The last couple of weeks have brought certain themes to mind; Love. Minnie Mouse and Proverbs 31. Snowflakes. But let's reflect on this year. Through two different bible studies, Jesus has revealed Himself in ways I had no idea existed in Him. This year has brought a paradigm shift, or better yet, growth in faith, in seeing Him as my lover (intimately near me, caring for me), more so than my Father (displinarian, teacher, leader). Sounds blasphemous when I read it, but after experiencing the year with Him by my side revealing Himself in ways I would never imagine, it reads true.
"...and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live." Acts 17: 26b.
The Lord has blessed me this year beyond any year before. Sure there have been memorable years where He's blessed me with children. But this year, He truly blessed me with His presence everyday and everywhere He has brought me.
As the year comes to a close, Jesus once again is next to me opening my eyes to the beauty of family and their love. I have come to spend Christmas with my parents and left my children with their Dad. I didn't have to pray long to receive confirmation. I asked my children for their gift of this trip (guilt free) and received it generously from them.
And now I'm here and once again the Lord is here with me. He has softened my heart and I believe the hearts of those around me because He knows their appointed time. He has given us the gift of strength to seek forgiveness from each other and lay old stones aside. He has given us laughter in the face of stress and time to learn each other's hearts. He mostly has given us His grace and mercy with abundant free love pouring out from our hearts.
I thank you Lord for your presence, and ask you to remain to continue the work you have started in me. Illumine your light bright through me, and let's continue on this adventure as I will follow where You will lead and be amazed at your works.
The virgin will be with child and will give brith to a son and they will call him Immanuel - which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23
And He is with us this Christmas day and everyday!
Merry Christmas and I challenge you - when hugging a loved one, don't be the first to let go.
In continuous touch with God,
Sarah (DIG)
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Early Morning Prayer
Hey, Lord!
Are you talking to me? Waking me so I can hear you clearly?
I'm listening as you are my one and only.
These early morning awakenings, I'll never understand.
But there is a definate reason as You hold them in your hand.
Sometimes there is a message from You.
Other times it is prayer for those You keep in my heart.
You love me in ways that bath me in Joy.
And I am grateful You have given me a heart and eyes to see and feel Your love.
You bless me Lord with the desires of my heart. I pray those desires are inspired by Your Word. For today Lord I pray,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
Amen.
Are you talking to me? Waking me so I can hear you clearly?
I'm listening as you are my one and only.
These early morning awakenings, I'll never understand.
But there is a definate reason as You hold them in your hand.
Sometimes there is a message from You.
Other times it is prayer for those You keep in my heart.
You love me in ways that bath me in Joy.
And I am grateful You have given me a heart and eyes to see and feel Your love.
You bless me Lord with the desires of my heart. I pray those desires are inspired by Your Word. For today Lord I pray,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24
Amen.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Chipped
Last weekend I had woken up early and was able to spend time in God's arms. Being loved through His Word and guided by His teaching. These quiet times renew my soul and spirit. As I jumped up off the couch and bounced into the kitchen it occurred to me that I was behind in my schedule for the day. I had spent too much time with God and now my schedule wouldn't be completed.
I reached and then yanked on the pull for the kitchen window blind and this motion jerked the blind forward. This knocked one of my favorite vases into the kitchen sink and it chipped on the top edge. This is one of those moments you wish you could take back. From elation to sorrow in one motion I stood there and looked at the chipped vase. Immediately God nudged me to reflect on how this relates to how I love my children, my parents, siblings, friends, and coworkers. Those God places me in front of during the day and week.
In my haste, my words and actions can leave a chip in the lives of others. Moving forward too quickly with my life and not slowing down to remember those around me are placed before me for God's schedule.
In contrast, my words and actions can also leave others knowing they are loved by a God who first loved them. I can stop to remember what is on their heart and what prayers are important in their life. And I can also remember that God's schedule is the most important of all. He slows me down for a reason. His reason, His plan.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
Living through Him, for me, is evaluating in myself, my motives and then my words and actions.
Are they edifying? Or do they leave the person chipped?
Are they thanking God for the love He has given me to then love others?
As I face another day, I seek Christ's love in His word so that I may apply it in my life to thank Him.
Blessings,
DIG (Discovering Intimacy with God)
I reached and then yanked on the pull for the kitchen window blind and this motion jerked the blind forward. This knocked one of my favorite vases into the kitchen sink and it chipped on the top edge. This is one of those moments you wish you could take back. From elation to sorrow in one motion I stood there and looked at the chipped vase. Immediately God nudged me to reflect on how this relates to how I love my children, my parents, siblings, friends, and coworkers. Those God places me in front of during the day and week.
In my haste, my words and actions can leave a chip in the lives of others. Moving forward too quickly with my life and not slowing down to remember those around me are placed before me for God's schedule.
In contrast, my words and actions can also leave others knowing they are loved by a God who first loved them. I can stop to remember what is on their heart and what prayers are important in their life. And I can also remember that God's schedule is the most important of all. He slows me down for a reason. His reason, His plan.
