Sunday Scripture

"For who has known the mind of the Lord, 

Or who has been his counselor?"  

"Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?"  

For from him and through him and to him are all things.  

To him be glory forever. Amen. 

Romans 11:34-36 ESV

Sunday Scripture

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ~ Philippians 2:9-11

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

Sunday Scripture

photo © 2010 Ryk Neethling | more info (via: Wylio)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

~Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

Sunday Scripture

photo © 2008 Ally Aubry | more info (via: Wylio)

God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being....

Acts 17:24-28a (NKJV)

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

Sunday Scripture

photo © 2006 Germán Meyer | more info (via: Wylio)

     But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

     For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 

     Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NKJV)

Sunday Scripture

photo © 2008 Tambako The Jaguar | more info (via: Wylio)

      So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

James 3:5-10 (ESV)

Dear Lord, set a guard over my mouth that I might not start fires with my unruly, poisonous, cursing tongue.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

 

Sunday Scripture

photo © 2008 DaDaAce | more info(via: Wylio)

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.  "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!" The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:22-26 (NKJV)

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

   

A Season of Learning

Rachel at A Steady Rain has begun hosting a weekly blog link-up called Friday Feedback, and I wanted to give my own feedback to the question she's asking today.

What is a scripture passage that has impacted you recently?

The Lord has been taking me through a season of learning what Hebrews 12:5-11 really means.

     5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (NKJV)

I know that I'm one of those Christians that has to be hit over the head with scriptures about twenty times before I finally get understanding and start working to implement the truth into daily living.  This passage is something I've read over and over and heard taught many times, but I shamefully admit I let it go in one ear and out the other.

Until sometime in the last month or so....

I was getting it from every side... books, ladies Bible studies, a sermon someone sent me, my Bible reading.  It was very evident that God was trying to drive home His point with me.  I need to learn that I need His discipline because I really don't know what sinful thoughts and motives I harbor in my heart.  The pressure and squeezing I feel in circumstances helps to root that out and draw it to the surface.  It's not pleasant, but it's the only way I can see what needs to be changed and the idols that need to be knocked down in my heart.

So I'm learning.  Discipline is good.  Discipline means God loves me.  Discipline demonstrates I belong to Him.

Although painful, it does yield the fruit of righteousness when I've been trained by it.  So I'm working to embrace the process and be thankful, so I can become more like Him.

• Subscribe to my blog by Email or in a Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

Quotable Sunday - Proverbs

I thought I'd link up today with A Daily Dose of Toni for her Quotable Sunday.  I've been reading in the book of Proverbs for my daily quiet time with the Lord this week, and there are so many interesting things that Proverbs addresses concerning the wise and the foolish.  Here are some of the quotes from Proverbs that have stood out to me just from chapters 17 and 18.

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. - Prov. 17:9

A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. - Prov. 17:10

A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.  - Prov. 18:2

A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. - Prov. 18:6-7

You can't read Proverbs for very long and not be convicted over your pride.  Many of the warnings given about the fool and his behavior are because of his prideful heart. 

The fool doesn't cover offenses.  He is highly opinionated and has no room to hear what anyone has to say about a matter.  He is always ready to pick a fight, and the things he speaks will get him into trouble every time.

I don't want any of those foolish things to be said of me.  I need to evaluate how much of my responses fall under the label of "fool", confess them, and humble myself under God's Word. 

Have a worship-filled and restful Sunday.

  

• Subscribe to my blog by Email
• Subscribe to my blog in a Feed Reader
• Follow me on Twitter

Words to Live By

I was searching at my favorite Bible tool site the other day for verses dealing with the tongue.  There are many found in Proverbs, but sometimes I just don't quite get the gist of what the proverb is stating.  The language doesn't always make sense to me.

I found some interesting verses in Proverbs 18 and decided to click on the option for comparing other translations.  Although The Message is not a version I use, I must say that reading through the passage made the truths crystal clear.  Some of the verses almost seemed humorous to me.  Check out a few of my favorites...

1 Loners who care only for themselves spit on the common good.

2 Fools care nothing for thoughtful discourse; all they do is run off at the mouth.

4 Many words rush along like rivers in flood, but deep wisdom flows up from artesian springs.

6 The words of a fool start fights; do him a favor and gag him.

7 Fools are undone by their big mouths; their souls are crushed by their words.

8 Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy; do you really want junk like that in your belly?

