How long will we wander, before returning to Him?

Posts tagged ‘heart’

136) Stepping Up Our Game

The enemy is hard at work all around us. That seems a well-known enough statement but if evil is working overtime for our souls and the souls of those around us, shouldn’t we be working as hard or harder, not in defense but working offensively in protecting ourselves and our loved ones?

Day 136 reading: Psalms, chapters 3-4, 12-13, 28 & 55

O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. (3:1, NASB)

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. (3:3, NASB)

The Lord hears when I call to Him. (4:3, NASB)praise 2

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord. You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound. I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. (4:6-8, NIV)

The words of the Lord are pure. (12:6, NASB)

I have trusted in Your lovingkindness, my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. (13:5-6, NASB)

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. (28:7, NASB)

I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted, because of the voice of the enemy, because of the pressure of the wicked. (55:2-3, NASB)

As for me, I shall call upon God, and the Lord will save me. (55:16, NASB)

He will redeem my soul in peace from the battle which is against me. (55:18, NASB)

Cast your burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (55:22, NASB)

Amen!

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Faith, Perseverance, Praise, Prayer, Psalms

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125) Let God Arise!

For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalms 1:6, KJV)

Day 125 reading: Psalms, chapters 1-2, 15, 22-24, 47, and 68Psalm 1 2

Lately, I have been thinking of my guardian angels quite a bit. Today’s reading doesn’t cover them, but it still brings my thoughts to light.

He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” (2:7, NIV) 

My personal walk has been quite unscathed. I look around me and see pain and destruction, and I thank the Lord for the troops of guardian angels that must be guarding my every step, keeping my family and I safe, preventing harm and stopping me from walking in the path of despair. That thought comforted me as I went to sleep last night, and I hope similar thoughts comfort you in the dark of night and the light of day as they do me.

Friends, we serve the Lord, the God of all, our Father, who loves us each enough to call us Son or Daughter, His Children. We walk in His light and he directs our path, because He loves us.

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous,
Who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue,
Who does high neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,
Who despiese a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord,
Who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
Who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken. (15:1-5, NIV)

I find that the more time I spend in earnest prayer, the easier my path becomes, or maybe the more clearly I see the way. It’s not that there are never human obstacle and challenges, but they don’t ruffle my feathers, so to speak, when I pray without ceasing.

Isn’t today’s reading a beautiful testimony to the Spirit of the Lord, who dwells within each of us? The Lord lived with and in King David. He gave David words to speak and write and sing. Chapter 22′s foretelling of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion is nothing less than the inspired word of God, spoken through David. David was in constant prayer and communion with the Lord. He can work through each of us just as powerfully as He worked through David then, but we must open our hearts to Him and listen when He speaks.

I fear no evil, for You are with me. (23:4, NASB)

This is the generation of those who seek Him. (24:6, NASB)

O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. (47:1, KJV)

In all the gloom and doom that twirls constantly around us, isn’t it refreshing to open up the Psalms and read these words which are so uplifting and full of images of a such a gracious heavenly Father.

God is [already] beginning to arise, and His enemies to scatter. (68:1, Amplified) God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. (68:6, Amplified)

That is so powerful! God places those who call on him where they will more completely feel His love. He surrounds the lonely with loving people;  He frees us from the chains of brokenness. When we feel alone, we must remember this verse and be filled.

Friends, I pray for you every day and want your every moment to be filled to the brim with His Spirit, in ways that you know with every breath and every step.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 126 reading: Psalms, chapters 89, 96, 100, 101, 105, & 132

Dear Lord, Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. (22:11, NIV)

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Eternity, Faith, Hope, Perseverance, Praise, Prayer, Psalms, Seeing God, Trust

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116) When We Wander, our Lord Gets Harder to See

Isn’t it interesting how your life can come to a screeching halt when you forget your priorities? Life can just get to feeling a little “off.” Allowing busyness to be an excuse for giving Him the tithing of time He deserves makes life get off track, even in small, barely noticeable (at first) ways. This is the place I see the psalmist looking out from as we read through today’s scriptures, and I can totally relate. But through all he sees Hope, which each of us have in our Maker.

Today’s scripture reading: Psalms, chapters 73, 77-78

But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling,
My steps had almost slipped.
For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. (73:2-3, NASB)

Whether my feet just come close to slipping or I am already caught in a downward spiral, hurdling toward the pit, there is a way up through Him. When I speak to Him, it clears my mind of fear and frustration. When I call out to Him, I feel at peace even in the midst of uncertainty.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (73:25-26, NASB)

He is my portion forever. Besides Him nothing truly matters. We get so caught up in so much stuff, stuff that makes no difference in the long haul yet consumes all of our day, our nights, our relaxation time and our sleep. The junk that clutters up our time is also the junk that stands in the gap between us and Him. Friends, together let’s make a pact to de-clutter. I have my hand raised high in the air, screaming, “Please remove all of the junk that stands in the way of my steady, constant, unchanging relationship with YOU!”