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9
Living through Him, for me, is evaluating in myself, my motives and then my words and actions.
Are they edifying? Or do they leave the person chipped?
Are they thanking God for the love He has given me to then love others?
As I face another day, I seek Christ's love in His word so that I may apply it in my life to thank Him.
Blessings,
DIG (Discovering Intimacy with God)
Friday, November 7, 2008
God’s Kisses and Hugs
Warning – there is not biblical basis for these thoughts. But it does glorify what he has given to all of us.
The rain beat down on the house last night. It was louder than the noise from the 3 computers, TV, and all of us talking. We all fell silent just to listen to the roar. The TV was placed on mute, the computers too. We listened as it seemed to fall harder and the wind blew stronger. It lasted quite awhile.
I always sit in wonder and awe that the rain can fall so hard, fast, and so much. And always, someone will say – “Hey, if this were only SNOW! Think how much we’d have on the ground”. As much as I love watching the snow fall, I also love listening to the rain. More so, I love feeling the rain on my face. The rain drops always make me think of God kissing my face, only me. He gives me each one specifically where they need to fall.
Do you know of butterfly kisses? When a person “kisses” with their eye-lashes, not their mouth? The rain on my face feels like butterfly kisses from God. Each one perfectly placed as He is perfect. Kind, gentle and loving. I especially like the ones that fall on my eyes. As if God is getting my attention to continue and keep my gaze on Him.
Then there is the wind that blows strong sometimes when the rain falls so hard. As a single woman, the wind has become my physical touch from God. He’s wrapping his arms around me and reminding me that He’s ALWAYS there. I don’t even mind my hair getting messed up by the wind. I imagine God taking his hand and messing up my hair like we do with little kids. God is teasing me and playing. I feel He approves of me and likes me for me.
It’s raining and is windy again today. I can’t wait to get out and have God give me kisses and hugs, I love you too.
May God rain on you today.
The rain beat down on the house last night. It was louder than the noise from the 3 computers, TV, and all of us talking. We all fell silent just to listen to the roar. The TV was placed on mute, the computers too. We listened as it seemed to fall harder and the wind blew stronger. It lasted quite awhile.
I always sit in wonder and awe that the rain can fall so hard, fast, and so much. And always, someone will say – “Hey, if this were only SNOW! Think how much we’d have on the ground”. As much as I love watching the snow fall, I also love listening to the rain. More so, I love feeling the rain on my face. The rain drops always make me think of God kissing my face, only me. He gives me each one specifically where they need to fall.
Do you know of butterfly kisses? When a person “kisses” with their eye-lashes, not their mouth? The rain on my face feels like butterfly kisses from God. Each one perfectly placed as He is perfect. Kind, gentle and loving. I especially like the ones that fall on my eyes. As if God is getting my attention to continue and keep my gaze on Him.
Then there is the wind that blows strong sometimes when the rain falls so hard. As a single woman, the wind has become my physical touch from God. He’s wrapping his arms around me and reminding me that He’s ALWAYS there. I don’t even mind my hair getting messed up by the wind. I imagine God taking his hand and messing up my hair like we do with little kids. God is teasing me and playing. I feel He approves of me and likes me for me.
It’s raining and is windy again today. I can’t wait to get out and have God give me kisses and hugs, I love you too.
May God rain on you today.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Pursuing Excellence, or Perfection?
A radio program this week posed an interesting question. Do you pursue excellence, or perfection?
The main topic was how we live our life in Christ. Are we pursuing excellence with the tasks set before us, or perfection?
As I thought this through I decided that I pursue excellence. Pursue in websters dictionary means the following:
1: to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, or defeat
2: to find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish : seek
3: to proceed along
4 a: to engage inb: to follow up or proceed with
5: to continue to afflict : haunt
6: 2chase 1c
I find that for me I proceed along and find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish excellence. Its a learning journey with success and failures along the way to pursue excellence in the tasks I have in my faith-life, mom-life, and work-life. I know I'm not perfect.
Pursuing Perfection - only one is perfect and He died for our sins. Thankfully we are presented perfect before God because of what our Savior has done for us.
"We proclaim him, admonishing, and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy , which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:28-29
When I seek perfection, it is the perfection Christ has promised in his word for my life. It is not by my own doing, other than having child-like faith, but in believing.
Therefore, I pursue excellence, but follow the One who is perfect.
What about you? And to further the thought on this...
What kind of year has it been for you? What season are you in right now? What lessons have you learned? What else would you like to accomplish this year? Even though the "holidays" are coming up, it's not too late to accomplish a goal you set out for yourself this year.
These are questions I'm asking myself at this time as this has been an incredible year of learning, following and believing.
Blessings on your week,
Yours in Christ - DIG (Discovering Intimacy with God)
The main topic was how we live our life in Christ. Are we pursuing excellence with the tasks set before us, or perfection?
