Passion...

"The Passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bond-slave of Jesus Christ."  -- Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

More & More - part 2

Verse 2:

To know You as my Healer... "... by His wounds we are healed" (Isa. 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24)

To know You as my Love.... "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us" (1 John 3:1)... "For God so loved the world.." (John 3:16)... "This is how we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us." (1 John 3:16).... "God is Love"  (1 John 4:16)

To know You as my Advocate to Heaven's Throne above... "He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to interceded for them." (Heb. 7:25).... "... Jesus has entered on our behalf." (Heb. 6:20).... "Christ... is at the right hand of God and is interceding for us." (Rom. 8:34).... "Jesus.. endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Heb. 12:2)

To know You as my Savior .... "we have put out hope in the living God who is the Savior of all men." (1 Tim. 4:10)... "You are my Father, my God, my Rock, my Savior" (Ps. 89:26)

To know You as my Lord .... "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one" (Deut. 4:6)... "How awesome is the Lord Most High." (Ps. 47:2)... "Delight yourself in the Lord."  (Ps. 37:4)

To know You as the coming King who reigns forevermore.... "If I go.. I will come back." (john 14:3)... "This same Jesus, who has been taken away,... will come back." (Acts. 1:11).... "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" (Rev. 4:8)... "Behold, I am coming soon.) (Rev. 22:7 & 12).... "The Lord reigns forever!" (Ps. 9:7)

"O, I want to know You. Deeper than before. And O, I want to know You more and more... more and more... more and more...."

More & More Part 3 (Final)

To know You as Forgiver.... "When you were dead in your sings... God made you alive in Christ and forgave us all our sins."  Col. 2:13  ... "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness."  1 John 1:9

To know You as my Friend.... "Greater love has no one than this, that He lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends i you do what I command.  I no longer call you servants.... I have called you friends."  John 15:13-15

To know You as my Comforter when all is crashing in.... "... the Lord comforts His people...." Isa. 49:13... "I, even I am He who comforts you."  Isa. 51:12... "... the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our troubles."  2 Cor. 1:4... "God comforts the downcast" 2 Cor. 7:6... "And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever" John 14:16 KJV... "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost..." John 14:26 KJV

"O, I want to know You... Deeper than before.. and O, I want to know You, More and More.. More and More.. More and More.. More and More..."

More & More part 1...

There is a wonderful song we sing in church called More and More.  In my personal; worship time with God recently, this song came to mind and I started looking at the words and pull out Scripture that came to mind as I sang.

Here is verse 1... and the verses it brought to mind...

To know You as my Father....... "Our Father which art in Heaven..." (Matt. 6:9)

To know You as my King ..... "God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords." (1 Tim. 6:15)

To know You in Your resurrection power and suffering.... "I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings."  (Phil. 3:10)

To know You as my Teacher .... "You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am."  (John 13:13)

To know You as my Light .... "I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  (John 8:12)

To know You as a Lamp unto my feet through all the night.... "Your Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light for my path." (Ps. 119:105)

Chorus:  O, I want to know You, Deeper than before, and O, I want to know You more and more.. more and more.. more and more...

May that be the prayer for My heart.. and of yours!

Flesh

"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."  John 1:14

This is scandalous!  

Mind blowing!  

Overwhelming!  

And most of all TRUE!

Praise You, Lord! Praise You, Jesus!

Obedience or Independence

Today's Read from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers is just too good not to pass on! (You can read this wonderful devotional book daily at http://utmost.org/.. there is even an app to download it to your phone).  

Obedience or Independence?

Nov

02

2011

If you love Me, keep My commandments —John 14:15

Our Lord never insists on obedience. He stresses very definitely what we ought to do, but He never forces us to do it. We have to obey Him out of a oneness of spirit with Him. That is why whenever our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an “If,” meaning, “You do not need to do this unless you desire to do so.” “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . .” (Luke 9:23). In other words, “To be My disciple, let him give up his right to himself to Me.” Our Lord is not talking about our eternal position, but about our being of value to Him in this life here and now. That is why He sounds so stern (see Luke 14:26). Never try to make sense from these words by separating them from the One who spoke them.