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;road work ahead
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
That I may tell of all Your works. (73:28, NASB)

When I am living my life in line with His path for me, His works are on my mind, in my heart and on my tongue. But when I get distracted and wander off that right road, His works are harder to see. Not because He’s changed, but because our eyesight weakens from the drainage ditches.

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds. (77:11-12, NIV)
 
We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
his power, and the wonders he has done. (78:4, NIV)

Compared to Him, we are but specks and without Him, we are empty.

He remembered that they were but flesh,
a passing breeze that does not return. (78:39, NIV)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 117 reading : 1 Chronicles 6

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Hope, Perseverance, Prayer, Psalms, Quiet time, Seeing God, Trust

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114) Better is ONE DAY in Your Courts

Now that we’re really sinking our teeth into the meat of the Old Testament, I am even more pleased with the way the Word is opening up to me.  This is why I chose to read the Bible chronologically instead of straight through cover-to-cover as I had done before; by reading chronologically everything is put into context.

For instance, I have really enjoyed reading David’s psalms, which are like his own personal journal entries, written approximately the same time as we are reading the history of what was happening in his life. This has already been such a fascinating journey for me and I hope you have enjoyed it, as well.

Day 114 reading: Psalms, chapters 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87

In today’s reading, I was particularly drawn to the King James translation of these psalms. They were beautifully written and, for me, encompassed the essence of what the Psalmist was most wanting to convey.

O send out thy light and they truth; let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. (43:3, KJV)

Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. (84:5, KJV)

Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (45:7, KJV)

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish. (49:20, KJV)

Those scriptures are absolutely beautiful and so packed with meaning. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee. Send out they light and they truth and let them lead me. Please, Lord, give me honour and understanding. It’s like a cleansing rain falling down on me as I read these scriptures and know that even the Lord’s anointed sometimes felt alone, that even they sometimes begged Him for vindication, and that even they prayed for guidance as they walked along the path.

Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love. (45:26, NIV)

My mother did something so neat for me after reading Day 113′s article; she brought me over an envelope of genealogy for her father’s side of the family. The Lord will count when He registers the peoples, “This one was born there.” (87:6, NASB) It has been so much fun pouring over the names and birth years and all that was revealed just through the most basic information. Some names popped out from the pages that I had heard for years from my grandparents but had never really put into context, and some friendly heart stirrings of people that I miss.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. (84:10-11, NIV)

Why should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me–those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him–the ransom for any life is costly, no payment is ever enough–that he should live on forever and not decay. (49:5-9, NIV)

But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! (49:15, Amplified)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 105 reading: 1 Chronicles, chapters 3-5

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Prayer, Psalms, Trust

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112) My Prayer through the Psalms

Day 112 reading: Psalms, chapters 6, 8-10, 14, 16, 19, & 21

My prayer through David’s words:

BibleO Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor alive the heavens! (8:1, NASB) When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is bad that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? (8:3-4, NASB) I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. (9:1-2, KJV) I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. (16:8, Amplified) Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. (16:5, NIV) Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer. (6:8-9, NIV) The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. (9:9, KJV) The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. (19:7-8, NASB) O Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear. (10:17, NASB) I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. (16:7, NASB) Will evildoers never learn–those who devour my people as men eat bread and who do not call on the Lord? There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. (14:4-5, NIV) For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (9:10, NASB) Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. (19:12-13, NIV) Preserve me, O God; for in thee do I put my trust. (16:1, KJV) For I trust in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High I will not be shaken. (21:7, NIV) Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (19:14, KJV) AMEN!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 113 reading: 1 Chronicles, chapters 1-2

Category:

Psalms, Trust, Blessings, Prayer, Faith, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Perseverance, Forgiveness, Hope

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110) Tangible Hope

Stepping Up Beth MooreAhhhh, the Psalms of the Ascents. I know I reference Beth Moore time and again, but the studies the Lord creates through her are amazing and so relate-able.

I have previously studied the Psalms of the Ascents (Psalms 120-134) in the Beth Moore study, Stepping Up, and her insight into them is so wonderfully in-depth.

