Sunday, April 29, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Listen to the Voice which matters:God!
“Since you were precious in my sight… I have loved you…”
Isaiah 43:4
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
I have made poor decision
Looking at this cat, stuck, floating on the water, out of its element, we can relate. How many of us, indeed, have made a bad decision? Yep. Our lives are filled with ‘em. The uninformed, the rash, the foolish, the impatient , the stupid are just a few options we’ve taken when making a poor decision.
So, now that we’ve made that bad choice, now what? Are we hopelessly lost and doomed? Nope. It just takes a change in direction- going TO, instead of away- from God. And that’s humbling and no, often, not fun. To admit that our way of doing things wasn’t so hot, got us into this jam requires humility. And it requires us asking for His help.
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
James 1:5
He tells us He’ll give it to us, after all…
“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn to the right hand, and whenever turn to the left.’”
Isaiah 30:21
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8
So, if you’re stuck, ask for help, but not just any old help. Ask for God’s help! He’s faithful to give you the wisdom you need.
“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Philippians 4:6
“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:6
Ask! Ask away!
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Matthew 7:7-11
“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
John 14:13-14
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Last Laugh?
When I was a kid, I was teased and laughed at a lot. One of the things that taught me was how impossible it was for me to succeed at being myself, how hopeless things were in life. It placed doubt, insecurity and anxiety in me- all because of the bully behavior.
We’re now at Resurrection Sunday, the honoring of Jesus Christ rising from the dead, as Savior and Lord. This is the ultimate of impossible circumstances. Regarding the claim that Jesus was Savior of the world and “King of the Jews,” what was the response?
Laughter.
“The guards in charge of Jesus began mocking and beating him.”
Luke 22:63
“He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
Matthew 27:43
And, even before His death and Resurrection, Jesus was laughed at during His life. One notable instance was the account of Jairus’ Daughter (Mark 5:35-43), which, if you know me and my own story, was held personal meaning regarding recovery and defying the odds. In this account, in fact, when told the sick girl was dead, Jesus’ response was as follows:
“…‘the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”
Mark 5:39
And what was their response to that explanation?
“…And they laughed him to scorn…”
Mark 5:40
And, even concerning something as final and hopeless as death of the Cross, what was Jesus’ response?
“…‘I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die.’”
John 11:25
And , of course, what has been the response, even today, often, to that?
Laughter.
“…And they laughed him to scorn…”
Mark 5:40
You and I can mock the Resurrection and Jesus all day long if we choose. Yes, God-given free will covers that. Or, we can make another choice, one which relevantly applies the resurrect Jesus to our lives.
What do you need to be resurrected today? What looks dead, hopeless and when any discussion of it being alive comes about, is only met with laughter?
With Jesus, it’s possible; it’s to be relevant. For you. For your life. Yes, anything and everything in your life.
Jesus said…
“…’ I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
What do we do with that statement? Believe it? Apply it? Or laugh at it?
Yep, from here, it’s our choice.
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”
Philippians 3:10
This Resurrection Sunday, choose not to just look at this day as a day of chocolate bunnies or colored eggs. Don’t look at it, even, as only Jesus being resurrected from death. See it as your resurrection! Yes, even here and now, wherever you find yourself in your life. It’s not too late; there’s hope!
Know Jesus, know God’s Love and Know what it means to have a resurrected life! And then with Victory and joy, have that last laugh!
Friday, April 6, 2012
Surrender Girl
Look at this image.
Beautiful, graceful woman in a stretching pose? Check.
Soft, backlit colors engulfing her? Check.
Flowing gossamer dress, lilting in the atmosphere? Check.
Free, serene, blissful expression on her face? Check.
Any resemblance to me, whatsoever when it comes to the surrender to life concept?
Errrr… not so much…
I look more like this:
One of the things I’ve been thinking a lot about lately has been the Gethsemane moment. In Mark 14, we see how Jesus spent one long agonizing night before His crucifixion, being tested in His commitment to finish His purpose.