As I thought this through I decided that I pursue excellence. Pursue in websters dictionary means the following:
1: to follow in order to overtake, capture, kill, or defeat
2: to find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish : seek
3: to proceed along
4 a: to engage in
5: to continue to afflict : haunt
6: 2chase 1c
I find that for me I proceed along and find or employ measures to obtain or accomplish excellence. Its a learning journey with success and failures along the way to pursue excellence in the tasks I have in my faith-life, mom-life, and work-life. I know I'm not perfect.
Pursuing Perfection - only one is perfect and He died for our sins. Thankfully we are presented perfect before God because of what our Savior has done for us.
"We proclaim him, admonishing, and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy , which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:28-29
When I seek perfection, it is the perfection Christ has promised in his word for my life. It is not by my own doing, other than having child-like faith, but in believing.
Therefore, I pursue excellence, but follow the One who is perfect.
What about you? And to further the thought on this...
What kind of year has it been for you? What season are you in right now? What lessons have you learned? What else would you like to accomplish this year? Even though the "holidays" are coming up, it's not too late to accomplish a goal you set out for yourself this year.
These are questions I'm asking myself at this time as this has been an incredible year of learning, following and believing.
Blessings on your week,
Yours in Christ - DIG (Discovering Intimacy with God)
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Being a Prayer Warrior
The roar of the crowd begins once again and the stands vibrate with feet pounding on the concrete structure. A wave forms directly across from where I'm sitting and moves with graceful ease and perfect timing. I wait, here it comes, whoOOOAAAaaa, I stand up with my arms in the air along with the rest of my section, and we sit back down together. We laugh and clap with excitement for the game on the field is exciting. Two teams are playing, but this game is differant. This game could claim either team as the winner.
Those of us in the stands have been invited to be in the stadium as prayer warriors for friends needing the support of prayer in the midst of their life experience.
Throughout the summer and into September I was privileged to be in the Stadium of Prayer. I wasn't on the field directly in the middle of the game, not yet anyway. I was there as a prayer warrior. The teams playing were "Life" and "Death" and as the game unfolded, both teams won.
"Life" was extended to a friend's mother who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Six doctors confirmed the diagnosis. She spent one year treating the tumor before surgery. Her friends were bold with God and prayed for His will in the outcome, but please Oh Lord, heal her until she comes to know you more personally. Heal her to lead the family to Christ. You are the great physician.
God is so good and so God. We never know what He'll do and why. But we trust in the outcome because He sees the big picture. God, through my friend's mother at the time of her surgery, clearly showed a miracle. NO cancer. None. They took 10 biopsies of the area just to make sure and each showed NO cancer cells.
The crowd sat silent in awe of His greatness. No one dared breath for the moment would pass too quickly. In the stands we knew we had witnessed a miracle. Been apart of something beyond what most of us could even humanly comprehend without the presence of God in our lives. All feeling humbled and privileged to be a prayer warrior at that moment. God chose to reveal Himself in the way of removing the cancer. Tears, then cheers arose throughout the stadium. Life won the game. WE praise you Lord for the gift of a miracle!!
Life also won in the death of another friend. Yes, life won in the midst of death. This friend lived his faith and by that faith drew others to want to know Jesus. From the moment his pancreatic cancer was diagnosed, he put he trust and life in God's hands and let everyone know that he was certain in the outcome. He was "a believer" and disciple of Christ for a number of years and as such life would be his future whether he lived or died. He spent the next year with a positive attitude through the chemotherapy treatments. And he continued to live and love on those around him. He was always interested in the life of the person he was talking with, more than talking about his own battle with cancer.
The message during his memorial was very clear, Jesus loves you and wants to be with you. Believe in him and have eternal life. For this friend is in heaven and has been made whole and lives with cancer no more.
While signing the greeting book, mourners could take an over-sized business card with this friend's picture. On the other side was this verse my friend left in hope for us all :
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and mometary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Someday all of us will be on the field facing life and death. I urge you to pray to Jesus, confess your sins, ask Him into your heart, your life, your mind, and He will be faithful and will forgive your sins. God's promises are real and He can be trusted to fulfill those promises.
"This is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12
One final thought - it is easy to look at Christians and their actions and judge what they do and why and say to yourself "I don't want any part of being a Christian after experiencing that person". But being Christian and believing in Jesus is a one on one relationship. It involves no one else other than yourself and Jesus and how YOU live out that relationship. Keep your eyes clearly focused on God's word and what it says to you. Your walk with Christ is yours. Theirs is theirs and they'll answer someday to God. As will you.
I have several people in my life who purposefully try not to live out their relationship with Jesus because they use the excuse of judging how others live out their faith. Please search your heart and look to God, not others. For at the end of the game, no others will be on the field, only you. And you can choose the outcome while alive - will you choose life, or will you choose death?
Those of us in the stands have been invited to be in the stadium as prayer warriors for friends needing the support of prayer in the midst of their life experience.
Throughout the summer and into September I was privileged to be in the Stadium of Prayer. I wasn't on the field directly in the middle of the game, not yet anyway. I was there as a prayer warrior. The teams playing were "Life" and "Death" and as the game unfolded, both teams won.
