Joy

 Psalm 119:23(NIV)

Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on Your decrees.





My kids with Grandpa and Grandma.



Yes, today's verse is easy to understand in this season of my life.  It says that His "servant will meditate upon" His decrees.  Not only can I meditate on the Lord's direction given through His Word, but I can purpose to apply those directives with the ever present help of the Holy Spirit.  My weekend was full of the emotion of joy, as I experienced some fun family events.   There is a command that is written in the New Testament that I had absolutely no trouble basking in throughout my time off.



I Thessalonians 5:16(NIV)~Be joyful always.
Again, the circumstances of this joyous weekend made it easy to be overwhelmed with a spirit of thankfulness and pleasure, but what about when we are living in the midst of a trial?  What then?  How do we stand in a posture of joy when the walls around us are crumbling and toppling over? 

The answer to those tough questions are found in the next decree written in the two verses following verse sixteen.

1 Thessalonians 5:17&18(NIV)~Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Wow!  That's incredible.  I wonder how many times I have said something like, "I'm just not sure what God's will is for my life".  In these three verses alone, I could live my entire life with direction and purpose!  I could sum it up like this:  Be in Christ Jesus; pray continually; and be joyful all the while.

Father,

You are so good!  You never change.  You are always there for us and You clearly guide us. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to celebrate a joyous family event this past weekend.  Through Your clear direction today, I can live with purpose and conviction!

In Christ's name,

Amen

Steep Yourself In God's Provisions

Luke 12:22 & 25(NIV)
22~Then Jesus said to his disciples:  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat;  or about your body, what you will wear.  25~Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 

I frequently listen to our local radio station, 88.3 the Wind FM, as I do my morning commute.  They always have a positive thought for the day.  Today's thought was something like this:  "Worry is like rocking in a rocking chair.  It gives you something to do, but you get no where!" 

I have been known to struggle with worry!  I haven't met too many people who don't have  an issue with this at some point in their life.  There are certainly some very stressful situations that we deal with throughout our life span.  I would never want to treat someone dismissively when their heart is in turmoil over a heavy burden, but I'm thankful once again, to be able to turn to the Word of God and rest in His presence for situations that are beyond my control.  It is there that I find peace and I pray that you will find His peace there too.

Here is what the Lord tells me in the gospel of Luke about how to deal with my worries:

Luke 12:31-32(MSG)
Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions.  You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.  Don't be afraid of missing out.  You're my dearest friend!  The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

FOCUS!  Even if you're only holding on by a thread.

So, once again, my focus is so important.  I can't take my eyes off of Him!!  When I start getting distracted, He is a gentle reminder that HE IS A BIG GOD!!  He CAN handle it.

Lord,
Thank you for the encouraging words that you set in our hearts and minds to equip us to handle our worries.  When we struggle with the concerns of today, please help us to refocus and lay them at the foot of the cross for You to carry for us.  For those who are reading this right now and are carrying extremely heavy burdens, I am asking You to surround them with Your peace and gentle reassuring love.  Thank you for wanting to give us the "very kingdom itself".
In Christ name, 
Amen

Are You For Real?

Psalm 119:22(MSG)
Don't let them mock and humiliate me; I've been careful to do just what You said.

I was reading in the Word today, and I came across something in the gospels about feigning your faith.  You know....pretending to be something we aren't.  Acting like we have a strong faith in God, but not really having one.  Interesting.  When I combine that with tonight's verse about being careful to do what God tells us to do, I come face to face with a difficult question. 

So, here it is.  Am I for real?  Do I REALLY believe what I am saying I believe?  Or have I just learned to masquerade as a disciple of Christ.  Going to church every Sunday.  Using the "church talk" to navigate the world of religion.  Looking good to others, much like the pharisees, but not having any depth of relationship with the One True God. 

I think the psalmist in the verse tonight is standing on the fact that he KNOWS that he has walked the walk, not just talked the talk!!  He's "legit" as we like to say in our modern world.  He can unequivocally claim that he did everything that his Father asked of him! 

