On Saturdays I'll be talking about a "serious" topic for the A to Z Challenge. If you're a new visitor (especially if you're visiting from the Challenge)--welcome!! I'm so happy you're here. Check out my "About Me" page HERE, some of my favorite posts on marriage HERE, and my two most popular posts HERE and HERE.
Of all the blessings of being a child of God, forgiveness is one of the ones I'm most thankful for (besides salvation!), but it's the one I often find hardest to accept.
The concept is a difficult one for our minds to wrap around sometimes. Here's how God's forgiveness works: We sin. Jesus died to pay the price for that sin. We confess our sin and our desire to repent, to turn away from it. God says, okay, your sin is gone. My Son eliminated it. It's no longer on your record, I'm not going to remember it, and now you get to try again, and I'll help you.
Sometimes there are consequences, even when we are forgiven, but the guilt is gone.
What Satan often tries to do (and sometimes succeeds) is to make us think that we're still guilty. Or that we have to do something to earn forgiveness.
We're not. And we don't. Forgiveness is a gift. It's not something we deserve, it's not something we earned because we're good enough, or because we're faithful enough.
We have forgiveness--we NEED it--because we're not good enough. That's why it's a gift. It's all about grace: God's undeserved kindness toward us, because of His Son Jesus.
Another amazing thing about forgiveness is that we get to share it. Because we've been forgiven, we are free to forgive others.
Sin is a part of life. It's inevitable. It's inescapable. But IT HAS BEEN CONQUERED. Christ's death destroyed forever the power of Satan, sin, and death. We still fight the battles against our sinful natures, but the war has already been won. Because of this, we have the ability to pronounce forgiveness to others. Because we have been shown God's grace, we can show grace to those who sin against us. And we can tell them the good news of God's forgiveness.
It's funny, I struggle with remembering that I'm forgiven, and with forgiving myself. But I have no trouble reminding others that THEY are forgiven! Sometimes I need to preach to myself as much as I need to encourage others.
That's when I turn to God's Word, and the words in 1 John chapter 1:
"If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:8-9)
Showing posts with label comfort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comfort. Show all posts
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
How I was saved, and how you were, too!
This post was inspired by this salvation story on natashametzler.com. Reading Natasha's post and responding to it got me thinking about my own salvation story!
The story of my salvation doesn't start with me. It starts with God. God, who created heaven and earth and everything in them. God, who from the beginning of the world had a plan to conquer sin and death (Genesis 3:15). God, who sent His Son to earth to become a human baby, who would grow into a sinless human man, who would die for the sins of the whole world (John 3:16).
Image Credit: bela_kiefer via www.freedigitalphotos.net
My salvation starts with the incredible love of God. It's because God loves us--all people--so much that He has a plan for all of us to spend eternity with Him.
He gives us faith. We become His children. We believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and the fact that Jesus' death paid the price for all the wrong we ever do. We live a brief life on earth, obeying God and loving Him according to His Word and in response for the gifts He constantly gives us (in addition to the gift of faith in Him! Wow!). Then, when our sinful, earthly bodies die, our sinless souls are united with God in heaven, and spend eternity joyfully with Him in paradise.
This is what God did for me. He made me his child just four weeks after I was born into this world. In my baptism, the Holy Spirit came into my heart by the power of God's Word, and gave me faith. It wasn't necessary for me to understand what that meant, because my saving isn't about me. It's not anything I do. God saves us, God makes us His children. It's kind of like how we become our parents' children. We don't have any choice to become their children. And they don't love us because of anything we do. They love us simply because they are our parents. God loves us because He is our Father.
So I became God's child through the miracle of baptism. As I grew, my parents taught me, using God's Word, how much God loves me, and what Jesus did for me. And I knew for sure that I was God's child. I knew that whenever I died, I would be in heaven with Jesus. I knew that I was sinful, and did bad things, but I also knew that God forgave those sins when I asked Him to, just as my parents told me they forgave me when I disobeyed them.
Now that I'm an adult, I'm still constantly learning what it means to be God's child. How does that play out in my everyday life? God reminds me daily to trust Him in everything. He has to keep teaching me how to accept His forgiveness, because I struggle with remembering that. Satan is constantly working to try to pull me away from God, but I know that because the Holy Spirit lives in my heart, Satan can't hurt me. Jesus has already defeated him and his power, and I have nothing to fear.
So my salvation story doesn't end with me, either. It ends with the ultimate gift from God--eternal life in heaven. It will end when my sinful body dies, and my eternal, holy, sinless soul is taken to heaven by Jesus, where I will live with Him forever. There no one will be sad or in pain. There will be no death, no grief, no discomfort. There will be joy, peace, love, and light, and it will be more wonderful than we can ever imagine, until we actually get there.
God wants everyone to be in heaven with Him. He has created you just like He did me, and He loves you, too, more than you will ever understand. I hope you know my Jesus, too, and know that He is your Lord and Savior--and how much He loves you. You can spend eternity in heaven, too, because Jesus paid the price for your sins as well as mine. Try saying this to God, your Father--you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain:
"Dear God, I know you love me. I know you sent your Son, Jesus, to pay the price for my sins. I acknowledge Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for giving me faith in you and in what Jesus has done for me. Now, as your child, I give my whole life to you."
Linking up today: A Holy Experience, Upward Not Inward, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers, We are THAT Family
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
When You Need a Little Help
This week is shaping up to be kind of crazy:
lots of homework due
helping with hair and makeup for a play this weekend
laundry to get done
spending time with my hubby (that's at the top of the priority list!!)
I got kind of overwhelmed yesterday, just at the thought of all I had to do. Joshua looked at me and asked, "Do you need a hug? It looks like you need a hug." He just held me, and it helped so much. Today he ordered a pizza so I didn't have to cook supper. He's been wonderfully encouraging, even when I'm so stressed and tired. I'm thankful that this isn't how life is all the time!
