Today's Reading: Psalm 94
O LORD, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth! Arise, O judge of the earth. Give the proud what they deserve. How long, O LORD? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat? How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast? They crush your people, LORD, hurting those you claim as your own. They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans. "The LORD isn't looking," they say, "and besides, the God of Israel doesn't care."
Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is he deaf--the one who made your ears? Is he blind--the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations--won't he also punish you? He knows everything--doesn't he also know what you are doing? The LORD knows people's thoughts; he knows they are worthless!
Joyful are those you discipline, LORD, those you teach with your instructions. You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked. The LORD will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. Judgement will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.
Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Unless the LORD had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, "I am slipping!" but your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side--leaders whose decrees permit injustice? They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide. God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.
Verses 1-7 are explaining setting the scene: the wicked seem to ahve the upper hand. They are prospering while the innocent, the widows, orphans and foreigners, are paying the price for their prosperity. The wicked are taking pleasure from others' pain. They believe God isn't looking and doesn't care.
Verses 8-11 are the writer's response to these outrageous claims. He answers in this way: Is he deaf--the one who made your ears? Is he blind--the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations--won't he also punish you? He knows everything--doesn't he know what you are doing? The LORD knows people's thoughts; he knows they are worthless!
Verses 12-15 are God's promise to protect those who seek his teaching. Judgement will again be founded in justice and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.
In verses 16-19, the writer admits even he felt the pain and injustice of the wicked. He admits openly that if it had not been fro the LORD's help he would have died. But the LORD comforted him. He says it this way in verse 19: When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
How often does your mind fill with doubts? Doubts about your job, money, whether or not your doing the right thing, raising your kids the right way. The list goes on and on. Well, that is where I have been this week. Like my Granny says, I've been "running around like a chicken with its head cut off." I've been going through the motions of the day with no true sense of direction because like the writer of this psalm, my mind has been filled with doubts. I will be honest and say while I was running around in this state of mind I never once thought to come to the one place where I knew it could be fixed--GOD. I was too busy trying to fix it myself, too busy playing Mrs. Fix-It and all I wound up doing was making a bigger mess.
So if you are in this state of running around today, STOP! Know that with God there is hope and renewed strength, you just have to come to him before you make the mess worse.
Power Verse:
Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Will you soar or tumble to the ground? The choice is yours.
Thought for the Day:
Just as you learn who your children are as well as their unique traits as they grow so too God longs for you to seek Him and learn who He is and in the process love Him for His uniqueness. He longs for a relationship with you.
If you don't know the LORD today, now is the perfect time to introduce yourself to Him and start that relationship. He is waiting with open arms. Here's how:
1. Know that God loves you.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. --John 3:16
The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. --John 10:10
2. Admit to God that you are a sinner and that you are turning from your sins.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. --Romans 3:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. --Romans 6:23
And just as each person is destined to die once and aft that comes to judgement. --Hebrews 9:27
3. Believe in Jesus by thanking Him for dying on the cross and rising from the dead for you sins.
I have one message for Jews and Gentiles alike--the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus. --Acts 20:21
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. --John 14: 6
4. Commit yoru life to Jesus by asking Him to come into your life as your Savior and Lord through prayer. After you have received Jesus Christ into your life, tell a Christian friend and follow Christ in believer's baptism and church membership.
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." --Romans 3:20
Friday, August 24, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Stressed? Anxious? Trust in God
Today's Reading: Psalm 93
The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannnot be shaken. Your throne, O LORD, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up, O LORD. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore--the LORD above is mightier than these! Your royal laws cannot be changed. Your reign, O LORD, is holy forever and ever.
Continous praise of God from Psalm 92 and continues on through Psalm 97. This psalm is one describing the Lord's might and his unchanging ways. It serves as a reminder that unlike everything else in the world the Lord does not change ever.
In times of trouble, stress or worry, learning to trust in the Lord is important. The word trust in greek means to believe in. We are asked to believe the Lord can do what He says. John 14:1 says: "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." I know that not letting the worries, anxiety and stress of this world get the best of us is easier said than done but we are challenged to give all these things to God and know that He cares for us and wants better for us than to live in such strain on our minds and our very souls. John 14:27 says: I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
I wanted to share a video by Mark Brown that I watched last night after having a day full of anxiety and stress. I can tell you it was a gift from God and I was able to rest after watching it and I hope and pray that if you are feeling the stress and strain of this world on your shoulders this video will give you a new outlook and lighten your load by knowing that God is there and will show you how to handle stress and anxiety in a world where we fight it every day. God Bless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Qld3G4knk
The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannnot be shaken. Your throne, O LORD, has stood from time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up, O LORD. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore--the LORD above is mightier than these! Your royal laws cannot be changed. Your reign, O LORD, is holy forever and ever.
Continous praise of God from Psalm 92 and continues on through Psalm 97. This psalm is one describing the Lord's might and his unchanging ways. It serves as a reminder that unlike everything else in the world the Lord does not change ever.
In times of trouble, stress or worry, learning to trust in the Lord is important. The word trust in greek means to believe in. We are asked to believe the Lord can do what He says. John 14:1 says: "Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." I know that not letting the worries, anxiety and stress of this world get the best of us is easier said than done but we are challenged to give all these things to God and know that He cares for us and wants better for us than to live in such strain on our minds and our very souls. John 14:27 says: I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.
I wanted to share a video by Mark Brown that I watched last night after having a day full of anxiety and stress. I can tell you it was a gift from God and I was able to rest after watching it and I hope and pray that if you are feeling the stress and strain of this world on your shoulders this video will give you a new outlook and lighten your load by knowing that God is there and will show you how to handle stress and anxiety in a world where we fight it every day. God Bless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9Qld3G4knk
Monday, August 20, 2012
Our Eternal Father
Today's Reading: Psalm 91-Second part of a prayer of Moses
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation."
This is a psalm of prophesy. He speaks of one who will be protected by God, whom no disease will touch and whom angels will hold with their hands so that he will not hurt his foot on a stone. Moses even says that he will be one who can crush fierce lions and serpents under foot. He is speaking of Jesus!
In verses 14-16, we hear the very voice of God. He promises the same things he said of Jesus, thus making us heirs with Jesus!
How awesome to know that God will protect and keep us just as He did Jesus! We are His children after all and as our Eternal Father, He will care for us and love us.
Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Though a thousand fall at your side, though ten thousand are dying around you, these evils will not touch you. Just open your eyes, and see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The Lord says, "I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation."
This is a psalm of prophesy. He speaks of one who will be protected by God, whom no disease will touch and whom angels will hold with their hands so that he will not hurt his foot on a stone. Moses even says that he will be one who can crush fierce lions and serpents under foot. He is speaking of Jesus!
In verses 14-16, we hear the very voice of God. He promises the same things he said of Jesus, thus making us heirs with Jesus!
How awesome to know that God will protect and keep us just as He did Jesus! We are His children after all and as our Eternal Father, He will care for us and love us.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Ripping It Out And Starting Over
Today's Reading: Psalm 90: Prayer of Moses, the man of God
Lord, through all generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals!" For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. You sweep away people like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. You spread out our sins before you--our secret sins--and you see them all. We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.
Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see your work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful.
Have you ever blundered or simply slipped up in life? Made a step you thought was good but turned out to be so wrong? Well, that is where I have been this week. Trying to recover from my slip up. It feels horrible to have to go so long being "successful" then with one wrong stitch you have to rip all your work out and start over. It's painful but in the long run it's worth it. I suppose you could continue on as if the mistake never happened but like my Granny and Papa taught me, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right."
