From the Message Bible: "That clinches it- help's coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out." Psalm 20:5
Believing it, claiming it today. How about you?
Friday, May 18, 2012
Monday, May 14, 2012
Seasoned with Salt
In offering my sacrifices to Christ to be of any meaning, they must be salted. This requires them to be flavorful and of virtue. The same must be of my words. Matthew Henry writes “Though it be not always of grace, it must always be with grace. Though our discourse be of that which is common, yet it must be in a Christian manner. Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse, and keeps it from corrupting. It is not enough to answer what is asked, unless we answer aright also.”
Jesus tells us in Mark 9:50 "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other." Like salt is good for seasoning foods, we must be seasoned with grace. This means that love, forgiveness, gentleness, a servant-spirit towards others, and patience, along with faith and hope should be our makeup and come through in our conversations. To do this, spend time in the word and with the Father. Ask for His seasoning.
Digging deeper: Ezekiel 43:24; Matthew 5:13, 12:35; Job 6:6; Ephesians 4:29; I Peter 3:15
Friday, May 11, 2012
Faith Filled Friday
The other day on Facebook, someone posted an encouraging scripture verse for a friend. Only God knew that I also needed to read that verse and claim it. Sometimes this journey that I am on is very discouraging, tiring and leaves me to question whether or not to press on to the finish line. Right now has been a time of questioning, stressing about the next few months rather than leaving it in the Father's hands. Like me, perhaps you too, need to hear this verse:
"But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded" 2 Chronicles 15:7
Friday, April 13, 2012
An Invitation to Dine
“God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on the guest list?” Psalm 15:1 (MSG)
I am not a huge fan of eating at people’s homes. The reason is simple; I am a picky eater and rarely is fixed anything I like. I do not want to hurt my host’s feelings after they have gone to so much work by not eating what is fixed, but…. Sometimes I can get away with it if my husband is with me; by covertly placing “whatever” on his plate (he is definitely not as selective as me). But, he is not always able to be with me. Sometimes the host really knows me and fixes me something special and invites me to dine with them. What joy to participate and to truly be invited to dine.
I love to be invited. Who doesn’t? A Nazarene pastor, Charles Widmeyer wrote a song and the first verse and refrain so eloquently invite us to the Lord’s table:
Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed
He invites his chosen people come and dine
With his manna he doth feed and supplies our every need
Oh tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time.
Come and dine the Master calleth come and dine
You may feast at Jesus table all the time
He who fed the multitude turned the water into wine
To the hungry calleth now come and dine.
“And Jesus said to them ‘Come and dine’” (John 21:1a). We are invited to come and dine at the banquet table, a meal of which we cannot even conceive of the bounty and goodness waiting for us. How hungry are you today? We can be fed by the Master. Revelations 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.” Just open the door and be fed.
Digging deeper: John 10:9; Luke 14:15-24
Monday, March 12, 2012
Onomatopoeia
“People thought evil, imagined evil- evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart.” Genesis 6:5b-6 (MSG)
Growing my vocabulary has been a continual part of my educational endeavor. When I come across a new word, not a neologism, I write the word with the definition on an index card that I review until the word is embedded in mind. A few weeks ago, a new word that I encountered was onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is defined as “word that imitates the sound it represents”. A few examples are zip, gush, drip, splash, and kerplunk.
As I was pondering onomatopoeia and its meaning, I thought of the word sin. Sin is like it sounds; dirty, nasty, ugly and yet, none of these adjectives nor the true meaning of sin can really be defined and sound like it truly is. Sin breaks the heart of God. Its cost is more than we can pay, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The cost of sin is Grace: God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace- it sounds like something that cannot be purchased, something hard to truly grasp, a beauty in it that defies description. God is grace, of grace and grace comes only through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). I do not really think grace sounds like what it is, for true grace cannot be heard; only known.
Does sin make your ears hurt? Do you know grace? You can. I John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” From evil to forgiven, from experiencing sin to experience grace has been paid for us by Christ; all we need to do is to be truly repentant and then accept what is freely given (Romans 3:24). What word do you want your life to sound like today?
Digging deeper: Isaiah 63:9-10; Ephesians 4:30; Psalm 11:5, 7: Micah 7:18-19; Titus 2:11; Ephesians 1:7
Growing my vocabulary has been a continual part of my educational endeavor. When I come across a new word, not a neologism, I write the word with the definition on an index card that I review until the word is embedded in mind. A few weeks ago, a new word that I encountered was onomatopoeia. Onomatopoeia is defined as “word that imitates the sound it represents”. A few examples are zip, gush, drip, splash, and kerplunk.
As I was pondering onomatopoeia and its meaning, I thought of the word sin. Sin is like it sounds; dirty, nasty, ugly and yet, none of these adjectives nor the true meaning of sin can really be defined and sound like it truly is. Sin breaks the heart of God. Its cost is more than we can pay, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The cost of sin is Grace: God’s riches at Christ’s expense. Grace- it sounds like something that cannot be purchased, something hard to truly grasp, a beauty in it that defies description. God is grace, of grace and grace comes only through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). I do not really think grace sounds like what it is, for true grace cannot be heard; only known.
Does sin make your ears hurt? Do you know grace? You can. I John 1:9 tells us that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” From evil to forgiven, from experiencing sin to experience grace has been paid for us by Christ; all we need to do is to be truly repentant and then accept what is freely given (Romans 3:24). What word do you want your life to sound like today?
