Choosing to live life on your terms, rather than God's, means choosing to miss out on His best for your life!
Praying that each one of us will choose wisely ...
✞
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Perseverence in Pain
Dealing with some intense shooting pains and holding onto this hope:
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
(1 Peter 4:12-13)
Sometimes (like now), it's hard to rejoice in this suffering, as it serves as a painful reminder of what once was and what will never be again ...
✞
"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."
(1 Peter 4:12-13)
Sometimes (like now), it's hard to rejoice in this suffering, as it serves as a painful reminder of what once was and what will never be again ...
✞
Sunday, December 4, 2011
God's Promise
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
(Psalm 34:18)
Clinging to His promise even as I write this ...
✞
(Psalm 34:18)
Clinging to His promise even as I write this ...
✞
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Things Behind the Sun
After waiting 11 years, I finally watched the movie, "Things Behind the Sun," last night. Still, I wish I knew "why," and am sad and angry at the loss of childhood innocence.
Thankful for Deuteronomy 29:29 ...
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever ..."
Even at this moment I am struggling with the painful physical aftermath, and crying out to the Lord my God ...
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."
(Psalm 63:8)
Trusting in His Sovereign Grace,
✞
Thankful for Deuteronomy 29:29 ...
"The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever ..."
Even at this moment I am struggling with the painful physical aftermath, and crying out to the Lord my God ...
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."
(Psalm 63:8)
Trusting in His Sovereign Grace,
✞
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Seasons of Life
This morning I decided to go to McDonald’s for breakfast because I had a taste for an Egg McMuffin. As I was waiting for my order at the drive-thru window, I noticed a sign inside the cashier’s window informing the cashier that the service time for each customer was to be no more than 10-15 seconds.
“Typical” was the first thought that crossed my mind because we have become a society which does not want to wait for anything. Rather, we expect our lives to be easy and when challenges arise we expect them to be resolved instantly! And, as I drove home in the snow (our first snow-fall of the season, announcing that winter had arrived), the next thought that crossed my mind was “aren’t we lucky that God gives us the winters of our lives so that we can then appreciate the spring times when they arrive!”
“My soul is in anguish, how long, O Lord, how long?”
(Psalm 6:3)
Two years ago (this month), my own “winter” began and, truth be told, there were times when I thought I would never make it through to the other side (i.e. “springtime”). In fact, even as I write this I’m dealing with shooting pains that have no known explanation and no cure, but rather are the residual effects of past trauma (part of my “winter”) and are so excruciating at times that they will actually stop me dead in my tracks.
“So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.”
(Psalm 143:4)
The good news is that two weeks ago, after a week of horrible dreams and nightmares, continuous shooting pains, and a brief conversation with my pastor about how to process all of this, I finally had the realization that perhaps I’m the lucky one with these dreams and shooting pains because they serve as a constant reminder that I am completely dependent upon the grace of God (like Paul’s thorn) – otherwise I might be tempted to go it alone! Been there, done that, and it was a complete disaster!
“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
(Proverbs 2:6)
I wish I could tell you that this period of winter was completely over and that springtime had arrived but that would be a lie. There are still days when the showers are not hot enough and the shooting pains feel like they are too much to bear. However, I cannot trust my feelings. Instead, I must cling to the promises of God’s Word and to the truth of His character, knowing that while I may feel alone and scared, the truth is that He is right here with me, He is in control and He is God!
“For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.”
(Psalm 86:10)
Today's Prayer: O, Holy Father, please help us to always remember that no matter what we may feel, the truth of Your Word tells us that You, and You alone, will deliver us from the depths of despair, but only if we seek You with all of our heart, all of our mind and all of our strength, acknowledging that You alone are God! Thank you for loving us too much to allow us to stay the same, no matter how much it may hurt at times!
✞
“Typical” was the first thought that crossed my mind because we have become a society which does not want to wait for anything. Rather, we expect our lives to be easy and when challenges arise we expect them to be resolved instantly! And, as I drove home in the snow (our first snow-fall of the season, announcing that winter had arrived), the next thought that crossed my mind was “aren’t we lucky that God gives us the winters of our lives so that we can then appreciate the spring times when they arrive!”
“My soul is in anguish, how long, O Lord, how long?”
(Psalm 6:3)
Two years ago (this month), my own “winter” began and, truth be told, there were times when I thought I would never make it through to the other side (i.e. “springtime”). In fact, even as I write this I’m dealing with shooting pains that have no known explanation and no cure, but rather are the residual effects of past trauma (part of my “winter”) and are so excruciating at times that they will actually stop me dead in my tracks.
“So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.”
(Psalm 143:4)
The good news is that two weeks ago, after a week of horrible dreams and nightmares, continuous shooting pains, and a brief conversation with my pastor about how to process all of this, I finally had the realization that perhaps I’m the lucky one with these dreams and shooting pains because they serve as a constant reminder that I am completely dependent upon the grace of God (like Paul’s thorn) – otherwise I might be tempted to go it alone! Been there, done that, and it was a complete disaster!
“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
(Proverbs 2:6)
I wish I could tell you that this period of winter was completely over and that springtime had arrived but that would be a lie. There are still days when the showers are not hot enough and the shooting pains feel like they are too much to bear. However, I cannot trust my feelings. Instead, I must cling to the promises of God’s Word and to the truth of His character, knowing that while I may feel alone and scared, the truth is that He is right here with me, He is in control and He is God!
