Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope. Because of the LORD's great love I am not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "the LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him". The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:21-26 NIV
I have said this many times before but I love words. Look at some of the words of these verses with me. Yet.. call... mind... therefore... hope... love (KJV says mercies) ... compassions... new... faithfulness... portion... wait... good... seeks... wait... quietly... salvation... LORD!
Go back and look at some of the phrases... call to mind... therefore I have hope... because of...the LORD's great love...I am not consumed... His compassions never fail... new every morning... Great is YOUR faithfulness... the LORD is my portion... therefore will wait for HIm... The LORD is good... hope is in Him... one who seeks Him... it is good to wait quietly... for the salvation of the LORD.
His Word says it all, huh?!
I am given several jobs in this passage... and for me this is good news because I am always wanting to do something to help...or at least it seems helpful in my mind ;)) Call to mind... what? ... And if I do I get to have hope.... what? THE LORD'S GREAT LOVE!!! Call it to mind, Tammy and you will not be consumed. Consumed by what? Well for me it is consumed by myself, by worry or wondering should I have or should I? etc. For you it might be something different.
So what am I to do first? Call to mind God's great love (FOR ME!) and realize that I will not be consumed whether I 'deserve' to be or not. Wait, what do I mean? Whether I have fallen into the same sin trap again or whether it is just because of my own human weakness... I am not consumed (by sin, by my past, by my flesh, by my current weaknesses) but by His love. WHY??? Because His COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL!!!
Mind boggling ... but certainly true and where I can get hope! He loves me and He has compassion on me all the time. He, unlike me, never tires or never gives up or in. I praise You God! You are truly amazing and I am thankful for You!
The word/phrase that is jumping out at me today is "The LORD is my portion".
My LORD, my MASTER, my SAVIOR, my BOSS is my portion. Portion? What does that mean exactly?
Looking at my favorite commentator, Warren Wiersbe, he says, "If the Lord is 'our portion' (Psalm 73:26 - My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever); Ps. 142:5 - I cried out to You, O LORD; I said, 'You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living.'"), then we are strengthened by that which cannot be used up or destroyed. God is our eternal source of strength, hope, and blessing (Ps. 46:1 - GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.) Our circumstances change, and so do our feelings about them, but God is always good, loving, merciful, and kind, and He never changes. 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever' (Hebrews 13:8). To build life on that which is always changing is to invite constant unrest and disappointment, but to build on the changeless and the eternal is to have peace and confidence."
So it isn't IF the Lord is my portion, it is THE LORD IS MY PORTION! There is a huge difference in this. I have all I need in Him to have hope and here is the kicker...to wait and not only that but to WAIT QUIETLY! For what? The salvation of the LORD. This is not referring to the eternal salvation of my soul, but to my everyday life and 'salvation' or rescue or help... Oh my... again such a challenge for me, but He is my portion and I can obey when I allow Him to give me the strength to do so! I am so thankful that He does what is right and good despite what I may or may not do or feel!!!
Father God, I thank You that You are my portion and that You allow me to call to mind Your love/mercies, Your faithfulness, Your goodness and that through this recalling You allow me to have hope. Hope not in my own self or my own strength which fails every time and often, but hope in You that You will work, and that You are in charge! I have so much to be grateful for, LORD. Forgive me for often being anything but quiet and not being willing to even be quiet much less wait for You to work. Thank You that You are working anyway! Thank You that You never change! Thank You that You will never ever give up on me! What a great and mighty God You are! Thank You for allowing me to have relationship with You, Father, through Your wonderful Son, Jesus! May You have Your way and when I get in the way may I listen to Your gentle reminders and repent, move and be quiet and wait! Thank You again for what You are doing in me and for me!!! I love You...May I love You more with each passing day!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Its a process...
Psalm 73:25-28
25) Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth
that I desire besides You.
26) My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27) For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have
destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28) But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust
in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.
What a great section of the Word in Psalm 73. It is a good place to begin our day or restart it wherever we find ourselves. WHOM have I in heaven? - JESUS & OUR FATHER GOD! This verse reminds me of what (WHO) my priorities need to be. Too often I am more concerned with the things and people of this world rather than focusing my desire heavenward. Oh, I so struggle with my attitude!!!
Look the psalmist says that his flesh and heart fail. Isn't that so good to know? Mine does too as I am sure that yours does and yet our focus does not get to stay there. Remember? It has already been declared that Our Father in Heaven is our desire! Look God even provides the strength of my heart and my portion forever! He is so much more than enough!
However, I spend so much time trying to add to Him in my life. Oh, it looks good on the outside, but I know that on the inside it is often about pride, about fear, about anything else but God.
So, I had to look up what verse 27 was talking about and it refers to the fact that unbelievers are far from Christ, they do don't have Him in heaven and they will perish because they have not turned to Him as their Bridegroom but rather have chosen another, thus the reference to harlotry. (So interesting!!)