This is where the people of Israel were when Moses prayed Psalm 90. They had slipped up yet again and Moses was praying for deliverence and restoration.
Verses 1-6 are a hymn-like introduction declaring God's eternity and the transience of human life. Verses 7-10 speak of the brevity and sorrow of human existance. Verses 11-12 are a prayer that the people may learn wisdom from considering this. Verses 13-17 are a prayer that Israel be delivered from its difficulties.
Remember, even if you have take a few steps back or have to undo some of your "work", God will see you through.
Power Verses:
I Cornithians 10:12-13
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
James 1:2-3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Matthew 26:41
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!
Thoughts from chapter 17, pg. 192-194 of Espresso for a Woman's Spirit by Pam Vredevelt
I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, and goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then, when you call, the Lord will answer. "Yes, I am here," he will quickly reply...
And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you will all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an everflowing spring. --Isaiah 58:7-9, 11 TLB
It is not my ability but my response to God's ability that counts. --Corrie ten Boom
You can give without love, but you cannot love without giving. --Amy Carmichael
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. --Matthew 5:2 MSG
Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune. --William James
Lord, through all generations you have been our home! Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God.
You turn people back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, you mortals!" For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. You sweep away people like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. You spread out our sins before you--our secret sins--and you see them all. We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan.
Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
O Lord, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. Let us, your servants, see your work again; let our children see your glory. And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful.
Have you ever blundered or simply slipped up in life? Made a step you thought was good but turned out to be so wrong? Well, that is where I have been this week. Trying to recover from my slip up. It feels horrible to have to go so long being "successful" then with one wrong stitch you have to rip all your work out and start over. It's painful but in the long run it's worth it. I suppose you could continue on as if the mistake never happened but like my Granny and Papa taught me, "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right."
This is where the people of Israel were when Moses prayed Psalm 90. They had slipped up yet again and Moses was praying for deliverence and restoration.
Verses 1-6 are a hymn-like introduction declaring God's eternity and the transience of human life. Verses 7-10 speak of the brevity and sorrow of human existance. Verses 11-12 are a prayer that the people may learn wisdom from considering this. Verses 13-17 are a prayer that Israel be delivered from its difficulties.
Remember, even if you have take a few steps back or have to undo some of your "work", God will see you through.
Power Verses:
I Cornithians 10:12-13
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
James 1:2-3
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Matthew 26:41
Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!
Thoughts from chapter 17, pg. 192-194 of Espresso for a Woman's Spirit by Pam Vredevelt
I want you to share your food with the hungry and bring right into your own homes those who are helpless, poor and destitute. Clothe those who are cold and don't hide from relatives who need your help. If you do these things, God will shed his own glorious light upon you. He will heal you; your godliness will lead you forward, and goodness will be a shield before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then, when you call, the Lord will answer. "Yes, I am here," he will quickly reply...
And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy you will all good things, and keep you healthy too; and you will be like a well-watered garden, like an everflowing spring. --Isaiah 58:7-9, 11 TLB
It is not my ability but my response to God's ability that counts. --Corrie ten Boom
You can give without love, but you cannot love without giving. --Amy Carmichael
"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. --Matthew 5:2 MSG
Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune. --William James
Monday, August 13, 2012
Walking Through Fires
Prayer for today from the words of Psalm 119: 143-144:
As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live. Today's Reading: Psalm 88
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left. They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave, I am forgotten, cut off from your care. You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths. Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me.You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape. My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O LORD; I lift my hands to you for mercy. Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you?Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me?
I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desparate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.
This psalm is from a man's heart-the heart of one who has been ill since his youth, who has been abandoned by loved ones and friends, who sees death coming for him. Verses 10-18 are a prayer for deliverance, notable for the absence of even a spark of hopefulness. Sounds like someone else we know from just one book before Psalms-Job. He was in the same situation as I am sure there tons of people in the world feeling this way right now. You may be one. If you aren't, feel blessed and go out today and help someone who is in this situation of despair. For we are called as children of God to do just that, HELP!
Power Verses:
Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would like them to do to you. AKA the Golden Rule
Today's Devotion:Then Nebuchadnezzar...said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking in the midst of the fire without harm and the apperance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." --Daniel 3:24-25
Jesus was with Daniel's friends in the fire. Lord, be my faithful God, just as You were to Daniel's friends. Keep me from harm as I walk through the fires in my life.
As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live. Today's Reading: Psalm 88
O Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out to you by day. I come to you at night. Now hear my prayer; listen to my cry. For my life is full of troubles, and death draws near. I am as good as dead, like a strong man with no strength left. They have left me among the dead, and I lie like a corpse in a grave, I am forgotten, cut off from your care. You have thrown me into the lowest pit, into the darkest depths. Your anger weighs me down; with wave after wave you have engulfed me.You have driven my friends away by making me repulsive to them. I am in a trap with no way of escape. My eyes are blinded by my tears. Each day I beg for your help, O LORD; I lift my hands to you for mercy. Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you?Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love? Can they proclaim your faithfulness in the place of destruction? Can the darkness speak of your wonderful deeds? Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness? O LORD, I cry out to you. I will keep on pleading day by day. O LORD, why do you reject me? Why do you turn your face from me?
I have been sick and close to death since my youth. I stand helpless and desparate before your terrors. Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me. Your terrors have paralyzed me. They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long. They have engulfed me completely. You have taken away my companions and loved ones. Darkness is my closest friend.
This psalm is from a man's heart-the heart of one who has been ill since his youth, who has been abandoned by loved ones and friends, who sees death coming for him. Verses 10-18 are a prayer for deliverance, notable for the absence of even a spark of hopefulness. Sounds like someone else we know from just one book before Psalms-Job. He was in the same situation as I am sure there tons of people in the world feeling this way right now. You may be one. If you aren't, feel blessed and go out today and help someone who is in this situation of despair. For we are called as children of God to do just that, HELP!
Power Verses:
Hebrews 4:14-16
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would like them to do to you. AKA the Golden Rule
Today's Devotion:Then Nebuchadnezzar...said, "Look! I see four men loosed and walking in the midst of the fire without harm and the apperance of the fourth is like a son of the gods." --Daniel 3:24-25
Jesus was with Daniel's friends in the fire. Lord, be my faithful God, just as You were to Daniel's friends. Keep me from harm as I walk through the fires in my life.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Consult the Expert
An excerpt from Espresso for a Woman's Spirit Encouraging Stories of Hope and Humor By Pam Vredevelt (chapter 16)
I do nothing without consulting the Father. --John 5:30, NLT
It was one of those periods of restless indecision. We were confused, not knowing which direction was God's. The church we were serving in at the time was suffering a very difficult transition because the senior pastor was in the process of leaving. Although John had been on the church staff eight years and was fulfilled in his assignment, we were wondering if this would be a natural time for us to make a change too. Often when a new senior pastor is hired, many from the former regime are let go. We weren't sure what God had in mind for our future.
I was pregnant. With a baby on the way, John and I had talked about moving closer to our parents so that we could spend more time with them and give our children the privilege of growing up with their grandparents nearby. It just so happened that at the same time all the upheaval was happening at our church, a church not far from both of our families was scouting for an assistant pastor. A leader from that church contacted us, and we met with him to discuss the option.
At the close of that meeting the answer seemed obvious. On paper it was cut and dried: The pros of leaving our current church far outweighed the cons. The new position offered twice the salary for John, an open door for me to practice as a licensed thereapist on the church staff, and close proximity to both sets of parents. The timing also seemed perfect. Any casual observer would have thought we were nuts for not jumping at the opportunity.
