How long will we wander, before returning to Him?

Posts tagged ‘honor’

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)

Category:

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

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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

Category:

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

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105) The Eye of God is Upon Us

Day 105 reading: Psalms, chapters 7, 27, 31, 34, & 52

PSALMS 7–Quite honestly, this song is scary enough that I’m even hesitant in my reading. David is brutally honest and laying it all on the line and that can be terrifying.

O Lord my God, in You I take refuge and put my trust; save me from all those who pursue and persecute me, and deliver me,
Lest my foe tear my life [from my body] like a lion, dragging me away while there is none to deliver.
O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,
If I have paid back with evil him who was at peace with me or without cause have robbed him who was my enemy,
Let the enemy pursue my life and take it; yes, let him trample my life to the ground and lay my honor in the dust. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! (7:1-5, Amplified)

He is essentially saying to God, ‘Lord, if I have ever done wrong against another, strike me down here and now; repay me for all that I have sinned.’

Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. (7:8, NASB)

I think of all the sins I have committed that I am aware of, much less all those I don’t even realize and it’s terrifying to invite the Lord in for examination. He knows it all anyway, but as humans the difficulties come with actually facing it and laying our humility on the line.

If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword (7:12, NASB)

He has dug a pit and hollowed it out, And has fallen into the hole which he has made. (7:15, NASB)

PSALMS 27–I believe this psalm should be read daily. Period. It is gorgeous as a prayer, as a meditative time, as a gentle tap on the shoulder, or as a swift kick to the rumpus. It’s an amazing passage. Of the four versions I have at my fingertips, here is my favorite version. And, although I know you have already read it in your own bible, I believe it is well worth the reread. Enjoy (again):

eye of GodThe Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.
Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hid me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea. I will sing praises unto the Lord.
Here, O Lord, when I cry with my voice; have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thee face, Lord, will I seek.
Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger; thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
Teach me thy way, O LOrd, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.
Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies; for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. (Psalms 27, KJV)

PSALMS 31–Friends, I have been struggling lately, not with my faith, but with my humanity and the world around me. I have been feeling overwhelmed at times, but still have endured absolutely nothing in comparison to David while Saul was pursuing him with every army of warriors he could muster up. We only think we have trouble! But because of my own personal struggles, this particular psalm really struck me at the heart.

Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. (31:4, NIV)

Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief. (31:9, NIV)

But I trust in you, O Lord. (31:14, NIV)

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. (31:24, NIV)

I have a lot to learn about strength and faith from David. I feel blessed to even be studying him right now, as my own struggles threaten my walls.

PSALMS 34–And on the heels of that…

I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (34:1, NASB)

I sought the Lord, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. (34:4, NASB)

The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (34:17-18, NASB)

My friends, as we draw closer to Him, we open the door which allows Him to draw closer to us. He is where our protection lies and without His guidance and love we are nothing. That alone is enough to bring a great big smile on my heart.

PSALMS 52–Ahh, the response to Doeg the Edomite tattle telling to Saul as to David’s whereabouts. I only wish I could be this eloquent in my insults or this well versed when going against the enemies in my life. I can absolutely see and understand why so much of the Bible is devoted to telling about David’s life, and why so many Bible studies have been written about him; he is an inspiration to us all, that even in his human errors he truly was a man with a heart for God.

Friends, may people say the same of each of us long after we are gone. Like that Amy Grant song, My Father’s Eyes, may those around us see Him reflected when they look at us.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 106 reading: Psalms, chapters 56, 120, & 140-142

Category:

Psalms, Healing, Eternity, Blessings, Prayer, Seeing God, Faith, Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Perseverance, Forgiveness

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72) This is Our Guidebook

Every time I’m reminded that Moses never actually got to go into the Promised Land, I’m a little sad. He led, he wandered, he had one-on-one conversations with God.

