I have told my family many times that I love to hear Gods' voice. It is most comforting and most exciting to me knowing He is with me. Knowing God, who spoke the world into being and has breathed life into me, would want to share His plans and His wisdom with me is intoxicating!
I am awakened from my routine slumbers when His whisper brings alive the task , my surroundings, or a word. Like a jump-out-of-bed morning, I am aware of His presence and my mind is awake to His word! I can be anywhere because He is everywhere. I can be doing anything because He lives within me. His word is power: Power to guide, power to change power to resurrect, power to calm the storms, power to renew and heal.
God of Power and Might, who spoke into being all that I see all that I am, I am listening for Your voice. Speak Lord, here I am!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Humility or Humiliation
What is the difference between humility and humiliation? I have been thinking about this all day and have come to a conclusion.
Humility is a lowering of ourselves. Humiliation is being brought down by others. The interesting thing about humility is that it has power over humiliation. When we choose to lower ourselves it does not matter what humiliation others try to place on us.
Humility is not placing ourselves in a place where we have no value. It simply admits that we are fallible. Humiliation offers no value and is a forced tumble from a proud position.
I am learning to be humble, teachable and honest about my successes and failures. It is not an easy road but the benefits are great! I walk with God when I walk in humility.
In the humble name of our exalted Lord Jesus, I ask You Sovereign God to reveal true humility. disciple me in its ways and change my heart.
Humility is a lowering of ourselves. Humiliation is being brought down by others. The interesting thing about humility is that it has power over humiliation. When we choose to lower ourselves it does not matter what humiliation others try to place on us.
Humility is not placing ourselves in a place where we have no value. It simply admits that we are fallible. Humiliation offers no value and is a forced tumble from a proud position.
I am learning to be humble, teachable and honest about my successes and failures. It is not an easy road but the benefits are great! I walk with God when I walk in humility.
In the humble name of our exalted Lord Jesus, I ask You Sovereign God to reveal true humility. disciple me in its ways and change my heart.
Monday, March 23, 2009
What Time is it?
There has been much talk around Christian circles of the end of days coming soon. It makes me wonder because I do see some of the signs that are described in the bible. I tend to want God to answer my "What time is it?" prayer with a direct answer.
It would be so much easier if He answered with a date and exact time rather than deciphering signs that we have seen since His departure. However, He doesn't want us to know. I must believe that it isn't to make us feel unimportant but it must be for our own good.
I am sure that knowing the day and time would spur some people into a more severe bible thumping agenda than they already have. It might frighten others. The surety of a date and time would defeat the purpose of us living by faith and trusting in God who does all things well. Jesus saw what His fate was as He neared the cross. Maybe He just does not want us to face inner struggle that He did.
Whatever time we have left here should be spent living a life that glorifies God to the fullest. We should be about our Fathers business. He can be in charge of the going home whistle. Till then let us continue to seek God for our work orders for the day and do our best work.
Author and finisher of our time, we are curious and frightened and hopeful. You know the grand finale and we trust You to help us walk safely to the end. My life and times are in Your loving, good , and wise hands. Thank You for holding me close to Your heart through it all.
It would be so much easier if He answered with a date and exact time rather than deciphering signs that we have seen since His departure. However, He doesn't want us to know. I must believe that it isn't to make us feel unimportant but it must be for our own good.
I am sure that knowing the day and time would spur some people into a more severe bible thumping agenda than they already have. It might frighten others. The surety of a date and time would defeat the purpose of us living by faith and trusting in God who does all things well. Jesus saw what His fate was as He neared the cross. Maybe He just does not want us to face inner struggle that He did.
Whatever time we have left here should be spent living a life that glorifies God to the fullest. We should be about our Fathers business. He can be in charge of the going home whistle. Till then let us continue to seek God for our work orders for the day and do our best work.
Author and finisher of our time, we are curious and frightened and hopeful. You know the grand finale and we trust You to help us walk safely to the end. My life and times are in Your loving, good , and wise hands. Thank You for holding me close to Your heart through it all.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Stranger in a Strange Land
There are moments when, though I am surrounded by the familiar, I feel as if I am a stranger. I have the sense that I am not where I should be. I don't belong. I am out of place, not at ease. I wonder if others have the same feeling sometimes. What is the cause?
Could it be that because we live in a fallen world we long for our paradise? Our garden of Eden? We were meant to live in a perfect world in complete communion with God, but we don't. so, are my feelings of strangeness a result of that and a subtle calling to come home?
The coming home will take a journey. We must all chose one path that will take us home. There is only one way! We can only go to our proper place of belonging if we begin the walk in which Jesus will lead us. It is adventurous, dangerous and wonderful! The cross is our beginning, but our daily death to the things of this strange sinful world is the step by step progression toward home. I am a prodigal coming home. I am a stranger in a strange land.
Father, You are the builder of my home. You are the place where I belong. You are where my heart is. I can trust You to bring me home safely and to guide me every step I take.
Could it be that because we live in a fallen world we long for our paradise? Our garden of Eden? We were meant to live in a perfect world in complete communion with God, but we don't. so, are my feelings of strangeness a result of that and a subtle calling to come home?
The coming home will take a journey. We must all chose one path that will take us home. There is only one way! We can only go to our proper place of belonging if we begin the walk in which Jesus will lead us. It is adventurous, dangerous and wonderful! The cross is our beginning, but our daily death to the things of this strange sinful world is the step by step progression toward home. I am a prodigal coming home. I am a stranger in a strange land.
Father, You are the builder of my home. You are the place where I belong. You are where my heart is. I can trust You to bring me home safely and to guide me every step I take.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
I Confess!
