Sitting in a beach chair with my toes in the sand. Listening to the sounds of waves crashing onto the beach. Hearing the laughter of grandchildren.
Those are just a few of my favorite memories from last week.
Today it's back to reality. Instead of sand and waves, my day is filled with unpacking and laundry. This is the worst part of a vacation, in my opinion.
But not even the drudgery of laundry can dim the memories we made.
What a relaxing week it was. No particular agenda. No appointments that had to be kept. No chores to be done.
Just relaxing. Sitting on the beach with a book. Or on the porch. Walking on the beach. Laughing. Talking. Making memories together.
What great fun it was!
Even as I'm faced with unpacking and sorting laundry and putting things away, there's a smile on my face.
Relaxed. Refreshed. Renewed.
The location was amazing. Oceanfront. Falling asleep each night to the sound of waves crashing onto the beach. Waking up to see the sun over the water.
But it wasn't just about the location. It was about the people.
It was smiles and giggles and belly laughs. It was conversation. It was together. It was family.
Family. One of life's greatest blessings.
The vacation is over. But the memories will last a lifetime.
More happy than my heart can hold.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name." (Psalm 103:1 ESV)
Monday, June 29, 2015
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Brokenhearted
I went to bed early last night. I had no idea what was happening at the other end of my state while I was peacefully sleeping.
This morning I learned of the tragic shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. And I wept.
I continue to weep.
For Charleston.
For the Emanuel AME Church.
For the families and friends of those who were killed.
For my state.
For my nation.
My heart breaks for us.
And so I weep.
And I cry out to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy on us.
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18 NASB)
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
This morning I learned of the tragic shooting at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. And I wept.
I continue to weep.
For Charleston.
For the Emanuel AME Church.
For the families and friends of those who were killed.
For my state.
For my nation.
My heart breaks for us.
And so I weep.
And I cry out to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy on us.
"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18 NASB)
"If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Ordinary Choices
Elisabeth Elliott died a few days ago. She left this life and entered into the presence of the Lord, where I am sure she heard, "well done, good and faithful servant."
Much has been said and written about Elisabeth Elliott in the days since her passing. One of the most impactful things I read came from Nancy Leigh DeMoss's blog. She wrote these words:
It would be a mistake to look at Elisabeth and only see a bigger-than-life person and think, This is somebody in another stratosphere. We forget that the impact of her life flowed out of ordinary choices, day after day, to get to know God, to cry out to Him for grace, to do the next thing—that the big picture of Elisabeth's life was a sum total of saying again and again, "Yes, Lord."
She never considered herself heroic or special or extraordinary. She seemed that way to us, because so few people make those choices. But the same could be true of each of us—that when the story of our lives is told, people will say, "She trusted and she obeyed." (excerpted from "She Trusted and She Obeyed: a Tribute to Elizabeth Elliott" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, emphasis mine)
She never considered herself heroic or special or extraordinary. She seemed that way to us, because so few people make those choices. But the same could be true of each of us—that when the story of our lives is told, people will say, "She trusted and she obeyed." (excerpted from "She Trusted and She Obeyed: a Tribute to Elizabeth Elliott" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, emphasis mine)
Elisabeth Elliott was a woman who trusted and obeyed. A woman who day after day, week after week, year after year, lived a life that was totally for the glory of God.
What an example. What a legacy.
May we who remain here in this world be as faithful as Elisabeth Elliott. May we live lives that honor God. May we - daily, moment by moment - trust Him. Obey Him. May our ordinary choices draw us closer to Him and may our ordinary choices bring Him glory. May we leave a legacy, as Elisabeth Elliott did, of faithfulness and obedience and trust.
May all who come behind us find us faithful.
O may all who come behind us find us faithful;
May the fire of our devotion light their way.
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe,
And the lives we live inspire them to obey.
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful.
(Jon Mohr)
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
The Most Important Thing
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us….Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like." - A.W. TozerI recently came across this Tozer quote when I was doing an internet search. I was actually looking for something else, but this popped up in the search results. Those four words - the most important thing - really grabbed my attention.
A. W. Tozer was a pastor in the Christian Missionary Alliance church and is perhaps best known to us for two of his books, both now considered classics in Christian literature, The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy. My copies of these books are well-worn and well-highlighted, and have had quite an impact on my life.
