Prayer Focus: Haiti
Bible Reading: Isaiah 13-17
Scripture:
Listen, a noise on the mountains,
like that of a great multitude!
Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms,
like nations massing together!
The Lord Almighty is mustering
an army for war. (Isaiah 13:4)
Observation:
The scripture reading for today details the judgement against Babylon, Moab and Damascus.
There is a movement among us as believers that wants to see only the friendly side of God. The tolerant side, the one that doesn't judge and is ever patient with us. Even now, when searching for what to say to you here, I want to find the rainbow, the happy place to take you and boost you in his love before you go on your way. But this is a side to God we must look at.
I urge you to spend time with a reference book or a google engine researching what these nations were like. Put God's wrath in the context of the people who lived there and the sins they were committing in that time. I've typed and erased several attempts to explain why God's intervention in this way was necessary, but it always goes outside of the scope of this short devotional. I will say though, that God's judgment to Israel and to the surrounding Nations was a rescue. The result was the prophesy of the Messiah, comfort that God would redeem his people. He would not abandon them! The judgements and exile would, in the end, restore their faith as a nation, and prove to the Gentiles that He was the Lord God.
Application:
My take-away from this is to look more closely at my life. What sins have I allowed in my life thinking that they weren't so bad? Where do I justify my actions to suit my needs? Where am I compromising? Do I live my life today as though there will be an accounting of my choices?
I have lots of questions that I am going to take with me into my prayer closet.
Prayer:
Lord, help me to fear you as I ought, help me turn my eyes to you. There is a verse in chapter 17 of our reading, verse 7, I will end my devotion with your words breathed as a prayer "In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel.. "
Sometimes it's nice to see life from someone else's point of view. I am a mother, writer and amateur photographer. This is what the view looks like from where I am standing.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
The Sinful Nation
Prayer Focus: Indonesia
Bible Reading: Isaiah 1-4
Scripture
2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."
4 Woe to the sinful nation,
a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:2-4)
Observation
Israel split into two nations that was at times antagonistic and other times in alliance with one another. When Isaiah, a prophet to the tribe of Judah, enters the scene the two nations were jockeying for power from each other. God spoke through Isaiah and warned Ahaz not to make deals with outside nations. Warnings he would ultimately ignore. The opening verses here in Isaiah set up the premise, and the following 39 chapters deal with the Judgment of Judah, the nations, and the world.
Israel had forsaken God. His great love wouldn’t allow them to degenerate past what he could redeem. So he would take action; action through the subjugation of his children by another nation, this time Babylon instead of Egypt. They would go into an exile that would cause them to cry out to God once more as a people. The result was repentance and unification of this fractured people, and in the time of Nehemiah, they would trickle back to build their home again.
But I am getting ahead of myself. Right now in our reading, we are at the beginning.
Application
I can’t help but see the warning here in these opening verses! I hear the heart of God breaking over his children’s sin and his frustration that they are walking away from him. God had made a promise to Abraham that he would remain faithful to his people, even if they were unfaithful. We recently read in Hosea how he felt about the direction they were going, how personally he took heir national rejection of him.
Every day that we go our own way, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and there is a reckoning. The verses we are looking at today addressed a nation, not an individual. However, we must take the warning of judgment Isaiah delivered personally, for people are the building blocks of a nation. It’s a warning that is as vital for us to recognize today, as it was for the people of Isaiah’s time.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that we as a nation hear you, obey you and return to you. The bible says “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14) America needs your restoration. I don’t have it in me to ask for exile and slavery, like what befell Israel twice. But if that is what it takes to save us from ourselves, then I pray you do what you must to keep our nation from being completely given over to our sin. Amen.
Bible Reading: Isaiah 1-4
Scripture
2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."
4 Woe to the sinful nation,
a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:2-4)
Observation
Israel split into two nations that was at times antagonistic and other times in alliance with one another. When Isaiah, a prophet to the tribe of Judah, enters the scene the two nations were jockeying for power from each other. God spoke through Isaiah and warned Ahaz not to make deals with outside nations. Warnings he would ultimately ignore. The opening verses here in Isaiah set up the premise, and the following 39 chapters deal with the Judgment of Judah, the nations, and the world.
Israel had forsaken God. His great love wouldn’t allow them to degenerate past what he could redeem. So he would take action; action through the subjugation of his children by another nation, this time Babylon instead of Egypt. They would go into an exile that would cause them to cry out to God once more as a people. The result was repentance and unification of this fractured people, and in the time of Nehemiah, they would trickle back to build their home again.
But I am getting ahead of myself. Right now in our reading, we are at the beginning.
Application
I can’t help but see the warning here in these opening verses! I hear the heart of God breaking over his children’s sin and his frustration that they are walking away from him. God had made a promise to Abraham that he would remain faithful to his people, even if they were unfaithful. We recently read in Hosea how he felt about the direction they were going, how personally he took heir national rejection of him.
Every day that we go our own way, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and there is a reckoning. The verses we are looking at today addressed a nation, not an individual. However, we must take the warning of judgment Isaiah delivered personally, for people are the building blocks of a nation. It’s a warning that is as vital for us to recognize today, as it was for the people of Isaiah’s time.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that we as a nation hear you, obey you and return to you. The bible says “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14) America needs your restoration. I don’t have it in me to ask for exile and slavery, like what befell Israel twice. But if that is what it takes to save us from ourselves, then I pray you do what you must to keep our nation from being completely given over to our sin. Amen.
The Sinful Nation
Prayer Focus: Indonesia
Bible Reading: Isaiah 1-4
Scripture
2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."
4 Woe to the sinful nation,
a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:2-4)
Observation
Israel split into two nations that was at times antagonistic and other times in alliance with one another. When Isaiah, a prophet to the tribe of Judah, enters the scene the two nations were jockeying for power from each other. God spoke through Isaiah and warned Ahaz not to make deals with outside nations. Warnings he would ultimately ignore. The opening verses here in Isaiah set up the premise, and the following 39 chapters deal with the Judgment of Judah, the nations, and the world.
Israel had forsaken God. His great love wouldn’t allow them to degenerate past what he could redeem. So he would take action; action through the subjugation of his children by another nation, this time Babylon instead of Egypt. They would go into an exile that would cause them to cry out to God once more as a people. The result was repentance and unification of this fractured people, and in the time of Nehemiah, they would trickle back to build their home again.
But I am getting ahead of myself. Right now in our reading, we are at the beginning.
Application
I can’t help but see the warning here in these opening verses! I hear the heart of God breaking over his children’s sin and his frustration that they are walking away from him. God had made a promise to Abraham that he would remain faithful to his people, even if they were unfaithful. We recently read in Hosea how he felt about the direction they were going, how personally he took heir national rejection of him.
Every day that we go our own way, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and there is a reckoning. The verses we are looking at today addressed a nation, not an individual. However, we must take the warning of judgment Isaiah delivered personally, for people are the building blocks of a nation. It’s a warning that is as vital for us to recognize today, as it was for the people of Isaiah’s time.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that we as a nation hear you, obey you and return to you. The bible says “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14) America needs your restoration. I don’t have it in me to ask for exile and slavery, like what befell Israel twice. But if that is what it takes to save us from ourselves, then I pray you do what you must to keep our nation from being completely given over to our sin. Amen.