But something didn't seem right to us.
Neither John nor I had peace about saying yes to the move. I can't even give you a logical reason why--we just didn't feel the Lord's release to leave. We sought the Lord for direction and asked for wisdom. We told the Lord we would go wherever He wanted us to, but we needed Him to help us clearly hear His voice.
A certain verse held special meaning for us during that time: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow" (Isaiah 48:17, NLT).
About halfway through my pregnancy with Jessie, I developed a bad case of snoring that rudely invaded John's sleep. Consequently, sometime between midnight and dawn John usually groped his way through the dark into the spare bedroom so he could get his fair share of shut-eye. The poor guy was having his beauty sleep ripped off before this baby was even out of the womb.
One morning, just as the sun was beginning to peek through the gray Oregon clouds, John came in from the guest room and crawled back into bed with me. "I think I heard from the Lord," he whispered.
"Really?" I replied, trying to focus my sleepy eyes on him. "What did He say?"
"He said we're supposed to stay where we are."
In an instant I knew John was right. My spirit bore witness with his, and we both sensed a calm assurance that the direction was from the Lord.
I know--from a human standpoint it didn't make much sense. The out-of-town offer seemed to offer far more benefits. A series of unfornate events, plus departure of a much-loved pastor, had left our congregation wonded and grieving. Attending services was a drain because everywhere we turned, we heard grumbling and complaining. Some people leaned on us for comfort while others simply wanted to vent. Our church had turned from a consolation to a cauldron boiling with gossip and idle chatter. Tempers were hot. Fuses were short. People were burned. It was a painful season to weather. Leaving seemed a welcome escape to the path of blessing. But God was asking us to stay and endure hardship, trusting He knew what was best.
Soon after the Lord had given us direction, word came that a new pastor and his wife were coming to our church. We didn't know Ted and Diane Roberts, but we knew the Lord had asked us to stay and serve with them, so we did. That as fifteen years ago.
Hindsight offers clarity. Today we see clearly why God asked us to stay. It was His intention to restore the church and us, and He wanted us to have the joy of being a part of the healing process. Don't get me wrong; the path of healing wasn't easy. Wounded people need extra time, attention, and gentle care. Under the circumstances, John and I felt like physicians in an emergency room where the revolving door never stopped ushering in the injured. Being bombarded by so many needs--including our own--was taxing and called for every ounce of patience and perseverance that was in our reserves.
During the next several years, we had the privilege of watching God mend broken hearts. Fractures have been repaired. The church has grown from eight hundred to 6,500 people. Today those who were wounded are reaching out to others who have been assaulted by this world's hardships. Lives, including ours, have been profoundly influenced and forever changed by the healing power of God.
Yet I don't think I have ever been more grateful to God's leading in our lives than when I was speaking at a woman's conference a few years after the Lord had told us to "stay put." The retreat was held in the town adjacent to the city where we had considered relocating. During a break following a general session, I was standing in a circle, casually talking with a group of women. Clusters of ladies with Styrofoam cups of hot coffee in hand were visiting throughout the foyer. The groups stood fairly close together, so it wasn't difficult to hear what was being said around me.
There I was minding my own business, when all of a sudden I heard a woman behind me say, "Isn't it a tragedy what has happened at such-and-such church?" It was the church we had been invited to join! That's when I started eavesdropping on purpose. What I gleaned from the conversation just about stopped my heart. Apparently the church was falling apart because of some serious mistakes made by a couple of prominent people in leadership. The news deeply grieved me.
The coffee break ended, and I had to call upon every ounce of caffeine in my body to stay focused on my next seminar. I don't think the ladies in the foyer knew their conversation had reached my ears, but I believe the Lord allowed it. When I returned to my hotel room at the end of the day, I knelt beside my bed in humble reverence and said, "Thank You! Thank You! Thank You, Lord!"
It's sobering to think about what may have happened had we not sought the Lord in our decision-making process. It would have been easy to do what naturally made sense. After all, we could have escaped a lot of heat had we left at that time.
But it would have been a huge mistake with far-reaching consequences. We would have been relying on our own finite efforts to get us out of that mess. We would have been trusting in our limited human reasoning and abilities instead of on the Spirit's guidance and timing. In the process we would have cut ourselves off from an extensive and beautiful work of God's grace in our lives.
We see now how consulting the Father spared us misery upon misery. Had we relocated, we would have gone from one broken church congregation into another. I'm not certain we would have survived those stresses very well. I'm so grateful for God's mercy.
It makes sense to weigh the pros and cons when making a decision. But one thing I have learned through the years is that we must never stop there. Even if an answer seems obvious to the human mind, it may not be the divine course of action. We can save ourselves much weariness and grief if we stop and consult the Expert. Though the direction He gives may involve rough waters, His counsel is always in our best interest.
For only God sees the big picture.
Only God knows the future, and the full implications of our decisions.
Only God can detect when an apparent escape hatch is a death trap in disguise.
Only God knows what will fulfill and restore the darkest depths of our soul.
Only God knows when, where, and how the flames in this world will run their course.
In His mercy, He is eager to lead us on. We can be confident that the guidance He gives will always be for our highest good.
Even if it means enduring the heat a little while longer.
Power Perks:
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need You. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't You just go on and get lost?"
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well. How about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest."
The scientist replied, "Okay, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
God's heavenly plan doesn't always make earthly sense. --Charles Swindoll
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way." --C.S. Lewis
Where God has put a period, do not change it to a question mark. --T.J. Bach
I do nothing without consulting the Father. --John 5:30, NLT
It was one of those periods of restless indecision. We were confused, not knowing which direction was God's. The church we were serving in at the time was suffering a very difficult transition because the senior pastor was in the process of leaving. Although John had been on the church staff eight years and was fulfilled in his assignment, we were wondering if this would be a natural time for us to make a change too. Often when a new senior pastor is hired, many from the former regime are let go. We weren't sure what God had in mind for our future.
I was pregnant. With a baby on the way, John and I had talked about moving closer to our parents so that we could spend more time with them and give our children the privilege of growing up with their grandparents nearby. It just so happened that at the same time all the upheaval was happening at our church, a church not far from both of our families was scouting for an assistant pastor. A leader from that church contacted us, and we met with him to discuss the option.
At the close of that meeting the answer seemed obvious. On paper it was cut and dried: The pros of leaving our current church far outweighed the cons. The new position offered twice the salary for John, an open door for me to practice as a licensed thereapist on the church staff, and close proximity to both sets of parents. The timing also seemed perfect. Any casual observer would have thought we were nuts for not jumping at the opportunity.
But something didn't seem right to us.
Neither John nor I had peace about saying yes to the move. I can't even give you a logical reason why--we just didn't feel the Lord's release to leave. We sought the Lord for direction and asked for wisdom. We told the Lord we would go wherever He wanted us to, but we needed Him to help us clearly hear His voice.
A certain verse held special meaning for us during that time: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow" (Isaiah 48:17, NLT).
About halfway through my pregnancy with Jessie, I developed a bad case of snoring that rudely invaded John's sleep. Consequently, sometime between midnight and dawn John usually groped his way through the dark into the spare bedroom so he could get his fair share of shut-eye. The poor guy was having his beauty sleep ripped off before this baby was even out of the womb.
One morning, just as the sun was beginning to peek through the gray Oregon clouds, John came in from the guest room and crawled back into bed with me. "I think I heard from the Lord," he whispered.