Yes, it is true I confess that Jesus is Lord! Could you tell? I hope so. If you had no idea that Jesus is my Lord then I am on the wrong track. If you do know, then I am at least making progress towards being like Him.
It has occurred to me that when I declare Jesus as Lord over an area of my life there will be changes. Those changes will be seen by others in my actions and attitudes. They may even be noticeable in my body.
Right now I have at least two areas that need His lordship. I have humbly given over one, but the other is a struggle. We all have places we need to turn over to Him. We all struggle with our addiction to sin. The battle begins to be won when we confess that Jesus is Lord over our lives in that area.
Glorious Lord, You are LORD over ___________ in my life. You are King and I am only Your humble servant. You are worthy to be in control. You are wise and good, all-powerful and all knowing. I bow down in surrender to You.
It has occurred to me that when I declare Jesus as Lord over an area of my life there will be changes. Those changes will be seen by others in my actions and attitudes. They may even be noticeable in my body.
Right now I have at least two areas that need His lordship. I have humbly given over one, but the other is a struggle. We all have places we need to turn over to Him. We all struggle with our addiction to sin. The battle begins to be won when we confess that Jesus is Lord over our lives in that area.
Glorious Lord, You are LORD over ___________ in my life. You are King and I am only Your humble servant. You are worthy to be in control. You are wise and good, all-powerful and all knowing. I bow down in surrender to You.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Selfish to Selfless
Selfishness and self-centeredness crowd into my best intentions. I am not proud of that and I work hard to keep those two under control. The question is how? How do you rein in a wild stallion or catch a sun ray in your hand? It is impossible without God.
If I try to capture my own selfish nature I will find it to be like a butterfly trying to catch itself in its own net. It can be done by accident but certainly will be a futile exercise. I do not want to be limited. Like the butterfly I want to be free to fly wherever I wish. I will flit about going my own way as long as I am able. I have only one way to change.
I must trust God that what He has planned for me is better than my own desires. I must believe in His goodness and let myself rest in His hands. This is nice to say and easy to dream about but my sinful selfish nature will fight every longing to go in this direction.
It is a battle I must strive to win in my mind. I must fight the self-centered demon that resides in me by keeping my thoughts on God and having the mind of Christ. Having the mind of Christ is to know who I am in Christ but never grasp for the position, honor or title. In humility I must know who I am and also who I am not! I am not God. I am not perfect. Without Him I can do nothing.
Jesus, Humble Servant and Living God, I accept Your example of selfless and God-centered living. You desire me to follow You and take on Your character becoming like You in all things. It is a battle, but You have already overcome the enemy. You can lead me and guide me in the changes I must make. You are good and I trust You to tame my selfish pleasures.
If I try to capture my own selfish nature I will find it to be like a butterfly trying to catch itself in its own net. It can be done by accident but certainly will be a futile exercise. I do not want to be limited. Like the butterfly I want to be free to fly wherever I wish. I will flit about going my own way as long as I am able. I have only one way to change.
I must trust God that what He has planned for me is better than my own desires. I must believe in His goodness and let myself rest in His hands. This is nice to say and easy to dream about but my sinful selfish nature will fight every longing to go in this direction.
It is a battle I must strive to win in my mind. I must fight the self-centered demon that resides in me by keeping my thoughts on God and having the mind of Christ. Having the mind of Christ is to know who I am in Christ but never grasp for the position, honor or title. In humility I must know who I am and also who I am not! I am not God. I am not perfect. Without Him I can do nothing.
Jesus, Humble Servant and Living God, I accept Your example of selfless and God-centered living. You desire me to follow You and take on Your character becoming like You in all things. It is a battle, but You have already overcome the enemy. You can lead me and guide me in the changes I must make. You are good and I trust You to tame my selfish pleasures.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Merry Heart
In the last couple of months I have enjoyed two belly-laughing times with my granddaughters. We laughed until our sides hurt and every little thought or comment made us laugh more, even if it wasn't that funny! It makes me feel good to laugh like that, at least after my side stops hurting!
The movie Mary Poppins has a scene where a group of friends are laughing so hard that they float to the top of the ceiling. Every time I laugh hard I think how wonderful it would be to float to the ceiling. In a way I do. My spirit rises and I feel as if I can soar over any troubles I may have. It is better than going to the doctor, having painful surgery or running a mile. I get similar or BETTER benefits from laughter. My heart races, my muscles tighten and relax and though I end up with a side ache I know it will heal much quicker than an incision.
Laughter breaks up the dark clouds and offers a sunny outlook. A good giggle will put the world into perspective and offer smiles to those we meet.
In the world of so much bad news we need laughter. We need the joy of the Lord! God says His joy is our strength. We need a smile and a good laugh to get us through the day. A merry heart does good like medicine. Have you had your dose of laughter today?
The movie Mary Poppins has a scene where a group of friends are laughing so hard that they float to the top of the ceiling. Every time I laugh hard I think how wonderful it would be to float to the ceiling. In a way I do. My spirit rises and I feel as if I can soar over any troubles I may have. It is better than going to the doctor, having painful surgery or running a mile. I get similar or BETTER benefits from laughter. My heart races, my muscles tighten and relax and though I end up with a side ache I know it will heal much quicker than an incision.
Laughter breaks up the dark clouds and offers a sunny outlook. A good giggle will put the world into perspective and offer smiles to those we meet.
In the world of so much bad news we need laughter. We need the joy of the Lord! God says His joy is our strength. We need a smile and a good laugh to get us through the day. A merry heart does good like medicine. Have you had your dose of laughter today?
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