Who knows exactly to what extent He was privy to the details, but the fear is almost always so much worse, isn’t it?
Yes, it was a battle of the will; which will would win out?
Would He choose His higher purpose, filled with pain and suffering? Or, would He opt out and get the heck out of that garden, choosing to live His life on His own terms?
He could have done that, you know.
Who knows how many times He went back and forth in His Mind, weighing the options?
“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me…’”
Mark 14:35-36
And then, He finally decided…
“…‘Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:36
Whew! I don’t know if I could make that same decision. After all, I was the pulling my hair out surrender girl, not the serenity surrender girl.
Our will…Tricky, isn’t it?
As we approach Resurrection Sunday, I think it’s worth the time to take a hard look at our own wills and the decisions we’ve made based upon them. Perhaps our messes are directly linked to us flipping out, squirming or running away from God’s Will.
Perhaps you and I need to pray, not only, “Not my will, but Thy Will be done,” but also, “Lord, heal my will.”
What’s your Gethsemane now? What will are we choosing in response to it? It sounds scary and impossible, but facing its reality, warty will and all, before God, we have safety- and help.
And, looking at my own base reaction to surrender, I don’t know about you, but I sure could use that help!
In between the Resurrection Sunday services, celebrations and candy, let’s remember and lift up that Gethsemane moment will to God. And let’s just focus a little more on a hope attached to going the way of God’s Will…
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Yep, whether or not we want to admit it, God’s heaven kingdom is a lot closer to going His way than ours. So, let’s try to inch a little more to God’s Will, given up on our stubborn ways!
But by bit, decision by decision, moment by moment… Let’s not forget: the other side of God’s will IS that Glory!
Something to remember, in my hair pulling moments of surrender.
Nope. I’m not that blissful surrender girl as I could be with my will. But, I’m in process, flowing gown or not!
“...from glory to glory…”
2 Corinthians 3:18
Beautiful, graceful woman in a stretching pose? Check.
Soft, backlit colors engulfing her? Check.
Flowing gossamer dress, lilting in the atmosphere? Check.
Free, serene, blissful expression on her face? Check.
Any resemblance to me, whatsoever when it comes to the surrender to life concept?
Errrr… not so much…
I look more like this:
One of the things I’ve been thinking a lot about lately has been the Gethsemane moment. In Mark 14, we see how Jesus spent one long agonizing night before His crucifixion, being tested in His commitment to finish His purpose.
Who knows exactly to what extent He was privy to the details, but the fear is almost always so much worse, isn’t it?
Yes, it was a battle of the will; which will would win out?
Would He choose His higher purpose, filled with pain and suffering? Or, would He opt out and get the heck out of that garden, choosing to live His life on His own terms?
He could have done that, you know.
Who knows how many times He went back and forth in His Mind, weighing the options?
“Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. ‘Abba Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me…’”
Mark 14:35-36
And then, He finally decided…
“…‘Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Mark 14:36
Whew! I don’t know if I could make that same decision. After all, I was the pulling my hair out surrender girl, not the serenity surrender girl.
Our will…Tricky, isn’t it?
As we approach Resurrection Sunday, I think it’s worth the time to take a hard look at our own wills and the decisions we’ve made based upon them. Perhaps our messes are directly linked to us flipping out, squirming or running away from God’s Will.
Perhaps you and I need to pray, not only, “Not my will, but Thy Will be done,” but also, “Lord, heal my will.”
What’s your Gethsemane now? What will are we choosing in response to it? It sounds scary and impossible, but facing its reality, warty will and all, before God, we have safety- and help.
And, looking at my own base reaction to surrender, I don’t know about you, but I sure could use that help!