Stumbling across this quote has caused me to stop and think. To ponder, if you will.
What do you consider the most important thing about yourself? Is it your physical appearance? Or your education? Or your job? Or where you live? Or your family? Or your political affiliations? Or your opinions? Or your loyalty to a particular sports team?
Have you ever stopped to consider that question? And have you ever paused to consider what Tozer said? Have you ever stopped to think about what you think about God?
What do you think about God? How well do you know Him? What is your view of God?
Isaiah had this to say about his view of God:
"In the year of King Uzziah's death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called out to another and said, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory.' " (Isaiah 6:1-3)
That was Isaiah's view. What's yours?
How do we get to know God? How do we have a right view of Him?
Once we are in a faith relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, we come to know Him better through the pages of Scripture. As we read, and as we study, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to understand more and more about who God is, about His character and His ways.
Our right view of God is developed by time in His Word, and by spending time with Him in prayer. And we express our right view of Him by how we live out our lives on a daily basis.
"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2 NASB)
Monday, June 15, 2015
He'll Do It Again
Recently I've been spending some time in Discovering Jesus in the Old Testament, a one-year devotional book written by Nancy Guthrie. I began this book in January, so you would think that today I would have read the June 15 reading, or something at least close to that.
However, I'm still in the March readings. One of the reasons for that is that I don't read from this book every day. The more significant reason is that I sometimes (often) spend more than one day on a day's reading. Thinking about what I've read. Pondering it. Doing some additional digging.
This morning's reading has me on "pause" again. This morning's reading was titled He Came Down. Ponder the magnitude of that for a moment.
God came down. To earth. To us.
God came down in the Old Testament.
"I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians." (Exodus 3:8 NLT)
"The LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with [Moses]." (Exodus 34:5 NLT)
"When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down to the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD." (2 Chronicles 7:3 NLT)
These Old Testament events pointed to the time when God would come to earth in the flesh.
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14 NASB)
"The Son of Man has come down from heaven." (John 3:13 NLT)
"I am the bread that came down out of heaven." (John 6:41 NASB)
"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8 NASB)
God came down in the Person of Jesus Christ. He came down to rescue us from the slavery of sin. He came down to reveal Himself to us. He came down to fill the world with His presence.
And He'll do it again.
"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God." (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NLT)
Are you ready?
However, I'm still in the March readings. One of the reasons for that is that I don't read from this book every day. The more significant reason is that I sometimes (often) spend more than one day on a day's reading. Thinking about what I've read. Pondering it. Doing some additional digging.
This morning's reading has me on "pause" again. This morning's reading was titled He Came Down. Ponder the magnitude of that for a moment.
God came down. To earth. To us.
God came down in the Old Testament.
"I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians." (Exodus 3:8 NLT)
"The LORD came down in a cloud and stood there with [Moses]." (Exodus 34:5 NLT)
"When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the LORD filling the Temple, they fell face down to the ground and worshiped and praised the LORD." (2 Chronicles 7:3 NLT)
These Old Testament events pointed to the time when God would come to earth in the flesh.
"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14 NASB)
"The Son of Man has come down from heaven." (John 3:13 NLT)
"I am the bread that came down out of heaven." (John 6:41 NASB)
"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8 NASB)
God came down in the Person of Jesus Christ. He came down to rescue us from the slavery of sin. He came down to reveal Himself to us. He came down to fill the world with His presence.
And He'll do it again.
"For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God." (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NLT)
Are you ready?
Friday, June 12, 2015
Another Anniversary
On June 10, Al and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary. Today, June 12, marks another anniversary. It was on this day, six years ago, that my beloved daddy left this life and entered his heavenly home.
On that morning, six years ago, his devotional reading was from Colossians 3:1-5. We found his Bible and devotional book open on the table next to his chair. Interestingly, as I opened the book for our morning devotions this morning, Al and I read together that same passage!
Daddy's passing was sudden and unexpected. Well, I suppose not completely unexpected, since he was 88 years old! But certainly not expected on that particular day.
In many ways, it all seems very long ago. Yet the memory of that day is as vivid as if it had just happened this morning. And although I've grown accustomed to his being gone, I still miss Daddy so much!
