You've painted me pictures, you've sang me songs
You've wiped my tears away, you've moved me along.
You've give me strength to stand up
when all i've wanted was to lie still
But i've been able to do anything
under the umbrella of your strength and your will.
You provide all that I need every day i've drawn in breath
You'll be right there with me, even in death.
They say you come into this world with nothing
and you leave this world with nothing as well
From this world I'll take a piece of you
because you picked me up every time I fell.
I want to do nothing more than to become more like you
every endeavor I embark on you've seen me through.
I can feel the peace of your warming smile
I never fear being alone because you've been here all the while.
When the worlds troubles are whispering in my ear
you remind me, I have nothing to fear.
You're right there holding my hand
just as you said you always would
I call out to you in times of trouble
just as you said I should.
Most days my heart doesn't ache
my mind isn't filled with fear
you possess the loving compassion I need,
my best interest at heart, you hold me so near.
I pray to keep you in my heart always
in my thoughts you should always be
my mouth is for your praises
anything I am missing, open my eyes to see.
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works
are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalm 139:14
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Back to the beginning of Eternity...
With the upcoming Holiday celebration a foot, I think about where this holiday's humble beginnings are rooted. In Christ. Some folks would argue that Easter (the celebration of Christ's death and resurrection) would be the bigger one to celebrate. Let me start, I am not here to argue. I am here to share the gospel according to how it has applied to my life. Christmas is filled with wonder; beauty, birth, a hope and a future all because our Savior was born on this day. Without His birth we wouldn't have eternal life, because without His birth we wouldn't have His death either.
It all began with Mary. A faithful servant of God. Mary was already pledged to a man named Joseph.
"The angel went to her and said, greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
Mary was troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." Luke 1:28-32
Christ's birth truly is the greatest story ever told! An unlikely beginning, ending with a ground shaking ending.
I understand why we give gifts at Christmas time. I got roped into that for a while too. More was better. Not gifts necessarily from the heart, just more. More stuff. And you know where I'll go with that, read my blog entry entitled "stuff." I have decided (because I was inspired by something I heard on the radio) that next year we should only give each other 3 gifts because, after all, that's all Jesus received. That sounds like a reasonably amount of gifts to give to your loved ones. And the rest that would ordinarily be given, give to a family that is in need. Or someone you know doesn't have family or anyone to celebrate with.
Through the years, thanks to the way our world has been heading and thanks to our social media- the reason for the season has been nearly forgotten. Except to those of us who have Christ living in our hearts. Some would argue that the Bible is so old and doesn't apply to life here and now but those who know Christ know it's more applicable than ever! Jesus is more real than ever too. This year I just want to give thanks and praise to God for His birth! Without Him I am nothing.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield." Psalms 28:7
" I can do everything though Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Our world is plagued with a not enough feeling. Everything is never enough. Paul speaks of contentment in Philippians 4:10.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:10-13
I had to put the prelude to Philippians 4:13 in here too because it very much has to do with this season too. As I have posted in the past, there any many who don't have and are in want or need. They very well could be like Paul in their situations and be content. But, there are those of us who have and should give to the have nots.
The true reason for the season is to give thanks and glory to our Savior Jesus Christ for the life He has given us. For the life that He stepped into and became flesh to reconcile us to God. Without Him this life is all that we have. And I am not willing to bet on my own intelligence that there is nothing beyond here. Because there is too much written, seen and unseen for me not to believe in Christ. He came here to give us life. And I want to invite you all this Christmas season to celebrate His life with all of your hearts.
Merry Christmas, God bless!
It all began with Mary. A faithful servant of God. Mary was already pledged to a man named Joseph.
"The angel went to her and said, greetings you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.
Mary was troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." Luke 1:28-32
Christ's birth truly is the greatest story ever told! An unlikely beginning, ending with a ground shaking ending.
I understand why we give gifts at Christmas time. I got roped into that for a while too. More was better. Not gifts necessarily from the heart, just more. More stuff. And you know where I'll go with that, read my blog entry entitled "stuff." I have decided (because I was inspired by something I heard on the radio) that next year we should only give each other 3 gifts because, after all, that's all Jesus received. That sounds like a reasonably amount of gifts to give to your loved ones. And the rest that would ordinarily be given, give to a family that is in need. Or someone you know doesn't have family or anyone to celebrate with.
