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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Year End Thoughts

As I reflect over the past year I find my self a little sappy, just thinking about the blessings and challenges this past year has held.  God has been faithful and His word has been proven true to me this year.  I have been sifted as wheat in which my heart has been turned more to Him with more compassion toward others. He has opened my eyes to many truths and proved Himself worthy to be worshipped.  I wonder if you can look back over the year and notice how He has changed your heart?  Can you see His faithfulness in your life?Look for that today.  He is faithful whether we acknowledge Him or not. He is Lord, will you not surrender and bow the knee today?

We have been given a new grand baby this year. Betty, Todd's dad's wife has been taken from us and now she is worshipping before the Lord in heaven.  He has restored my daughter and her boyfriend back to my family.  He has truly bought back the years the locust have eaten.  A blessing-absolutely amazing!  If you are asking God for something that lines up with His Word. Do not give up!  He is faithful.  Continue asking and in the process ask Him to heal, change, settle your heart as you wait.  He would not restore this relationship until my heart was healed of the pain and I was whole in Him.  If there is a delay in an answer, don't question whether He is working...rest assured He is and He will answer in His perfect timing.  Would you really want it any other way??

God has provided me with a pastor this year-A man of His choosing!  Just the process of how that came to be humbles and amazes me.  God is in charge of all things.  We need to watch, listen, and wait. What a blessing Southside Baptist and Aaron has been to me. You guys are an answered pray and my extended family.  I love each of you greatly

As I think of my husband and how God has worked in his heart over the past year, I am humbled by His love. Todd is truly a man of God on and off the field. (coach for you who do not know him).  God has great plans for him this next year and I can't wait to see them lived out. As I think of my children, each one of them have walked through trials and God has been glorified in their life.  Each one has grown closer to the Lord. I am proud to call them mine! I think of my sweet daughter in law.  God has brought her to Himself and she is growing. Amazing the blessings He has given me.

And lastly I think of all the people God has brought into my life this year.  People to challenge me spiritually.  People to encourage me when I struggle.  People to pray with me and for me.  People to cry with me. People to hangout with me and just have fun.  You young ones- are the joy of my life.  You have been such a blessing to me!  My heart smiles when I think of  each of you. 

May your new year be God filled!  I pray each of you grow to trust Him as the day approaches that He calls us home. Love you and thank you for listening to my heart.  I am honored to call you friend!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Wait?!

When my heart is overwhelmed,
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  Psalm 61:2

Maybe you're in a battle today with another person, with yourself, or with the enemy.  Maybe you have a rebellious/wayward child.  Maybe you are waiting for the perfect mate or the precious baby that has yet to be conceived.  Maybe you're in a difficult marriage or maybe your spouse has walked away.This list could go on and on of circumstances that overwhelm us. 

We do have a place- a pavilion, a shelter, a tower, a rock that is unmovable and able to shelter us.  Able to protect us from the winds that are blowing out of control around us.  We must be willing to come, to rest under the shelter of His wings.  Many times while we are are resting there, He directs us to wait.  To wait upon His hand to move.  To wait upon Him to change our hearts.  To wait upon Him to change the hearts of others. 

Waiting is difficult for us. But through the Psalms God directs us to wait.

"Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.  He only is my rock and my salvation. He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my hope is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, He is my defense:  I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, and my refuge is in God." Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7

Silently waits - patience and uncomplaining.  Take your overwhelming struggles to the Lord.  Surrender your will before Him and WAIT upon Him to move.  Your only hope is Him.  Think of the situation you find yourself in- is there anything you can do to change the circumstances?  I think not! Our hope comes from God alone.

My heart is steadfast, O God,
My heart is steadfast,
I will sing and give praise,
Awake my glory!

Battle vs. Surrender

It seems my spirit has been a little restless over the past week.  Confusion has set in and peace is fading.  This has been a slow process.  I think if the enemy used a torpedo to hit us, we would stop immediately to tend to our wounds.  There would be no question of an attack, but he does not work that way at least in my life.  He comes subtly and quietly, slowly gnawing away at my spirit and mind. If the enemy can get you thinking incorrectly, the downward slide has begun. 

I have tried to fight this battle with spiritual weapons as 2 Corinthians 10:4 tells us to do. I sought the Lord in regard to unconfessed sin in my life. I attempted to crucify the flesh.  The battle was raging and I was feeding into it by listening to the enemy.  You see friend, he starts with a very subtle thought.  Once you grab that thought it begins to take root.  Once the roots are in place, the enemy is effective in having you fight against it.  You see if you are fighting against him-the thought or the behavior, you lose sight of God and the work He has planned for you to do.  You are so caught up in the battle of "what is wrong" that time and energy is wasted away. 

I believe Scripture teaches we have to come to the place of surrender.  Not surrender to the enemy but surrender to the Lord.  To bow before Him to lay all our "arms" down.  1 Peter 5:6-11 tells us:

 Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (there can be no fighting here-to be humble you must surrender your will, thoughts, behaviors, etc)
Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.  (He knows every emotion you feel.  He knows and understand the struggle going on inside of you. Share the details with Him)
 Be alert and of sober mind. (be aware-the allurement of the world will intoxicate and distract you) (be steadfast and self control looking forward to Christ's return)
Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (I seem to be an easy target.  Make me doubt my motives and/or my self and the battle is on)
Resist him, standing firm in the faith,  (not fight against him, but draw near to God-find your protection under the shadow of the Almighty)
because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.(I write this blog as a source of encouragement-You are not alone in your battle)
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.   (it will not last forever-God will bring peace, He will restore, He will settle you in HIS time) (Can you trust Him in this?)
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen
Lets look at some other encouraging verses 1 Peter and Ephesians
Live for the will of God (God has you at this specific place at this specific moment-live for Him)
Be serious and watchful in your prayers.
Be hospitable without grumbling
Use the gifts God has bestowed upon you.
Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Live anticipating Christ return.
My prayer for each of you reading this blog-Surrender humbly before the Lord.  Bow before His throne and lay all the fleshly weapons down.  Put on the spiritual armor as shared in Ephesians 6 and WAIT for the Lord to move. And as you wait, walk using your gifts and anticipating Christ return!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas the Dilbeck Way

Christmas Day is fast approaching.  Food and gifts are prepared. The house has yet to be cleaned...that is a tomorrow project.  Todd is in his chair and Kolby is in her room.  Me-I am sitting in my office just pondering what Christmas Day will be like.  You see,Christmas will be held at our house this year.  It has been three long years since all of my children have been home for Christmas.  The Lord has worked on hearts to make this day possible and we are very thankful. 