Today, we are going to study some of those Psalms and it’s going to be like going home for me. I hope you each enjoy today’s scripture reading as much as I do, or MOORE! ;-)

Today’s scripture passage: Psalms, chapters 121, 123-125, 128-130

I lift up my eyes to the hills– where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (121:1-2, NIV)

In the Stepping Up study, Beth (yes, I pretend that we are on a first-name basis) gives a ton of historical background information, which is not only exciting but really opens up these scriptures in a whole new way. I’m not even going to venture into an attempt to retell all of the information she shared, because I know I would not do it justice, except to say that these Psalms were written as songs that were sung by these groups of people on the road to or from pilgrimages. They are prayers for protection, they are songs of revival and rejoicing, they are songs for inner peace and inner strength through He who leads us all. These are powerful Psalms!

He will not let your foot slip–he who watches over you will not slumber. (121:3, NIV)

Does anyone else out there ever fall asleep while trying to pray? I don’t know how many of my bedtime prayers I actually get finished with “Amen” before I fall into a peaceful slumber, but let me admit right here and now that the odds aren’t good. Maybe there is just something that comes over me, such a peace that sleep is really the only natural thing to do…even if it does come in the middle of prayer. I console myself with the knowledge that I pray several more times each day, both formally in quiet time and informally more in conversation mode with my best friend, but still, falling asleep during prayer isn’t something to brag about.

Our Lord never sleeps, though! He watches over us, lives with us, dwells within us every moment of every day, without fail. Isn’t that an amazing, wonderful, overwhelmingly cool thing to let sink in? It’s like sometimes I know that and sometimes I know it. Sometimes, His Presence hits me and I can’t do a thing but smile and kind of hug myself, and in hugging myself, I am hugging Him. It’s just cool.

The Lord will keep you from all harm–he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. (121:7-8, NIV)

I realize that people in this world view what I am about to say from so many different angles that I can hardly even fathom all the reasoning, but I believe this is a great scripture to share this belief with you. I believe that the Lord does not cause bad things to happen to those of us who believe in Him, but He is not going to allow something bad happen without using it to further His kingdom in some way. Death happens all around us, every day, and each of us are effected by it. We’ve all lost loved ones to sickness and death, we’ve all known tragedy, but it’s how we react to those times and grow from it that makes all the difference in His world. There are people I have lost, dear wonderful loved ones, and just when I get sad and down in the dumps because they’re not here to share this life with me any more, I take solace in the fact that 1)They’re in heaven, and 2)I got to know them when they walked the earth. My life was better from knowing them, and hopefully my life can be a better influence on someone else, as well.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He is gracious to us. (123:2, NASB)

God does not clock in and out by human standards. Our time is not His time, so we must look to Him always with patience. We know not His plan. We know not His timeline. We look to Him and as we do, in His time, He reveals His plan for each of our lives one step at a time.

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. (124:8, NASB)

Isn’t it a wonderfully beautiful thing, this timeless gift of the Living Word of God? As relevant today as it was in the time of David.

Those who trust in the Lord as as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved by abides forever. (125:1, NASB)

mt fugiDon’t you just love that imagery? My faith in the Lord makes me like a mighty mountain, unmovable and under His protection.

Do good, O Lord, to those who are good and to those who are upright in their hearts. (125:4, NASB)

I wish sometimes that people could see more of what’s in my heart than what I wear on my sleeve. Sometimes, my natural human response is so much harder and colder than my inner heart response is to a person or situation. Can anyone relate? My heart overflows with love and compassion, but my logical mind takes over oftentimes before my generous heart can over-ride it. I want to live upright in heart, but I also want to show more of that uprightness (I’m just making up all kinds of words today) in my outward self, as well. I’ll have to really work on that one; the “softer side” of Marilyn.

Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. (128:1, KJV)

YOU are blessed, my friends! I am blessed. We have a healthy fear of the Lord that keeps us in His Word, that keeps us in prayerful conversation with Him, and that keeps each of us on the straight-and-narrow looking to Him for guidance and protection. We look to Him with faithful expectation, and for that we are blessed.

I would like to close today’s thoughts with rereading the final Psalm in the King James translation. Psalms 130:

Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O lord.

Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.

If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?

But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.

Let Israel hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

We cry out to Him and He hears our every word. Without Him, there is no hope. With Him, we have everything. We have hope!

Although I am not really an evangelical person, scriptures like today’s passages make me want to get out and help others find hope who may not know Him otherwise. There are so many who do not know how tangible hope truly is, but in knowing the Lord, we know all that can be and is through Him who gives hope and mercy all the days of our lives.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: 2 Samuel, chapters 1-4

The blessing of the Lord be upon you; we bless you in the name of the Lord. (129:8, KJV)

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Psalms, Trust, Prayer, Faith, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Perseverance, Hope

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109) Satan Wants You to FEEL alone!

wpid-imag0851The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. (Psalms 18:20-21, NASB)

Day 109 reading: 1 Samuel, chapters 28-31 & Psalms, chapter 18

When Saul was distressed, he called on the Lord and got nothing. Maybe a cricket hummed in the distance. But when David called, in his humble way, the Lord answered and led.

