Wow!!! It has been over two weeks since I've posted anything to my blog... I may be kind of going through withdrawals, but at the same time it has been a good break from the "norm" of life as I know it. So much has happened in two weeks... so much of a roller coaster of a ride known as life... ups and downs both occurring... and at times I feel like I've been flipped upside down only to land on my feet again. Life can be crazy sometimes, especially when some of it is so difficult to figure out. So here are a few "short" updates ("short" to me is not short to others so you get what I give!!!)
My life is blessed beyond anything I ever could have imagined. I have a wonderful family, physical and spiritual... both of which I absolutely LOVE!!! God has blessed me with wonderful people... and it has taken some really difficult situations and circumstances to see just how wonderful. A few examples would be my health and the sweet doctor I have... not to mention modern medicine and the technology available to help try and figure out what is wrong with me. Another example is the financial issues and how God is providing in TREMENDOUS ways to help me through that, even when I pay a ridiculous amount to get my car fixed... there has always been a way through it and He is providing that for me right now through the "givers" and living arrangements. The last example... moving and the mess it can be, but how God is giving me helping hands for an afternoon to get moved and in and out and everything that comes with moving.
My life is blessed with helping hands, encouraging words, and perseverance on the part of the people who see to it that I am up and moving around and provided for, whether that be "back home" or here in Manhattan, at home or at work or in an office somewhere. God has blessed me and it blows my mind!! I'm blessed with "I love you", hugs, smiles, and advice from people grown to give it. I am blessed... I am thankful... need I say more?
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thoughts from a Wondering Heart
Maybe this is safe... maybe not... to be posting thoughts that have sat on my heart for most of the day. I am thinking more on the safe side than anything else... as I've sat and procrastinated on writing with this constant nudge and nag to do it even though I don't necessarily want to. It is one of those "I know I should but I don't want to" types of deals... and KU basketball may or may not have distracted me. I've had the thoughts there for hours and yet hesitate to explore them more. I've had them there but am almost scared to go deeper... heart feelings deeper, that is what scares me. Why? Because it has revealed so much selfishness in the depth of my heart... how I've "taken advantage" of grace and the blessings given to me. I've taken much for granted... I'm not even sure I have realized that... and still doubt that I fully understand the extent of all that is given that goes unrecognized in my life. I do not completely comprehend how my heart feels right now... my mind is still searching. I know that if I don't get my thoughts out and down I won't sleep well tonight. I know that at times I open my mouth when I shouldn't and keep it closed when it needs to be opened... just like today (in both the opening and the keeping shut). I sat around a table looking at faces... the faces I work with every day... enjoying a "Thanksgiving meal". Who does that at work? It was absolutely AWESOME... but I think I'm still in awe of the fact that it really happened... it never has at any other job I have worked... just sat with approximately 20 others, enjoying a "typical" thanksgiving meal... sitting around a table, enjoying time with each other... listening, laughing, smiling, enjoying, talking, and sharing... what is something you are thankful for? And I kept my mouth shut... didn't say my thanks... didn't take advantage of an opportunity put there by the Lord to share just one simple blessing He has shared with me. I sit and look at faces, some who know and some who don't. I listen to stories, some I know and some I don't. And I have the chance to share the blessings in my own life... but my mouth stays shut... and I can't put my thumb on exactly why but my heart aches because I didn't share. It aches because of the ears that were there to hear... and I second guess that maybe it just wasn't the time to share... the only thing that really gets me is that urge, nudge, and push to share and I didn't do it... I didn't obey what I feel was guidance to share... just a thought from a wondering mind and heart.