Bible Reading: Isaiah 1-4
Scripture
2 Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth!
For the Lord has spoken:
"I reared children and brought them up,
but they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knows its master,
the donkey its owner's manger,
but Israel does not know,
my people do not understand."
4 Woe to the sinful nation,
a people whose guilt is great,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the Lord;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him. (Isaiah 1:2-4)
Observation
Israel split into two nations that was at times antagonistic and other times in alliance with one another. When Isaiah, a prophet to the tribe of Judah, enters the scene the two nations were jockeying for power from each other. God spoke through Isaiah and warned Ahaz not to make deals with outside nations. Warnings he would ultimately ignore. The opening verses here in Isaiah set up the premise, and the following 39 chapters deal with the Judgment of Judah, the nations, and the world.
Israel had forsaken God. His great love wouldn’t allow them to degenerate past what he could redeem. So he would take action; action through the subjugation of his children by another nation, this time Babylon instead of Egypt. They would go into an exile that would cause them to cry out to God once more as a people. The result was repentance and unification of this fractured people, and in the time of Nehemiah, they would trickle back to build their home again.
But I am getting ahead of myself. Right now in our reading, we are at the beginning.
Application
I can’t help but see the warning here in these opening verses! I hear the heart of God breaking over his children’s sin and his frustration that they are walking away from him. God had made a promise to Abraham that he would remain faithful to his people, even if they were unfaithful. We recently read in Hosea how he felt about the direction they were going, how personally he took heir national rejection of him.
Every day that we go our own way, we grieve the Holy Spirit, and there is a reckoning. The verses we are looking at today addressed a nation, not an individual. However, we must take the warning of judgment Isaiah delivered personally, for people are the building blocks of a nation. It’s a warning that is as vital for us to recognize today, as it was for the people of Isaiah’s time.
Prayer
Lord, I pray that we as a nation hear you, obey you and return to you. The bible says “if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land.” (2 Chron. 7:14) America needs your restoration. I don’t have it in me to ask for exile and slavery, like what befell Israel twice. But if that is what it takes to save us from ourselves, then I pray you do what you must to keep our nation from being completely given over to our sin. Amen.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Run
Prayer Focus: India
Bible Reading: Jonah 1-4
Scripture
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said:
"In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 2:1-2)
Observation
The wickedness of the land of Nineveh had "come up" before God and he sent his servant Jonah to preach against them. And what did Jonah do? He ran away. In fact, he ran in the opposite direction of Nineveh! When the boat he was on was in danger of sinking, his guilt compelled him to tell the sailors to pitch him overboard to save themselves.
They did.
I think Jonah must have thought that was the end. I think he realized in a visceral way the truth of Psalm 139:8 "If I make my bed in the depths, you are there." No matter how far or fast he ran, he couldn't get away from God' Spirit. At some point during those three nights in the belly of the fish, the other half of the truth in that verse hit him - no matter where he was, GOD WAS STILL THERE. And in his distress, he called out to Him.
Application
I don't know about you, where you are in your life, what God has called you to do that frightens you. I don't know what you are running from.
But I do know this: WE ALL RUN.
We all get afraid of the things that seem to big for us. Maybe God isn't calling you to be a missionary to a hostile and wicked nation. Maybe he isn't telling you to preach the truth of His Kingdom to people who might react violently.
Wait... he did.(Mat. 28:16-20)
When I read the story of Jonah, I think of all the times when I've come face to face with the big plans God has for me and it seemed too big, and I ran.
Prayer
Lord, help me to remember that no matter where I go, or how far I've run, that you are there. Help me see that nothing I've done is ever too much or too far away to come back to you. The enemy likes to camp out and ambush me with lies, he tells me that you don't really love me enough to take me back - that I'm not worth the effort. It's so easy to project my own fears and insecurities on you! You rescue me from the wicked world I live in and from the wickedness of my own self-hate. Nothing can stand against your powerful mercy!
I pray for those who read this devotional today who need to know that you love them enough to pursue them. You are the God of second chances! It doesn't always mean that we get out of those plans (it didn't for Jonah) but it does mean that there is no where we can go that you aren't there.
Bible Reading: Jonah 1-4
Scripture
From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said:
"In my distress I called to the Lord,
and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
and you listened to my cry. (Jonah 2:1-2)
Observation
The wickedness of the land of Nineveh had "come up" before God and he sent his servant Jonah to preach against them. And what did Jonah do? He ran away. In fact, he ran in the opposite direction of Nineveh! When the boat he was on was in danger of sinking, his guilt compelled him to tell the sailors to pitch him overboard to save themselves.
They did.
I think Jonah must have thought that was the end. I think he realized in a visceral way the truth of Psalm 139:8 "If I make my bed in the depths, you are there." No matter how far or fast he ran, he couldn't get away from God' Spirit. At some point during those three nights in the belly of the fish, the other half of the truth in that verse hit him - no matter where he was, GOD WAS STILL THERE. And in his distress, he called out to Him.
Application
I don't know about you, where you are in your life, what God has called you to do that frightens you. I don't know what you are running from.
But I do know this: WE ALL RUN.
We all get afraid of the things that seem to big for us. Maybe God isn't calling you to be a missionary to a hostile and wicked nation. Maybe he isn't telling you to preach the truth of His Kingdom to people who might react violently.
Wait... he did.(Mat. 28:16-20)
When I read the story of Jonah, I think of all the times when I've come face to face with the big plans God has for me and it seemed too big, and I ran.
Prayer
Lord, help me to remember that no matter where I go, or how far I've run, that you are there. Help me see that nothing I've done is ever too much or too far away to come back to you. The enemy likes to camp out and ambush me with lies, he tells me that you don't really love me enough to take me back - that I'm not worth the effort. It's so easy to project my own fears and insecurities on you! You rescue me from the wicked world I live in and from the wickedness of my own self-hate. Nothing can stand against your powerful mercy!
I pray for those who read this devotional today who need to know that you love them enough to pursue them. You are the God of second chances! It doesn't always mean that we get out of those plans (it didn't for Jonah) but it does mean that there is no where we can go that you aren't there.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Mantle
Prayer Focus: India
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1-4
Scripture
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
13 Elisha then picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. (2 Kings 2:9-13)
Observation
Elisha asked for a double portion of the gift - and got it. He went on to do many miracles, proving that he indeed had Elijah's mantle. The Holy Spirit transfers twice the power and effectiveness from Elijah to Elisha after Elijah is taken by the Lord. The bible goes on to record twice as many miracles for Elisha.
Application
When I let my imagination sit here in this place and time I wonder what sorts of things went through Elisha's mind that provoked his request. We don't have a peek into his thoughts, only what he did with the power once granted. I encourage you to go to today's reading and see what that was.
The take-away that I have with today's reading is simple: What has the Holy Spirit gifted us as Jesus was taken up into heaven? To find the answer to that, go to mark 16:15 where Jesus tells his disciples "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to be bold, to proclaim your word as I ought. Your word promises gifts of your Spirit to enable me to do this. Help me reach for them, help me reach for you!