How I would love one more hug, one more conversation, one more visit, one more surprise phone call - just because! How I miss the twinkle in his eye, his sense of humor, his laugh. And how I miss those more serious conversations. About the Scriptures. About politics. About life.
How I would love to hear that voice just once more say "Top o' the mornin' to ya!"
How I would love to hear that voice recite another of his favorite poems. Especially "The Touch of the Master's Hand." That was his favorite.
I wouldn't even mind hearing that same joke I've heard hundreds of times. Just one more time! "Have I told you the one about......", he would say. "Tell me again", I would say.
Daddy left us quickly. A sudden, massive heart attack, they said. I think that's a reminder to live each day to its fullest, because we never know when it's time to go.
And it's a reminder to love our family and friends - and to let them know how much they are loved - because we never know when it's time for them to go.
On that morning, six years ago, his devotional reading was from Colossians 3:1-5. We found his Bible and devotional book open on the table next to his chair. Interestingly, as I opened the book for our morning devotions this morning, Al and I read together that same passage!
Daddy's passing was sudden and unexpected. Well, I suppose not completely unexpected, since he was 88 years old! But certainly not expected on that particular day.
In many ways, it all seems very long ago. Yet the memory of that day is as vivid as if it had just happened this morning. And although I've grown accustomed to his being gone, I still miss Daddy so much!
How I would love one more hug, one more conversation, one more visit, one more surprise phone call - just because! How I miss the twinkle in his eye, his sense of humor, his laugh. And how I miss those more serious conversations. About the Scriptures. About politics. About life.
How I would love to hear that voice just once more say "Top o' the mornin' to ya!"
How I would love to hear that voice recite another of his favorite poems. Especially "The Touch of the Master's Hand." That was his favorite.
I wouldn't even mind hearing that same joke I've heard hundreds of times. Just one more time! "Have I told you the one about......", he would say. "Tell me again", I would say.
Daddy left us quickly. A sudden, massive heart attack, they said. I think that's a reminder to live each day to its fullest, because we never know when it's time to go.
And it's a reminder to love our family and friends - and to let them know how much they are loved - because we never know when it's time for them to go.
We must love them while we can, we must love them while we can,
For time just seems to hurry by, and the days slip into years
And the moments that we have will disappear,
So love them while we can.
(-Chris Christian)
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Happy Anniversary!
It was a beautiful summer day, not too hot. There had been a shower of rain late in the morning, just enough for things to be refreshed.
The ceremony was held at eight o'clock in the evening, just the right time of day to get the right amount of evening sun through the stained glass windows of the church.
The church was full of family and friends. The music was perfect. There were flowers. And candles.
So began our life together as husband and wife.
There was a reception following the ceremony. A simple affair with punch and cake, held in the church fellowship hall.
Afterward, we drove away from the church listening to the Carpenters singing We've Only Just Begun.
That was our song then. It is our song today.
On June 10, 1972, we began our journey through life together as husband and wife. Neither of us had any idea what a journey it would be!
Who knew back then that we would live in six different states, at twenty different addresses? Who knew that we would travel together all over the world? Who knew all the mountaintops and valleys, smooth roads and potholes, all the adventures this journey would hold for us?
God knew. He knew exactly what He had planned for us, even though we had no idea. This has been quite a journey. And the journey continues. We've only just begun!
I had no idea that all this would be part of my life journey, but I wouldn't have wanted to do life with anyone else. And I would do it all again!
Happy Anniversary, sweetheart! I love you more!
The ceremony was held at eight o'clock in the evening, just the right time of day to get the right amount of evening sun through the stained glass windows of the church.
The church was full of family and friends. The music was perfect. There were flowers. And candles.
So began our life together as husband and wife.
There was a reception following the ceremony. A simple affair with punch and cake, held in the church fellowship hall.
Afterward, we drove away from the church listening to the Carpenters singing We've Only Just Begun.
That was our song then. It is our song today.
On June 10, 1972, we began our journey through life together as husband and wife. Neither of us had any idea what a journey it would be!
Who knew back then that we would live in six different states, at twenty different addresses? Who knew that we would travel together all over the world? Who knew all the mountaintops and valleys, smooth roads and potholes, all the adventures this journey would hold for us?
