May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalm 104:34
Did you knwo that ht ethoughts we roll over in our minds, the conversations we review or practice, and what we tell ourselves are meditations? It's true. And scary.
I remember a time in my life when I never thought about my thoughts. They flittered through my mind as freely as butterflies in an expansive field. Then I learned that God cared about my thoughts. And He wanted me to be careful about my thoughts.
Even if no one else knows the callous, judgemental, selfish thoughts I have, He does.
And He knows my heart's desire to squash every sinful thought. He has even provided a way for me to do it.
While I haven't figured out the trick to preventing these thoughts, I have learned to replace them. As I fill up on God's word thorugh Bible reading, study, and memorization, I gain more and more weapons to stop negative thoughts and lies and replace them with Truth.
It is a constant battle, but one that becomes easier over time. With my willingness and God's faithfulness, my meditations will become pleasing to Him!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Sing Praise to the Lord
Psalm 104:33 I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
The Bible is full of radical statements and this is not the least of them. At first glance it can bring warm, fuzzy feelings and pictures of arms raised in praise. Singing joyfully, whole-heartedly, passionately.
While I'm sure the psalmist had some of these feelings in mind, a closer look at this verse reveals its radical nature.
All my life. As long as I live. Think about waht that might entail. Losing a child. I will sing to the LORD. Being betrayed and abandoned by a spouse. I will sing praise. Coping with chronic pain. Praise the LORD, O my soul (v.1.) Losing every material item you've eer owned to a natural disaster such as a tornado or flood. May the glory of the LORD endure forever (v.31.) The loss of a job. The loss of sight. The loss of agility. The loss of being able to take care of yourself. Hallelu Yah. Praise the LORD!
Now that's radical. It's not easy, but nor is it impossible.
When we remember the things God has done - He set the eart on its foundations (v.5), He makes springs pour water into ravines (v.10), He makes grass grow for the cattle (v.14), He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7) - Who He is - the LORD is great and clothed in splendor and majesty (v.1), He is a wise creator, God is love (1 John 4:6), He is faithful (Isaiah 30:18) - and that He is in control of everything, we will be able to sing praises to the LORD ALL OUR LIVES!
The Bible is full of radical statements and this is not the least of them. At first glance it can bring warm, fuzzy feelings and pictures of arms raised in praise. Singing joyfully, whole-heartedly, passionately.
While I'm sure the psalmist had some of these feelings in mind, a closer look at this verse reveals its radical nature.
All my life. As long as I live. Think about waht that might entail. Losing a child. I will sing to the LORD. Being betrayed and abandoned by a spouse. I will sing praise. Coping with chronic pain. Praise the LORD, O my soul (v.1.) Losing every material item you've eer owned to a natural disaster such as a tornado or flood. May the glory of the LORD endure forever (v.31.) The loss of a job. The loss of sight. The loss of agility. The loss of being able to take care of yourself. Hallelu Yah. Praise the LORD!
Now that's radical. It's not easy, but nor is it impossible.
When we remember the things God has done - He set the eart on its foundations (v.5), He makes springs pour water into ravines (v.10), He makes grass grow for the cattle (v.14), He knows the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7) - Who He is - the LORD is great and clothed in splendor and majesty (v.1), He is a wise creator, God is love (1 John 4:6), He is faithful (Isaiah 30:18) - and that He is in control of everything, we will be able to sing praises to the LORD ALL OUR LIVES!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Abundant Life Conference for Women
Registration is open!
I've inserted the brochure as images below, but the quality isn't quite what I'd like. Want a clean copy? Email me and I'll send it to you in PDF. Register soon, as space is limited!!
I've inserted the brochure as images below, but the quality isn't quite what I'd like. Want a clean copy? Email me and I'll send it to you in PDF. Register soon, as space is limited!!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
After the Storm
All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Galatians 2:10
I heard a comment recently on AFR that spoke to what good comes from tragedy. I don't remember who was speaking, what program I was listening to at the time, or who they were quoting. But I do remember the words. And the message.
