2010's Word of the Year

Shortly before Jan. 1, 2008, I read an article and in it the author talked about picking a word for the year. The word was to sum up what they hoped or expected for the coming year. I liked the idea. So I asked the Lord to show me a word for 2008... sort of a theme for me. 2008's word was Gratitude and I strove to develop an attitude of Gratitude.. thanking the Lord for all He provided and did. 2009's word was peace. I really wasn't sure why God lead me to that word, but I knew that I peace is something I seek often. Interestingly, there have been a lot of times and situations over this past year where peace would not be the norm. And yet, I have found peace in the midst of those times through the Prince of Peace.

Now it is 2010 and I have again been searching for a word. God spoke it to me a couple of days ago, but I don't like it. So I've tried to find another one, but He keeps speaking the same word... CHANGE.

I know that 2010 will be a year of change. My older child graduates college and then moves out of state to pursue her Master's. She has lived at home for 22 years, so this will be a big change. My younger child graduates from high school and while he is going to live at home during college (we have an awesome Christian University here), it will still be different. He will be pretty much here to sleep, eat and grab laundry! My mother is 78 and while still active, I am starting to see changes in her... changes that remind me how short our time is here and changes that require me to do a bit more for and with her. We continue to adapt to having 2 young dogs (still puppies) in our home... to getting older ourselves... to new opportunities like leading Bible study and being involved with a new ministry at church... my husband's secure job with the government may not be so secure after the legislative session... financial crunch is affecting us like everyone else and with 2 in college that it seems tighter than ever... so yes, we are feeling change and see more coming.

Certainly there are changes in our country and world. From health care reform that really helps no one... to more divorce... same sex-marriage being legalized in more states... more people choosing to live together and have children without ever getting married... and more and more folks who dislike Christians and our faith and feel free to show their feelings.

So no, CHANGE is not the word I would have chosen. But then 2 things hit me. One, I want to change this year in one specific way. I want to be more like Jesus each day than I was the previous day. That is my constant prayer. I know it is God's desire to make me more and more like His precious baby boy and that only happens through change. And two, while things are changing all around me I can count on one thing not to change.. Malachi 3:6 says "I the Lord do not change." That is a promise!

In the midst of change, I can hold on to the fact that God is still God.... He is still my Father, Rock, Redeemer, Deliverer, Strong Tower, Provider, Friend, Lover of my Soul, Savior... He is still with me.. He still never slumbers... He still watches over and guides me... it is still impossible for me to be separated from His love... and so much more!

CHANGE might not be fun, even when necessary, we can make it through by keeping our focus on the One who does not Change... GOD!

Delight!

I am studying Psalm 1 this week and this morning I was especially drawn to verse 2 where it says "But his delight is on the law of the Lord"... now the but means instead of what verse 1 talks about.. instead of walking in the counsel of wicked, standing in the way of sinners or sitting in the seat of mockers, the blessed man delights in the law of the Lord.

The Hebrew the word for Law refers to the 1st 5 books of the Old Testament.. the Torah.. but we can also look at the Law as the entire Word of God from Genesis to Revelation.

So the question is... do you delight in it?

Jer. 15:16 says "When your words came, I ate them and they were my joy and my heart's delight for I bear your name O Lord God Almighty." Do you feel that way when you read His word.. when a verse pops to mind at just the right time?

Over and over we read about delighting in the Law or in His Word... here are just a FEW verses..

Ps. 112:1 Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.

All of these are from Ps. 119 --

v. 16 I delight in Your decrees
v. 24 Your statues are my delight; they are my counsel
v. 35 Direct me in the path of Your commands for there I find delight
v. 47 I delight in Your commands because I love them
v. 70 ... O delight in Your law.
v. 77 ... Your law is my delight
v. 92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my afflictions

Romans 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law

Don't you want that? to delight in His Word. The key is to spend time in it AND to ask God to make it the delight of your heart. He will do it!

So why should we delight in His Word? Ps. 19:7-11 gives us a few reasons..

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Add to that the fact that Jesus is the Word made flesh and that the Word endures forever... and the question becomes why NOT delight in it? What better could you delight in?

Oh Father, how I praise You for Your precious Word. You did not leave us to fend for ourselves. You left all we need in the 66 love letters You wrote for us. I pray that our hearts will be drawn to You and to Your Word and that it will be the delight of our hearts. That we cannot get enough of it! Give us a hunger for the things of You, Lord. In Jesus' precious powerful name I pray, Amen.

Change...

We live in a world where change is a constant. The Stock Market and Dow go up and down... companies thriving one day and closed the next.... people loose jobs or receive tragic diagnosis at the drop of a hat... and don't even get me started on all the fads that come and go and celebs that rise and fall in popularity... change is everywhere... and it makes for a shaky existence.

BUT...

"I the LORD do not change" Malachi 3:6

God tells us without one bit of hesitation that He does not change. Not one bit! How awesome is that to know in light of the world in which we live?!

