For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God.
~ Psalm 38:15
Archives for 2014
A Few Of My Favorite…Scriptures
Anyone that’s been reading this blog for a while or knows me, knows that I enjoy encouraging people.
Many times in my life when I needed some encouragement, there was no one to be found, besides family, of course.
Yet, I longed for more. I wanted to be able to sit down with a girlfriend and discuss the troubles that I was facing. I wanted someone that could encourage me and not just let me wallow in the mud. Instead what I found was a great friend in God. He showed me how much He cared for me and how much He thought of me.
Why do I say that? Well, if we look at the Scriptures, it becomes evident that God had us on His mind as the Bible was being written. For a long time, it was a part of my Christian emergency on the go kit. (before the Bible app) I quickly learned that if I needed encouragement, I had to encourage myself through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
So today, I want to share a few of my favorite scriptures with you. (By no means are these all of them. Just a few that I want to share for today.)
Romans 10:11 For the scripture says, Whosoever believes on him shall not be ashamed. (When I needed boldness to stand on God’s word)
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (When I needed to understand how to go to God and what He expected of me)
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (When I needed to know that God could do the impossible and that I could trust Him to do just that)
Matthew 6:33 But seek you first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (When I needed to know that God would take care of me, so I could seek His face and work in His kingdom without worrying about my needs and wants)
Isaiah 54: 4 Fear not; for you shall not be ashamed: neither be you confounded; for you shall not be put to shame: for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. (When I was afraid of what was to come and of what would be said about what happened)
Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and your Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (When my heart was broken)
Isaiah 54: 13 And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children. (Whenever I was…concerned for my children)
Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, says the LORD. (When I am concerned about what others will say)
I really love all of Isaiah 54…it really speaks to me
Psalm 91:5-12 (for overall protection) You shall not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Psalm 34 (ALL) verse 4: I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (I needed to be reminded that the Lord hears me); verses 8-10 (the promise of God for my personal needs and wants); O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.; O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no lack to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.
Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. (When I would pray for people to get saved. A reminder that God would hear me and His promise to act)
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you. (A constant reminder that God cares about everything the I care about…all of it)
James 5:14-16 (A reminder of the power of prayer) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall deliver the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (When I want to draw near to God, He want to draw near to me too)
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (Encouragement and reason to study…this scripture was the foundation for my Bible study life)
As I said before, these are not all of my favorites, but the one that came to my heart to share right now. I hope you have found some encouragement in this.
A Day To Plan
Normally, I take Monday’s to relax. It is a time when I give myself a moment to breathe.
Today was just a little bit different. I decided to work on my planner. I know that seems very simple, but it’s a little more complicated than one would thing.
See, I love planning, but after I plan, I kinda wing the rest of my day, s I’ve had to give myself a bit of an incentive to continue glancing at my calendar. I’ve dressed it up.
I uses a lot colorful markers, tapes, and sticky notes.
After doing this, I am more apt to look at my calendar and remind myself of all the things that I have planned on doing for the week and the month.
Now I am ready…I have done a different type of resting. I have set my plans before me, but I know that God will lead me the rest of the way. (Proverbs 16:)
Prayer for the day: Father, I thank you for leading me to a place of planning where I can aim to be a good steward over the work that you have set before me. I ask that you would help me to accomplish the goals that you have for me and to be comfortable with leaving the unnecessary undone. I thank you for your peace, guidance, and rest…In Jesus name. Amen
If you find yourself in a place like this…take some time to seek God about how you can plan and be better.
For Our Children
Taking The Steps To Grow…Spiritually
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
~1 Corinthians 13:11
There is a normal cycle in our human existence. We all go through a span of life development.
We are born into this life as a helpless baby. We mature into a child, adolescent, and adult. Even our adulthood is filled with a maturing process. We go from being young adults to middle adulthood. Finally we become an elder. While this process is a natural one, there is also a spiritual process of development that we all must go through. Yet there is a slight difference in the two.
The natural process of development takes place without our participation. Every year we grow older, age, and change. Life’s situations and circumstances cause us to develop, even in our minds. Our brains change, developing the essential qualities needed to live a healthy life. Yet, the spiritual process is not the same.
As an adult that is a newly saved Christian, we are a new creature in Christ. This means that we are born again and a babe in Christ. After spending time in relationship with God through His word, we begin to mature. However, this process of maturing requires more than what is required in our natural lives.
What I mean is that as a Christian ages, this is not equivalent to their level of spiritual maturity. However God calls us to a place in Him where we go from being a child in Christ to being a young man or woman in Christ. After that it is important that we begin to mature into an elder in the body of Christ. In the body of Christ, new babes are always being born and we are called to help train them for service and for their lives in this earth. (Titus 2:3-5) Yet we cannot do this if we stay babes ourselves.
This process of becoming spiritually mature requires our participation. In the scripture above, Paul distinguishes some of the changes that take place. He says that when he became a man, he put away childish things. We must put away from us speaking as a child. We must be willing to take the time necessary to acquire the understanding of a spiritually mature adult so that we no longer understand as a child. Even our thoughts have to change from being childish to being spiritually mature, thinking on the things that are pleasing to God and replenishing to our spirit.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ~Philippians 4:8
This is one of our first steps.
We must change the way we think. We cannot do this on our own. Instead, we have to allow God’s word to permeate our beings. As we do, we will renew our minds and change the way we think. (Roman 12:2)
We also have to change what we do. It is not enough to simply read the word of God. We have to do it. We have to decided that if our lives conflict with the word of God, we will bring things to a clear resolve by doing what the word says. (James 1:22)
In all of this, it is important that we seek to build a relationship with God, in faith as a changed individual. (Hebrews 10:22)
We all want to be our best. We want to be good wives, mothers, daughters, friends, aunts, sisters, cousins…you name it…we want to be our best. If we want this, we have to do what it takes to be that. We have to afford ourselves the opportunities to be our best. Yet, when we do not pursue the things of God, we rob ourselves and those in our lives of experiencing us at our best.
I hope this message comes across in a way that blesses you. I have found that being my best means saying no to some things and yes to others. I have to trust God at His word and do what He says, so that my life can be a reflection of His love. It might be challenging, but when we look back and see how far we have come, it will all be worth it.
As we bring this week to a close, let’s think about the things we can change in our lives. What are new habits to build and old ones to break? How can our relationship with God and others be better? What is our relationship with the Word of God?
Basically, let’s do some evaluating so that we will be ready tomorrow to start a new week, moving forward spiritually.
Partial Obedience
“Yesterday’s partial obedience creates staggering consequences in today’s experiences.” ~Priscilla Shirer