I absolutely love how my daily scripture readings always glean a new insight or make stronger one that I already know but need reconfirmed in my life.
This morning I was reminded in Deuteronomy 4:9 "be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." These were God's reminder to the Israelites and they are for us as well. As I wrote about yesterday the importance of sharing what God has done in your life, today was a confirmation of this. Move on to vs. 35 "You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other."
Both of these verses ring so true in my life. God has shown himself in our life so miraculously. He has provided for us, he has opened doors, he has given us more loving hearts, more forgiving hearts, more understanding hearts and reminded us to trust him as he leads us forward. How can I hold this in?
I want to pass on to our family the awesomeness of God. To remain in his word every day; vs. 29 says "But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." No matter where you have been or what you are facing it is his promise that he will be found - look for him - pray to him - read his word and ask him to open himself up to you. He will be there!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Come and Listen
Psalm 66:16 - "Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me."
I loved reading these words from David this morning. How often do we tell others what God has done in our life? I am trying to be vulnerable when I write. I think that being open and honest is what people can relate to the most. It's not something I have done freely during most of my life, yet I am finding that telling of the great things that God does is so freeing.
I believe that there are things that God does in our life that are for us personally, not necessarily to tell everyone. There are also things in our life that by sharing them with others it may encourage someone else. When Jesus performed his miracles during his ministry the people would tell others what happened to them. It definitely stirred up problems for Jesus, but many others came to believe by the sharing of their testimony.
If you have a cool story of God working in your life I would love to hear about it. Drop me a comment and let's share the wonders of Jesus in our lives.
I loved reading these words from David this morning. How often do we tell others what God has done in our life? I am trying to be vulnerable when I write. I think that being open and honest is what people can relate to the most. It's not something I have done freely during most of my life, yet I am finding that telling of the great things that God does is so freeing.
I believe that there are things that God does in our life that are for us personally, not necessarily to tell everyone. There are also things in our life that by sharing them with others it may encourage someone else. When Jesus performed his miracles during his ministry the people would tell others what happened to them. It definitely stirred up problems for Jesus, but many others came to believe by the sharing of their testimony.
If you have a cool story of God working in your life I would love to hear about it. Drop me a comment and let's share the wonders of Jesus in our lives.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
THE LORD'S PROVISION
I must say that the Lord's provision for us has been more than imaginable. Yesterday I was on my knees and didn't want to get up. I just felt so humbled that he has provided for our needs more than we could have ever asked or imagined. In the past days he has shown himself in our life so much that I can hardly take it all in.
About a week ago the baby birds left the nest. One day there there, the next day there gone. But there was one baby bird that was hesitant to leave. It sat on the window ledge outside our bathroom window. Just on the other end of the ledge was the empty nest. I watched for a while to see what would happen. Mother landed next to him and fed him a worm and flew up in the tree. Seeminly trying to coax him off the ledge. He would flap his wings here and there but still stayed. Mother came back again, then flew off again. Finally, baby flew on to the ground below. Mother joined him and they hopped around for a while. As they hopped around toward the back yard it was as if mother was saying "come on, you can do it - just fly over here - good, now come a little farther, you can do it - if I have to keep coming back to you to convince you it's ok I will do that until you realize that you are safe and that you do have the strength to fly."
It was so clear to me that I am so often like that baby bird. I know that Jesus is going to take care of everything, yet I sometimes hold back. It's as if Jesus is telling me the same thing mother told baby bird. "It's ok - I'll be right by your side." How comforting! It doesn't matter how hesitant I am, - he never gives up on me. He will keep coming to my side and telling me it's ok.
Right now my door bell just rang. I signed for a certified letter. I opened it up and tears just poured from my eyes as again there was his provision inside. I am so overwhelmed and so humbled. What must the Lord have in store for us. I can never ever repay him for everything. I am a pitiful sinner, who get's in pits of doubts and fears. Whoever is reading this, please remember that it doesn't matter what your failures or weaknesses are, God doesn't measure his goodness to us based on what we can do. He loves us so much, despite our own weaknesses - and he wants to use us through our weaknesses.