But I know it's not just me. We all get tired, stressed, and burned out at times. So what do we do at times like that?
Take care of yourself.
What helps you relax? What makes you feel good? For me, it's a hot shower, a mug of tea, and plenty of sleep. And lots of time with my husband. :)
Do you like to cook to relax? Spend a couple hours reading a good book uninterrupted? Get away with some friends with a couple hours? Whatever it is that helps you refresh your body and spirit, if you're feeling stressed and burned out, make time to do those things that will lift your spirits and help you be physically prepared to do your best in everything.
Ask for help.
No one should expect you to always be able to take care of everything on your own! Can you delegate some of your tasks at work to a coworker? Readjust your schedule so you don't have so much on your plate in the immediate future? Enlist your spouse and/or children for help at home? You are not alone.
Take it to God in prayer.
This is the BEST thing you can do when you're stressed/exhausted/worried/whatever! God is always there for you, and he loves you more than you can imagine. That's something I need to remind myself of a LOT. Prayer is more powerful than I think we know, and the Holy Spirit promises to always be with us. God gives us peace that surpasses all human understanding--don't ever forget that.
So if you're like me this week--if you're tired, stressed, busy, worn out-- make sure you're taking care of yourself, asking for help, and daily lifting up your life to the Lord. He loves you so much. Always remember that!
What is your best advice for de-stressing when life gets crazy?
lots of homework due
helping with hair and makeup for a play this weekend
laundry to get done
spending time with my hubby (that's at the top of the priority list!!)
I got kind of overwhelmed yesterday, just at the thought of all I had to do. Joshua looked at me and asked, "Do you need a hug? It looks like you need a hug." He just held me, and it helped so much. Today he ordered a pizza so I didn't have to cook supper. He's been wonderfully encouraging, even when I'm so stressed and tired. I'm thankful that this isn't how life is all the time!
But I know it's not just me. We all get tired, stressed, and burned out at times. So what do we do at times like that?
Image Credit: FrameAngel via Freedigitalphotos.net
Take care of yourself.
What helps you relax? What makes you feel good? For me, it's a hot shower, a mug of tea, and plenty of sleep. And lots of time with my husband. :)
Do you like to cook to relax? Spend a couple hours reading a good book uninterrupted? Get away with some friends with a couple hours? Whatever it is that helps you refresh your body and spirit, if you're feeling stressed and burned out, make time to do those things that will lift your spirits and help you be physically prepared to do your best in everything.
Ask for help.
No one should expect you to always be able to take care of everything on your own! Can you delegate some of your tasks at work to a coworker? Readjust your schedule so you don't have so much on your plate in the immediate future? Enlist your spouse and/or children for help at home? You are not alone.
Take it to God in prayer.
This is the BEST thing you can do when you're stressed/exhausted/worried/whatever! God is always there for you, and he loves you more than you can imagine. That's something I need to remind myself of a LOT. Prayer is more powerful than I think we know, and the Holy Spirit promises to always be with us. God gives us peace that surpasses all human understanding--don't ever forget that.
So if you're like me this week--if you're tired, stressed, busy, worn out-- make sure you're taking care of yourself, asking for help, and daily lifting up your life to the Lord. He loves you so much. Always remember that!
What is your best advice for de-stressing when life gets crazy?
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Saved by Grace. This is what matters.
My friends, it's a blessed but weary morning. Most days I'm ready to jump out of bed and start my Bible reading, make breakfast, write a post if I haven't already.
Today I'd love to go back to bed, but this house needs my attention, and so do you. And you and I both need a reminder of the big picture--what life is all about, what the most important thing is. (And I'll tell you what, it's not the fact that I have a lot of picking up to do around here.)
It's this:
Ephesians:
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [Emphases added] [Source]
This is what matters. We can't expect perfection from ourselves, because we're not perfect. We needed saving--which means at one point, we were lost. Specifically, dead (see v. 1). But in our baptisms, God made us one with Christ--one in his death, and one in his resurrection, so both Jesus' sacrifice and righteousness count for us, too. God made us alive with Christ. He has given us the promise of eternal life with Jesus, and because of his grace has given us faith (again, through our baptism and in the Word) which saves us.
Can I add a note here? Perhaps you don't believe the truth of these things. You might have heard about them, but not made them a part of your life. If you don't know who Jesus is, or if you've heard of him but don't believe in him as your Lord and Savior, please, email me (jaimie dot ramsey at cune dot org) and we'll talk. This message is for you, too, because Jesus also died for and loves YOU!
Our salvation is not contingent upon anything we do or don't do. That would make even salvation from sin into a law. But it's not.
Our salvation is entirely about Jesus, and what HE has done for us.
We are children of God and the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, enabling us to live obedient lives to God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf, God no longer looks at us and sees sinners. He looks at us and sees Jesus. He knows we're sinful, but he also knows Jesus has already paid the price for that sin. He has already forgiven us for everything we have done or will ever do that is against his will for us. There is no more price to be paid, no more punishment to be taken. Oh, we experience the temporal consequences of bad decisions. Sometimes those consequences are acutely painful. But they don't affect our eternal state--our soul has been ransomed by Jesus Christ, and nothing in this world can touch it.
Ah...yes. This is what's important. God doesn't love me more if my house is clean. He doesn't look at my homemaking skills or my good grades and say, "Well done, Jaimie, you've just made your salvation more sure." That would be ridiculous. God doesn't depend on us for our own salvation. He just asks that we don't throw away the faith in his Son that he's graciously given us. And I'm not about to do that.
Today, you and I can rest in the knowledge that God loves us, no matter what our house looks like, no matter how we do in our job or our studies or whatever vocation we're in. Remember that you are saved by grace through faith, and this is NOT of your own doing. It's a gift from God.
Linking today with Upward not Inward, Exceptionalistic, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers
Today I'd love to go back to bed, but this house needs my attention, and so do you. And you and I both need a reminder of the big picture--what life is all about, what the most important thing is. (And I'll tell you what, it's not the fact that I have a lot of picking up to do around here.)