Bible Reading: 2 Kings 1-4
Scripture
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
13 Elisha then picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. (2 Kings 2:9-13)
Observation
Elisha asked for a double portion of the gift - and got it. He went on to do many miracles, proving that he indeed had Elijah's mantle. The Holy Spirit transfers twice the power and effectiveness from Elijah to Elisha after Elijah is taken by the Lord. The bible goes on to record twice as many miracles for Elisha.
Application
When I let my imagination sit here in this place and time I wonder what sorts of things went through Elisha's mind that provoked his request. We don't have a peek into his thoughts, only what he did with the power once granted. I encourage you to go to today's reading and see what that was.
The take-away that I have with today's reading is simple: What has the Holy Spirit gifted us as Jesus was taken up into heaven? To find the answer to that, go to mark 16:15 where Jesus tells his disciples "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation."
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to be bold, to proclaim your word as I ought. Your word promises gifts of your Spirit to enable me to do this. Help me reach for them, help me reach for you!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Idols
Prayer Focus: Holy See
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 11-12
Scripture
1 By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering.2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: "Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: 'A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.'"3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: "This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out." (1st Kings 13:1-3)
Observation
At this time in Israel's history, a rebellion, lead by Jeroboam, separated the kingdom into two halves, northern and southern. Jeroboam now has a problem, because the law of Moses says that everyone has to travel to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. Jerusalem is inside the southern territory. His solution was to set up a new sect for worship in two cities (Beth-El and Dan) with the creation and installments of two alters in the shape of golden calves, and made it unlawful to go to Jerusalem as the law required. God's response to this? He sends a prophet up from Judah (the southern kingdom where Jerusalem sits) to Bethel and tells him to "cry out against the alter", in the verse I selected above.
This establishes the beginning of Baal worship among the people.
Application
How do I rebel against God? What things do I set up and choose to worship instead? A look at my calendar and my checkbook will show where I spend my time and where I store my treasures. (Mat. 6:21)
I urge you to spend time today talking to God about what things you are tempted to idolize.
Prayer
Lord, help me see clearly the idols that are around me. The temptation to trust in what I can see or what I feel is strong! I pray for your deliverance, for a love of truth.
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 11-12
Scripture
1 By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering.2 By the word of the Lord he cried out against the altar: "Altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: 'A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.'"3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: "This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out." (1st Kings 13:1-3)
Observation
At this time in Israel's history, a rebellion, lead by Jeroboam, separated the kingdom into two halves, northern and southern. Jeroboam now has a problem, because the law of Moses says that everyone has to travel to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. Jerusalem is inside the southern territory. His solution was to set up a new sect for worship in two cities (Beth-El and Dan) with the creation and installments of two alters in the shape of golden calves, and made it unlawful to go to Jerusalem as the law required. God's response to this? He sends a prophet up from Judah (the southern kingdom where Jerusalem sits) to Bethel and tells him to "cry out against the alter", in the verse I selected above.
This establishes the beginning of Baal worship among the people.
Application
How do I rebel against God? What things do I set up and choose to worship instead? A look at my calendar and my checkbook will show where I spend my time and where I store my treasures. (Mat. 6:21)
I urge you to spend time today talking to God about what things you are tempted to idolize.
Prayer
Lord, help me see clearly the idols that are around me. The temptation to trust in what I can see or what I feel is strong! I pray for your deliverance, for a love of truth.
Friday, June 08, 2012
Self Control
Prayer Focus: Guatemala
Scripture
Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control. (Proverbs 25:28)
Observation
For some versions of this verse the bible says “He that has no rule over his own spirit” instead of “self-control”. I like that. It cuts right to the chase, telling me that I need to lead my heart instead of it lead me. So much of our culture today is wrapped up in following our hearts and doing what feels good. The imagery of the breached city walls is a vivid description of being vulnerable to attack, the walls having first been breached from the inside out, from our own foolish behavior. Proverbs 28:26 says “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Application
I don’t think we spend much time guarding or leading our hearts. Oh we talk about salvation plenty. And God is the one who graciously does that for us. An act of mercy for us – the thing we couldn’t do for ourselves. (Eph. 2:8-10)
And so many stop there.
But the bible has made it pretty clear that he’s very interested in what we do after that.
Proverbs 4:23 says to keep your heart with all vigilance. Phil.4:6-7 says that the peace of God guards our hearts. Rom. 12:2 says not to be conformed, but to be transformed. Psalm 51:10 begs God to renew a right spirit. Luke 6:45 tells us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
What we give permission for our hearts to dwell on or lust after… matters to God. When we allow un controlled thoughts to batter against the boundaries, the protections that keep us safe from the enemy, we run the risk of breaching the walls and opening ourselves up to attack.
Prayer
Father God, forgive me for the times I have stepped over the rules you set out to protect me! Galatians 5 says that self-control is a fruit of the spirit, I pray that you grow this fruit in me, help me to guard my heart with vigilance.
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 9; 2 Chronicles 8; Proverbs 25-26
Scripture
Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control. (Proverbs 25:28)
Observation
For some versions of this verse the bible says “He that has no rule over his own spirit” instead of “self-control”. I like that. It cuts right to the chase, telling me that I need to lead my heart instead of it lead me. So much of our culture today is wrapped up in following our hearts and doing what feels good. The imagery of the breached city walls is a vivid description of being vulnerable to attack, the walls having first been breached from the inside out, from our own foolish behavior. Proverbs 28:26 says “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”
Application
I don’t think we spend much time guarding or leading our hearts. Oh we talk about salvation plenty. And God is the one who graciously does that for us. An act of mercy for us – the thing we couldn’t do for ourselves. (Eph. 2:8-10)
And so many stop there.
But the bible has made it pretty clear that he’s very interested in what we do after that.
Proverbs 4:23 says to keep your heart with all vigilance. Phil.4:6-7 says that the peace of God guards our hearts. Rom. 12:2 says not to be conformed, but to be transformed. Psalm 51:10 begs God to renew a right spirit. Luke 6:45 tells us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
What we give permission for our hearts to dwell on or lust after… matters to God. When we allow un controlled thoughts to batter against the boundaries, the protections that keep us safe from the enemy, we run the risk of breaching the walls and opening ourselves up to attack.
Prayer
Father God, forgive me for the times I have stepped over the rules you set out to protect me! Galatians 5 says that self-control is a fruit of the spirit, I pray that you grow this fruit in me, help me to guard my heart with vigilance.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Deep Waters
Prayer Focus: Germany
Bible Reading: Proverbs 17-20
Scripture
Many are the plans in a person's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 18:21)
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5)
Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance. (Proverbs 20:18)
A person's steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way? (Proverbs 20:24)
Observation
Recently a dear friend of mine asked me to “listen” to the Holy Spirit with her. She had direction she was seeking on some specific matters and needed discernment on what she should do. She wasn’t asking my advice on what she should do, rather, she wanted to hear from God and get confirmation of what He said through trusted others who’d be praying and listening too.