Do you see that next word in verse 28? But!!! But it is good for me to draw near to God... do you see all the actions that this section of the Word calls us too? First, and this precludes the fact that You have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and believe that He is able to save you from your sins because He lived, died and was raised again to provide salvation and to redeem you and give you a chance to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him and His Father God in heaven; so if you have made this decision and you belong to Him then you and I must decide, determine, recognize in our minds that we focus on the fact that we have relationship with our Father in heaven. Secondly, we must check our priorities. Is He LORD of my life or am I desiring the things and people of this earth more? Thirdly, gratitude comes into play when we remind ourselves that because of our relationship with our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, we will not perish!!!
Finally, once I have decided all of this my actions need to follow! I must draw near to God and to do this is good - for who? Me!!! It seems like so often I will settle for mediocre for myself rather than good! What about you?
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD and I must continue to do so...thus by actively drawing near to Him? How? Through praying, talking and sharing life with Him, praising Him, and reading His Word, taking the part of it 'with' me throughout the day by meditating on it and memorizing it so that when life happens I am not knocked flat! But there is a bigger reason... A reason beyond me and the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father.
What, you ask? THAT I MAY DECLARE ALL HIS WORKS!!! How incredible is that!!! He not only saves us but He allows me to share Him with others!!! What a gift! What a blessing!
When I do my part...focus on Him...desire Him...recognize my failings and look to His strength and provision, and have a grateful heart then I am able to draw near to Him and trust Him in such a way that I may DECLARE ALL HIS WORKS! This is really mind blowing if you think about it! I mean, He provides everything...EVERYTHING... He even helps me with the strength to make the right choice...which is Him. And then He actually allows me to declare Him, to declare His works by my actions and my words, by the drawing near to Him and trusting in Him!
I do not have to make opportunities to share Him, nor do I have to have the words or anything prepared...all the preparation is done by recognizing the fact that I am His and He is mine!!! He makes the relationship possible and He makes it work! Wow!
Father God, thank You for Your Word and all of Your provision. May I chose daily, moment by moment to look to You and follow the natural progression that doing so means. Help me to get over myself, forgive me for the pride that rules so often. I think of myself and how life affects me way more than I consider You. May I consciously remember that I am not going to perish, that this life is just a season but I get to be with You eternally in heaven!!! Help me to live this life with an attitude of thanksgiving rather than entitlement. Forgive me that this is not something that happens with ease but with a great deal of effort. Thank You though for never giving up on me, that failing is expected, but thank You for being the strength of my heart and my portion forever!!! Mind boggling! May I draw near to You and place my trust in You despite the things that seem bigger, or the things that I do not want to wait for You to work out and I try to control them myself. I know they are not bigger and that You are in control forgive me for living otherwise. May I have the opportunity to declare You and all Your works with regularity...may You be seen in me. May this time of 'blogging' just jumpstart me not just be some words that I write. Please God use me for Your glory...may I step out of Your way! Remind me of this plea when I get attitudinal and want my way... Thank You Jesus for saving me and for loving me, period!
25) Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth
that I desire besides You.
26) My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27) For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have
destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28) But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust
in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works.
What a great section of the Word in Psalm 73. It is a good place to begin our day or restart it wherever we find ourselves. WHOM have I in heaven? - JESUS & OUR FATHER GOD! This verse reminds me of what (WHO) my priorities need to be. Too often I am more concerned with the things and people of this world rather than focusing my desire heavenward. Oh, I so struggle with my attitude!!!
Look the psalmist says that his flesh and heart fail. Isn't that so good to know? Mine does too as I am sure that yours does and yet our focus does not get to stay there. Remember? It has already been declared that Our Father in Heaven is our desire! Look God even provides the strength of my heart and my portion forever! He is so much more than enough!
However, I spend so much time trying to add to Him in my life. Oh, it looks good on the outside, but I know that on the inside it is often about pride, about fear, about anything else but God.
So, I had to look up what verse 27 was talking about and it refers to the fact that unbelievers are far from Christ, they do don't have Him in heaven and they will perish because they have not turned to Him as their Bridegroom but rather have chosen another, thus the reference to harlotry. (So interesting!!)
Do you see that next word in verse 28? But!!! But it is good for me to draw near to God... do you see all the actions that this section of the Word calls us too? First, and this precludes the fact that You have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and believe that He is able to save you from your sins because He lived, died and was raised again to provide salvation and to redeem you and give you a chance to have a personal, intimate relationship with Him and His Father God in heaven; so if you have made this decision and you belong to Him then you and I must decide, determine, recognize in our minds that we focus on the fact that we have relationship with our Father in heaven. Secondly, we must check our priorities. Is He LORD of my life or am I desiring the things and people of this earth more? Thirdly, gratitude comes into play when we remind ourselves that because of our relationship with our Father in heaven, through Jesus Christ, we will not perish!!!
Finally, once I have decided all of this my actions need to follow! I must draw near to God and to do this is good - for who? Me!!! It seems like so often I will settle for mediocre for myself rather than good! What about you?
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD and I must continue to do so...thus by actively drawing near to Him? How? Through praying, talking and sharing life with Him, praising Him, and reading His Word, taking the part of it 'with' me throughout the day by meditating on it and memorizing it so that when life happens I am not knocked flat! But there is a bigger reason... A reason beyond me and the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father.