I desire that kind of faith...a child like faith........wow!  I want to be an authentic Christian....

Father,
Thank you for allowing us the ability to search Your word and know that You are good.  Thank you for blessing us each day with a fresh hope for our future.  Give us the courage and power to know You more and follow through on all that You direct us to do.
Amen

Absolutely Nothing

Psalm 119:21(NIV)
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from Your commands.

Webster's dictionary defines arrogance as the act of being haughty.  Haughty is defined as having or showing great pride in oneself AND having contempt for others.  I guess the point here is that the focus is abundantly on yourself!  I suppose that when we start getting our eyes off of the Lord and onto ourselves, we are in for a tumultuous ride. 

I saw a billboard today on my drive around the town.  It read:  What will you see Jesus do through you this year?  Isn't that incredible?  That must be the opposite of arrogance.  When I recognize that the good things I accomplish are from Jesus working in my life and give Him the glory instead of assigning myself the praise, I keep from becoming puffed up with pride.  Pretty good stuff. 

I'm going to leave you tonight with these words written by Sarah Young in her daily devotional titled:  Jesus Calling.  She writes as though the Lord is speaking directly to you.

My sweet little friend doing "hard things"!

"I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU.  When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you.  You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged--never give up! 

Luke 1:37(ESV)
For nothing will be impossible with God.

Lord,
Your presence in our lives is completely overwhelming!  I know that You are our hope and our courage to do the hard things in life that You want done.  Work through our hands, feet, mouths, minds, hearts, talents, strengths, and weaknesses to do mighty things for Your kingdom in the coming months.  Help me to remember that absolutely nothing is impossible with YOU! 
I'm standing on Your promises,
Amen 

Insatiable Appetite

Psalm 119:20(MSG)
My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous-insatiable for Your nourishing commands.

Today in the Voice Bible, I am reading about Jesus as He was directed by the Spirit into the desert after His baptism.  (Matthew chapter 4.)  The Lord must have been "starved and hungry" as today's verse describes, because he had been fasting for forty days and forty nights before three huge temptations were presented to Him by Satan~the "tempter".  

When I think about fasting, the Bible is very clear that some things will only happen when we pray and fast.  I figure if Jesus needed to fast to be prepared for what the devil would attempt to tease Him with...how much more do I need it?!  I also can attest to the fact that as I have approached great obstacles in my life,  and I have committed a period of time to fasting and prayer for said trials, the results have always strengthened my walk with God. 

My daughter's love for animals is infinite.

The following are some of the things that I have learned during periods of fasting.  First of all, I have learned that I enjoy food!  Seriously, though, I do enjoy food and when I fast, I realize what a gift it is to have food available whenever I want it.  It gives me a grateful and appreciative heart.  Secondly, fasting gives me a peace and confidence to know that I am being obedient to what the Lord wants for me.  I can have a steadfast assurance in my mind and heart that I have presented my request to the Lord and He sees and hears my request.  At that point, a trust wells up within my heart that convinces me that I have done my part and He will work out His good and perfect will in my situation.  (Even if it means that things don't work out the way that I thought they should.) 

Thirdly, fasting has a way of clearing the clutter out of my head.  It helps me to sharpen my focus on, as this verse says, His "nourishing commands."  Put more succinctly, I literally have a higher awareness and sensitivity to the spiritual world as I deny myself some of the physical comforts that I have grown accustomed to.  Finally, fasting allows me to recognize God's sovereign hand upon my life and it increases my ability to recognize His active presence in my home.  As I reflect upon those times in the past when I have fasted, I can always see a clear picture of how He provided for some very specific needs.

Father,
It is my desire to have a constant hunger and insatiable appetite for Your Word.  It is my prayer that Your words will live richly within the fortress of my heart and within the hearts of those reading these words today.  May You be glorified in all that we do...including fasting. 
Amen