It's this:
Ephesians:
2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.[b] 4 But[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. [Emphases added] [Source]
This is what matters. We can't expect perfection from ourselves, because we're not perfect. We needed saving--which means at one point, we were lost. Specifically, dead (see v. 1). But in our baptisms, God made us one with Christ--one in his death, and one in his resurrection, so both Jesus' sacrifice and righteousness count for us, too. God made us alive with Christ. He has given us the promise of eternal life with Jesus, and because of his grace has given us faith (again, through our baptism and in the Word) which saves us.
Can I add a note here? Perhaps you don't believe the truth of these things. You might have heard about them, but not made them a part of your life. If you don't know who Jesus is, or if you've heard of him but don't believe in him as your Lord and Savior, please, email me (jaimie dot ramsey at cune dot org) and we'll talk. This message is for you, too, because Jesus also died for and loves YOU!
Our salvation is not contingent upon anything we do or don't do. That would make even salvation from sin into a law. But it's not.
Our salvation is entirely about Jesus, and what HE has done for us.
We are children of God and the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, enabling us to live obedient lives to God. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf, God no longer looks at us and sees sinners. He looks at us and sees Jesus. He knows we're sinful, but he also knows Jesus has already paid the price for that sin. He has already forgiven us for everything we have done or will ever do that is against his will for us. There is no more price to be paid, no more punishment to be taken. Oh, we experience the temporal consequences of bad decisions. Sometimes those consequences are acutely painful. But they don't affect our eternal state--our soul has been ransomed by Jesus Christ, and nothing in this world can touch it.
Ah...yes. This is what's important. God doesn't love me more if my house is clean. He doesn't look at my homemaking skills or my good grades and say, "Well done, Jaimie, you've just made your salvation more sure." That would be ridiculous. God doesn't depend on us for our own salvation. He just asks that we don't throw away the faith in his Son that he's graciously given us. And I'm not about to do that.
Today, you and I can rest in the knowledge that God loves us, no matter what our house looks like, no matter how we do in our job or our studies or whatever vocation we're in. Remember that you are saved by grace through faith, and this is NOT of your own doing. It's a gift from God.
Linking today with Upward not Inward, Exceptionalistic, Deep Roots at Home, Raising Homemakers
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Born to die...and live
I find myself smiling every time I'm able to say "Merry Christmas" to someone in a store, or at work. It's a reminder of what this holy day we're soon to celebrate is all about. Signs and decorations proclaiming "Jesus is the reason for the season!" are great--and I agree with them--but do we ever stop to think about why Jesus came to earth?
God became flesh, taking the form of a human baby, so he could live as one of us...and die.
Jesus was born to die.
That was the goal of his life: to give it up in order to save ours. To draw all people to himself. To conquer sin, death, and the devil once and for all.
That baby lying in a manger, born in a humble stable, coming into the world naked and bawling? Just about thirty-three years later, he would be humbled in another way--nailed, naked, to a rough wooden cross, hung high for all those around to see. He would give up himself willingly--and Satan would think he had won.
But then, three days later, he would rise again. His body would be whole and perfect. And those who loved him proclaimed the news joyfully--He is risen! Just as the angels had proclaimed to the shepherds--He is born!
Humbled, in order to be glorified.
Born, to die...and then live.
God made man, so that man could live eternally with God.
Emmanuel...God with us.
That, my friends, is the reason for this holy season. That is what Christmas is all about.
God became flesh, taking the form of a human baby, so he could live as one of us...and die.
Jesus was born to die.
That was the goal of his life: to give it up in order to save ours. To draw all people to himself. To conquer sin, death, and the devil once and for all.
That baby lying in a manger, born in a humble stable, coming into the world naked and bawling? Just about thirty-three years later, he would be humbled in another way--nailed, naked, to a rough wooden cross, hung high for all those around to see. He would give up himself willingly--and Satan would think he had won.
But then, three days later, he would rise again. His body would be whole and perfect. And those who loved him proclaimed the news joyfully--He is risen! Just as the angels had proclaimed to the shepherds--He is born!
Humbled, in order to be glorified.
Born, to die...and then live.
God made man, so that man could live eternally with God.
Emmanuel...God with us.
That, my friends, is the reason for this holy season. That is what Christmas is all about.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
God speaks to me!
The realization of this hits me every now and then.
I have the very words of God, THE God, the only God, the One who created the entire universe including me... I have his words in a book in my lap.
How crazily incredible IS that?!?!?
And it's all about how he loved the world SO much that he sent his Son Jesus to save the entire world from their sins. And that whoever believes that can spend eternity with God in heaven. That's the whole story of the Bible--salvation. It's amazing!!
Today's Joy Dare is to find "3 blessings from God's Word."
Well. That's not too hard! :)
In my Christian Doctrine (specifically Lutheran doctrine) class this morning we were talking about the Holy Spirit. Several passages from John were particularly wonderful:
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor--to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17
I find so much comfort in this. Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death and eventual ascension into heaven, which meant he no longer would be physically with them. But Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit--the Counselor, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. And that same Spirit lives in and with me.
Another passage from the same chapter (it's a discourse that includes quite a lot on the Holy Spirit) is verse 27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Oh, I worry and fear so much. I let Satan take away the peace that God longs to fill me with. I worry about the future, about finances, about health, about so many things...but God has that all under control. He doesn't want me to worry about it because I don't have to. Instead, he wants to give me his peace. Such grace!
A Bible verse that came to mind today is actually from Esther. Her cousin Mordecai told her of a plot that a Persian official had against the Jews, Esther's people. Esther had been made the Queen of Persia, Xerxes' wife, and she was the only one who could interfere in order to save her people. Mordecai said to her, "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b). I'm not in royal position, but I think God puts us in certain places for very specific reasons. Not all the time, perhaps, but certainly some times. Today I realized one reason he had me sit beside someone in a class last year. This girl and I have become very good friends, and we understood today one extremely important reason why God brought us together: he knew we would really need each other, and that we could be a mutual comfort, encouragement and support to one another.