The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear. If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself. Jesus Christ will not force me to obey Him, but I must. And as soon as I obey Him, I fulfill my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small, petty happenings, altogether insignificant. But if I obey Jesus Christ in the seemingly random circumstances of life, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God. Then, when I stand face to face with God, I will discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When God’s redemption brings a human soul to the point of obedience, it always produces. If I obey Jesus Christ, the redemption of God will flow through me to the lives of others, because behind the deed of obedience is the reality of Almighty God.

Good

Psalm 119:68

You are good and do good NASB

You are good and kind and do good  AMP

You are good and the source of good  MSG

You are good and do only good  NLT

You are good and what you do is good  NIV

You are good and do what is good  HCSB

Fundamental Truth to hang on to no matter how things appear...  God is Good and God does Good.. Always!

Persistant Prayer

"When we determine to pray with passionate persistence -- with a refusal to quit despite discouragement, despite how things look to us -- God will reward those prayers with His just and timely response." -- Janet Holm McHenry (from the book Prayer Walk)

In All Things... Always..

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thess. 5:18 NIV

AMP:  Thank God in everything (no matter what the circumstances may be be thankful and give thanks) for this is the will of God for you who are in Christ Jesus (the Revealer and Mediator of that will).

Eph. 5:20  Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph. 5:4  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are our of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Heb. 13:15  Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise -- the fruit of lips that confess His name.

Pray Continually

Pray Continually 1 Thess. 5:17 NIV

NASB:  Pray without Ceasing

NLT:  Never Stop Praying

AMP:  Be unceasing in prayer - pray perseveringly

Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told this parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up

Deut. 4:7b The Lord our God is near us whenever we pray for Him

"Prayer does not fit us for the greater works; prayer is the greater work."  -- Oswald Chambers

Be joyful....

Be joyful always.  1 Thess. 5:16 NIV

Amplified Version:  Be happy in your faith and rejoice and be gladhearted continually (always).

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord Always

Ps. 97:12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous and praise His holy name.

Hab. 3:18 Yet (no matter what is happening) I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in my God my Savior.

Neh. 8:10b  The Joy of the Lord is your strength

Always.... Continually.... "Yet" .... do this and find Strength!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always

Prayer continually

Give thanks in all circumstances,

 for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thess 5:16-18

Wherever....

"Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances pray." -- Oswald Chambers

Rest of Faith

"Rest is uniting the Word with faith and living in it at that very moment. It's the action of faith for today -- for this monent, this situation."  -- Kay Arthur

Know Him.... Seek Him...

I was reading in the book The Perfect Love by Ruth Myers some things about Knowing God today that just really spoke to my heart...

"... to know God is not just to accumulate facts about Him, but also to experience who He is in our daily living."

"E.M.Bounds wrote that God does not reveal Himself to the 'hasty comer and goer.' If we settle for a casual relationship we won't experience His love deeply.  It's not that anything about His love changes when we neglect Him. His love is still just as full and flowing, just as wonderful and powerful.  But we're blocking it out when we don't pursue a deeper, more constant relationship with Him."

When I read this, I immediately thought of Jeremiah 29:13... I cannot tell you how many times this verse has come before my eyes in the last week and a half.. and from vastly different sources!  The NIV says:  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  

I recently saw it in the NLT and love how it is worded:  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

I love that word... WHOLEHEARTEDLY

Brought me to a couple more verses this morning..

Deut 4:29  But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  

From there.. from where ever I am at that MOMENT... whatever my situation and circumstance.. I am to seek Him with ALL my heart!

And Ps. 86:11b... which is a wonderful verse to pray for yourself and those you love... Teach me your way, O LORD,  and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Finally --if you know me personally, then you have heard me say over and over say Be In The Word... it is a soapbox I proudly stand on and shout from and once again I am there urging anyone reading this to be in the Word. My family has had a huge upset this week.. great turmoil that will be with us for a while... I would never lie and say we have had total peace... no anger.. no hurt.. no worry... please, we are human!  BUT in the midst of it all God has used His Word.. either from others who text a verse or devotional emails that come in my inbox... or most importantly and most often through the Holy Spirit who reminds me what HE has shown me in His Word... John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  He teaches and He will remind us at just the right time.. but we MUST be in the Word learning to have something for Him to remind us!