13 Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.

17 The first speech in a court case is always convincing - until the cross-examination starts!

21 Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit - you choose.

24 Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family.

--Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message)--

Very interesting words to ponder.  Don't you think?

Memory Monday: Psalm 3:3

This week the scripture I've chosen to memorize talks about the Lord lifting up my head.  I've been feeling discouraged in the last week because I'm waiting for God to move in a big way.  And as I wait, the negative thoughts come to mind, causing my head to hang down in despair.

This verse is a reminder to me that the Lord is a shield from all of those negative thoughts and Satan's arrows of doubt.  When my mind is filled with God's promises (His name LORD means He is a promise keeper), He lifts up my head.  I don't have to hang my head in hopelessness.  He lifts up my head when my confidence is in Him.

But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.  ~ Psalm 3:3 (NKJV)

If you want to join others in this, visit Joanne's blog The Simple Wife.

My Soul Thirsts For You

I am in the process of memorizing this Psalm.  I love the words because they speak of my desperate need for God and how when I seek Him as my only source of fulfillment, He fills me up.  This Scripture is of great encouragement to me, and maybe it will be to you as well.

Psalm 63

A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

  O God, You are my God;
         Early will I seek You;
         My soul thirsts for You;
         My flesh longs for You
         In a dry and thirsty land
         Where there is no water.
  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,
         To see Your power and Your glory.
         
  Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
         My lips shall praise You.
  Thus I will bless You while I live;
         I will lift up my hands in Your name.
  My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
         And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
         
  When I remember You on my bed,
         I meditate on You in the night watches.
  Because You have been my help,
         Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
  My soul follows close behind You;
         Your right hand upholds me.
         
  But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
         Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
  They shall fall by the sword;
         They shall be a portion for jackals.
         
  But the king shall rejoice in God;
         Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;
         But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

(Psalm 63, New King James Version)

The Chat Pack - Cheer Up!

What?  It's Friday already?  I haven't posted anything in a week.  And I call myself a blogger?  How do y'all put up with me?

Well, anyways... let's get on with the question, shall we?  I'm pulling the card out of the Chat Pack, and it says...

Whenever you are having a bad day, what is the best thing you can do to help cheer yourself up?

Good question for a moody girl, eh?  {wink}  It's true.  I can be moody, and there are a lot of days that I wake up feeling like I have a cloud hanging over my head.  My family thinks I identify most with Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's mopey donkey friend. 

When mornings start like that I have to get right to praying.  I need to get God's priorities and His truth at the forefront of my thoughts, and prayer is what helps me do that.  As I talk to Him, He starts helping me align my will with His will.  When I remember His care for me and that He is sovereign, it brings comfort and lifts my spirits.

In the last week or so, I've also found that expressing praise and thanksgiving to the Lord helps lift my mood, too.  I've been reading and studying through Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book Choosing Gratitude, and as I've purposely put gratitude into practice it is changing my perspective.  I'm excited about how God is working through that and the possibilities for change that are on the horizon.

Singing is also a mood lifter.  It's not my first response because singing is hard when you've got the blues, but choosing to sing when you don't feel like it is a sacrifice of praise that God is pleased with.

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy  ~ Psalm 107:1-2

So what do YOU do to cheer yourself up?

"Yes!"

Think about how often the Lord sets in front of you an opportunity to serve Him, and your answer is "no" because it's either out of your comfort zone or you just don't think you can handle it.  Does it happen a lot?  Have you ever wondered what would happen if you started saying "yes"?

This is something the Lord has been teaching me as of late.  I've always been one to turn down opportunities presented to me with an immediate negative response because it's not my thing or I don't think I could.

But something changed.  I stopped.  I stopped saying "no", and I started saying "maybe... I'll pray about it".  And once I start praying about something, it becomes really hard to say no to God.  Unless there's something hindering my availability, I know He wants me to answer yes.  I've learned I can answer yes because of His super-abundant grace.

Do you know what I've discovered since I started saying yes to the hard things?  After I have been obedient and followed through with the task, I have joy.  Beyond that though, I found that God is faithful and His promise is true.  His grace is sufficient, and His strength is made perfect in my weakness.  I suddenly see just how big He is and that there is no need to fear when I am dependent on Him in order to do the hard things. 