“For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.”
(Psalm 86:10)
Today's Prayer: O, Holy Father, please help us to always remember that no matter what we may feel, the truth of Your Word tells us that You, and You alone, will deliver us from the depths of despair, but only if we seek You with all of our heart, all of our mind and all of our strength, acknowledging that You alone are God! Thank you for loving us too much to allow us to stay the same, no matter how much it may hurt at times!
✞
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Food for Thought
"Trials, we must distinctly understand, are a part of the diet which all true Christians must expect."
~ J.C. Ryle
“None are so safe as those whom God keeps; none so much in danger as the self-secure.”
~ Spurgeon
"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart."
~ John Bunyan
“You can compare yourself to others and tell yourself that you're okay or look into God's mirror and affirm your ongoing need for his grace.”
~ Paul Tripp
“If God’s love for His children is to be measured by our health, wealth and comfort in this life, God hated the Apostle Paul.”
~ John Piper
~ J.C. Ryle
“None are so safe as those whom God keeps; none so much in danger as the self-secure.”
~ Spurgeon
"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart."
~ John Bunyan
“You can compare yourself to others and tell yourself that you're okay or look into God's mirror and affirm your ongoing need for his grace.”
~ Paul Tripp
“If God’s love for His children is to be measured by our health, wealth and comfort in this life, God hated the Apostle Paul.”
~ John Piper
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Cease Striving
A few days ago I was reading through Psalm 46 when I came across this verse:
“Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10 NASB)
I cannot tell you how often I have read this verse over the years. The NIV Bible (which is the version I usually read) phrases it this way: “Be still and know that I am God,” and I have meditated on this verse many times. However, this time it really stopped me in my tracks. Maybe because of the way it was stated: cease striving!
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, to strive means: “to try very hard to achieve something,” and that sums up this past week perfectly.
Every time I did something out of the goodness of my heart, it did not go well. And when I then tried to “fix” it, all I seemed to do was make it worse! In fact, even today I did something that I now regret. And while I did it from a place of wanting to serve someone else, I believe I was wrong to do it.
So this afternoon, I sent an email to this person asking them for their forgiveness. At church tonight, however, it continued to weigh heavily on my mind and I started thinking I should send another email to try and “fix” it (even though I have not yet heard back from them one way or the other). Fortunately, while I was praying about it, the Holy Spirit intervened and brought the words cease striving to my mind over and over and over again, and for that I am truly grateful.
In each of these situations, God knew the thoughts and intentions of my heart. Thus, my job is to stop trying to “achieve” something (i.e. fix the things that have happened this week, including today), and instead cease striving, step back and trust that God will be exalted in the earth (in all of these things). And that is my only heart’s desire – HIS GLORY!
What about you? Do you find yourself constantly in a panic, striving to make thing happen in your life? If you’re at all like me, it’s an easy thing to do. So if I may, I would encourage you to stop, remembering that God is, indeed, in control, and to pray that God would be exalted in your own life, as well.
O, Holy Father, forgive me for all of the times when I have stepped out of Your will and tried to fix everything on my own, only to seemingly make a bigger mess of it all. Instead, may I always remember to cease striving so that YOU will be exalted in every situation, every relationship, and every area of my life.
In His Most Precious Name I pray …
✞
“Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10 NASB)
I cannot tell you how often I have read this verse over the years. The NIV Bible (which is the version I usually read) phrases it this way: “Be still and know that I am God,” and I have meditated on this verse many times. However, this time it really stopped me in my tracks. Maybe because of the way it was stated: cease striving!
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, to strive means: “to try very hard to achieve something,” and that sums up this past week perfectly.
Every time I did something out of the goodness of my heart, it did not go well. And when I then tried to “fix” it, all I seemed to do was make it worse! In fact, even today I did something that I now regret. And while I did it from a place of wanting to serve someone else, I believe I was wrong to do it.
So this afternoon, I sent an email to this person asking them for their forgiveness. At church tonight, however, it continued to weigh heavily on my mind and I started thinking I should send another email to try and “fix” it (even though I have not yet heard back from them one way or the other). Fortunately, while I was praying about it, the Holy Spirit intervened and brought the words cease striving to my mind over and over and over again, and for that I am truly grateful.
In each of these situations, God knew the thoughts and intentions of my heart. Thus, my job is to stop trying to “achieve” something (i.e. fix the things that have happened this week, including today), and instead cease striving, step back and trust that God will be exalted in the earth (in all of these things). And that is my only heart’s desire – HIS GLORY!
What about you? Do you find yourself constantly in a panic, striving to make thing happen in your life? If you’re at all like me, it’s an easy thing to do. So if I may, I would encourage you to stop, remembering that God is, indeed, in control, and to pray that God would be exalted in your own life, as well.
O, Holy Father, forgive me for all of the times when I have stepped out of Your will and tried to fix everything on my own, only to seemingly make a bigger mess of it all. Instead, may I always remember to cease striving so that YOU will be exalted in every situation, every relationship, and every area of my life.
In His Most Precious Name I pray …
✞
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)