"Really?" I replied, trying to focus my sleepy eyes on him. "What did He say?"
"He said we're supposed to stay where we are."
In an instant I knew John was right. My spirit bore witness with his, and we both sensed a calm assurance that the direction was from the Lord.
I know--from a human standpoint it didn't make much sense. The out-of-town offer seemed to offer far more benefits. A series of unfornate events, plus departure of a much-loved pastor, had left our congregation wonded and grieving. Attending services was a drain because everywhere we turned, we heard grumbling and complaining. Some people leaned on us for comfort while others simply wanted to vent. Our church had turned from a consolation to a cauldron boiling with gossip and idle chatter. Tempers were hot. Fuses were short. People were burned. It was a painful season to weather. Leaving seemed a welcome escape to the path of blessing. But God was asking us to stay and endure hardship, trusting He knew what was best.
Soon after the Lord had given us direction, word came that a new pastor and his wife were coming to our church. We didn't know Ted and Diane Roberts, but we knew the Lord had asked us to stay and serve with them, so we did. That as fifteen years ago.
Hindsight offers clarity. Today we see clearly why God asked us to stay. It was His intention to restore the church and us, and He wanted us to have the joy of being a part of the healing process. Don't get me wrong; the path of healing wasn't easy. Wounded people need extra time, attention, and gentle care. Under the circumstances, John and I felt like physicians in an emergency room where the revolving door never stopped ushering in the injured. Being bombarded by so many needs--including our own--was taxing and called for every ounce of patience and perseverance that was in our reserves.
During the next several years, we had the privilege of watching God mend broken hearts. Fractures have been repaired. The church has grown from eight hundred to 6,500 people. Today those who were wounded are reaching out to others who have been assaulted by this world's hardships. Lives, including ours, have been profoundly influenced and forever changed by the healing power of God.
Yet I don't think I have ever been more grateful to God's leading in our lives than when I was speaking at a woman's conference a few years after the Lord had told us to "stay put." The retreat was held in the town adjacent to the city where we had considered relocating. During a break following a general session, I was standing in a circle, casually talking with a group of women. Clusters of ladies with Styrofoam cups of hot coffee in hand were visiting throughout the foyer. The groups stood fairly close together, so it wasn't difficult to hear what was being said around me.
There I was minding my own business, when all of a sudden I heard a woman behind me say, "Isn't it a tragedy what has happened at such-and-such church?" It was the church we had been invited to join! That's when I started eavesdropping on purpose. What I gleaned from the conversation just about stopped my heart. Apparently the church was falling apart because of some serious mistakes made by a couple of prominent people in leadership. The news deeply grieved me.
The coffee break ended, and I had to call upon every ounce of caffeine in my body to stay focused on my next seminar. I don't think the ladies in the foyer knew their conversation had reached my ears, but I believe the Lord allowed it. When I returned to my hotel room at the end of the day, I knelt beside my bed in humble reverence and said, "Thank You! Thank You! Thank You, Lord!"
It's sobering to think about what may have happened had we not sought the Lord in our decision-making process. It would have been easy to do what naturally made sense. After all, we could have escaped a lot of heat had we left at that time.
But it would have been a huge mistake with far-reaching consequences. We would have been relying on our own finite efforts to get us out of that mess. We would have been trusting in our limited human reasoning and abilities instead of on the Spirit's guidance and timing. In the process we would have cut ourselves off from an extensive and beautiful work of God's grace in our lives.
We see now how consulting the Father spared us misery upon misery. Had we relocated, we would have gone from one broken church congregation into another. I'm not certain we would have survived those stresses very well. I'm so grateful for God's mercy.
It makes sense to weigh the pros and cons when making a decision. But one thing I have learned through the years is that we must never stop there. Even if an answer seems obvious to the human mind, it may not be the divine course of action. We can save ourselves much weariness and grief if we stop and consult the Expert. Though the direction He gives may involve rough waters, His counsel is always in our best interest.
For only God sees the big picture.
Only God knows the future, and the full implications of our decisions.
Only God can detect when an apparent escape hatch is a death trap in disguise.
Only God knows what will fulfill and restore the darkest depths of our soul.
Only God knows when, where, and how the flames in this world will run their course.
In His mercy, He is eager to lead us on. We can be confident that the guidance He gives will always be for our highest good.
Even if it means enduring the heat a little while longer.
Power Perks:
One day a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.
The scientist walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need You. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't You just go on and get lost?"
God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done talking, God said, "Very well. How about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest."
The scientist replied, "Okay, great!"
But God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam."
The scientist said, "Sure, no problem" and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.
God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"
God's heavenly plan doesn't always make earthly sense. --Charles Swindoll
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, "All right, then, have it your way." --C.S. Lewis
Where God has put a period, do not change it to a question mark. --T.J. Bach
Always Room At God's Table
Today's Reading: Psalm 87
On the high mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!
I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me--also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem! Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, "Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there." And the Most High will personally bless this city. When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, "They have all become citizens of Jerusalem."
The people will play flutes and sing, "The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!"
When we read how God loved Jerusalem and that He made it His resting place, it is easy to believe that the rest of the world is left out in the cold, standing outside Jerusalem's gates looking in, that we aren't allowed to be part of His kingdom. But that just isn't true. In fact the opposite is the truth. God wants all of us, all nations, to come to Him. Egypt, Philistia and Tyre along with others like Assyria were listed in Psalm 83 as being the rebellious nations looking to destroy Israel in the Old Testament. Yet here in this chapter of Psalm, we see God welcoming them into His kingdom with open arms. He will do the same for each one of us. We can all be "citizens of His Holy Place". All we must do is believe.
Power Verse:
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. --John 3:16
On the high mountain stands the city founded by the Lord. He loves the city of Jerusalem more than any other city in Israel. O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!
I will count Egypt and Babylon among those who know me--also Philistia and Tyre, and even distant Ethiopia. They have all become citizens of Jerusalem! Regarding Jerusalem it will be said, "Everyone enjoys the rights of citizenship there." And the Most High will personally bless this city. When the Lord registers the nations, he will say, "They have all become citizens of Jerusalem."
The people will play flutes and sing, "The source of my life springs from Jerusalem!"
When we read how God loved Jerusalem and that He made it His resting place, it is easy to believe that the rest of the world is left out in the cold, standing outside Jerusalem's gates looking in, that we aren't allowed to be part of His kingdom. But that just isn't true. In fact the opposite is the truth. God wants all of us, all nations, to come to Him. Egypt, Philistia and Tyre along with others like Assyria were listed in Psalm 83 as being the rebellious nations looking to destroy Israel in the Old Testament. Yet here in this chapter of Psalm, we see God welcoming them into His kingdom with open arms. He will do the same for each one of us. We can all be "citizens of His Holy Place". All we must do is believe.
Power Verse:
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. --John 3:16
Saturday, August 11, 2012
All Things Are Possible
Today's Reading: Psalm 86
Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me.
No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord, my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.
This is a blessed prayer for one going through the trials of this life. There is hope in the Lord, strength when we have none, courage in the face of ultimate fear and love in a world where love is so often misunderstood. All we have to do is ask. It is as if God is giving us "super powers". He gives us eyes to see things of this world the way He would, love for all mankind, respect for His creation, Earth. But most of all, He gives us an unending thirst for Him, like a caffeine addict longs for a good cup of coffee. He will fill your soul in ways that you never thought possible.
Remember: But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I'm in trouble, and you will answer me.