Immediately, three verses came to mind. I dismissed them as me being afraid of silence and assumed that I’d just supplied them from my own memory, and went on listening...
...To silence. I had no word of wisdom to repeat back to her beyond what scripture had already provided, and I felt like I’d let her down. Maybe even over my head in waters too deep for me.
Then, when I went to prepare today’s devotion, I see those same verse are in today’s reading! I got chills! This was confirmation to me and I immediately wrote her back to tell her what I now felt was surely the thing He wanted me to say to her. Though I couldn’t unpack it’s meaning for her in her particular circumstance, I am confident that God will use it.
Application
But what does it mean for you and me? How do we get the answers we are looking for?
The Holy Spirit has been known to actively guide people down roads that defy the logic of the moment; Him being able to see things we can’t further down the road from where we stand at the crossroads. He has specific plans that require us to be in a certain place at the right time. (My interpretation of Prov. 20:24)
Conversely, sometimes He remains quiet while we cast for answers, content to make good on whatever we choose. I believe in these instances he’s more interested in guiding our hearts and responses to the world around us wherever we are than in the individual plans we make. (This my interpretation of Prov. 18:21)
Our human (sinful) nature wants to have control. God created us and knows that we struggle with these things; He understands that we need plans, intentional actions that produce predictable results in the patterns of our lives. He knows that this tendency leads us to marginalize His involvement. It is why He gave us His Spirit – to override it and take the static verse in the Gospel, and transform it into a living conversation between Him and us.
The question then becomes… what are the purposes of your heart? Can you articulate them? Have you sought wisdom, counsel, and patience? Prov. 20:5 says that “one who has insight will draw them out”.
If you can’t articulate it on your own, find someone who will help you talk through what’s going on in your heart. Jesus sent the Spirit for just this purpose. 1st Cor. 2:10 – 13 says “these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a persons thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”
Prayer
Lord, thank you for sending your Spirit to intercede on my behalf. Thank you for providing a way to search out your will for my every day circumstances. I now ask you for the courage to follow your leading outside of my comfort zone.
Amen.
Bible Reading: Proverbs 17-20
Scripture
Many are the plans in a person's heart,
but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 18:21)
The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out. (Proverbs 20:5)
Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance. (Proverbs 20:18)
A person's steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way? (Proverbs 20:24)
Observation
Recently a dear friend of mine asked me to “listen” to the Holy Spirit with her. She had direction she was seeking on some specific matters and needed discernment on what she should do. She wasn’t asking my advice on what she should do, rather, she wanted to hear from God and get confirmation of what He said through trusted others who’d be praying and listening too.
Immediately, three verses came to mind. I dismissed them as me being afraid of silence and assumed that I’d just supplied them from my own memory, and went on listening...
...To silence. I had no word of wisdom to repeat back to her beyond what scripture had already provided, and I felt like I’d let her down. Maybe even over my head in waters too deep for me.
Then, when I went to prepare today’s devotion, I see those same verse are in today’s reading! I got chills! This was confirmation to me and I immediately wrote her back to tell her what I now felt was surely the thing He wanted me to say to her. Though I couldn’t unpack it’s meaning for her in her particular circumstance, I am confident that God will use it.
Application
But what does it mean for you and me? How do we get the answers we are looking for?
The Holy Spirit has been known to actively guide people down roads that defy the logic of the moment; Him being able to see things we can’t further down the road from where we stand at the crossroads. He has specific plans that require us to be in a certain place at the right time. (My interpretation of Prov. 20:24)
Conversely, sometimes He remains quiet while we cast for answers, content to make good on whatever we choose. I believe in these instances he’s more interested in guiding our hearts and responses to the world around us wherever we are than in the individual plans we make. (This my interpretation of Prov. 18:21)
Our human (sinful) nature wants to have control. God created us and knows that we struggle with these things; He understands that we need plans, intentional actions that produce predictable results in the patterns of our lives. He knows that this tendency leads us to marginalize His involvement. It is why He gave us His Spirit – to override it and take the static verse in the Gospel, and transform it into a living conversation between Him and us.
The question then becomes… what are the purposes of your heart? Can you articulate them? Have you sought wisdom, counsel, and patience? Prov. 20:5 says that “one who has insight will draw them out”.
If you can’t articulate it on your own, find someone who will help you talk through what’s going on in your heart. Jesus sent the Spirit for just this purpose. 1st Cor. 2:10 – 13 says “these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a persons thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.”
Prayer
Lord, thank you for sending your Spirit to intercede on my behalf. Thank you for providing a way to search out your will for my every day circumstances. I now ask you for the courage to follow your leading outside of my comfort zone.
Amen.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Arise
Prayer Focus: France
Bible Reading: Song of Solomon 1:1-5:1
Scripture
My beloved spoke and said to me,
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Solomon 2:10)
"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, come with me.” (Song of Solomon 2:10)
Observation
This book of poetry, though expressed as a human love, is really supposed to convey the metaphor of the romance between us as the bride, and Christ as the groom.
Application
To have Christ look on me with affection and call me “darling” and “beautiful” is something that I long to hear. His is not the love of an infatuated suitor, but one who is fully aware of my failings, my sin, and loves me anyway.
In the Jewish tradition, the groom would go to prepare a place for his bride, and when the house was ready he would come at a moments notice to whisk the bride away to the wedding banquet. Jesus deliberately invoked these words in John 14:1-4 as a promise. One day he will call to his beloved, inviting us to leave the corruption of the world. He will call us from the clouds to say “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.”
Prayer
Lord, I pray that you find me with oil in my lamp and ready for your summons. (Mat. 25:1-13) Even so, come!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Yours
Prayer Focus: Estonia
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 27-29, Psalm 68
Scripture
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
(1 Chronicles 29:11-13)
Observation
David had just used the national stores to help build the temple, plus his own private wealth, and then encouraged the people to give generously too; and they responded! The scripture verse above is the prayer of thanksgiving that David offered after they raised all the funds to build and outfit the new temple.
Application
I don’t know about you, but I find myself reminding God about his wealth and power right about the time I need to borrow some of it for my own purposes or when I’d like him to help out someone I love or am praying for. For the record, I hate/love when I’m spanked with self revelation like that. Uncomfortable as it is, it usually leads me to growth – though it’s painful in the admission.
David, HAD all the wealth and power-and that was the moment he reminded God it was his: as he was offering back to Him from his own storehouse. I can’t help but remember all the times I have done it backward.
Luke 16:11 says “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
Prayer
Father, while you may own the cattle on a thousand hills, I pray that you give me the faith that lets me leave it all on the field for you. I don’t want to hold back for myself, or play head games trying to manipulate you into doing my will with your resources. I want you to be pleased with me.
Amen!
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 27-29, Psalm 68
Scripture
11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.
(1 Chronicles 29:11-13)
Observation
David had just used the national stores to help build the temple, plus his own private wealth, and then encouraged the people to give generously too; and they responded! The scripture verse above is the prayer of thanksgiving that David offered after they raised all the funds to build and outfit the new temple.