We must seek to have a FULL relationship with the Lord.. not just a casual one. He should be you absolute most intimate friend.  Seek Him with ALL your heart today!

Exodus 33 reading...

Exodus 33:11 "The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend."

God still does that today. Maybe not physically face to face, but He communes with us -- is with us -- His Spirit in me!  All the time!

Moses said to God in verse 13.. "If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you."  This is my prayer today.

Phil. 3:8 & 10 "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things .... I want to know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection."

Know.... not just head knowledge... heart knowledge that brings change in my life and is walked out day by day.

"Then the Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.'"  (v. 14)

God's presence is always with me as the Holy Spirit resides in me.  So there is no reason for me not to have rest -- His rest -- peace.

And in verse 16 Moses replied at the thought of God not going with them... "what else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?"

Jesus in my life is what distinguishes me from the world... nothing else... He is the difference.

What if?

What is you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked the Lord for today?

Read that online... a stop and ponder thought for sure!

My Utmost....

One of my favorite devotionals is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Here are some things I have read over the past few weeks:

"God will never reveal more truth about Himself until you have obeyed what you know already."

"Sin is a fundamental relationship it is not wrong doing, it is wrong being, deliberate and emphatic independence of God."

"We slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him."

"The one who says 'Yes, Lord, but...' is the one who is fiercely ready, but never goes."

Everlasting....

Read this today in The Perfect Love by Ruth Myers and just had to share! (Please Note: None of this is my original writing.. this is all quoted from Myers' book.)

"The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him" (Ps. 103:17 RSV).  From everlasting to everlasting. 

From everlasting, way back before I ever existed, God loved me.  Long before I was born He looked ahead and fastened His affection upon me. His love for me began in His foreknowledge of me. That means He didn't love me because I earned it, for when He decided to love me I did not yet even exist.  His love is not mine because I merit it, for He fastened His love upon me before I ever did one thing good or bad, before I merited anything.

Therefore in the midst of my failure and struggles when I feel so undeserving, I never have to think, Oh dear, does He still love me? He never started loving me in the first place because I deserve it. He just loves me. His love for each of us is never rooted in our worthiness, but rather in His own nature.

God is saying to us, "Its not because you earned it or worked so hard for it that I have loved you. I don't continue loving you because you manage to maintain a high enough standard in my eyes. No, I simply made a permanent choice to love you." 

That choice will never change. He loved me from everlasting and will love me to everlasting. His love for me -- and for you -- will never end.

God has always known all things.  Before we were born He already knew the worst about us and nothing that happens now can surprise or disillusion Him. He has never had any illusions about anyone or anything.  He doesn't suddenly discover some truth about one of us and think, "Oh, why did I ever choose to love him or her?"

Choose the better thing....

This morning I was reading in Acts 6.  I didn't get far before the Lord stopped me. The beginning of this chapter deals with setting up church leadership... but there is a phrase in verse 4 that jumped out at me and applies even not only to church leadership, but also to our day to day lives.

"give attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word."

Isn't this what the Lord wants each of us to do? To give attention... make time... priority time... to pray and be in the Word and pour the Word into others?

I am busy... as most everyone of you are too... and if I am not careful, the busyness of my life takes over and causes me to either not give attention to prayer and the Word or to do so rapidly as if to get it done and off my to-do list for the day... a task, not a delight.  As I pondered this phrase, I was taken back to a familiar story in Luke 10. Jesus has come to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Martha is rushing about making sure everything is done... not bad things.. things that need to be dealt with, but that don't have to take priority right then.... they will still be there to do once Jesus has left the house.  Mary, on the other hand, has stopped all her activity and is sitting at the feet of Jesus taking in all He says (Luke 10:39).  Martha continues to work and work and get more frazzled as she has a pity party in her mind about all she is doing and all Mary is not.  She decides to make Jesus aware of the injustice of the situation, but is, no doubt, taken back by His reply:

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42)

Today, I want to choose what is better... I want to give attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.  I pray to have ears that hear and a heart that responds to whatever the Lord calls me to.  I want to be a sheep that knows the Shepherd's voice and responds when He calls.

What will you choose today?

To Know God's Love...