No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.
Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord, my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them. But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant. Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.
This is a blessed prayer for one going through the trials of this life. There is hope in the Lord, strength when we have none, courage in the face of ultimate fear and love in a world where love is so often misunderstood. All we have to do is ask. It is as if God is giving us "super powers". He gives us eyes to see things of this world the way He would, love for all mankind, respect for His creation, Earth. But most of all, He gives us an unending thirst for Him, like a caffeine addict longs for a good cup of coffee. He will fill your soul in ways that you never thought possible.
Remember: But Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Bugs in the Brew
Today, I would like to share a chapter out of Espresso for a Woman's Spirit by Pam Vredevelt, Chapter 12 pg.115-122
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. --Colossians 3:23-24
Cynthia's question caught me completely off guard. After rattling off a long list of nasty comments a family member had made about her, she paused, took a deep breath, and asked, "How do you deal with people who put you down?"
"Well, I guess it depends on the circumstances," I responded. "How about this? I recently showed a lady your book, Angel Behind the Rocking Chair. When I started telling her about one of my favorite chapters, she interrupted me with a smirk and shook her head in disdain, saying: 'I don't know why Pam would write a book about children with special needs. She's no expert.' "
Somewhat stunned, I wondered how to graciously catch this curve ball. As I sipped my coffee, I could tell from Cynthia's voice and penetrating look that she really wanted an answer.
Her question went beyond a general interest in how I would handle this situation. She was trying to glean some insight into dealing with her own set of struggles. For years she had endured the toxic taunts of a critical mother and a perfectionist twin sister. No matter what she did, in their eyes, it was never good enough. It didn't matter if she knocked herself out for her husband. It didn't matter if she was "mother of the year" to her kids. She was constantly advised on ways she could do better. Having endured years of perpetual put-downs, she wanted some suggestions to take home with her after we emptied the coffeepot.
You need to know something else about Cynthia. She is a Geiger counter for phoniness. She has no patience for platitudes, and she seeks truth earnestly, swatting away any superficiality as she would a mosquito.
Swallowing another sip of coffee, I said, "Well, comments like those never feel good. I'd prefer to hear that people enjoy reading my books." But her question triggered a memory that I decided to share with her. I reached for my prayer journal and told the story.
One day, years ago, someone's sharp words had sliced me to shreds. The remarks had been cloaked in spiritual jargon to make them sound like "constructive criticism." But there was nothing remotely useful or helpful about them. They were vague, sweeping generalizations that masqueraded as facts. To put it plain and simple, I was royally reamed.
My response? At the time I said nothing, but I admit I didn't do a good job of shaking it off. That pitiful one-minute interaction gnawed at me for days, like an old dog working over his favorite bone. It chewed on me, put me aside, then chewed on me some more. It's amazing how, if we let it, one negative remark can nullify one hundred positive comments.
Those ugly, nagging words drove me to my Father for comfort and insight. I told Cynthia how after three days of ruminating, I decided I had replayed the incident too often. I tucked the kids in bed, prayed with them, and then curled up in a comfortable chair with my Bible and prayer journal, still bugged. And I was even bugged that I was bugged. I didn't like the fact that someone's barbs had successfully ripped the rug out from under my confidence and sent my sense of contentment crashing into a million and one pieces.
So I prayed. I asked God for wisdom, and I considered the event again. I wrote my conclusions in my prayer journal:
Lord, every good gift in my life is from You. My husband. My children. My writing. My speaking. My counseling. It's all yours. And the bottom line is that it is You, and You alone, I want to please. I want to live my life [for] an audience of One.
There will come a day when I will render a final account to You for what I've done in this life. I won't stand before You and be asked to give an account for my husband's life, children's life, friends' lives...or my critics' words. On the day I see You face-to-face, You will look me in the eye and ask me about me. Period.
That night I asked myself: Do you feel you have done what God wanted you to do? I could honestly answer yes. And I realized that was all that really mattered.
Cynthia pondered what I said. I closed my journal, reached for my coffee cup, and thought about the peace those perspectives had delivered to my troubled heart years ago. "Ahhh," Cynthia said, sipping the last few drops from her mug, "If I'm doing my best for God, then that is good enough."
"Yes!" I said, excited that the point had hit home. "That's the very place where freedom from disapproval begins.
Sometime after that conversation, I looked up a passage of Scripture I had read many times before. The apostle Paul, who frequently endured the heat from every Tom, Dick, and Harry who offered a critical review of his life, asked himself a question similar to one in my journal: "Am I now trying to win the approval of me, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).
Once again the perfect simplicity of Paul's words inspired me. Pleasing men and serving God are, at times, mutually exclusive. When we give our lives wholeheartedly to follow God's plan for our lives, there will be people who won't be pleased with us. There will be those who won't like what we do or how we do it. They won't like what we say or how we look. They'll have strong opinions about what we should or shouldn't be doing.
There will be judgement.
There will be confrontations.
There will be put-downs.
And when those painful times come, we must be careful to respond in ways that please the Lord. We must not get hooked into petty snarls. We must monitor our responses and let God be the One to set the record straight.
Paul also wrote, "Each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way" (Romans 14:12-13, emphasis mine).
Hmm. That sounds like a choice to me. It also sounds like a challenge--a challenge to mind my own business and to be about His business. It's what pleases Him and liberates you and me.
I've noticed something. The more I remind myself of the promise of God's favor and grace, the less I feel the need to defend myself when critics open fire. Living my life for an audience of One has the power to turn down the heat on hurtful hints so my emotions don't boil over and burn others.
The next time you're stung by a barb or pierced by a swiftly flying arrow, remember there is only One you need to please. Align yourself with Him, step behind the wide shield of faith, and leave your defense in His capable hands. He knows best how to handle the nasty bugs that land in your brew.
He who seeks only for applause from without has all his happiness in another's keeping.
What you don't see with your eyes, don't invent with your mouth. --Jewish Proverb
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. --Colossians 3:23-24
Cynthia's question caught me completely off guard. After rattling off a long list of nasty comments a family member had made about her, she paused, took a deep breath, and asked, "How do you deal with people who put you down?"
"Well, I guess it depends on the circumstances," I responded. "How about this? I recently showed a lady your book, Angel Behind the Rocking Chair. When I started telling her about one of my favorite chapters, she interrupted me with a smirk and shook her head in disdain, saying: 'I don't know why Pam would write a book about children with special needs. She's no expert.' "
Somewhat stunned, I wondered how to graciously catch this curve ball. As I sipped my coffee, I could tell from Cynthia's voice and penetrating look that she really wanted an answer.
Her question went beyond a general interest in how I would handle this situation. She was trying to glean some insight into dealing with her own set of struggles. For years she had endured the toxic taunts of a critical mother and a perfectionist twin sister. No matter what she did, in their eyes, it was never good enough. It didn't matter if she knocked herself out for her husband. It didn't matter if she was "mother of the year" to her kids. She was constantly advised on ways she could do better. Having endured years of perpetual put-downs, she wanted some suggestions to take home with her after we emptied the coffeepot.
You need to know something else about Cynthia. She is a Geiger counter for phoniness. She has no patience for platitudes, and she seeks truth earnestly, swatting away any superficiality as she would a mosquito.
Swallowing another sip of coffee, I said, "Well, comments like those never feel good. I'd prefer to hear that people enjoy reading my books." But her question triggered a memory that I decided to share with her. I reached for my prayer journal and told the story.