God's Word is SUCH a blessing...and those are some of the ways he blessed me with his Word today.
Linking up with Women Living Well and Deep Roots at Home
I have the very words of God, THE God, the only God, the One who created the entire universe including me... I have his words in a book in my lap.
How crazily incredible IS that?!?!?
And it's all about how he loved the world SO much that he sent his Son Jesus to save the entire world from their sins. And that whoever believes that can spend eternity with God in heaven. That's the whole story of the Bible--salvation. It's amazing!!
Today's Joy Dare is to find "3 blessings from God's Word."
Well. That's not too hard! :)
In my Christian Doctrine (specifically Lutheran doctrine) class this morning we were talking about the Holy Spirit. Several passages from John were particularly wonderful:
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor--to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." John 14:16-17
I find so much comfort in this. Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death and eventual ascension into heaven, which meant he no longer would be physically with them. But Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit--the Counselor, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth. And that same Spirit lives in and with me.
Another passage from the same chapter (it's a discourse that includes quite a lot on the Holy Spirit) is verse 27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Oh, I worry and fear so much. I let Satan take away the peace that God longs to fill me with. I worry about the future, about finances, about health, about so many things...but God has that all under control. He doesn't want me to worry about it because I don't have to. Instead, he wants to give me his peace. Such grace!
A Bible verse that came to mind today is actually from Esther. Her cousin Mordecai told her of a plot that a Persian official had against the Jews, Esther's people. Esther had been made the Queen of Persia, Xerxes' wife, and she was the only one who could interfere in order to save her people. Mordecai said to her, "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14b). I'm not in royal position, but I think God puts us in certain places for very specific reasons. Not all the time, perhaps, but certainly some times. Today I realized one reason he had me sit beside someone in a class last year. This girl and I have become very good friends, and we understood today one extremely important reason why God brought us together: he knew we would really need each other, and that we could be a mutual comfort, encouragement and support to one another.
God's Word is SUCH a blessing...and those are some of the ways he blessed me with his Word today.
Linking up with Women Living Well and Deep Roots at Home
Monday, January 16, 2012
The Gift of Community
If I lived all alone, had no friends or family, and spoke to no more people than were necessary each day, God would still bless me incredibly. He would give me a home, food, a way to support myself, and most importantly his Word and forgiveness and eternal life.
However, my life is SO much more full and complete with friends, family and spouse! Besides being a blessing to me, having interactions with many people over the course of the day gives me opportunities to be a blessing to others. God works through me to accomplish his purpose in the lives of many people besides me.
Today's Joy Dare (well, yesterday's actually) has to do with the blessings of interacting with other people:
"One thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared."
I wore (am still wearing, in fact) a real pearl necklace that I got while I was in Hong Kong my freshman year of high school. I haven't worn it in a while, and having it on brings back memories of the day I bought it, the people I was with, the other experiences I had that day, and the things God taught me on that trip.
I gave away time and energy at work, to help feed a LOT of college students (technically I got paid for that, but I think it counts!) and I gave time and energy at home to get the kitchen clean, food made, and bread baked for my husband and me.
I shared hugs. Quite a few at church! I thrive on hugs, and I have several friends who appreciate hugs as much as I do. Giving and receiving hugs is comforting, reassuring, and joy-filling.
I appreciate being by myself as much as the next person--sometimes even as much as an introvert, even though I most certainly am extroverted! However, I LOVE my family and friends, and I am so thankful that they are a huge part of my life.
However, my life is SO much more full and complete with friends, family and spouse! Besides being a blessing to me, having interactions with many people over the course of the day gives me opportunities to be a blessing to others. God works through me to accomplish his purpose in the lives of many people besides me.
Today's Joy Dare (well, yesterday's actually) has to do with the blessings of interacting with other people:
"One thing you wore, one thing you gave away, one thing you shared."
I wore (am still wearing, in fact) a real pearl necklace that I got while I was in Hong Kong my freshman year of high school. I haven't worn it in a while, and having it on brings back memories of the day I bought it, the people I was with, the other experiences I had that day, and the things God taught me on that trip.
I gave away time and energy at work, to help feed a LOT of college students (technically I got paid for that, but I think it counts!) and I gave time and energy at home to get the kitchen clean, food made, and bread baked for my husband and me.
I shared hugs. Quite a few at church! I thrive on hugs, and I have several friends who appreciate hugs as much as I do. Giving and receiving hugs is comforting, reassuring, and joy-filling.
I appreciate being by myself as much as the next person--sometimes even as much as an introvert, even though I most certainly am extroverted! However, I LOVE my family and friends, and I am so thankful that they are a huge part of my life.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Peacefulness and Thankfulness
All I hear is the gentle ticking of the clock. It's a constant reminder of the one in my parents' living room: if I were to close my eyes, I could imagine myself there.
It's almost completely silent besides the clock this morning. 9:30 on a Sunday, I'm up, my husband is still asleep on the other side of the wall. Curiously, I notice that I'm filled with an inner peace. I've felt it before, but not for a while, or at least I haven't been aware of it for some time. There's no worrying, no frustration, no distress.
Thank you God.
I'm content with my life, with who I am, with the way things are. The silence makes me peaceful, too. I know there are dishes in the sink and church clothes to decide on, but that's okay. There's no rush this morning.
It's nice, this feeling that everything is all right with the world. I don't always feel this way. Sometimes the worry takes over, my imagination running wild with "what if"s. And I destroy my own inner peace. I know why. It's because I try to figure everything out for myself, by myself. I don't always have to understand the why's or how's. This contentment that I feel? It's a "peace that surpasses understanding." The Holy Spirit doesn't think like I do. He doesn't let worry get in his way. He has the ability to snuff anxiety out like a tiny candle, and replace it with this gentle, comfortable, relaxing feeling--my breathing is even and slow, my features are relaxed, my stomach is knot-less, and no unhappy thought is filling my head.