What, you ask? THAT I MAY DECLARE ALL HIS WORKS!!! How incredible is that!!! He not only saves us but He allows me to share Him with others!!! What a gift! What a blessing!
When I do my part...focus on Him...desire Him...recognize my failings and look to His strength and provision, and have a grateful heart then I am able to draw near to Him and trust Him in such a way that I may DECLARE ALL HIS WORKS! This is really mind blowing if you think about it! I mean, He provides everything...EVERYTHING... He even helps me with the strength to make the right choice...which is Him. And then He actually allows me to declare Him, to declare His works by my actions and my words, by the drawing near to Him and trusting in Him!
I do not have to make opportunities to share Him, nor do I have to have the words or anything prepared...all the preparation is done by recognizing the fact that I am His and He is mine!!! He makes the relationship possible and He makes it work! Wow!
Father God, thank You for Your Word and all of Your provision. May I chose daily, moment by moment to look to You and follow the natural progression that doing so means. Help me to get over myself, forgive me for the pride that rules so often. I think of myself and how life affects me way more than I consider You. May I consciously remember that I am not going to perish, that this life is just a season but I get to be with You eternally in heaven!!! Help me to live this life with an attitude of thanksgiving rather than entitlement. Forgive me that this is not something that happens with ease but with a great deal of effort. Thank You though for never giving up on me, that failing is expected, but thank You for being the strength of my heart and my portion forever!!! Mind boggling! May I draw near to You and place my trust in You despite the things that seem bigger, or the things that I do not want to wait for You to work out and I try to control them myself. I know they are not bigger and that You are in control forgive me for living otherwise. May I have the opportunity to declare You and all Your works with regularity...may You be seen in me. May this time of 'blogging' just jumpstart me not just be some words that I write. Please God use me for Your glory...may I step out of Your way! Remind me of this plea when I get attitudinal and want my way... Thank You Jesus for saving me and for loving me, period!
Friday, September 19, 2014
In His Shadow = Rejoicing
Psalm 63:1-8
1) O GOD, You are my God; early will I seek you; my should thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry & thirsty land where there is no water.
2) So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power & Your glory.
3) Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
4) Thus I will bless You while I live; I will life up my hands in Your name.
5) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, & my mouth shall praise you with joyful
lips.
6) When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
7) Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8) My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 6:6
I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.
Psalm 69:3
I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Isaiah 40:28, 30-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints no is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
So Father, I have a bad attitude. I am weary of seeking You, I am weary of wanting to thirst, desiring to long, of looking, of seeing one day and not the next, of needing to praise but not wanting to or at the very least feeling as though I do not have the strength to praise. "Knowing' His lovingkindness is better than life one day and then wondering about it the next. What about remembering, I am tired of remembering, I am tired of trying to be glad that there is life. I am more weary than I can say of hearing myself whine and complain of feeling this way. I am sick of crying or wanting to cry. I am weary of attempting even pretending that I am good when the fact is I am just not okay, I am exhausted and putting one foot in front of the other is more than I even want to do sometimes. I am so weary of thinking that maybe, just maybe I am making progress and then I am not or at least I feel like I am not. Help me God to stop whining and yet truly I am thankful that I can tell You all about it and You love me irregardless. I am so frustrated with myself please help me to take Your Word and allow You to renew my mind, to cast my cares upon You, to be still and know that You are God. May I stop spending the time in frustration at myself and realize that each persons suffering, mine as well, is a vehicle that You can and will use to draw me into Your presence. Forgive me for this bad attitude, for this frustration and help me to look wholly to You and get my eyes off myself. I cannot do it in my own strength, but Your Word promises that You will give me the strength I need Jesus if I come to You.
I heard a profound statement by Andy Stanley yesterday from his "Twisted" sermon series... "Suffering is really the shortest route to God." When I consider that it makes sense and yet who among us wants to 'sign up' for suffering. He went on to say that to have bad days is normal because our lives have been decaying from the beginning when sin entered the world but we have HOPE because Jesus came, He lived, He died and He rose again so that you and I can have salvation from this life of sin and hopelessness. So weakness is normal and it is a mistake to ask what is wrong with me, it is just part of this life that we live until the day we get to heaven. His Scripture passage was in Romans 8:18-32.
(SERIOUSLY, go listen online to the Andy Stanley sermon series, Twisted. This was #3 - I would love to hear your feedback on this entire series).
Andy Stanley also quoted C.S. Lewis, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
So my attitude needs to change and slowly it is this morning as I gripe to God (with an audience, I guess;) and in realizing that what I go through is His opportunity to show the world Himself...if I submit. Though I grow weary of even being 'used' by Him to reveal Himself, He understands and He renews my strength and restores my hope.