I love the book of Ephesians... and the prayer found in chapter 3 is one of my favorite Biblical prayers.  As I was reading The Perfect Love by Ruth Myers this morning I read that lovely prayer from The Living Bible (TLB). Remember The Living Bible? My mother had one. It was shaped like a hardback dictionary, but covered with a dark green padded leathery material on the outside.  She loved that Bible and read it daily.

TLB is a transliteration... like The Message. Both are fine to read, but should not be your main Bible.  Those who wrote these versions took the main thoughts in the Bible and put them down in common day language.  I love to compare verses in various Bibles and The Message is one I look at often, but again.. not as my main source. You need a solid translation and there are many to choose from.... my personal favorites are the New American Standard Bible and the English Standard Version. I read the New Internation Version also as it is what my church uses.

Back to this morning's reading... as I said, I love this prayer and I really love the way it reads in TLB.  I hope you like it too and will pray this for yourselves and others.

Eph. 3:17-21 TLB

"May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God's children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is, and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it.  And so at last you will be filled up with God Himself.  Now glory be to God who by His mighty power at work within us is able to do more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of -- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes."

Powerless!

Reading in Hebrews this morning....

Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil. Hebrews 2:14 NASB

RENDERED POWERLESS!  Jesus has rendered the devil powerless in my life.. in YOUR life (if you are a child of God).  How amazing and ... well, powerful, is that!?

And then it really hit me... when the enemy has power in my life.... it is not because he has the authority to do so but because I am letting him!  WHOA!  So the next time I feel him taking power (me giving him that authority), I must remember this verse and say "No way, satan!  JESUS rendered you powerless through His death and that means you have no power in my life. I am choosing to walk in the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit that is in me!"

How 'bout you? Which power are you going to plug into today?

Persevere!

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15

I love the parable of the sower, so as I am reading through the book of Luke I was thrilled to be at chapter 8 this morning.  Every time I read this parable, I pray to be the good soil... to hear the Word, retain it and produce a crop.  But there is one part I feel I overlook... in fact, I think most of us overlook it... "by persevering."

Once again I am reminded that the life lived in Christ is not an easy one. From Genesis to Revelation we are called to persevere.  Be courageous... Trust in the Lord... Stand Firm.... these and similar exhortations say the same thing.. PERSEVERE!

It is key to living a life in Christ.

"Therefore... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." 

Heb. 12:1

Almighty

The Lord.... Almighty

"I am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless" Gen. 17:1b

"And God said to him (Abraham), 'I am God Almighty.'" Gen. 35:11a

"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Job 33:4

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."  Ps. 91:1

"Holy, Holy,  Holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of His glory."  Isa. 6:3

Downcast

I was rather glum yesterday -- the weight of the world on my shoulders.  At some point I heard in my spirit... "Why are you downcast, O my soul?"  I knew that came from a Psalm and the point was with God there is no need to be downcast.  I let the day go on and never stopped to look up the actual Psalm.  But this morning I did...

Ps. 42:5 & 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

and then I read on to verse 6...


My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You....

There is the key to not being downcast...

remember WHO God is... WHAT He has done... WHAT He promises

That is the cure! Remember... Focus..... on God.

And it is a choice... we CHOOSE to Focus on Him and not our circumstances.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Heb. 12:2a

Let us -- again, a choice. Something we are told to do (Let us) but not made to do... it is our choice. So when I am downcast, it is my choice to stay there! Whoa!


My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare.  Ps. 25:15

Where are your eyes today?

What the Bible says about itself?

I have started a study on Psalm 119... Sweeter than Chocolate by Pam Gillaspie.  I have only done the first few pages and am already loving it and being challenged by it.  

The first thing we are looking at are the claims the Bible makes about itself. The author of the study wrote:

"If God's Word really is what it claims to be; if it really does what it claims to do, and if you choose to align your life with its claims, it could change your life forever. ...  The questions that at the end of the day will make all the difference are these: Is the Bible actually what it claims to be Does the Bible actually do what it claims to do?  If the answers are yes, we are fools if we don't align ourselves according with its truths.  If the answers are no, we are fools if we bother."

She then asks what I, the seeker, know about the claims the Bible makes about itself?  So I did a quick concordance search and found verses that talk about the Word and made a quick list of some of the things the Bible claims about itself.