This is what happens when I let God take control of my life. Trying to do it myself never really works. God's much better at handling my life than I am. If only I could remember that all the time: give in to this sweet surrender, let Him take care of everything, every day.
Every morning could feel like this, with the Spirit filling my home and my heart.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
"Your beauty...should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth to God." -1 Peter 3:3a & 4
It's almost completely silent besides the clock this morning. 9:30 on a Sunday, I'm up, my husband is still asleep on the other side of the wall. Curiously, I notice that I'm filled with an inner peace. I've felt it before, but not for a while, or at least I haven't been aware of it for some time. There's no worrying, no frustration, no distress.
Thank you God.
I'm content with my life, with who I am, with the way things are. The silence makes me peaceful, too. I know there are dishes in the sink and church clothes to decide on, but that's okay. There's no rush this morning.
It's nice, this feeling that everything is all right with the world. I don't always feel this way. Sometimes the worry takes over, my imagination running wild with "what if"s. And I destroy my own inner peace. I know why. It's because I try to figure everything out for myself, by myself. I don't always have to understand the why's or how's. This contentment that I feel? It's a "peace that surpasses understanding." The Holy Spirit doesn't think like I do. He doesn't let worry get in his way. He has the ability to snuff anxiety out like a tiny candle, and replace it with this gentle, comfortable, relaxing feeling--my breathing is even and slow, my features are relaxed, my stomach is knot-less, and no unhappy thought is filling my head.
This is what happens when I let God take control of my life. Trying to do it myself never really works. God's much better at handling my life than I am. If only I could remember that all the time: give in to this sweet surrender, let Him take care of everything, every day.
Every morning could feel like this, with the Spirit filling my home and my heart.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:6-7
"Your beauty...should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth to God." -1 Peter 3:3a & 4
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
I am forgiven.
Today I was lost and hopeless and despairing in my own sinfulness. I am so unfaithful to God, and when I insist on having my own way it's only the worse for me.
I opened my Bible at random, and since God works in wonderful ways, it fell open at Isaiah 64, and I began reading at verse 6, reading it as a personal prayer to God:
"I have become like one who is unclean, and all my righteous acts are like filthy rags; I shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind my sins sweep me away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from me and made me waste away because of my sins."
This Law broke and humbled me. This is exactly how I was feeling. I haven't been seeking out God, and I have become like one who is unclean because of my sin. But I couldn't stop there. Isaiah continues in verses 8 and 9,
"Yet, O LORD, you are my Father. I am the clay, and you are the potter; I am the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember my sins forever. Oh, look upon me, I pray, for I am yours."
He is my Father. He has made me. And I know he will not remember my sins forever.
Flipping my Bible to where a piece of paper caused it to open, I read from Colossians 1:13-14, "For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Emphasis mine.)
God has rescued me. Through his Son, I am redeemed and I am forgiven.
Finally I turned to 1 John 1:8-9: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Considering that where I began in Isaiah, I was unclean and all my righteousness was like filthy rags, look what God has done with me! He has purified me from all unrighteousness!!!!
ALL my sins, every sin I've ever committed, has been washed away. It's gone. God has taken my sin away.
What have I learned from this? That crying out to God and searching his word is the best thing I can be doing right now, when my own worries and troubles threaten to overwhelm me, when Satan tries to destroy me with despairing over my own wretched sinfulness.
God reminds me how much he loves me. That he has forgiven me, of everything I've done, despite everything I've done. He requires nothing from me for my salvation, and I believe that he has done what he says.
I am forgiven. What blessed words those are! I have no more guilt. I can live in the joy of knowing that I am a saved, loved and forgiven daughter of God.
I opened my Bible at random, and since God works in wonderful ways, it fell open at Isaiah 64, and I began reading at verse 6, reading it as a personal prayer to God:
"I have become like one who is unclean, and all my righteous acts are like filthy rags; I shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind my sins sweep me away. No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from me and made me waste away because of my sins."
This Law broke and humbled me. This is exactly how I was feeling. I haven't been seeking out God, and I have become like one who is unclean because of my sin. But I couldn't stop there. Isaiah continues in verses 8 and 9,
"Yet, O LORD, you are my Father. I am the clay, and you are the potter; I am the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember my sins forever. Oh, look upon me, I pray, for I am yours."
He is my Father. He has made me. And I know he will not remember my sins forever.
Flipping my Bible to where a piece of paper caused it to open, I read from Colossians 1:13-14, "For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Emphasis mine.)
God has rescued me. Through his Son, I am redeemed and I am forgiven.
Finally I turned to 1 John 1:8-9: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Considering that where I began in Isaiah, I was unclean and all my righteousness was like filthy rags, look what God has done with me! He has purified me from all unrighteousness!!!!
ALL my sins, every sin I've ever committed, has been washed away. It's gone. God has taken my sin away.
What have I learned from this? That crying out to God and searching his word is the best thing I can be doing right now, when my own worries and troubles threaten to overwhelm me, when Satan tries to destroy me with despairing over my own wretched sinfulness.
God reminds me how much he loves me. That he has forgiven me, of everything I've done, despite everything I've done. He requires nothing from me for my salvation, and I believe that he has done what he says.
I am forgiven. What blessed words those are! I have no more guilt. I can live in the joy of knowing that I am a saved, loved and forgiven daughter of God.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
"Certain of What We Do Not See:" Hebrews 11:1
Faith: a precious, undeserved, and completely free gift, yet it is something I struggle with, a LOT. Especially these last few days, for reasons that don't need to be shared publicly. Suffice it to say that I have been worrying about the future, doubting in God's providence, struggling to understand how he will take care of me, of us, and in short: I have been focused on myself and my little struggles and worries instead of on GOD and how big, powerful, all-knowing and compassionate he is.