Well, Lord, I do want to submit. I am loving Psalm 63:7 which says, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN MY HELP, therefore in the SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS I will rejoice. Forgive me for often just wanting my own way not caring what You are accomplishing through it. I pray You would give me eyes to see and ears to hear what You have for me. Thank You for the realization that You have been my help, You are my help and You will continue to be my help and that I can hide in the shadow of Your wings and not only that but I will find Your strength there to rejoice, not in what is going on necessarily or what isn't happening fast enough, etc. but IN YOU and the fact that You are my help and that Your right hand upholds me!!! You do not get weary! You do not let go! You do not tire of me though I regularly tire of myself! You neither faint, nor grow weary, not ever!!! You promise to renew my strength if I will chose to wait on You. You will enable me to not just walk again, but run. Thank You, God, that Your understanding is unsearchable! May I rejoice in You as I go through this day regardless of what my body feels like or my mind tries to say, may I go back to Your Word and the truths that You provide. Thank You that I can come to You in any state: sad, whiny, with a bad attitude and if I pour my heart out to You then You will bring me to a place of resting in You, a place of rejoicing in You for You, God are worthy to be praised!!!! Thank You, Lord for Your lovingkindness, Your steadfastness, Your mercy, Your grace, Your forgiveness and for Your peace and hope that You will provide. I surrender, I submit again and again. Please get my attention when I fall back into the same attitudes and sin...may I repent and look to You. Thank You again for never ever growing weary and for loving me regardless.
1) O GOD, You are my God; early will I seek you; my should thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry & thirsty land where there is no water.
2) So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power & Your glory.
3) Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.
4) Thus I will bless You while I live; I will life up my hands in Your name.
5) My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, & my mouth shall praise you with joyful
lips.
6) When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.
7) Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
8) My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 6:6
I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.
Psalm 69:3
I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry; my eyes fail while I wait for my God.
Isaiah 40:28, 30-31 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints no is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
So Father, I have a bad attitude. I am weary of seeking You, I am weary of wanting to thirst, desiring to long, of looking, of seeing one day and not the next, of needing to praise but not wanting to or at the very least feeling as though I do not have the strength to praise. "Knowing' His lovingkindness is better than life one day and then wondering about it the next. What about remembering, I am tired of remembering, I am tired of trying to be glad that there is life. I am more weary than I can say of hearing myself whine and complain of feeling this way. I am sick of crying or wanting to cry. I am weary of attempting even pretending that I am good when the fact is I am just not okay, I am exhausted and putting one foot in front of the other is more than I even want to do sometimes. I am so weary of thinking that maybe, just maybe I am making progress and then I am not or at least I feel like I am not. Help me God to stop whining and yet truly I am thankful that I can tell You all about it and You love me irregardless. I am so frustrated with myself please help me to take Your Word and allow You to renew my mind, to cast my cares upon You, to be still and know that You are God. May I stop spending the time in frustration at myself and realize that each persons suffering, mine as well, is a vehicle that You can and will use to draw me into Your presence. Forgive me for this bad attitude, for this frustration and help me to look wholly to You and get my eyes off myself. I cannot do it in my own strength, but Your Word promises that You will give me the strength I need Jesus if I come to You.
I heard a profound statement by Andy Stanley yesterday from his "Twisted" sermon series... "Suffering is really the shortest route to God." When I consider that it makes sense and yet who among us wants to 'sign up' for suffering. He went on to say that to have bad days is normal because our lives have been decaying from the beginning when sin entered the world but we have HOPE because Jesus came, He lived, He died and He rose again so that you and I can have salvation from this life of sin and hopelessness. So weakness is normal and it is a mistake to ask what is wrong with me, it is just part of this life that we live until the day we get to heaven. His Scripture passage was in Romans 8:18-32.
(SERIOUSLY, go listen online to the Andy Stanley sermon series, Twisted. This was #3 - I would love to hear your feedback on this entire series).
Andy Stanley also quoted C.S. Lewis, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."
So my attitude needs to change and slowly it is this morning as I gripe to God (with an audience, I guess;) and in realizing that what I go through is His opportunity to show the world Himself...if I submit. Though I grow weary of even being 'used' by Him to reveal Himself, He understands and He renews my strength and restores my hope.
Well, Lord, I do want to submit. I am loving Psalm 63:7 which says, BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN MY HELP, therefore in the SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS I will rejoice. Forgive me for often just wanting my own way not caring what You are accomplishing through it. I pray You would give me eyes to see and ears to hear what You have for me. Thank You for the realization that You have been my help, You are my help and You will continue to be my help and that I can hide in the shadow of Your wings and not only that but I will find Your strength there to rejoice, not in what is going on necessarily or what isn't happening fast enough, etc. but IN YOU and the fact that You are my help and that Your right hand upholds me!!! You do not get weary! You do not let go! You do not tire of me though I regularly tire of myself! You neither faint, nor grow weary, not ever!!! You promise to renew my strength if I will chose to wait on You. You will enable me to not just walk again, but run. Thank You, God, that Your understanding is unsearchable! May I rejoice in You as I go through this day regardless of what my body feels like or my mind tries to say, may I go back to Your Word and the truths that You provide. Thank You that I can come to You in any state: sad, whiny, with a bad attitude and if I pour my heart out to You then You will bring me to a place of resting in You, a place of rejoicing in You for You, God are worthy to be praised!!!! Thank You, Lord for Your lovingkindness, Your steadfastness, Your mercy, Your grace, Your forgiveness and for Your peace and hope that You will provide. I surrender, I submit again and again. Please get my attention when I fall back into the same attitudes and sin...may I repent and look to You. Thank You again for never ever growing weary and for loving me regardless.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Overwhelmed...