When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets. (1 Samuel 28:5-6, NIV)

What a difference that is from David’s calling upon the Lord:

In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears. (Psalms 18:6, NASB)

When we walk upright in the Lord and hold Him close in our hearts, He knows and He responds to us, as well. There are times when it is easier to act holy than actually have a heart for the holiness of our Lord, but we must continually call upon Him to keep our hearts right and our eyes looking to Him for our guidance. It is when we feel the most alone that we are the most likely to look to other sources for our fulfillment.

He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay. (Psalms 18:17-18, NASB)

Satan wants us to feel alone, to be on the outskirts, to be easy to reach; the Lord wants us to be together, living with other Christians and being held up in our times of need, never feeling alone or abandoned by Him or our brothers and sisters in Him.

When David and his men returned home to find their wives and children abducted and all the town destroyed, they wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep…But David found strength in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:4 & 6, NIV)

Like Job and so many great men of our biblical history before him, David found strength in the Lord, even in his darkest hour, even when all seemed lost to the human eye. Oh, my friends, we have so much to glean from this Living Word.

The Lord has rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. (Psalms 18:20-21, NASB)

Dear friends, my prayer is that each of us reading along on this journey or stumbling over this posting in a seemingly random happenstance, allow our Bibles to open up to us each in a whole new way, with fresh eyes and a completely fresh understanding. Every day that I read, I want to read and catch something I’ve never noticed before or understand some point or passage deeper than any previous time. Through Him, we can do just that! Through prayer and communion and faithfulness, He will continue to reveal so much “newness” to us through these pages and this study that at the end of our 365 day journey, we will have a completely new and exciting view of the inspired Word of God and my prayer is that each of us will be better equipped to go out into the world and share the Word with others. The Lord doesn’t want even one sheep to go astray, and each day He is making shepherds of each of us.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: Psalms, chapters 121, 123-125, & 128-130

Category:

1 Samuel, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Children, Faith, Gifts & Talents, Healing, Prayer, Psalms, Trust

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102) Without Him, I Am Nothing

My friends, I have to admit something to you: I am writing right now to avoid watching a doomsday movie with my man. Steve is watching 2012. I tried to sit through it, but just couldn’t. I’m a little Pollyannaish, I suppose, but that’s mighty fine with me. I know the world as we know it will come to an end in the Lord’s time, but I do not want to plan for it or fear it. Period. I don’t want to watch movies about it. I don’t want to hear news speculations or sermons on the subject. I want to do my human best to live as God teaches us to live and know that when the time comes to call me home, I will be ready.

I just had to get that off my chest…because I can still hear the crashing and screams of the TV screen from five rooms away and it kind of makes me want to crawl out of my skin.

Day 102  reading: 1 Samuel, chapters 15-17

kings crownThen the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the Lord all night. (15:10-11, NASB)

I always find it interesting when our Lord and Creator goes the human route. He knows all, foresees all, and has since before any of us were even created, yet He says He regrets making Saul the leader of His people. They asked for a king because He wasn’t enough in their eyes, and they got what they asked for. He knew all along how things were going to turn out, yet He allowed it to happen.

So many times I have thought, ‘Lord, you won’t regret freeing me. I’m going to do all you want me to do and then some.’ Then what happens? I slip. I slip and slip again and every time I get back up with the Lord’s grace and often times I make more promises. How many times can we slip up and be rescued by Him before we actually make a difference in our own lives to truly serve Him and not slip any more? Is it possible to live a slip-free existence from this day forward? Jesus Christ was the only perfect human; all the rest of us are severely flawed. Thank God for His grace that covers us, but can’t we really start to put forth an effort right now, right this second? YES! I do not want the Lord to regret putting me in the position He has, and I don’t want that for any of you, either. Let Him use you, and put everything you have into fulfilling the job He has given you.

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”

“But I did obey the Lord,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the Lord assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the Lord your God at Gilgal.” (15:17-21, NIV)

How often do we do what we think God wants us to do, but end up really fulfilling our human versions of the Lord’s wishes for our lives? How often do we follow the path He has laid before us so clearly, but as we reach the end, we begin to stray a little bit for our own human gain? How often do we keep the choice plunder instead of fully destroying it all, like we are told? How like Saul are we, really?

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (16:7, NIV)

I DO NOT WANT MY CHRISTIAN WALK TO BE ONE OF SHOW, BUT OF HEART.

I DO NOT STUDY AND CONTEMPLATE AND WRITE AND CORRESPOND WITH YOU FOR APPEARANCES, BUT WITH PRAYERS TO REACH YOU IN ANY WAY I CAN.

