I've always known that my Daddy loves me. That's not to say he's perfect. And I was blessed at a very early age that when I thought of God, I thought in terms of all the best characteristics that I saw in Daddy perfected, without any of the negatives. I KNEW that God is a perfect Father. But I am so quick to forget that He loves me. Sometimes I want His love to be mushy-- you know, all happiness and fluff and stuff. But His love is SO MUCH GREATER than that! He loves me too much to allow me to be satisfied with anything less than Himself-- at least, not for long. He is the most Precious Father. =)
Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalms 103:1-22
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Guidance
I don't know about you, but I pray for guidance often. And usually in conjunction with provision. I've told you before that I tend to worry. I'm actually in a worry cycle right now, and have had a bit of a dry spell spiritually. And in times like these, I find that other Christians are able to better articulate the truth I need.
'Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is.
Thus it appears that the right context for discussing guidance is one of confidence in the God who will not let us ruin our souls. Our concern, therefore, in this discussion should be more for his glory than for our security-- for that is already taken care of. And our self-distrust, while keeping us humble, must not cloud the joy with which we lean on "the Lord Protector"-- our faithful covenant God.'
~Knowing God by J.I. Packer
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:12-14
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:14-17
'Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is.
Thus it appears that the right context for discussing guidance is one of confidence in the God who will not let us ruin our souls. Our concern, therefore, in this discussion should be more for his glory than for our security-- for that is already taken care of. And our self-distrust, while keeping us humble, must not cloud the joy with which we lean on "the Lord Protector"-- our faithful covenant God.'
~Knowing God by J.I. Packer
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:12-14
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:14-17
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Dominate
We put up our Christmas tree last night. It completely DOMINATES our living room! The footprint on this tree is HUGE-- five foot diameter, I measured. And the star is ALMOST touching the ceiling. ;) We've been working our way up from a Charlie Brown style Christmas tree by shopping the after Christmas sales. =) You may wonder why we felt the need to get this massive tree, since our house is small. One of the kids' favorite of our traditions is that we go shopping for ornaments each year. Each person gets to choose a new ornament for the tree. It looks pretty eclectic with Coca Cola cans, dogs, lions, bears, fish, and of course snowmen! ;) But I told Shorty last year that I can't bear-- at this point anyway-- to make the kids choose which ornaments to put on the tree and which don't make it out of the box any given year. So there you have it. I have a tree that is a decorating "don't", and we all LOVE IT!
Where am I going with this today? I was laughing as I thought about the concept of something dominating my life. I was created and redeemed so that Christ can dominate my life. He is doubly worthy to be my King. I thought that one reason that I'm okay with our huge Christmas tree is because, in about a month, it will come down. And I was contemplating how I will often allow something LESS than my King to dominate my life for a season... =(
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:9-18
I've been spending my devotions in Revelation. And the scene from Heaven is at the forefront of my mind right now. Let your life be dominated by the One who is Worthy.
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:8-11
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:6-10
Where am I going with this today? I was laughing as I thought about the concept of something dominating my life. I was created and redeemed so that Christ can dominate my life. He is doubly worthy to be my King. I thought that one reason that I'm okay with our huge Christmas tree is because, in about a month, it will come down. And I was contemplating how I will often allow something LESS than my King to dominate my life for a season... =(
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:9-18
I've been spending my devotions in Revelation. And the scene from Heaven is at the forefront of my mind right now. Let your life be dominated by the One who is Worthy.
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:8-11
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:6-10
Friday, November 23, 2012
Traditions
I love traditions! We have different traditions all year long, but there seem to be a concentration of traditions for us in November and December. From foods to decorations to activities, we spend lots of fun time together. And I hope that in all the fun, my Crew are catching the gospel from me.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Discontentment vs. Thankfulness
My oldest daughter is very much like me sometimes. She chooses (not intentionally, I think) to dwell on the unpleasant parts of her life, rather than looking at the good things. Last year, I was having particular trouble getting her to do her school lesson because she was so busy looking at ALL the bad things she could think of. And I was reminded of the many admonitions in Scripture that we should be thankful.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So I told her that we were going to play a game. I explained that I would name something I was thankful for, and then she would have to name something SHE was thankful for. Her initial response was to sigh and tell me that she WASN'T thankful for anything. I was having a good parenting moment, so I replied that, in that case, she would just have to say something that she COULD be thankful for. And so we began. I'm not sure how long we played our "game", but when I let her stop, she had a smile and her heart had been reminded to be thankful.