Moses spoke to the Israelites, saying: “But because of you the Lord was angry with me and would not listen to me. ‘That is enough,’ the Lord said. ‘Do not speak to me anymore about this matter. Go up to the top of Pisgah and look west and north and south and east. Look at the land with your own eyes, since you are not going to cross this Jordan.’” (from yesterday’s scripture passage, Deuteronomy 3:26-27, NIV)

Day 72 reading, Deuteronomy, chapters 5-7

God spoke: “You shall have no other gods before Me or besides Me.” (5:7, Amplified)

I’ve been thinking and writing so much on His Lordship lately, yet I can’t seem to get beyond it. Every time I pick up my Bible or listen to a song on the radio, there is it: His Lordship. Oftentimes, I think God uses even our modern media to remind us of the things we need to put in the forefront of our thoughts. His Lordship. What in this world could possibly be more critical to our lives than Him?

He is the substance in our lives. He is the cake. This worldly stuff–our comfortable homes, our cars that get us from Point A to Point B, our families and circle of dear friends, our jobs, our toys, our phones, our gadgets and do-dad’s–are all the icing on the cake (and maybe even some sprinkles). God gives us these things. Without Him there is nothing.

He also insures that we hear, see, and feel the things we most need to be hearing, seeing, and feeling at any given time in our lives.

“You shall not make for yourself [to worship] a graven image or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the earth.” (5:8, Amplified)

iphoneMy cell phone is quite possibly my favorite material possession, and sometimes my phone (with all of the cool apps and a whole variety of uses in my daily life) gets in the way of more important things (like prayer time, family, and sleep, to name a few). I allow my phone to get in the way of things that are really more important, at times.

My vehicle,  another of my favorite material things. All shiny and sparkling, clean, and still with that “new car smell” even after a year of living life with my family.  I have to admit, it makes me a little proud…Pride: another relationship killer when it comes to God.

“You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, and showing mercy and steadfast love to thousands and to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep my commandments.” (5:9-10, Amplified)

How often do we find ourselves, at least figuratively, bowing down to the things of this world more so than we bow down, literally, to our Lord, Creator, Savior, King? We most certainly do serve our smart phones. As a culture, we have become a people who cannot keep from checking our phones constantly. It holds our email, our contacts, our social networking, our calendars, our stock tickers, our cameras, and even our Bibles. We serve this device as we give it special covers and protective screens, we take out insurance on it, and put it in a special pocket in our purse; we serve it as we take care of it sometimes better than we do the people around us and we certainly serve it when we pay more attention to our smart phones than we are doing for the people right there in the same room, same house, same family.

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, or your manservant or your maidservant, or your ox or your donkey or any of your livestock, or the stranger or sojourner who is within your gates, that your manservant and your maidservant may rest as well as you.” (5:13-14, Amplified)

I have really worked to drive this point home in my own household. As I’ve written before, the “day of rest” has been anything but for so long in so many of our lives, but God gives us and we deserve one day out of the week to do no work. Also, as I have studied this on our journey together, and really taken it all in, it’s not only that we are to rest, but we are to allow others to rest, as well. My family has taken a step in this direction, in that our after church Sunday lunches have lessened. I can’t honestly say they have stopped completely, but that’s one of those hard habits to break. We have become much more conscious about making our Sundays more sacred, not just the time we spend in worship on Sunday mornings, but all day. We do not work, and we do what we can to not cause others to have to work, as well (ie: waitresses, cooks, salespeople, etc.).

Gary Susan Marilyn“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.” (5:16, Amplified)

I know my own mother (Hi, Mom!) loves to read this one. ;-)  But, honestly, since we began this chronological study I have caught myself putting this rule into effect much better. My parents and I work together…every day…all day…and we love it, but truth be told, sometimes work gets in the way of family ties. Sometimes it’s easier to view each other more in terms of co-workers, and as co-workers the lines of honor tend to get muddled a bit.