Through the years, thanks to the way our world has been heading and thanks to our social media- the reason for the season has been nearly forgotten. Except to those of us who have Christ living in our hearts. Some would argue that the Bible is so old and doesn't apply to life here and now but those who know Christ know it's more applicable than ever! Jesus is more real than ever too. This year I just want to give thanks and praise to God for His birth! Without Him I am nothing.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield." Psalms 28:7
" I can do everything though Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
Our world is plagued with a not enough feeling. Everything is never enough. Paul speaks of contentment in Philippians 4:10.
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:10-13
I had to put the prelude to Philippians 4:13 in here too because it very much has to do with this season too. As I have posted in the past, there any many who don't have and are in want or need. They very well could be like Paul in their situations and be content. But, there are those of us who have and should give to the have nots.
The true reason for the season is to give thanks and glory to our Savior Jesus Christ for the life He has given us. For the life that He stepped into and became flesh to reconcile us to God. Without Him this life is all that we have. And I am not willing to bet on my own intelligence that there is nothing beyond here. Because there is too much written, seen and unseen for me not to believe in Christ. He came here to give us life. And I want to invite you all this Christmas season to celebrate His life with all of your hearts.
Merry Christmas, God bless!
Friday, December 9, 2011
I don't need to understand.
Sometimes we find ourselves asking "Why?"
I know I have found myself there more than a few times in my life. Crying it out loud at some points in my life. I felt alone; lost, hopeless and exhausted.
Once the dust settled, I realized it was my mind that was exhausted not my legs. My mind was tired because I didn't give it up to my Father to sort out.
His plan is not our plan. How could we possibly even begin to understand what is at work in our lives. He knows it all.
"My frame was not hidden from you when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!" Psalm 139
I think Psalm 139 says it all. If you read it in it's entirety You would see for yourself it says it all.
He knows things we don't. The before, the after. Our thoughts before they're formulated in our minds.
Think of a time when you got yourself into a bind... Focus on that for just a moment. You weren't following God were you? Your best idea for yourself, lands you into trouble. And still at that moment, you thought to yourself, Why? Why did this happen to me? Or, how did I get here? You know how you got there. You had an idea. A not so bright one and now you've made a mess and you're sitting in it. That's what happens I guess. For every poor action, there's a consequence. I know it's a huge pill to swallow. I've swallowed that pill before too.
Or how about when you're doing everything you feel God is asking you to do and still, something goes wrong. This surely a time when you would ask Why? Like, why are you doing this to me?
Here is what is difficult for all of us to accept. It's His will... His will. His plan. His thoughts. His view- because he can see it all, the beginning and the end. We make sacrifices here while we're in this life, that if given the choice we never would have made them. Losing a job, a loved one, money, a child, our homes. Hurricanes and tsunami's rip through peoples homes at night while they're fast asleep. And if they are blessed enough to wake up the next day or in the midst of the chaos, would you hear them saying- Why? Or would you see them dropping down on their knees, saying: "Thank you Lord for sparing my life." When rising to their feet again, shuffling through the rubble and collecting what's left of their lives.
I don't need to understand. I just need to follow. Because I know he's there. He has been every where I could possible be. He is everything and the nothing in between. I can take heart knowing He has been every where I could wind up being. There would be no point in our existence if we already knew everything there ever was and will be. What would be the point of this life. We were created to be in fellowship with Him who put us here. We were made to worship Him. But He loved us so much that He wasn't about to "Make" us love Him, or follow Him. It's our choice. Free will. So, you decided to take the wrong path... Why ask why. You know why. And even when you did take the right path, His path and something goes wrong, take heart, it's His will. He's got it all under control. All of it.
Find peace in this world, please. Ask Christ to come into your heart to live there and be your rock. If you don't, life is going to seem like a really long pointless road. At least if you know Jesus, you have someone you can count on to be there through all of your storms.
God bless.
"The Lord is with you where ever you go." Joshua 1:9
I know I have found myself there more than a few times in my life. Crying it out loud at some points in my life. I felt alone; lost, hopeless and exhausted.
Once the dust settled, I realized it was my mind that was exhausted not my legs. My mind was tired because I didn't give it up to my Father to sort out.
His plan is not our plan. How could we possibly even begin to understand what is at work in our lives. He knows it all.