Meagan and Sam will be here Christmas Eve.  Todd is planning on a bon fire out back-just a time to sit and visit.  Houston, Jenny, and the babies will drive up Christmas Morning.  The menu which Todd will be cooking-deep fried turkey, baked ham, green bean casserole,corn, rolls and several different pies.  Sounds a little boring to me (maybe not the pies) but hey it is food! 

After our lunch, Todd will read the Christmas Story.  We will attempt to talk about the past year and open gifts.  I say attempt because I will be only one who will want to reflect over the past year!  I may be able to draw Houston in.  He is a little more reflective than the rest. 

I need the rain and snow to stay away and I need the babies to be well for this day to happen.  Todd has looked forward to this day for months.  I am happy just knowing every one has agreed to come.  So what is the purpose of this blog?  I am not really sure.  Surprised!  I know.  Maybe having a "purpose" all the time is not needed?

I pray each of you reading this blog have a very Merry Christmas.  Ponder Christ this day, celebrate your family and love deeply.

Give Thanks

Oh give thanks to the LORD,
For He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
O give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever.
To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His mercy endures forever.
Ps.136:4

To Him for His great pleasure
Chose me as His child 
Before the foundation of the world.
Oh,Your mercy does endure forever!

To Him who spoke my name
Called me from darkness
Into His incredible light.
Oh,Your grace is unexplainable!

To Him who gave me life
Granted me forgiveness and salvation
When I was dead in trespasses and sins.
Oh,what manner of love is this!

To Him who bestows upon me
The spirit of wisdom and revelation
With the knowledge to know Him
And the incredible depths of His love.
Oh, the same wisdom that created the heavens and earth!

To Him who opened my eyes
That I may understand and appreciate
The hope and inheritance I have in Christ.
Oh, the same God who does as He pleases!

To Him who teaches me
The greatness of His power
Toward us who believe.
Oh, the same power that raised Christ from the dead!

To Him who gives great peace
And great hope in this fallen world
Oh, Your mercy endures forever!

To Him who heals the sick
And binds up the brokenhearted
Oh, You are JEHOVAH-RAPHA-the God who heals!

To Him who collects my every
Tear drop in a bottle.
To Him who heals my broken heart.
To Him who pours out His love upon me.
To Him who hears my every cry.
To Him who took my every sin upon Himself
To Him who was born in a stable
To Him who overcome death and the grave.
To Him who is my very life, breathe, and being

Oh Christ Jesus, You are the very hope within  me!  May your mercy and grace endure forever!






Thursday, December 16, 2010

Godly Friends

Do you have someone in your life who you share the deep struggles of your heart.  Someone who may not have the answers but will help you bring those struggles before the throne room of the Lord?  Someone who will sit beside you and pray as you are pouring your heart out before the Lord.

There are some struggles and sin so powerful that we are not able to break through to find deliverance on our own.  We may know our peace is gone but we are unsure of the specific reason.  We may see part of the picture but we need God to reveal the root of the sin and bring deliverance.  And sometimes in the midst of this struggle it is so difficult to still our hearts and hear God's still small voice. 

James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed."

This truth was very powerful to me this morning.  I am so thankful for God deliverance.  I am thankful for a friend who will pray as I pour my heart out to our Lord.  I am thankful that God reveals the root of the problem.  I am thankful God extends repentance and forgiveness.  I am humbled and in awe that the creator of the universe spoke my name-called me into His presence.  He does the same for you, my friend. 

Are you living without peace.  Have you been there so long it feels normal to you.  Reach out today to a godly friend that can direct you to the Lord.  Become a friend yourself who can pray for others deliverance of sin.  We need one another.  God has made us for fellowship.  Fellowship with Him and with others. 

 "Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name." Malachi 3:16



Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Cinder by Cinder

I read a devotion this morning that started me thinking. The topic was making God's truth our own to the point of communicating this truth to others in a clear manner. We can and should repeat a truth to someone hurting or in need. We should take God's word and open it up to others, but power comes to the hearer when we have experienced God's word personally through the trials and sufferings of this life.

It is like building a cinder block house. The cinders are God's truth. We lay the foundation which is salvation. Then truth by truth we build up the walls. Some of the cinders (truths) are run through the wine press of this life. These truths which have been proven through the trials and sufferings of this life are laid upon the foundation. Other truths we find in the Word of God and believe are stack one by one, until we have walls upon our house.

Now don't expect this little house to just stand looking good in this world. The winds of a tornado will come. When they do, it will destroy all the cinder blocks which have not been proven, experienced, and lived out in your life. The foundation will be solid. The proven truths will be standing. But these truths we have added will be blown off and destroyed. We must think upon and through God's truths. We must live them out in our lives. We must pray them, mediate upon them. We must ask of the Lord to make them real in each of our lives. When these truths become real and alive to us, we will able to communicate them to others in a powerful way.

You see people can disagree with the truth, but they cannot disagree with something we have experienced personally. Go today living out God's truth in your life.



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Friday, December 10, 2010

God or Ministry?

This blog post needs a disclaimer.  The subject addressed can be changed without notice as the Lord teaches me His truths regarding ministering to people.  I come today asking myself and you a question.  Why do we minister to other people?  What is our motive in ministry?  Why do we drive 3 hours to see someone in the hospital or someone struggling with cancer?  Why do we give food, money, and clothes to the needy?  Why do we call or text someone who is struggling with words of encouragement?  Why do we knock on someone door that we have not seen in a while? Why do we give of ourselves, our time, and money?

I have another question rolling through my brain.  Who or whom do we do these things for?  Is if for ourselves-to make us feel better?  Is it because we have a compassion for others and we want to make their life better?  Is it because we want to be "spiritual" or desire others to see us as "spiritual"?  Have you ever thought through these things?

And yet more questions.  What causes "burn out"?  What causes our anger toward someone "using" us as a clearing house to meet their needs?  When does our help cause someone a great disability in their spiritual struggle?  When do we make someone co-dependent on us instead of dependant upon God?  When does someone come to the end of themselves and look up to Christ Himself, but we are in the way trying to sooth their pain and ease their struggle?