I could have shared how I am blessed beyond belief... the miracles of my life... but my heart falls on the difficult situations some of those faces have experienced recently and my life seems too good to be true... and would it make somebody bitter? Would it be taken as Truth, or a show? I don't know and that isn't my decision... it is theirs to make. I am thankful for the do-overs given by God... every day... more than once. My heart is blessed by that. I'm blessed with health that, yes at times is difficult and hard to explain, but that has gone through a miraculous roller coaster ride over the last three years... thankful for no more needles... a miracle with no more need for insulin when everything pointed the other direction a few short years ago... thankful for an outstanding doctor who loves Jesus who I know I can trust and my heart takes comfort in that. I'm blessed in my job... a few months ago I was questioning why I was where I was... did I really enjoy being there? And now I have so much fun with the people around me that I work with on a daily basis... so much fun... an attitude shift and new friends that I would have otherwise missed out on having as friends. My heart is blessed and wooed by music... worship to my marvelous God who blessed me with the musical talents of singing and playing piano and guitar. My life is blessed with family... family who loves me... a beautiful family with two wonderful parents who sacrificed more than I know and four stellar brothers that I could count on as bodyguards if I ever would be in need I'm sure... and the most adorable, handsome, precious nephew who I refer to as the "man" in my life (other than Jesus of course). And my other family... the family that God has surrounded me with here in Manhattan (now scattered around the world)... the family I have at Faith E. Free... the weekly meetings with Life Group (and food)... the support in any area of life... the wonderful women who offer me counsel and wisdom in ways they know will cut to the core and get through a thick skull, but they know I will listen to what they have to say even if for a moment I disagree, I still listen... counsel offered spiritually, professionally, in every area life really. So blessed to have that... but I do not express it enough... it is that deserving mentality and selfish blanket over my heart. For some reason it has been another "for granted" gift that a few years ago I wanted nothing to do with. Now, I couldn't imagine life without it... and God made it that way, sharing with one another, being a disciple and leader... those "Paul and Timothy" relationships exist because God wants them to... and I am blessed to have multiple "mothers" in addition to the loving one 200 miles away... I know I'm in good hands... the hands the Lord has blessed.
The biggest of blessings: my freedom... fleshly and spiritually. The freedom to write this blog and within it talk about God freely. I have the freedom to open my mouth and speak of the Lamb who was sacrificed for me on a cross even though I'm not worth it... never have been, never will be. I have the freedom to share the greater freedom given by God. Freedom safe because of those who sacrifice every day to serve a country that so often seems to throw them under the bus... there are thankful citizens that I pray far outnumber the ungrateful ones. Thank you Troops and Veterans. Thank you to a grandfather who served... a smile and peck on the cheek I can't wait to have when I am home in a few short weeks for Thanksgiving... yet another couple of blessings I have always taken for granted. Thank God for freedom... freedom in life and freedom in Him, the only Freedom and Truth... only found in my Savior Christ Jesus. A freedom to buy books about God, receive books about Jesus, and read about His greatness... only to have the freedom to share it with others, an opportunity I pray I take next time. A freedom I will never comprehend and never know the true depths of the cost of my freedom in any sense... I just know I have it because of Christ. Thankful... something I shouldn't take for granted as much as I do. Thankful that God doesn't expect me to ever be perfect even if, at times, I fall into the trap of thinking I should be closer to perfect than I am. Thankful for a Truth that outweighs any lie fed to my heart by Satan. Thankful for the Cross and all it has blessed me with. Thankful for one, true Love... that has much more to offer... thankful for that friendship. Thankful to be a daughter of the King.
