Tuesday, November 27, 2007
How Time Goes By
My oh my, I didn't realize how long that it has been since I was even on this blog. My time flies. I have been trying to get into the joy of Christmas. I have been working hard at this. I didn't think that I would be going into another Holyday season alone. So I'm really trying to concentrate on Jesus and I know that I will be rewarded with Joy this season. I picked up Beth Moore's Stepping Up to use for my quality time with Jesus. It is study of the Psalm of Ascent. So far it has worked. Why is it the this time of year is so difficult to get through for most of us. I think that it is the Christmas movies. They all end perfectly, and yet we watch and wait for the next one. We all have the desire for this time of year to be so wonderful and meet all of our dreams and endless expectations. And the smallest thing that goes wrong makes the whole season a bust. What does God want for us this holiday season. I think that he wants us to know that He loves us and to remind us of what He has done for us by giving us the Child King that would in turn save us from sin and death. He just wants us to concentrate on Jesus' love for us and to remember that this season is all about Him and not perfect decorations the perfect recipe or the perfect present. We are celebrating Jesus' birth and when it is our birthday it is all about each of us, so why shouldn't Jesus expect his birthday to be all about him? Just something to think about and hope that this season is all about Jesus and the hope and joy that comes from him.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
No Evil
Psalm 101:1-4 I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life - when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate, they will not cling to me. Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil.
No vile thing and no evil, these are the things that we need to model for our children. How else will they know what evil is? What we watch on TV, listen to in music, books we read, and movies we see; even if we don't allow them to see, listen, read, or watch, if they know that we have, then what have we accomplished? We have just taught them that is it OK to wait until they are older and can make decisions for themselves. We, as adults, have to make conscience effort to "set before my eyes no vile thing" to set the example even if our kids our not around and talk about such choices with our kids to instruct them in not making evil choices. But we also make these choices because it is pleasing to God for ourselves. It is how we live the blameless life. Our behavior is another way that we praise our God and shine the light or Jesus for others.
Lord, help me to lead the blameless life to be able to make the correct choices to keep evil away. I want to be the light for others as well as for my daughter. In Jesus' Name Amen
No vile thing and no evil, these are the things that we need to model for our children. How else will they know what evil is? What we watch on TV, listen to in music, books we read, and movies we see; even if we don't allow them to see, listen, read, or watch, if they know that we have, then what have we accomplished? We have just taught them that is it OK to wait until they are older and can make decisions for themselves. We, as adults, have to make conscience effort to "set before my eyes no vile thing" to set the example even if our kids our not around and talk about such choices with our kids to instruct them in not making evil choices. But we also make these choices because it is pleasing to God for ourselves. It is how we live the blameless life. Our behavior is another way that we praise our God and shine the light or Jesus for others.
Lord, help me to lead the blameless life to be able to make the correct choices to keep evil away. I want to be the light for others as well as for my daughter. In Jesus' Name Amen
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Broken Hearted from a Lie
Last night before, I fell asleep, I was reading in Psalms, one of the chapters I read was 34 and I came across verses 11-13. I reads, "Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Last week I caught my daughter in a lie. After I got over my initial anger, my heart was broken and I broke down in tears. I couldn't understand how this could happen. I thought everything I do, I do for this child. The hours I work, the time I spend at home and I could've gone on and on with what I do for her. While I was crying she came up and put her arms around me and was sobbing also. My walls just fell, my heart hurt but the discipline was going to have to follow. She repented to me and we talked about it for quite awhile.
While reading this verses last night, I began to think about how the Lord feels when I lie or sin. It must make Him angry, thinking about all that he has done for me. And think how come I failed to live up to what I say I believe, that I want to be a daughter to the Lord and have him reign in me. Then that lie or sin breaks the Lord's heart and I see him crying. And when I realize what I have just done, I run to him with my arms open wide and he takes me in his arms and we cry out together as I ask for forgiveness. And remember to say to him that I am sorry that I made him angry and that I broke his heart. But then the discipline will have to follow for me also.
Lord, help me to always see things with your eyes. And when I fall short, I realize that I have broken your heart and run to you for forgiveness and discipline.
Last week I caught my daughter in a lie. After I got over my initial anger, my heart was broken and I broke down in tears. I couldn't understand how this could happen. I thought everything I do, I do for this child. The hours I work, the time I spend at home and I could've gone on and on with what I do for her. While I was crying she came up and put her arms around me and was sobbing also. My walls just fell, my heart hurt but the discipline was going to have to follow. She repented to me and we talked about it for quite awhile.