So take it from me... start saying "yes" to the hard things.  You don't want to miss out on the gift of seeing God at work in your life.

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory....

- Ephesians 3:20-21a (NKJV)

2010: A Year of Comfort or Trials?

As we readied to say goodbye to 2009 and ring in 2010, I read many Facebook statuses and heard people saying something like this:

I am ready to be done with 2009.  I hope 2010 is a lot better.  This was a bad year.

I sure can identify with that statement.  I was feeling the same way at the end of 2008, and I'm pretty sure I felt that way the year prior as well.  It seems there were plenty of hardships that seemed unbearable at times and just wanted to get past them. 

Yet I guess it really struck a cord with me this time as I heard it coming from so many people.  I understand what it's all about.  Unemployment has been widespread.  I have friends who have returned to school who are trying to juggle family with that new adjustment in the mix.  Some have lost loved ones to death.  The list of pressures and heartaches goes on and on.

What if we change our perspective, though?  What if we look at what God says about all of our struggles of 2009 and what they amount to?  Would our perspective change?

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,  who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9 (NKJV)

Do you see the problem with our perspective on trial?  The very things we are ready to escape by turning the page of a calendar are the things God has ordained for us to experience to grow our precious faith.  The apostle Paul calls it a faith that is "more precious than gold that perishes."  And to what end?  That I might bring praise and honor and glory to Jesus Christ. 

But I just want to be happy, you might be saying.  Yeah.  Me too.  Let's be honest, though.  Happiness is relative and passes quickly. 

The truth of it is, we have been called to suffering.  Let me say that again.  Christians have been called to suffering.  Are you cringing right now?  It's a hard truth, I know.  How can you read 1 Peter 1 and come to any other conclusion, though?  He says that these trials that grieve us will prove the genuineness of our faith.  They make it precious.  They make it valuable.  They make it real.

This truth is something I have had to learn in the last few years and something I continue to wrestle with because just like everyone else, I crave comfort, not trial.  The real question is, what am I living for?  Comfort, ease, everything going my way?  Or do I live for the Lord Jesus Christ, hope of heaven, eternal rewards, and a faith to call more precious than gold?

Whatever God has planned for your 2010, it's my prayer that you and I trust Him and cling to Him as our only Source of goodness.  When He gives you the dearest desires of your heart and unexpected joys, thank Him.  And when the suffering and hardship come, thank Him... because He loves you so much He wants to grow your faith.  Will you let Him?

God is good all the time.  All the time God is good.

A Fresh Look at a Psalm

The memory verse that I need to memorize for this week's First Place study is Psalm 139:13-14. It's a pretty familiar verse to me, as I've read it innumerable times.

When Judy teaches she will sometimes read a verse in the Amplified version to convey the deeper meaning of a scripture, but we often kid about how LONG a scripture is in the AMP. Teasingly, I mentioned that I would memorize all the verses in the AMP from now on, just to be an overachiever.

Seriously, though, I decided it would surely help me grasp the fuller meaning of a scripture, especially if I'm memorizing familiar verses that I might not give much thought to due to their familiarity. So that's what I did.

This week's psalm is amazing. It's long, but its words convey to me so much more than what I read in a King James or New King James Version. I love it!

For you did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother's womb. I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are your works, and that my inner self knows right well.

Risen and Coming Again!

He is risen! 

     Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.  Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.  Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen! Luke 24:1-6

He is Lord!

     Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. 

Revelation 19:11-16

 

Did you enjoy this post? Consider subscribing to my feed.

Learning The Secret

Things have gotten kind of tricky here at home, especially since I'm fond of cold cheese, cold yogurt, cold milk in my cereal, cold juice, and meat that is safe to eat.  Here's the trouble.  I noticed the other night that our ice cubes seemed a little too wet, although they were solid.  The next night I went to get an ice cream treat and found they had all melted to one side.  Not a good sign!

So we turned the temperature dial in the fridge to the coldest setting to see what would happen.  Know what happened?  Nothing happened.  The ice is getting meltier, and my yogurt is barely cold.  Can you believe I just went grocery shopping yesterday?  I can't even think about all that yogurt I stocked up on without groaning a little.