JUST PRAISE HIM IN WHATEVER YOU FACE! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!
About a week ago the baby birds left the nest. One day there there, the next day there gone. But there was one baby bird that was hesitant to leave. It sat on the window ledge outside our bathroom window. Just on the other end of the ledge was the empty nest. I watched for a while to see what would happen. Mother landed next to him and fed him a worm and flew up in the tree. Seeminly trying to coax him off the ledge. He would flap his wings here and there but still stayed. Mother came back again, then flew off again. Finally, baby flew on to the ground below. Mother joined him and they hopped around for a while. As they hopped around toward the back yard it was as if mother was saying "come on, you can do it - just fly over here - good, now come a little farther, you can do it - if I have to keep coming back to you to convince you it's ok I will do that until you realize that you are safe and that you do have the strength to fly."
It was so clear to me that I am so often like that baby bird. I know that Jesus is going to take care of everything, yet I sometimes hold back. It's as if Jesus is telling me the same thing mother told baby bird. "It's ok - I'll be right by your side." How comforting! It doesn't matter how hesitant I am, - he never gives up on me. He will keep coming to my side and telling me it's ok.
I don't want to sit long on the ledge afraid to fly like this baby bird was. With Jesus I/we will soar on wings of and Eagle. He will carry us all the way.
Right now my door bell just rang. I signed for a certified letter. I opened it up and tears just poured from my eyes as again there was his provision inside. I am so overwhelmed and so humbled. What must the Lord have in store for us. I can never ever repay him for everything. I am a pitiful sinner, who get's in pits of doubts and fears. Whoever is reading this, please remember that it doesn't matter what your failures or weaknesses are, God doesn't measure his goodness to us based on what we can do. He loves us so much, despite our own weaknesses - and he wants to use us through our weaknesses.
JUST PRAISE HIM IN WHATEVER YOU FACE! GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wisdom!
I was talking this morning with another pastor's wife. Good conversation that the Lord lead me to have with her. She prayed with me and shared a glimpse into the difficulties ministry has been for them. She brought me reassurance that she could hear in my words a moving forward in the assurance that God will use what we have been through to minister to others more effectively. A reassurance that we are in God's will and that we have healed, not taking bitterness and unforgiveness with us. But the reminder that there are still scars there, even a few sores that will need continued healing.
I was also reminded that God wants to give us wisdom. To fight the battle of the enemy we need to have our armor on. Yet we need wisdom to outlast the enemy. I heard this morning "If we try to go into battle without wisdom the enemy can defeat because of our imaturity - zeal doesn't last - wisdom is better than strength. Don't think in your zeal that you can just run out and defeat the enemy."
The definition of Wisdom: knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; discernment, or insight.
Wisdom seeks council of others. Wisdom takes time to stop and think and most importantly, to seek wisdom from Jesus. He is our example. He learned from his father, he sought council from him, and he had his disciples along side of him. He was also older and wiser when he began his full blown ministry. Maturity needed to be behind him as well. He learned from his earthly parents wisdom and from his heavenly Father. Lest we think that we are better than that, we too need to seek wisdom and good council. But not just to hear the council - to heed it. Otherwise we run into situations with zeal (not bad in itself) and have not listened to wisdom that others may have. No matter what our age is, we never should stop seeking wisdom.
"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." Proverbs 13:10
The proverbs list many verses on wisdom - this is an important aspect in the Christian walk. Isn't pride behind a lack of wisdom? When you stop and think about that - when I don't listen to someone else when they share an insight to me, when I choose to disregard it, in my pride I think that I have it right. Pride goes before the fall. Again words from scripture that I need to pay attention to every day.
