"Commit your ways to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noon day sun." Psalm 37:5-6
I was convicted this morning by this verse. While I am thankful for conviction it still doesn't feel good to experience the conviction. In an effort to ask someone for help I sent an email listing the things I would do in an effort to justify what I was asking them to do in the sitution. That has typically been "my way" over the years whenever I required help from someone. It is rare that I ask for help which is a point of pride I know that I also need to work on...one conviction at a time--please!
This verse reminds me that we all have "our way" for which we orchestrate our lives. Committing our way to the LORD means to give up our agenda and every human effort to achieve that agenda and lay it at the LORD's feet. Through this offering and sacrifice we are basically saying, "Lord, I trust you to accomplish your will, in your way and in your time. Through this offering of our "way" he will provide everything needed for us to accomplish what is required in our life through His way.
Father, help me to remember this in everything I do today. Amen
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Who Am I?
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9
This has always been one of my dad's favorite Bible verses and it is equally mine. Our church is sponsoring a new program, Life Hurts God Heals - H.O.P.E. Chapter (Helping Other Parents Endure) which is support for parents of troubled teens. When my husband and I were traveling through our daughter's drug addiction it was so easy for me to redefine who I was based on her very public and destructive lifestyle. I took on her sins for reconciliation and diminshed my value in my own eyes. I felt the shame and disgrace of her sins and inevitably assigned myself the worth that went along with the sins of someone else.
In looking back, I wish I would have carried this verse around with me on an index card and read it throughout every day. With so many adults wounded from childhood experiences, broken relationships and life's daily wounds it is easy to redefine our worth.
God chose us first because He loved us first. Our love for Him was a response to Him first loving us. We cannot receive His love until we remind ourselves that we are valued enough by Him to deserve His love.
When faced with situations that diminish our value recite this verse to remind yourself of your amazing worth to an amazing God. Don't allow the wounds, pain and journeys of others to define your worth.
This has always been one of my dad's favorite Bible verses and it is equally mine. Our church is sponsoring a new program, Life Hurts God Heals - H.O.P.E. Chapter (Helping Other Parents Endure) which is support for parents of troubled teens. When my husband and I were traveling through our daughter's drug addiction it was so easy for me to redefine who I was based on her very public and destructive lifestyle. I took on her sins for reconciliation and diminshed my value in my own eyes. I felt the shame and disgrace of her sins and inevitably assigned myself the worth that went along with the sins of someone else.
In looking back, I wish I would have carried this verse around with me on an index card and read it throughout every day. With so many adults wounded from childhood experiences, broken relationships and life's daily wounds it is easy to redefine our worth.
God chose us first because He loved us first. Our love for Him was a response to Him first loving us. We cannot receive His love until we remind ourselves that we are valued enough by Him to deserve His love.
When faced with situations that diminish our value recite this verse to remind yourself of your amazing worth to an amazing God. Don't allow the wounds, pain and journeys of others to define your worth.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sufficient Grace
"But he said to me,'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me...For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Co. 12:9-10
When a situation breathes life into Scripture it builds our testimony and faith. Boasting about how we received life from verses is a cornerstone for deepening our faith and pulling from past faith in future weaknesses. It is the proof that God's words are still active, tried and true. When we face the worst situations in our lives which intersect with God's promise it is at that moment that we experience and bind ourselves to Him for victory.
Recently our family experienced deep earthly pain in our sister's journey to Heaven but have all experienced the sufficient grace that has been made ours. God, through His unique healing has ministered to each of us according to our own need for personal healing. He is a unique God for unique pain. While reading my grandmother's book I thought I would share an exerpt from her chapter on Bereavement three weeks after she lost my grandfather.
"I praise God for I am standing on holy ground completely overwhelmed at what God is doing for me in this period of bereavement. Humanly speaking, I should be devastated by Dewey's passing, for I believe no two people could have been closer than we were. However, I am at peace and there is absolutely no way to account for what is NOT HAPPENING in my heart except that it is by the grace of God. All of my life I have heard of the grace of God but only now have I begun to realize its mighty power. In spiritual reality we are not separated for we are both in the Body of Christ, he in the heavenly section and I in the earthly. My human spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and His comfort rules my soul."
Our family is experiencing her February 20, 1992 entry. This comfort, mercy and grace is affored to everyone in whatever situation takes your focus and peace.
Sufficient grace is there without exemption if you believe this verse is as unique to you as God is unique to all!
When a situation breathes life into Scripture it builds our testimony and faith. Boasting about how we received life from verses is a cornerstone for deepening our faith and pulling from past faith in future weaknesses. It is the proof that God's words are still active, tried and true. When we face the worst situations in our lives which intersect with God's promise it is at that moment that we experience and bind ourselves to Him for victory.