Application
I don’t know about you, but I find myself reminding God about his wealth and power right about the time I need to borrow some of it for my own purposes or when I’d like him to help out someone I love or am praying for. For the record, I hate/love when I’m spanked with self revelation like that. Uncomfortable as it is, it usually leads me to growth – though it’s painful in the admission.
David, HAD all the wealth and power-and that was the moment he reminded God it was his: as he was offering back to Him from his own storehouse. I can’t help but remember all the times I have done it backward.
Luke 16:11 says “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”
Prayer
Father, while you may own the cattle on a thousand hills, I pray that you give me the faith that lets me leave it all on the field for you. I don’t want to hold back for myself, or play head games trying to manipulate you into doing my will with your resources. I want you to be pleased with me.
Amen!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Passing Disasters
Prayer Focus: Dominica, Dominican
Republic
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 22 - 23, Psalm 57
Scripture
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. (Psalm 57:1-3)
Observation
As I have been reading the Psalms over the last few weeks I’m struck with the tendency to take these verses with their imagery and melodies (that are the templates for many praise songs) and completely skip over the tops of them like a flat rock across a stream. It’s easy to forget the turmoil and crisis that precipitated them.
Today’s Psalm comes from David, a man literally “hotly pursued” by Saul, not metaphorically. Taking refuge in God while being chased by the enemy with the resources of an entire nation wasn’t just poetic prose, but life and death for him. I find it interesting that even in these moments, David sees perspective in his circumstances and calls it a "passing disaster".
Application
In the last few weeks, I have been made aware of no less than three families who have lost their homes due to tornado, fire, and economic circumstances. I am not taking creative license to illustrate a point – I’m talking about displaced and homeless people who are desperate for refuge.
The storms come. No matter if the storm is literal, like the tornado that hit Dexter several weeks ago, or financial, like the economic recession that ate so many jobs, or elemental, like the fire … the storms come. Sometimes we find ourselves in temporary shelters (hotel rooms or living in a car) instead of caves, chased not by soldiers but creditors.
Prayer
Lord, show me how to best use the resources that you’ve blessed me with. Help me know how to best help these families. I pray that you would show them your love and faithfulness. I pray that their passing disaster drives them to take shelter and refuge in you; that their souls awake to salvation and that they meet you at their point of great need.
Amen!
Bible Reading: 2 Samuel 22 - 23, Psalm 57
Scripture
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me—God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. (Psalm 57:1-3)
Observation
As I have been reading the Psalms over the last few weeks I’m struck with the tendency to take these verses with their imagery and melodies (that are the templates for many praise songs) and completely skip over the tops of them like a flat rock across a stream. It’s easy to forget the turmoil and crisis that precipitated them.
Today’s Psalm comes from David, a man literally “hotly pursued” by Saul, not metaphorically. Taking refuge in God while being chased by the enemy with the resources of an entire nation wasn’t just poetic prose, but life and death for him. I find it interesting that even in these moments, David sees perspective in his circumstances and calls it a "passing disaster".
Application
In the last few weeks, I have been made aware of no less than three families who have lost their homes due to tornado, fire, and economic circumstances. I am not taking creative license to illustrate a point – I’m talking about displaced and homeless people who are desperate for refuge.
The storms come. No matter if the storm is literal, like the tornado that hit Dexter several weeks ago, or financial, like the economic recession that ate so many jobs, or elemental, like the fire … the storms come. Sometimes we find ourselves in temporary shelters (hotel rooms or living in a car) instead of caves, chased not by soldiers but creditors.
Prayer
Lord, show me how to best use the resources that you’ve blessed me with. Help me know how to best help these families. I pray that you would show them your love and faithfulness. I pray that their passing disaster drives them to take shelter and refuge in you; that their souls awake to salvation and that they meet you at their point of great need.
Amen!
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
The Struggle...
I'm sure you've noticed how quiet it's been on the blog lately. Partly that's because of the situation we've had with Jess, but it's also because after a talk with my husband I see that I was crossing some lines of personal information that he wasn't comfortable with.
I'm struggling to find a balance here. I'm using this blog as I would my journal time, a place to sort myself out and make sense of all that's going on in my experience. Normally, it would be full of details and specifics - things that I can pin down until they stop squirming so I can identify them. I'll trace it back through my history on why I feel, or am acting or responding the way I am to this trigger, and ask the Lord's help on making it right, healthy, whole. Sometimes it means that I only have to acknowledge what's happened, name it for what it really is through the lens of truth, and not the lens of wanting to be the hero in my own story... But sometimes I have real harm I need to address. Harm that's been done to me or that I've done to others while in reaction mode.
All of that self-examination reveals more than my own story, since I share a life with my husband and children. So I struggle to find a balance where I can speak a universal truth, yet step softly around the details that would make this MY journey instead of one you might able to relate to as well.
I struggle with knowing if what I am saying "out loud" here on the blog is something that God is using. I can step softly around the details, and continue here if I know that what I am saying has value to another. But if all I am really doing is standing in an empty room talking to myself, I can go back to my spiral notebooks for that.
I don't usually beg for responses. But today I am. If you know me personally and you have my e-mail address, or you know me on facebook or twitter, please send me a note letting me know that you read my blog and what type of posts speak to you. If you have stumbled across my blog from the net, and you keep coming back to it, leave me a comment?
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| freephotos.com |
All of that self-examination reveals more than my own story, since I share a life with my husband and children. So I struggle to find a balance where I can speak a universal truth, yet step softly around the details that would make this MY journey instead of one you might able to relate to as well.
I struggle with knowing if what I am saying "out loud" here on the blog is something that God is using. I can step softly around the details, and continue here if I know that what I am saying has value to another. But if all I am really doing is standing in an empty room talking to myself, I can go back to my spiral notebooks for that.
I don't usually beg for responses. But today I am. If you know me personally and you have my e-mail address, or you know me on facebook or twitter, please send me a note letting me know that you read my blog and what type of posts speak to you. If you have stumbled across my blog from the net, and you keep coming back to it, leave me a comment?
Friday, April 20, 2012
Flattery
Prayer Focus: China, PRC
Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 6, Psalms 36,39,77,78
Scripture
I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked. There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. (Psalm 36:1-2)
Observation
I read this and I just can't get over the phrasing "they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin". To say it boldly like that, it's easy to brush it off and not look at it too closely, thinking that the ego-centric verbage doesn't really apply to us. But if you can bear with me for a moment and hold that squirming puppy down, I'd like to look at it for a moment.
We are constantly bombarded, with messages designed to flatter us into buying some product or service that will make us feel fulfilled and happy. In fact, the secular world would have us believe that our happiness should take priority, the American Dream is all about the pursuit of happiness. Even our mothers "only want us to be happy", right?
But while we are busy making ourselves comfortable I wonder if we can hear that still small voice that calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. (Luke 9:23-24) What happens to service, submission and sacrifice when we follow the siren call to follow our own happiness instead of seeking first after God?
Application
As much as I'd like to gloss over that verse and think that it applies to other people, and not me, I am fully aware that my heart is deceitful and able to put a spin on anything in order to justify my getting what I want.