I've been struggling this week with discontentment. Rather ironic since we are celebrating Thanksgiving. =/ My discontentment generally revolves around my house. But as I was praying this morning that the Lord would help me to be content and thankful, He did EXACTLY that. He showed my how, little by little, He has taught me to make better use of the space He's provided for me. And how He's provided, little by little, for me to improve my little house. And he reminded me that He is also equipping my Crew for whatever He has in store for their lives. That's a pretty BIG job, for a pretty LITTLE house! But God is BIG enough to use ANYTHING for His purpose! And as a brother reminded me last night, Jesus is sufficient for me. =)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalms 16:5-9
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:24-26
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So I told her that we were going to play a game. I explained that I would name something I was thankful for, and then she would have to name something SHE was thankful for. Her initial response was to sigh and tell me that she WASN'T thankful for anything. I was having a good parenting moment, so I replied that, in that case, she would just have to say something that she COULD be thankful for. And so we began. I'm not sure how long we played our "game", but when I let her stop, she had a smile and her heart had been reminded to be thankful.
I've been struggling this week with discontentment. Rather ironic since we are celebrating Thanksgiving. =/ My discontentment generally revolves around my house. But as I was praying this morning that the Lord would help me to be content and thankful, He did EXACTLY that. He showed my how, little by little, He has taught me to make better use of the space He's provided for me. And how He's provided, little by little, for me to improve my little house. And he reminded me that He is also equipping my Crew for whatever He has in store for their lives. That's a pretty BIG job, for a pretty LITTLE house! But God is BIG enough to use ANYTHING for His purpose! And as a brother reminded me last night, Jesus is sufficient for me. =)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalms 16:5-9
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:24-26
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Minion
This is the beginning of my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving combines Family, Friends, and Food. (I have three pies just out of the oven, and will have two more by the end of the day! Not to mention all the OTHER yumminess that I will be cranking out in the next couple days! =)) Next will be my birthday, and the birthdays of several of my favorite ladies. And then Christmas. This time of year has always meant extra moments with my family, and lots of fun-- if exhausting-- activities with my church family. But for me, and many others I know, it can also be a time of extra STRESS. How do you juggle time with all the family? What gift to buy for that hard-to-shop-for person (or persons) on your list? Or in these tighter economic times, how to AFFORD gifts for those on your list? How to keep your priorities straight in this highly commercialized culture?
I've been thinking for a few weeks now about how to stretch our budget. Our candy business will be gearing up next week, and I've been praying that it will be a good year. But this morning as I was doing my devotions, I had the strangest thought flit through my head. I tend to be very much like the little yellow minions in "Despicable Me". They wander around running into things, getting into random mischief, and chattering unintelligibly. As the "things to do" ramp up, I just tend to get worried. And worry is worthless.
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:24-27
So rather than worrying, today I'm going to try to think about the One who is Worthy of praise.
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:2-11
I've been thinking for a few weeks now about how to stretch our budget. Our candy business will be gearing up next week, and I've been praying that it will be a good year. But this morning as I was doing my devotions, I had the strangest thought flit through my head. I tend to be very much like the little yellow minions in "Despicable Me". They wander around running into things, getting into random mischief, and chattering unintelligibly. As the "things to do" ramp up, I just tend to get worried. And worry is worthless.
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:24-27
So rather than worrying, today I'm going to try to think about the One who is Worthy of praise.
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:2-11
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Perspective
A couple months ago we were having dinner with a sweet couple from our church family. She was praising her husband for how he helped her wash the dishes. I laughed and said that Shorty REFUSES to do dishes (load the dishwasher) for me because I used to be too particular about HOW they were done. I thought they needed to be in the dishwasher "just so". I keep telling him that I've mellowed over the past few years, but he's sticking to his guns! =) I did say that he'd been helping me a lot with the laundry, though. He laughed and said his primary motivation was so that he'd have his workout clothes clean. (I knew that.) It was really funny though later as Shorty and I were talking about it. I told him, I guess I could be thinking about it in terms of, "He only does the laundry HE thinks is important. He's not thinking about me." =P That is such a terrible line of thought! It would breed so much needless frustration and anger and bitterness into our relationship. It could be my optimist coming out, but I prefer to think of it in terms of, "That's one load of laundry that I don't have to wash and dry." =) It's all a matter of perspective!
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
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