Psalm 38:9-10
Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
Psalm 142:1-3a
I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me. Then You knew my path.
Psalm 30:5b
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away.
As I have been reading Daily Light with Anne Graham Lotz and just thinking the last few days I find that I am still in this season of sighing, of mourning, of sadness and truly the light in my eyes has gone from me. I find that I have no expression on my face these days. For some reason one of my 'tribulations' or 'trials' in this life Chronic Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder - I know - what a title, but trust me when I say it is as big as it sounds. I have been in this particular "battle" (and a battle it is -
for well over a year :( Thank the Lord I am not where I was but I am definitely not where I would like to be. I have also been watching Andy Stanley's sermon series "Twisted" - Incredible, you should check it out.
Anyway, as I am reading and listening, God is revealing to me many of the lies I believe and live as well as the fact that I often battle the wrong things. The question is, Am I 'taking up the whole armor of God, that (I) may be able withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand"(Ephesians 6:13)? I am trying but I am also realizing how much I miss the mark, but praise God, He does not!!!
I find that this 'night of weeping' is lasting way longer than I want it to - with new reasons to 'weep' cropping up regularly it seems and yet I trust and I know that joy will come in the morning. How do I know? Because my LORD promises. The thing is I do not get to choose how long my mourning lasts, nor do you; however we do know that we win in the end. I personally cannot wait until the day when there are no more tears and no more pain. I have never been a crier (even in the depression throughout the years) but now ... a crier I am. This frustrates me to no end and yet His Word says in Psalm 56:8b that God "put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" - so my tears matter to Him. Amazing, isn't He?!
Father God, I find that I have much more to say but I will just take it to You. Thank You for allowing me to have this voice to share Your Word and my journey. Please God, help me to walk this path Your way and not my own. Thank You that though I do not understand the whys You allow me to discuss them with You. Thank You that though I do not like this particular path You have me on that You are trustworthy and true! Thank You that it is okay to cry and that my tears matter to You. I pray that I will not be stuck in my own emotions but rather be overwhelmed by You and Your Word. Help me to do my part but mainly to stand back, to be still and allow You to have Your way, Your will in me. Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for understanding me and loving me, period. May I have Your joy again. I praise You that despite this 'hormonal imbalance' I do often have Your peace in the midst of the storm. I praise You that You always walk with me, that You never ever leave me or forsake me, no matter what I think or feel, You just cannot because You promise You won't. Please God use Your Word and this opportunity for vulnerability to minister to someone. May they know that they are not alone... You are with them and there are others that walk a similar path to theirs. You are in charge, God. You know the big picture and You know best...thank You.
Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants, my strength fails me; As for the light of my eyes, it also has gone from me.
Psalm 142:1-3a
I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me. Then You knew my path.
Psalm 30:5b
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Revelation 21:4
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away.
As I have been reading Daily Light with Anne Graham Lotz and just thinking the last few days I find that I am still in this season of sighing, of mourning, of sadness and truly the light in my eyes has gone from me. I find that I have no expression on my face these days. For some reason one of my 'tribulations' or 'trials' in this life Chronic Recurrent Major Depressive Disorder - I know - what a title, but trust me when I say it is as big as it sounds. I have been in this particular "battle" (and a battle it is -
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,fn against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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Anyway, as I am reading and listening, God is revealing to me many of the lies I believe and live as well as the fact that I often battle the wrong things. The question is, Am I 'taking up the whole armor of God, that (I) may be able withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand"(Ephesians 6:13)? I am trying but I am also realizing how much I miss the mark, but praise God, He does not!!!
I find that this 'night of weeping' is lasting way longer than I want it to - with new reasons to 'weep' cropping up regularly it seems and yet I trust and I know that joy will come in the morning. How do I know? Because my LORD promises. The thing is I do not get to choose how long my mourning lasts, nor do you; however we do know that we win in the end. I personally cannot wait until the day when there are no more tears and no more pain. I have never been a crier (even in the depression throughout the years) but now ... a crier I am. This frustrates me to no end and yet His Word says in Psalm 56:8b that God "put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?" - so my tears matter to Him. Amazing, isn't He?!
Father God, I find that I have much more to say but I will just take it to You. Thank You for allowing me to have this voice to share Your Word and my journey. Please God, help me to walk this path Your way and not my own. Thank You that though I do not understand the whys You allow me to discuss them with You. Thank You that though I do not like this particular path You have me on that You are trustworthy and true! Thank You that it is okay to cry and that my tears matter to You. I pray that I will not be stuck in my own emotions but rather be overwhelmed by You and Your Word. Help me to do my part but mainly to stand back, to be still and allow You to have Your way, Your will in me. Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice. Thank You for understanding me and loving me, period. May I have Your joy again. I praise You that despite this 'hormonal imbalance' I do often have Your peace in the midst of the storm. I praise You that You always walk with me, that You never ever leave me or forsake me, no matter what I think or feel, You just cannot because You promise You won't. Please God use Your Word and this opportunity for vulnerability to minister to someone. May they know that they are not alone... You are with them and there are others that walk a similar path to theirs. You are in charge, God. You know the big picture and You know best...thank You.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Pressed, not crushed...