May I suggest (this is where the disclaimer is needed) the reason for burn out is because we are doing "good" and "needed" things in the flesh.  We are seeing a hurt and a need in someones life and we are wanting to make it easier on them.  We are sacrificing our time and money to help them and when they squander that away on sinful or selfish desires or even  being unappreciative that makes us angry.  Can I suggest our way of doing ministry or our way of thinking is wrong.  Many times we do an action and ask or expect God to bless that action. That is the wrong way of doing ministry. 

We need to be walking so very closely with our Lord that we act when we hear His voice not just because we see a need.  If we help a butterfly as it is struggling to free itself from its cocoon, we are hindering its growth and causing it a great disability.  Wonder if we do the same for ourselves and others when we step in too soon?   

Sometimes I am seen as a "cold" hearted person when I say no to certain "good" ministry things.  But (another disclaimer needed) I do not want to do things in the flesh.  I desire to be obedient to the Lord not to others.  It is like this...if I see a need and/or someone "expects" me to help and do something and I just jump right in to do it...I have expectation of either a thank you or a change in the person.  When that does not happen or they squander away the time and money, it would make me angry that I gave of myself.  But if I am walking closing to the Lord and He commands me to give sacrificially and I am obedient to Him..it does not matter what they do with the commodity I have given.  That is between them and Him.  See I am being obedient to my Lord and I am able to let Him deal with the others.  It is not about me or my stuff.  It is about me being obedient!  The other person response is of no interest to me.  That is between them and God.

I not sure if you have noticed this, but there is a theme running through my life.  The theme is God's Spirit flowing through us to others not just us doing good for others.  May God direct us as we ponder these question and seek His face.

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water
John 7:38

Monday, December 6, 2010

Figs

...When He came to it, (Fig Tree)
He found nothing but leaves,
for it was not the season for figs.
Mark 11:13

We are made for God, to seek Him, to find Him, to grow up into His likeness and show forth His glory.  We are to be a dwelling place for the Lord Most High.  As the fig tree, in Mark, was planted to produce figs to satisfy hunger, we are planted to produce spiritual fruit to show forth God's glory.

This spiritual fruit can only be made possible if we are graphed into the vine.  A branch alone has no life, no sap for nourishment, no water for thirst.  A branch alone is unable to produce fruit.

The fig tree in the book of Mark was not as it appeared and I fear in our lives many times we are not as we appear.  God created us to be in union with Him to be one in Him, complete, whole, producing fruit because His very life is flowing out from us. This fig tree looked good from a distance.  It appeared right.  It had grown, it had many leaves but if you look intently at it, you would notice it was barren.  How about you, my friend.  Is your life producing any fruit? 

We must be careful here not to help the fig tree by "stapling" figs onto it.  Sometimes in our life, we want fruits, so we become so busy working, serving doing right things that we miss Christ all together.  Remember we are His dwelling place.  It is Christ Jesus who flows forth from our lives in producing fruit.

It takes the bowing of our soul in honor and reverence before Him, for our hearts to be opened to receive the divine impression of the nearness of God and to experience his working power that produces fruit in our lives.

Can you hear the call of God this morning?  Will  you bow before the dawning of the morning to seek His face?  Will you spend time in His presence listening to His voice?  Remember Christ must have full access to your heart for your life to be fruitful.  I pray that as each of our lives are examined, fruit may be found.

Friday, December 3, 2010

Intercession and Adoration - Andrew Murray

Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor:
Psalm 96:9

The better we know God, the more wonderful our insight into the power of intercession becomes.  We begin to understand that it is the greatest means by which man can take part in carrying out God's purpose.  God has entrusted the whole of His redemption in Christ to His people to make known and to communicate to men.  In all this, intercession is the chief and essential element.  Through it, His servant receive the power of the Spirit as their power for service.

The clearer the insight into this great purpose of God, the more we will sense the need to enter into God's presence in the spirit of humble worship and holy adoration..  The more we take time to abide in God's presence-to enter fully into His mind and will, to get our whole soul possessed by the thought of His glorious purpose-the stronger our faith will become that God Himself will work out all the good pleasure of His will through our prayers.

Thus, the secret of true adoration can only be known by the soul that gives time to tarry in God's presence and that yields itself to God for Him to reveal Himself.  Adoration will indeed fit us for the great work of making God's glory known.


Teach Me To Pray" by Andrew Murray

Worship God - Andrew Murray

Worship God.
Revelation 22:9

Why is it that prayer and intercession with God are not a greater joy and delight?  One answer to this question undoubtedly is:  We know God too little.  In our prayer, His presence is not the chief thing our heart is seeking.  And yet it should be   Often when we pray, we think mostly of ourselves, our needs, our desires.  But we forget that in every prayer, God must be first, must be all.

So how is one to attain this nearness to God and fellowship with Him?  The answer is simple: We must give God time to make Himself known to us.  Believe with your whole heart, that just as you present yourself to God as a supplicant, so God presents Himself to you as the hearer of prayer.  But you cannot realize this unless you give Him time and quiet.  It is not in the multitude or the earnestness of your words in which prayer has its power.  Your prayer has its power in the living faith that God Himself is taking you and your prayer into His loving heart.  He Himself will give the assurance that in His time your prayer will be heard.

Begin your day with these words, "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul" (Psalm 25:1).  "I thirst for God, the living God" (Psalm 42:2)

"Teach Me To Pray" by Andrew Murray

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Look Up

Have you ever been to a place spiritually where you feel you are pressed up against a wall with the enemy pacing back and forth behind you?  You are walking along, serving the Lord and attempting to be obedient to Him when you come across this wall. It is a wall to large to climb over or go around.  You are stuck.  This seems to be the place I find myself. You may be thinking turn around and go back the other way.  But this other way represents my "old" way of life.  That is not an option.  You see I have surrender my life to the Lordship of Christ.  So if He see fit for this wall to be in front of me and the enemy pacing back and forth behind me...who am I to say any different? 

For the last five days, I have found myself pressed up against this wall concerned about the enemy's activity behind me.  Myself pressing against it as if I could cause its collapse.  I have wasted days and energy on something I personally could never make move.  How about you?  Are there things obstacle's in your life that you are attempting to move with your own strength?  Whether the wall be sin or a struggle God is calling your attention to...it can only be removed by surrender and brokenness before the Lord and openness before others.