I AM NOT A GREAT SPEAKER, BUT I HAVE A GOD-GIVEN PASSION FOR WRITING AND FOR STUDY, SO THIS IS THE WAY I GET MY PASSION OUT TO YOU.

I LOVE THE LORD AND I PRAY HE SEES IN MY HEART AND IN YOUR HEART A REFLECTION OF HIS LOVE.

WITHOUT HIM, I AM NOTHING.

Part of me hates to close this posting without discussing David and Goliath, but we all know it and I feel it best for each of us to contemplate His love for each of us and the ways we are each living today. Is it reflecting Him all of the time, some of the time, only when other’s are present, or absolutely never? I cannot be satisfied with my human life if I am not fulfilling the most important of my duties to Him, which is to reflect His love for the world.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 103 reading: 1 Samuel, chapters 18-20 & Psalms, chapters 11 and 59

Category:

1 Samuel, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Creation, Eternity, Faith, Forgiveness, Healing, Quiet time, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God, Service, Trust

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82) Our Lord Knows Us!

It’s always a tough transition from one great leader to the next. It’s not as difficult when the first leader wasn’t quite living up to the hype, but either way there are growing pains involved.

Can you even imagine following in Moses’ footsteps? How do you think Joshua felt? Surely he was among the most faithful or this critical job would never have been passed to him, but still, there must have been some natural, human nerves involved.

Moses Joshua

I found this lovely image of Moses laying hands on Joshua and wanted to share it with you. I do not know the artist but thanks to the joys of modern technology, anything you want is always just a click or two away.

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the Spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. (Deut. 34:9, NIV)

Today’s scripture passage: Joshua, chapters 1-4

As with every other leader God has chosen, Joshua was given specific instructions. The Lord said to him, “No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you.” (1:5, NIV)

And the Israelites were behind their new leader in faith, saying, “Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.” (1:17, NIV)

If we are faithful to Him, He is faithful to us. He will never leave us nor forsake us, either, and He will be faithful always to us just as He was to Moses, to Jacob, to Isaac, to Abraham, to Noah, and so on down the line. It is only when we forget him that our relationship begins to slip; He does not every forget us.

“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (1:8, NIV)

I love this passage of scripture. Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly weak, I like to carry my Bible with me wherever I go. Not to be seen by others, in fact most others rarely know I have it with me, but just to know it is there with me (even though it’s pretty huge, as discussed on Day 80). I may never open it on these days when I carry it with me all the time, but at least it’s there in case I need to find some words of strength in the Word of the Lord.

He speaks to us in so many ways, though. He speaks to us through our prayers with Him, or through the praise and worship music we crank up while driving down the road, or through a kind email from a friend at just the right time. We are instructed again and again throughout the Bible to never let Him get far from our hearts or our minds, so that we will be in constant communion with Him, our Lord and our Redeemer. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

I love to watch all of the wonderful ways the Lord works in our lives constantly. Just as the people reported to Joshua after they scoped out the land the Lord promised them and found that He was faithful to His promises, we watch the Lord make our enemies crumble and hurdles in our lives overcome by faith alone. They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” (2:24, NIV)

When the Lord works and wants everyone to know, without a shadow of a doubt that He is Lord Almighty, He does it up BIG:

So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of Arabah (the Salt Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. (3:14-17, NIV)

And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet back on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before. (4:18, NIV)

Isn’t that glorious?! It is mentioned twice that they stood and crossed on dry ground. The water did not just stop flowing for a time being, He completely dried the ground, the river bed of the Jordan River, so that His chosen people could cross and not stumble, not fall, and not sink into the mud. Wouldn’t that have been an amazing feat to experience? Don’t you wonder sometimes how the Israelites could have possibly reacted against God time and time again when they got to experience His works like this?

That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses. (4:14, NIV)

In what seems to be his first act of leadership after crossing the Jordan, Joshua spoke to the people of Israel, saying, “The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” (4:23-24, NIV)

Do you know what always gets me about these fantastic signs and miraculous acts the Lord works in each of our lives? He knows us. He knows that even with all He has done and continues to do in our lives, He knows that we will fall again, maybe just a stumble or maybe we’ll fight right on our faces and take years to recover, but we will fall nonetheless. Yet, He does these things in our lives anyway. He works from love.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 83 reading: Joshua, chapters 5-8

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Faith, Joshua, Seeing God, Trust

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80) Be Strong, Courageous, and Firm

I don’t know if it’s just me or if today’s reading is really just that good, but it is really just that good! I think it’s especially refreshing on the heels of all of the curses we read through together yesterday. Whew. We’ve come out on the other side, rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to face Day 80 head-on.