God knew. He knew exactly what He had planned for us, even though we had no idea. This has been quite a journey. And the journey continues. We've only just begun!
I had no idea that all this would be part of my life journey, but I wouldn't have wanted to do life with anyone else. And I would do it all again!
Happy Anniversary, sweetheart! I love you more!
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Of This I'm Sure
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8 NASB)
My read-through-the-Bible plan has me reading in Isaiah right now. As I read this verse this morning, I had to pause and be thankful.
We're living in a world where everything is changing. Our world no longer recognizes absolutes. Truth, in our culture, is an elusive concept. And that's true in the little things as well as in the bigger things.
If you have lived as long as I have, then you've been told that eggs are good for you, then that eggs are bad for you, and now eggs are good for you again. Milk is good for you, but it's bad for you. Eat wheat; don't eat wheat. Coffee is bad for you; coffee causes cancer; coffee is good for you and prevents certain diseases. Which is it? Where is the truth?
As for the coffee, I'm going to drink it no matter what! About the other things, I'm as confused as the rest of you.
It's difficult to navigate our way through the ever-changing science and maintain our physical health. We're confused. We don't know who or what to believe.
The culture and the government continue to attempt to alter our perception of other standards as well. Standards that have been recognized as absolute for millennia are now being tossed aside as obsolete.
Because this is true, because we live in a culture that no longer recognizes the authority of the Word of God, it is more important than ever that we know what we believe. That we know Whom we believe. It is more important than ever that we not only believe in God, but that we believe God. It is more important than ever that we saturate ourselves in the Truth. That we be disciplined to spend time in the Word of God.
And it is more important than ever that we stand firm for Truth.
There are many things in this life that I am unsure of. But of this I am sure:
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)
"I the LORD do not change." (Malachi 3:6 NASB)
"No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2 Peter 1:20-21 NASB)
Cultural standards change. The grass withers. The flower fades. What is popular today is gone tomorrow. What we have known as truth is no longer recognized as such. Even so, I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)
"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith." (1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB)
My read-through-the-Bible plan has me reading in Isaiah right now. As I read this verse this morning, I had to pause and be thankful.
We're living in a world where everything is changing. Our world no longer recognizes absolutes. Truth, in our culture, is an elusive concept. And that's true in the little things as well as in the bigger things.
If you have lived as long as I have, then you've been told that eggs are good for you, then that eggs are bad for you, and now eggs are good for you again. Milk is good for you, but it's bad for you. Eat wheat; don't eat wheat. Coffee is bad for you; coffee causes cancer; coffee is good for you and prevents certain diseases. Which is it? Where is the truth?
As for the coffee, I'm going to drink it no matter what! About the other things, I'm as confused as the rest of you.
It's difficult to navigate our way through the ever-changing science and maintain our physical health. We're confused. We don't know who or what to believe.
The culture and the government continue to attempt to alter our perception of other standards as well. Standards that have been recognized as absolute for millennia are now being tossed aside as obsolete.
Because this is true, because we live in a culture that no longer recognizes the authority of the Word of God, it is more important than ever that we know what we believe. That we know Whom we believe. It is more important than ever that we not only believe in God, but that we believe God. It is more important than ever that we saturate ourselves in the Truth. That we be disciplined to spend time in the Word of God.
And it is more important than ever that we stand firm for Truth.
There are many things in this life that I am unsure of. But of this I am sure:
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NASB)
"I the LORD do not change." (Malachi 3:6 NASB)
"No prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." (2 Peter 1:20-21 NASB)
Cultural standards change. The grass withers. The flower fades. What is popular today is gone tomorrow. What we have known as truth is no longer recognized as such. Even so, I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12 KJV)
"Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith." (1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB)
Monday, June 8, 2015
What's Your Favorite?
Favorites. We all have them. But to really answer the question what's your favorite?, we need categorize a little bit. Because we have so many favorites!
We have favorite foods. In my case, there would be a list of favorite foods, since I think it might be impossible to narrow my choice to only one favorite! My list would, of course, include pancakes. And chocolate. And coconut cream pie. And watermelon. And strawberries. And a really good steak. See what I mean? There's no way I could come up with just one favorite food!