You see it is by the truth of God's Word and prayer that the purpose of the wall can be seen.  The enemy behind me is a lion on a chain.  It is not possible for him to touch me unless the Lord allows it  If God allows it-I can know it is for my good and His glory.  The Lord God uses the enemy to push me to my knees and into His arms.  He does the same in your life. 

I want the "wall" to be gone.  I am excited to see what is on the other side..Just as the children of Israel stood at the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army behind them, they had to wait for Moses to lift the rod to the heavens before the water parted.  So we must lift our eyes to the heavens until God has mercy on us.

Unto You, I lift up my eyes,
O You who dwell in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servant look to the hand of their masters,
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the LORD our God.
Until He has mercy on us
Psalm 123:1


Be encouraged my friend for the loving kindness of God is better than life!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Eternal Life

Eternal life-Do you seek it?  The Rick Young Ruler did in Mark 10:17-22.  The Bible states, this young man came "running" and "knelt" down before Him (Jesus).  This young man wanted religion.  He wanted church membership.  He wanted to be accepted into the party.  He wanted Eternal Life-a life lasting forever.  The words this man used shows us something of his heart, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life"  This young man was full of legalism-a system of works.  Works can never make us holy nor gives us eternal life.  Eternal life is not about something we do but about someone who Is.  Eternal life is Christ alone.

"And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."John 17:3

"That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:15

"But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."  John 10:26-28

"And this is the testimony; that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son." 1 John 5:11

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1John 5:13

"And we now that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may now Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  This is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:20

Have you entrusted your entire spiritual well being to Christ?  Have you laid yourself, your works, your good deeds upon His alter?  Surrender to His Lordship today.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Oswald Chambers Quotes

But You O LORD are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts my head.
Psalm 3:3


Thought I would share a handful of Oswald Chambers quotes this morning.  Hope all have a God filled day!


The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is salvation Himself.  Jesus is the gospel of God.

Never worry about whether what you say sounds humble before others or not.  But always be humble before God, and allow Him to be your all in all.

In the beginning Moses had realized that he was the one to deliver the people, but he had to be trained and disciplined by God first.  He was right in his individual perspective, but he was not the person for the work until he had learned true fellowship and oneness with God.

Our Lord's primary obedience was to the will of His Father, not to the needs of people-the saving of people was the natural outcome of His obedience to the Father.

The secret of a disciple's life is devotion to Jesus Christ, and the characteristic of that life is its seeming insignificance and its meekness.  Yet it is like a grain of wheat that "falls in the ground and dies"-it will spring up and change the entire landscape.


The Real Christmas Story - John MacArthur

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Creature Comforts and Me

Who knew creature comforts and routine were so important to me! But man, I am out of my routine this morning.  I slept in a small bed and woke to "Dog the Bounty Hunter".  Have you ever tried to have prayer/quiet time with the "Dog" in the background?  Maybe at my house God would win but this morning "Dog" was the winner.  I guess I am blogging right now because I feel lost in this environment.  You see my parents do not know Christ.  We have no point of reference or common ground in our daily walk together.

 "Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them, they have no delight in it." Jer 6:10b

I know many of you are in the same situation, either you are married to an unbelieving man, live at home with unbelieving parents, or God has called you out to the mission field.  The common ground among the three is unbelieving souls and darkness.  This home is my mission field for the next two days.  For me to survive and be a light in this darkness, I must not "float" along spiritually.  It would be easy to sleep in, watch the tube, and veg but what a miserable place my soul would be, for I have tasted and seen that my LORD is good!.

So here is the plan, to find a sanctuary-a place set aside for me and the Lord to meet each morning.  To purposely locate the place and plan to meet there before anyone else is up.  That is what I do at home, so why would it be different here?  In reality it should be all the more important here.

"You have made known to me the ways of life: You will make me full of  joy in Your presence. Acts 2:28

So here is my encouragement to you all-find your sanctuary.  Find a quiet place to pray, read and draw strength from the Lord.  Find a place even if that means waking very early to meet with your God.  My parents need the Lord.  I cannot allow the "Dog" to crowd Christ out of my life.

The power of Christ comes in our life, when we spend quality time in His presence!  It is the light of Christ that pushed back the darkness.  "He (Holy Spirit) will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.  He will guide you into all truth." John 16

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Pride or Humility

Even if all are made to stumble because of You,
I will never be made to stumble.
Matt. 26:33

Pretty arrogant statement on Peter's part and if we think about it we are really no different than Peter at times in our life.  It seems Peter was overzealous and always putting his foot in his mouth.   Overconfidence in our self always leads to pride.  Luke 22:33-34 Peter states, "Lord I am ready to go with you, both to prison and death.."  And as we know in Scripture, when the heat was put upon Peter he ran and denied Christ. 

Scripture tells us in many places that "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
Prov. 16:18-19 

Our pride will bring us embarrassment , because it will take us places we never intended to go.  Pride will keep you from God.  No mortal man can stand before His throne. Pride will keep you from bowing your knee. Pride will keep you from praying.  Pride will destroy families and friends.  And if you are a child of God, pride will find you out.  You will not be able to hide for empty boats floats high but heavily laden vessels are low in the water. (Charles Spurgeon)

It takes humility to bow before the throne of God.  It takes humility to be vulnerable before others. If I am honest before God, He extends His hand of mercy and forgiveness.  When my heart is forgiven and clean before my Creator the opinions of man are of no longer importance. 

The humble in spirit will retain honor. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way...

Child of God, will you bow your knee to fall before the Prince of Peace?  Will you cry out for God to show and take from your heart every form of pride?  Now it is going to hurt.  Somethings will be brought to your mind and you will have a choice to surrender.  Other times you will walk, trip, and fall but God's grace is available for both.  We must be humble, confess our sin, and look to the cross.  Ask God to awaken the depths of humility in your heart so you will be open to His light and Holy Spirit. 

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart.  For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes.  And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:2-3



Sunday, November 21, 2010

Your Life Story

Priscilla Shirer shares in the Bible study, "Jonah" these words.  "Your life is God's story being told and His character being displayed.  This thought has made me stop and think about my life.  Priscilla goes on to ask these following questions.  How does your life read?  What is your life telling others about the God you serve?  As a result of your decisions, do they get to see Christ displayed in His best light?  Have you ever thought about these things?