Recently our family experienced deep earthly pain in our sister's journey to Heaven but have all experienced the sufficient grace that has been made ours. God, through His unique healing has ministered to each of us according to our own need for personal healing. He is a unique God for unique pain. While reading my grandmother's book I thought I would share an exerpt from her chapter on Bereavement three weeks after she lost my grandfather.
"I praise God for I am standing on holy ground completely overwhelmed at what God is doing for me in this period of bereavement. Humanly speaking, I should be devastated by Dewey's passing, for I believe no two people could have been closer than we were. However, I am at peace and there is absolutely no way to account for what is NOT HAPPENING in my heart except that it is by the grace of God. All of my life I have heard of the grace of God but only now have I begun to realize its mighty power. In spiritual reality we are not separated for we are both in the Body of Christ, he in the heavenly section and I in the earthly. My human spirit is indwelt by the Holy Spirit and His comfort rules my soul."
Our family is experiencing her February 20, 1992 entry. This comfort, mercy and grace is affored to everyone in whatever situation takes your focus and peace.
Sufficient grace is there without exemption if you believe this verse is as unique to you as God is unique to all!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Who Will Be Your Master
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear), but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." 2 Tim. 1:7
God gives love...
the world gives fear;
God gives grace...
the world gives judgement;
God gives mercy...
the world gives grief;
God gives hope...
the world gives helplessness;
God gives life...
the world gives death.
Who will be your master?
God gives love...
the world gives fear;
God gives grace...
the world gives judgement;
God gives mercy...
the world gives grief;
God gives hope...
the world gives helplessness;
God gives life...
the world gives death.
Who will be your master?
Friday, March 27, 2009
I Gave You My Son...
"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things." Romans 8:32.
When I think of the sacrifice God gave to us as sinners, undeserving and unconditionally, I can't imagine sacrificing my child for the benefit of people whom I do not even know. To lay my child's life down voluntarily for the benefit of murderers, robbers, liars, and drug dealers to name a few warrants a lack of true understanding of God because we would never do this.
How is it that we can believe on this sacrifice as the basis of our Christian faith but think God would give us less than His best in our daily walk. Christ is God's best in full bloom and yet sometimes we don't really believe that what He brings to us measures up to His best in everything. Why would the Father give His most treasured possession and withhold things lesser than that? He wouldn't...
Clothe yourself in the truth that everything God does for you, through you and in you is for the benefit of you. Now that's a nice garment...
When I think of the sacrifice God gave to us as sinners, undeserving and unconditionally, I can't imagine sacrificing my child for the benefit of people whom I do not even know. To lay my child's life down voluntarily for the benefit of murderers, robbers, liars, and drug dealers to name a few warrants a lack of true understanding of God because we would never do this.
How is it that we can believe on this sacrifice as the basis of our Christian faith but think God would give us less than His best in our daily walk. Christ is God's best in full bloom and yet sometimes we don't really believe that what He brings to us measures up to His best in everything. Why would the Father give His most treasured possession and withhold things lesser than that? He wouldn't...
Clothe yourself in the truth that everything God does for you, through you and in you is for the benefit of you. Now that's a nice garment...
Thursday, March 26, 2009
I'm Thirsty!
"The woman said to him, 'Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.'" John 4:15
Leading up to our sister's death we all prayed for preparedness, acceptance and comfort as we faced her homegoing. We knew the prayers to pray regarding his mercy and grace that would be required to get through the situation. We had to intellectually accept that his grace would be sufficient if the earthly miracle did not occur. Our faith in the belief that His mercy, grace and comfort would be the water that would quench our thirst is what kept us grounded.
The day her spirit left her worn and broken body was the day that theory became reality. Our family cried to our Father, 'Sir, give me this water so I won't get thirsty..." and did He ever provide. We have been blessed with the living water that keeps our thirst quenched. We no longer have to ask for the drink for it is the continued flow from the Holy Spirit which wets, satisfies and quenches our dry mouths.
We simply have to say the same words this woman at the well spoke thousands of years ago. Sir, give me this water...
Leading up to our sister's death we all prayed for preparedness, acceptance and comfort as we faced her homegoing. We knew the prayers to pray regarding his mercy and grace that would be required to get through the situation. We had to intellectually accept that his grace would be sufficient if the earthly miracle did not occur. Our faith in the belief that His mercy, grace and comfort would be the water that would quench our thirst is what kept us grounded.
