This morning at church we sang a song about Jesus being the "Center of our lives." Our worship leader mentioned that God is the center of the universe. I thought it was so very true!
The thought became a picture in my mind. I saw galaxy's like we see in pictures from the Hubble telescope. I then knew more than saw that they were orbiting our Great and mighty God, the Light of the Universe! How awesome is HE!
Almighty Creator God, I bow in humble adoration of YOU! I cannot comprehend You, yet You know every detail of me. I cannot imagine You, but You know me intimately! You are Great!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Costly Obedience
Obedience is costly. When we choose to obey Parents, the law or God we pay a price.
We give up control and for those of us who like to be in control that is a high price to pay. Then there are times when we come against opposition to the path of obedience and we pay the cost of a change is relationships or our circumstances. Obedience is NOT easy!
There are times when obedience will force us to stand alone. There may be people on both sides of an issue who will oppose our walk with God. Like Paul who found himself criticized by both the followers of the way and by the Jewish community we must stand firm with God.
Solitude. It can be a dangerous, lonely, and costly place to stand, but God will never let our obedience go unrewarded! The question for today is: Am I willing to stand alone in obedience? Am I willing to live a life of solitude, knowing that my reward is Jesus Himself?
Father, I want to belong and yet I am called to obey You in some matters that put me on the outside of a group. I must depend on You to help me stand alone in the world but never alone in You! You have promised to be with me always and I want very much to choose You and Your way! Lead me Lord! I depend on You!
We give up control and for those of us who like to be in control that is a high price to pay. Then there are times when we come against opposition to the path of obedience and we pay the cost of a change is relationships or our circumstances. Obedience is NOT easy!
There are times when obedience will force us to stand alone. There may be people on both sides of an issue who will oppose our walk with God. Like Paul who found himself criticized by both the followers of the way and by the Jewish community we must stand firm with God.
Solitude. It can be a dangerous, lonely, and costly place to stand, but God will never let our obedience go unrewarded! The question for today is: Am I willing to stand alone in obedience? Am I willing to live a life of solitude, knowing that my reward is Jesus Himself?
Father, I want to belong and yet I am called to obey You in some matters that put me on the outside of a group. I must depend on You to help me stand alone in the world but never alone in You! You have promised to be with me always and I want very much to choose You and Your way! Lead me Lord! I depend on You!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Healthy Diet
I struggle with eating/not eating healthy foods. I go for months dining on the fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats that my body needs and even sometimes craves. But then I get a taste of sweet and I go off on a tangent till I face my uncontrolled behavior and rein in my sugar addiction.
When I tell my husband what is going through my head, he looks at me with glazed eyes (not at all as desirable as glazed donuts). He has no idea what I go through in my head when I finally realize how much sugar I've ingested. He cannot understand the grasp this has on me. He really is no help either, because he offers the forbidden sweets so easily and without thought of the consequences to my resolve.
My prayer for the past few months is for God to miraculously break this craving in me. I want to live free. I want to connect the craving to the consequences. The answer to my prayer includes the discipline of taking my emotions to God, not the idol of food.
My emotions blind me from seeing the connecting of cravings and consequences. Emotions are not bad, but I have put them in control of my eating habits and they do not want to abdicate their reign. It is up to me to seek God for help to fight the battle and then to crown HIM as Lord of my food supply and emotion control. Just as Jesus could do nothing unless He saw the Father do it, I, too, cannot eat without seeing what my Lord would eat.
It is, for me, a change of mind, a change of spiritual control and a change of voice. What I think about must be given to my King. The control over my life must also be handed over to Him. It is His voice I need to hear over my own. This is a God-sized fight. It is a God-sized mission!
The battle is Yours, Lord! I cannot do this alone. I have years of proof that I am incapable of changing myself in this area of my life. Take over and let me join with YOU in living life and enjoying a healthy diet. Thank You for caring and Thanks for being my defender against this enemy!
When I tell my husband what is going through my head, he looks at me with glazed eyes (not at all as desirable as glazed donuts). He has no idea what I go through in my head when I finally realize how much sugar I've ingested. He cannot understand the grasp this has on me. He really is no help either, because he offers the forbidden sweets so easily and without thought of the consequences to my resolve.
My prayer for the past few months is for God to miraculously break this craving in me. I want to live free. I want to connect the craving to the consequences. The answer to my prayer includes the discipline of taking my emotions to God, not the idol of food.