That's why I need to study the word of God. Because that's where I am going to find the truth, learn the truth, and be transformed by the truth. The only thing that separates me from the wicked mentioned in this verse above is the fear of God. The bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)
I think I fall into the same trap that many of you might, the desire to be the hero in my own story. To justify my actions, gain popular approval for my justifications and present myself in the most flattering light. But when I do this, chase my own glory, then I am no longer able to detect, let alone hate, my sin.
Prayer
Father, the bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 that "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it"? Therefore, I come to your son, who you said is the way the truth and the life. I will fear your disapproval more than I fear the disapproval of others. I ask that you strip my sins bare, remove the disguise I dressed them in, let me see them for what they are, so that I might hate them the way I should.
Amen.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Milestones
Yes, it's that time of year. It's time to plow full steam ahead into graduation party planning. I think I have the bare bones of what I want in play; who's catering, where it's going to be held and on what day and time. This week I'll be searching out decorations, a tent, filling out and sending out invitations... It's exciting to be forward planning and not tied up in worried knots.
I'm reading through the bible in a year, along with many other members in our church, and today's reading has us in Chronicles. It's pretty dry reading all by it's self. But when you put it in the context of life changes and milestones (like the one I am currently planning for my eldest daughter) it's enough to take my breath away. I see the history and their linkages, generation after generation of people who lived, loved, had children, grandchildren, buried their spouses and were mourned in their turn. I imagine all of those milestones stacked atop one another and it hits me... The God of the universe is intimately involved in the everyday decisions that they made, that I make.
The milestones our children achieve are important to Him. They become benchmarks for memory. They are places where paths diverge and the tiny angle of degree that they choose in these days play out into the realms of where they go to school, what they choose for careers, who they meet that imbue their lives, who they marry and where they will live.
There is this thing that has to happen when a child comes of age, when the parent steps back and no longer gets to take credit for the choices their children make, nor can they take blame. It's hard though. We've spent our entire lives sheltering them, picking up after them, interceding for them, and taking total responsibility.
So, as I go through the process of letting go, of encouraging Lyss to make her own decisions and supporting her when she does, I have to remember that I'm not leaving her alone. She's still in the father's hands. She still has a comforter, redeemer-savior who is intimately involved in her every day. Who knows how many plot twists her life will have, but with each milestone and benchmark she arrives at, she has access to the very same hands that held mine.
I'll trust Him to care for her like he cared for me. That no matter how high and low her experiences take her, she will never be alone.
And that will be enough.
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| freefoto.com |
I'm reading through the bible in a year, along with many other members in our church, and today's reading has us in Chronicles. It's pretty dry reading all by it's self. But when you put it in the context of life changes and milestones (like the one I am currently planning for my eldest daughter) it's enough to take my breath away. I see the history and their linkages, generation after generation of people who lived, loved, had children, grandchildren, buried their spouses and were mourned in their turn. I imagine all of those milestones stacked atop one another and it hits me... The God of the universe is intimately involved in the everyday decisions that they made, that I make.
The milestones our children achieve are important to Him. They become benchmarks for memory. They are places where paths diverge and the tiny angle of degree that they choose in these days play out into the realms of where they go to school, what they choose for careers, who they meet that imbue their lives, who they marry and where they will live.
There is this thing that has to happen when a child comes of age, when the parent steps back and no longer gets to take credit for the choices their children make, nor can they take blame. It's hard though. We've spent our entire lives sheltering them, picking up after them, interceding for them, and taking total responsibility.
So, as I go through the process of letting go, of encouraging Lyss to make her own decisions and supporting her when she does, I have to remember that I'm not leaving her alone. She's still in the father's hands. She still has a comforter, redeemer-savior who is intimately involved in her every day. Who knows how many plot twists her life will have, but with each milestone and benchmark she arrives at, she has access to the very same hands that held mine.
I'll trust Him to care for her like he cared for me. That no matter how high and low her experiences take her, she will never be alone.
And that will be enough.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Life, Moving On
It's been a long hiatus in making posts here. Jess went in for surgery and all the posts I've been making since then are at CarePages, detailing her recovery. We are far enough past the hospital now that I can think again, have enough energy left over to be creative with it.
The next thing I need to focus on, is Alyssa's graduation party. I'm so proud of that girl. She keeps herself pretty busy, and the next few weeks are going to be a blur as she goes through the final steps of high school. I'll be spending the next couple of weeks pulling pictures together to make one of those picture filled posters, I'll also set appointments with the family member who will help me with the food. She does it for a living, so, yeah - you should all be jealous that I have this amazing woman as a resource. (I'm reluctant to name her without getting her permission first. But if she says yes, I'll devote a whole post or two to help out with advertising for her.)
The end of this month is the spring play, Willy Wonka. Today was a set build, Jess got to visit them as we delivered lunch to her sisters. She'd love to be there, but we have to get her off the pain meds before that happens. She will work the sound board where the portable mic's feed into from the actors. Alyssa is playing Mrs. Gloop and Megan is an Oompa Loompa. I'm really looking forward to it! If you know me personally, send me an e-mail and I'll give you all the deets about time, place and ticket price.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Hope and Wait
Prayer Focus: China, PRC
Bible Reading: Psalm 121-125, 128-130
Scripture
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. (Psalm 130, 3-5)
Observation
This is one of those verse that I aspire to. One that I can say with conviction with my mouth, because I really do believe it... but my life shows how often I fail at it. Especially the waiting part. Another verse in our reading today comes from Psalm 124, verse 7. It says: "We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped." I think that I forget in my every day... take it for granted, that I have indeed escaped from the fowlers snare. I go about my busyness of life, the crisis of the moment, the thing that screams the loudest in my ear and attend to that instead of waiting with my whole being for the Lord.
Application
How real is my sin to me? Do I really understand the depth of it; the consequences of it? No. Who could stand up under it? I am guilty of taking Him and what He's done for me for granted. I mouth words of praise and still the battle in my heart rages.
The verse also says "In His Word, I put my hope." In His Word, his promise, his son. My battle is to put my hope THERE, and not on the things I can see, feel, hear and touch... so that I can serve Him instead of my self.
Prayer
Lord, today I will count my blessings, starting with the thankfulness that I have indeed escaped death like a bird from the Fowler. Help me to rise up on wings of eagles. As the song by Chris Tomlin goes, "Hope will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord" I will use this song as it circles in my mind, to recall of all the things you have delivered me from. I will intentionally put my hope in your word.
Amen!
Bible Reading: Psalm 121-125, 128-130
Scripture
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. (Psalm 130, 3-5)
Observation
This is one of those verse that I aspire to. One that I can say with conviction with my mouth, because I really do believe it... but my life shows how often I fail at it. Especially the waiting part. Another verse in our reading today comes from Psalm 124, verse 7. It says: "We have escaped like a bird from the fowler's snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped." I think that I forget in my every day... take it for granted, that I have indeed escaped from the fowlers snare. I go about my busyness of life, the crisis of the moment, the thing that screams the loudest in my ear and attend to that instead of waiting with my whole being for the Lord.