2 Corinthians 4:8-9; 16-18
8) We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
9) persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17) for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weigh of glory,
18) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In looking at Ephesians 3:20-21 yesterday and now these verses today with Psalm 139 hovering closely in my mind I realize that first of all no matter what you think is going to be - it is usually not that and secondly that it really does not matter because I am in God's hands, period and He is trustworthy.
I don't need to say this, but I will...LIFE IS HARD. Each of us knows what it is to be hard pressed even to the point of feeling that we will be crushed, perplexed and deeply depressed and yet we do not have to despair. Persecuted? Not so much here outwardly in America and yet I find that the enemy does a pretty doggone good job of persecuting and yet I know that I am not forsaken. Struck down, most definitely struck down, but I am still here so I reckon I am not destroyed.
I love the next passage listed above (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) I do not lose heart because though my outward 'woman' ;) is perishing my inward 'woman' is being renewed day by day or at least I have the option of going to my LORD and allowing Him to renew me inside - in my mind, in my will, in my soul! That is something to be grateful for - the ability to look inward instead of outward at the seemingly impossible circumstances.
I have been wanting a stronger faith, one that does not flow up and down with my emotions but rather is consistently placed on and in the only one worthy - Jesus Christ. I find hope hard so therefore I find faith hard and therefore things not seen are hard, well to see! A stronger faith requires looking for the "substance of things hoped for" or the literal things that we put our hope in - God's goodness, His mercy, His faithfulness, His love, His forgiveness, His deliberate 'forgetfulness' of my sin, His strength and His provision.
So the question for me this morning is... what is the substance of the things I hope for? Have I gone so far as to lose heart and if so would that not be because I am not allowing my Father God to renew me inwardly day by day? The facts are that each of us is hard pressed in some way - welcome to this imperfect world, but we (you or I) do not have to 'live' there. It is so hard not too, I know, but truly we do not have to live there. Again, we focus on HIM and what HE CAN DO and the fact that HE IS ABLE. The hard part is waiting and being still, huh?
Remember that we serve a God who is able to do abundantly exceedingly above all that we ask or think! Let that stir up some hope in you! Please God stir up hope within us! We have a Father God that knows all about us and loves us with an everlasting love anyway! Let's choose to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth where our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:2-3). Our life is already hidden with Christ in God and this is our reality, not what we see here on earth! Let's ask Him to "Create in (us) a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within (us)" Psalm 51:10. Let's ask Him to help us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Father God, May Your Word be life to us in this daily life that is just hard. You know the struggles that we each go through. I am thankful that You know mine and You care, not only that but You have a plan and a purpose that is for my good. (Jeremiah 29:11). You promise that the work You have begun in me You will complete one day (Philippians 1:6). I am counting on You! Help me to not allow myself to focus on the things that are pressing down on me and mine, threatening to crush us but on the fact that You are in charge no one else and You will not allow any thing to crush us. Thank You that being crushed and being broken are different things. May we be broken and poured out for You. Empty us of our selves and the desires that are contrary to Your will. May we surrender and trust You to mold us as You will. You are the Potter and we are the clay and this molding it hurts, God, but I know that You are faithful l and You will take care of us and give us the strength of Your Son, Jesus, in order that we may endure. Create in me a clean heart, Father, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. May I do my part in renewing my mind and taking each thought captive. Forgive me for making excuses. I praise You for Your Word, for the hope You bring through it. I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your love, Your infinite mercy, Your amazing grace and Your complete forgiveness. Help us, Lord to call upon You and search for You with our whole hearts. May we not spend more time seeking the things of this world than we do seeking You. Help us, Lord.
8) We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
9) persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--
16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.
17) for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weigh of glory,
18) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
In looking at Ephesians 3:20-21 yesterday and now these verses today with Psalm 139 hovering closely in my mind I realize that first of all no matter what you think is going to be - it is usually not that and secondly that it really does not matter because I am in God's hands, period and He is trustworthy.
I don't need to say this, but I will...LIFE IS HARD. Each of us knows what it is to be hard pressed even to the point of feeling that we will be crushed, perplexed and deeply depressed and yet we do not have to despair. Persecuted? Not so much here outwardly in America and yet I find that the enemy does a pretty doggone good job of persecuting and yet I know that I am not forsaken. Struck down, most definitely struck down, but I am still here so I reckon I am not destroyed.
I love the next passage listed above (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) I do not lose heart because though my outward 'woman' ;) is perishing my inward 'woman' is being renewed day by day or at least I have the option of going to my LORD and allowing Him to renew me inside - in my mind, in my will, in my soul! That is something to be grateful for - the ability to look inward instead of outward at the seemingly impossible circumstances.
