"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD." Proverbs 16:20 (NIV)
There were 30 minutes left before my daughter and I needed to leave for her piano lesson. My consistency (in the last week or so) in walking had been good. I wanted to keep that going. I decided that I could make a quick round of the neighborhood before we had to head out.
I put on my sneakers and took off...at a brisk clip. I got winded going up the hill, but pressed on. I focused on the straight stretch beyond me...still uphill...and kept going. I finally reached the summit and headed downhill. That's when the enemy started talking. "You know that you're really not walking that far. It probably doesn't even count. How much good can a 20 minute walk do?"
I said, "Surely some is better than none."
He continued to taunt me. "You know you'll never keep this up. Why even try?"
Again, I encouraged myself..."Surely some is better than none."
As I pondered that scenario, I couldn't help but relate it to my spiritual walk.
Like on crazy busy mornings when my hubby is out of town and I'm trying to get breakfast and lunch fixed and get my girlie to school on time and myself to work on time and I didn't get up extra early to spend time in the Word...but I make sure that I get at least a snippet of devotion time.
Some is better than none.
I believe that God has spoken volumes to me in times of devotional reading. Even when I didn't have time to leisurely sit and soak up His Word.
So it's better not to skip either...the walk...even if it's short...time to hear from God before you start your day...even if it's a brief word.
Now...more is better than some. I hope I'm going to lengthen my walk as I build endurance and get in better shape. And I long to spend time just soaking in the goodness of His Word.
But let's not get discouraged with our offering of "some."
I must add a disclaimer.
The some...and the more...that are better apply to things that are actually good for us...as our key verse said, of heeded instruction...like obedience to God, time in His Word, time in prayer, and so on...as well as healthy eating and exercise...and fiber (well maybe not too much)...and wise choices.
It doesn't apply to butter...and cookie dough...and sugar...and ice cream...and the biggest steak on the menu.
God, thank You for accepting my "mite." Thank You for hanging in there with me when I fall down...or when I'm inconsistent. Thank You for taking my smallest offering and multiplying it because that's just what You do. Help me with my somes...and mores...and to stay away from the things that don't apply.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Prayer...Like Incense
"May my prayer be set before You like incense..." Psalm 141:2a (NIV)
Do you ever wonder, with your prayer life, if you're doing it right?? Do you ever feel like you're just an asking machine? Do you ever puzzle as to whether God thinks, "Oh no, here she is again....What is it this time?...What does she need of Me now?"
I've been mulling over that lately.
Over the years I've heard several formulas for praying...given in acrostics.
Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield
or
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Honestly, I'm a little baffled by the word supplication. I'm guessing that means asking...could look it up in the dictionary, but choosing to move on.
I want to do it right...Praying.
I feel like I do alright with the admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray continually." Throughout my day I find myself saying things like, "Wow! Thank You, God for this beautiful weather!" or sometimes I am reminded of that little rhyming prayer that I learned as a child that says, "Thank You for the world so sweet. Thank You for the food we eat. Thank You for the birds that sing. Thank You, God, for everything." I think of that often when I hear birds singing in the morning...their praise to Him. I don't think He minds that I recite it. I offer other random words of thanks throughout the day...and at mealtime...and before I go to sleep.
But I feel like so much of what I do is asking. Very little of it is for myself. Most of it is intercession for people that I've told, "I will pray for you." I really try to take that commitment seriously. Of course, a huge amount of my requests involve my family...my daughters, their husbands, my husband, my parents, my grandmother, my brother and his family, and so on. From the time I wake up...and throughout the day...and night, I keep asking.
I've been trying to be intentional in reminding myself of those acrostics and "following the plan". But it seems that as I'm "thanking," I always ending up moving into another request.
So I prayed about it...yes, asked God to help me pray right.
I think that He said, "Don't put Me in a box. I'm not about a formula." I'm pretty sure that He led me to His Word and guided me through reading and then turning His Words back into prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Yes, and even confession. Then He brought songs to my mind...mostly hymns...that propelled me into worship and more praise. And I didn't have to do any of those in a particular order.