I could have shared how I am blessed beyond belief... the miracles of my life... but my heart falls on the difficult situations some of those faces have experienced recently and my life seems too good to be true... and would it make somebody bitter? Would it be taken as Truth, or a show? I don't know and that isn't my decision... it is theirs to make. I am thankful for the do-overs given by God... every day... more than once. My heart is blessed by that. I'm blessed with health that, yes at times is difficult and hard to explain, but that has gone through a miraculous roller coaster ride over the last three years... thankful for no more needles... a miracle with no more need for insulin when everything pointed the other direction a few short years ago... thankful for an outstanding doctor who loves Jesus who I know I can trust and my heart takes comfort in that. I'm blessed in my job... a few months ago I was questioning why I was where I was... did I really enjoy being there? And now I have so much fun with the people around me that I work with on a daily basis... so much fun... an attitude shift and new friends that I would have otherwise missed out on having as friends. My heart is blessed and wooed by music... worship to my marvelous God who blessed me with the musical talents of singing and playing piano and guitar. My life is blessed with family... family who loves me... a beautiful family with two wonderful parents who sacrificed more than I know and four stellar brothers that I could count on as bodyguards if I ever would be in need I'm sure... and the most adorable, handsome, precious nephew who I refer to as the "man" in my life (other than Jesus of course). And my other family... the family that God has surrounded me with here in Manhattan (now scattered around the world)... the family I have at Faith E. Free... the weekly meetings with Life Group (and food)... the support in any area of life... the wonderful women who offer me counsel and wisdom in ways they know will cut to the core and get through a thick skull, but they know I will listen to what they have to say even if for a moment I disagree, I still listen... counsel offered spiritually, professionally, in every area life really. So blessed to have that... but I do not express it enough... it is that deserving mentality and selfish blanket over my heart. For some reason it has been another "for granted" gift that a few years ago I wanted nothing to do with. Now, I couldn't imagine life without it... and God made it that way, sharing with one another, being a disciple and leader... those "Paul and Timothy" relationships exist because God wants them to... and I am blessed to have multiple "mothers" in addition to the loving one 200 miles away... I know I'm in good hands... the hands the Lord has blessed.
The biggest of blessings: my freedom... fleshly and spiritually. The freedom to write this blog and within it talk about God freely. I have the freedom to open my mouth and speak of the Lamb who was sacrificed for me on a cross even though I'm not worth it... never have been, never will be. I have the freedom to share the greater freedom given by God. Freedom safe because of those who sacrifice every day to serve a country that so often seems to throw them under the bus... there are thankful citizens that I pray far outnumber the ungrateful ones. Thank you Troops and Veterans. Thank you to a grandfather who served... a smile and peck on the cheek I can't wait to have when I am home in a few short weeks for Thanksgiving... yet another couple of blessings I have always taken for granted. Thank God for freedom... freedom in life and freedom in Him, the only Freedom and Truth... only found in my Savior Christ Jesus. A freedom to buy books about God, receive books about Jesus, and read about His greatness... only to have the freedom to share it with others, an opportunity I pray I take next time. A freedom I will never comprehend and never know the true depths of the cost of my freedom in any sense... I just know I have it because of Christ. Thankful... something I shouldn't take for granted as much as I do. Thankful that God doesn't expect me to ever be perfect even if, at times, I fall into the trap of thinking I should be closer to perfect than I am. Thankful for a Truth that outweighs any lie fed to my heart by Satan. Thankful for the Cross and all it has blessed me with. Thankful for one, true Love... that has much more to offer... thankful for that friendship. Thankful to be a daughter of the King.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Life, Scripture, & 30 Days
As you may have noticed recently there have been some decently large gaps in my posts. That is due to a crazy schedule and me allowing life to be overwhelming... which was not done intentionally but I did let it happen. I will say that even though everything seems to be falling back into place, do not be surprised if I only write every so often (then again that may be a relief to some of you... haha!!). I am trying to get back into the swing of things and when I feel compelled to write, I will. I would like to ask you to pray for the next few months of my life if you would. There will be moving involved (possibly more than one move), the holidays, fundraising, my trip to Haiti, and being in a friend's wedding. Pray that I keep my heart focused on Jesus and that, even though it seems like a lot to handle, in the scheme of things this is all very small. Pray that instead of allowing it to overwhelm me I enjoy the ride.
