What To Do With A Sleepless Night

Psalm 119:62(MSG)

May snow storm?  Huh?  In the Midwest?!

I get up in the middle of the night to thank You;  Your decisions are so right, so true--I can't wait till morning!

Confession time here. I'm rarely thankful when I wake up in the middle of the night. I wish I could tell you that I am, but unfortunately, if I find myself coherent in the darkness of night when everyone else is sleeping, my mind is anything but thankful. First of all, this rarely happens, because I am a very good sleeper for the most part.  However, on those rare nights when I can't sleep, I will often succumb to a mind full of worry.  For some reason, the black stillness of the hour brings a deluge of thoughts and like a derailed train headed for catastrophe, if I don't reign those thoughts in, I'm headed for even more distress. 

This scripture gives clear direction for what to do the next time I find myself sleepless.  I will literally count my blessings with a thankful heart and meditate on the Word of God and His promises while I lift up every worry to a God who loves me.  I will not get my eyes on circumstances that I cannot change, but rather, I will choose to ponder on the promise that He will be with me in those circumstances.  In her book, Each New Day, Corrie ten Boom writes, "We are not called to be burden-bearers, but cross-bearers and light-bearers.  We must cast our burdens on the Lord."  Yep...good advice indeed. 

Lord,
Thank You for bringing the light of Your word to the dark and sometimes scary places in our minds.  Your peace will always overcome our anxiety as we remain in You.
In Jesus Name,
Amen

Book Review: The Sky Beneath My Feet by Lisa Samson

The Sky Beneath My Feet”, by Lisa Samson is a well written and entertaining book!

The Sky Beneath My Feet, by Lisa Samson is one of the first fiction books I’ve read in quite some time.  I generally am drawn to biographies, autobiographies, or general information gathering genres, but the title of this book caught my eye.  Stop and think about it for a second.  The sky does not belong beneath our feet, right?  The curiosity for where this book was going didn’t end with the title, either.  What a fun journey the author takes you on!

The Sky Beneath My Feet centers around a middle aged wife of a pastor and mother of two teenage boys.  The reader is drawn into her life and, in fact, her every thought, as she walks through her daily life of leading a strong Christ centered home.  The sometimes mundane and at other times perilous and confusing obstacles that she encounters along the way are what the body of this book is about.  The intrigue only grows as you read further into the details of Beth’s life (the main character) and see how the actions of one person can have a ripple effect on all those around.

The theme of this book begins to surface about midway through the chapters after a flurry of well written narration.  My take away on this book’s message is that our positive behaviors work for the good of all involved and on the flip side, our poor choices could inadvertently serve to be a harmful catalyst descending toward despair.  Either way, the decisions we follow in life are ours to make and will set us on a course for better or for worse. 

I enjoyed reading this book.  It was entertaining, thought provoking, and allowed a bit of escapism from the daily realities of life.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone wanting a good read! 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me with this review copy of The Sky Beneath My Feet by Lisa Samson through BookSneeze.  The positive review of this book was my opinion and not a requirement for receiving this review copy.

His Plan For You

Psalm 119:61(MSG)
The wicked hemmed me in--there was no way out--but not for a minute did I forget Your plan for me.

Never forget God's plan for your life.  He has promised you a future.  He has assigned you a task, or perhaps many of them, here on earth and then upon completion of those assignments, He has a room waiting just for you!  I sure don't want to miss that! 

This verse sounds rather hopeless in the beginning, but it's ending assures me that I am destined for great things here on earth and in heaven!  As we head into this week leading up to Easter, I can't think of a better time to remember His plan of salvation for you!  Jesus lays it all out for us in the following verses shortly before He departs this world.  In my darkest hours.....when it seems there is no way out....I pray that I will not forget the plan that Jesus has for my life.  If you are reading these words right now, please know that I have prayed the same for you.

John 14:1-6(MSG)
"Don't let this throw you.  You trust God, don't you?  Trust me.  There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home.  If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you?  And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live.  And you already know the road I'm taking."  Thomas said, "Master, we have no idea where you're going.  How do You expect us to know the road?"  Jesus said, "I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life.  No one gets to the Father apart from me.

Father,
Thank you for the gift of Your son!  Help us to remember that You are always with us...that You will not leave us or forsake us...and that Your plan for our life is perfect.  Empower us with wisdom and strength to walk in Your ways with grace and love.
In Christ's Name,
Amen

Live The Love

I Corinthians 13:3-7(MSG)

If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere.  So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

(What is love, anyway?)

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,


Father~Daughter Walk

Isn't always "me first",
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

I'm interrupting my regular postings from Psalm 119 to bring you Paul's definition of love on this Valentine's Day, 2013.  In a world where the word "love" is tossed around like a hot potato, it is good to remember what loving someone is truly about.....

Lord,
Thank you for providing in Your Son the ultimate example of what love is.  May You empower us through Your Holy Spirit to love in the way You intended.
In Christ's Name,
Amen

 

By Faith

Psalm 119:60(MSG)
I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow Your orders.

I spied this Blue Herring waiting to pounce on breakfast.
He must believe there are fish in there, huh?!

 

What a beautiful observation to see someone following the direction the Lord has given them.  I am ashamed to say that in times of confusion in my life, I have thought..."Well, if I had the writing on the wall as it's described in the book of Daniel (Daniel 5:5-7), I would certainly do what God told me to do, too.  I mean if He would just send some words on the side of my living room wall written by an armless hand to direct me in the way I should go, (including every detail...of course), I would certainly be 'up at once' to follow His instruction."  Pretty sad, huh?  I am so thankful for a gracious God who puts up with me!

The message delivered by my pastor this past Sunday reminded me that faith is NOT about seeing first, but rather it is about believing first!  At the point that I trust in the transforming power of Christ and yield my life to Him and His direction, then and only then, will I truly see God moving in my life.  It isn't necessary for the Lord to write on my living room wall in order for me to follow His plan for my life.  He has given me plenty of instruction in the Word of God.  I don't have to see, I just need to muster up enough belief to follow Him into action!

Hebrew 11:1-2~Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.

The book of Hebrews (chapter 11) goes on to describe each of those "ancients" who "by faith" sprang into action for the Lord despite not having a complete picture of how things would turn out.  The common denominator present in each one was their belief that God was in charge...even if they couldn't understand or see the outcome.

Father,

I'm asking for faith to believe You in every area of my life today.  Teach me to rely on You more and to step out in action wherever You call.  Help each of us to do great things for you...by faith!

In Christ's name,
Amen