Daily Reading: Amos 9, Proverbs 31
Amos 9:13 “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.”
I’m trying to imagine this. The plowman overtaking the reaper I guess would mean that the harvest is so great it cannot all be gathered before plowing time. Think of it. A harvest so vast it takes all fall and winter to bring it in. I like that.
Proverbs 31:1 “The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.”
This morning I thought of the significance of this verse. We, as Christian women, are often shown this verse to teach us how to be good wives, mothers and women of God. But this very first verse says that it wasn’t for a woman that these words were first taught, it was for a man. I don’t want to minimize the value of these verses for women but I would say that they need to be taught to men just as fervently as they are to women. Young men need to know what to look for in a wife. They need to know what is valuable and what is worthy of their attention. Also…I think that I, as a mother, need to be the one teaching this to my son. Of course my first lessons need to be by example, but when he is older I need to go through these verses with him and explain to him the modern day example they set for him.
Just as you hear men say things like, “I know exactly what that boy is after…it was the same thing I was after at his age.” Women know flirtation and manipulation when they see it. We are sensitive to when another woman is trying to get the attention of our man much sooner than he is. We are sensitive to when a woman is trying to get the attention of any man. We see it, recognize it and gossip about it. Aren’t we cool? I want to teach my son, not only to recognize these things, but to discern the heart behind all of it. If a good girl is trying to get his attention…he should know it and respond correctly. If a bad girl is trying to get his attention he should know it and run away!
Proverbs 31:31 “Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Teaching young men what is virtuous would also include teaching them how to treat a virtuous woman. I think this verse proves that women are hungry for affirmation. We are like men in that respect. Men need to know that women respect them and women need to know that they are loved, and admired. They need respect too but it’s a different sort of respect. Give her the opportunity to share who and what she is, show her that you trust her by allowing her to prove what she can do. Women are not out to best their man when they are given the chance to just enjoy what they do and allow other people to admire their work. We, as women, need to see results in what we do. We are fulfilled by knowing that we have been what God has called us to be…a helpmate. If we are never told that we helped or if we never see the fruit of our hands, we will find that fulfillment elsewhere.
Monday, January 31, 2005
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Blessed with Peace
Daily Reading: Amos 6, 7 & 8, Psalm 29, 59, 89, 119:153-176
Psalm 29:11 "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."
The Lord will. I know that we can walk in His strength daily and have His peace at all times, but this morning as I read this it stood out to me that both gifts are promised in the future. He will give it, says to me that at the moment I don't have it. I think this promise is for that extra level of strength and peace that we need at times. The previous verse says that the Lord sitteth upon the flood. I think He's saying that during hard times...when the water rises...not only will we have the strength and peace that gets us through each day, but He will give us an extra measure. Inner strength to handle the floods as they come with faith and confidence and an immersion of peace that allows us to think and act with clarity and Godly wisdom.
Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
Daily peace, great daily peace comes from loving the law. How do you love the law? By understanding it. Recognizing the truth and the intent of it's source and knowing how beneficial it is to live under it's protection. People who love the law not only have great peace, they also have the advantage of never being offended. Nothing shall offend them. How cool is that? Political correctness has no place to roost in the heart of one who cannot be offended. Does it make sense then to say that people who are easily offended do not love the law? I think so. People who break easily haven't placed themselves under truth. Truth protects and law guides. People who offend easily are wandering. They have no desire for truth because it may cause them to feel conviction or the need to change. The law should be flexible they say...what if it hurts someone. The law should be changed because it excludes some and exalts others. I say emphatically NO. Learning to love the law and the creator of the law has freed me to understand that "the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." (Romans 7:14) I concede that the law is good and I can only be guided by it's goodness. When I fail I am corrected by the law and loved by the lawmaker. He is my ultimate protection. He is my judge and my jury. He alone causes me to see the merits of the law and therefore understand that I can never be offended. When I know that the one who set the law in place loves me more than the law...I can love the law and never be offended. This is a great peace.
Psalm 29:11 "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace."
