"Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord." Deuteronomy 8:3
I think the Lord is so funny sometimes (that's okay, right?!?). I've wanted to read Deuteronomy for some time now, so I began reading this morning and came across this verse. It is no coincidence that I read this verse the day before Thanksgiving...the day before I will be filling my plate with lots of bread...and other yummy foods.
Heavenly Father, I am THANKFUL for Your Word. Your Word is truly "a lamp to my feet and a light for my path" (Psalm 119:105). It is Your Word, Your Promises that give me hope for my future no matter what circumstances I may be facing. Please help me to fill my plate until it is spilling over with Your Word each day of the year. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Heaven is the Face
"I will go to him, but he will not return to me." 2 Samuel 12:23
Oh how I love the new song by Steven Curtis Chapman, "Heaven is the Face." I briefly heard the song a few weeks ago (enough to draw tears, not enough to remember every word) but today I had the chance to let the lyrics soak into my heart.
Many times since my daughter's death I've said something along the lines of "I can't wait to get to heaven to see Alysa again, to hold her in my arms again." While that statement is absolutely true, this past year my desire has become that I would long for Jesus the way I yearn for my daughter. Jesus should be the reason I can't wait to get to heaven...not just my beloved daughter. I want to love Jesus THAT much—that seeing and being with Him is what I look forward to...and that seeing and being with Alysa will be a bonus. But as a mother, that's a tough stance to take.
Oh how I love the new song by Steven Curtis Chapman, "Heaven is the Face." I briefly heard the song a few weeks ago (enough to draw tears, not enough to remember every word) but today I had the chance to let the lyrics soak into my heart.
Many times since my daughter's death I've said something along the lines of "I can't wait to get to heaven to see Alysa again, to hold her in my arms again." While that statement is absolutely true, this past year my desire has become that I would long for Jesus the way I yearn for my daughter. Jesus should be the reason I can't wait to get to heaven...not just my beloved daughter. I want to love Jesus THAT much—that seeing and being with Him is what I look forward to...and that seeing and being with Alysa will be a bonus. But as a mother, that's a tough stance to take.
It seems Mr. Chapman has put into words exactly how I feel. The first part of "Heaven is the Face" reads,
Heaven is the face of a little girl
With dark brown eyes
That disappear when she smiles.
Heaven is the place
Where she calls my name
Says, “Daddy please come play with me for awhile.”
Chorus:
God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m aching for.
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.
So right now...
Just as David so confidently claims in 2 Samuel that he will go to his son one day, I firmly believe I will spend eternity with my daughter Alysa. It is something I look forward to in the Kingdom of Heaven. And I think that is okay. God understands the desires of my heart...He made me. But I challenge myself to fall so much in love with Jesus that I look forward to spending eternity with Him even more than I look forward to spending eternity with my daughter.
Lord, I know Your Kingdom is far beyond anything I can imagine. Being surrounded by Your loving arms will be enough for all of us, no matter what trials we have endured in our earthly life. But in my weakness, and maybe even in part selfishness, I can only relate to seeing the face of my precious child again. Help me realize Heaven is all of this...and so much more. Place an unquenchable desire in my heart for You because without You, I would not have the hope or promise of eternity with Alysa. Surround me by Your love now; draw me nearer to You now, until I see...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
WWJD?
“As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:26
Okay, so maybe the trend of wearing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) apparel has long since faded…it is still a powerful question to ask yourself.
Now when I speak of doing something in the following paragraphs, please understand that by no means am I implying that salvation is based on acts. The bible clearly teaches that, “It is by grace we have been saved, through faith—and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). I am referring to acting out the Christian faith through love for our brothers and sisters.
I came to the sad realization yesterday that often times, when faced with the chance to do something, it is actually easier to do nothing. When faced with an opportunity to give of yourself, to put yourself out there for someone else, to share your faith with someone or to lead a group of people, it’s easy to shy away.
Satan fills us with excuses and self-doubt. “I don’t have time.” “I don’t know enough to teach a class…what if I begin to slip in my own walk with the Lord?” “I’m not sure how to really reach someone in need.” “Why would God want to use me?” But none of these excuses hold-true for a person of faith. Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do everything through Him.” Do you believe He is enough? Will you let Him be enough?