Of course I took a little tour of prayer via Bible Gateway and I was encouraged by my findings. Throughout Scripture there was a LOT of asking going on...by Abraham, Moses, Hannah, Samuel, Daniel, David, Elijah..the list goes on and on...and includes Jesus. I even felt encouraged by the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1, which says, "Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Also in Luke 11, as Jesus taught on prayer, in verse 9 we are told, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." And in Ephesians 6:18, Paul tells us to "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." I could go on and on.
So, my "take away" was this. Yes, even the asking is "incense" to God...because He cares about everything that concerns me (and you). He loves me...beyond my ability to fathom...and loves to hear from me. When I speak to Him throughout the day, it doesn't need to follow a formula. It is vital, however, that I spend time in His Word...and respond in prayers of thankfulness, praise, confession...and then, yes, with asking. I also need to yield to His drawing me to praise through hymns and songs of praise.
Here's the one He gave me today.
Surely God is smelling some incense.
Our God, we worship You. We praise You. We lift our requests to You. Thank You for Your great love for us...love that knows no bounds. We love You.
Do you ever wonder, with your prayer life, if you're doing it right?? Do you ever feel like you're just an asking machine? Do you ever puzzle as to whether God thinks, "Oh no, here she is again....What is it this time?...What does she need of Me now?"
I've been mulling over that lately.
Over the years I've heard several formulas for praying...given in acrostics.
Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield
or
Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication
Honestly, I'm a little baffled by the word supplication. I'm guessing that means asking...could look it up in the dictionary, but choosing to move on.
I want to do it right...Praying.
I feel like I do alright with the admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to "pray continually." Throughout my day I find myself saying things like, "Wow! Thank You, God for this beautiful weather!" or sometimes I am reminded of that little rhyming prayer that I learned as a child that says, "Thank You for the world so sweet. Thank You for the food we eat. Thank You for the birds that sing. Thank You, God, for everything." I think of that often when I hear birds singing in the morning...their praise to Him. I don't think He minds that I recite it. I offer other random words of thanks throughout the day...and at mealtime...and before I go to sleep.
But I feel like so much of what I do is asking. Very little of it is for myself. Most of it is intercession for people that I've told, "I will pray for you." I really try to take that commitment seriously. Of course, a huge amount of my requests involve my family...my daughters, their husbands, my husband, my parents, my grandmother, my brother and his family, and so on. From the time I wake up...and throughout the day...and night, I keep asking.
I've been trying to be intentional in reminding myself of those acrostics and "following the plan". But it seems that as I'm "thanking," I always ending up moving into another request.
So I prayed about it...yes, asked God to help me pray right.
I think that He said, "Don't put Me in a box. I'm not about a formula." I'm pretty sure that He led me to His Word and guided me through reading and then turning His Words back into prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Yes, and even confession. Then He brought songs to my mind...mostly hymns...that propelled me into worship and more praise. And I didn't have to do any of those in a particular order.
Of course I took a little tour of prayer via Bible Gateway and I was encouraged by my findings. Throughout Scripture there was a LOT of asking going on...by Abraham, Moses, Hannah, Samuel, Daniel, David, Elijah..the list goes on and on...and includes Jesus. I even felt encouraged by the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1, which says, "Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." Also in Luke 11, as Jesus taught on prayer, in verse 9 we are told, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." And in Ephesians 6:18, Paul tells us to "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." I could go on and on.
So, my "take away" was this. Yes, even the asking is "incense" to God...because He cares about everything that concerns me (and you). He loves me...beyond my ability to fathom...and loves to hear from me. When I speak to Him throughout the day, it doesn't need to follow a formula. It is vital, however, that I spend time in His Word...and respond in prayers of thankfulness, praise, confession...and then, yes, with asking. I also need to yield to His drawing me to praise through hymns and songs of praise.
Here's the one He gave me today.
Surely God is smelling some incense.
Our God, we worship You. We praise You. We lift our requests to You. Thank You for Your great love for us...love that knows no bounds. We love You.
Friday, March 11, 2011
There's Reigning and There's Reining In!
"For as [she] thinketh in [her]heart, so is [she]...." Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)
I've been thinking about thinking.
Actually it started with thinking about someone else's thinking...and her words...words that were critical...even snarky...words that hurt my feelings a little bit. We're a little more than acquaintances, but a little less than close friends...but her words stung.