“And the Lord heard your words when you spoke to me and the Lord said to me, I have heard the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have said well all that they have spoken.” (5:28, Amplified)

He hears us! What an awesome reminder!!! No matter how great or small we think a thing is in our lives, God hears us. Does this point strike you right in the heart and make your throat knot up a little? It does me! It’s exciting. It’s endearing. And even a little frightening (so He heard me when I thought that about such-and-such?).

“Oh, that they had such a [mind and] heart in them always [reverently] to fear Me and keep all My commandments, that it might go well with them and with their children forever!” (5:29, Amplified)

You know sometimes when your children are acting up and you are just about ready to snatch them bald-headed, and then out of nowhere your mom or dad or some other older adult says something like, “That’s the same thing you used to do when you were her age.” That always rubs me wrong, because it’s so true. BUT, our children can also pick up and inherit good habits from us, that it might go well with them and with their children forever! Let them see you worship. Let them see you pray. Let them see you overcome the tendencies that threaten to drive a wedge between you and our Lord. Let them know there is an enemy out there and he never sleeps, but neither does the Lord. Glory to God!

“Therefore you people shall be watchful to do as the Lord your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land which you shall possess.” (5:32-33, Amplified)

I am really enjoying this re-cap from the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It’s like every verse strikes a nerve and is critical to our walk with God. It’s a beautiful day to live in the Word!

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord]. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] you shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” (6:4-7, Amplified)

I love this. He is our constant guide. This Word acts as our guidebook. Our Bibles are our maps, our answers, our guidebook on our journey to Him. And when we keep Him close at all times and keep His Words fresh on our hearts and minds, we draw nearer and nearer to Him.

“Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations.” (7:9, Amplified)

Today, you and I are living in grace based on the faithfulness of the generations that came before us. And to a thousand generations, our own offspring will continue to reap the blessings of our faithfulness, as well. If saving our own lives isn’t enough, think of a thousand generations of lives that can reflect our love for the Lord.

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 73 reading: Deuteronomy, chapters 8-10

Category:

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

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36) Experiencing the Presence of God

wpid-2012-02-01-07.43.28.jpg

Today: The Rules! But even better than that, today we get to imagine all people, not just the chosen few, seeing the presence of God! What an exciting day!!!

Day 36 reading: Exodus, chapters 19-21

Moses had a unique, personal relationship with our Lord. So close was their relationship that Moses went up to God (19:3, NIV). Can you even imagine this? I mean, God comes to us, we’ve read of previous scriptures where He has appeared to this person or that person in this form for that form, but this is the first time that I can recall so far that some person has gone up to Him!

Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain. 

When I approach God in prayer or with a need or a concern, I know He is there, I feel His Presence. But I also know that His Spirit is within me, so that even if I say that I approach Him, the truth is that He’s been there all along. But Moses, he approached the Lord. I love this!

Then, what comes next is even more riveting.

The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” (19:9, NIV)

Not only was their relationship so intimate that Moses could approach God, but God wanted His chosen descendants of Abraham to know Him so well that they could hear the sound of His voice. God’s voice! Friends, I don’t know about you, but this is hitting me hard! (I suppose that explains all the “!!!”)

Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. (19:17, NIV)

To stand at the base of a mountain, looking up, and seeing God’s presence in a mighty cloud, and hear His voice booming across the skies. Glorious! And, of course, I love the line that says that Moses led the people out…to meet with God.

Oh, how I wonder how those Israelites felt. Scared? Probably. Excited? Absolutely! Do you think they hurried out to the meeting spot or do you think they stumbled along, like when kids have to go to the principle’s office? Were they joyous and excited to see their Lord and to hear His voice or do you suppose they were too nervous to concentrate, thinking through all the sins they couldn’t deny?

Then, He speaks:

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

You shall have no other gods before me.

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a Jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God has given you.

You shall not murder.

You shall not commit adultery.

You shall not steal.

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (20:2-17, NIV)

Part of me (the really wordy part) wants to develop and comment more on each of the Ten Commandments, but truly, they are about as clear cut as a set of rules can be. God’s Word is perfect, it needs no human explanation to those who listen.