Today’s scripture passage: Deuteronomy, chapters 30-31Bible

I want to begin with sharing one of the perks of the Bible my family gave me for my birthday several years ago. It’s a parallel Bible with four different translations included. I do get some jokes from people when I carry it to church because it’s soooo thick; My favorite joke was when I was asked if it was the “Unabridged” version :-) So clever!

Anyhoo… The opening verses of today’s scripture reading absolutely hit me as so beautiful and moving and breathtaking that I wanted to share it in all four translations that my Bible has to offer. Enjoy:

And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee, and shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with ll thine heart, and with all thy soul; that then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered the. (30:1-3, KJV)

And when all these things have come upon you the blessings and the curses which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind among all the nations where the Lord your God has driven you, and shall return to the Lord your God and obey His voice according to all that I command you today, you and your children, with all your mind and heart and with all your being, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion upon you and will gather you again from all the nations where He has scattered you. (30:1-3, Amplified)

So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the Lord your God has banished you, and you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart an soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. (30:1-3, NASB)

And my personal favorite translation of this particular passage:

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come upon you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God dispenses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. (30:1-3, NIV)

Aren’t those three verses lovely? Like I said, it may just be me, but I am absolutely raw and open to these words this morning.

Whenever I take the Word of God to heart, and I share it with my friends and family members, He will restore my soul to eternity and fill me with His love and grace. (my paraphrase)

My friends, that’s what I want, not only for myself but for you and yours, as well.

The Lord your God will circumcise you hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. (30:6, NIV)

Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. (30: 19-20, NIV)

I want God to circumcise my heart, to expose me afresh, and give my soul a new anointing, so that I may live only for Him.

Here’s the truth: But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it. (30:14, Amplified)

His Presence is here with us. His Word is living and breathing in us. We know what to do, now we have to go out and do it.

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. (31:6, Amplified)

I preferred the Amplified version of that particular verse because it not only told us to be strong and courageous, but also to be firm. Let us stand together, linked arm-in-arm against the enemy for he is real but he knows that the Lord our God is very real, as well, and the enemy is scared…he just puts on a brave face. Do not be fooled. Do not be weakened or grow weary. It’s going to be a long, hard fight, but we are up for the challenge. In the end, it is all so worth the effort.

Did anyone else reach the end of today’s scripture passage and want so badly to continue reading? I did! I look so forward to Moses’ song in our reading for Day 81 of our journey.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 81  reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 32-34 & Psalms, chapter 91

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Blessings, Deuteronomy, Faith, Perseverance, Seeing God

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71) For the Lord your God is a compassionate God

Bible study tools“You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I commanded you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2, NASB)

Day 71 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 3-4

Moses is still speaking to the Israelites:

“I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings; so the Lord shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross. Do not fear them, for the Lord your God is the one fighting for you.’” (3:21-22, NASB)

He is fighting for us, too. We are His people, too. He is dwelling with us, too.  Our eyes have seen His great works in our own lives, too! It’s amazing to me how distant the Bible can seem at times, when really, it’s a retelling of our own lives each day.

“Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.” (4:9, NASB)

He deserves our due diligence. Our sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters and all the family to follow down the line, deserve to know Him and all that He has done in the lives of our families and our world.

This part about the Word and commandments and instructions not departing from the heart strikes home with me. Have you noticed that certain verses from our daily reading have stuck with you throughout the day? Have you gotten in a bind at some point along our journey and recalled a lesson we have learned together that was just perfect for that situation? I have. I have seen the hand of God working through this chronological study several times already in our 71 days.

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul.” (4:29, NASB)

When we need Him, He is already several steps ahead of us. He knows our needs, and He fulfills them.

“For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.” (4:31, NASB)

Even if our own human fathers and mothers didn’t wander around the desert for 40 years with Moses, we are His children and He made a covenant with our fathers, and father’s fathers as well. He protects those who serve Him and remember Him and put Him at the forefront of our minds, daily, just as He keeps us forever at the top of His list.

“Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.” (4:39, NASB)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Tomorrow’s scripture reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 5-7

Category:

Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Children, Deuteronomy, Eternity, Faith, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God, Trust

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Caution: Children at Play!

Today was a disturbing day. This morning, not 50 feet from our house, a child was hit by a car. My own daughter heard the squealing tires and the child’s screams and cries. It wasn’t my child that was hurt, but it was someone’s child, and I cannot imagine the sickness that came over those parents when they were summoned to the scene of their son sprawled out on the ground, his motor bike lodged under a vehicle, debris and skid-marks in the path of destruction. And before we turn on the driver, the woman was truly not at fault in this situation; in fact, she did all she could to miss this kid who came speeding down the alley on a motorbike, who never even slowed down when nearing the intersection of a busy residential street. She was not to blame, but that does not keep that child out of the hospital tonight.  Caution: Children at Play!