The scary thing is that as I wrestled with my response to her snarkiness, I realized that I had become a snark myself...about her. And that I can venture off into snarkiness with the best of them! Not a good thing.
I prayed, "Lord, reign in my thoughts!" And I meant it in two ways. It's a matter of spelling...and homophones.
The first was REIGN in my thoughts. In other words, "Lord, be the God of my thoughts! Be present in them. Help them to honor You, to glorify You." As Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
And then the second is to REIN IN my thoughts...like stopping a horse by pulling in on the reins. Control them! Keep them from charging off in the wrong direction! Help me to follow the words in Philippians 4:8 that say, "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
As Matthew and Luke tell us, we...I...must to be careful to remove the "plank" from my own eye...allow God to work in my heart...watch my way of thinking...and my way of speaking.
Thanks, Lord, for that lesson. Please help my heart to "thinketh" in a way that shows I belong to You and desire deeply to honor You. Reign in and rein in my thoughts...and thus the words I speak. Keep me from being snarky. I love You.
I've been thinking about thinking.
Actually it started with thinking about someone else's thinking...and her words...words that were critical...even snarky...words that hurt my feelings a little bit. We're a little more than acquaintances, but a little less than close friends...but her words stung.
The scary thing is that as I wrestled with my response to her snarkiness, I realized that I had become a snark myself...about her. And that I can venture off into snarkiness with the best of them! Not a good thing.
I prayed, "Lord, reign in my thoughts!" And I meant it in two ways. It's a matter of spelling...and homophones.
The first was REIGN in my thoughts. In other words, "Lord, be the God of my thoughts! Be present in them. Help them to honor You, to glorify You." As Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
And then the second is to REIN IN my thoughts...like stopping a horse by pulling in on the reins. Control them! Keep them from charging off in the wrong direction! Help me to follow the words in Philippians 4:8 that say, "...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
As Matthew and Luke tell us, we...I...must to be careful to remove the "plank" from my own eye...allow God to work in my heart...watch my way of thinking...and my way of speaking.
Thanks, Lord, for that lesson. Please help my heart to "thinketh" in a way that shows I belong to You and desire deeply to honor You. Reign in and rein in my thoughts...and thus the words I speak. Keep me from being snarky. I love You.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Laugh With Me!!
"...God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." Genesis 21:6 (NIV)
Have you laughed today?
My day got off to such a wonderful start. My hubby and I had such a great laugh together...the kind with snorts...and re-starts...you know, how you laugh hard, and then sort of make a sighing noise, and then start all over again with renewed gusto! That has made me smile all day...and even laugh some more.
We all need more laughter. As Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine." (NIV)
Studies show that laughter releases a variety of chemicals that make you feel better...and reduces chemicals that make you feel anxious and stressed. Laughing increases oxygen intake, thereby replenishing and invigorating cells...and giving you more energy! It also increases the pain threshold, boosts immunity, and can even help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol! Now that's some "good medicine"!
So, when was the last time you went from a chortle to an all out guffaw? You know, the kind that makes your belly hurt and tears run down your face? Take action! Tell a funny joke! (Clean, of course.) Watch an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos. Watch a funny movie. Reminisce about funny family moments. Be silly. Let it go! Erupt into laughter!
What about you? What makes YOU laugh??
Lord, thank You for creating laughter. It is fun to picture You..."the One enthroned in heaven laugh[ing]...." Just that thought makes me smile. We praise You that "[You] will yet fill [our]mouth with laughter and [our] lips with shouts of joy." We love You!
Have you laughed today?
My day got off to such a wonderful start. My hubby and I had such a great laugh together...the kind with snorts...and re-starts...you know, how you laugh hard, and then sort of make a sighing noise, and then start all over again with renewed gusto! That has made me smile all day...and even laugh some more.
We all need more laughter. As Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine." (NIV)
Studies show that laughter releases a variety of chemicals that make you feel better...and reduces chemicals that make you feel anxious and stressed. Laughing increases oxygen intake, thereby replenishing and invigorating cells...and giving you more energy! It also increases the pain threshold, boosts immunity, and can even help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol! Now that's some "good medicine"!