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” (20:20, NIV)

This is an interesting concept to me. I wasn’t raised in fear of God, but more in adoration of Him, so to see that these rules are meant to keep us from sinning because of our fear of our Lord is a new way for me to look at the laws.  And, in some way it makes sense. I can see how we want to live an upright life to keep from the bad, but really I prefer to live an upright life because I look so forward to all of the joy of heaven!

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Day 37 reading: Exodus, chapters 22-24

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Bible in a Year-Chronological Study, Exodus, Rules worth LIVING by, Seeing God

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Praying Our Husbands Forward

My self-proclaimed love of Pinterest brought me to an image that I loved a few month ago with the heading, “10 Ways to Pray For Your Husband.” Ever since I first saw that image, I have had this reignited spirit of need to pray for my man. And, in true God-fashion, just after seeing that image, I saw a new women’s Bible study offered entitled, For Women Only: What You Need to Know About the Inner Lives of Men, by Shaunti Feldhahn. The study was great and shared a lot of good information that we, as women, really, really, REALLY need to know about the men in our lives–both in a romantic sense with our husbands, but also in our dealings with our sons, fathers, brothers, and even male co-workers.

So, along this vein, the Lord has just kept this train of thought rolling around in my head and hasn’t turned loose of it, yet…so He must want me to do something more with it than keep it all inside of me. I tried to post the catalytic image into this blog posting, but it was either going to be full-paged size, or be completely illegible, so I am going to copy the text down below as headings, but then also expand on each somewhat, as well.

image

**Tongue-in-cheek fair warning: Diving into strengthening your prayer life over your husband or taking a study like the one I recently enjoyed is kind of like praying for patience…you’ll get a LOT of extra opportunities to practice what you’re praying/studying for, so be warned :-)   God calls us to respect and build up or men, so let’s buck-up, put our heads down and our hands up and amp up the power of prayer in our husband’s lives!

1. Pray for your husband’s relationship with God: The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (Zephaniah 3:17) The Lord is our husband’s ultimate warrior and defender, yet one look at my man after a long, hard workday and he looks more like the defeated one on the other side of the battle field! I think we can all relate that our mighty men often try to take too much on themselves; solving every problem, overbooking their time and energies, and often forgetting that they don’t have to do it all. Praying that our husbands always put God at the absolute forefront of their hearts and minds will ensure that all else–including their relationships with us–will fall into place. These words God spoke to Israel remind me that my man may look tough and strong, but he was designed in love and gentleness, I think because God is our man’s tower of strength: The Lord appeard to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3) Ladies, let’s first pray every day for our husband’s relationship with our Lord and Creator God.

2. Pray that God would bless your husband: I can think of times in our marriage where we have experienced overflowing bounty and blessings, and other times when we couldn’t keep up with the worldly demands on our time, our energy, or our bank account. Most times, that ebb and flow corresponds directly to where my husband and I are on our walk with God. When we are standing firm, together, on the promises of God, no matter what the world throws at us, we have withstood the firey darts and they never take us to the ground. The flip side of that is that in time when my man and I are disconnected–either with one another, spiritually, or (even worse) both–the smallest hiccup can make us feel like we’re drowning. Proverbs 3:9-10 speaks to this lesson of blessing and obedience: Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine. When our Lord has this amazing harvest ready and waiting always for us, why would we think we could possiblY do anything better than He can; why would we have that half-filled life of worldly junk and struggles when we can live the fully God-realized, blessed life He has intended? Let’s pray for our husband’s obedience to God in honoring Him, and for the Lord’s overflowing blessings into your husband’s life.