Here is what I found...

Deut 8:3b Man does not live by bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  

God's Word is as necessary for me to live as food 

Deut 31:26 The Word of Law (specifically the Torah) is a witness against Israel and really against us also. It is a mirror of how we should live that shows our shortcomings and unrighteousness. (Which sounds awful but hang on there is more!)

Joshua 1:8 (one of my favorite verses) Do not let this book of the Law (again at this point the Torah) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Word  = Instructions for me on living

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2 Sam. 22:31 -- The Word of the Lord is FLAWLESS

Ps 19:7-8 .. the Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant.  It revives my soul, makes me wise, give joy to my heart and gives light to my eyes.

v. 9 says it is Sure and altogether righteous.

v. 10 -- it is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey

Ps 119:9 to keep my way pure, I must lie according to the Word

v 11 It keeps me from sinning WHEN it is a part of me

v 105 -- it guides, illuminates

Prov. 30:5 Every word of God is FLAWLESS

Isa 55:11 -- The Word will not come back void.. it will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

John 1:1 -- the Word has always been and according to v. 14 it became flesh - Jesus!

Luke 21:33 Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my Words will never pass away.

Eph 6:17 -- Sword of the Spirit (our only offensive weapon in the armor of God) is the Word of God.

Phil 2:16 -- It is the Word of Life

Col 3:16 -- It should dwell richly in me.  Col. 3:16 starts with the word LET so it is a choice I make to let it dwell richly in me. How? bu choosing to be in the Word and to have the Word in me!

2 Tim 3:16 - 17 ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. SO that the man (woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Heb. 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword.  It penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I believe every one of those claims.. but I have to ask myself if I live like I believe them? Do I live like I believe God and what He says?

Do you?

I would encourage you to take a bit of time and look up what the Bible says about itself.  And then stop and think of each point you find and decide 1) Do you believe it and 2) Do you live like you do

Barb

Emmanuel at Easter

I am reading through Walter Wangerin's Lenten devotional book, Revive the Passion.  (I recommend it highly, along with his Advent devotional, Preparing for Jesus.) A recent day's reading started with Mark 14:53-65.  In this powerful passage of Scripture, we see Jesus at the home of the high priest. "They all condemned Him as deserving death.  And some began to spit on Him and to cover His face and to strike Him, saying to Him, 'Prophesy!' And the guards received Him with blows."  It is gruesome and should be overwhelming as we read how our Lord was treated because of our sin.

As I finished reading these verses, a song started playing in my mind... It is a Christmas song on Casting Crowns' "Peace on Earth" CD. It was my favorite song this past Christmas season. The part resonating in my mind goes "Love is raining down on the world tonight, there's a presence here I can tell. God is with us, God is for us, God is with us, Emmanuel.  He's the Savior we have been waiting for. In our humble hearts, He will dwell. God is with us. God is for us. God is with us, Emmanuel."

It seems odd to be singing a Christmas song as Easter is approaching... as the focus is on the Cross not the Manger.. and yet...

At Christmas those words are wrapped up like swaddling clothes around a tiny baby in a manger -- hope personified -- all pretty and sweet and real.

As I look towards Easter.. towards Calvary and the Crucifixion of that sweet babe grown to manhood, those words are still true. They are now nailed to a cross with a battered and bleeding Savior. In fact, in some ways I believe they fit at Easter more than at Christmas.

As Jesus hung on the cross, God's wrath rained down on Him and yet love... true love... God's love.. rained down on the world. On me... on you... on all who ever has been and ever will be...No doubt the presence of God was there.. No doubt He was still Emmanuel on that Cross... "God with us" was crucified -- willingly for our sins.  That is a gut wrenching thought for me.. and it should be for you.

He was at that moment beaten and bare.. bruised... abused... dying and yet still the Savior the world was waiting for... He is still that Savior today.  THE Only Savior and many in the world continue to wait for Him... some who don't realize He has come and those of us who await His final triumphant return.  God does now dwell in our hearts through the Holy Spirit -- Emmanuel is real today -- He is God with us and He lives in those who choose to Believe!