"Life" was extended to a friend's mother who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Six doctors confirmed the diagnosis. She spent one year treating the tumor before surgery. Her friends were bold with God and prayed for His will in the outcome, but please Oh Lord, heal her until she comes to know you more personally. Heal her to lead the family to Christ. You are the great physician.
God is so good and so God. We never know what He'll do and why. But we trust in the outcome because He sees the big picture. God, through my friend's mother at the time of her surgery, clearly showed a miracle. NO cancer. None. They took 10 biopsies of the area just to make sure and each showed NO cancer cells.
The crowd sat silent in awe of His greatness. No one dared breath for the moment would pass too quickly. In the stands we knew we had witnessed a miracle. Been apart of something beyond what most of us could even humanly comprehend without the presence of God in our lives. All feeling humbled and privileged to be a prayer warrior at that moment. God chose to reveal Himself in the way of removing the cancer. Tears, then cheers arose throughout the stadium. Life won the game. WE praise you Lord for the gift of a miracle!!
Life also won in the death of another friend. Yes, life won in the midst of death. This friend lived his faith and by that faith drew others to want to know Jesus. From the moment his pancreatic cancer was diagnosed, he put he trust and life in God's hands and let everyone know that he was certain in the outcome. He was "a believer" and disciple of Christ for a number of years and as such life would be his future whether he lived or died. He spent the next year with a positive attitude through the chemotherapy treatments. And he continued to live and love on those around him. He was always interested in the life of the person he was talking with, more than talking about his own battle with cancer.
The message during his memorial was very clear, Jesus loves you and wants to be with you. Believe in him and have eternal life. For this friend is in heaven and has been made whole and lives with cancer no more.
While signing the greeting book, mourners could take an over-sized business card with this friend's picture. On the other side was this verse my friend left in hope for us all :
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and mometary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Someday all of us will be on the field facing life and death. I urge you to pray to Jesus, confess your sins, ask Him into your heart, your life, your mind, and He will be faithful and will forgive your sins. God's promises are real and He can be trusted to fulfill those promises.
"This is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1 John 5:11-12
One final thought - it is easy to look at Christians and their actions and judge what they do and why and say to yourself "I don't want any part of being a Christian after experiencing that person". But being Christian and believing in Jesus is a one on one relationship. It involves no one else other than yourself and Jesus and how YOU live out that relationship. Keep your eyes clearly focused on God's word and what it says to you. Your walk with Christ is yours. Theirs is theirs and they'll answer someday to God. As will you.
I have several people in my life who purposefully try not to live out their relationship with Jesus because they use the excuse of judging how others live out their faith. Please search your heart and look to God, not others. For at the end of the game, no others will be on the field, only you. And you can choose the outcome while alive - will you choose life, or will you choose death?
Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid, just believe." Mark 5:36
Yours in Christ - DIG (Discovering Intimacy with God)
Monday, September 22, 2008
Suddenly, more of God’s “heart prints” are in my life.
Written weeks ago and I forgot to publish.
When I listen to that “still small voice” when it urges me to go one way, even though my common sense screams at me to run the other direction, circumstances usually end up better than what I had thought, or imagined.
You hem me in – behind and before;
You have laid your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5
I flew to Pittsburgh this past Monday to be in the corporate office of the company I work for specifically to meet with my new manager. The United flight was full leaving Seattle, but they book seats anyway. I knew this as it’s happened before. Previous times I’ve been able to get on the flight but not this time.
The gate agent was very friendly as it was 7:15 in the morning and promptly and efficiently booked me through San Francisco. (Why be grumpy about this? I just received a free ticket! And if you’ve done this with United, you know there are no black out dates, or fees, and the ticket allows you to fly anywhere in the lower 48! What a deal! I’m able to bring my daughter with me the next time in November.) The flight to SF left an hour and a half later than my original flight. Not bad for a waiting time. Not bad until the news was given over the loud speaker that SF was fogged in and their air traffic control was delaying planes. My only hope for getting to Pittsburgh was for the connecting flight to be effected also.
We landed in sunny beautiful San Francisco one-half hour before my flight to Pittsburgh was due to take off. The clincher was our gate was in terminal 3 and my flight was leaving from terminal 1. And the Departure board read - On Time!
“Egad, another adventure God? How in the world do I find Air Train to get me to terminal 1? I’ve never done this before! Will You please help me, Lord? I shouldn’t miss this flight, I need to get there!” (Praying this as if the company can’t continue to function without me. How self-righteous.)
I deplaned and didn’t see a gate agent to ask which way to go. As I prayed, I followed the crowd, but didn’t see any signs for Air Train. At that moment, the “still small voice” nudged me to turn around and head in the direction that didn’t make any sense to me. But I did it anyway. And guess what? Several gates down the hallway and around the bend was a sign with an up arrow that stated, “Air Train”. Thank you Lord for taking care of me! I still may have missed my flight, but I obeyed and You came through like you always do for me! Thank you for this “heart print” of your love today.