When we read about God in His Word, we can know that everything there is still true today. He is still our Rock, our Redeemer, the Lifter of our head... He still parts seas and goes before us... He still heals the sick.... He still loves us... He still wants to be in relationship with us... His grace is still sufficient... NONE of that has changed!

It is important that we have a foundation on which to stand. If you build it on the world, then it will change over and over... shifting like the yazoo clay here in central Mississippi and causing your foundation to crack and crumble. But, if you choose to build on the Word of God, your foundation will be strong and secure. "God's solid foundation stands firm" 2 Timothy 2:19

I know the world around me is changing.. I know my circumstances can change.. but Praise God He never changes and I (and you!) can stand firm with feet solidly planted on that truth!

How much light do you want?

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Ps. 119:105

I heard a neat analogy in Bible study recently.... if you learn 1 verse a Scripture, it is like having a little penlight to guide you along your path of life. If you have 10 verses memorized, you have a flashlight's worth of light. 100 verses... headlights.... 1000 verses... football stadium lights!

Now the point isn't that you need to learn 1000 verses (although that would be wonderful!), the point is that each verse you read and learn and take with you provides light on your path. So the more verses you have in you, the brighter the light and the clearer the path.

As I was thinking about this a few days later, God brought to mind the fact that Jesus is the Light of the World... He is also the Word made flesh... so the more verses means the more light means more Jesus! How could you not want more of Him in your life? Just imagine how bright your path can be!

I'm Not Satisfied....

We sang Hillsong's "Believe" in church yesterday.. a powerful song.. I went to bed and woke up with it playing in my head... especially the line "I'm not satisfied...." I'm not, you know. I live life like I am, but deep inside I want more.... more love... more compassion... more passion.... more desire for the Word... to be more burdened for the lost... more of HIM! And today, I am praying for just that... MORE!

I wonder if you are Satisfied with our life as it is... to sit where you are... to stay in your nice comfortable spot and live the status quo? If you want more, there is One and Only One who can give it to you... Jesus! I'm not talking about giving you Stuff... who needs more of that! I am talking about giving you more of Him so that you can live that abundant life He has for you (John 10:10).

If you feel satisfied, pray for God to stir your heart and show you areas in your life where you should want more... where you need more... to make you unsatisfied! If you are already there, praise Him and then share where you are not satisfied and thank Him for the work He is going to do in those areas.

How Much Does H Have of You?

What a beautiful morning we are having here.... definitely summertime in the South with the heat and humidity. I have been doing my quiet time outside several mornings a week and oh the blessings! To hear the birds singing (I imagine they are praising the one who created them and who cares for them)... to hear the quiet sounds of a morning as it wakes up... to see the green grass and the trees full and lush.... the vibrancy of the flowers blooming... to catch wafts of the fragrance of various plants... and the breeze... we rarely how much of a breeze in the summer here but it seems each time I sit outside God sends me breezes... sometimes very soft subtle ones and at other times ones strong enough to make the leaves in the trees shiver. At church yesterday we had a guest speaker and he was talking about God breathing on us and our breathing in God.... as I was thinking about that earlier, the weather outside went from the stillness of a summer morning to a strong breeze that blew on my face and made me feel as if the Lord was blowing life into my nostrils as He did Adam. It was a lovely time!

Our speaker yesterday posed an interesting thought.... If you are a believer... a Christ-follower... then you have the Holy Spirit in you... all of Him... He doesn't hold back this part from some folks and that part from others.. you get 100% of the Spirit.. but here comes the question.. How much of YOU does the Holy Spirit have? God doesn't snatch ... He doesn't force us to surrender... to yield... He gives us a choice. So today, how much of the You does He have? I can tell you that He doesn't have all of me... I say I surrender all... but my heart sends out tentacles that wrap around certain things and hang on for dear life. It is tough letting go! The key... I think.. is not looking beyond today. Don't think of having to let go forever. Just take it one day at a time... maybe even one hour at a time... one minute! And as much as you can be specific... say "Lord, I surrender me to you... my kids... my husband... our finances... this person's health... this child's rebellion... his salvation... her deliverance... etc." and also ask Him to show you what you are holding on to.. what you need to let go of and surrender to Him. And then be ready to hear His reply and act on it!

From the Inside Out

From the Inside Out

Joel Houston

A thousand times I've failed

Still your mercy remains

And If I stumble again

I'm caught in your grace



Everlasting,

Your light will shine

When all else fails

Neverending,

your glory goes

Beyond all fame


In my heart and my soul

I give You control

Consume me from the inside out Lord



Let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love You from the inside out


Everlasting,

Your light will shine

When all else fails

Neverending,

Your glory goes

Beyond all fame



And the cry of my heart

Is to bring You praise

From the inside out

Lord my soul cries out


Your will above all else

My purpose remains

The art of losing myself

In bringing You praise



Everlasting,

Your light will shine

When all else fails

Neverending,

your glory goes

Beyond all fame