Mary was given the awesome news that Jesus Christ was to be born. This news, as amazing as it was, was also troubling to Mary. She was to be THE virgin through whom Jesus was to be born. Yet, in the midst of this startling proclamation that would turn her world upside down, she said. "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as You have said." (Luke 1:38)
Mary hurried to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was also having a miracle child (John the Baptist - born in their old age). When John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth's womb as Mary greeted them, Mary broke forth in a song of praise to God.
Mary is the example I want to follow. I want to say, no matter what, "I am Your servant, Lord." I want to break forth in songs of praise even in the midst of adversity. I'm not there yet. I will never be completely there. Maybe all I can hope for is to go in the right direction.
Prayer: Lord, help me go in the right direction - toward total obedience and abandonment to You. Surrender.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
This Christmas - Focus, Remember, Worship
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:11)
FOCUS on JESUS - the Reason for the Season. Christmas is the time set aside to celebrate Jesus' birthday. He is the Reason we celebrate Christmas, so let us FOCUS on Him and not on our to do list.
REMEMBER that night over 2,000 years ago - remember how it changed the world forever. Scripture tells us over and over to REMEMBER - remember what God has done in our lives in the past. It helps us see the faithfulness of God. Remembering Jesus' birth is the pinnacle of God's faithfulness.
WORSHIP the Lord Jesus Christ - our Savior. When we focus on Jesus and remember His birth and His faithfulness in our lives, how can we do anything but worship Him? He is worthy of worship.
This Christmas let's focus on Jesus, the real Reason for the Season, Let's remember His birthday over 2,000 years ago and most of all, let us worship Him who is worthy of all worship and praise. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11)
FOCUS on JESUS - the Reason for the Season. Christmas is the time set aside to celebrate Jesus' birthday. He is the Reason we celebrate Christmas, so let us FOCUS on Him and not on our to do list.
REMEMBER that night over 2,000 years ago - remember how it changed the world forever. Scripture tells us over and over to REMEMBER - remember what God has done in our lives in the past. It helps us see the faithfulness of God. Remembering Jesus' birth is the pinnacle of God's faithfulness.
WORSHIP the Lord Jesus Christ - our Savior. When we focus on Jesus and remember His birth and His faithfulness in our lives, how can we do anything but worship Him? He is worthy of worship.
This Christmas let's focus on Jesus, the real Reason for the Season, Let's remember His birthday over 2,000 years ago and most of all, let us worship Him who is worthy of all worship and praise. "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:11)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Blessings and Thanksgiving
Psalm 95:2 - "Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song." (NIV)
This Thanksgiving season may we come before Him with grateful hearts, praising Him and thanking Him for our many blessings.
What a great time to begin a gratitude/blessing list if you have not already. As you go through your day, begin writing down your blessings which may range from Jesus and salvation to birds in your feeder. Count your many blessings and you will be blessed. Your focus will be on Him and not on self. You will "extol Him" when you come into His presence with thanksgiving for your blessings.
May we come to the point that Habakkuk wrote about in Habakkuk 3:17-18. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, thought the olive crop fails . . . . . . . yet, I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Lord, give us grateful hearts. May we see our many blessings and come before you with thanksgiving.
This Thanksgiving season may we come before Him with grateful hearts, praising Him and thanking Him for our many blessings.
What a great time to begin a gratitude/blessing list if you have not already. As you go through your day, begin writing down your blessings which may range from Jesus and salvation to birds in your feeder. Count your many blessings and you will be blessed. Your focus will be on Him and not on self. You will "extol Him" when you come into His presence with thanksgiving for your blessings.
May we come to the point that Habakkuk wrote about in Habakkuk 3:17-18. "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, thought the olive crop fails . . . . . . . yet, I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Lord, give us grateful hearts. May we see our many blessings and come before you with thanksgiving.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
I am Weak, but He is Strong
I have been pondering something I read recently in my time with the Lord. In the devotional book Jesus Calling, it states that He chose me less for my strength than He did my weakness because my weakness amplifies my need for Him. How very true! I just had not thought very much about God actually choosing me more for my weakness than my strength - actually, I really do know I have no strength apart from Him.
1 Corinthians 1:27 says, "God chose the weak things of the world."." (my emphasis) In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about asking God to remove his "thorn in the flesh," but God told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (verse 9)
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I sometimes feel so weak, so powerless. How good it is to be reminded that God chose the weak things (that's me and maybe that's you). When I am weak, my need for Him is so evident. I want to say with Paul, "I delight in weaknessess. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
How can that be? My weaknesses cause me to turn to the Almighty, the All-Powerful for my strength. God can use me when I recognize my weakness and rely on His Strength. I truly am nothing, no-thing without Him. But, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
1 Corinthians 1:27 says, "God chose the weak things of the world."." (my emphasis) In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about asking God to remove his "thorn in the flesh," but God told him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (verse 9)
Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
I sometimes feel so weak, so powerless. How good it is to be reminded that God chose the weak things (that's me and maybe that's you). When I am weak, my need for Him is so evident. I want to say with Paul, "I delight in weaknessess. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
How can that be? My weaknesses cause me to turn to the Almighty, the All-Powerful for my strength. God can use me when I recognize my weakness and rely on His Strength. I truly am nothing, no-thing without Him. But, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Friday, October 21, 2011
When Life Hurts
What are we to do when life hurts? Hebrews 12:2 says, "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame,and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
What does it mean to "fix our eyes on Jesus?" It means we focus on Him, on who He is, on His All-Sufficiency instead of focusing on our hurts. We can't do both at the same time. Whatever we are facing today, He is big enough to get us through. He is our Comforter and Healer and He has promised He will never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
He is our constant companion. Draw close to Him. He is there. His Presence is always with us. "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Will life stop hurting? No. But, He takes the sting out of our hurts. His Presence comforts and consoles us and gives us hope.