One day, years ago, someone's sharp words had sliced me to shreds. The remarks had been cloaked in spiritual jargon to make them sound like "constructive criticism." But there was nothing remotely useful or helpful about them. They were vague, sweeping generalizations that masqueraded as facts. To put it plain and simple, I was royally reamed.
My response? At the time I said nothing, but I admit I didn't do a good job of shaking it off. That pitiful one-minute interaction gnawed at me for days, like an old dog working over his favorite bone. It chewed on me, put me aside, then chewed on me some more. It's amazing how, if we let it, one negative remark can nullify one hundred positive comments.
Those ugly, nagging words drove me to my Father for comfort and insight. I told Cynthia how after three days of ruminating, I decided I had replayed the incident too often. I tucked the kids in bed, prayed with them, and then curled up in a comfortable chair with my Bible and prayer journal, still bugged. And I was even bugged that I was bugged. I didn't like the fact that someone's barbs had successfully ripped the rug out from under my confidence and sent my sense of contentment crashing into a million and one pieces.
So I prayed. I asked God for wisdom, and I considered the event again. I wrote my conclusions in my prayer journal:
Lord, every good gift in my life is from You. My husband. My children. My writing. My speaking. My counseling. It's all yours. And the bottom line is that it is You, and You alone, I want to please. I want to live my life [for] an audience of One.
There will come a day when I will render a final account to You for what I've done in this life. I won't stand before You and be asked to give an account for my husband's life, children's life, friends' lives...or my critics' words. On the day I see You face-to-face, You will look me in the eye and ask me about me. Period.
That night I asked myself: Do you feel you have done what God wanted you to do? I could honestly answer yes. And I realized that was all that really mattered.
Cynthia pondered what I said. I closed my journal, reached for my coffee cup, and thought about the peace those perspectives had delivered to my troubled heart years ago. "Ahhh," Cynthia said, sipping the last few drops from her mug, "If I'm doing my best for God, then that is good enough."
"Yes!" I said, excited that the point had hit home. "That's the very place where freedom from disapproval begins.
Sometime after that conversation, I looked up a passage of Scripture I had read many times before. The apostle Paul, who frequently endured the heat from every Tom, Dick, and Harry who offered a critical review of his life, asked himself a question similar to one in my journal: "Am I now trying to win the approval of me, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).
Once again the perfect simplicity of Paul's words inspired me. Pleasing men and serving God are, at times, mutually exclusive. When we give our lives wholeheartedly to follow God's plan for our lives, there will be people who won't be pleased with us. There will be those who won't like what we do or how we do it. They won't like what we say or how we look. They'll have strong opinions about what we should or shouldn't be doing.
There will be judgement.
There will be confrontations.
There will be put-downs.
And when those painful times come, we must be careful to respond in ways that please the Lord. We must not get hooked into petty snarls. We must monitor our responses and let God be the One to set the record straight.
Paul also wrote, "Each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgement on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way" (Romans 14:12-13, emphasis mine).
Hmm. That sounds like a choice to me. It also sounds like a challenge--a challenge to mind my own business and to be about His business. It's what pleases Him and liberates you and me.
I've noticed something. The more I remind myself of the promise of God's favor and grace, the less I feel the need to defend myself when critics open fire. Living my life for an audience of One has the power to turn down the heat on hurtful hints so my emotions don't boil over and burn others.
The next time you're stung by a barb or pierced by a swiftly flying arrow, remember there is only One you need to please. Align yourself with Him, step behind the wide shield of faith, and leave your defense in His capable hands. He knows best how to handle the nasty bugs that land in your brew.
He who seeks only for applause from without has all his happiness in another's keeping.
What you don't see with your eyes, don't invent with your mouth. --Jewish Proverb
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
God Gives Hope
Today's Reading: Psalm 82
God presides over heaven's court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: "How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and the helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. I say, 'You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.' " Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.
This is a psalm about judgment. Asaph is asking the king to judge more fairly. He has been ruling in favor of the wicked while the poor and orphaned suffer unjustly. In the end of this chapter, verse 7 tells the ruler that he will fall like every other ruler before him. He's not invincible. Asaph ends with a prayer to God, for he knows God judges fairly without reproach. God is the One True Judge.
This sounds really familiar. It seems to me our leaders and court system are in the same boat today. They seem to think they are invincible or at least that they will continue to be in office. The courts let the wicked walk free while the innocent suffer and then have the audacity to wonder why our society is in the condition it is in...Hmm. It sounds like a no brainer to me.
But there is hope-God. He will comfort the innocent and bring justice to a lawless land. He sees it all. Don't think He'll just sit back and do nothing. Remember God's timing is not ours. He is working in His time. Just like He does in every human heart, he must prepare the way before action can be taken and understood or at the least accepted.
Power Verses:
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 62:5
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
Proverbs 23:18-19
Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way.
Phillipians 2:13
It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. --Hudson Taylor
God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame. --Elizabeth Browning
God presides over heaven's court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: "How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked? "Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and the helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people. But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. I say, 'You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.' " Rise up, O God, and judge the earth, for all the nations belong to you.
This is a psalm about judgment. Asaph is asking the king to judge more fairly. He has been ruling in favor of the wicked while the poor and orphaned suffer unjustly. In the end of this chapter, verse 7 tells the ruler that he will fall like every other ruler before him. He's not invincible. Asaph ends with a prayer to God, for he knows God judges fairly without reproach. God is the One True Judge.
This sounds really familiar. It seems to me our leaders and court system are in the same boat today. They seem to think they are invincible or at least that they will continue to be in office. The courts let the wicked walk free while the innocent suffer and then have the audacity to wonder why our society is in the condition it is in...Hmm. It sounds like a no brainer to me.
But there is hope-God. He will comfort the innocent and bring justice to a lawless land. He sees it all. Don't think He'll just sit back and do nothing. Remember God's timing is not ours. He is working in His time. Just like He does in every human heart, he must prepare the way before action can be taken and understood or at the least accepted.
Power Verses:
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 62:5
For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.
Proverbs 23:18-19
Surely there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. Hear, my child, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way.
Phillipians 2:13
It is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him. --Hudson Taylor
God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame. --Elizabeth Browning
Monday, August 6, 2012
No Other gods Before Me
Today's Reading: Psalm 81
Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram's horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say, "Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. "Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. "But no, my people would not listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock."
This is a psalm of praise in the beginning (v. 1-5). Then in verses 6-10, God is speaking directly to Israel. He is reminding them of the way he has saved and provided for them. He only asked that they honor him and have no other gods but him. Israel didn't listen (v. 11-16). God pours out his heart in these last verses. You can feel his broken heart in these words. It all happened because Israel wouldn't listen to her Father.
What is drawing your attention away from God today? What has become the idol you worship in the place of the one true God? Stop. Be still and listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit urging you to change and come home to the Father like the prodigal son of Luke 15: 11-32. God will welcome you home with open arms. All you have to do is come.
Thought for the Day:
If God wants you to do something, He'll make it possible for you to do it, but the grace He provides comes only with the task and cannot be stockpiled beforehand. We are dependent on Him from hour to hour, and the greater our awareness of this fact, the less likely we are to faint or fail in crisis. --Louis Cassels
Power Verses:
Ephesians 4:2-3
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together in peace.
