July 9, 2011
God is sufficient even in the wilderness times of our lives. Is your life in a turmoil right now? God is sufficient! To me, He is proving Himself to be the All-Sufficient God and yes He is amazing. There have been a lot of changes in our family lately - from a child going through a divorce and moving home for a time to two teenage grandsons living with us every other week. Big changes! But, again God is sufficient.
Add to all this, the places of service to which God has called me and it makes for a rather full plate. Some weeks I ask God how am I going to accomplish all that is before me and He assures me it is going to be okay. He truly amazes me!
This week was especially busy as I was completing the next study for Sunday School. How could I get it finished with everything else going on? On Friday, those booklets/worksheets were compiled and ready to distribute on Sunday. I looked back at the week and thought - "Thank you God!" He had amazed me at the accomplishments of the week. It is His strength, not mine. He truly is my Provider. I pray He is yours as you experience difficult or wilderness times.
Psalm 57:1 "Have mercy on me O God, have mercy on me, for in You my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster (calamity, difficulty) has passed."
Note: There will be a part 2 to this story - as I went from mountaintop to valley. Through it all, God still amazes me.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
A "Still" Person - I'm Not
Once again I find myself focusing on Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God." This verse has been on my mind and my heart lately and there it was again, in one of my devotional readings. More and more I am realizing the importance of being still in God's Presence. How will I ever hear Him and truly know Him if I am not still?
Confession: I am not a "still" person. But, through discipline and the power of the Holy Spirit (mostly the power of the Holy Spirit), I have learned to be fairly still early in the morning. Let's face it, there aren't many distractions while it is still dark, so I can more easily focus on Him. Trust me, there is room for improvement even though I have been having an early Quiet Time for many years.
Why do most of us have trouble being still? Well, we have soooooo much to do! (We say!) I was thinking about Jesus and His tasks when He was here on earth. There has never been a bigger to-do list, nor a more important one. Yet, I am reminded that He was never in a hurry. He always took time to listen to others and meet their needs.
Let's just say that I am convicted about my busyness, my hurriedness versus Jesus' calmness and patience, while getting THE JOB done.
My Prayer: Lord, help me be still in Your Presence. Help me let you direct my day. Guide me to accomplish what is truly important. Teach me Your Way.
Confession: I am not a "still" person. But, through discipline and the power of the Holy Spirit (mostly the power of the Holy Spirit), I have learned to be fairly still early in the morning. Let's face it, there aren't many distractions while it is still dark, so I can more easily focus on Him. Trust me, there is room for improvement even though I have been having an early Quiet Time for many years.
Why do most of us have trouble being still? Well, we have soooooo much to do! (We say!) I was thinking about Jesus and His tasks when He was here on earth. There has never been a bigger to-do list, nor a more important one. Yet, I am reminded that He was never in a hurry. He always took time to listen to others and meet their needs.
Let's just say that I am convicted about my busyness, my hurriedness versus Jesus' calmness and patience, while getting THE JOB done.
My Prayer: Lord, help me be still in Your Presence. Help me let you direct my day. Guide me to accomplish what is truly important. Teach me Your Way.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Give Your Mind a Break
"Give your mind a break from planning and trying to anticipate what will happen." This jumped off the pages of Jesus Calling early this morning in my Quiet Time. I don't know about you, but I needed permission to give my mind a break from planning! There is always something in my life that needs planning - my daily, weekly, etc. schedule, Sunday School, Women's Ministry and on and on. Sometimes that planning and the anticipation of what might occur interferes with my sleep.
By "nature" I am a planner. That's not necessarily a bad trait, but one can go overboard with a good thing. The key, of course, is to let the Holy Spirit be in control of my day, my week, my future - let Him be in on the planning. Let Him be my Guide.
Psalm 62:5 says, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." To give my mind a break (a rest), I must be ever aware of the Lord's constant Presence with me. This becomes a reality through prayer - constant prayer. Pray, pray, pray. Listen, listen, listen. Obey, obey, obey. Rest in Him.
By "nature" I am a planner. That's not necessarily a bad trait, but one can go overboard with a good thing. The key, of course, is to let the Holy Spirit be in control of my day, my week, my future - let Him be in on the planning. Let Him be my Guide.
Psalm 62:5 says, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him." To give my mind a break (a rest), I must be ever aware of the Lord's constant Presence with me. This becomes a reality through prayer - constant prayer. Pray, pray, pray. Listen, listen, listen. Obey, obey, obey. Rest in Him.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Chief Liar
The devil is a liar. Jesus said, "When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." Jesus also said, "He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth for there is no truth in him." (John 8:44)
How do we counteract the devil's lies? Know the TRUTH. Study God's Word. Know the Scripture and yes, memorize the Word. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He answered him with Scripture. We can do the same, but we have to know the Word.
We must know the Truth to repudiate the devil's lies. If we don't know God's Word, how will we recognize his lies?
When we saturate our minds and thoughts with God's Word, we will recognize the devil's lies. "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
How do we counteract the devil's lies? Know the TRUTH. Study God's Word. Know the Scripture and yes, memorize the Word. When the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, He answered him with Scripture. We can do the same, but we have to know the Word.
We must know the Truth to repudiate the devil's lies. If we don't know God's Word, how will we recognize his lies?