3. Pray for your husband to be a spiritual leader for your family: For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. (Ephesians 5:23) Any time this topic is brought before me, I think of a radio interview I once heard with Sanctus Real when they released their awesome song, Lead Me. The main writer of the song was talking about his wife coming to him and essentially saying, “Your kids and I need you to be the spiritual leader of this family,” and that message struck home. My own father was very much the spiritual leader in my home growing up, but now, more and more I hear my girlfriends talking about them being the one who’s always pushing and encouraging the man of the house to step up and go to church, be involved, and get together with godly guys in ways that we women do with our Ladies Bible Studies and lunch groups. From my viewpoint, it appears that these days the wives and moms of the world are taking the reins of spiritual leadership in their households. And, where I am happy that someone is teaching our children about God and making sure they say their prayers at night, we –those women!–need to pray continually for our husbands to truly be the head of the household that God intended him to be. Please note that I’m not calling us to nag our husbands into going to church more or leading prayers before meals; what I’m talking about here is being prayerfully diligent and allowing God’s work to take hold in your man’s life so that he takes on his role as spiritual leader, not out of guilt or badgering, but out of his own devotion. So then, we must pursue what promotes peace and what builds up one another. (Romans 14:19)

4. Pray for your husband to love you deeply: The study by Shaunti Feldhahn that I just finished with a group of women opened my eyes to the simple, statistically-based fact that women need to be loved, but men need to be respected. Telling your man that you love him day and night is lovely…to us. Our ears want to hear those kind words, so we tend to over-use the phrase with our guys. He, however, responds better to respectful things like our being proud of these men, our respecting what they’re doing at home and/or at work, and that we honor them as our amazing men. Even in the Bible we are called to respect our husbands, and the men are called to love their wives (see Ephesians 5:33). A few verses before we are called to respect our husbands, Paul reminds the men of the church of Ephesus to love, love, love their wives. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church. (Ephesians 5:28-29) I have heard Beth Moore say several times and ways that she prays to God that her man will “thrill at the sight of me.” That’s what we need here, ladies! We need to pray our men forward into a deeper love relationship with us, as we pray that our husband’s stomachs still get butterflies when they see us coming into the room. We may be way past dating, with kids (or grand kids!) running around the house, but let’s pray that each of our husband’s love us deeply through God’s everlasting power.

5. Pray that your husband would have a heart for his children. My own husband tells me pretty regularly that the reason our kids need a dad and a mom is that the father’s role is discipline and leadership, and the mom’s role is “the softer stuff.” I know the pressures of motherhood, but from all I’ve seen the pressures of fatherhood can be downright overwhelming! I want to personally pray that my own husband always has such a heart for his children that he leads by example, guides with steadfast sternness, and loves unconditionally. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)

6. Pray for your husband to make wise choices. My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life, and well-being. (Proverbs 3:1-2) In a sense, this point goes hand-in-hand with the first, as when we pray for our husbands to deepen their relationships with God, all else falls into place, and our men are guided to make wise choices. That said, a little extra godly wisdom never hurt anyone. So, let us pray that these men of God seek wisdom above riches or fame or pride, and that in that wisdom they follow God’s commands and enjoy this life more fully and abundantly.

7. Pray for your husband’s emotional, mental, and physical health. A prayer comes to mind that I often pray for myself in the mornings, like I am putting on my armor of God before stepping out into the day. This same check-list would apply here. Let’s pray that God covers our husband’s mind so that all thoughts he has are honorable, that God covers our husband’s tongue so that all the words that come out of his mouth bring glory to God and that nothing is said that would bring disgrace to our Lord, and that God covers our husband’s body so that every thing he does throughout the day ahead will be upright and just, keeping him on the right path the Lord has set before him. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable–if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise–dwell on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

8. Pray for your husband to prosper at work. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24) It’s not always easy to keep a positive outlook against the pressures our men face at work. That’s where our strong prayers over these men of ours please God and help our husbands prosper at work. I think we need to be very careful not to confuse “prosperity” with material riches or wealth, though. Let’s be sure we are praying our husbands forward in the purest sense, along the path God has chosen for our families and our men, and not trying to force His mighty hand with our own agendas. Let’s pray that our husbands stand strong against the temptations the enemy throws his way. Let’s pray that projects and chores and duties our men are called on to handle get taken care of by our amazing guys with efficiency and effectiveness. Let’s pray that when the time is right, the “right” person will recognize our husband’s efforts. Let’s pray that the successes outweigh the defeats so that our men can come home to us at the end of their day feeling they’ve accomplished something great!