Was I full of joy? Well, no. Under my breath I complained about having to change terminals and enter terminal 1 through security again. I didn’t tie my shoes and went running down the passageway to my gate, HOPING I wouldn’t step on my shoelace and fall. (Thank you Lord for keeping my shoelaces from getting tangled, or stepped on by the opposing foot. And next time, would you keep me from talking all of this out loud so people around me don’t think I’m nuts!)
I made the plane as the 4th person to the last to board. Surprisingly, with a window seat with NO ONE sitting in the middle. Thank you Lord again! The man on the aisle and I smiled and proceeded to spread out.
During this flight (4 ½ hours), I decided to take my own advice from the previous post and pull out my traveling bible and bible study. My seat mate proceeded to order rum and cokes.
You hem me in – behind and before;
You have laid your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:5
I flew to Pittsburgh this past Monday to be in the corporate office of the company I work for specifically to meet with my new manager. The United flight was full leaving Seattle, but they book seats anyway. I knew this as it’s happened before. Previous times I’ve been able to get on the flight but not this time.
The gate agent was very friendly as it was 7:15 in the morning and promptly and efficiently booked me through San Francisco. (Why be grumpy about this? I just received a free ticket! And if you’ve done this with United, you know there are no black out dates, or fees, and the ticket allows you to fly anywhere in the lower 48! What a deal! I’m able to bring my daughter with me the next time in November.) The flight to SF left an hour and a half later than my original flight. Not bad for a waiting time. Not bad until the news was given over the loud speaker that SF was fogged in and their air traffic control was delaying planes. My only hope for getting to Pittsburgh was for the connecting flight to be effected also.
We landed in sunny beautiful San Francisco one-half hour before my flight to Pittsburgh was due to take off. The clincher was our gate was in terminal 3 and my flight was leaving from terminal 1. And the Departure board read - On Time!
“Egad, another adventure God? How in the world do I find Air Train to get me to terminal 1? I’ve never done this before! Will You please help me, Lord? I shouldn’t miss this flight, I need to get there!” (Praying this as if the company can’t continue to function without me. How self-righteous.)
I deplaned and didn’t see a gate agent to ask which way to go. As I prayed, I followed the crowd, but didn’t see any signs for Air Train. At that moment, the “still small voice” nudged me to turn around and head in the direction that didn’t make any sense to me. But I did it anyway. And guess what? Several gates down the hallway and around the bend was a sign with an up arrow that stated, “Air Train”. Thank you Lord for taking care of me! I still may have missed my flight, but I obeyed and You came through like you always do for me! Thank you for this “heart print” of your love today.
Was I full of joy? Well, no. Under my breath I complained about having to change terminals and enter terminal 1 through security again. I didn’t tie my shoes and went running down the passageway to my gate, HOPING I wouldn’t step on my shoelace and fall. (Thank you Lord for keeping my shoelaces from getting tangled, or stepped on by the opposing foot. And next time, would you keep me from talking all of this out loud so people around me don’t think I’m nuts!)
I made the plane as the 4th person to the last to board. Surprisingly, with a window seat with NO ONE sitting in the middle. Thank you Lord again! The man on the aisle and I smiled and proceeded to spread out.
During this flight (4 ½ hours), I decided to take my own advice from the previous post and pull out my traveling bible and bible study. My seat mate proceeded to order rum and cokes.
I read in Proverbs two of my favorite verses.
First,
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Proverbs 16:3
This is a tricky verse. And I believe the key is in the first half of the phrase – Commit to the Lord whatever you do –
That is, commit (give over fully, don’t keep anything back, and don’t take it back either, repeatedly hand it to Him);
to the Lord (no one or nothing else);
whatever you do (this is pretty self-explanatory – but what does God say to do in any given circumstance? There is a verse in the bible, go look one up. Don’t know how? In the back of most bibles is dictionary/concordance. Take the key word, or words, in what you are trying to find and start looking in this section. Sometimes, I’ll start with certain words, and those will lead me to other words and to the verses God has intended. Another loving “heart print” for you from God.)
The bottom line of this verse is to give your will over to God’s will for your life.
And please, don’t get me wrong – I don’t always follow the “still small voice”. It also doesn’t always give me what I want. God could have meant for me to miss the plane, but would have had a reason for me.
The second verse,
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
I sign off this blog for you to meditate and discern this verse for your own life.
God Bless you and keep you this week.
Yours in Christ,
DIG (Discovering Intimacy with God)
First,
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”
Proverbs 16:3
This is a tricky verse. And I believe the key is in the first half of the phrase – Commit to the Lord whatever you do –
That is, commit (give over fully, don’t keep anything back, and don’t take it back either, repeatedly hand it to Him);
to the Lord (no one or nothing else);
whatever you do (this is pretty self-explanatory – but what does God say to do in any given circumstance? There is a verse in the bible, go look one up. Don’t know how? In the back of most bibles is dictionary/concordance. Take the key word, or words, in what you are trying to find and start looking in this section. Sometimes, I’ll start with certain words, and those will lead me to other words and to the verses God has intended. Another loving “heart print” for you from God.)
The bottom line of this verse is to give your will over to God’s will for your life.