The different people recorded in the Bible are real people living real lives just like you and me.  Maybe our lives will not be journaled in a book for others to see, but people are watching now.  A story is being told.  The question is...Who's story?  Your story or God's story?

Do you see God' sovereignty in your life?  Do you see God's hand of grace writing paragraphs in each chapter of your life?  Would you take time this week as we approach Thanksgiving to think about these thoughts?  Our life and blessings are really not about us at all.  They are about the eternal God who has called us out of darkness into light, to display His mercy, grace, and glory.  His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Christ Jesus and this gave Him great pleasure. Eph 1:5  As each chapter of our life is being written, God's hand must be seen.  In our chapters of sin and rebellion and in our season of grace and forgiveness, God's hand is weaving the story.  It is a beautiful story of God's grace, mercy and love. It is all about God.  I forget this truth many times and turn my life about me, my wants and desires.  May God forgive us and open our eyes to His hand upon our life.  May He open our eyes to His hand writing the story.

As we meet with family and friends this week, let's consider whether God has the title role in the story of our lives. Let's consider whether He is the main character.  Our lives reveal what we believe about Him.  Our lives reveal whom we trust. I pray the world sees His true character through us. Surrender your hearts and lives today.  May God's story go down in history!

Spurgeon Devotion

Sunday, November 21, 2010

This Morning's Meditation

C. H. Spurgeon



"Grieve not the Holy Spirit."—Ephesians 4:30.
LL that the believer has must come from Christ, but it comes solely through the channel of the Spirit of grace. Moreover, as all blessings thus flow to you through the Holy Spirit, so also no good thing can come out of you in holy thought, devout worship, or gracious act, apart from the sanctifying operation of the same Spirit. Even if the good seed be sown in you, yet it lies dormant except He worketh in you to will and to do of His own good pleasure. Do you desire to speak for Jesus—how can you unless the Holy Ghost touch your tongue? Do you desire to pray? Alas! what dull work it is unless the Spirit maketh intercession for you! Do you desire to subdue sin? Would you be holy? Would you imitate your Master? Do you desire to rise to superlative heights of spirituality? Are you wanting to be made like the angels of God, full of zeal and ardour for the Master's cause? You cannot without the Spirit—"Without me ye can do nothing." O branch of the vine, thou canst have no fruit without the sap! O child of God, thou hast no life within thee apart from the life which God gives thee through His Spirit! Then let us not grieve Him or provoke Him to anger by our sin. Let us not quench Him in one of His faintest motions in our soul; let us foster every suggestion, and be ready to obey every prompting. If the Holy Spirit be indeed so mighty, let us attempt nothing without Him; let us begin no project, and carry on no enterprise, and conclude no transaction, without imploring His blessing. Let us do Him the due homage of feeling our entire weakness apart from Him, and then depending alone upon Him, having this for our prayer, "Open Thou my heart and my whole being to Thine incoming, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit when I shall have received that Spirit in my inward parts."



Friday, November 19, 2010

♫ "Christmas Offering" - Casting Crowns ♫



Just wanted to share this song.  I know it is not a new song but it is powerful to me. So enjoy!

Be Faithful

As I read this morning and pondered my day yesterday, I ran across something interesting in the book of Matthew.  Read Matthew 25:14-30.  This is the parable of the "Talents". This parable is sandwich between the second coming of Christ and the judgment of Christ. I don't know Bible history to know if this is the way it was lined out in the original text but I am going to pretend it is.  (Someone out there in blog land can let me know-please) 

I notice in the passages before Matthew 25,"Parable of the Talents", we are told to look for Christ's return--"Watch for you do not know the hour your Lord is coming."  After the parable of the "Talent" is the judgement--"All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats" 

Let's look at the parable:
Each person has natural abilities and special gifting from the Father.  We are each given different levels of responsibilities toward His kingdom work.  All He calls us to do is be faithful in what He has given us.  If you can preach, be faithful and do it.  If you can give, be faithful and do it.  If you can extend mercy, be faithful and do it.  If you can teach, be faithful and do it.  Faithfulness is the key here.  Notice in the passage one man is given five talents and one man is given two talents but each man received exactly the same reward, indicating that the reward is based on faithfulness and not results. 

We are to be faithful with the call God has placed on our life as we look for His return knowing we will hear these words, "Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me."

There was one more thing I noticed...In chapter 26, after Jesus shares the plot of His Crucifixion...Mary sweet Mary comes with the costly oil to pour out upon her Jesus.  Notice what the disciples did (not the scribes and pharisees) in Matthew 26:8-9."But when His disciples saw it,they were indignant, saying, "why this waste?  For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor."

Do you see it?  We are to be faithful to the Lord in which He has gifted us as we await for His return.  We are to be devoted to Him as Mary was as she poured the fragrant oil upon Him.  Friends do you want to be faithful?  Pour your life out upon Christ. Put your devotion upon Him.  Be faithful to Him.  It is Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit that produces fruit in your life.  Yes, the world and even God's own people may question...but in the end, may Christ find you and me faithful!

Monday, November 15, 2010

Are You In?

Tonight's message was worthy of note taking and I took several pages.  As I filter through these notes I think they are worthy to share along with my many questions and thoughts. The first part is something I long to understand and desire the skills to apply.  The speaker touched on discipleship-pouring your life into someone and then the person pours their life into someone else.  To reproduce ourselves - actually Christ into an others life.  I have attempted this many times but since I have no example for myself, I feel I am just treading water.  You cannot take someone further than what you understand. 

The passage of the message was Luke 9:57-62.  "Are we all in?"  Have we let go of our very life to follow Christ?  Have we truly surrendered to Him?  Surrender means yield to the power of another.  Have you completely yielded to the power of Christ?  Do not look to others in comparison to see  how you are doing but look to God's Word, it is the standard of perfection.  God know our hearts.  He looks past our words into our hearts.  Yes-would be an easy answer but I believe for me to get to this place of total abandonment - it is going to take some wrestling with God as Jacob did. My flesh keeps crawling off the alter.  It does not want to die. 

I am thankful we are not left to our own devises in dealing with our flesh.  "I have been crucified with Christ , it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."  God has given us a deposit of our inheritance - the Holy Spirit.  He lives inside us and He convicts of sin and He gives the power to overcome the flesh. 

Friend be willing to lay down your life, God by the Holy Spirit will enable you to crucify the flesh and live an abundant life!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Jesus My Everything??