So, when was the last time you went from a chortle to an all out guffaw? You know, the kind that makes your belly hurt and tears run down your face? Take action! Tell a funny joke! (Clean, of course.) Watch an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos. Watch a funny movie. Reminisce about funny family moments. Be silly. Let it go! Erupt into laughter!
What about you? What makes YOU laugh??
Lord, thank You for creating laughter. It is fun to picture You..."the One enthroned in heaven laugh[ing]...." Just that thought makes me smile. We praise You that "[You] will yet fill [our]mouth with laughter and [our] lips with shouts of joy." We love You!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Annie Oakley I'm Not...But Learning
"Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you-guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us." 2 Timothy 1:14 (NIV)
There's an ongoing saga throughout my blog archives of my squirrel-y battles. Oh, if my neighbors are watching me, they either laugh hysterically...picture my pink robe, bedhead still glaring, hair completely askew, armed with my Red Ryder BB gun... or they live in fear of my sanity.
My husband and I love birds. We try to provide abundantly for them, especially during the winter months. But we have an ongoing war with the squirrels and their gluttony. Hence the Red Ryder.
So this morning...my first free Friday in several weeks...one that I earmarked for sleeping in a little (actually glad that didn't happen), leisurely time in the Word, an appointment to do some writing, and perhaps take a walk on this lovely day. I grabbed my coffee...in my favorite Sonny's Grill mug...and headed to my "office"...that is actually my recliner, about 6 feet away from the bird feeders (with a window between us, of course).
As often is the case...don't know why I feel the need to confess to the masses that read my blog (lol)...the internet got in the way of my plan. First I thought, "I'll just glance at my email." Well, there was an email from a friend who just got married and had posted pictures of her wedding on Facebook...which I'm not on...but can go through my hubby's inactive account...to see if my daughter is "friends" with her. Complicated. Of course I got distracted by looking at various people's photos and walls...the reason that I don't have an account of my own! Then I read a couple of blogs. Poof! Over an hour gone and no quiet time in the Word or writing done!
So the Holy Spirit had to intervene (refer back to the verse above)!!!
He did it through squirrels...persistent little critters.
So here's how He used them:
1) Laughing as I write this one...to get me up and moving...part of the exercise I need to prevent "recliner booty"! Yep! Repeatedly I have lowered the foot rest, jumped to my feet, gotten out of slippers and into street shoes, snuck (Is that a word?) briskly out to my screened in porch, and raised the Red Ryder, cocking it repeatedly. Surely that counts as both upper and lower body movement!
Now, I must interject here that as I wrote the remainder of this point and part of point 2, my internet went totally wonky. I prayed for God to save my post...which kept blaring to me in angry red words that it could not save. I kept pressing "Save Now"..."Save Now"...to no avail...hmmm, another post for another day. So...while I was hoping for my internet to somehow miraculously reconnect and save my post, I figured that the Holy Spirit was moving me to get on some clothes and get some real exercise. And I did. Loved it...though I'm dreadfully out of shape. The birds...and me...were lifting some sounds of praise. The wind enveloped me with the Father's love. Aaaah.
Yes, I've got to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit...physically..."to guard it well, for it is my life." (Proverbs 4:13) That verse actually applies to instruction..."to hold on to it and not let it go"...which applies...and leads me to the next point.
2) Because I think like a devotional writer, my mind was all over what lessons I could take from my determination to guard those bird feeders...so I was led to search the word Guard on biblegateway.com. Mission accomplished! God got me into His Word!!! I think I read almost 200 verses with some form of the word "guard" in them...instructing me...challenging me...reminding me...and encouraging me.
Let me share some!
First, this is just so cool! Psalm 97:10 tells us that "...He guards the lives of the faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked." In Deut. 32:10, we are told, "...He guarded him as the apple of His eye." Don't you just love being reminded that we are the apple of His eye...and watched over by God!!! And then in Proverbs 7:2, we are given a reciprocal challenge..."Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye." I am His...and He is mine.
I love this, too. One of my favorite hymns (which I just don't hear enough of these days) is the one that says "I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." I found the basis for those words in 1 Timothy 1:12, which in the NIV says that He "is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him". And then...so amazing...the words (from my key verse above) call us to "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you." He guards. We must in return also guard.
Thirdly, the reminder to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Prov. 4:23 We must.