"My frame was not hidden from you when I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!" Psalm 139
I think Psalm 139 says it all. If you read it in it's entirety You would see for yourself it says it all.
He knows things we don't. The before, the after. Our thoughts before they're formulated in our minds.
Think of a time when you got yourself into a bind... Focus on that for just a moment. You weren't following God were you? Your best idea for yourself, lands you into trouble. And still at that moment, you thought to yourself, Why? Why did this happen to me? Or, how did I get here? You know how you got there. You had an idea. A not so bright one and now you've made a mess and you're sitting in it. That's what happens I guess. For every poor action, there's a consequence. I know it's a huge pill to swallow. I've swallowed that pill before too.
Or how about when you're doing everything you feel God is asking you to do and still, something goes wrong. This surely a time when you would ask Why? Like, why are you doing this to me?
Here is what is difficult for all of us to accept. It's His will... His will. His plan. His thoughts. His view- because he can see it all, the beginning and the end. We make sacrifices here while we're in this life, that if given the choice we never would have made them. Losing a job, a loved one, money, a child, our homes. Hurricanes and tsunami's rip through peoples homes at night while they're fast asleep. And if they are blessed enough to wake up the next day or in the midst of the chaos, would you hear them saying- Why? Or would you see them dropping down on their knees, saying: "Thank you Lord for sparing my life." When rising to their feet again, shuffling through the rubble and collecting what's left of their lives.
I don't need to understand. I just need to follow. Because I know he's there. He has been every where I could possible be. He is everything and the nothing in between. I can take heart knowing He has been every where I could wind up being. There would be no point in our existence if we already knew everything there ever was and will be. What would be the point of this life. We were created to be in fellowship with Him who put us here. We were made to worship Him. But He loved us so much that He wasn't about to "Make" us love Him, or follow Him. It's our choice. Free will. So, you decided to take the wrong path... Why ask why. You know why. And even when you did take the right path, His path and something goes wrong, take heart, it's His will. He's got it all under control. All of it.
Find peace in this world, please. Ask Christ to come into your heart to live there and be your rock. If you don't, life is going to seem like a really long pointless road. At least if you know Jesus, you have someone you can count on to be there through all of your storms.
God bless.
"The Lord is with you where ever you go." Joshua 1:9
Monday, December 5, 2011
My home on earth
When I woke this morning, I looked outside to find it's snowing! Typical thing this time of year, but it's the first. I sat for a few moments and watched all the individual and unique snowflakes fall to the ground. Some melting upon contact to the patio and others collecting in bunches with the others in the grass.
The sight of the snow takes me back. Back to when I was a kid again, staring up at the sky watching as every flake threatened to land on my face. Mouth wide open, arms extended and smiling. It was always the best going back into the house, getting out of my snow attire and looking into our yard to see my accomplishments for the day. The snowman; the fort, the wall to hide behind. Even the track the dog's feet had worn into the snow around his run chain. And if you have a dog, of course you know about yellow snow :(
But the greatest thing of it all is that when I had enough of the cold, I could always go back into the house and get warm. Sometimes I would even fix myself a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider. Now, I only drink hot tea. I couldn't imagine not having a home, could you?
Not long ago, I was in a place where I had a roof over my head, though it wasn't my own, I still had warmth to come home to. The living situation was getting to be increasingly difficult and at times I felt unsafe.
I prayed... I prayed for my Father to get me out of that situation because I knew it wasn't conducive to living a more Righteous lifestyle. I prayed He would place me where ever He wanted me. And He did. I awoke one morning unafraid of the delusions I had developed about taking the chance of failing. I made one stop somewhere, she made a phone call and I waited a couple days... After the couple days had passed, I got probably one of the happiest phone calls I had gotten in a long while; "congratulations! When do you want to move in?"
I cried as soon as I hung up the phone. My Father heard my prayers. I cried and prayed to Him so many nights and because I was at the end of my rope and wasn't fighting Him anymore He responded- big.
I often refer to our place as our humble home or His house. Because it is. Without His gentle persuasion who knows where I'd be. Without faith I would have stayed in the hamster wheel of fear and doubt and grieving.
I guess I am bringing up two points here. One, you MUST stay faithful in prayer and in deed. And stop fighting Him, He wants to bring good things into your life. And once you let go and let God, He will.
