Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for pursuing me and loving me. Your faithfulness is overwhelming. Thank you for giving Yourself to me and for accepting me as your own. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.
You are My child, whom I love. I have called you back to Myself and have given you hope. I desire to be your Lord and I call you chosen. Delight yourself in Me.
Praise You, Lord, for Your never ending mercy that is new every morning. Breathe life to my spirit.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Journal from 9-9-09
My mind wants me to believe, just as the Israelites did, that hearing from You is for someone else - that I am not qualified. The Israelites chose Moses to hear for them and I have chosen men and women in my life to hear for me. But the Lord confides in those who fear Him. I want to know You in such a deep way that You would confide in me. I will stop depending on my own mind, and I will know the mind of the Lord that He may instruct me.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Fighting for Righteousness
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Our battle in becoming righteous cannot be won without a fight. Are we fighting or are we relying on past prayers and confessions to get us through?
Shacking up with Sin and Regret
Proverbs 29:6 (NIV)
“An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.”
One of the greatest ways to combat sin is to simply cease to give it the opportunity to happen. If we knew a recovered drug addict that kept cocaine in their cabinet, we would call them foolish, yet this is how many of us live with our struggles. We choose to co-exist with sin…hoping that we are strong enough to resist the temptations that surround us.
Making it Stick
Proverbs 11:14 (NASU)
“Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is victory.”
Our past mistakes have a way of slowly creeping back into our lives when we’re not looking. They live in the back of our minds and in the dark shadows of our hearts. They remind us of our weaknesses and try to convince us that we aren’t really free. Part of overcoming a struggle is getting rid of the dark shadows where it takes cover. If we are going to make these changes stick we need to be open. Find people to share past struggles with, find people to confide in when you are being tempted, and find people to walk in accountability with. We were not created to fight this battle alone…every time you choose to make yourself accountable to someone, you add a warrior to your battle line.
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Our battle in becoming righteous cannot be won without a fight. Are we fighting or are we relying on past prayers and confessions to get us through?
Shacking up with Sin and Regret
Proverbs 29:6 (NIV)
“An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.”
One of the greatest ways to combat sin is to simply cease to give it the opportunity to happen. If we knew a recovered drug addict that kept cocaine in their cabinet, we would call them foolish, yet this is how many of us live with our struggles. We choose to co-exist with sin…hoping that we are strong enough to resist the temptations that surround us.
Making it Stick
Proverbs 11:14 (NASU)
“Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in the abundance of counselors there is victory.”
Our past mistakes have a way of slowly creeping back into our lives when we’re not looking. They live in the back of our minds and in the dark shadows of our hearts. They remind us of our weaknesses and try to convince us that we aren’t really free. Part of overcoming a struggle is getting rid of the dark shadows where it takes cover. If we are going to make these changes stick we need to be open. Find people to share past struggles with, find people to confide in when you are being tempted, and find people to walk in accountability with. We were not created to fight this battle alone…every time you choose to make yourself accountable to someone, you add a warrior to your battle line.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
the stands still
I was standing at the sink this morning, giving attention to some very neglected dishes, when I heard my girls start giggling. They were sitting at the dining room table transferring cheerios in and out of different containers.
Do you ever have moments where time just slows down, almost to a stop, and everything just seems right with the world?
As I stood there watching two of the greatest loves I have ever known play with their cheerios, these lyrics played on my ipod, "You are worthy, You are worthy of my child like faith, and of my honest praise, and of my unashamed love."
For that moment, all the stress of my day was lifted. I raised my hands in worship. It's amazing how perspective can change so suddenly. My kitchen sink...now my altar, the unswept floor...suddenly holy ground.
I realized again what I've known all along, God doesn't just want me on Sunday mornings. He wants me all the time...when the dishes are dirty, when the laundry needs folding, when the kids are screaming, when dinner is burning...when life is happening.
Life is not about life...Life is about Jesus.
I guess I just needed to be reminded of that today.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Throw a stone, kill a flock.
I wrote a post like this not too long ago, but the Holy Spirit just keeps impressing this idea on my heart.
Do you ever wonder why God doesn't just do His work by Himself? Why Israel had to paint their doorposts with blood for the passover? Why the disciples had to go find the food for Jesus to multiply?
In 2Kings 4 there is a woman who's in need of a miracle. Her husband has passed away and she is in serious debt. Her creditor's are trying to take her sons as payment. She goes to Elisha for help and Elisha sends her around to all of her neighbors to collect jars. She has a small amount of oil that she begins pouring into the jars. As the jars fill up the oil is multiplied until she is able to fill every jar. Elisha then has her sell the oil and she is able to make enough money to pay all her debt and have some left over.
So why all the hoopla? If God wants to help the woman pay her debts why doesn't He just do it...make money rain down from heaven?
Ever hear of the saying, "kill two birds with one stone"? God likes to throw a stone and kill a flock.
God isn't satisfied with just providing for this woman. He is in the business of making Himself famous. He likes to create a testimony that is big enough for everyone to have a piece. Elisha, the woman, her sons, all her neighbors, and even the creditors have now been affected by this one mighty act of God.
When we help...when we serve...when we get involved...we are choosing to be a part of the miracle taking place.
What are you doing to be a part?
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Living Sacrifice
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."
Romans 12:1
I've been thinking a lot lately about my body being a living sacrifice. What makes a body a holy and pleasing sacrifice? What does that even mean? Is it using my gifts to bring glory to God? Is it honoring God in the things I choose to be apart of?
What if this scripture is really, literally, talking about our physical bodies. If it is, what kind of sacrifice are we giving...is it holy and pleasing, or feeble and lazy?
In Genesis, there is a story about two brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain is a farmer and Abel is a shepherd. Cain brings some of his fruit as his sacrifice to the Lord, and Abel brings portions of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord is pleased with Abel's sacrifice but not satisfied with Cain's.
Both brother's brought a sacrifice, but only one was accepted. Abel gave from the best of what he had and his sacrifice was holy and pleasing. Cain gave...but he didn't give his best.
If we all decided today to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, what would God's response be? Would He be pleased with our offering? Would He find it lacking?
I don't know about you, but my sacrifice could use some work.
"but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself may not be disqualified."
1 Corinthians 9:27
Romans 12:1
I've been thinking a lot lately about my body being a living sacrifice. What makes a body a holy and pleasing sacrifice? What does that even mean? Is it using my gifts to bring glory to God? Is it honoring God in the things I choose to be apart of?
What if this scripture is really, literally, talking about our physical bodies. If it is, what kind of sacrifice are we giving...is it holy and pleasing, or feeble and lazy?
In Genesis, there is a story about two brothers, Cain and Abel. Cain is a farmer and Abel is a shepherd. Cain brings some of his fruit as his sacrifice to the Lord, and Abel brings portions of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord is pleased with Abel's sacrifice but not satisfied with Cain's.
Both brother's brought a sacrifice, but only one was accepted. Abel gave from the best of what he had and his sacrifice was holy and pleasing. Cain gave...but he didn't give his best.
If we all decided today to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, what would God's response be? Would He be pleased with our offering? Would He find it lacking?
I don't know about you, but my sacrifice could use some work.
"but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself may not be disqualified."
1 Corinthians 9:27
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
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