Other than all of the above, here is some insight in to what I will be doing!!!! Somebody recently challenged me to pick a key word and search the verses where that word can be found. I changed the rules a bit and chose a couple of books of the Bible I want to focus on and chose two words to search out in those books. Scripture focus: Psalms and Proverbs. Why? The poetry is INCREDIBLE and it is like music to my heart which makes it easier for me to "understand". The words: Fortress and Peace. Fortress: My heart needs the assurance that I am protected and safe in the arms of the One who loves me. I need the comfort of knowing and seeing God is my Protector and my Provider... and I have definitely been seeing this lately. Peace: I am a worrier. I allow thoughts and life to overwhelm me and the only thing to calm me down is the peace of God. Something I took as a sign: the person challenging suggested I look at what the Scriptures say about peace. That sign was followed by a message at church titled "How do I stop worrying?"
One other thing I will be working on is "30 Days of Thanks". Now, obviously it isn't just 30 days that we should give thanks but we should be thankful in all we have and in every situation. Focusing on being thankful and being intentional about it for the 30 days of November, however, jump starts something that lasts a lifetime... and I saw other people doing this and thought it was an awesome idea!!! I look back at each day and find the "thankfuls".
The list as of now:
November 1: Laughter and smiling... it happened a lot!!!
November 2: Ability to function early in the morning; wise counsel in multiple "areas" of my life; sweet fellowship with those who love the Lord.
November 3: Answers to prayer; finding value in others; a roof over my head and a place to sleep at night.
Other than all of the above, here is some insight in to what I will be doing!!!! Somebody recently challenged me to pick a key word and search the verses where that word can be found. I changed the rules a bit and chose a couple of books of the Bible I want to focus on and chose two words to search out in those books. Scripture focus: Psalms and Proverbs. Why? The poetry is INCREDIBLE and it is like music to my heart which makes it easier for me to "understand". The words: Fortress and Peace. Fortress: My heart needs the assurance that I am protected and safe in the arms of the One who loves me. I need the comfort of knowing and seeing God is my Protector and my Provider... and I have definitely been seeing this lately. Peace: I am a worrier. I allow thoughts and life to overwhelm me and the only thing to calm me down is the peace of God. Something I took as a sign: the person challenging suggested I look at what the Scriptures say about peace. That sign was followed by a message at church titled "How do I stop worrying?"
One other thing I will be working on is "30 Days of Thanks". Now, obviously it isn't just 30 days that we should give thanks but we should be thankful in all we have and in every situation. Focusing on being thankful and being intentional about it for the 30 days of November, however, jump starts something that lasts a lifetime... and I saw other people doing this and thought it was an awesome idea!!! I look back at each day and find the "thankfuls".
The list as of now:
November 1: Laughter and smiling... it happened a lot!!!
November 2: Ability to function early in the morning; wise counsel in multiple "areas" of my life; sweet fellowship with those who love the Lord.
November 3: Answers to prayer; finding value in others; a roof over my head and a place to sleep at night.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Remind Me
So often when life doesn't seem to be what I want it to be, I lose sight of the big things... like who I am, not just to those around me but to the most important one of all, God. I don't believe Him when He says loving things to me... when I read the loving things He promises... when He sings His song to me. I forget who I am in Christ, having been redeemed and saved, a daughter of the King. I so often, unfortunately can forget these things. I am blind to love and care and the blessings around me... the blessings I can't even name and have lost count of. Life is difficult when I can't escape from my own brain... when I'm so focused on me that I can't see anything else. That is when life is difficult... when I make it about me. What am I living for? Anybody can get stuck in a rut and even though life is great they can feel down... invisible... and at times forgotten... all feelings I've dealt with recently. But I know I'm cared for. Little blessings, honest conversations, loving and caring guidance by the ones God has blessed me through... ones who set me back to the one I should be focused on.
And God? He blesses me through verse, comfort, and song. The verses I need to read and say out loud and share with others... the verses that others use to reinforce and grind into my brain just how much God really loves me and how much I mean to the King... and how much I am loved by, not just my physical family, but also my spiritual one. And God blesses. I'm written on the palm of his hand... marks that can never go away... marks that are there forever and will never go away or be let go. He holds me... literally... in the palm of His hand. My name is on His hand... put there by God Himself because He loves me. Little me... loves the one who struggles and so often falls into the trap of thinking she doesn't mean anything, when in reality I mean so very much to Him. And verses and songs fly down from Him to my weary and bleeding heart. He sings to me. Verses like Isaiah 49:16 "See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands." and another in Isaiah 43:4 "... you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." He speaks. He sings, holds me in His hands, loves me, comforts me.