Digging deeper: Isaiah 63:9-10; Ephesians 4:30; Psalm 11:5, 7: Micah 7:18-19; Titus 2:11; Ephesians 1:7
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Fairies
“Be strong and finish the task” Zachariah 8:9a
"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” I Chronicles 28:20a
When I was growing up with three older brothers, one brother in particular seemed to always leave the bathroom a mess. For some reason, I seemed to be the one who always followed him in using that room and I would clean it up as it drove me nuts. The rest of the family always seemed to wait to use the room until after I was done.
I miss our daughter living at home, for many reasons, but one reason oft comes to mind. When she was bored, she cleaned, deep cleaned, and she was bored often. Rarely through her teen years did I ever have to do much cleaning.
My husband has determined that our marriage has endured because of the fairies, his fairies. As long as he does not mention them very often (they are a little temperamental- too much talk about them and they tend to disappear for a while), but acknowledges that they are beneficial to him, they quietly go about their way making his life a little bit easier. Now for me, these fairies have very rarely done much of anything.
There are definite times that I would love to have his fairies, but really, what I would prefer is to have some different fairies. For the next eight months, I would like a work fairy; one that would go to my job and work so that I could stay home and use that time to concentrate on my dissertation. Another useful fairy would be a menu fairy; this job includes creating menus every two weeks and see that the necessary ingredients are in the cabinets to make the selected dishes. One other fairy I would like is one who saw to the vehicle needs, such as gassing the vehicle up, washing and vacuuming it regularly, and seeing to its many needs (such as oil changes, new battery, brake work, and such).
However, as much as I would like these different fairies, I am thankful that I am able to do most of these jobs. As I watch other folks struggle with some of these things, my heart is grateful for all I have and can do. I am employed and my job is interesting; I work with terrific folk. I have a cupboard and refrigerator full of food for which it only takes me a little effort to put together different meals. Plus, I admit to enjoying grocery shopping. Our vehicle may have some issues, but it is running and is so fun to drive (and I do love driving), so putting forth a little effort to enjoy it is so minor is the vast scheme of life.
So, in the absence of fairies, I am giving thanks for what I can do, am able to do, and for what I am given to do. And, I am going to be looking for ways that I can be a fairy for someone else, a way to make someone’s life just a little easier.
Digging deeper: James 2:14; Philippians 2:4; Hebrews 13:16
"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” I Chronicles 28:20a
When I was growing up with three older brothers, one brother in particular seemed to always leave the bathroom a mess. For some reason, I seemed to be the one who always followed him in using that room and I would clean it up as it drove me nuts. The rest of the family always seemed to wait to use the room until after I was done.
I miss our daughter living at home, for many reasons, but one reason oft comes to mind. When she was bored, she cleaned, deep cleaned, and she was bored often. Rarely through her teen years did I ever have to do much cleaning.
My husband has determined that our marriage has endured because of the fairies, his fairies. As long as he does not mention them very often (they are a little temperamental- too much talk about them and they tend to disappear for a while), but acknowledges that they are beneficial to him, they quietly go about their way making his life a little bit easier. Now for me, these fairies have very rarely done much of anything.
There are definite times that I would love to have his fairies, but really, what I would prefer is to have some different fairies. For the next eight months, I would like a work fairy; one that would go to my job and work so that I could stay home and use that time to concentrate on my dissertation. Another useful fairy would be a menu fairy; this job includes creating menus every two weeks and see that the necessary ingredients are in the cabinets to make the selected dishes. One other fairy I would like is one who saw to the vehicle needs, such as gassing the vehicle up, washing and vacuuming it regularly, and seeing to its many needs (such as oil changes, new battery, brake work, and such).
However, as much as I would like these different fairies, I am thankful that I am able to do most of these jobs. As I watch other folks struggle with some of these things, my heart is grateful for all I have and can do. I am employed and my job is interesting; I work with terrific folk. I have a cupboard and refrigerator full of food for which it only takes me a little effort to put together different meals. Plus, I admit to enjoying grocery shopping. Our vehicle may have some issues, but it is running and is so fun to drive (and I do love driving), so putting forth a little effort to enjoy it is so minor is the vast scheme of life.
So, in the absence of fairies, I am giving thanks for what I can do, am able to do, and for what I am given to do. And, I am going to be looking for ways that I can be a fairy for someone else, a way to make someone’s life just a little easier.
Digging deeper: James 2:14; Philippians 2:4; Hebrews 13:16
Monday, February 20, 2012
Count Your Blessings
“O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.” Psalm 40:5 (NIV)
The old favored hymn refrain, Count Your Blessings, by Johnson Oatman goes
“Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.”
Have you ever tried to count the many blessings you have received in your life? For me, the list is never-ending. I am blessed. Blessed means fortunate, favored; it does not mean that everything in my life is perfect, nor am I perfect. Life has not been and is not a smooth road without potholes and in need of major repairs. Yet, I am so blessed.
Sometimes the blessings are so hard to see. It oft seems that what I pray for, what I think I want or need is ignored by God. Does He not want me to pay my bills? For good health of loved ones? Endurance to continue the journey He has set before us? To paraphrase Laura Story, sometimes the blessing comes in the absence of what I am praying for.
Blessings are not earned; they are given. Malachi 3:10b says that the Lord will (has and is) “open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in!” (NIV). He has surely done just that! How can I not declare His praises, give Him the glory. “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for unfailing love and faithfulness” Psalm 115:1 (NIV).
Today, I am counting my blessings and giving Him the praise. You are one of those blessings.
Digging further: Psalm 13:6; Psalm 10:6; Ephesians 1:3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)