The day her spirit left her worn and broken body was the day that theory became reality. Our family cried to our Father, 'Sir, give me this water so I won't get thirsty..." and did He ever provide. We have been blessed with the living water that keeps our thirst quenched. We no longer have to ask for the drink for it is the continued flow from the Holy Spirit which wets, satisfies and quenches our dry mouths.
We simply have to say the same words this woman at the well spoke thousands of years ago. Sir, give me this water...
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Random Acts?
"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." 1 Cor. 14:33
A short verse with a mighty punch! I just discovered yesterday that a precious couple whom I attended school with many years ago has just lost their 9 year old daughter suddenly. This strikes an emotional cord with me as we have just lost our dear sister which was suddenly diagnosed 11 months ago with a rare liver disease and as quickly as she was diagnosed she was gone.
Life opens new boundaries when we set life according to our own understanding. We would like to believe that we have control over our own lives but when news such as this is received we are reminded that life does not ask for permission to stretch us but simply forces its will upon us leaving us to experience whatever the circumstances bring.
Devastation feels like chaos and disorder but it did not catch God off guard. One of my favorite verses is Daniel 2:22b, "he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." Nothing is off limits regarding the promise of this verse. It has been more than just theory over my life and comes up tried and true everytime.
A short verse with a mighty punch! I just discovered yesterday that a precious couple whom I attended school with many years ago has just lost their 9 year old daughter suddenly. This strikes an emotional cord with me as we have just lost our dear sister which was suddenly diagnosed 11 months ago with a rare liver disease and as quickly as she was diagnosed she was gone.
Life opens new boundaries when we set life according to our own understanding. We would like to believe that we have control over our own lives but when news such as this is received we are reminded that life does not ask for permission to stretch us but simply forces its will upon us leaving us to experience whatever the circumstances bring.
Devastation feels like chaos and disorder but it did not catch God off guard. One of my favorite verses is Daniel 2:22b, "he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him." Nothing is off limits regarding the promise of this verse. It has been more than just theory over my life and comes up tried and true everytime.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
After the Rain...
"This is what the LORD says: 'Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,' declares the LORD. 'They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future,' declares the LORD."
It never ceases to amaze me how alive the Words from the Bible are when God needs to bring something to your spirit. These words were written thousands of years ago and yet they still speak, comfort and guide. I was so downheartened this morning regarding everything I had been through over the past year. Sweet Father spoke these words over me and they settled upon me like a golden mist of love. We have returned from the land of our enemy - cancer. There is a guaranteed hope for our future.
We all have lands in which we must battle but with God as our commander we can know not intellectually but spiritually that God will fight our battles for us. We will obtain victory, maybe a little bruised and battered but not broken.
Return from your land and claim hope for your future as a promise from God.
It never ceases to amaze me how alive the Words from the Bible are when God needs to bring something to your spirit. These words were written thousands of years ago and yet they still speak, comfort and guide. I was so downheartened this morning regarding everything I had been through over the past year. Sweet Father spoke these words over me and they settled upon me like a golden mist of love. We have returned from the land of our enemy - cancer. There is a guaranteed hope for our future.
We all have lands in which we must battle but with God as our commander we can know not intellectually but spiritually that God will fight our battles for us. We will obtain victory, maybe a little bruised and battered but not broken.
Return from your land and claim hope for your future as a promise from God.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Practice Makes Perfect
"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." Phil. 4:9.
How can we get better at something with no practice? There are things in this world we want to become efficient in that we are willing to work on hours upon end (such as Facebook!). What if we put into practice everything our trials have shown us, each lesson God laid upon our heart. Practice ending in results will make us motivated and excited to share our experiences with others. It breathes life into what we are working so hard to achieve - living life on the spiritual level instead of the earthly level.
In doing my Bible Study this morning (Max Lucado - Come Thirsty) he states "Don't look forward in fear, look backward in appreciation. God's proof is God's past. Forgetfulness sires fearfulness, but a good memory makes for a good heart. - Focus less on the problems ahead and more on the victories behind."
By doing this we rehearse and reminise on times God was faithful and we practice future faith through past victories.
How can we get better at something with no practice? There are things in this world we want to become efficient in that we are willing to work on hours upon end (such as Facebook!). What if we put into practice everything our trials have shown us, each lesson God laid upon our heart. Practice ending in results will make us motivated and excited to share our experiences with others. It breathes life into what we are working so hard to achieve - living life on the spiritual level instead of the earthly level.
In doing my Bible Study this morning (Max Lucado - Come Thirsty) he states "Don't look forward in fear, look backward in appreciation. God's proof is God's past. Forgetfulness sires fearfulness, but a good memory makes for a good heart. - Focus less on the problems ahead and more on the victories behind."
By doing this we rehearse and reminise on times God was faithful and we practice future faith through past victories.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