In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to be His hands and feet; to go to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:16-20). “It is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). It was such a huge relief for me to learn (through a bible study titled Experiencing God) that God is not waiting on me to dream up nice things to do for Him. No, He is already at work. God wants to reconcile a lost world to Himself much more than we do. He works through us to accomplish His purposes. Are you available for His use?
Again you say, “I don’t know how.” Just ask. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see how or with whom He wants to use you to impact the Kingdom. Ask Him to help you overcome your own unbelief (Mark 9:23-24).
I know. It’s easier to do nothing. I could have not written this blog... Lately, we’ve been experiencing trouble with our internet connection (hoping to get this resolved today…and now it has, hence this post!). As I turned on my computer this morning to write I could not get on-line. I could have done nothing. It was 5:20AM. I could have very easily headed back to bed. However, I knew I would regret not capturing the thoughts floating around inside my head. I don’t always know if or how these entries make an impact, but I trust that God has laid these thoughts on my heart and mind for a reason. So I act out of obedience to Him. I wrote this blog the old-fashioned way: with my real bible (vs searching an online database of Scripture – www.biblegateway.com is a good one) and a word processor.
As we near the season of giving, don’t hesitate to give of yourself. The gift of your time, your talents, and your love will go much farther than anything you can buy at a store. Let us strive to act out all year long what our faith commands us to do—“To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves” (Luke 10:27). The next time you are faced with an opportunity to be His hands and feet consider, WWJD?
More importantly, what will you do?
Okay, so maybe the trend of wearing WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) apparel has long since faded…it is still a powerful question to ask yourself.
Now when I speak of doing something in the following paragraphs, please understand that by no means am I implying that salvation is based on acts. The bible clearly teaches that, “It is by grace we have been saved, through faith—and this is not from ourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). I am referring to acting out the Christian faith through love for our brothers and sisters.
I came to the sad realization yesterday that often times, when faced with the chance to do something, it is actually easier to do nothing. When faced with an opportunity to give of yourself, to put yourself out there for someone else, to share your faith with someone or to lead a group of people, it’s easy to shy away.
Satan fills us with excuses and self-doubt. “I don’t have time.” “I don’t know enough to teach a class…what if I begin to slip in my own walk with the Lord?” “I’m not sure how to really reach someone in need.” “Why would God want to use me?” But none of these excuses hold-true for a person of faith. Philippians 4:13 reads, “I can do everything through Him.” Do you believe He is enough? Will you let Him be enough?
In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to be His hands and feet; to go to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28:16-20). “It is God who works in us to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). It was such a huge relief for me to learn (through a bible study titled Experiencing God) that God is not waiting on me to dream up nice things to do for Him. No, He is already at work. God wants to reconcile a lost world to Himself much more than we do. He works through us to accomplish His purposes. Are you available for His use?
Again you say, “I don’t know how.” Just ask. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see how or with whom He wants to use you to impact the Kingdom. Ask Him to help you overcome your own unbelief (Mark 9:23-24).
I know. It’s easier to do nothing. I could have not written this blog... Lately, we’ve been experiencing trouble with our internet connection (hoping to get this resolved today…and now it has, hence this post!). As I turned on my computer this morning to write I could not get on-line. I could have done nothing. It was 5:20AM. I could have very easily headed back to bed. However, I knew I would regret not capturing the thoughts floating around inside my head. I don’t always know if or how these entries make an impact, but I trust that God has laid these thoughts on my heart and mind for a reason. So I act out of obedience to Him. I wrote this blog the old-fashioned way: with my real bible (vs searching an online database of Scripture – www.biblegateway.com is a good one) and a word processor.
As we near the season of giving, don’t hesitate to give of yourself. The gift of your time, your talents, and your love will go much farther than anything you can buy at a store. Let us strive to act out all year long what our faith commands us to do—“To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves” (Luke 10:27). The next time you are faced with an opportunity to be His hands and feet consider, WWJD?
More importantly, what will you do?