Application
How real is my sin to me? Do I really understand the depth of it; the consequences of it? No. Who could stand up under it? I am guilty of taking Him and what He's done for me for granted. I mouth words of praise and still the battle in my heart rages.
The verse also says "In His Word, I put my hope." In His Word, his promise, his son. My battle is to put my hope THERE, and not on the things I can see, feel, hear and touch... so that I can serve Him instead of my self.
Prayer
Lord, today I will count my blessings, starting with the thankfulness that I have indeed escaped death like a bird from the Fowler. Help me to rise up on wings of eagles. As the song by Chris Tomlin goes, "Hope will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord" I will use this song as it circles in my mind, to recall of all the things you have delivered me from. I will intentionally put my hope in your word.
Amen!
Friday, March 09, 2012
Surgery Date Set
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| Jess summer of 2011 |
Also, we discovered that the medication won't interfere with the surgery, but it's important to have her on it before they do it. So with that we were given the nod to set the date.
Monday March 19th she's going in for her pre op meeting, and Wednesday the 21st is the date of the surgery. We will likely be in the hospital for a week.
Epilepsy and spinal fusion. It's a lot to process. It's a lot for anyone to process, let alone a 15 year old. I like it better when our family drama comes with props, costumes and opening nights.
On to practicals: Currently I've rearranged bible studies that meet in our home and written teachers to let them know Jess won't be in school for an extended period of time.
Next on my agenda is to start a schedule of volunteers to catch and pitch the other kids to and from their various activities and school. Then I suppose I better get caught up on house cleaning and laundry since I'm going to be out of commission while she's in the hospital.
After all this waiting around for it to happen, it feels like it's suddenly happening too fast and I'm scrambling.
I'll keep you all updated with stuff as I know it.
The Lord's Time
Bible Reading: Deuteronomy 12-15
Scripture
At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. This is how it is to be done: Every creditor shall cancel any loan they have made to a fellow Israelite. They shall not require payment from anyone among their own people, because the Lord's time for canceling debts has been proclaimed. (Deuteronomy 15:1-2)
Observation
I had a hard time focusing on what to bring to you with this passage today. I'm not a strong enough bible scholar to catch all the nuances that I can sense swimming in the deeps of this scripture. So forgive me if I swim the shallows with what I have to offer today.
That said, I love how God uses patterns. The pattern I see here is that of the Sabbath. God was active in working /creating for six days and then on the seventh, he rested. The Ten Commandments tell us to follow that example and reserve that day for the Lord and to do no work. To rest. If you take a step back from counting time in weeks, and do it in years, you see the same pattern. The seventh year all debts are cancelled, slaves set free and even the fields are to go fallow on the seventh year. That verse in Deuteronomy calls it "The Lords Time."
Here is what I see:
The lender in this scripture has to trust God for the stability of his business or his family (depending on if he was a public or a private lender). His investment is in a cycle that is short-term and weighted in favor of the lender in the long-term. What trust he has to have that God will provide his needs!
The borrower (or slave) now has hope; a chance at a "do over". This would be an amazingly powerful testimony to the world coming from a nation of people who were subjugated to Egypt! There is a verse in the gospels of the New Testament, pertaining to a woman who was anointing the feet of Jesus with her life-savings, in the form of perfume. He said to his disciples, who were indignant at her excess (thinking it could have been better spent on the poor), "he who has been forgiven much, loves much."
Application
There are lots of political places (especially in an election year) that someone could take this section of scripture and talk about the ills of our modern, western society. They could incorporate our welfare system, human trafficking, government bailouts, reverse mortgages and agricultural damages of over farming and pesticides... I'm not savvy enough to pull that off. (Maybe someone who is will do that in our comments.)
Here is what I can take home with me from this passage though: The Sabbath. Do I take that day and worship God with it as a day of slowing down, relaxing, recreating?
Will I guard how far I allow myself to fall into debt? This culture will allow me to owe many times more than I can pay, and what it says in Proverbs 22:7 is true, that "the borrower is servant to the lender."
The idea behind it all, is to be free... free to serve him, free to move when he tells you to move, free to give to those in need, free to serve others.
Jubilee.
Prayer
Father, forgive me for getting caught up in the American Dream of acquisition. I desire to be free, to own less stuff and more of you. I confess that I need to sit on these ideas and concepts longer, that I've only scratched the surface of what you have to teach me. America is so far away in time and geography from the people you were speaking to in this scripture that I need your help in navigating the principles and practicals of application for my life. I feel like I've missed something vital in the translation from the "there and then" into my "here and now". All I know is that you have forgiven much in my life, and I want to show my love in return.
I am closing my prayer in the echo of words in a song: "Speak Lord to me, for your servant hears. Share with me your word. I'm waiting here with a ready heart. Speak Lord to me, I'm yours."
Amen.
This is a syndicated post.
Monday, March 05, 2012
Waiting for the phone to ring
The six-hour EEG test for Jessica was done on Friday. I jumped like a nervous cat every time the phone rang all weekend long, but still no news from the doctor on the results of the test, regarding seizure activity. Now it's Monday and I've promised myself to call them if I don't hear anything by two or three in the afternoon.
The biggest question I have for them is if this will interfere with getting the scoliosis surgery done. If they give the okay, then I will be calling the orthopedic surgeon to set the appointment.
In the mean time I expect that we will have prescriptions to fill for Jess and a testing time to evaluate how she does on them and if she has any side effects.
The best scenario of all is that she finds meds that are inexpensive, don't cause side effects and will keep the spasms away so that she can take drivers ed. She might be on them for the rest of her life, but they won't impact her quality of life. Then, we get her surgery, and if she can catch a break, then there won't be any complications or infections from that... and aside from setting off metal detectors, she can return to a very normal life.
Well, as normal as the life of a teenager is likely to get.
This is what I am praying for; that the rest of this goes smoothly and we don't have any more surprises. That there are no complications with medications or with the surgery.
On other news, the auditions are over, the cast list has been posted, and I now have two of my girls as performers and one as a techie participating in the spring musical Willie Wonka. Tonight is their first rehearsal. Alyssa is playing the role of Mrs. Gloop, and Megan is an Oompa Loompa (did I spell that right?). Jessica is working with the Lavs (wireless microphones the actors wear).
Bill is in the middle of tax season, and he's wearing a little thin at the edges. He's exhausted and I'm a bit worried he's going to end up getting sick. It's our 20th anniversary on Wednesday. We were joking this morning before he left that we should change our date to after April 15th. Part of me really wants to celebrate this milestone in our marriage, they've been really good years together, made stronger from the struggles and not weakened. The other part of me wants to use the time he'd have taken off to spend with me, and let him have a night to himself or clear the house so he can just sleep.
Finally, before I close this entry, please keep a friend of mine in your prayers. Her name is Amy and she's a chosen sister. Last week she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's unclear what stage it's in, but she's scheduled for surgery on Thursday to remove the tumor. I don't know much more yet than that, but it's a large tumor and there are signs of lymph node involvement. Please pray that the surgery goes well for her, that they get all of it and that her body heals well and quickly. She's got two small children who need their mommy.
