? Can you say you have eager patience? I'm learning it- and it is not an easy lesson! But so worth it. What we must realize is that eager waiting does not necessarily mean idleness, but neither does it mean busyness. It is a balance.
What is the right balance? Read Scripture and pray a lot. He'll let you know, for yours will be different from mine. Seek Him and He will direct you: He promises. (Jeremiah 29:14) And He always keeps His promises. (Hebrews 10:23)
I'm waiting to meet some friends, waiting to get the internet at my house tomorrow (yea!), waiting for a Dr. appointment Friday, waiting to finish studying for my lesson tomorrow until the kids go to bed, and so on...
Psalm 27:14 tells us, "Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous and let your heart be strong. Wait for the Lord."
Romans 8:22-25 instructs with life-long waiting not only for us, but for all creation: "...For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. And not only that, but we ourselves who have the Spirit as the firstfruits - we also groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Now in this hope we were saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience."
I love those verses. Honestly, how often to we wait eagerly with patience? Eager and patience almost seem opposite to us. These are a great reminder.
What do you do while waiting? Can you say you have eager patience? I'm learning it- and it is not an easy lesson! But so worth it. What we must realize is that eager waiting does not necessarily mean idleness, but neither does it mean busyness. It is a balance.
What is the right balance? Read Scripture and pray a lot. He'll let you know, for yours will be different from mine. Seek Him and He will direct you: He promises. (Jeremiah 29:14) And He always keeps His promises. (Hebrews 10:23)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Bit or Bareback?
Psalms is one of those books I use to enjoy once in a blue moon, but seldom turned to with excitement. I'm not really sure why. But the Lord has changed that in the last few months. I have come to appreciate it so much more. The Scripture I read this morning describes well the season of life I'm in.
I will instruct you and show you the way you should go;
with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with a bit and bridle,
or else it will not come near you.
Psalm 32:8-9
Years ago when I was in the 6th grade, I took horseback riding lessons. I got to the point where I was learning to ride bareback and control the animal with the pressure of my knees. I absolutely loved the freedom of riding that way and I believe my Morgan horse did too.
As I read this Scripture in Psalm, I realized that the Lord is also training me to respond to the gentle nudging He gives me in life. It's a long and difficult training process, but well worth it in the end. And oh, the extra freedom! He desires us to run to Him without having to be pulled to Him by the bit (trial) placed in our mouth. Then, as that becomes second nature, He merely needs to instruct us the way to go. This is not to say we won't face trails anymore, but that the reasoning behind them changes from discipline to allowing us to show off His glory immediately.
Once we have learned to trust Him fully and follow Him commands, we need only to look at Him and discern His instruction for us. That is what I long for. That is the process that I am in right now. Training not to be "without understanding".
I will instruct you and show you the way you should go;
with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with a bit and bridle,
or else it will not come near you.
Psalm 32:8-9
Years ago when I was in the 6th grade, I took horseback riding lessons. I got to the point where I was learning to ride bareback and control the animal with the pressure of my knees. I absolutely loved the freedom of riding that way and I believe my Morgan horse did too.
As I read this Scripture in Psalm, I realized that the Lord is also training me to respond to the gentle nudging He gives me in life. It's a long and difficult training process, but well worth it in the end. And oh, the extra freedom! He desires us to run to Him without having to be pulled to Him by the bit (trial) placed in our mouth. Then, as that becomes second nature, He merely needs to instruct us the way to go. This is not to say we won't face trails anymore, but that the reasoning behind them changes from discipline to allowing us to show off His glory immediately.
Once we have learned to trust Him fully and follow Him commands, we need only to look at Him and discern His instruction for us. That is what I long for. That is the process that I am in right now. Training not to be "without understanding".
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Peanuts and Sin
I love how God can remind you of His Holiness in the mundane things of life.
The other day I was cleaning up in the kitchen and noticed a small Tupperware with a few leftover pieces of popcorn and a handful of peanuts from the kid's snack the day before. It was enough I didn't want to waste them by throwing it away so I asked my husband Kevin if he would finish it off so I could wash the container. Besides, I call him my human garbage disposal for a reason.
After eating it he started joking with me that I had given those to him on purpose so he couldn't kiss me since I'm so allergic to peanuts. I told him I had never thought of that and would make sure to remember that little trick for next time, but he just laughed and said, “That's what they make toothpaste and mouthwash for!”
That's when I started thinking. Sin can not dwell before God, rather like I can't have peanuts too close to me. It separates us from a close fellowship with Him just like peanuts do between my husband and I. But we have available to us some toothpaste and mouthwash to remedy the situation: Grace and forgiveness! Remember though, just because we purchased it and it sits in our house does not mean we are actively using it. We must “brush” regularly.
Take some time today to brush (remember the grace given to us and thank Him for it), rinse (ask for forgiveness and forgive those who have hurt us), and then come into a close fellowship with the Father.
The other day I was cleaning up in the kitchen and noticed a small Tupperware with a few leftover pieces of popcorn and a handful of peanuts from the kid's snack the day before. It was enough I didn't want to waste them by throwing it away so I asked my husband Kevin if he would finish it off so I could wash the container. Besides, I call him my human garbage disposal for a reason.
After eating it he started joking with me that I had given those to him on purpose so he couldn't kiss me since I'm so allergic to peanuts. I told him I had never thought of that and would make sure to remember that little trick for next time, but he just laughed and said, “That's what they make toothpaste and mouthwash for!”
That's when I started thinking. Sin can not dwell before God, rather like I can't have peanuts too close to me. It separates us from a close fellowship with Him just like peanuts do between my husband and I. But we have available to us some toothpaste and mouthwash to remedy the situation: Grace and forgiveness! Remember though, just because we purchased it and it sits in our house does not mean we are actively using it. We must “brush” regularly.
Take some time today to brush (remember the grace given to us and thank Him for it), rinse (ask for forgiveness and forgive those who have hurt us), and then come into a close fellowship with the Father.
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