Matthew 12:34
Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 19:21
You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
Sing praises to God, our strength. Sing to the God of Jacob. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Blow the ram's horn at new moon, and again at full moon to call a festival! For this is required by the decrees of Israel; it is a regulation of the God of Jacob. He made it a law for Israel when he attacked Egypt to set us free. I heard an unknown voice say, "Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. You cried to me in trouble, and I saved you; I answered out of the thundercloud and tested your faith when there was no water at Meribah. "Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things. "But no, my people would not listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths! How quickly I would then subdue their enemies! How soon my hands would be upon their foes! Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him; they would be doomed forever. But I would feed you with the finest wheat. I would satisfy you with wild honey from the rock."
This is a psalm of praise in the beginning (v. 1-5). Then in verses 6-10, God is speaking directly to Israel. He is reminding them of the way he has saved and provided for them. He only asked that they honor him and have no other gods but him. Israel didn't listen (v. 11-16). God pours out his heart in these last verses. You can feel his broken heart in these words. It all happened because Israel wouldn't listen to her Father.
What is drawing your attention away from God today? What has become the idol you worship in the place of the one true God? Stop. Be still and listen to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit urging you to change and come home to the Father like the prodigal son of Luke 15: 11-32. God will welcome you home with open arms. All you have to do is come.
Thought for the Day:
If God wants you to do something, He'll make it possible for you to do it, but the grace He provides comes only with the task and cannot be stockpiled beforehand. We are dependent on Him from hour to hour, and the greater our awareness of this fact, the less likely we are to faint or fail in crisis. --Louis Cassels
Power Verses:
Ephesians 4:2-3
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together in peace.
Matthew 12:34
Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Proverbs 19:21
You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Where Are Your Roots Planted?
Today's Reading: Psalm 80
This psalm of Asaph speaks of Israel's plight. They feel that God has turned his back on them, leaving Israel exposed to her enemies' attacks. He describes Israel as a grapevine in verse 8-11: You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine, drove out the pagan nations and transplanted us in your land. You cleared the ground for us and we took root and filled the land. Our shade covered the mountains; our branches covered the mighty cedars. We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea; our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River. Then Asaph continues by describing Israel's enemies in verse 12-13: But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit? The wild boar, from the forest devours it, and the wild animals feed on it. He even describes what they have done to Israel in verse 16: For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. They have plundered the city and burned it to the ground.
The words that are repeated through this psalm like a chorus (psalms were written to be sung) are: Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven's Armies. He is speaking here to God as the great general and commander of this great army, pleading for their protection. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. Asaph knows that God is the only one who has the power to save Israel and he also knows that if God wills it then it will be.
Where are your roots planted today? Are they in the sand of this world, ready to be washed away at the slightest hint of a storm or area you grounded in the rich dark soil of God, where little can shake you though the storms of life blow like never before?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Psalm 62:6
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
THE TOP TEN THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:
10. "They told me at the blood bank that this might happen."
9. "This is just a fifteen-minute power nap like they raved about in that time-management course you sent me to."
8. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the correction fluid. You probably got here just in time!"
7. "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on our mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm."
6. "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."
5. "I was doing a highly specific yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Do you discriminate against people who practice yoga?"
4. "Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem."
3. "The coffee machine is broken."
2. "Someone must have put decaf in the wrong pot."
1. "...In Jesus' name. Amen."
This psalm of Asaph speaks of Israel's plight. They feel that God has turned his back on them, leaving Israel exposed to her enemies' attacks. He describes Israel as a grapevine in verse 8-11: You brought us from Egypt like a grapevine, drove out the pagan nations and transplanted us in your land. You cleared the ground for us and we took root and filled the land. Our shade covered the mountains; our branches covered the mighty cedars. We spread our branches west to the Mediterranean Sea; our shoots spread east to the Euphrates River. Then Asaph continues by describing Israel's enemies in verse 12-13: But now, why have you broken down our walls so that all who pass by may steal our fruit? The wild boar, from the forest devours it, and the wild animals feed on it. He even describes what they have done to Israel in verse 16: For we are chopped up and burned by our enemies. They have plundered the city and burned it to the ground.
The words that are repeated through this psalm like a chorus (psalms were written to be sung) are: Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God of Heaven's Armies. He is speaking here to God as the great general and commander of this great army, pleading for their protection. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved. Asaph knows that God is the only one who has the power to save Israel and he also knows that if God wills it then it will be.
Where are your roots planted today? Are they in the sand of this world, ready to be washed away at the slightest hint of a storm or area you grounded in the rich dark soil of God, where little can shake you though the storms of life blow like never before?
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Psalm 62:6
He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.
THE TOP TEN THINGS TO SAY IF YOU GET CAUGHT SLEEPING AT YOUR DESK:
10. "They told me at the blood bank that this might happen."
9. "This is just a fifteen-minute power nap like they raved about in that time-management course you sent me to."
8. "Whew! Guess I left the top off the correction fluid. You probably got here just in time!"
7. "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on our mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm."
6. "I was testing my keyboard for drool resistance."
5. "I was doing a highly specific yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Do you discriminate against people who practice yoga?"
4. "Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem."
3. "The coffee machine is broken."
2. "Someone must have put decaf in the wrong pot."
1. "...In Jesus' name. Amen."
Friday, August 3, 2012
Let Go of the Wheel & Let God Drive
Today's Reading: Psalm 78
Verses 1-8 are trying to get people's attention as well as get them to share God's Word with their children so the children don't become like their ancestors, the Israelites from Egypt, who were stubborn, rebellious and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God (v. 8).
Verses 9-72, the rest of this chapter, talks about those rebellious Israelites from Egypt. It speaks of how they continually rejected God although He continued to bless them. They were stubborn and thought that God couldn't provide for them or protect them. They were blinded by their own thoughts and were unable to see the blessings God put right in their faces. But He showed them through miraculous signs that He was the Most High. It also reminds us in these verses about the plagues and treatment of Egypt when the Israelites were in slavery there. The end of these verses tells us how God rejected the tribe of Ephraim because they fled from battle, didn't keep God's covenant and refused to live by his instructions. Instead, He chose the tribe of Judah and from that tribe He chose David, calling him from the sheep pens to be the shepherd of Jacob's descendants-God's own people, Israel. And as we learn in later chapters of the Bible, David is the ancestor of Jesus himself-28 generations between them according to Matthew 1:17.
God doesn't make mistakes. He gave us free will so we may choose for ourselves which leads us to sometimes make mistakes. But remember, God can take our mistakes and make something wonderful. All we have to do is open our hearts to Him and admit our shortcomings and give Him control because He has a plan for us that is far more wonderful than we could ever imagine. Just let go of the wheel and let God drive, it will be a wonderful ride.
Power Verse:
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Jesus said: "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real test. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
The farther a man knows himself to be from perfection, the nearer he is to it. --Gerard Groote
A woman was terribly overweight, so her doctor put her on a diet. "I want you to eat regularly for two days and then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least five pounds."
When the woman returned, she'd lost nearly twenty pounds. "Why, that's amazing!" the doctor said. "Did you follow my instructions?"
The woman nodded. "I'll tell you, though, I thought I was going to drop dead the third day."
"From hunger, you mean?"
"No, from skipping."
Verses 1-8 are trying to get people's attention as well as get them to share God's Word with their children so the children don't become like their ancestors, the Israelites from Egypt, who were stubborn, rebellious and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God (v. 8).