9. Pray for your husband’s power to resist sexual temptation. I’m not telling any of you ladies anything you don’t already know when I say that sexuality, nudity, crude talk and depravity surround us constantly. Screen and print advertisements, movies and television, on the internet…it’s just everywhere. Even “G” rated movies will have some reference or quick word that would have been reserved for at least PG-13 “back in my day.” The moral compass is all out of whack and this is the world we’re raising our kids in, and the world we’re trying to keep ourselves and our husbands pure in! But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires. (James 1:14) Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife? For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths. (Proverbs 5:20-21) Again, as wives, we need to be very careful not to nag and micro-manage our men along these lines.  It’s really difficult, I know. It is especially difficult if this seed has ever been allowed to grow up in the past, or if you’re currently dealing with this kind of temptation in your marriage. But please hear me when I say that this temptation can be cut off by the power of prayer! Pray your husband forward, beyond the temptation. Pray that your marriage bed remains unstained. Or, if you have dealt with this–as many marriages have, so please know you are not alone in this struggle–pray that your marriage gets a fresh start, allowing you to go beyond the pains of the past and move forward in right relationship with God.

10. Pray that YOU will show your husband respect, grace, and kindness. A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4) We will pray continually over ourselves and our fellow sisters in Christ, that we will be loving, respectful wives, remembering always that the way we treat our husbands is also seen and known by our Lord. A good rule of thumb: Never say anything negative about your husband. That’s pretty all-encompassing, and it’s difficult for some of us even on good days, but I find that when we don’t allow ourselves to voice and, in turn, feed those negative words against our husbands, the negative voice inside of our heads quiets down, as well. And, if you find yourself asking, ‘What will I talk about with my girlfriends if we can’t vent about our husbands?’ The answer: Pinterest ;-)

Make it a great day,

Marilyn

Category:

Blessings, Colossians, Ephesians, Healing, James, Jeremiah, Philippians, Prayer, Proverbs, Romans, Trust, Zephaniah

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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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Your Whole Body is a Temple

HONOR HIMDo you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19, NIV)

Dear friends, Cary and I are both such passionate advocates for God and for exercise. Joyfully, today’s posting brings the two together.

My goal with this posting is to help you look at health and fitness in a whole new way; a healthy body and mind give you platform from which to live fully in God and share His glory with others. Your body is a temple, use it to honor Him.

Everyone has heard the saying that life is a marathon, not a sprint. This saying applies in glorifying God with our bodies, as well. If we spend our short life here on earth eating junk, smoking, overindulging in drugs and/or alcohol, only exercise periodically or not at all, and not resting like we should, our natural bodies are bound to give up too soon and make our already brief time here even more so.

On the contrary, if we treat our natural bodies as temples, if we exercise regularly, eat all of the nourishing foods He has given us in great abundance, and live a life of moderation, we are much more likely to live a long life, fruitful in sharing the Word of God with as many people as we can and having a firm platform from which to do so.

Man’s days are determined; You have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed (Job 14:5, NIV). God knew us even before the world was created, and called us by name. Only He knows how many hours we have in our natural bodies to make the greatest impact, and when we take responsibility for our bodily health, we are best able to fulfill our primary mission from God: Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples (1 Chronicles 16:23-24, NIV).

Those who have lived lives of excess or had lives disrupted by poor health can still be beautiful examples of God’s majesty and grace. But think with me for a moment how wonderful it would be to have the ultimate health in our natural bodies as well as our spiritual health! If your life has been handicapped because you have made poor lifestyle choices, then that also hinders the service you can do for Him, and I know none of us what that. So many health issues are caused by our “you only live once” worldly mentality, but the truth is that our life choices have such a profound effect on our ability to serve the Lord and our brothers and sisters in Christ that I wish we all had a “do-over” so we could go back and treat our bodies as the temples of the living God that they truly are. God is with us always, living in us and dwelling among us (see 2 Corinthians 6:16), so imagine how strong our voices would be if we weren’t huffing and puffing at the top of a flight of stairs.