I have been wanting a stronger faith, one that does not flow up and down with my emotions but rather is consistently placed on and in the only one worthy - Jesus Christ. I find hope hard so therefore I find faith hard and therefore things not seen are hard, well to see! A stronger faith requires looking for the "substance of things hoped for" or the literal things that we put our hope in - God's goodness, His mercy, His faithfulness, His love, His forgiveness, His deliberate 'forgetfulness' of my sin, His strength and His provision.
So the question for me this morning is... what is the substance of the things I hope for? Have I gone so far as to lose heart and if so would that not be because I am not allowing my Father God to renew me inwardly day by day? The facts are that each of us is hard pressed in some way - welcome to this imperfect world, but we (you or I) do not have to 'live' there. It is so hard not too, I know, but truly we do not have to live there. Again, we focus on HIM and what HE CAN DO and the fact that HE IS ABLE. The hard part is waiting and being still, huh?
Remember that we serve a God who is able to do abundantly exceedingly above all that we ask or think! Let that stir up some hope in you! Please God stir up hope within us! We have a Father God that knows all about us and loves us with an everlasting love anyway! Let's choose to set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth where our life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:2-3). Our life is already hidden with Christ in God and this is our reality, not what we see here on earth! Let's ask Him to "Create in (us) a clean heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within (us)" Psalm 51:10. Let's ask Him to help us to renew our minds (Romans 12:2) and take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5)
Father God, May Your Word be life to us in this daily life that is just hard. You know the struggles that we each go through. I am thankful that You know mine and You care, not only that but You have a plan and a purpose that is for my good. (Jeremiah 29:11). You promise that the work You have begun in me You will complete one day (Philippians 1:6). I am counting on You! Help me to not allow myself to focus on the things that are pressing down on me and mine, threatening to crush us but on the fact that You are in charge no one else and You will not allow any thing to crush us. Thank You that being crushed and being broken are different things. May we be broken and poured out for You. Empty us of our selves and the desires that are contrary to Your will. May we surrender and trust You to mold us as You will. You are the Potter and we are the clay and this molding it hurts, God, but I know that You are faithful l and You will take care of us and give us the strength of Your Son, Jesus, in order that we may endure. Create in me a clean heart, Father, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. May I do my part in renewing my mind and taking each thought captive. Forgive me for making excuses. I praise You for Your Word, for the hope You bring through it. I praise You for Your faithfulness, Your love, Your infinite mercy, Your amazing grace and Your complete forgiveness. Help us, Lord to call upon You and search for You with our whole hearts. May we not spend more time seeking the things of this world than we do seeking You. Help us, Lord.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
To God be the glory
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
ABLE: having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something: having considerable skill, proficiency, or intelligence
EXCEEDINGLY: extremely; to a great extent
ABUNDANTLY:in large quantities; plentifully; extremely
So I could go on and on looking up words in these verses but I will stop here =]
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
ABLE: having the power, skill, means, or opportunity to do something: having considerable skill, proficiency, or intelligence
EXCEEDINGLY: extremely; to a great extent
ABUNDANTLY:in large quantities; plentifully; extremely
So I could go on and on looking up words in these verses but I will stop here =]
Look at this: Now (why now?) Well, look back at verses 14-19; For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that you may be filled will all the fullness of God!!! YES - I want all of this through Christ, don't you???
Do you see this? According to the riches of His glory - He is what? He is ABLE! Able to do what? Able to do EXCEEDINGLY (extremely, to a great extent); and wait not just EXCEEDINGLY but ABUNDANTLY (in large quantities,;plentifully; extremely).
Did you catch that??? He is ABLE TO DO EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY (Our God always goes above and beyond!!! Always!! He does not stop at adequately, enough or plenty. He goes on to full of plenty, extremely, to a great extent! Wow, when we catch a glimpse of this!!! IT MAKES ME WANT TO SHOUT!!!! (thus all the capital letters - LOL!) As I fall on my knees internally!!!
What is our God able to do according to the riches of His Glory?? (Do we realize that His glory has no limit??? A word study on glory seems to be in the future, maybe? He is ABLE to grant us strength within. Why? That Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith and beyond that so that YOU/I may be rooted and grounded in love - not just any love HIS LOVE!!! And not just rooted and grounded in love, but we will be ABLE to comprehend (understand - really get; personally) WHAT IS THE WIDTH, THE LENGTH, THE DEPTH AND THE HEIGHT of the Love of Christ (for you and for me). TO KNOW THIS LOVE THT PASSES KNOWLEDGE that we may be FILLED WITH ALL THE FULLNESS OF GOD!!!
W O W ! ! ! or should I say W H O A ! ! ! !
Here it is... NOW to Him who is ABLE to do EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think. How??? According to the power that works in us - the POWER OF GOD THROUGH JESUS IN ALL HIS RICHES, HIS ABUNDANCE, HIS EXCESS, HIS FULLNESS AND HIS LOVE!!!