In between the Resurrection Sunday services, celebrations and candy, let’s remember and lift up that Gethsemane moment will to God. And let’s just focus a little more on a hope attached to going the way of God’s Will…
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
Yep, whether or not we want to admit it, God’s heaven kingdom is a lot closer to going His way than ours. So, let’s try to inch a little more to God’s Will, given up on our stubborn ways!
But by bit, decision by decision, moment by moment… Let’s not forget: the other side of God’s will IS that Glory!
Something to remember, in my hair pulling moments of surrender.
Nope. I’m not that blissful surrender girl as I could be with my will. But, I’m in process, flowing gown or not!
“...from glory to glory…”
2 Corinthians 3:18
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Steps of…you?
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”
Psalms 37:23
When I was in college, to accumulate enough credits, I decided to take a ballroom dancing class.
Yeah. I know. But it was for the credits.
Anyway, I was miserable at it. I could not get the steps down and whatever steps I DID make, were usually on my dance partners toes.
Wonderful.
Can you relate? You may have never taken a dance class in your life; or, you may be a fabulous dancer. But each one of us has run into the quandary of taking steps… or missteps. See yourself here?
So, it can be laughable, especially in our misstep valley moments, to ever believe God was guiding ‘em. Some of us have made some huge, epic, embarrassing, disastrous and life altering missteps.
“What, then, can God do with this?” we think.
But God sees differently- and completely.
“Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?”
Job 31:4
And none of us are too difficult of a project for Him (Jeremiah 32:27).
I think, however, most of us get confused on that Truth. We can often mistake the messy missteps of our lives with failure and our own garden variety, “oh, worm is me” perception of ourselves.
“O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
Jeremiah 10:23
We, may, indeed, give a lot of wormy, stupid, pathetic choice evidence “disqualifying” us from ever making a correct, let alone, destined, purposeful step in life.
But God…
Two of the most encouraging, “reality check” words I’ve had to apply to my life, especially when I’ve just stepped on a landmine. But God…
Indeed, God is working, is stepping, into the relevance of our lives. And yes, part of that includes a purpose and a destiny.
“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:6
But it doesn’t happen overnight; we’d all love that instant overnight reality, but we’d blow it if it happened that way (c’mon, you know you would; I’m not the only one who’d make a big mess of things).
Yes, living life- or recovering from life- whichever one applies to you, still requires work. (Sigh, I know).
It requires steps. Just like a dance class…
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”
Isaiah 28:10
Nope, it’s not the answer we’re giddy, squealing up and down about, but it’s the way to go. And, if we go with God, we will get “there.”
It’s God’s Will for each of us that we prosper, be in health and have prospering souls (3 John 1:2). And only God, really, truly, knows the whole story, missteps and all…
“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
Isaiah 46:10
Romans 8:28 exists for a reason; we need it!
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God-those whom he has called according to his plan.”
I believe, even with our messed up steps, God can work incredible things. Thank God He’s of the Mind to never let anything be wasted…
“…‘Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.’”
John 6:12
You’re not hopeless, even if your last steps felt that way. God has it covered; He has you! Turn your thoughts, focus and steps to Him; He is helping you.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with My eye.”
Psalm 32:8
Don’t worry about your steps; He knows all about every single one of them!
So, wherever you are now, today, take that next step toward God!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Tip of the Iceberg
Back when the film “Titanic” came out, I learned a little about icebergs. Since an iceberg was, indeed, Titanic’s undoing one hundred years ago this April, there has been a bit of study done on exactly what an iceberg is and what power it has. I’m not an iceberg specialist, but what I do know is the “tip of the iceberg,” the visible part, is only a tiny fraction of the real story. Most of the iceberg lies underwater, hidden from view.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
1 Corinthians 13:12
The same can be said for our lives, can’t it? What is seen is only the smallest fraction what really is going on with any single one of us.
And likewise, this applies to God as well.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
1 Corinthians 2:9
Imagine what God is up to concerning you. There’s more going on than what you’re experiencing now.
There’s more than meets the eye concerning you; your life is just the tip of the iceberg!
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