Fast-forward a little later in my day, when I overheard my youngest daughter’s TV speak the words, “Well, this sucks!” into her still spongy brain. Now, I realize that not all cartoons are meant for children–particularly four year old children–but this was a child’s cartoon! Caution: Children at Play!

These instances, coupled with being a mom of five and dealing constantly with the dichotomy between protecting them from harm and teaching them lessons that will serve them well “in the real world,” have me screaming at the top of my lungs today CAUTION: CHILDREN AT PLAY! What’s wrong with shielding our children from the evils of this world as long as we possibly can? They’ll find out soon enough just how spoiled our Eden has become. What’s wrong with doing things for and with our children as long as they welcome us with open arms? All too soon we won’t be as “cool” as those years come (in our house it seems to be from about 15 until about 25–but don’t quote me on that as we haven’t yet reached 25 with any of the kids yet, but I see the change back on the horizon for the oldest ones…) when we drop them off a few blocks from their destination and public hugs are met with eye-rolling. That’s when I want to quote the cartoon from this morning, but now? Not now! Right now I just want to say “Caution: Children at play!” Innocent minds at work soaking in all they see and hear!

And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  ”Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them. (Mark 10:13-16, NASB)

After the day I’ve had, I see now in this scripture that Jesus is telling even His own disciples, Caution: Children at Play! He wants us to remain in the innocence and faithfulness of a child, with our eyes untainted by all that we’ve seen, our memories clear. Just as the prophet Isaiah spoke: Yes, in the path of Your judgements, O Lord, we wait expectantly for You; our heartfelt desire is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. (Isaiah 26:8, Amplified) I want to add three little words to the end of that verse: …and only You.  Sisters, He calls us to be pure of heart and love, and to work to keep ourselves that way until the day we meet Him in eternity.

(Oh, and in case there’s a moment’s doubt in your mind, that cartoon was immediately turned off and forbidden!)

Category:

Children, Isaiah, Mark

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Romans 12:1-8

Lately, I have found myself in a bit of a rut. A good rut, but a rut just the same. I have found that I spend much of my study time reading works by pastors and wonderful Bible scholars, listening to lectures or watching videos or television broadcasts of sermons or lessons, but actually spending very little time one-on-one in the Word of God. I may read a passage or two in the Bible on my own, and I certainly flip to the verses as directed by the teachers I am studying, but quiet, personal time in His Word seems to have lessened for me in the last few weeks. As soon as I realized that I was studying other people’s commentaries on the Bible, rather than the Bible itself, I stood up and took notice!

Let me just say, so there is no misunderstanding, that I believe there is so much insight to be gleaned from studying what other’s before us have studied, and allowing trusted teachers to pass on their wisdom to us. There are countless amazing Bible scholars, ministers and teachers to study under, from the least to the greatest, they all have unique insight and I learn something new every time I study with them. However, what I am saying here is that sometimes I study them rather than Him.

So, this week I have taken action and instead of listening to a certain sermon or lesson, I have been listening to the Word read in audio form (one terrific free resource for this is: faithcomesbyhearing.com). And, instead of spending all of my personal study time reading works and studies by other authors, I am reading The Author. As simple as this all sounds, it is so easy to get inspired and excited about a certain teacher or lesson series that we actually forget to spend quality time just reading our Bibles and allowing His inspired Word to speak to us and through us.

Today, my personal focus is on Romans 12:1-8. Oftentimes, when I study, I enjoy reading several translations of the same passage so that I can be sure to grasp the full meaning of it, in language that I can truly understand. In doing so, I come up with my own translation, of sorts, what seems more a blending of them all. The following is my personal translation of this brief passage of scripture:

(1) You are called by God to worship Him at all times. Live every day, doing what is pleasing to God and what will bring honor to Him. (2) When you truly humble yourself before God, He will transform your mind and your thoughts so you will not be changed and brought down to the level of the world around you, but you will be a good example for others and lift the world up to honor Him. (3) As a messenger of God, I must warn you to remember that it is not you who does anything, but it is only through Him that we can have eternal success. (4) Just like all of the various parts of the same human body has different purposes and uses, they all come together to form the whole body. (5) Likewise, we make up the body of Christ and depend on one another to function properly. (6) God has given each of us special gifts, so let each of us make the most of the gifts He has given us so freely and not wish we had the gifts of other people. If God has given you a message of divine truth which will reveal God’s will, speak out when your faith in Him leads you to do so. (7) If God has given you a heart for serving others, serve with all the love and compassion that He has given you. If God has given you a gift for teaching, apply all of your energy to teaching well. (8) If God has given you the gift of advising others, do so in a way that comforts and encourages them. If God has given you a heart to give to others, give freely and without regret. If God has called you to leadership, lead diligently and in line with His own leadership. If God has called you to be merciful, show mercy to others with a happy heart and a smile on your face.