I have a question running through my mind this evening.  I think it is a great question to ask.  At first glance the answer would be yes.  How many of us ask a question, give a quick answer and move on with our lives?   The Bible teaches us something different. We are to ask God to search and know our hearts. We are to lay a question before Him.  We are to ask if our lives are lining up to the truth of His Word.   When the answer comes we need to be obedient as James 1:22-25 explains:

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do."

When you walk past a mirror and notice chocolate on your face or bleach on your shirt, you immediately stop and try to remove the stain.  This is how it should be in our spiritual lives.  The Bible teaches that obedience brings freedom and blessings. God's Word is our mirror.  As we read, He shows us the sin in our lives. The Holy Spirit becomes our wash cloth as we agree and confess our sin. By His Spirit, we are washed clean. 

So here is the question, I am laying out before the Lord..."Is Jesus my everything?"  This thought and conviction came as I worshipped in song tonight.  As I pondered this question and looked intently into the Word, I have my answer-"no".  Would you do the same?  Jesus gave His life for all of us - for me.  Why is it so difficult for me to give my all to Him?  Pray for me and with me as we go through this week.  I do desire Jesus to be my everything.  As I pray, read, and confess I am confident "He who began a good work in me will complete it to the end:!

.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Broken Pots

A broken clay pot sits on my shelve in the kitchen as a visual reminder of what the Lord desires from me-from us - brokenness.   This pot was once used as a drinking vessel in Egypt, given to me by a dear friend.  Through the years it has fallen, cracked, and broken into pieces.  A perfect picture of what our life should be before the Lord. I have heard it said, "God will not give us more than we can handle" but I think I disagree.  God will allow things to come into our life to break us.  To break us from our sinful desires and pleasures.  To break the selfishness and break through our cold hard hearts. If we are never broken, we can never be fixed and never used as a vessel in God's hands.
      Brokenness, brokenness is what I want
Brokenness is what I need
Brokenness is what YOU want from me
Take my heart and form it
Take my mind and transform it
Take my will conform it to YOURS
To YOURS, To YOURS oh LORD
"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

This word brokenhearted means to burst, to crush, to destroy.  If your heart is bursting open, hemorrhaging as you read this blog, know I have been there as well.  I am sorry for your pain, and I pray you will cry out to the God who understands your pain.  You see our life can be compared to the water pot in my kitchen.  It was doing it own thing, holding water for people.  Then circumstances came and crushed the pot.  The pot will need to look to its maker to make it whole again.

We must do the same.  We must look to our Maker.  We must give Him our pain. When we cry out to Christ Jesus, He is faithful to draw near.  He takes His nail scarred hand and covers our bleeding heart.  Only His hand can stop the bleeding. He bandages up those wounds.  He is the lifter of our head.  He puts us in a place where our feet will not slip.  He cradles us in His arms.  He collects our tears.  He loves You dearly and understands all the pain. 

In time when your heart is healed, when you have been whole and new by your Maker. He will fill You afresh with the Living Water to be poured out as a refreshment to others.

Jesus keep us broken and dependant upon YOU!

Andrew Murray Devotion

This is a devotion from the book, "Teach Me To Pray-Andrew Murray"

Intercession for Individual Souls

Yet the time will come when the LORD will gather
them together one by one like handpicked grain. Isaiah 27:12

        Many individual believers do not understand that it is necessary for them to testify to others in order to strengthen their own spiritual lives as well as to bring others to Christ.  Intercession for those around us, and for the church and its mission, needs restoration to its right place in the Christian life!
        Prayer is indispensable to what God in heaven desires to do on earth.  Intercession is the main element in the conversion of souls.  All our efforts are in vain without the power of the Holy Spirit given in answer to prayer.  When ministers and people unite in a covenant of prayer and testimony, the Church will flourish.
        What can we do to stir up the spirit of intercession?  Begin to get an insight into the need and the power of intercession.  Intercede on behalf of single individuals.  Pray for your children, your relatives, friend, and for all with whom you come into contact.  If you feel you don't have power to intercede, ask the Holy Spirit for that power.  God wants every redeemed child of His to intercede for those who do not know Him.
         Pray fervently that God will give you the power of His Holy Spirit for this ministry of intercession.






Thursday, November 4, 2010

A Tube of Heart

"In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise." Proverbs 10:19

Have you ever heard yourself talk?  Have you ever listened really listened to words coming out of your mouth?  I had the awesome privilege of seeing this verse (Prov. 10:19) played out in my life this morning.  I know you are thinking,"she held her lips, she is so wise!" Ya right! I think you will understand what I mean by a privilege as this blog rolls along.

Look at Matthew 15:11
"Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man,
but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." 
Guys, our words reveal our heart. 
Take this illustration, You want to brush your teeth. 
You grab the toothpaste and begin to squeeze. 
What comes out of the tube? 
Toothpaste, correct! 
Why did toothpaste come out of the tube? 
Because that is what is in the tube. 
What ever is inside the tube must come out. 
If it was a tube of steroid cream and you squeezed it..steroid cream would come out. 
Do you understand that? You see my friends, when words come out of our mouths they reveal what is deep within our hearts.  So let me ask you, When you are squeezed with the pressures of this life, what comes out of your mouth?

I have noticed in my life it is the small irritations that reveal my true heart.  In my case it is usually people related and that was the case this morning.  As I was sharing with a friend some concerns I see, I had an opportunity to listen to my words.  The more I talked the more I saw the ugliness of the words and instantly knew my heart was in need of repentance. 
"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Now we are starting to see why I believe this morning was a privilege. God choose to convict my heart with the truth of His word.  He did not leave me in my state of sin.  God in His great grace and mercy allowed me to hear my heart through my words.

So I ask you today...please listen to your words.  Know the words coming from your mouth are revealing your heart.  Bow your knee to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and remember the words of 1 John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Revival

I don't think I have ever heard a Casting Crowns song I did not like!  Look at these words.