When we saturate our minds and thoughts with God's Word, we will recognize the devil's lies. "Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Our Fears - God's Sovereignty
Deuteronomy 31:8 - "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
"Do not be afraid" - God states these words over and over again in his Word. I once thought of myself as something other than a fearful person. Compared to many people, I am not, but when I am completely honest with myself and with God, I have to admit I do have fear in my life.
Okay, confession time! I am dreadfully afraid of snakes. I also experience claustrophobia at times but this is improving. Another fear I deal with is the fear of heights. In high places, I can become somewhat disoriented, dizzy and sometimes overwhelmed. I have actually experienced a panic attack while driving on a very high, crooked road from Durango, Colorado to Silverton.
God spoke to me very clearly one morning recently as I read the devotional and Scripture from Jesus Calling. When God says, "Do not be afraid," that is exactly what He means. God is Omnipresent and He is Sovereign. He has shown me that He is in control of even my greatest fears. He knows where the snakes are hiding (the sneaky things!) and He is even in control of snakes. Because He is Sovereign and in control, I need not fear. He made the beautiful, tall mountains and He is there when we are driving through the high and narrow roads that overlook the valleys below, so I should not fear. He is there when I find myself in a closed-in space like an elevator or MRI.
He WILL deliver me from my fears. It is a matter of trust. When I truly believe that He is Sovereign, my fears will fade away.
Lord, deliver me from all my fears. You are there (Omnipresent). You are in control (Sovereign). Help me trust You.
"Do not be afraid" - God states these words over and over again in his Word. I once thought of myself as something other than a fearful person. Compared to many people, I am not, but when I am completely honest with myself and with God, I have to admit I do have fear in my life.
Okay, confession time! I am dreadfully afraid of snakes. I also experience claustrophobia at times but this is improving. Another fear I deal with is the fear of heights. In high places, I can become somewhat disoriented, dizzy and sometimes overwhelmed. I have actually experienced a panic attack while driving on a very high, crooked road from Durango, Colorado to Silverton.
God spoke to me very clearly one morning recently as I read the devotional and Scripture from Jesus Calling. When God says, "Do not be afraid," that is exactly what He means. God is Omnipresent and He is Sovereign. He has shown me that He is in control of even my greatest fears. He knows where the snakes are hiding (the sneaky things!) and He is even in control of snakes. Because He is Sovereign and in control, I need not fear. He made the beautiful, tall mountains and He is there when we are driving through the high and narrow roads that overlook the valleys below, so I should not fear. He is there when I find myself in a closed-in space like an elevator or MRI.
He WILL deliver me from my fears. It is a matter of trust. When I truly believe that He is Sovereign, my fears will fade away.
Lord, deliver me from all my fears. You are there (Omnipresent). You are in control (Sovereign). Help me trust You.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Be Still Before the Lord
Such a fast paced world we live in! Do we ever really get still? God's Word tells us, commands us, to be still.
Zechariah 2:13 - "Be still before the Lord, all mankind."
Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."
How will we ever really know God if we do not get still before Him? I don't believe we will. To grow and mature in our Christian lives, we must know who He is. The more we know about His character, His power, His strength, His love, His mercy and His grace, the more we want to know.
The more we learn about the awesomeness of God, the smaller we seem - the more insignificant we become. It really is all about who He is - it's not about me!
"Be still and know that I am God." Learn to be still in His presence. Practice being still before Him - it will not just happen. We have to make the effort, make the choice, to be quiet and still before Him. Learn to listen to Him through His Word and you will begin to know who God really is.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 29:13-14a)
Zechariah 2:13 - "Be still before the Lord, all mankind."
Psalm 46:10 - "Be still and know that I am God."
How will we ever really know God if we do not get still before Him? I don't believe we will. To grow and mature in our Christian lives, we must know who He is. The more we know about His character, His power, His strength, His love, His mercy and His grace, the more we want to know.
The more we learn about the awesomeness of God, the smaller we seem - the more insignificant we become. It really is all about who He is - it's not about me!
"Be still and know that I am God." Learn to be still in His presence. Practice being still before Him - it will not just happen. We have to make the effort, make the choice, to be quiet and still before Him. Learn to listen to Him through His Word and you will begin to know who God really is.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 29:13-14a)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Isn't God Good?!!
Have you ever noticed when someone dies or we lose something, a baby is often born or something new comes into our lives? Isn't God good?!!
God takes our hurts and our losses and gives us something new and alive. He is All-sufficient and He is always good. He knows our hurts and our griefs and He cares. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8) "The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made." (Psalm 145:9)
When a marriage ends, it is a loss and our family is experiencing this right now. True to God's goodness, our only granddaughter, Kaylee, got engaged Sunday night to Colton - her best friend. We are all so excited and I could not help but see God's hand in the timing. In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven . . . . . . . a time to mourn and a time to dance." I think it is time to dance! Isn't God good?!!
Colton and Kaylee
God takes our hurts and our losses and gives us something new and alive. He is All-sufficient and He is always good. He knows our hurts and our griefs and He cares. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him." (Psalm 34:8) "The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made." (Psalm 145:9)
When a marriage ends, it is a loss and our family is experiencing this right now. True to God's goodness, our only granddaughter, Kaylee, got engaged Sunday night to Colton - her best friend. We are all so excited and I could not help but see God's hand in the timing. In the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon says, "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven . . . . . . . a time to mourn and a time to dance." I think it is time to dance! Isn't God good?!!
Colton and Kaylee
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