Lord, grant me wisdom - to hear from others - to learn from others - and most important, to seek you for wisdom. Remove any pride that is within me. Strip it from me so I can serve you in humility. Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you!
I was also reminded that God wants to give us wisdom. To fight the battle of the enemy we need to have our armor on. Yet we need wisdom to outlast the enemy. I heard this morning "If we try to go into battle without wisdom the enemy can defeat because of our imaturity - zeal doesn't last - wisdom is better than strength. Don't think in your zeal that you can just run out and defeat the enemy."
The definition of Wisdom: knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; discernment, or insight.
Wisdom seeks council of others. Wisdom takes time to stop and think and most importantly, to seek wisdom from Jesus. He is our example. He learned from his father, he sought council from him, and he had his disciples along side of him. He was also older and wiser when he began his full blown ministry. Maturity needed to be behind him as well. He learned from his earthly parents wisdom and from his heavenly Father. Lest we think that we are better than that, we too need to seek wisdom and good council. But not just to hear the council - to heed it. Otherwise we run into situations with zeal (not bad in itself) and have not listened to wisdom that others may have. No matter what our age is, we never should stop seeking wisdom.
"Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice." Proverbs 13:10
The proverbs list many verses on wisdom - this is an important aspect in the Christian walk. Isn't pride behind a lack of wisdom? When you stop and think about that - when I don't listen to someone else when they share an insight to me, when I choose to disregard it, in my pride I think that I have it right. Pride goes before the fall. Again words from scripture that I need to pay attention to every day.
Lord, grant me wisdom - to hear from others - to learn from others - and most important, to seek you for wisdom. Remove any pride that is within me. Strip it from me so I can serve you in humility. Thank you Lord Jesus, thank you!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
MIRACULOUS HEALING
God is so huge. As I sat down on the computer to check email, daughter Denise called. She and her husband Mike are in day 2 of their training week for their 11 month mission trip. They traveled to Georgia a few days ago. I must write this story. Remember never to keep our God in a box. He can do ANYTHING!
Friday morning at 8am I had another PT appointment. My usual 2-3 days a week. The PT that works on me was Denise's teacher in PTA school and has always had a special place in Denise's heart. It must have been about 8:30 when one of the gals in the office came into the room where I was being worked on to give me a message. My husband had called to let me know that Denise had injured her knee and was unable to walk. (Training week started Friday evening.) She was in a lot of pain and it was the knee that she had previously had a complete ACL surgery on 10 years ago. Sherry (PT) heard the message and peaked an interest in Denise's injury. We discussed a bit and she took Denise's cell phone number and said she would call her.
I headed off to the gym - Sherry called to talk to Denise. Sherry said it sounded like a meniscus injury. She had been running and it got worse as time went on. Rest it and take anti-inflammatories to reduce the inflamation. Call her in a few days for an update.
I felt so bad for her, she was so excited about training week and now she couldn't even walk. So this afternoon I sent her a text message just asking her how she was doing. She just phoned me with an update. Training was to begin at 7:00 pm on Friday. (keep in mind that she couldn't put any weight on it) There was a hill that they needed to climb down and as she and Mike began she was dreading making the trek. She suddenly realized that her knee didn't hurt at all. She couldn't walk on it - and now she can. No pain! She was blown away by Jesus healing.
This made my night - Please don't underestimate what God can do. Believe - believe! When our children were little we use to sing the song "My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do..." Do we really believe this?
My heart feels humbled to be in his presence.
Praise Him!
Friday, May 22, 2009
Freedom
You know, when we go through times where we question things, doubts creep in...etc. I always see that when you turn to God that he will turn around how you "feel". Yesterday I felt sad about leaving our house to the unknown, but today God put a couple of different things in my day to remind me that it's ok. Wherever we go it's ok. Like God saying to me - Maybe, just maybe what I have planned for you will be good after all. I've shown you a few things today to assure you that I can see the overall picture, you cannot. I see each of your children's tomorrow - you cannot. So I thank the Lord for washing over me with his peace. Jesus makes me smile.