And finally, the challenges to "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous, be strong." 1 Cor. 16:13 And to "Be on guard! Be alert! you do not know when that time will come." speaking of His return!! (Mark 13:33) Come, Lord Jesus!
So, yeah, all this from squirrels and a BB gun. God works in some crazy ways!!
Thank You, Lord, for your persistence in drawing us into Your presence. Thank You for standing guard over our lives...and all we have entrusted to You. Help us to be on guard and in steady pursuit of You, keeping You and Your instruction as the apple of our eyes!
There's an ongoing saga throughout my blog archives of my squirrel-y battles. Oh, if my neighbors are watching me, they either laugh hysterically...picture my pink robe, bedhead still glaring, hair completely askew, armed with my Red Ryder BB gun... or they live in fear of my sanity.
My husband and I love birds. We try to provide abundantly for them, especially during the winter months. But we have an ongoing war with the squirrels and their gluttony. Hence the Red Ryder.
So this morning...my first free Friday in several weeks...one that I earmarked for sleeping in a little (actually glad that didn't happen), leisurely time in the Word, an appointment to do some writing, and perhaps take a walk on this lovely day. I grabbed my coffee...in my favorite Sonny's Grill mug...and headed to my "office"...that is actually my recliner, about 6 feet away from the bird feeders (with a window between us, of course).
As often is the case...don't know why I feel the need to confess to the masses that read my blog (lol)...the internet got in the way of my plan. First I thought, "I'll just glance at my email." Well, there was an email from a friend who just got married and had posted pictures of her wedding on Facebook...which I'm not on...but can go through my hubby's inactive account...to see if my daughter is "friends" with her. Complicated. Of course I got distracted by looking at various people's photos and walls...the reason that I don't have an account of my own! Then I read a couple of blogs. Poof! Over an hour gone and no quiet time in the Word or writing done!
So the Holy Spirit had to intervene (refer back to the verse above)!!!
He did it through squirrels...persistent little critters.
So here's how He used them:
1) Laughing as I write this one...to get me up and moving...part of the exercise I need to prevent "recliner booty"! Yep! Repeatedly I have lowered the foot rest, jumped to my feet, gotten out of slippers and into street shoes, snuck (Is that a word?) briskly out to my screened in porch, and raised the Red Ryder, cocking it repeatedly. Surely that counts as both upper and lower body movement!
Now, I must interject here that as I wrote the remainder of this point and part of point 2, my internet went totally wonky. I prayed for God to save my post...which kept blaring to me in angry red words that it could not save. I kept pressing "Save Now"..."Save Now"...to no avail...hmmm, another post for another day. So...while I was hoping for my internet to somehow miraculously reconnect and save my post, I figured that the Holy Spirit was moving me to get on some clothes and get some real exercise. And I did. Loved it...though I'm dreadfully out of shape. The birds...and me...were lifting some sounds of praise. The wind enveloped me with the Father's love. Aaaah.
Yes, I've got to take care of the temple of the Holy Spirit...physically..."to guard it well, for it is my life." (Proverbs 4:13) That verse actually applies to instruction..."to hold on to it and not let it go"...which applies...and leads me to the next point.
2) Because I think like a devotional writer, my mind was all over what lessons I could take from my determination to guard those bird feeders...so I was led to search the word Guard on biblegateway.com. Mission accomplished! God got me into His Word!!! I think I read almost 200 verses with some form of the word "guard" in them...instructing me...challenging me...reminding me...and encouraging me.
Let me share some!
First, this is just so cool! Psalm 97:10 tells us that "...He guards the lives of the faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked." In Deut. 32:10, we are told, "...He guarded him as the apple of His eye." Don't you just love being reminded that we are the apple of His eye...and watched over by God!!! And then in Proverbs 7:2, we are given a reciprocal challenge..."Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye." I am His...and He is mine.
I love this, too. One of my favorite hymns (which I just don't hear enough of these days) is the one that says "I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." I found the basis for those words in 1 Timothy 1:12, which in the NIV says that He "is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him". And then...so amazing...the words (from my key verse above) call us to "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you." He guards. We must in return also guard.
Thirdly, the reminder to "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." Prov. 4:23 We must.