For what purpose? To make me what to shout praises - nope, that's just a perk. To allow me to experience joy and peace - nope, another perk. You get my drift. TO BRING GOD GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS - as the church - the body of Christ - we are allowed to bring Him glory! How cool is that?
I do not know about You but I am fired up! I know that I know that I know that my God is able! Do I know what He is doing? - No, I do not have a clue. Do I sometimes tremble in fear and anxiety? - You betcha! Do I want to try and take control and figure things out? Absolutely!
The fact is though that God keeps reminding, and by reminding I mean practically moment by moment, that I am not in charge, He is. I need only be still. I need only wait on Him. I need to lay the anxiety, the fear, the control continually at His feet, confessing and surrendering that He is Able! HE IS! Remember, EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY ABLE!!! TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS!!!
He is continually reminding me of Psalm 139, He knows my lying down, my getting up, my sitting down, my path, my thoughts... He knows EVERYTHING, I don't and nor will I!!! What a relief when I let it be!
Oh, God, thank You for the fact that You are ABLE to take care of me and all that concerns me. Help me to not just write these words and get fired up for a moment but remind me continually that You are EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABLE to grant me strength to get through the dailyness and the bigness of things that come in my life, that Your goal is to strengthen me on the inside...may I surrender, may I submit. Please God, have Your way. May I continue to grasp Your love for me to truly KNOW IT! May I be filled with all Your fullness, God...empty me of all that is not of You! May I trust You that You really are going to handle the things in my life that I just sometimes doubt that You are going to handle - forgive me for that doubt; for that unbelief! Thank You that You are so far above me that I cannot even imagine Your glory. Please God, I ask though, that You would allow me to bring You glory...may I step out of Your way and may I point to Christ Jesus!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Seasons, transitions, change...
"A season is a division of the year, marked by changes in weather, ecology and hours of daylight." (Wikipedia)
Change - to become different (Merriam-Webster)
Transition - movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., (Dictionary.com)
I have been thinking a great deal about seasons, transition and change. We are headed into my favorite 'physical' season of Autumn where the air begins to get a wonderful crispness to it and the leaves begin their transformation to such beautiful colors. Yet, change itself the good and the bad variety or somewhere in between can be full of challenges and difficulties.
Numbers 24:19 "God, is not a man that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"
Malachi 3:6a "For I am the LORD, I do not change;"
James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
God does not change - He is constant - He is faithful - He is sovereign! Praise His Name!!! These facts of who He is makes gratitude well up within me!!!
Here in Kentucky we are blessed to see nature change her seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Our lives are much the same; full of the physical changing of seasons as well as the emotional and mental. Sometimes like our seasons of nature I feel like things get a bit confused - one day it feels like Fall and another the heat of Summer. I am so thankful that though our emotions can be big and misleading, helpful and revealing they are not the facts and the fact is that God is in control no matter what our view looks like, and no matter what our season feels like!!!
Back to Psalm 139 - Remember? He knows me; He knows You! He knows our sitting down, rising up, our path, our lying down, our thoughts, our words and all our ways!!! He knows ALL! I love that little word, ALL especially when thinking of my LORD and His provision! Also, let us not forget that He not only knows ALL, He has hedged us behind and before and laid His hand upon us.
Why does He lay His hand upon us? Why hedge us behind and before? Why is He acquainted with all our ways? BECAUSE HE LOVES US UNFAILINGLY!!! Psalm 33:22; 85:7; Jeremiah 31:3; Lamentations 3:22-24; 32. He goes so far beyond knowing all about us - He loves us, He is willing to save us from our sin...We must only do what Romans 10:9 tells us..."Confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved."
If you have further questions about His glorious salvation look in His Word, the Bible, here... Romans 3:10-12, 23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-10, 13; 5:1. Admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, Believe in Jesus and that He died for your sin and rose again on the 3rd day and finally Commit to yourself to Him, that You trust Him and will follow Him wholeheartedly! Don't worry He has done all the hard work, His Son is His gift to you that you may have eternal life with Him. You do not have to wait until heaven though, the relationship begins now! Trust Him! It is the very best decision you could EVER make. This is the ultimate change in season in your life!
Seasons, transition and change are hard words to consider and they can be even harder to walk through; however knowing that God is faithful, that He is in charge and that through Jesus He will provide the strength to endure makes all the difference. Each season has its positives and its negatives but our trust in God does not have to waiver because remember He stays the same!
Father God, thank You that You are in charge all the time no matter what it looks like or no matter what it feels like! Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace and Your everlasting love! Your faithfulness is great and You alone are in charge. When we are Yours we are safe in the very palm of Your pierced hands! Thank You, Jesus for Your sacrifice, one that is on going as You are even now seated at the right hand of the Father concerned for me, interceding for me, for each of us who belong to You. Thank You Holy Spirit for being willing to live within us. May we not grieve You or quench Your work in our lives but give You full reign. Be our LORD and Master, God, in every part of our lives. May we trust You regardless because You are trustworthy! Thank You for giving us forgiveness, mercy and grace over and over again. Thank You that this is a new day...may we shine for You alone.
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