Point two, be grateful for the home that you have. Unless of course you are in danger, then you must act. Faith requires action. There are too many people out there who don't have a home. They aren't outside "playing" in the snow... They may have no other choice but to live it out until spring breaks.
What can we do? How far can our arms reach? How can we get involved to do some sort of outreach? And honestly too, from the out pour of our hearts! Whether it be through our Church communities or you spending a saturday helping those less fortunate than yourself. How can you? Pray about it.
I find joy in scrubbing my toilet and cleaning and cooking and doing the laundry. I find joy in the little things that some people are only inconvenienced by. I love it! My Father placed me in this home, His home. He wanted me safe. He wanted me warm. I stopped fighting Him on something in my heart I wanted so badly. But at the time I just didn't know how to receive it. I let go.
Let me leave you with two pieces of scripture,
"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." Phillipians 4:6-7
- And if we are truly to be more Christ-like (being His followers)
"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, Mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10: 17-18
I pray we can make the changes in the ways we have only talked about doing so. I pray we can do the things we have merely aspired to do or commended someone else for doing. I pray we can be give thanks and praise to our Father who looks out for us and provides when we really don't deserve it. We don't "deserve" anything! It's all His anyway, we've just got it on loan.
God bless!
The sight of the snow takes me back. Back to when I was a kid again, staring up at the sky watching as every flake threatened to land on my face. Mouth wide open, arms extended and smiling. It was always the best going back into the house, getting out of my snow attire and looking into our yard to see my accomplishments for the day. The snowman; the fort, the wall to hide behind. Even the track the dog's feet had worn into the snow around his run chain. And if you have a dog, of course you know about yellow snow :(
But the greatest thing of it all is that when I had enough of the cold, I could always go back into the house and get warm. Sometimes I would even fix myself a cup of hot cocoa or hot apple cider. Now, I only drink hot tea. I couldn't imagine not having a home, could you?
Not long ago, I was in a place where I had a roof over my head, though it wasn't my own, I still had warmth to come home to. The living situation was getting to be increasingly difficult and at times I felt unsafe.
I prayed... I prayed for my Father to get me out of that situation because I knew it wasn't conducive to living a more Righteous lifestyle. I prayed He would place me where ever He wanted me. And He did. I awoke one morning unafraid of the delusions I had developed about taking the chance of failing. I made one stop somewhere, she made a phone call and I waited a couple days... After the couple days had passed, I got probably one of the happiest phone calls I had gotten in a long while; "congratulations! When do you want to move in?"
I cried as soon as I hung up the phone. My Father heard my prayers. I cried and prayed to Him so many nights and because I was at the end of my rope and wasn't fighting Him anymore He responded- big.
I often refer to our place as our humble home or His house. Because it is. Without His gentle persuasion who knows where I'd be. Without faith I would have stayed in the hamster wheel of fear and doubt and grieving.
I guess I am bringing up two points here. One, you MUST stay faithful in prayer and in deed. And stop fighting Him, He wants to bring good things into your life. And once you let go and let God, He will.
Point two, be grateful for the home that you have. Unless of course you are in danger, then you must act. Faith requires action. There are too many people out there who don't have a home. They aren't outside "playing" in the snow... They may have no other choice but to live it out until spring breaks.
What can we do? How far can our arms reach? How can we get involved to do some sort of outreach? And honestly too, from the out pour of our hearts! Whether it be through our Church communities or you spending a saturday helping those less fortunate than yourself. How can you? Pray about it.
I find joy in scrubbing my toilet and cleaning and cooking and doing the laundry. I find joy in the little things that some people are only inconvenienced by. I love it! My Father placed me in this home, His home. He wanted me safe. He wanted me warm. I stopped fighting Him on something in my heart I wanted so badly. But at the time I just didn't know how to receive it. I let go.
Let me leave you with two pieces of scripture,
"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." Phillipians 4:6-7
- And if we are truly to be more Christ-like (being His followers)
"For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, Mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing." Deuteronomy 10: 17-18
I pray we can make the changes in the ways we have only talked about doing so. I pray we can do the things we have merely aspired to do or commended someone else for doing. I pray we can be give thanks and praise to our Father who looks out for us and provides when we really don't deserve it. We don't "deserve" anything! It's all His anyway, we've just got it on loan.
God bless!
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