I want to share a song that I heard for the first time a couple weeks ago. I love the lyrics and it was a blessing in disguise when I heard it on my way to work. It was exactly what I needed to hear... even if I didn't necessarily "listen" to the words. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but then I kept hearing it over and over again... and the phrase of "remind me who I am to you, I am loved by you" stuck in my head and heart. The song is "Remind Me Who I am" by Jason Gray. What is funny is that I tried to copy and paste the lyrics but I can't highlight them to copy and paste and therefore had to type them out word by word... and God speaks as I type them... reminding me who I am to Him even when I feel like I'm left behind or in the dark. I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do!!!!
-------
"Remind Me Who I Am"
By: Jason Gray
When I lose my way,
And I forget my name
Remind me who I am
In the mirror all I see
Is who I don't want to be
Remind me who I am
In the loneliest places
When I can't remember what grace is
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home
Remind me who I am
When I can't receive Your love
Afraid I'll never be enough
Remind me who I am
If I'm Your beloved
Can You help me believe it
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to you, that I belong to You
To You
I'm the one You love
I'm the one You love
That will be enough
I'm the one You love
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, Who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, Who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
And God? He blesses me through verse, comfort, and song. The verses I need to read and say out loud and share with others... the verses that others use to reinforce and grind into my brain just how much God really loves me and how much I mean to the King... and how much I am loved by, not just my physical family, but also my spiritual one. And God blesses. I'm written on the palm of his hand... marks that can never go away... marks that are there forever and will never go away or be let go. He holds me... literally... in the palm of His hand. My name is on His hand... put there by God Himself because He loves me. Little me... loves the one who struggles and so often falls into the trap of thinking she doesn't mean anything, when in reality I mean so very much to Him. And verses and songs fly down from Him to my weary and bleeding heart. He sings to me. Verses like Isaiah 49:16 "See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands." and another in Isaiah 43:4 "... you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you." He speaks. He sings, holds me in His hands, loves me, comforts me.
I want to share a song that I heard for the first time a couple weeks ago. I love the lyrics and it was a blessing in disguise when I heard it on my way to work. It was exactly what I needed to hear... even if I didn't necessarily "listen" to the words. I didn't pay much attention to it at first, but then I kept hearing it over and over again... and the phrase of "remind me who I am to you, I am loved by you" stuck in my head and heart. The song is "Remind Me Who I am" by Jason Gray. What is funny is that I tried to copy and paste the lyrics but I can't highlight them to copy and paste and therefore had to type them out word by word... and God speaks as I type them... reminding me who I am to Him even when I feel like I'm left behind or in the dark. I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do!!!!
-------
"Remind Me Who I Am"
By: Jason Gray
When I lose my way,
And I forget my name
Remind me who I am
In the mirror all I see
Is who I don't want to be
Remind me who I am
In the loneliest places
When I can't remember what grace is
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
When my heart is like a stone,
And I'm running far from home
Remind me who I am
When I can't receive Your love
Afraid I'll never be enough
Remind me who I am
If I'm Your beloved
Can You help me believe it
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to you, that I belong to You
To You
I'm the one You love
I'm the one You love
That will be enough
I'm the one You love
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, Who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
Tell me, once again
Who I am to You, Who I am to You
Tell me, lest I forget
Who I am to You, that I belong to You
To You
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
12:50 a.m.