If We've Ever Needed You
Hear our cry, Lord, we pray
Our faces down, our hands are raised
You called us out, we turned away
We've turned away

With shipwrecked faith the idols rise
We do what is right in our own eyes
Our children now will pay the price
We need Your light, Lord, shine Your light

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

All our hearts, all our strength
With all our minds, we're at Your feet
May Your kingdom come in our hearts and lives
Let Your church arise, let Your church arise

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out
We're reaching out

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, we're reaching out

If we've ever needed You
Lord, it's now, Lord, it's now
We are desperate for Your hand
We're reaching out, reaching out

We need You now
Revive us now
We need You now

This song is on my heart as I think of our scheduled revival this month. Man may prepare and pray for revival but true revival is the work of a sovereign God.   Revival comes when Christians are longing for God and God alone.  Brian Edwards' gives a definition of revival in his book, "Revival A People Saturated With God"
"A true Holy Spirit revival is a remarkable increase in the spiritual life of a large number of God's people, accompanied by an awesome awareness of the presence of God, intensity of prayer and praise, a deep conviction of sin with a passionate longing for holiness and unusual effectiveness in evangelism leading to the salvation of many unbelievers."

How I long to see this happen in America.  Let's prepare our hearts and pray.  May God rend the heavens and come down. 
"Restore us again, O God our Savior
and put away your displeasure towards us.
Will you be angry with us for ever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that Your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us Your salvation. Ps 85:4-7

A Life of Faith

I am reading a biography on the life of George Muller.  Mr. Muller was an incredible man of faith.  He was responsible for the care of  thousand of orphans in Bristol, England in the 1800's. and he never asked another person for financial help in this endeavor.  He went to God for the every need and God always provided. Through the many trials and testings God walked Mr. Mueller through, he was able to learn and trust God's amazing character. George Muller learned God is faithful.  This did not come easy in Mr. Muller life.

It appears by reading the book, Mr. Muller was just an ordinary sinful man, saved by radical grace and as He walked each step with his Lord, His faith grew and he was able to trust his God more and more. One characteristic I see of Mr. Muller is he was a man of believing prayer in connection with the Word of God.  I don't believe Mr. Muller woke one day and decided he would be fully dependant upon the Lord.  I believe it happened slowly as God began to reveal Himself through His word and prayer.  As George Muller spent hours in prayer and in God's word, he heart began to soar and faith was being built.  As the many trials came, he turned to prayer and the word and God increased his faith and answered his prayers.

As Mr. Muller continued walking with His God, he began to look to God instead of men to give him spiritual direction as well as to provide for his physical needs.  This is the first step toward a life of trust.

"The real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds." Oswalt Chambers  Our faith must be tested and tried.  It is very easy to say I trust God when the mortgage is paid and food is on the table, when the children are young and walking under our authority, when our health is good or when our friends and family are surrounding us with their love.  But when we are hungry or in George Muller case, when all money and food is gone, are we able to go to God, ask Him to provide and know He will?  I tend to go to God, ask for my need, then walk away and make it happen. This is not a life of faith.

Do you want to walk a life of faith?  Begin by increasing your time in prayer and in God's word.  Take His promises at face value.  Believe them, pray them, mediate upon them.  Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Monday, November 1, 2010

Desperate

Wow I went to bed last night with a melancholy heart and confusion in my mind.  Thankfully I have lived long enough to know when I feel this way at night, I must go to bed to rest and deal with it all in the morning.  We find a promise in Lamentations 3:22 "Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassion's fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  Yes, when I awoke this morning...the melancholy was still showing its ugly face, but I was fresh and with the promise of God's mercies being new, I think I am ready to face my problem. 

Friends, how desperate are you for God, not necessary how desperate are you for God to change you.or your circumstances but how desperate are you for God Himself?.  How desperate are you to experience His manifested presence in your life?  How desperate are you to used of God, for His living waters of life to flow out through you to a lost and dying world? If you are in a time of spiritual dryness, confusion, and melancholy, again God's word has the answer.

 "I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word." Ps. 119:147
I get myself out of bed!  Let's lay legalism aside and think this through.  "I rise before the dawning of the morning."  Temptation was great this morning to sleep through the alarm.  I anticipated it would be since I went to sleep so blah. I could have justified staying in bed and spending time with the Lord later in the day, after all I don't want to be legalistic about this.  But there are many Scriptures that address this same issue, to rise before the break of day to seek God's face.  So let's be obedient and move on.

Now that I am up, it is time to sit at Christ's feet and cry out for His help.  But here is the problem, many of us cry out for help and then we walk away to begin our day. I know the day must start at some point but I also know it takes time for our hearts to settle down to be quiet enough to hear the Lord speak.  So what we need to do is wait.  To sit at Christ's feet, to read His word, to be desperate enough that we are not leaving until our hearts are one with His. 

Let's look at Psalm 123:1-2 "Unto You I lift my eyes,
O You, who dwell in the heavens. 
Behold, as the eyes of servants look to
the hand of their masters. 
As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress,
So our eyes look to the LORD our God,
Until He has mercy on us."
Sometimes this will take weeks for God to break through our cold hard hearts, so come each day and allow yourself a little more time in His presence.  He will break through but again I ask how desperate are you for Him.

Since this blog is getting lengthy, let's look at a couple more passages and then call it a day.  Mark 7:24-30.
"Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret.  In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”  “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”  She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone".
 In this passage a Gentile woman is coming to Jesus to heal her child.  She is desperate for this child and will not leave Jesus alone until He grants her request.  Macarthur says, "this indicative of the woman's humble faith and worshipful attitude.  She knew she was sinful and undeserving of any of God's blessing.  Her response was characterized by a complete absence of pride and self-reliance, which Jesus answered by granting her request." 
One more passage, then we quit. Luke 18:1-8
 "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.  And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” "

Friend God hears and will answer our cry.  The question is - Are you desperate enough to cry out and WAIT upon Him?

Thursday, October 28, 2010

A steadfast Heart

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. Psalm 57:7
Notice Psalm 57:1
"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! 
For my soul trusts in You;
and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,until these calamities have passed by."
David had been on the run for his very life hiding from Saul.  At this point David was hiding in a cave.  Where do you hide when things are difficult, whether emotional or physical pain?  David was in a cave a place of physical protection but  his heart was not trusting in the cave - his heart understood his true place of peace and protection was under the shadow of God's wings.  David was waiting and trusting God until the storm passed.  Don't put your trust in yourself or any other physical thing of this world, rest under the goodness of your God.