Spend time every day reading the bible. They say that 21 days makes a habit. As you begin pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal scripture to you. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13 This is a promise!
Jeremiah reminds us as most Christians have heard many times "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Scripture that we've always read, studied...still comes back to us as assurance at times in our lives. This scripture is stronger to me today than yesterday. I love how God talks with us through his word. I love how he talks with us through circumstances in our life. I really love drawing near to God daily. I find that the nearer I draw to him the more I can see him in every aspect of my day. "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you." Isn't that the coolest scripture? Him drawing near to me - wow - but we are invited to draw near to him - that's even cooler.
Spend time every day reading the bible. They say that 21 days makes a habit. As you begin pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal scripture to you. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13 This is a promise!Lord, we are hungering and thirsting for you.
Draw near!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
COMFORTABLE
I feel comfortable in our home. Do you know the feeling, you know where you keep everything, you've painted every room, you have a favorite room...etc. I've tried very hard to make our home a place of warmth for the family. A place where they can come and feel secure and loved. A place where Jesus is enveloped all around. Seems like so often we are in the kitchen just talking about cool God things.
But, we are at the brink of signing the house over. Not living here anymore makes me sad. I see our family walk in the door to the love and warmth that is here. But this morning in my prayers I knelt down and asked the Lord to please show me any way that my comfortable is a sin. Any way where I have made my home my place of comfort over Him. I sought his presence, I confessed if there is any of this in me and asked him to remove it from me.
My desire is to completely surrender all of who I am to him. To see him as the ultimate comfortor alone. Nothing else matters - NOTHING! A home is a home, but Jesus is our real home, our place of refuge. His Word says "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." Refuge, according to the dictionary is a place of shelter, protection and safety. Now if my home is that to me it will soon fade away. What could possibly be better than Jesus being our shelter - he carries us as wings of and Eagle. He will keep us safe not our house.
I love that I can wake up each day and spend time studying the Word of God. I love that when my foot slips he will be there to catch me. If I get too comfortable he will remind me that he is the comfortor. Walking out our faith is a daily process. We will never "arrive"! Some days we are stronger than other days. That is just being real. Why gloss over it, that's the way we human's are.
Jesus words "Abide in me and I in you..." To abide is to live with, to make our home in him. He will take care of our earthly needs. He has already done that. He wants us to abide completely in him, no matter what he prunes out of our life. He and He alone is all we need, he will take care of the rest.
Lord, fill me with your comfort - yours alone!
But, we are at the brink of signing the house over. Not living here anymore makes me sad. I see our family walk in the door to the love and warmth that is here. But this morning in my prayers I knelt down and asked the Lord to please show me any way that my comfortable is a sin. Any way where I have made my home my place of comfort over Him. I sought his presence, I confessed if there is any of this in me and asked him to remove it from me.
My desire is to completely surrender all of who I am to him. To see him as the ultimate comfortor alone. Nothing else matters - NOTHING! A home is a home, but Jesus is our real home, our place of refuge. His Word says "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." Refuge, according to the dictionary is a place of shelter, protection and safety. Now if my home is that to me it will soon fade away. What could possibly be better than Jesus being our shelter - he carries us as wings of and Eagle. He will keep us safe not our house.
I love that I can wake up each day and spend time studying the Word of God. I love that when my foot slips he will be there to catch me. If I get too comfortable he will remind me that he is the comfortor. Walking out our faith is a daily process. We will never "arrive"! Some days we are stronger than other days. That is just being real. Why gloss over it, that's the way we human's are.
Jesus words "Abide in me and I in you..." To abide is to live with, to make our home in him. He will take care of our earthly needs. He has already done that. He wants us to abide completely in him, no matter what he prunes out of our life. He and He alone is all we need, he will take care of the rest.
Lord, fill me with your comfort - yours alone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)