He has been sending messages my way a lot lately, through my mom and some other women I don't even know yesterday, and today in church and again through my amazing mother.
The hymns we sang in church today were "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" (he hears my prayers, I can go to him and he is always there for me, no matter what), "Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us" (God cares for my every need, I am his, and he will guide my life), "Children of the Heavenly Father" (I am his child, he protects me from all harm, nothing will separate me from his love), and most encouraging of all, "We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight." God is always near us, we can rejoice in his promise that he is always there, and we have nothing to fear in this life because we will spend eternity with him.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." My mom sent me an email this morning that also included 2 Corinthians 4:18: "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."
Today's epistle spoke to me, too, from 1 Corinthians: "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong...He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (1:25-26, 30)
I am very often foolish, weak in faith and body. But God is wiser and stronger in his foolishness and weakness than I am ever wise or strong. He gives me strength to have faith- to be sure of what I hope for, certain of what I do not, what I cannot, see. He knows my future. And he holds it in his hands. The prophet Jeremiah wrote, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
God has good plans for my future, plans to give me hope! He is there when I seek him, there when I don't, always hearing my prayers, even if I can't feel him.
Faith isn't about feeling. Faith is resting in the knowledge that God is God and I am not, and that is how it is supposed to be. God is there, God is real, God is in control, even when I can't see where my life is going. God loves me and forgives me and blesses me even when I fall away from him and struggle to trust in him. This is grace!
So. Today, I am going to be sure of what I hope for, and certain of what I cannot see.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
He Forgives, He Loves: 1 John
1 John 1:8-9 is part of the liturgy (which Divine Service, I'm not sure), but it is a beautiful passage of scripture that is really speaking to me right now:
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I do not claim to be without sin. I know my sinfulness all too well. But God is faithful and he forgives and purifies me! It's interesting that John says that God is just. He is, but if you think about it, forgiving our sins is not the fair thing to do at all. What we deserve is everlasting condemnation. But God also knew a way that he could be just and forgiving at the same time. He sent Jesus, who took our sin and our well-deserved punishment on himself, and put his righteousness on us. So when God looks at us, he sees Jesus and forgives the sins that Jesus already paid for.
John continues in chapter 2, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1-2). This sums up nicely what I just wrote!
When I consider my sinfulness, it is a wonder that God loves and claims me. But he does! John writes in chapter 3, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" We are God's children! Is that not wondrous? God loves us so much, he lavishes love on us (that's a great word), he has made us his children. Nothing could be more amazing.
Today, I am going to confess my sins to God, knowing that he will forgive them, and I am going to remember that he loves me and has made me his own child.
"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
I do not claim to be without sin. I know my sinfulness all too well. But God is faithful and he forgives and purifies me! It's interesting that John says that God is just. He is, but if you think about it, forgiving our sins is not the fair thing to do at all. What we deserve is everlasting condemnation. But God also knew a way that he could be just and forgiving at the same time. He sent Jesus, who took our sin and our well-deserved punishment on himself, and put his righteousness on us. So when God looks at us, he sees Jesus and forgives the sins that Jesus already paid for.
John continues in chapter 2, "My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world" (1-2). This sums up nicely what I just wrote!
When I consider my sinfulness, it is a wonder that God loves and claims me. But he does! John writes in chapter 3, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" We are God's children! Is that not wondrous? God loves us so much, he lavishes love on us (that's a great word), he has made us his children. Nothing could be more amazing.
Today, I am going to confess my sins to God, knowing that he will forgive them, and I am going to remember that he loves me and has made me his own child.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Trusting Him
God has been teaching me a lot about trust the last few days. Apparently it's a lesson I need to learn. I have opportunities where I can choose to be trusting or to doubt that God will take care of things. He has taken care of things whether I'm trusting him or not. This proves, once again, how faithful God is despite my fickleness. My fiancée, too, is loving and patient even as I am learning to trust him and in so doing to trust God to take care of both of us.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." I like the picture of leaning on God, instead of myself. Physically, it's rather hard to lean on ourselves. If we tried, we'd fall over and look pretty silly. But God is there, ready and waiting for us to lean on him, because he wants to hold us up. When we look to him for direction, he will point us to the path he already has marked out for us. He will lead us in the way to go.
As a somewhat related side note, just a few verses later on in Proverbs it reads this: "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine" (3:9-10). When we trust God with our money and possessions, giving back to him part of what he has given us, he will bless us even more. Tithing is part of trusting God.
David writes in Psalm 56, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" When David wrote this, he was in serious danger; the Philistines had seized him and his life was in jeopardy. Even in this most desperate of situations, he wrote this Psalm, demonstrating his neverfailing trust in God. He was right to do so, and correct in what he said: When we trust God, no one can do anything to really hurt us. Our bodies are mortal, yes, but our spirits are untouchable by anything Satan could try.
That brings me back again to the idea of being eternally-minded. When we look at the big picture, instead of selfishly considering just our own lives, it should be much easier to trust God because we realize that he has a plan far bigger than we are, and more all-encompassing than we could imagine. We're part of that plan, though. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" We can trust God because he has plans for our futures: plans to give us hope. We can trust that.
A wonderful old hymn, "I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus," says this (just select verses):
1. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
Trusting only Thee;
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.
4. I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying
All my need.
5. I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.
6. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all.
Today, I am going to work on learning to trust God, knowing that he has me and my life in his hands.
Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths." I like the picture of leaning on God, instead of myself. Physically, it's rather hard to lean on ourselves. If we tried, we'd fall over and look pretty silly. But God is there, ready and waiting for us to lean on him, because he wants to hold us up. When we look to him for direction, he will point us to the path he already has marked out for us. He will lead us in the way to go.
As a somewhat related side note, just a few verses later on in Proverbs it reads this: "Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine" (3:9-10). When we trust God with our money and possessions, giving back to him part of what he has given us, he will bless us even more. Tithing is part of trusting God.