Notice verse 2-3
"I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth."
David cries out to his God.  We tend to stuff our pain-if we don't think about it-it might go away.  If we get real busy-we won't have time to think about it.  Let David be an example for us.  He cried out to His God. I believe he was trusting and remembering, even speaking aloud if necessary all God had done for him. David repeated to God what he knows to be true..."God You perform all things for me. You send from heaven and save me, You reproach the one who shall swallow me up" Did God need to be reminded?  No, but oh how we do, especially in the midst of trials.  Then David asks God to send forth His mercy and truth.

David asked for mercy to be delivered and His truth to persevere during the struggle.  We all need God's mercy and the sweetness of His word to strengthens us in our need. 
Psalm 119:92
"Unless Your law had been my delight,
I would then have perished in my affliction"

In verse 4-6, David goes on to share with God his struggle.  Don't hold your feelings back from God.  Give Him the details and ask His to bring healing and deliverance to your bleeding heart.  Notice verse 5, David praised in the midst of the struggle. "Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, Let Your glory be above all the earth", 

Then my favorite part of this passage Verse 7-11. 
"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast (Where is your heart today?)
I will sing and give praise.
Awake my glory!
Awake, lute and harp! (Do you see the praise?)
I will awaken the dawn (Wow he could not wait for the morning to come to give his praise)
I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
Let Your glory be above all the earth."

Need I say more?

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Words

Have you ever opened your mouth and in goes your foot?  Scripture has much to say about our words. Much to say about speaking before we hear the whole story.  Much to say about being wise in our own eyes.  Join me in meditating upon a few verses. 

He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to me. Prov.18:13
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble. Prov 21:23
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?  There is more hope for a fool than for him. Prov.26:12
A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back. Prov.29:11
Do you see a man hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him. Prov. 29:30
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. Prov. 15:1-2
A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is. Prov. 15:23
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Prov.16:23

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
to practice wicked works
with men who work iniquity;
and do not let me eat of their delicacies. Psalm 141:3-4

It's All About Change

It's all about change.  The babies have been here today and wow I noticed change - change in my schedule and change in theirs.  Take the oldest, she was not so sure about being in a new place.She went around with her lip stuck out quit a bit.  The youngest, well he had a difficult time as well at first.They have adjusted now except for the sleeping...it funny how babies want their own beds. 

As I watched them today, I was reminded of how much I do not like change.  I  like routine and when God or someone else changes my routine, my lip tends to pucker as well and complaining starts at least in my mind.  But as I read God's Word-Change is what I see.

God calls us all to change to get out of our routine and comfortable lifestyle.  He calls us to give not just our resources but our very life. In David Nasser book, "A Call to Die", David said, "Jesus ruined my life"  Well He has ruined mine as well.  He has taken all my worldly sinful plans and goals and replaced them with His very life.  It is His life that flows out of mine..at least it should be.  But only when I am not puckering and walking around like my grandchildren when they are in an uncomfortable place.  God call us to step out of our comfort zone and be obedient.  Galatians 2:20 says, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

What has God called you to do today?  It is uncomfortable?  Will you be obedient?

Monday, October 25, 2010

In The Mind's Eye

Have you noticed how a problem can grow and become so big in your mind's eye that it controls all you think about.  The problem becomes alive and it continues to grow until it is all you see.  Everything you think about is filtered through this problem. It is a miserable way to live but we all do it.  I have a situation now that I am praying about...but since this problem has grown so big in my mind, many times I am not praying at all...just repeating the same situation to the Lord and asking Him to give me the answer I want.  Wow I have lost sight of God in the midst of my problem.  Not a good place to be.

I have found some simple steps in resolving this problem.  I remember the character of God.  I remember that He is eternal, He is the creator, He holds all things in His hands.  Nothing can touch me that He has not allowed.  I remember who He is and bow before His throne room.  In the process of bowing I am thankful...thankful I have been called out of the darkness.  Thankful that when I cry He bows His ear. Scripture says, "God is abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him."  Now I am ready to submit my will to the Holy One.  The One who holds life and death in His hands.  Submit means to surrender.  That situation that was so large in my mind, is now small compared to this great God who cares and knows my name. 

Yes, I am ready to surrender.  To lay the problem at my Lord's feet and allow Him to work as His perfect will would allow.  You know what happens...Peace fills my soul and I have a promise from Psalm 91:14-16:
Because he has set his love upon Me,
therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him,
and show him My salvation.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Lights

I love word pictures and analogies-to see spiritual truth in every day occurrences.  Here is one I noticed on Wednesday morning as I was driving before daybreak in the heavy fog.  The street lights are scattered along in different places along Hwy. 64.  The fog was descending and heavy and yet the lights broke through the darkness.The street lights may not have been bright enough to dispel all the darkness, but it was obvious there was a safe place of direction from the glow surrounding them.    This picture made me think of our Christian walk (our light) going out into this dark world. 

Without light the world is full of darkness and confusion.  Direction is essential to the Christian.  Without the light from God's word infused into our heart, we cannot know the path to walk nor can we be lights in a dark world.  Jesus said, "I am the light of world, He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

Friends, we are the "street lights" shining in the darkness of this world. As I looked toward those lights, I noticed some were brighter than others- a new bulb perhaps. We as Christians, have new bulbs, we just need to stay connected to power that provides brightness to the bulb.  Scripture teaches "But the path of the just is like the shining sun, that shines ever brighter unto the perfect day." The path of the believer is one of increasing light, just as a sunrise begins with the faint glow of dawn and proceeds to the splendor of noonday. (john macarthur) . So here comes a question...How bright are you shining?  People will be drawn toward the lights that are shining the brightest.

Stay connect to Christ through His word.  "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.." Phil :14-16

Saturday, October 23, 2010

God Extends Mercy

"Those who regard worthless idols forsake their own mercy" Jonah 2:8

Hey what are you trusting in?  It's an honest question.  Every moment of every day we put our trust in something..  ie...our car to start, the alarm to awaken us, our coffee (or coke) to give us a boost.  We also trust in big things...our finances to meet our physical needs, our job to bring self worth, etc. But let me ask you a question, Do these things have mercy to be extended?  Does your car show mercy to you each morning?  Does your coffee care you are dragging and need a boost?  No, only the Creator of Heaven-the God who spoke the world into existence.  The God who spoke your name and called you to Himself.  He and He alone holds the key to mercy. 

Check your heart.  See what is exalting itself in your minds eye over our God-that my friend is an IDOL.  Lay it aside and worship the ONE who holds mercy in His hands.