And please, don’t get me wrong – I don’t always follow the “still small voice”. It also doesn’t always give me what I want. God could have meant for me to miss the plane, but would have had a reason for me.
The second verse,
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
Proverbs 16:9
I sign off this blog for you to meditate and discern this verse for your own life.
God Bless you and keep you this week.
Yours in Christ,
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Fall Bible Studies
For many this is the week fall bible studies begin. I pray you have found one that fits your needs - growth in the WORD, encourages you in fellowship, but mostly brings you closer to your Savior, Jesus. He longs to love you and be loved by you.
Recently, I was talking with a friend who has started an inductive study. If you haven't done one, consider it. She is learning to use symbols, highlighters, and notebooks to help her dig into what Christ has for her in His Word. Inductive studies are intense.
As she started her study this week, she experienced an event opposing what she was learning in the study. She felt she failed in her faith during the event, prayed about it, and then someone came alongside her giving her a "second chance" to share God's love. God loving her so much by sending this person, she was able to feel she redeemed herself.
How many times do we "hide our light under a bushel" with excuses not to share God's love? Do you take your bible study to your kid's sports practice and openly work on it at the sidelines, or do you sit in your car? What about during your lunch hour at work? I usually drive down to a beach and have lunch at a picnic table. Why don't I pull out my devotion for the day along with my bible? We are "one nation under God", with the freedom to practice our religion and faith.
I've seen people in airports recently (mainly men, which is surprising to me) with their bibles out in their laps. Studying, reading, being encouraged for the moment, day, and lifetime. This encouraged me to purchase a "traveling bible". A lighter , smaller bible. Instead of traveling with my bigger, heavier one.
But this post isn't about carrying your bible everywhere or your bible study, to show off your faith, it's about being used by God to live your faith. Through His Word we learn how much we are loved. Through this knowledge and walking with Jesus daily, we learn how to live our faith by loving others through Jesus' eyes.
16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and establised in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19.
Recently, I was talking with a friend who has started an inductive study. If you haven't done one, consider it. She is learning to use symbols, highlighters, and notebooks to help her dig into what Christ has for her in His Word. Inductive studies are intense.
As she started her study this week, she experienced an event opposing what she was learning in the study. She felt she failed in her faith during the event, prayed about it, and then someone came alongside her giving her a "second chance" to share God's love. God loving her so much by sending this person, she was able to feel she redeemed herself.
How many times do we "hide our light under a bushel" with excuses not to share God's love? Do you take your bible study to your kid's sports practice and openly work on it at the sidelines, or do you sit in your car? What about during your lunch hour at work? I usually drive down to a beach and have lunch at a picnic table. Why don't I pull out my devotion for the day along with my bible? We are "one nation under God", with the freedom to practice our religion and faith.
I've seen people in airports recently (mainly men, which is surprising to me) with their bibles out in their laps. Studying, reading, being encouraged for the moment, day, and lifetime. This encouraged me to purchase a "traveling bible". A lighter , smaller bible. Instead of traveling with my bigger, heavier one.
But this post isn't about carrying your bible everywhere or your bible study, to show off your faith, it's about being used by God to live your faith. Through His Word we learn how much we are loved. Through this knowledge and walking with Jesus daily, we learn how to live our faith by loving others through Jesus' eyes.
16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and establised in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:16-19.
Keep your eyes open this week - Jesus is there!
PS - My fall studies include Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" and "Discover Who You Are", by Lifekeys. What is yours? Post it here for others to expand their knowledge on the studies available.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Manzanita Bob, the Doorkeeper
I came across this verse recently during an early morning bible study time. I found it shortly after I learned a new process to medidate on a verse. You probably know this, but to me it was a revelation in understanding God's word more intimately in my life.
Anyway, I took a verse that spoke to me that morning, wrote it down and carried it with me during the day. As the day went on and I read the verse countless times, certain words in the verse caught my attention and "stuck out".
Let's look at the verse and I'll share with you what "stuck out" for me.
"I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of the wicked."
Psalm 84:106
Woo-wee, reverse this and that's been most of my life, "dwelling in the house of the wicked".
Thank you Jesus for your love as this is no longer true!
First, the beginning part of the verse caught my attention, "I would rather be a". This tells me I have a choice. I'm choosing to "be" what God is describing in the verse. There is a decision point in this sentence. If that's true, then what am I choosing to be for God?
A doorkeeper. This is the word I spent most of the day meditating. I determined this "job" entails quite a few responsibilities;
greeter (Invites others into the house of God.),
host (Helps visitors feel welcome and shows them where to go in the house.),
protector (Watches for wolves in sheep clothing. This reminds me of my Pastors and brothers at church.),
works for God (Doesn't stand idle.),
lives with God (They are the doorkeeper to the house.),
and they obey the homeowner. (God)
My family and I spent a couple summers in a beautiful little town called Manzanita located on the Oregon coast. Though it has sprawled with new housing, it is still quaint and at the time had one grocery store, a gas station, and a few tourist stores. We would spend every chance we got on the beach. This is where we met Bob.