David writes in Psalm 56, "When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" When David wrote this, he was in serious danger; the Philistines had seized him and his life was in jeopardy. Even in this most desperate of situations, he wrote this Psalm, demonstrating his neverfailing trust in God. He was right to do so, and correct in what he said: When we trust God, no one can do anything to really hurt us. Our bodies are mortal, yes, but our spirits are untouchable by anything Satan could try.
That brings me back again to the idea of being eternally-minded. When we look at the big picture, instead of selfishly considering just our own lives, it should be much easier to trust God because we realize that he has a plan far bigger than we are, and more all-encompassing than we could imagine. We're part of that plan, though. Jeremiah 29:11 states, "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" We can trust God because he has plans for our futures: plans to give us hope. We can trust that.
A wonderful old hymn, "I am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus," says this (just select verses):
1. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
Trusting only Thee;
Trusting Thee for full salvation,
Great and free.
4. I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying
All my need.
5. I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.
6. I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all.
Today, I am going to work on learning to trust God, knowing that he has me and my life in his hands.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
He's Working for My Good: ALWAYS
I had originally intended to choose a Psalm to write about today, but other things are on my mind.
I'm tired. I think I'm coming down with something. My fiance is sick. I would rather skip classes for the next two days and have break now. I miss my parents and siblings. But (with the spirit of Thanksgiving quickly approaching)-- I have SO MUCH to be thankful for!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
One of my favorite books ever is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. She was a Christian in Holland during WWII, and her family hid Jews in their home to protect them from the Nazis. The Jews they protected all stayed safe, but Corrie, her family and friends were arrested one day when the Nazis raided their house. Corrie and her sister Betsie were able to stay together when they were taken to the concentration camps, and they managed to smuggle in a Bible. Betsie was not strong enough to do physical labor, so she was forced to knit clothing for the Nazis while Corrie did hard manual labor. In the filthy dormitory where they lived, the beds were infested with lice. One night while reading the Bible, Corrie and Betsie came across this passage in 1 Thessalonians. Betsie prayed and thanked God for everything she could think of, including the lice. Corrie protested that she simply couldn't thank God for lice, but Betsie insisted. A few days later when Corrie returned from her work, Betsie met her joyfully. They had been holding Bible studies for other women in the dormitory, and couldn't understand why the guards were leaving them alone. That day Betsie had overheard the guards talking about why they wouldn't go into the dormitories. It was because of the lice. Corrie realized how true it is that we CAN thank God for EVERYTHING, because we can't see how he will work things out.
Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Despite the little frustrations, discomforts, and inconveniences I've been experiencing lately, I know that I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13), and that includes being joyful always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances, because God will work all things out for my good, even if I can't see or understand how.
Also, when I have an eternal mindset- knowing how short and temporal this life is, and how much more there is to life than the physical things- little things like sickness or weariness hardly matter. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
It is when I am at my weakest that God can work most powerfully through me, because through my weakness his strength shines all the more. Through weakness, sickness, and trials, God can be glorified in and through me. So with Paul, I can say, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"!
I'm tired. I think I'm coming down with something. My fiance is sick. I would rather skip classes for the next two days and have break now. I miss my parents and siblings. But (with the spirit of Thanksgiving quickly approaching)-- I have SO MUCH to be thankful for!!
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
One of my favorite books ever is "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom. She was a Christian in Holland during WWII, and her family hid Jews in their home to protect them from the Nazis. The Jews they protected all stayed safe, but Corrie, her family and friends were arrested one day when the Nazis raided their house. Corrie and her sister Betsie were able to stay together when they were taken to the concentration camps, and they managed to smuggle in a Bible. Betsie was not strong enough to do physical labor, so she was forced to knit clothing for the Nazis while Corrie did hard manual labor. In the filthy dormitory where they lived, the beds were infested with lice. One night while reading the Bible, Corrie and Betsie came across this passage in 1 Thessalonians. Betsie prayed and thanked God for everything she could think of, including the lice. Corrie protested that she simply couldn't thank God for lice, but Betsie insisted. A few days later when Corrie returned from her work, Betsie met her joyfully. They had been holding Bible studies for other women in the dormitory, and couldn't understand why the guards were leaving them alone. That day Betsie had overheard the guards talking about why they wouldn't go into the dormitories. It was because of the lice. Corrie realized how true it is that we CAN thank God for EVERYTHING, because we can't see how he will work things out.
Paul writes in Romans 8:28, "For we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Despite the little frustrations, discomforts, and inconveniences I've been experiencing lately, I know that I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil. 4:13), and that includes being joyful always, praying continually, and giving thanks in all circumstances, because God will work all things out for my good, even if I can't see or understand how.
Also, when I have an eternal mindset- knowing how short and temporal this life is, and how much more there is to life than the physical things- little things like sickness or weariness hardly matter. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "But [the Lord] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
It is when I am at my weakest that God can work most powerfully through me, because through my weakness his strength shines all the more. Through weakness, sickness, and trials, God can be glorified in and through me. So with Paul, I can say, "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
His Compassion is Great: Psalm 119:153-160
There are so many beautiful words in this passage that tell all the wonderful things God is and does for us:
153a Look upon my suffering and deliver me...
154 Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.
156 Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws.
159 See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.
160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
God delivers us, he defends and redeems us. Three times the psalmist says "preserve my life": according to God's promise, his laws, and his love. Promise: what God has said he will do for us. Laws: what we do for him. Love: the reason for both things! God loves us and so we love him!
In reading these psalms several times over, writing them out, looking at the patterns and parallels, I'm getting so much out of them! That has been my prayer and desire as I've been doing this reading and blogging. I wrote about that a bit in an earlier post. God has been teaching me his word, as I asked him to! He is faithful and he DOES answer prayer.