Verses 9-72, the rest of this chapter, talks about those rebellious Israelites from Egypt. It speaks of how they continually rejected God although He continued to bless them. They were stubborn and thought that God couldn't provide for them or protect them. They were blinded by their own thoughts and were unable to see the blessings God put right in their faces. But He showed them through miraculous signs that He was the Most High. It also reminds us in these verses about the plagues and treatment of Egypt when the Israelites were in slavery there. The end of these verses tells us how God rejected the tribe of Ephraim because they fled from battle, didn't keep God's covenant and refused to live by his instructions. Instead, He chose the tribe of Judah and from that tribe He chose David, calling him from the sheep pens to be the shepherd of Jacob's descendants-God's own people, Israel. And as we learn in later chapters of the Bible, David is the ancestor of Jesus himself-28 generations between them according to Matthew 1:17.
God doesn't make mistakes. He gave us free will so we may choose for ourselves which leads us to sometimes make mistakes. But remember, God can take our mistakes and make something wonderful. All we have to do is open our hearts to Him and admit our shortcomings and give Him control because He has a plan for us that is far more wonderful than we could ever imagine. Just let go of the wheel and let God drive, it will be a wonderful ride.
Power Verse:
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
Jesus said: "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real test. Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.
The farther a man knows himself to be from perfection, the nearer he is to it. --Gerard Groote
A woman was terribly overweight, so her doctor put her on a diet. "I want you to eat regularly for two days and then skip a day, and repeat this procedure for two weeks. The next time I see you, you'll have lost at least five pounds."
When the woman returned, she'd lost nearly twenty pounds. "Why, that's amazing!" the doctor said. "Did you follow my instructions?"
The woman nodded. "I'll tell you, though, I thought I was going to drop dead the third day."
"From hunger, you mean?"
"No, from skipping."
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Our "Promised Lands"
Today's Reading: Psalm 77
This chapter begins much like one of David's, with a heart in despair, feeling abandoned by God and longing for his help. Then his mind shifts gears to all the blessings God has bestowed on him in times past and he is comforted by those thoughts. He even remembers how God saved His people, the Israelites, from the Egyptians by crossing the Red Sea on dry land.
God had a wonderous plan for them despite or maybe along with the hardships they endured. He has a plan for us to prosper but without hard times we can't appreciate our own "promised lands."
Power Verses:
Psalm 37:23-24
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalm 68:19-20
Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Our God is a God who saves! The Soverign Lord rescues us from death.
Psalm 32: 8
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
Power Perks from Espresso for a Woman's Spirit by Pam Vredevelt, chapter 6
Two ladies were travelingwith a busload of sight-seeing senior citizens on a trip to Honduras. As they approached the town of Tegucigalpa, they started arguing about how to pronounce the name of the city. Back and forth they bantered until the bus driver interrupted and announced that it was time to stop for lunch.
At the local restaurant, they stepped up to the counter, reviewed the menu, and waited for the waitress to take their order. When the young lady behind the counter asked, "Can I help you?" one of the women said, "Yes. Could you please help us settle an argument?"
The waitress shrugged and asked, "What's the problem?"
"Could you please pronounce very clearly where we are?" one of the women responded. At that point the young woman leaned forward, and with purposeful, well-defined articulation, said: "Tah-ko-bell."
Warmth, friendliness, and a gentle touch are always stronger than force and fury. --Denis Waitley
Can't you see the Creator of the universe, who understands every secret, every mystery...sitting patiently and listening to a four-year-old talk to Him? That's a beautiful image of a father.
--James Dobson
You fathers--if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. --Luke 11:11-13, NLT
This chapter begins much like one of David's, with a heart in despair, feeling abandoned by God and longing for his help. Then his mind shifts gears to all the blessings God has bestowed on him in times past and he is comforted by those thoughts. He even remembers how God saved His people, the Israelites, from the Egyptians by crossing the Red Sea on dry land.
God had a wonderous plan for them despite or maybe along with the hardships they endured. He has a plan for us to prosper but without hard times we can't appreciate our own "promised lands."
Power Verses:
Psalm 37:23-24
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Psalm 68:19-20
Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Our God is a God who saves! The Soverign Lord rescues us from death.
Psalm 32: 8
The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you."
Psalm 29:11
The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace.
Power Perks from Espresso for a Woman's Spirit by Pam Vredevelt, chapter 6
Two ladies were travelingwith a busload of sight-seeing senior citizens on a trip to Honduras. As they approached the town of Tegucigalpa, they started arguing about how to pronounce the name of the city. Back and forth they bantered until the bus driver interrupted and announced that it was time to stop for lunch.
At the local restaurant, they stepped up to the counter, reviewed the menu, and waited for the waitress to take their order. When the young lady behind the counter asked, "Can I help you?" one of the women said, "Yes. Could you please help us settle an argument?"
The waitress shrugged and asked, "What's the problem?"
"Could you please pronounce very clearly where we are?" one of the women responded. At that point the young woman leaned forward, and with purposeful, well-defined articulation, said: "Tah-ko-bell."
Warmth, friendliness, and a gentle touch are always stronger than force and fury. --Denis Waitley
Can't you see the Creator of the universe, who understands every secret, every mystery...sitting patiently and listening to a four-year-old talk to Him? That's a beautiful image of a father.
--James Dobson
You fathers--if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. --Luke 11:11-13, NLT
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
What God Says He Does
Today's Reading: Psalm 76
God is honored in Judah, his name is great in Israel. Jerusalem is where he lives; Mount Zion is his home. There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy, the shields and swords and weapons of war.
You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains. Our boldest enemies have been plundered. They lie before us in the sleep of death. No warrior could lift a hand against us. At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots lay still. No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.
Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One. For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.
God's place, his home is described here in verses 1-3 as well as how he defends it. He is doing the same for all believers. He fights to protect us and guide us.
As mentioned in verses 7-8 of chapter 75, It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgement, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs. God's judgement has come to pass. The rest of the chapter, verses 4-12, affirm the words of Psalms 75:7-8. What God says He does. He keeps His word.
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 31:3
Long ago the Lord said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting lvoe. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."
Deuteronomy 31:6
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Micah 6:8
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Words of Wisdom:
God needs no one, but when faith is present He works through anyone. --A.W. Tozer
To have faith is to believe the task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible. --F. B. Meyer
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. --Proverbs 23:18
God is honored in Judah, his name is great in Israel. Jerusalem is where he lives; Mount Zion is his home. There he has broken the fiery arrows of the enemy, the shields and swords and weapons of war.
You are glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains. Our boldest enemies have been plundered. They lie before us in the sleep of death. No warrior could lift a hand against us. At the blast of your breath, O God of Jacob, their horses and chariots lay still. No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before you when your anger explodes? From heaven you sentenced your enemies; the earth trembled and stood silent before you. You stand up to judge those who do evil, O God, and to rescue the oppressed of the earth. Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon.
Make vows to the Lord your God, and keep them. Let everyone bring tribute to the Awesome One. For he breaks the pride of princes, and the kings of the earth fear him.
God's place, his home is described here in verses 1-3 as well as how he defends it. He is doing the same for all believers. He fights to protect us and guide us.
As mentioned in verses 7-8 of chapter 75, It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. For the Lord holds a cup in his hand that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours out the wine in judgement, and all the wicked must drink it, draining it to the dregs. God's judgement has come to pass. The rest of the chapter, verses 4-12, affirm the words of Psalms 75:7-8. What God says He does. He keeps His word.
Power Verses:
Jeremiah 31:3
Long ago the Lord said to Israel: "I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting lvoe. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."
Deuteronomy 31:6
So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
Micah 6:8
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Words of Wisdom:
God needs no one, but when faith is present He works through anyone. --A.W. Tozer
To have faith is to believe the task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us.
We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible. --F. B. Meyer
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. --Proverbs 23:18
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