Bob would come out around 10am when the fog had burned off the beach. Towing with him countless large shovels, buckets, sand toys, and water spritzing bottles. Many more items than anyone person needed to build a sandcastle. As Bob hauled these items from his car, as this took many trips back and forth, people would start to gather to see what it was he would build. I shouldn't write people, I should write kids. Beautiful open-hearted, adventurous, curious kids.
With a gleam in his eye and an inviting smile, Bob would then invite them to help him build a sand castle. They could help as long as they wanted to and for as long as their parents said it was ok.
"What kind of castle?" "What should it look like?" "How do we begin?"
Gently and kindly, Bob would answer each question the same, "We start by building a moat and piling the sand from the moat in the middle. Then you all decide what the castle should look like and build it. And there doesn't have to be one castle. And the moat doesn't have to be round. It can wind its way with curves and bends."
Of course, the parents of the children helping Bob would venture over to see who their kids were talking to and what they were doing. "Are they bothering you?" they'd ask.
"Oh, no," Bob would say. "I need the help. Would you like to take a shovel and work on the castle too?" Most times the sand castle building would include a few families who were there on vacation and would never have met had Bob not shown up on the beach.
As the children, adults, and Bob would build the castle, people would ask Bob why he did this everyday. Bob would then share his love for Jesus and hand them a Billy Graham track. As I watched Bob evangelize, he would usually learn about the person first, and through his loving way, create trust with the person so they could share their heart and what was happening in their life. Then Bob knew what prayer was needed for that person.
This was Bob's mission field to share the love of Christ with people on the beach. Bob was a "doorkeeper".
Bob had the gift of greeting people where they were, not labeling them for where they were not. He also had the gift of being a host. Telling people how to begin a sandcastle and engaging them in easy conversation to learn who they were and then telling them how much God loves them. Mostly, Bob lived with God, worked for God, and obeyed the "homeowner", God.
Each year became an exciting time to see if Bob would still be on the beach. As we came to know him we learned his wife was unable to come to the beach with him. She was aging and needed to stay in Portland. But as long as Bob could, he would come to the beach, build sandcastles, attract kids, where their parents would come meet Bob, and God would then give Bob the opportunity to share HIS love with the people on the beach.
Anyway, I took a verse that spoke to me that morning, wrote it down and carried it with me during the day. As the day went on and I read the verse countless times, certain words in the verse caught my attention and "stuck out".
Let's look at the verse and I'll share with you what "stuck out" for me.
"I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of the wicked."
Psalm 84:106
Woo-wee, reverse this and that's been most of my life, "dwelling in the house of the wicked".
Thank you Jesus for your love as this is no longer true!
First, the beginning part of the verse caught my attention, "I would rather be a". This tells me I have a choice. I'm choosing to "be" what God is describing in the verse. There is a decision point in this sentence. If that's true, then what am I choosing to be for God?
A doorkeeper. This is the word I spent most of the day meditating. I determined this "job" entails quite a few responsibilities;
greeter (Invites others into the house of God.),
host (Helps visitors feel welcome and shows them where to go in the house.),
protector (Watches for wolves in sheep clothing. This reminds me of my Pastors and brothers at church.),
works for God (Doesn't stand idle.),
lives with God (They are the doorkeeper to the house.),
and they obey the homeowner. (God)
My family and I spent a couple summers in a beautiful little town called Manzanita located on the Oregon coast. Though it has sprawled with new housing, it is still quaint and at the time had one grocery store, a gas station, and a few tourist stores. We would spend every chance we got on the beach. This is where we met Bob.
Bob would come out around 10am when the fog had burned off the beach. Towing with him countless large shovels, buckets, sand toys, and water spritzing bottles. Many more items than anyone person needed to build a sandcastle. As Bob hauled these items from his car, as this took many trips back and forth, people would start to gather to see what it was he would build. I shouldn't write people, I should write kids. Beautiful open-hearted, adventurous, curious kids.
With a gleam in his eye and an inviting smile, Bob would then invite them to help him build a sand castle. They could help as long as they wanted to and for as long as their parents said it was ok.
"What kind of castle?" "What should it look like?" "How do we begin?"
Gently and kindly, Bob would answer each question the same, "We start by building a moat and piling the sand from the moat in the middle. Then you all decide what the castle should look like and build it. And there doesn't have to be one castle. And the moat doesn't have to be round. It can wind its way with curves and bends."
Of course, the parents of the children helping Bob would venture over to see who their kids were talking to and what they were doing. "Are they bothering you?" they'd ask.
"Oh, no," Bob would say. "I need the help. Would you like to take a shovel and work on the castle too?" Most times the sand castle building would include a few families who were there on vacation and would never have met had Bob not shown up on the beach.
As the children, adults, and Bob would build the castle, people would ask Bob why he did this everyday. Bob would then share his love for Jesus and hand them a Billy Graham track. As I watched Bob evangelize, he would usually learn about the person first, and through his loving way, create trust with the person so they could share their heart and what was happening in their life. Then Bob knew what prayer was needed for that person.