And finally, the challenges to "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous, be strong." 1 Cor. 16:13 And to "Be on guard! Be alert! you do not know when that time will come." speaking of His return!! (Mark 13:33) Come, Lord Jesus!
So, yeah, all this from squirrels and a BB gun. God works in some crazy ways!!
Thank You, Lord, for your persistence in drawing us into Your presence. Thank You for standing guard over our lives...and all we have entrusted to You. Help us to be on guard and in steady pursuit of You, keeping You and Your instruction as the apple of our eyes!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Who's In Your Cloud?
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...." Hebrews 12:1-2a (NIV)
I just returned from an amazing weekend of fellowship, learning, and inspiration! Our annual Write2Ignite! conference was fabulous! We were greatly encouraged through our Keynote speaker, Marybeth Whalen, to seek the Lord diligently and run hard and boldly toward the dream He has placed in our hearts. Through the lineup of workshops, attendees were instructed in a broad range of topics from beginner "how-to's" to what agents want to the ins and outs of publishing contracts. We were able to meet with seasoned writers, editors, publishers and agents. It was a blessed time of meeting with fellow Christians pursuing like interests.
As I reflect on the weekend, my heart is filled with thanksgiving for new friendships made...reunion with those whom I don't get to see as often as I'd like, and the thoughts of "who's in my cloud"!
It's so important to consider who we are hanging out with!
Do those around you help you as you "throw off everything that hinders"? Do they hold you accountable in keeping away from "the sin that so easily entangles"? Do they encourage you to "run with perseverance the race marked out for [you]"? Are the people "in your cloud" ones that challenge you to "fix [your] eyes on Jesus"? Are they the ones that support you so that "you will not grow weary and lose heart"?
Think about it. Who's in your cloud?
If you are surrounded by that "great cloud of witnesses," give thanks and praise to the One who sent them your way. If you are in need of some thickening of that cloud, pray for the Lord to provide! Be watching! He will bring them into your life!
Our heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing love for us. Thank You for the race that You have marked out for us...for Your desire to live in us...to work through us. Lord, please send those our way to encourage us in our walk with You...down the path that You've designed. Fill our clouds, Lord!
I just returned from an amazing weekend of fellowship, learning, and inspiration! Our annual Write2Ignite! conference was fabulous! We were greatly encouraged through our Keynote speaker, Marybeth Whalen, to seek the Lord diligently and run hard and boldly toward the dream He has placed in our hearts. Through the lineup of workshops, attendees were instructed in a broad range of topics from beginner "how-to's" to what agents want to the ins and outs of publishing contracts. We were able to meet with seasoned writers, editors, publishers and agents. It was a blessed time of meeting with fellow Christians pursuing like interests.
As I reflect on the weekend, my heart is filled with thanksgiving for new friendships made...reunion with those whom I don't get to see as often as I'd like, and the thoughts of "who's in my cloud"!
It's so important to consider who we are hanging out with!
Do those around you help you as you "throw off everything that hinders"? Do they hold you accountable in keeping away from "the sin that so easily entangles"? Do they encourage you to "run with perseverance the race marked out for [you]"? Are the people "in your cloud" ones that challenge you to "fix [your] eyes on Jesus"? Are they the ones that support you so that "you will not grow weary and lose heart"?
Think about it. Who's in your cloud?
If you are surrounded by that "great cloud of witnesses," give thanks and praise to the One who sent them your way. If you are in need of some thickening of that cloud, pray for the Lord to provide! Be watching! He will bring them into your life!
Our heavenly Father, thank You for Your amazing love for us. Thank You for the race that You have marked out for us...for Your desire to live in us...to work through us. Lord, please send those our way to encourage us in our walk with You...down the path that You've designed. Fill our clouds, Lord!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Call Me a Prude...Please!
"I will set before my eyes no vile thing." Psalm 101:3 (NIV)
This verse played in my head for a couple of weeks. I couldn't understand it. I try to be careful what I watch on TV and of the books I read. I really don't hang around in places that house a lot of "vile" things. Why was that verse resounding in my brain?
Weeks passed.
Then I knew.
God foresaw the situation that I would face...and worked to prepare me. He wanted to protect my mind...my heart.
