Wednesday Worship~Hanging On, Secure in Him

Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

 

 

The Lord is near. 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....And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:5-7,19 (NIV)

I'm praying that you find your security and all you need in Him today!

Monday Meditation~Security

This is what the LORD says, He who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it - the LORD is His name: "Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know....I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security." Jeremiah 33:2-3, 6 (NIV)

I panicked for a moment.                                                     

Where could it be?

It wasn't on the table beside my quiet time chair.

Not on the desk in my office...or the one in my kitchen.

My heart skipped a beat.

And then rested as the sigh left my lips.

 I found it. Upstairs where I last worked on my Bible study.

My pink Bible. My favorite. Tattered, worn, loved.

My mind flashed back to frantic searches for my little girl's "pink blankie." At bedtime. Or naptime. When she was sick. Or hurt. When we were away on a trip. Anytime she needed it and it was missing.

Security.

A pink blankie might have been the source for my sweet baby girl. For me, though, it's found in the pages of my pink Bible.

The place I can find rest. Or healing. Comfort. And help. Words inspired by the Author of Life and the Prince of Peace.

The place I'm reminded of unfailing love and the only One who can give it.

As I cling like a little girl to my own pink security, I'm awestruck as I remember...

"Jesus loves me; this I know.

For the Bible tells me so."

Father God of creation, what a treasure You've given us to hold in our hands. Your Word. The answer to our call. Tell us great and unsearchable things we do not know. Heal us, Lord. Heal our bodies, hearts, and souls. And may we enjoy abundant peace and security in You.

Wednesday Worship~One Thing Remains

Psalm 147:1-11

(NIV)

Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

How pleasant and fitting to praise Him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

He gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted 

and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of stars

and calls them each by name.

Great is our LORD and mighty in power;

His understanding has no limit.

The LORD sustains the humble

but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the LORD with grateful praise;

make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;

He supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle

and the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

nor His delight in the legs of the warrior;

the LORD delights in those who fear Him,

who put their hope in His unfailing love.

Let's praise the One whose love is unfailing, who never gives up, who can move mountains, who is all powerful, who heals, who sustains, who delivers, who provides, and who saves. How fitting to praise Him!

Praying sweet blessings on your day!

Monday Meditation~Arise and Do the Thing!

The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever-do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138:8 (NIV)

My 10 month old granddaughter points and says, "Dom" or any number of consonant and vowel combinations and I'm challenged to ascertain the meaning attached to a language I don't understand. Does she want her "silky" or the doughnut stacky toy? Is it snuggle time? Time for another board book? Does she want to watch Curious George? Is she trying to give me help with technology? (Yes, she can probably navigate my new iPhone better than I.) Perhaps she wants to look at the photos and videos of her on my phone again. Is she calling out for her "Auntie Boo" or trying to ask for Cheerios? Is she longing for another trip to the playground? I assure you, I want to meet her need. I do my very best at deciphering her precious little wishes and fulfilling them.

My 17 year old daschund "woofs" and does this prancey little bounce. I'm expected to translate that into one of several appeals. Is it "I need to go outside"? Or "Is it time to eat yet"? (She's a senior adult female. Those are the two most frequent requests. And yes, she's started wanting dinner in the 4:30 range and that old bladder just ain't what it used to be!) Her action could also mean that she wants me to move her bed into the sun or in front of the fireplace or upstairs to our den or my bedroom or into my office so that she can be near me. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error before I discern just what she's asking for. But eventually the need gets met.


Another voice beckons me. Sometimes through a still small whispering to my heart and mind. Often spoken boldly through printed words on a page. A call to come and sit for awhile. To bask in His sweet love...a love that never fails, one that overwhelms and satisfies. To yield to the summons to heed His instruction, to follow His plan, His purpose. A command to arise and do the thing before me. In His power. Without fear. Clinging to the reminder that even when I fall, He never gives up on me. This time the language is like my own...only finer and more beautiful and perfectly uttered. How I pray to seek understanding as eagerly as that of my precious sparkly-eyed toddling beauty and my feeble old doggy. To act promptly to fulfill the request, and to delight in the act of service.

Father, thank You for desiring us. Thank You for Your unfailing love for us. Thank You for calling us to be a part of Your plan. Help us to arise and do the thing, living totally abandoned to You.

Wednesday Worship~Everything You Do

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

Everything we do matters to the One who made us. He created us for His glory. Let's bring it today!

Monday Meditation~Do It All

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 
1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV)

Whatever you do.                                                                       

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Powerful words.

Thought-provoking words.

Challenging words.

We were created for His glory. (Is. 43:7)

So, let's do it all for His glory today!

Lord, guide every decision that we make today. Guard each word that flows from our lips. Empower us so that all we do...everything...brings You glory.

Wednesday Worship~Cling

Psalm 63:1-8 (NIV)

 

O God, You are my God,

earnestly I seek you;

my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

 

I have seen You in the sanctuary

and beheld Your power and Your

glory.

Because Your love is better than life,

my lips will glorify You.

I will praise You as long as I live,

and in Your name I will lift up my hands.

My soul will be satisfied as with the 

richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise You.

 

On my bed I remember You;

I think of You through the watches 

of the night.

Because You are my help,

I sing in the shadow of Your wings.

My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me.

 

 

 

Praying that the One who is able is the One you are clinging to today!

With love,

Monday Meditation~Looks Can Be Deceiving

"For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)

"Look how thin you are!" she exclaimed as we saw each other for the first time in several months.

I said, "Aw, you're so sweet," but inside I was thinking, "Girl, if you only knew!"

It was surely in my favor that I wore a black dress, black leggings, and black boots...and the real deceiver, a wide black belt. Underneath lays a little muffin top that whispers the secret of my love for dark chocolate and Krispy Kremes and the fact that I'm over 50 and don't exercise as much as I should.

As I chuckled over this conversation later, my mind was drawn to a similar reality.

When we look at those with whom we come in contact, more times than not, they probably have a smile on their face. On the surface all appears to be well, but often behind that smile, lies a heart that's struggling...or broken.

We would do well to keep that in mind.

And better yet, to know that even when we don't see what's on the inside, our LORD does. And His heart overflows with love and compassion. Take a look at Psalm 139 if you need to be reminded of that today. Oh, how He loves us.