This was Bob's mission field to share the love of Christ with people on the beach. Bob was a "doorkeeper".
Bob had the gift of greeting people where they were, not labeling them for where they were not. He also had the gift of being a host. Telling people how to begin a sandcastle and engaging them in easy conversation to learn who they were and then telling them how much God loves them. Mostly, Bob lived with God, worked for God, and obeyed the "homeowner", God.
Each year became an exciting time to see if Bob would still be on the beach. As we came to know him we learned his wife was unable to come to the beach with him. She was aging and needed to stay in Portland. But as long as Bob could, he would come to the beach, build sandcastles, attract kids, where their parents would come meet Bob, and God would then give Bob the opportunity to share HIS love with the people on the beach.
Rising in the Morning, a prayer
Hey, Lord!
Are you talking to me? Waking me so I can hear you clearly?
I'm listening as you are my one and only.
These early morning awakenings, I'll never understand.
But there is a definate reason as You hold them in your hand.
Sometimes there is a message from You,
Other times it is prayer for those You keep in my heart.
You love me in ways that bath me in Joy.
And I am grateful You have given me a heart and eyes to see and feel Your love.
You bless me Lord with the desires of my heart.
I pray those desires are inspired by Your Word.
For today Lord I pray,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24
Amen.
Are you talking to me? Waking me so I can hear you clearly?
I'm listening as you are my one and only.
These early morning awakenings, I'll never understand.
But there is a definate reason as You hold them in your hand.
Sometimes there is a message from You,
Other times it is prayer for those You keep in my heart.
You love me in ways that bath me in Joy.
And I am grateful You have given me a heart and eyes to see and feel Your love.
You bless me Lord with the desires of my heart.
I pray those desires are inspired by Your Word.
For today Lord I pray,
"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24
Amen.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Missing Adventures
The sun teased and taunted me outside my office window this week. It would peak out from behind the clouds as if to say "Come dear one, come and enjoy the warmth and the splendor of my rays". Work was calling louder though as emails and questions kept commanding my attention. So I ignored the sun's taunts. When I did look outside to see if it was still there, it would be hiding behind a cloud with just a hint of ray peaking out and shining. Lunchtime, I thought. At lunchtime I'll leave and drive down to the lighthouse and beach, then walk along the shore. Smelling the salt fresh air and looking for the sealions that occasionally pop their heads up out of the water to say hello, we're back from our winter stay in the south. Maybe I'll even bark out over the water and see if they'll respond. I have done that with my kids and it sends giggles through each of us.
If I go to the beach at lunch, the sun will most certainly stop its game of hide and seek and find me there to feel God's kiss on my cheeks with its warmth.
But I didn't go. I stayed inside the concrete building and ate lunch in the cafe. My spirit sagged. Later that day, it occurred to me that maybe God was beckoning me on another one of His adventures. And I didn't respond. Then I felt sad as all the other times I had obeyed His call, the adventure was marvelous and not what I had thought was in store for me. I had one idea in mind on where I was going and what I was doing, and God had another.
Not only am I blessed by God's idea, but other's are blessed as well. So who really misses out when we don't follow Him?
Next time, God, when you call, I'll come running in anticipation and not miss another one of YOUR adventures!
On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:13-15
If I go to the beach at lunch, the sun will most certainly stop its game of hide and seek and find me there to feel God's kiss on my cheeks with its warmth.
But I didn't go. I stayed inside the concrete building and ate lunch in the cafe. My spirit sagged. Later that day, it occurred to me that maybe God was beckoning me on another one of His adventures. And I didn't respond. Then I felt sad as all the other times I had obeyed His call, the adventure was marvelous and not what I had thought was in store for me. I had one idea in mind on where I was going and what I was doing, and God had another.
Not only am I blessed by God's idea, but other's are blessed as well. So who really misses out when we don't follow Him?
Next time, God, when you call, I'll come running in anticipation and not miss another one of YOUR adventures!
On the Sabbath, we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
Acts 16:13-15
Monday, March 17, 2008
He meets us where we are
I ran across this quote today by Maya Angelou...
"I did then, what I knew then, and when I knew better, I did better."
As I read this it rang true. Especially with my walk with God. As I've grown in His Word, I've learned better and I do better. Better grace, better love, better hope, better kindness, better joy, better peace, and a better open heart to receive more from Him.
"So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."
1 Corinthians 3:7
So here is the first blog of hopefully many. My goal is write at least weekly the amazing ways God is loving on me and opening my eyes to His grace, in hope of encouraging you to look for Him too.
In Christ's Love,
DIG'in It!
"I did then, what I knew then, and when I knew better, I did better."
As I read this it rang true. Especially with my walk with God. As I've grown in His Word, I've learned better and I do better. Better grace, better love, better hope, better kindness, better joy, better peace, and a better open heart to receive more from Him.
"So then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth."
1 Corinthians 3:7
So here is the first blog of hopefully many. My goal is write at least weekly the amazing ways God is loving on me and opening my eyes to His grace, in hope of encouraging you to look for Him too.
In Christ's Love,
DIG'in It!
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