I want to encourage you, sisters, to do the same self-translating in your own study time. It helps me to better soak in what I am reading and studying to make it my own so that I can more readily relate to 2000+ year old wisdom. Even if you only have one translation to read from, look up definitions to the words you read–even if you use those words every day, looking it up can sometimes reveal something about the meaning of the passage as a whole that you had not seen before. And pray! Pray that God opens up the Word to you in a new way every time you go to Him to study. Pray that He reveals something fresh to you, even if you have studied the same passage for 30 years. As it is written in Lamentations: “Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning.” (3:23, New Living Translation)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Category:

Lamentations, Romans

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Missed Blessings

Have you ever wondered what blessings you are missing out on because of disobedience???  I am not talking about a “major” disobedience like murder or stealing or anything like that.  I am just talking about not doing something that God is tugging at your heart to do.  Or something that you know you should do but just don’t feel like it….  

This question about missed blessings would normally not be one that would even occur to me, but something that happened this weekend made me ask myself this very question. 

 I was feeling very lazy this past Sunday morning.  (Yes, this is Cary’s blog, not Marilyn’s.  She doesn’t know the meaning of the word “lazy”!)  :)   We had had a busy day the day before and it felt so nice to sit around the house with nothing to do.  I didn’t want to shower, I didn’t want to fix my hair, I didn’t want to do anything to make myself in any way presentable to the world outside of my house.  All I wanted to do was read the paper or maybe read the new book I just bought on my nook.  (Love that thing, BTW!)  However, it was Sunday morning and of course Sunday morning means one thing.  Church.  Worship.  I had a million excuses not to go – we have an interim pastor who is only going to be there a couple more weeks, plus I know for a fact a lot of my friends were out of town on summer vacation – who would notice if I wasn’t there??  (I can hear you as you are reading this saying, “um…God would notice…  Duh!”).  Plus it was Father’s Day and it was hot outside and I would have to get my kids ready for church, etc.  You get the idea – I had a lot of excuses.

 But, you know what?  I decided to get off my lazy bum and get ready and go to church.  (I do admit to not washing my hair, but please don’t hold that against me!)  So the family and I loaded up into the hot truck that had been sitting out in the 105 degree heat and fought the (what felt like) 80 mile-an-hour winds and drove the 5 miles or so to church.  We sat down in the pew, all wind-blown and sweaty.  Me, with my unwashed (but brushed!) hair, my 8 year old son with his mismatched clothes, (he took great effort in picking out his clothes – I didn’t have the heart to tell him he didn’t match), my 4 year old daughter with her plethora of plastic jewelry and my handsome hubby in his blue jeans and sneakers.  We were far from perfect – but we were there!  We made it to church! 

 So what did God do??  He blessed me!  PTL!  God is so good!  How did he bless me you ask??  I am in the process of writing a speech to give at a women’s retreat in November.  I just found out the topic last week – Christian Action.  I have been praying every day for God to help me with this speech.  I was given a good outline, but I need to make the speech my own and really think about the topic and what it means to me.  So guess what our pastor’s sermon was on this past Sunday???  Yep, you guessed it – Christian Action!!!  The Pastor talked about Holy Discontent (check out the book by Bill Hybels) and how God gives us a passion to care about the things/people that He cares about.  Not everyone’s passion is the same, but everyone has one – some people just need to search for theirs more than others.  This God-given passion leads us to do God’s work here on earth – to be His hands and feet.  To be Christians in Action.  Isn’t God good??!!??!  He blessed my obedience of coming to church with a message that was an answer to my prayer.  I still have a lot of work to do and prayer time to spend in regards to my speech, but this was a great starting point to get the ball rolling.  And it gave me even more assurance that God will bring it all together.

 What would have happened if I had decided not to go to church on Sunday?  The world would not have ended.  God would still love me.  I may not have even been missed at church by any of my church family.  But I would have missed out on the blessing of the message God had for me.  Not only the ideas the sermon gave me to incorporate into my speech, but the knowledge that God heard my prayers and responded in such a personal way.  And His response was one that I couldn’t miss!  It was like God smacked me upside the head and said “Cary, this is for you!”  Don’t you love that our Heavenly Father is so personal?!!  And don’t we all need to be smacked upside the head sometimes?!?

 I thank God for smacking me upside the head this weekend and for reminding me of his provision and love for me.  God wants to bless us.  But sometimes we have to make the first move.

Category:

Blessings

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