A favorite beverage is an easier choice. For me, that favorite is coffee. Your favorite might be tea. Or Diet Coke. Or some other beverage. But we all have a favorite.
We have favorite colors. Or favorite vacation spots. Or favorite sports teams. Favorite books and favorite movies. Favorite TV shows. Favorite restaurants. So many favorites.
Has anyone ever asked you to name your favorite Scripture verse? For me, that's a difficult question to answer, because I have so many favorites. And even if I try to put my favorites into categories, I still have a hard time!
I've asked that question of several people lately, and have found that I'm not the only one having trouble narrowing the list to just one favorite!
There are favorite verses I turn to when I'm having a bad day or some kind of crisis in my life. There are verses I turn to when I'm in need of encouragement, or verses I turn to when I want to offer encouragement to others. There are verses I often recall when I'm praying, and there are verses that come to mind when I'm praising. So many favorites!
If I had to point out one favorite chapter in the Bible, it might be Psalm 119. I love the Psalms, and I particularly love that Psalm! I have so many favorite verses in that favorite chapter.
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law." (Psalm 119:18 NASB)
"Establish Your word to Your servant as that which produces reverence for You." (Psalm 119:38 NASB)
"Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations." (Psalm 119:89-90 NASB)
"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97 NASB)
Do you see what I mean? I can't possible choose just one verse from that chapter, and that's just a sampling of my favorites!
If I were forced to nail down just one favorite verse, or the most favorite of all my favorites, I probably would choose Hebrews 12:2, in the New American Standard translation. I choose that translation because of the way the first phrase is translated. Most translations say "looking to Jesus" or "looking unto Jesus". The NASB is even more specific.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 NASB, emphasis mine)
That's my favorite.
What's yours?
We have favorite foods. In my case, there would be a list of favorite foods, since I think it might be impossible to narrow my choice to only one favorite! My list would, of course, include pancakes. And chocolate. And coconut cream pie. And watermelon. And strawberries. And a really good steak. See what I mean? There's no way I could come up with just one favorite food!
A favorite beverage is an easier choice. For me, that favorite is coffee. Your favorite might be tea. Or Diet Coke. Or some other beverage. But we all have a favorite.
We have favorite colors. Or favorite vacation spots. Or favorite sports teams. Favorite books and favorite movies. Favorite TV shows. Favorite restaurants. So many favorites.
Has anyone ever asked you to name your favorite Scripture verse? For me, that's a difficult question to answer, because I have so many favorites. And even if I try to put my favorites into categories, I still have a hard time!
I've asked that question of several people lately, and have found that I'm not the only one having trouble narrowing the list to just one favorite!
There are favorite verses I turn to when I'm having a bad day or some kind of crisis in my life. There are verses I turn to when I'm in need of encouragement, or verses I turn to when I want to offer encouragement to others. There are verses I often recall when I'm praying, and there are verses that come to mind when I'm praising. So many favorites!
If I had to point out one favorite chapter in the Bible, it might be Psalm 119. I love the Psalms, and I particularly love that Psalm! I have so many favorite verses in that favorite chapter.
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law." (Psalm 119:18 NASB)
"Establish Your word to Your servant as that which produces reverence for You." (Psalm 119:38 NASB)
"Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations." (Psalm 119:89-90 NASB)
"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97 NASB)
Do you see what I mean? I can't possible choose just one verse from that chapter, and that's just a sampling of my favorites!
If I were forced to nail down just one favorite verse, or the most favorite of all my favorites, I probably would choose Hebrews 12:2, in the New American Standard translation. I choose that translation because of the way the first phrase is translated. Most translations say "looking to Jesus" or "looking unto Jesus". The NASB is even more specific.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2 NASB, emphasis mine)
That's my favorite.
What's yours?
Friday, June 5, 2015
One Gracious Blessing After Another
"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another." (John 1:16 NIV)
This verse has grabbed my attention this morning. I've come across it in several different contexts already today, so it must be something I need to pay attention to!
Depending on which translation of the Bible you read, the verse might be rendered a little differently. Grace upon grace. Blessing upon blessing. One gracious blessing after another. I especially like that last one, from the New Living Translation. One gracious blessing after another.
That's so true, isn't it? We are showered daily with blessings from God. One gracious blessing after another.