Word of the Year: Choice

I am woefully behind on this blog!  I realized that I haven't even posted my word for the year. I started this tradition with myself in 2008. My word then was Gratitude. 2009: Peace. 2010: Change (I was not thrilled about that one, but it was perfect for that year!) My 2011 word did not come quickly as the others had. In fact, I really wondered if I would have a word. I kept trying to make words fit instead of waiting on the Lord to show me. I am a bit surprised my word isn't patience!  But He did show me late in January... Choice.

Life really is all about Choices.

I choose to sleep a bit longer or get up and have time with God

I choose to respond to someone in love or anger

I choose to exercise or sit on the couch

I choose to eat healthy or not

I choose what goes into my mind, my mouth, my heart etc.

I choose ow I spend my time, where I spend it, who I spend it with etc.

I choose to obey or disobey the Lord

I choose to take Him at His Word -- BELIEVE Him... have FAITH in Him... or not to

I choose to Walk in Faith or stumble around on my own

I choose to wait patiently on His timing or to try to make something happen on my own or to grumble as I wait

The list goes on and on and on and on.. and almost daily He shows me how CHOICE affects my life.

I pray that I will be like Mary and choose the Better thing!

Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

Great Verse...

Our church is once again memorizing a verse a week together for the year. And as always I am starting out determined to learn them all ... I pray I stay determined and finish knowing all 52 verses! It is so easy to slip away around March or April.

This week's is a verse I am not familiar with.. although I am certain I have read it. It just wows me when I think about it,

"You alone are the Lord. you made the heaven, even the highest heavens, and their starry hosts. The earth and all that is on it. The seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything and the multitudes of heaven worship you."  Nehemiah 9:6

WOW! Not one thing in that verse was unknown to me before reading it, but having it all put together and said so straight forward and clear.. wow. What an awesome verse.. especially when I realize that the One spoken of loves me and has adopted me as His child. This is my Father Nehemiah is talking about!

Kids often brag on their dad.. how big he is.. how tough.. just think, as a child of God I have the best bragging rights!  My dad created the heavens, the earth, the seas .. everything on and in them.. and gives life to EVERYTHING... not some things.. not a few things.. not a lot of things.. EVERYTHING!  WOW!

And again... He loves me and chose me to be His child!  That is Scandalous!  And the cool thing.. He loves you too and if you are not His child, you can be. It is a very simple task that leads to the most glorious life with Him forever! If you want to know more about becoming a child of God, contact me through this blog or check out this site:  Steps

Obedience... yet again...

I pick a word of the year each year and have yet to decide on one for 2011. I am beginning to wonder if Obedience will be it. Oh my!  Definitely need to pray about that!


On to what I wanted to share.... I read a devotional the other day by Robert J. Morgan (wrote The Red Sea Rules).  He was talking about Noah and he said "So in an age in which people knew nothing of rain, God told Noah to build an enormous ship, and Noah obeyed completely, down to the last nail."  

I am always wowed by Noah's obedience.. his immediate and unquestioning obedience... I like to question God a lot!

Morgan then offered this.... which truly does give me (and maybe you) cause to stop and ponder....

"To measure your faith, pull out the dipstick of obedience.  Does God tell us to build up others with our words? To be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another? To do the work of an evangelist? To avoid sexual immorality? To keep our eyes from vanity? To meditate on Scripture?"

Ouch... my toes hurt!  We talk of taking God at His Word.. and we should.. we can walk confidently in every single promise we find in the Bible BUT we also need to take Him at His Word when it comes to His commands and do what He says.

I Believe Therefore I Speak.. and Think...

As I read my Daily Devotional this morning, the author talked about how "God wants His people whole -- spirit, soul and body" -- and how "words have power and our bodies will try to fulfill the word we speak."

Several scriptures came to mind as I read that.  2 Cor. 4:13 says we believe therefore we speak.  This verse reminds me to Believe God's Word and to Speak It with assurance and boldness.  I learned some time ago the need to speak God's truth out-loud -- there is power in the Spoken Word!

I also thought how our minds "speak" to us -- no one else hears our thoughts, but we do and they effect us. Romans 12:2 talks of our need to renew our mind. Phil. 4:8 lists the things which should occupy our mind. Things that are pure, righteous, excellent, praiseworthy, lovely, admirable, noble and true.  We should think on these things.