Friday, November 6, 2009
Rejoice In Suffering
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5:3-4
Rejoice in suffering...sounds good in theory but it is oh so hard to do in practice. However, I have recently been inspired by two different families who have held strong to their faith in spite of their sufferings. These families - like many others - have chosen to praise God's name in the midst of a storm.
The faith of these individuals demonstrates their unfailing love for God. 1 John 4:18 reads, "There is no fear in love." They are able to trust the Lord because they know, remember and believe “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). They know that because of their faith, they will be “more than conquerors through God who loves us” (Romans 8:37). Loving and trusting the Lord in times of plenty is easy...well, sort-of. But praising Him when life gets tough?
A few days ago, I received a text from my mom. She was sharing with me something she had read on a church marquee: "One moment in God's kingdom will pay for it all." Faithful followers of Christ are able to see past their "light and momentary troubles" because they know something greater awaits them through their faith in Christ. "It is by faith you stand firm" (2 Corinthians 1:24).
1 Thessalonians 5:11 reads, “Encourage one another and build each other up…” We are “mutually encouraged by each other's faith” (Romans 1:12). Hebrews Chapter 11 is full of examples of faithful followers from the past. But I have, and want to express my sincerest appreciation for those who are standing firm in their faith now because it encourages all of us in the hope that we as believers have for our future.
Rejoice in suffering...sounds good in theory but it is oh so hard to do in practice. However, I have recently been inspired by two different families who have held strong to their faith in spite of their sufferings. These families - like many others - have chosen to praise God's name in the midst of a storm.
The faith of these individuals demonstrates their unfailing love for God. 1 John 4:18 reads, "There is no fear in love." They are able to trust the Lord because they know, remember and believe “that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). They know that because of their faith, they will be “more than conquerors through God who loves us” (Romans 8:37). Loving and trusting the Lord in times of plenty is easy...well, sort-of. But praising Him when life gets tough?
A few days ago, I received a text from my mom. She was sharing with me something she had read on a church marquee: "One moment in God's kingdom will pay for it all." Faithful followers of Christ are able to see past their "light and momentary troubles" because they know something greater awaits them through their faith in Christ. "It is by faith you stand firm" (2 Corinthians 1:24).
1 Thessalonians 5:11 reads, “Encourage one another and build each other up…” We are “mutually encouraged by each other's faith” (Romans 1:12). Hebrews Chapter 11 is full of examples of faithful followers from the past. But I have, and want to express my sincerest appreciation for those who are standing firm in their faith now because it encourages all of us in the hope that we as believers have for our future.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Pride
"If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God." 1 Corinthians 1:31 (The Message)
Oh how pride is one of those messy issues we'd rather not deal with! It is certainly something God has placed on my heart more than once as I've prayed for Him to "Search me and know my heart; point out anything in me that offends You" (Psalm 139:23-24).
A thought came to me as I meditated on the Lord this morning: pride stems from a lack of understanding.
If I truly understood God's sovereignty; His reign, His power, His mightiness;
If I truly understood that it is the Holy Spirit who works through me, who empowers me to do God's work;
If I truly understood that, "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Romans 11:36) or that "By Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16),
there would be no issue of pride.
If I boasted, I would boast only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all the times I have attempted to take credit for Your works. Help me to realize that "apart from You, I can do nothing" (John15:5). Help me to surrender myself to you daily so that Your power and Your glory may be revealed by the Holy Spirit working through me.
Oh how pride is one of those messy issues we'd rather not deal with! It is certainly something God has placed on my heart more than once as I've prayed for Him to "Search me and know my heart; point out anything in me that offends You" (Psalm 139:23-24).
A thought came to me as I meditated on the Lord this morning: pride stems from a lack of understanding.
If I truly understood God's sovereignty; His reign, His power, His mightiness;
If I truly understood that it is the Holy Spirit who works through me, who empowers me to do God's work;
If I truly understood that, "From Him and through Him and to Him are all things" (Romans 11:36) or that "By Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16),
there would be no issue of pride.
If I boasted, I would boast only in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:31).
Heavenly Father, please forgive me for all the times I have attempted to take credit for Your works. Help me to realize that "apart from You, I can do nothing" (John15:5). Help me to surrender myself to you daily so that Your power and Your glory may be revealed by the Holy Spirit working through me.
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