My hairdresser was running late...about 10 minutes, he said...did I want to look at a magazine? Interestingly, every magazine on top of the table in the waiting area was written in Chinese or Japanese...or some language I couldn't read. So I reached for the ones in the side bin. I expected to find the latest copy of People, which for a prude like myself, is a guilty indulgence reserved for waiting rooms. Instead, I found a magazine that begins with Cosmo and ends with politan. (I can't even bear to write the full word!) Just a fashion magazine, I thought, remembering the days back in college when I purchased a few. Well, even then, it probably pushed the limits of acceptable literature for one who wants her mind to remain pure. Anyway, I opened it up. I shouldn't have. The article titles on the cover should have stopped me in my tracks.
I wish that verse had played one more time...before I looked.
The uncomfortable feeling that I had sitting next to someone that might see what I was reading should have caused me to stop.
But no.
I set before my eyes vile words...thoughts...images.
That type of magazine should be behind a counter in a brown cover...not just out where teenagers...or 51 year old women could get a hold of it! (Actually, it should not be written in the first place.)
I slapped it closed. I put it back in the rack. I wanted to wash away what I had allowed into my mind.
As the my hairdresser scrubbed my head, I imagined the scouring away of those thoughts from my brain.
Our generation has reached a point where vile often has become accepted...even the norm. That's disturbing.
It makes me mad that when I get a gift card (from my darlin' hubby for Valentine's Day) to buy books for my NOOK that I have to scroll through book after book of smut. It's appalling!
Friends, let's heed the words...the warning. Those vile things come between us and the Lord. They cripple our walk. Let's protect our minds...our hearts...our homes.
Father, help us to remember that You are all-seeing, all-knowing...that we never escape Your presence...that Your eyes search to and fro across the earth for those whose hearts are fully committed to You. Help us to be fully committed...to walk in absolute obedience to Your Word. Thank you for the words of warning that You send our way. Cleanse our hearts, oh God. Purify us. Guard our hearts and minds.
This verse played in my head for a couple of weeks. I couldn't understand it. I try to be careful what I watch on TV and of the books I read. I really don't hang around in places that house a lot of "vile" things. Why was that verse resounding in my brain?
Weeks passed.
Then I knew.
God foresaw the situation that I would face...and worked to prepare me. He wanted to protect my mind...my heart.
My hairdresser was running late...about 10 minutes, he said...did I want to look at a magazine? Interestingly, every magazine on top of the table in the waiting area was written in Chinese or Japanese...or some language I couldn't read. So I reached for the ones in the side bin. I expected to find the latest copy of People, which for a prude like myself, is a guilty indulgence reserved for waiting rooms. Instead, I found a magazine that begins with Cosmo and ends with politan. (I can't even bear to write the full word!) Just a fashion magazine, I thought, remembering the days back in college when I purchased a few. Well, even then, it probably pushed the limits of acceptable literature for one who wants her mind to remain pure. Anyway, I opened it up. I shouldn't have. The article titles on the cover should have stopped me in my tracks.
I wish that verse had played one more time...before I looked.
The uncomfortable feeling that I had sitting next to someone that might see what I was reading should have caused me to stop.
But no.
I set before my eyes vile words...thoughts...images.
That type of magazine should be behind a counter in a brown cover...not just out where teenagers...or 51 year old women could get a hold of it! (Actually, it should not be written in the first place.)
I slapped it closed. I put it back in the rack. I wanted to wash away what I had allowed into my mind.
As the my hairdresser scrubbed my head, I imagined the scouring away of those thoughts from my brain.
Our generation has reached a point where vile often has become accepted...even the norm. That's disturbing.
It makes me mad that when I get a gift card (from my darlin' hubby for Valentine's Day) to buy books for my NOOK that I have to scroll through book after book of smut. It's appalling!
Friends, let's heed the words...the warning. Those vile things come between us and the Lord. They cripple our walk. Let's protect our minds...our hearts...our homes.
Father, help us to remember that You are all-seeing, all-knowing...that we never escape Your presence...that Your eyes search to and fro across the earth for those whose hearts are fully committed to You. Help us to be fully committed...to walk in absolute obedience to Your Word. Thank you for the words of warning that You send our way. Cleanse our hearts, oh God. Purify us. Guard our hearts and minds.
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