What do I do when it is 12:50 a.m. and for some unknown reason I cannot sleep? I share my thoughts... which is dangerous when I'm used to being asleep for at least 3 hours by this point... and have to be up in 4. But I am excited... my heart is smiling and my mind is relaxed... and it is not just because I am tired or delirious or in La la land because it is this late (or early). It is because of the words of the people who care and love me. It is because of words that give life and build up... and knowing that I have people who offer them and honestly mean what they are saying. That is what excites me. Because God is good... more than good... more than great... He is indescribable. He is God. To some that may not mean much at all. To me it means everything. It means life. It means when I feel like I'm hanging by a thread that is unraveling, not sure what will happen if it breaks, He is that last strand that keeps holding on and never comes undone. It means when I'm running up the down escalator, He is the one who makes it stop until I reach the top... then life is set back in motion. God being God means everything to me. My heart sings about Him, rejoices in Him, and resides in His light. It means that my heart is blanketed by His love and joy... my mind resting in His hands, wrapped up in His peace. Feelings that words cannot do any justice to. God... my Provider, Rock, Husband, Redeemer... the fortress that guards me against the enemy... the white knight who rescues me from evil... the love that sweeps me off my feet and guides me along a path in the right direction. A light bulb flickers on... I do not know why now... I do not know why there was darkness to begin with. I know it will be there and I may not always understand... if I understood then it wouldn't be there. If I knew why there are times I am down, then I would fix it and would not allow there to be down times. If I knew what was wrong, then I would make it right... but I don't know... and for some reason all of the sudden I am okay with that. That reason is God. That reason is the purpose of me being here... living... breathing... loving... praising. That reason is God. Was it something somebody said to me? It is nothing I haven't heard over and over and over again... it was the source of the Word. I am precious... honored... and loved. I'm a princess... a daughter of the King. Not merely words to try and convince myself I'm happy... they are words given by my Lover, my King, the Creator to one child He loves... considers precious. The words of those around me who love Him... breathing life into a weary heart... calling that heart and spirit precious... a treasure... a blessing. His love shining through those who love Him. And it all comes back to Him. God. The End... and Beginning... and Forever. God. Yeah... thoughts at 12:50 a.m. (now really 1:05 a.m.). Quite wonderful thoughts to have meandering through my head at 1:05 a.m.
---------------------------------
Verses that have inspired me to write at such an hour:
"...you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you."
~*Isaiah 43:4 (NLT)*~
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."
~*Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)*~
---------------------------------
Verses that have inspired me to write at such an hour:
"...you are precious to me.
You are honored, and I love you."
~*Isaiah 43:4 (NLT)*~
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires."
~*Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)*~
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Psalm 32:7-8
Recently I have been struggling with a difficult discussion that needed to be had. It was one of those ones that most really do not enjoy having. The topic: Boundaries. I pushed of the promptings to have "the talk" as I did not want to face the results or reactions of the other person involved. I was trying to lean on myself, my own strength instead of allowing God's protection to blanket me. I did not want to hurt the other person by setting a boundary... but if it was not set then both of us would end up in the negative and hurt. I struggled and shrugged off the Spirit's lead for far too long.
Then I followed... and struggled more. I fought back the feeling of being angry with myself, feeling like a jerk, and a bad friend for saying something. Then came God's gentle reminder: I am His daughter... a daughter of the King. I am His beloved... not a jerk. God loves me and His love means more to me than any love offered from the flesh. He will protect and strengthen me for I am His. And even when the issues is difficult, He knows what is best for me. God will lead me down the best path through my life... even if it seems a bit close to the edge or narrow at times. I have to accept that guidance and simply just follow, knowing He is watching over me and planned out every step of the way.
-----------------------------------
" 7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.""
~*Psalm 32:7-8 (NLT)*~
Then I followed... and struggled more. I fought back the feeling of being angry with myself, feeling like a jerk, and a bad friend for saying something. Then came God's gentle reminder: I am His daughter... a daughter of the King. I am His beloved... not a jerk. God loves me and His love means more to me than any love offered from the flesh. He will protect and strengthen me for I am His. And even when the issues is difficult, He knows what is best for me. God will lead me down the best path through my life... even if it seems a bit close to the edge or narrow at times. I have to accept that guidance and simply just follow, knowing He is watching over me and planned out every step of the way.