It's an old fridge.  I don't know how old, but it's old enough.  I'm ready to replace it.  And FAST.  That's just not going to happen today, though.

I was so frustrated this morning when I realized I could not eat yogurt or cereal for breakfast or use anything else that was in my fridge.  Part of that frustration came about because I've been so committed to sticking with my First Place diet perameters and have been doing well, but if I couldn't have my normal breakfast, it really threw a wrench into the works for me.  I also knew I would be starving the whole morning, and I could only imagine the monster that I would surely transform into when hunger set in.

So I was working through all that in my head and my heart and decided to take the dog outside while I figured something out.  Guess what verse popped into my head at that moment.  It was my memory verse for this week...

In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 

Philippians 4:12b-13 (NASB)

Pretty amazing, huh?  I decided the best I could do was eat a banana and drink some water.  God would have to help me learn the secret of going hungry this morning.  It was obviously His will for me today. 

You  know what?  As I spent the morning at the office, I did get hungry by 9:00, but I never became ravenous or felt like I had to raid the toddler room for cookies.  That could only be God's doing.  I know myself, and that wasn't me.

So I'm learning.

Did you enjoy this post? Consider subscribing to my feed.

What I Learned This Week: 2nd Edition

This week has been a tough week, as far as spiritual challenges go.  Every week at ladies Bible study I've been asking them to pray for my continued spiritual growth.  I can't help but think that if you're going to ask God for spiritual growth in your life, you better be prepared for some stretching.

So streeeeetching it is.  Ouch, does it hurt!

Seems that the area God has chosen to do the stretching in is concerning my attitude at work.  And yes, I am a church secretary with a bad attitude.  Please don't gasp so hard that you suck the cursor right out of your computer screen.  I'm a sinner who happens to work at a church.

My sin problems are in the anger, pride and fear departments, and they manifest themselves in perfectionism.  Did I ever tell you I'm a perfectionist?  I'm pretty sure it was on my list of 25 things about Liz, although I believe it was listed as a "recovering perfectionist".  Yeah, at least, that's what I thought.

I realized a couple days ago that my perfectionism has been causing me some undue grief.  Maybe I'm not as "recovered" as I thought I was.  I couldn't believe it was still hanging on like that.  I got to thinking that if I would look at my work from a different perspective, I would probably cut out a big chunk of my aggravation. 

I went into work Monday prayerfully, and I was able to see things differently.  It was surprising!  I was calm, even under the same circumstances that would normally set me off.  Calm.  Thank you, Lord.  I learned I can be calm.

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer  and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard  your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:5-7 (NASB)

*Head over to Musings of a Housewife, and see what other bloggers have learned this week.

Did you enjoy this post? Consider subscribing to my feed.

Doesn't It Take Your Breath Away?

We've gotten a lot of snow here since Friday night.  It just sort of came in bits.  Some Friday, some Saturday, some Sunday, and even more on Monday.

Having been in a car accident involving icy roads several years ago, there's always that feeling of trepidation when I know I have to go out and brave snowy and icy roads.  Not to mention that 180 turnaround I took on the ice about a month ago.  It's so nerve-wracking.

At church on Sunday the topic of snow came up and it was suggested by someone that it is blasphemous to complain about the weather.  I'm not certain if that falls under the definition of blasphemy, but the person does have a point in that God creates the weather.  To complain about it is to complain against God.

That's been on my mind today as I watched big, fluffy snowflakes fall from the sky.  It was really quite lovely to look at.  I guess the only thing that's difficult about the snow is being able to drive safely in it.  Why can't I appreciate it more?

I knew there was a particular reference to snow in the Bible that would speak directly to God's design in the weather, and I looked it up this morning.  We find it in Job 37:6-13...

For He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth'; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength. He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work. The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs.  From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen.  Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.  And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.

I don't know about you, but those verses stop my mouth.  Almost takes my breath away to think of it.  Can you picture God breathing out and forming ice?  Can you imagine the whirlwind coming from the south by His guiding hand?  He speaks to the snow, and it falls.  Such beautiful words, a description of the origin of weather elements.  It's amazing.

I think I want to spend more time taking in the beauty of nature and stand in awe of my powerful God who created such things, rather than complaining.

*Photo courtesy of Microsoft Office clip art.