While reading this verses last night, I began to think about how the Lord feels when I lie or sin. It must make Him angry, thinking about all that he has done for me. And think how come I failed to live up to what I say I believe, that I want to be a daughter to the Lord and have him reign in me. Then that lie or sin breaks the Lord's heart and I see him crying. And when I realize what I have just done, I run to him with my arms open wide and he takes me in his arms and we cry out together as I ask for forgiveness. And remember to say to him that I am sorry that I made him angry and that I broke his heart. But then the discipline will have to follow for me also.
Lord, help me to always see things with your eyes. And when I fall short, I realize that I have broken your heart and run to you for forgiveness and discipline.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Perseverance
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
My week has been crappy, literally. It started Thursday last week, I found water in my basement and it looked to me that it had come from the air conditioner and had been accumulating for awhile. The closer that I looked the more I saw sitting in water, a mattress, a couch on it's end, suitcases, boxes and the list started to get longer and longer. So I spent most of the day Saturday, along with my parents help, taking out all the things that had been damaged from the water out of the basement out to the back yard. Some of those things belonged to my husband, who died over 5 years ago, his life. It was a time of purging. I was angry and sad and basically just not happy. I will spend time tomorrow hauling this stuff to the dump. Anyhow, then this week on Wednesday, as my daughter would say "the house sounds like to has a bad stomach ache and then it threw up." The septic tank quite working, or whatever the terminology is, the house smelled like a septic tank and I had cleaning to do in the shower and bathtubs. Our house is only 7 years old and most of the time living here it has only been my daughter and I in this house. I couldn't get over that we could have had this kind of trouble. So now I'm not just unhappy but really upset. We can not take showers, I could not finish my wash and the dishes. You don't think how much you take something forgranted until you can't use it.
All this to say, the Lord uses all things to see if we can we can be joyful in all things and be able to give thanks. I can honestly say that this has not been easy for me this past week. I have cried this week, yelled this week, and even tired to laugh about it to keep me from crying. I was angry at God for allowing this to happen when He could take his little finger and fix the problem. But that is not the way that it happened, no I had to purge some life, because it was time, God's time. It is all over now, not without a little heartache and money, and I hope that in the not so distant future I will be able to look back and say it all started when I had a crappy week, literally.
My week has been crappy, literally. It started Thursday last week, I found water in my basement and it looked to me that it had come from the air conditioner and had been accumulating for awhile. The closer that I looked the more I saw sitting in water, a mattress, a couch on it's end, suitcases, boxes and the list started to get longer and longer. So I spent most of the day Saturday, along with my parents help, taking out all the things that had been damaged from the water out of the basement out to the back yard. Some of those things belonged to my husband, who died over 5 years ago, his life. It was a time of purging. I was angry and sad and basically just not happy. I will spend time tomorrow hauling this stuff to the dump. Anyhow, then this week on Wednesday, as my daughter would say "the house sounds like to has a bad stomach ache and then it threw up." The septic tank quite working, or whatever the terminology is, the house smelled like a septic tank and I had cleaning to do in the shower and bathtubs. Our house is only 7 years old and most of the time living here it has only been my daughter and I in this house. I couldn't get over that we could have had this kind of trouble. So now I'm not just unhappy but really upset. We can not take showers, I could not finish my wash and the dishes. You don't think how much you take something forgranted until you can't use it.
All this to say, the Lord uses all things to see if we can we can be joyful in all things and be able to give thanks. I can honestly say that this has not been easy for me this past week. I have cried this week, yelled this week, and even tired to laugh about it to keep me from crying. I was angry at God for allowing this to happen when He could take his little finger and fix the problem. But that is not the way that it happened, no I had to purge some life, because it was time, God's time. It is all over now, not without a little heartache and money, and I hope that in the not so distant future I will be able to look back and say it all started when I had a crappy week, literally.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice!!!!
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
In all things rejoice, in it you find strength. The LORD is our strength and what is going on in our life is from Him. Rejoicing takes the focus off ourselves and acknowledges God for who He is and that He has a plan that cannot be seen yet but our acceptence comes when we can look to the heavens and say "Holy are you LORD and you are worthy of my praise."
I have found that the LORD has been speaking to me quite of few times this year from Habukkuk and it comforts me to know that the book was written for me these days.
Habakkuk 3:19 goes on to say, The Sovereign LORD is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go to the heights.
When we are going through rough times, the goal is to climb the mountain from the valley to stand in the high place before the Lord and see the sun rise first in the morning. So to be able to climb the mountain, we have to be able to rejoice in the LORD. It is the first step out of the valley that we are in. Because if we can't rejoice then we continue to remain focused on our troubles and cannot get past the blackness of it.
Lord, help me to rejoice in all things everyday. Help me to run to you when in need and look for the ray of light that leads to you. In Jesus' name Amen.