The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7, NASB). We were formed by God, in His image to do good over all the earth. And on earth we will remain until the day He has set for us arrives. Remember friends, Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lovely bodies so that they will be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:20-21, NIV). Can you just imagine it with me? Our earthly bodies which were formed in His image will also be raised up in His image and be glorious just like His. That’s a far cry from the way I feel when I look in the mirror each morning, far from glorious.

When we look in the mirror, when you see photos of yourself, when others see you, what do they see? Is your body as healthy as your spirit? Do you see health and vigor in your reflection or dullness and exhaustion? Jesus said that “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light” (Matthew 6:22, NIV).

What our eyes see is critical to the health of our spirit, but as important is all that can be told about us by looking into our eyes. Someone close to you can tell when you are sad or down, tired or sick, just from seeing your eyes. A complete stranger can tell so much from the volumes you speak with your eyes; they can see health or illness, happiness or sadness. Our eyes truly are the windows to our souls, so we must guard them from what is seen and keep our natural bodies healthy so that what we reflect is health and the love of God.

I have to tell a quick family story here. Last night over dinner, I asked our oldest son, Bryce, if he would like a second helping of baked salmon, “Protein packed and filled with cancer-fighting Omega-3′s.”

As he was taking his second helping, Bryce said, “I don’t think any of that cancer fighting stuff is true. They don’t know what they’re talking about.”

As I answered him, I realized this is exactly the point I wanted to bring out of this lesson, “The research is correct, the problem is that the majority of Americans will not follow the strict nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle guidelines that it takes to truly make a difference in their life.”

When we, as Christians, build our bodies in excellent health while also building our spiritual health, we will truly be living in God’s image, and His light will shine through us to the world as we share His Word. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true–even in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. (1 John 5:20, NIV)

Can we have eternal life even without near-perfect natural health? Absolutely. Will a healthy natural body better allow us to go, to serve, to do, to preach, to teach, to show love, to be more readily available in times of need, and on and one? I believe so. I have gone through some minor health issues that had pretty major effects on my day-to-days at the time. There was a nine month time frame before my hysterectomy that doctors were trying to figure out what was wrong and what needed to be done. During that time, I remained in such pain that I was not vital, energetic, or available. I did not spend much quality time with anyone, I did not feel like talking to or seeing anyone, and I sure didn’t spend all of my time spreading the Word. A part of my body was sick and it effected everything. My belief in God did not falter just because my natural body was going through a rough spot, but because of all of the doctors visits, tests, procedures, and overall pain, I did not feel like doing anything, and “anything” included using my body to tell of His glory.

Our natural bodies may not hinder our personal path to eternal life, but they sure can get in the way with our mission to share Him with others who may not otherwise know Him.

Once my natural body was healed, the light of good health returned to my eyes. As God spoke to Jeremiah, He also speaks to us, “For I will restore you to health and I will heal you of your wounds” (Jeremiah 30:17, NASB).

God heals, God inspires, God protects and restores, God gives us a lot of praiseworthy goodness. We must look to our natural bodies as Jesus did, as temples of the living God. His temple is worthy of our care and effort. Please, friends. take care of your bodies, treat them as you know you should, so you can have a strong platform from which to call out to others in God’s holy name.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. (3 John 2, NASB)

Make it a great day, Marilyn

Here are a couple of other verses I enjoyed that jumped out at me while preparing this lesson:

  • You, however, are controlled not my the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. (Romans 8:9, NIV)
  • So will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, NIV)
  • Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food–you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive.” (Acts 27:33-34, NIV)

Category:

1 Corinthians, 1 John, 2 Corinthians, 3 John, Acts, Genesis, Jeremiah, Job, Matthew, Philippians, Romans

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