I've been a little more weepy these last few weeks than I remember in a long time. The tears seem to sit at the edges of my thoughts all day long and it doesn't take much for them to come to the surface. It's weird. I don't usually handle stress that way. But I'm grateful for the relief that the tears seem to leave with me when they go.
Anyway, thank you for spending time with me on this Monday while I wait for the phone to ring. The house is quiet, Bill to work, the girls to school - all of them busy and involved. I sit here with the snow falling organizing my thoughts, preparing to enter into my prayer time.
I am grateful for the presence of my Lord. He has chosen not to instantly heal my daughter, or my friend. He hasn't lightened the depression of winter or the cycle of busy season. But He is with me. He doesn't leave me alone in it, and provides me with comfort and peace even through the fear and stress.
It's like when you'vew been running for a long time and your dry and thirsty, heart pounding, fear of what's behind you, close on your heels... then you have refuge. He's the one I run to when life is whelming because when I'm there, with him, I have rest. My head can be such a noisy place, where thoughts chase and circle each other replaying converstations; how I should have done things differently, what will I do "if", on and on. He doesn't always change the circumstances I am in, but he does... quiet me. If you haven't experienced what I'm talking about, this must seem so strange to you.
Now that I've emptied my fears and worries into words, and asked for help in prayer from you, I'm ready to be silent. I'm going to close for now so that I can go to my prayer closet and "be still". When I'm wound up with worry It's so much harder to sit still and listen to what He has to say. But this is what I need to do.
Thanks for sharing the morning with me.
The biggest question I have for them is if this will interfere with getting the scoliosis surgery done. If they give the okay, then I will be calling the orthopedic surgeon to set the appointment.
In the mean time I expect that we will have prescriptions to fill for Jess and a testing time to evaluate how she does on them and if she has any side effects.
The best scenario of all is that she finds meds that are inexpensive, don't cause side effects and will keep the spasms away so that she can take drivers ed. She might be on them for the rest of her life, but they won't impact her quality of life. Then, we get her surgery, and if she can catch a break, then there won't be any complications or infections from that... and aside from setting off metal detectors, she can return to a very normal life.
Well, as normal as the life of a teenager is likely to get.
This is what I am praying for; that the rest of this goes smoothly and we don't have any more surprises. That there are no complications with medications or with the surgery.
On other news, the auditions are over, the cast list has been posted, and I now have two of my girls as performers and one as a techie participating in the spring musical Willie Wonka. Tonight is their first rehearsal. Alyssa is playing the role of Mrs. Gloop, and Megan is an Oompa Loompa (did I spell that right?). Jessica is working with the Lavs (wireless microphones the actors wear).
Bill is in the middle of tax season, and he's wearing a little thin at the edges. He's exhausted and I'm a bit worried he's going to end up getting sick. It's our 20th anniversary on Wednesday. We were joking this morning before he left that we should change our date to after April 15th. Part of me really wants to celebrate this milestone in our marriage, they've been really good years together, made stronger from the struggles and not weakened. The other part of me wants to use the time he'd have taken off to spend with me, and let him have a night to himself or clear the house so he can just sleep.
Finally, before I close this entry, please keep a friend of mine in your prayers. Her name is Amy and she's a chosen sister. Last week she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It's unclear what stage it's in, but she's scheduled for surgery on Thursday to remove the tumor. I don't know much more yet than that, but it's a large tumor and there are signs of lymph node involvement. Please pray that the surgery goes well for her, that they get all of it and that her body heals well and quickly. She's got two small children who need their mommy.
I've been a little more weepy these last few weeks than I remember in a long time. The tears seem to sit at the edges of my thoughts all day long and it doesn't take much for them to come to the surface. It's weird. I don't usually handle stress that way. But I'm grateful for the relief that the tears seem to leave with me when they go.
Anyway, thank you for spending time with me on this Monday while I wait for the phone to ring. The house is quiet, Bill to work, the girls to school - all of them busy and involved. I sit here with the snow falling organizing my thoughts, preparing to enter into my prayer time.
I am grateful for the presence of my Lord. He has chosen not to instantly heal my daughter, or my friend. He hasn't lightened the depression of winter or the cycle of busy season. But He is with me. He doesn't leave me alone in it, and provides me with comfort and peace even through the fear and stress.
It's like when you'vew been running for a long time and your dry and thirsty, heart pounding, fear of what's behind you, close on your heels... then you have refuge. He's the one I run to when life is whelming because when I'm there, with him, I have rest. My head can be such a noisy place, where thoughts chase and circle each other replaying converstations; how I should have done things differently, what will I do "if", on and on. He doesn't always change the circumstances I am in, but he does... quiet me. If you haven't experienced what I'm talking about, this must seem so strange to you.
Now that I've emptied my fears and worries into words, and asked for help in prayer from you, I'm ready to be silent. I'm going to close for now so that I can go to my prayer closet and "be still". When I'm wound up with worry It's so much harder to sit still and listen to what He has to say. But this is what I need to do.
Thanks for sharing the morning with me.
Friday, March 02, 2012
Harassed and Helpless
Bible Reading: Numbers 25-28
Scripture
Moses said to the Lord, “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” (Numbers 27:15-17)
Observation
God has just told Moses that he can see the Promised Land, but he won’t be allowed to enter it. The scripture I’ve pulled above is his final request, a new shepherd to be appointed to govern the people.
As I read this verse, other verses immediately came to mind. After all, the bible is replete with sheep and shepherd metaphors in the bible. Use a concordance or run a search in any bible program and you’ll see what I mean. I’ve pulled only a few to use as example.
John 10:2 “he that enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.”
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:14 “I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, and my sheep know me.”
Ezekiel 34:16b “I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
1st Peter 2:25 “For you were like sheep going astray”, But now you have returned to the Shepherd and overseer of your souls.”
John 10:16 “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will hear my voice and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”
Oh, and don’t forget the oft quoted 23rd Psalm.
That exact phrasing “Like sheep without a shepherd” is used in the old testament. You can find them in Numbers 27:17, Isaiah 13:14, 2nd Chronicles 18:16 and it’s usually used to describe people who are disorganized with no master; people who have gone their own way.
The last scripture that I want to draw attention to though is one where Jesus uses the same phrase Moses did. It’s found here in Matthew 9:36 “When he saw the crowds he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Mark 6:34 in his accounting of this same passage continues it by going on to say, “so he began teaching them many things.”
Application
Where are you on your journey? Where would you place yourself in this metaphor that Moses, several Old Testament authors, and Jesus paint? Are you feeling harassed or helpless? Do you long to have someone care for you, beat away the lions and wolves and give you a place to belong?
I invite you to come to Him. He’s not afraid of your questions or doubts and He will not turn you away. But you must be willing to leave your own ways, and learn His ways.
Prayer
Thank you, Daddy, for not leaving me harassed and helpless. Thank you for making a way for me to come to you, …to belong. I pray for those who might read this journal who do not know you. I pray that you would give them courage to come to you with their questions and their doubts. I pray that you would give them courage to abandon their own way, and chose you.
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