What does it mean to "fix our eyes on Jesus?" It means we focus on Him, on who He is, on His All-Sufficiency instead of focusing on our hurts. We can't do both at the same time. Whatever we are facing today, He is big enough to get us through. He is our Comforter and Healer and He has promised He will never leave us or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8)
He is our constant companion. Draw close to Him. He is there. His Presence is always with us. "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)
Will life stop hurting? No. But, He takes the sting out of our hurts. His Presence comforts and consoles us and gives us hope.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Priorities
Be careful/cautious in setting priorities. While there are a lot of good things in life, if anything besides Jesus is at the top of our list of priorities, there will be problems. Everything else disappoints.
Our spouses, families, friends, church, Christian organizations, etc. will all disappoint us at times.
When we get all wrapped up, even in a good thing, when a problem develops, and it will, we are in for hurt and disappointment.
An example: My life for many years has revolved around my family and my church - not much else. When difficulties come in either area, it can rock my world. My family disappoints me at times - just as I disappoint them. My church disappoints me at times - just as I disappoint my church. If I put either of these areas above the Lord, or if I expect too much from them, I am in for some major disappointments.
Prioritize - Jesus first, family next and then my church. Every other good thing must follow these priorities. Keep your eyes on Jesus!
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Our spouses, families, friends, church, Christian organizations, etc. will all disappoint us at times.
When we get all wrapped up, even in a good thing, when a problem develops, and it will, we are in for hurt and disappointment.
An example: My life for many years has revolved around my family and my church - not much else. When difficulties come in either area, it can rock my world. My family disappoints me at times - just as I disappoint them. My church disappoints me at times - just as I disappoint my church. If I put either of these areas above the Lord, or if I expect too much from them, I am in for some major disappointments.
Prioritize - Jesus first, family next and then my church. Every other good thing must follow these priorities. Keep your eyes on Jesus!
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Monday, September 19, 2011
The List - Having a Grateful Heart
"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20 (my emphisis)
I began The List the other morning - a list of things for which I am thankful. I want - I need to develop a more grateful heart so I am making The List. It will be somewhat random in nature though I am putting Jesus, my Savior at the top of The List.
What prompted The List? I have been perusing One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and have been thoroughly convicted of my failure to recognize how truly blessed I am. I know that fact, but as I actually name my blessings (as Ann has emphasized),it gives me greater awareness of how God has blessed me. It also shines a light on my lack of thankfulness.
That very morning on which I began The List, God sent a most refreshing rain after a long dry spell. Refreshing rain made The List. My screened porch, where I have my time alone with God during the spring, summer and fall, also made The List. Cooler temperatures, gentle breezes, a hot cup of coffee, butterflies, hummingbirds, family and friends all made The List.
My prayer is that God will give me a grateful heart through this exercise so He will shine through me. I desire to be thankful even for the small things in life such as my first cup of coffee in the morning. I don't want the tough things in life - divorce, illness and the like - to consume me and take away my thankfulness or my joy.
I want to give God the tough things in life and turn my focus to Him and His abundant blessings - His gifts. "Give me a grateful heart, Lord."
I began The List the other morning - a list of things for which I am thankful. I want - I need to develop a more grateful heart so I am making The List. It will be somewhat random in nature though I am putting Jesus, my Savior at the top of The List.
What prompted The List? I have been perusing One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp and have been thoroughly convicted of my failure to recognize how truly blessed I am. I know that fact, but as I actually name my blessings (as Ann has emphasized),it gives me greater awareness of how God has blessed me. It also shines a light on my lack of thankfulness.
That very morning on which I began The List, God sent a most refreshing rain after a long dry spell. Refreshing rain made The List. My screened porch, where I have my time alone with God during the spring, summer and fall, also made The List. Cooler temperatures, gentle breezes, a hot cup of coffee, butterflies, hummingbirds, family and friends all made The List.
My prayer is that God will give me a grateful heart through this exercise so He will shine through me. I desire to be thankful even for the small things in life such as my first cup of coffee in the morning. I don't want the tough things in life - divorce, illness and the like - to consume me and take away my thankfulness or my joy.
I want to give God the tough things in life and turn my focus to Him and His abundant blessings - His gifts. "Give me a grateful heart, Lord."
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