In all things rejoice, in it you find strength. The LORD is our strength and what is going on in our life is from Him. Rejoicing takes the focus off ourselves and acknowledges God for who He is and that He has a plan that cannot be seen yet but our acceptence comes when we can look to the heavens and say "Holy are you LORD and you are worthy of my praise."
I have found that the LORD has been speaking to me quite of few times this year from Habukkuk and it comforts me to know that the book was written for me these days.
Habakkuk 3:19 goes on to say, The Sovereign LORD is my strength, he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go to the heights.
When we are going through rough times, the goal is to climb the mountain from the valley to stand in the high place before the Lord and see the sun rise first in the morning. So to be able to climb the mountain, we have to be able to rejoice in the LORD. It is the first step out of the valley that we are in. Because if we can't rejoice then we continue to remain focused on our troubles and cannot get past the blackness of it.
Lord, help me to rejoice in all things everyday. Help me to run to you when in need and look for the ray of light that leads to you. In Jesus' name Amen.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Joyful Giver
Psalm 54:6 "I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Oh Lord for it is good."
Do we give our money, our time, and our talents joyfully? Do we give with a joyful heart, like a child? I remember when Hannah was younger and still some today, that she would get so excited to see the basket pass by her and she always asked me if she could put the envelope in the basket. Now granted the money wasn't hers to give but the action of excitment of placing the envelope should be the way that I give my tithe. When asked to give my time for a work day at the church do I do that with joy? I realize that I haven't worked at a church workday, can't remember if there was always something else going on or if that was the only day that I could sleep in. Honestly not putting my time forward joyfully. Lastly, what are my talents, my spiritual gifts? Do I use them for the Lord when asked or when necessary? Maybe I need to look into some of these things.
Give like that of a child for the Lord is good and we/I should want to tithe all that I have to offer because none of it is mine to keep.
Do we give our money, our time, and our talents joyfully? Do we give with a joyful heart, like a child? I remember when Hannah was younger and still some today, that she would get so excited to see the basket pass by her and she always asked me if she could put the envelope in the basket. Now granted the money wasn't hers to give but the action of excitment of placing the envelope should be the way that I give my tithe. When asked to give my time for a work day at the church do I do that with joy? I realize that I haven't worked at a church workday, can't remember if there was always something else going on or if that was the only day that I could sleep in. Honestly not putting my time forward joyfully. Lastly, what are my talents, my spiritual gifts? Do I use them for the Lord when asked or when necessary? Maybe I need to look into some of these things.
Give like that of a child for the Lord is good and we/I should want to tithe all that I have to offer because none of it is mine to keep.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Wait for it.
Habakkuk 2:5 Though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay. What is lingering? That is the question of the day. What is God telling me? Wait for it, for what? Lots of questions but what ever it is I need it. Will it be something grand, like maybe the mountains moving? Maybe, it is just a new outlook. I want so bad to be the woman that God wants me to be and a patient one at that. Then I found Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. It means call upon the LORD and He will direct my paths and it will come, whatever He has planned. Hope for tomorrow and joy overflowing
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Multi-Tasking
I read from several devotions each morning, this morning I tried to swallow it all. One devotion was Psalm 77:1-15 which talks about remembering the good from God when going through tough times at the moment. Another was Hosea 14:1-7 and repenting of sins to the Lord and to others. And finally always keep your eyes focused on Heaven. It was all good stuff, these different scriptures, and talk about multi-tasking for the Lord. I chuckled thinking I multi-task everyday all throughout the day and why shouldn't I think that God would ask me to do this for Him also. Why couldn't I multi-task for God. I think God in the King of multi-tasking, how else would the sun come up everyday and then the moon take its place. All the God of Creation does for me in a day is work enough. So I could keep my eyes on Heaven today, and take time out to repent of my sins to the Lord as well as yelling at Hannah yesterday. And keep in mind all the good that the Lord has done for me daily on my lips so that when bad times hit I will remember and in remembering I have hope that we will rise from this too. So multi-task it is today. Hope for tomorrow and joys overflow.
First-timer
This will be the first time that I've done something like this. I didn't even know that this kind of thing even existed until a few weeks ago. I had seen at the bottom of emails "visit my blog" but didn't pay it much attention. So here I am, looking into a whole new world. I'm hoping that this is going to be fun and informational. I would like to use it as a way to further my writing skills, such as they are, and air out my mind at the things that the Lord is teaching me. I journal a couple of times a week but that is just me writing my laments and prayers, still an act of worship but I am looking to take this further. I guess we will see how much time that I actually spend here to determine if what I've written so far is going to be true.
So here I go on a new ride. I hope that it is fun.
So here I go on a new ride. I hope that it is fun.
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