-----------------------------------
" 7 For you are my hiding place;
you protect me from trouble.
You surround me with songs of victory.
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
I will advise you and watch over you.""
~*Psalm 32:7-8 (NLT)*~
Monday, October 17, 2011
Psalm 19:14
I want to share a few verses that have been on my heart lately and give a brief insight as to how they help me through a day when I really lean on God's strength in the Word. The first is one of my favorites and has been a verse that I have kept close for almost a year now. Matthew 6:21 says, "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." It has tied into my word for the year: Focus. Where is my heart focused and what do I consider to be my treasure? I often get caught up in the world in general... and mostly the world of finances. Here lately the world of "bodily image" has popped up on my radar as compliments are given... but I cannot take credit and know that the focus is on being healthy for God's purpose, not my own. The second verse is one that was laid on my heart a little over a week ago. Deuteronomy 13:4 says, "Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him." The questions posed in my heart are: who am I "serving", why and what do I fear what I do, and who is it that I'm clinging to? I have this struggle, as many people do, to run to people with my issues and complaints instead of running to the One... the Creator. This verse, along with Jeremiah 17:5, have really put my "running" in perspective. Why not run to the one who created me? Why instead do I want to run to somebody who, if they are honest, does not know it all? Just sayin!! The most recent verse is one that God took me to in the wee hours of this day. Psalm 19:14 says, "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." It took me slightly by surprise, but rested my heart. It took me back to a week ago to a meaningful conversation I had with somebody about a prayer being said on the way to work... that it would be God who guides words and actions. God meant for those words to be spoken with the gentleness in which they were spoken so that I would hear them, even if I did not necessarily understand their significance at the time.
This verse is now a prayer of my heart. The beautiful poetry about God's greatness and why I should trust in Him caught my attention and now sticks like glue to my mind. The prayer of my heart is to be pleasing to God even when I may not be so to the people around me. Every thought, word, and action that comes from me needs to be for Him. A question asked in my Life Application Bible that got me thinking: Would you change the way you live if you know that every word and thought would be examined by God first? So I then thought: Do you change how you act if your boss is around (or in the case of some it is their boss’s boss)? Do you watch your language and actions around your mother? (I giggled some when I thought of the phrase "do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"... then again I have been pretty giggly today so you may not find that as funny as I did in my conversation with God this morning). But really, God is not with me only some of the time like "mere humans" are... He is with me always. He knows the words before I speak them and the thoughts before I think them... Psalm 139 is yet another passage that I LOVE to read but I will let you look that up on your own time ;). A good thought to end on, taken again from my Life Application Bible: As you begin each day, determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think. That is all friends!! I just wanted to share the "God-excitement" from my life at this point in time!!!
This verse is now a prayer of my heart. The beautiful poetry about God's greatness and why I should trust in Him caught my attention and now sticks like glue to my mind. The prayer of my heart is to be pleasing to God even when I may not be so to the people around me. Every thought, word, and action that comes from me needs to be for Him. A question asked in my Life Application Bible that got me thinking: Would you change the way you live if you know that every word and thought would be examined by God first? So I then thought: Do you change how you act if your boss is around (or in the case of some it is their boss’s boss)? Do you watch your language and actions around your mother? (I giggled some when I thought of the phrase "do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"... then again I have been pretty giggly today so you may not find that as funny as I did in my conversation with God this morning). But really, God is not with me only some of the time like "mere humans" are... He is with me always. He knows the words before I speak them and the thoughts before I think them... Psalm 139 is yet another passage that I LOVE to read but I will let you look that up on your own time ;). A good thought to end on, taken again from my Life Application Bible: As you begin each day, determine that God's love will guide what you say and how you think. That is all friends!! I just wanted to share the "God-excitement" from my life at this point in time!!!
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