When I stop to think about how huge and powerful and amazing God is, it's incredibly awesome to know that he takes care of and love little (relatively) insignificant me! His compassion is GREAT, he redeems me and takes care of me and every aspect of my life (that's what it means for him to preserve my life). He defends me, too: when Satan accuses us of all the sins that we are guilty of (because we are guilty of them), God is our defense and states that our debt has been paid and to him, we are no longer guilty. In a way, God is the defense lawyer and the judge, too, because he also pronounces the sentence on us: forgiven and blameless! In reality, God defends us from our own sinful selves. He loves us that much!!
Today, I am going to remember how much God loves me and how great his compassion is for me!
153a Look upon my suffering and deliver me...
154 Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.
156 Your compassion is great, O LORD; preserve my life according to your laws.
159 See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.
160 All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.
God delivers us, he defends and redeems us. Three times the psalmist says "preserve my life": according to God's promise, his laws, and his love. Promise: what God has said he will do for us. Laws: what we do for him. Love: the reason for both things! God loves us and so we love him!
In reading these psalms several times over, writing them out, looking at the patterns and parallels, I'm getting so much out of them! That has been my prayer and desire as I've been doing this reading and blogging. I wrote about that a bit in an earlier post. God has been teaching me his word, as I asked him to! He is faithful and he DOES answer prayer.
When I stop to think about how huge and powerful and amazing God is, it's incredibly awesome to know that he takes care of and love little (relatively) insignificant me! His compassion is GREAT, he redeems me and takes care of me and every aspect of my life (that's what it means for him to preserve my life). He defends me, too: when Satan accuses us of all the sins that we are guilty of (because we are guilty of them), God is our defense and states that our debt has been paid and to him, we are no longer guilty. In a way, God is the defense lawyer and the judge, too, because he also pronounces the sentence on us: forgiven and blameless! In reality, God defends us from our own sinful selves. He loves us that much!!
Today, I am going to remember how much God loves me and how great his compassion is for me!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
A Light to My Path: Psalm 119:105-112
The entirety of today's passage is great, but tonight it's verse 105 that's really speaking to me:
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
I'm in the process of making a really big life decision, and although I have a lot of options I really don't know which direction to take just yet. However, I know that God has a plan for me, like the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
God's word has direction for me, like this passage from Jeremiah, and the message I'm getting from this is that I'm to seek God first. And then everything else will fall into place. Jesus says in Matthew chapter seven, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 7:31-34)
Thank you God, for giving me your word and for showing me the way to go.
It's really all about trust and priorities. Is God the biggest priority in my life? Am I trusting him to take care of me? Am I trusting my fiancee to take care of me as well? Is he the second biggest priority in my life?
If those things are in place, everything else will fall into place after them. When I put God first, he will take care of me, and work everything else out as well, as my favorite passage in Romans says: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Today, I am going to get my priorities in order, and I am going to trust in God above all things, and let his word light my path. (Click on the link to hear a beautiful version of Amy Grant's "Thy Word".)
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."
I'm in the process of making a really big life decision, and although I have a lot of options I really don't know which direction to take just yet. However, I know that God has a plan for me, like the prophet Jeremiah wrote: "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'" (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
God's word has direction for me, like this passage from Jeremiah, and the message I'm getting from this is that I'm to seek God first. And then everything else will fall into place. Jesus says in Matthew chapter seven, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 7:31-34)
Thank you God, for giving me your word and for showing me the way to go.
It's really all about trust and priorities. Is God the biggest priority in my life? Am I trusting him to take care of me? Am I trusting my fiancee to take care of me as well? Is he the second biggest priority in my life?
If those things are in place, everything else will fall into place after them. When I put God first, he will take care of me, and work everything else out as well, as my favorite passage in Romans says: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Today, I am going to get my priorities in order, and I am going to trust in God above all things, and let his word light my path. (Click on the link to hear a beautiful version of Amy Grant's "Thy Word".)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Made by Him: Psalm 119:73-80
Today I'm sitting in the computer lab in the library, with just a few minutes before I have a handbells rehearsal. It's a busy day, but I wanted to take a few minutes to read today's passage and reflect on it.
The very first verse of this passage caught my eye right away! Here's the whole passage:
73 Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant. 77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.
80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.
I was made and formed by God's hands!! That is so exciting! Just imagine, God who is all good (see yesterday's post) made ME. And he made YOU, and everyone else in the world! Because he made us, he gives us all things, including understanding to learn his commands.
There are two verses in this passage that begin "May those who fear you" (see Proverbs 1:7). Those who fear God are those who love and trust in him above all things, who know that he's God and they aren't. The psalmist is asking to be an example to other believers. I pray that I can be as well.
Verse 76 is my favorite: God's unfailing love is my comfort, because he has promised it to me! At a time like right now when I'm so busy, it's so encouragaging to know that I'm loved unfailingly by the God who made and formed me.
That's what I'm going to remember today.
The very first verse of this passage caught my eye right away! Here's the whole passage:
73 Your hands made me and formed me;
give me understanding to learn your commands.74 May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, LORD, that your laws are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 May your unfailing love be my comfort,
according to your promise to your servant. 77 Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
78 May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;
but I will meditate on your precepts.
79 May those who fear you turn to me,
those who understand your statutes.
80 May I wholeheartedly follow your decrees,
that I may not be put to shame.
I was made and formed by God's hands!! That is so exciting! Just imagine, God who is all good (see yesterday's post) made ME. And he made YOU, and everyone else in the world! Because he made us, he gives us all things, including understanding to learn his commands.
There are two verses in this passage that begin "May those who fear you" (see Proverbs 1:7). Those who fear God are those who love and trust in him above all things, who know that he's God and they aren't. The psalmist is asking to be an example to other believers. I pray that I can be as well.
Verse 76 is my favorite: God's unfailing love is my comfort, because he has promised it to me! At a time like right now when I'm so busy, it's so encouragaging to know that I'm loved unfailingly by the God who made and formed me.
That's what I'm going to remember today.
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