Eph. 4:29 tells us to speak only that which is useful for building up. We usually consider this verse in light of what we say to others and well we should, but we also can apply it to the words we speak to ourselves whether spoken aloud or thought. We need only to build up not tear down.  We must speak the Truth even to ourselves!

Imagine how different our world would be if we spoke only Truth and held to the Phil. 4:8 plumb line in our thought life?

This is not about having a positive attitude, although it is good to be positive instead of negative. It is about walking in the Word... in the truth of our Lord ... with confidence and assurance.

This is how we are able to live life as more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. (Rom. 8:37)

Binding those Emotions!

I am using a devotional this year called 365 Days to a Prayer-Filled Life.  I have to admit that the title does nothing for me.. in fact, I tend to avoid anything that says X number of days until.... but the author is Germaine Copeland.  I have several of her books and love them. They are full of Scripture based prayers and so is this devotional.

I read a line in today's prayer that just seemed to stop my world... "In Your name I bind my emotions to the control of the Holy Spirit and go forth with confidence."

Wow!  I just love that thought... the picture in my head of my emotions, which can run wild, being bound to the Holy Spirit's control.  Why do I even try to keep them in check? They are often the flesh at work in me.  How completely right to let the Holy Spirit control them.

This does not mean there will be no emotions. Not at all!  God created emotions and He made us emotional beings. What is does mean is appropriate emotions at appropriate times. And I am not talking about observing social graces or putting on a good face.

My hope is that this will keep me from yelling in the car that the driver that cuts me off or drives wayyyy tooo slow... that it will keep me from loosing my patience as I stand in line at the store while the person ahead of me tries to figure out how to use the self-checkout or the cashier feels the need to have a 20 minute gabfest with another customer... that it keep me from going into self-pity mode when I don't get my way -- things like that.

I pray this act of binding will enable me to bear fruit -- the fruit of the Spirit! -- Love, Joy, Peace, Patience Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control,

"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven."  

Matt. 18:18a

Obedience... can't get away from it!

I have decided to read through the Bible this year. I have done this before. In fact, I did it several years in a row and found that after a while I was just reading to check off a box, so I stopped... using a plan, that is, I still read the Bible.  It is time to read through again. There are many, many plans out there to fit everyone's lifestyle and preferences. Plans to read the entire Bible in a year or just one of the Testaments or just certain passages. I encourage you to look around and find one that fits your lifestyle and dive in!

I am using this plan: http://thepracticaldisciple.com/2010/12/one-year-bible-reading-plan.html

My reading for today was the Gospel of Mark, chapters 1 - 3. I am using the New International Version of the Bible for my reading.  It is so easy for someone who has been reared in church and/or is familiar with the Bible to read and not really learn.  Familiarity gets in the way of insight. I pray before I read, most days, and ask God to reveal something new to me as I get into His Word.. or to remind me of a truth I need to be reminded of. I think I got a bit of both today. What hit me as I read is a truth I know, but had never noticed in this passage.

In Mark 1 Jesus heals a man with leprosy and then "Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 'See that you don't tell this to anyone.'" (v. 43-44) He further instructs the man to do as the law requires and go show himself to the priest.

I've always found it odd that Jesus said don't tell anyone. Why not? Why not let the man tell and praise Jesus for doing this and bring glory to God the Father for miracles that still happen. What is the harm?

Other than the fact that the word tells us that God can do whatever He pleases... and He certainly does not have to tell us why (in fact, in Habakkuk He says basically if I told you why, you wouldn't understand)... other than all that, we see as we read on what happens.

Verse 45 tells that the man did go and tell others and as a result "Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places."

As a parent, my instructions to my children likely didn't always make sense to them, but I had my reasons and they were to obey without question. It is the same with God and His children. He says do or don't do and we are to do or don't do... no questions... no second guessing... no trying to reason with Him to do things our way... just simple, straightforward obedience... immediate obedience.

Father, Help me to obey You immediately and completely... stop me when I start to question or second guess You. Remind me that Your ways are not my ways and that You are in control, not me!  I know Your ways are always best no matter how it may look to my eyes. Teach me to do as the old hymn says... to "trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."