Too often we fix our attention on the less-than-we-would-like-them-to-be situations in our lives. On the bills we're having trouble paying or the pounds we can't seem to lose or the illness or the frustration. That list could go on and on, because we all have "stuff" in life that fits the less-than-we-would-like category. Each of us faces challenges in our lives. Not all of us face the same challenges, but there are challenges for each of us.
Equally true, we are all showered daily with one gracious blessing after another, if we only took the time to notice.
Friendship. Family. Laughter. Sunshine. Rain. The smell of freshly mown grass. The companionship of a pet. Coffee. Good books. Good conversation. Good food. The list could go on and on.
My list would certainly include the blessing of the new home. Good neighbors. A day spent with a special friend. And I can't leave out the nearly 43 years of marriage to my sweetheart!
One gracious blessing after another.
How about you? Where are you focusing your attention today? On the less-than-you-would-like-it-to-be situations in your life, or on all those gracious blessings?
Something to think about.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (Psalm 103:1-2)
This verse has grabbed my attention this morning. I've come across it in several different contexts already today, so it must be something I need to pay attention to!
Depending on which translation of the Bible you read, the verse might be rendered a little differently. Grace upon grace. Blessing upon blessing. One gracious blessing after another. I especially like that last one, from the New Living Translation. One gracious blessing after another.
That's so true, isn't it? We are showered daily with blessings from God. One gracious blessing after another.
Too often we fix our attention on the less-than-we-would-like-them-to-be situations in our lives. On the bills we're having trouble paying or the pounds we can't seem to lose or the illness or the frustration. That list could go on and on, because we all have "stuff" in life that fits the less-than-we-would-like category. Each of us faces challenges in our lives. Not all of us face the same challenges, but there are challenges for each of us.
Equally true, we are all showered daily with one gracious blessing after another, if we only took the time to notice.
Friendship. Family. Laughter. Sunshine. Rain. The smell of freshly mown grass. The companionship of a pet. Coffee. Good books. Good conversation. Good food. The list could go on and on.
My list would certainly include the blessing of the new home. Good neighbors. A day spent with a special friend. And I can't leave out the nearly 43 years of marriage to my sweetheart!
One gracious blessing after another.
How about you? Where are you focusing your attention today? On the less-than-you-would-like-it-to-be situations in your life, or on all those gracious blessings?
Something to think about.
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits." (Psalm 103:1-2)
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
How Is Your Garden Growing?
Unlike other parts of the country, the last couple of weeks around here have been rather dry. This week that has all changed, and we are getting daily showers of rain. Sometimes we get more than a shower, and get a downpour instead. As a result, grass and flowers and other growing things are refreshed, growing, and bearing fruit.
The Bible, in the book of Isaiah, compares our lives to a garden.
"And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of waters whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:11 NASB, emphasis mine)
Just like your flower garden or your vegetable garden, the garden of your life needs to be nurtured and nourished. It needs food and water in order to grow and bear fruit.
Where do our life gardens get this kind of nourishment? In his devotional book Into His Presence, Dr. Charles Stanley gives us some answers to this question.
By cultivating these disciplines, our lives become a reflection of Christ in us. In this way, we are able to "let [our lives] so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
By cultivating these disciplines into our lives, our spiritual gardens will be nourished and fruitful.
How is your garden growing?
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain." (John 15:16 NASB)
For additional study on this topic, How Does Your Garden Grow? by Susan Feaster is available at amazon.com in paperback and for Kindle.
The Bible, in the book of Isaiah, compares our lives to a garden.
"And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your desire in scorched places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of waters whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:11 NASB, emphasis mine)
Just like your flower garden or your vegetable garden, the garden of your life needs to be nurtured and nourished. It needs food and water in order to grow and bear fruit.
Where do our life gardens get this kind of nourishment? In his devotional book Into His Presence, Dr. Charles Stanley gives us some answers to this question.
- We need the conviction and instruction of the Holy Spirit to guide us into the ways of God.
- We need an unceasing concentration on the Word of God.
- We must be committed to a life of prayer
- We must have the courage to act on what God, through His Spirit, is teaching us. Truth must never be left on the table.
By cultivating these disciplines, our lives become a reflection of Christ in us. In this way, we are able to "let [our lives] so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16)
By cultivating these disciplines into our lives, our spiritual gardens will be nourished and fruitful.