My emotions blind me from seeing the connecting of cravings and consequences. Emotions are not bad, but I have put them in control of my eating habits and they do not want to abdicate their reign. It is up to me to seek God for help to fight the battle and then to crown HIM as Lord of my food supply and emotion control. Just as Jesus could do nothing unless He saw the Father do it, I, too, cannot eat without seeing what my Lord would eat.
It is, for me, a change of mind, a change of spiritual control and a change of voice. What I think about must be given to my King. The control over my life must also be handed over to Him. It is His voice I need to hear over my own. This is a God-sized fight. It is a God-sized mission!
The battle is Yours, Lord! I cannot do this alone. I have years of proof that I am incapable of changing myself in this area of my life. Take over and let me join with YOU in living life and enjoying a healthy diet. Thank You for caring and Thanks for being my defender against this enemy!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Long Journeys
The story of the Magi intrigues me. I wonder why God would draw these men away from their homeland(s) to worship the Messiah child only to return home again. I question what made them so curious and what they knew that grabbed their attention so strongly that they had to find the child King ?
The more personal question might be what draws me to take a journey that lasts days or weeks, months or years? Sometimes it seems it may be circumstances that send me on a journey far from my comfort zone. Today I realize that it is not the fate of my existence but it is my Lord. He draws me through the valleys and over mountains and yes, even beside the still waters. He walks with me and brings me to a place of worship, only to set me back to continue on with the rest of my travels.
My travels with God change me. Wherever I find myself I can be sure that He wants me to know Him better in the trip. The journey is not about where or with whom. It is about experiencing God. You see, the Magi headed back home but they took with them their experience of meeting God. They went away changed too!
Today a long part of my journey has begun the process of ending. I still have a long way to go and many more experiences with God. Like the Magi, I have made this trip and found what I needed to find and now it is time to go on my way to another destination, another revelation.
It is a day of worship and a day of rejoicing! God has been faithful and I pray that I, too, have been faithful to what He called me to do. It is a good day. This is the day that the Lord has made. I rejoice and I am glad!
Are you on a journey with God? You can be. Just ask and He will let you come along with Him!
Jesus, I give You thanks and I worship You! You have made my journey an adventure I will not forget! I look forward to the next one!
The more personal question might be what draws me to take a journey that lasts days or weeks, months or years? Sometimes it seems it may be circumstances that send me on a journey far from my comfort zone. Today I realize that it is not the fate of my existence but it is my Lord. He draws me through the valleys and over mountains and yes, even beside the still waters. He walks with me and brings me to a place of worship, only to set me back to continue on with the rest of my travels.
My travels with God change me. Wherever I find myself I can be sure that He wants me to know Him better in the trip. The journey is not about where or with whom. It is about experiencing God. You see, the Magi headed back home but they took with them their experience of meeting God. They went away changed too!
Today a long part of my journey has begun the process of ending. I still have a long way to go and many more experiences with God. Like the Magi, I have made this trip and found what I needed to find and now it is time to go on my way to another destination, another revelation.
It is a day of worship and a day of rejoicing! God has been faithful and I pray that I, too, have been faithful to what He called me to do. It is a good day. This is the day that the Lord has made. I rejoice and I am glad!
Are you on a journey with God? You can be. Just ask and He will let you come along with Him!
Jesus, I give You thanks and I worship You! You have made my journey an adventure I will not forget! I look forward to the next one!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Loving Jesus
What do you love about Jesus? I read that question this week and it did not take long for me to answer for myself.
I love that Jesus is Truth. I know that sometimes the truth hurts, but it is a good hurt! His truth helps me to live a better life and to know Him more!
The other day I had a moment of truth with Jesus. After being around some very negative people, I saw myself in a different light because God's word spoke to me. I examined my attitude and found that though I often hear people say that I am judgmental or negative, the truth is that I am not that way at all! Jesus, the Truth, sees my heart and knows who I really am. Coming to Him makes the truth about me known.
I am reminded of a wonderful quote by St. Augustine. He said that after his conversion he saw that " ...the scriptures were not just words to be interpreted; they were words that interpreted their reader." (quote from "Loving God" by Charles Colson p.54) To me that truth and the truth God reveals to me about Himself is why I have come to love Jesus.