In times of tragedy, people come together to help each other unlike any other times in life.
Often when tragedy hits, people question God. Why would this happen? Wouldn't a loving God take better care of His people? Why me? Couldn't God have prevented it?
There are not easy answers to these questions, but the statement above gives us insight, if we're willing to look into it.
Tragedy, by its very nature, is never pleasant. It's painful, heart-wrenching, and devastating. Loss is never easy. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, of possessions, or of your home. We have an expectation that life's supposed to be easy and go our way. Bad things aren't supposed to happen and when they do, we're caught off guard and want to blame God.
However, while in control of every detail of everything in the universe, God is not to blame. God knew before He set the foundations of the earth that sin would enter the world, and with it pain, disaster, and trials. But just as we have children knowing that they will most likely rebel against us, God created us for the love that would be returned in relationship.
Our parental instinct tells us that we'd protect our children from everything bad that we can, and wouldn't God do the same if He loved us? No. Because easy and pleasant isn't always what's best for us.
One of the reasons my heart is so drawn towards the people who most recently experienced tragedy in the form of devastating tornadoes is because I've lived through a natural disaster. Not nearly as life-changing as what most people are going through now, but I have an inkling of the emotions and difficulties attached. And so I'm compelled to give.
And so are thousands of other people. Whether they've been through disasters or not. They are compelled to help others who are hurting. Whether they know them or not. They are cleaning out their houses, buying extra groceries, delivering goods and donating money.
People are coming together to help each other.
And this is only one way good comes from tragedy. We are willing to get out of our regular routine and get outside our selfishness and think of others. It brings joy to us to be useful and joy to those we help to know someone cares.
The good that can come out of tragedy doesn't take away the pain, but it helps lesson it. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it easier.
When I recognize what others have lost and focus on what I can do for them, I quit grumbling about the little things like a clogged sink or stepping on legos or piles of laundry. And I will learn to always Praise God in the Storms.
I heard a comment recently on AFR that spoke to what good comes from tragedy. I don't remember who was speaking, what program I was listening to at the time, or who they were quoting. But I do remember the words. And the message.
In times of tragedy, people come together to help each other unlike any other times in life.
Often when tragedy hits, people question God. Why would this happen? Wouldn't a loving God take better care of His people? Why me? Couldn't God have prevented it?
There are not easy answers to these questions, but the statement above gives us insight, if we're willing to look into it.
Tragedy, by its very nature, is never pleasant. It's painful, heart-wrenching, and devastating. Loss is never easy. Whether it's the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, of possessions, or of your home. We have an expectation that life's supposed to be easy and go our way. Bad things aren't supposed to happen and when they do, we're caught off guard and want to blame God.
However, while in control of every detail of everything in the universe, God is not to blame. God knew before He set the foundations of the earth that sin would enter the world, and with it pain, disaster, and trials. But just as we have children knowing that they will most likely rebel against us, God created us for the love that would be returned in relationship.
Our parental instinct tells us that we'd protect our children from everything bad that we can, and wouldn't God do the same if He loved us? No. Because easy and pleasant isn't always what's best for us.
One of the reasons my heart is so drawn towards the people who most recently experienced tragedy in the form of devastating tornadoes is because I've lived through a natural disaster. Not nearly as life-changing as what most people are going through now, but I have an inkling of the emotions and difficulties attached. And so I'm compelled to give.
And so are thousands of other people. Whether they've been through disasters or not. They are compelled to help others who are hurting. Whether they know them or not. They are cleaning out their houses, buying extra groceries, delivering goods and donating money.
People are coming together to help each other.
And this is only one way good comes from tragedy. We are willing to get out of our regular routine and get outside our selfishness and think of others. It brings joy to us to be useful and joy to those we help to know someone cares.
The good that can come out of tragedy doesn't take away the pain, but it helps lesson it. It doesn't make it easy, but it makes it easier.
When I recognize what others have lost and focus on what I can do for them, I quit grumbling about the little things like a clogged sink or stepping on legos or piles of laundry. And I will learn to always Praise God in the Storms.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)