How is your garden growing?
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain." (John 15:16 NASB)
For additional study on this topic, How Does Your Garden Grow? by Susan Feaster is available at amazon.com in paperback and for Kindle.
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
What Was Lost Is Found
Boxes, boxes, boxes. It seems that I have spent the last two months surrounded by boxes! We have at least come to the point where most, though certainly not all, of the boxes have been emptied. The boxes are now either in the garage or in Al's office, which unfortunately is not yet completely unpacked.
For the last week or so, I have been very frustrated because I couldn't find our plates. All the other dishes were unpacked. Cups, saucers, cereal bowls, salad plates - all these had found a home in the kitchen. But the dinner plates were nowhere to be found. I had unpacked every box labeled "dishes", but still had not found the dinner plates! It was quite a mystery.
There was one dish carton, partially unpacked, in the garage. I had emptied out about half of this carton, until I came to a set of Christmas dishes, and at that point I stopped unpacking that box. I was more concerned with things we would use every day than with things we might, at most, use once a year. That box has been sitting in the garage for several weeks, being ignored because I saw no reason to expend energy unpacking Christmas dishes in May. And I felt certain that I would not have put the everyday dishes at the bottom of the box and packed Christmas dishes on top of them.
How wrong I was! Yesterday, in the midst of my frustration, I decided to check that box one more time. I emptied out all the Christmas dishes, and guess what I found? Yes, there they were. The missing dinner plates had been packed at the bottom of that carton.
I have no explanation for why I would have packed that carton that way. It makes no sense. I must have been having a backwards moment on the day that box was packed! In any event, the dishes were lost in the garage! But now what was lost has been found. For several weeks, I have wondered what happened to those plates. I have looked everywhere. Everywhere, except in the right box! I have walked around that box numerous times without having any idea the missing plates were right there.
When I found the missing plates yesterday, the plates that were lost right here in the house, I was reminded of an incident in the Old Testament book of 2 Kings.
Josiah had become king. He was, by the way, eight years old when he became king. We're told in 2 Kings 22:2 that "he did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, [and he did not] turn aside to the right or to the left."
One of the things that marked Josiah's reign was that he called for repairs to the house of the Lord. The kings before him had not been good kings, and they had "done evil in the sight of the LORD," and the house of the Lord was in a state of disrepair.
As the work was being done, Hilkiah the high priest said, "I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord." (2 Kings 22:8 NASB)
Just as my plates were lost in my house, the book of the law of the Lord was lost in the house of the Lord.
What a tragedy! The law of the Lord was lost in the house of the Lord!
How my heart breaks when I observe the condition of the world around me. Even though we have not lost the book, we in our culture appear to have lost the law of the Lord. We have access to the Book, to multiple copies of the Book. But how much attention are we giving it?
Many, perhaps most, in our culture are walking around the Book in much the same way as I walked around the box containing my plates. Seeing it, yet unaware of its contents.
Oh, that we might return to the Book! Oh, that there might be a turning back to the Lord in our day as there was in Josiah's day.
Will you pray with me that we might see revival in our land?
"[Josiah] stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant." (2 Kings 23:3 NASB)
Monday, June 1, 2015
Following Hard
Recently I've been spending some time in A. W. Tozer's The Pursuit of God. Right now I'm camped out in one particular passage.
Tozer wrote [many years ago], "In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears....increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself.....eager for spiritual realities....they are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water......It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself.......the Bible is a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts."
This kind of pursuit is what Tozer describes as "following hard after God."
And this kind of pursuit, this following hard, is the deepest desire of my heart!
"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee; my soul thirsteth for thee.....My soul followeth hard after thee; thy right hand upholdeth me." (Psalm 63:1, 8 KJV)
Tozer wrote [many years ago], "In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears....increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself.....eager for spiritual realities....they are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water......It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself.......the Bible is a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts."
This kind of pursuit is what Tozer describes as "following hard after God."
And this kind of pursuit, this following hard, is the deepest desire of my heart!
"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee; my soul thirsteth for thee.....My soul followeth hard after thee; thy right hand upholdeth me." (Psalm 63:1, 8 KJV)
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