My question for you is: What do YOU love most about Jesus? I've been asking others and the answers are mini revelations of who God is! It is a wonderful question! answer for yourself then try it out on someone! I think you will see what I mean!
Lord, we love You in so many ways! Teach us through each other the Truth about Yourself!
I love that Jesus is Truth. I know that sometimes the truth hurts, but it is a good hurt! His truth helps me to live a better life and to know Him more!
The other day I had a moment of truth with Jesus. After being around some very negative people, I saw myself in a different light because God's word spoke to me. I examined my attitude and found that though I often hear people say that I am judgmental or negative, the truth is that I am not that way at all! Jesus, the Truth, sees my heart and knows who I really am. Coming to Him makes the truth about me known.
I am reminded of a wonderful quote by St. Augustine. He said that after his conversion he saw that " ...the scriptures were not just words to be interpreted; they were words that interpreted their reader." (quote from "Loving God" by Charles Colson p.54) To me that truth and the truth God reveals to me about Himself is why I have come to love Jesus.
My question for you is: What do YOU love most about Jesus? I've been asking others and the answers are mini revelations of who God is! It is a wonderful question! answer for yourself then try it out on someone! I think you will see what I mean!
Lord, we love You in so many ways! Teach us through each other the Truth about Yourself!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Holy Spirit GPS
My husband got a GPS for Christmas. It has been fun to play with and I am sure it will be a great help when I need to find someplace I've never been before. Yes, by default I get to use this marvelous tool too!
Gabby, as we have named her, has access to maps and satellites that help us to find the final destination that we want to get to. She does not decide where we are going but she can tell me where I am and how to get there. In a similar way I find my New Years goals to need a guide.
The New Year is a good time to consider my way. It is a good time to plug in and set my goals. Then I must ask what direction have I been going? Do I need to adjust my course in order to reach my final goal? I always need help to maneuver the road ahead. Are there obstacles to overcome? I need a helper. In fact, I consider the Holy Spirit to be my guide as I set out each day. Like the GPS He will not force me to go His way, but He has the wisdom to lead me in the right direction. With Him I can arrive at my desired destination.
Holy Spirit, I am turning to You for guidance as I navigate this life! I need you! I do not want to get lost along the way. Thank You for being with me!
Gabby, as we have named her, has access to maps and satellites that help us to find the final destination that we want to get to. She does not decide where we are going but she can tell me where I am and how to get there. In a similar way I find my New Years goals to need a guide.
The New Year is a good time to consider my way. It is a good time to plug in and set my goals. Then I must ask what direction have I been going? Do I need to adjust my course in order to reach my final goal? I always need help to maneuver the road ahead. Are there obstacles to overcome? I need a helper. In fact, I consider the Holy Spirit to be my guide as I set out each day. Like the GPS He will not force me to go His way, but He has the wisdom to lead me in the right direction. With Him I can arrive at my desired destination.
Holy Spirit, I am turning to You for guidance as I navigate this life! I need you! I do not want to get lost along the way. Thank You for being with me!
Friday, January 1, 2010
Numbering my days
Psalm 90 records a prayer that God would teach the psalmist to number his days. If I were to utter that same prayer I might ask God "How do I number my days?"
Spending time alone with my Creator who knows the number of my days, I believe that I am to consider each day a precious gift from Him. I am to delight in His love and even in His correction. I am to receive each day as a package sent to me from my Father God. It is lovingly held in His nail scarred hands and presented to me with utmost care.
It is my obligation to learn how to receive the good and the evil within those days as an opportunity to know Him more intimately. In each of my days He offers me the gift of Himself. How many days will I count as a treasure of knowing and loving Him who made me?
Lord teach me to number every day as a day knowing You! Teach me to count every occasion as a dance with You! Teach me to see You in the minutes and hours of of my short life here on this earth!
Spending time alone with my Creator who knows the number of my days, I believe that I am to consider each day a precious gift from Him. I am to delight in His love and even in His correction. I am to receive each day as a package sent to me from my Father God. It is lovingly held in His nail scarred hands and presented to me with utmost care.
It is my obligation to learn how to receive the good and the evil within those days as an opportunity to know Him more intimately. In each of my days He offers me the gift of Himself. How many days will I count as a treasure of knowing and loving Him who made me?
Lord teach me to number every day as a day knowing You! Teach me to count every occasion as a dance with You! Teach me to see You in the minutes and hours of of my short life here on this earth!
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