The Lord will. I know that we can walk in His strength daily and have His peace at all times, but this morning as I read this it stood out to me that both gifts are promised in the future. He will give it, says to me that at the moment I don't have it. I think this promise is for that extra level of strength and peace that we need at times. The previous verse says that the Lord sitteth upon the flood. I think He's saying that during hard times...when the water rises...not only will we have the strength and peace that gets us through each day, but He will give us an extra measure. Inner strength to handle the floods as they come with faith and confidence and an immersion of peace that allows us to think and act with clarity and Godly wisdom.
Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
Daily peace, great daily peace comes from loving the law. How do you love the law? By understanding it. Recognizing the truth and the intent of it's source and knowing how beneficial it is to live under it's protection. People who love the law not only have great peace, they also have the advantage of never being offended. Nothing shall offend them. How cool is that? Political correctness has no place to roost in the heart of one who cannot be offended. Does it make sense then to say that people who are easily offended do not love the law? I think so. People who break easily haven't placed themselves under truth. Truth protects and law guides. People who offend easily are wandering. They have no desire for truth because it may cause them to feel conviction or the need to change. The law should be flexible they say...what if it hurts someone. The law should be changed because it excludes some and exalts others. I say emphatically NO. Learning to love the law and the creator of the law has freed me to understand that "the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin." (Romans 7:14) I concede that the law is good and I can only be guided by it's goodness. When I fail I am corrected by the law and loved by the lawmaker. He is my ultimate protection. He is my judge and my jury. He alone causes me to see the merits of the law and therefore understand that I can never be offended. When I know that the one who set the law in place loves me more than the law...I can love the law and never be offended. This is a great peace.
Friday, January 28, 2005
Regard
Daily Reading: Amos 4 & 5, Psalm 28
Psalm 28:5 "Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up."
I feel very convicted this morning about this very thing. I miss God sometimes. I don't blaspheme Him or outright judge His operations as evil...I just ignore Him. What horrible consequences this verse brings to mind. I don't think this is a one time offense that is punished so severely and I think that I am still safe from such a fate. I simply see in myself the tendency to allow my feelings to overplay the potential I have. I see what is possible and try to make it happen. I try to handle things myself because I have talents or gifts that God has given me for such a time as this...right? How arrogant to believe that I can do anything without Him. I am tired, and maybe that is where He wants me. To be so tired I have to hand over my silly little toy tools and say..."Here, you fix it."
Psalm 28:5 "Because they regard not the works of the Lord, nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them, and not build them up."
I feel very convicted this morning about this very thing. I miss God sometimes. I don't blaspheme Him or outright judge His operations as evil...I just ignore Him. What horrible consequences this verse brings to mind. I don't think this is a one time offense that is punished so severely and I think that I am still safe from such a fate. I simply see in myself the tendency to allow my feelings to overplay the potential I have. I see what is possible and try to make it happen. I try to handle things myself because I have talents or gifts that God has given me for such a time as this...right? How arrogant to believe that I can do anything without Him. I am tired, and maybe that is where He wants me. To be so tired I have to hand over my silly little toy tools and say..."Here, you fix it."
Thursday, January 27, 2005
One Thing
Daily Reading: Amos 1 - 3, Psalm 27
Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" I've been working in my Mind Of Christ workbook and learning of the ordered mind of Christ. There is no conflict in a mind that only seeks the will of God and this verse in Amos really triggered conviction because I am not so ordered, so pure or so focused. I want to walk with God, but I so often live a life that disagrees with Him. What mercy He shows in never leaving me.
Psalm 27:4-6 "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 enquire in his temple. (5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. (6) 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."
One thing. How hard it is to desire one thing. I have so many desires I can't keep track of them all and yet...all I really need is One thing. It seems like such a long road to get to that place...to have a heart like David. In reality though, I think it is just a matter of surrender and for some it takes a long time for others it is simply a process of opening the eyes to see the truth. The Bible is full of promises like this...Matthew 6:33 is one of my favorites. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." This is what the Bible study lesson is about this morning. Seeking what's important. If we truly desire the One thing...the presence of God...we will automatically receive His protections, His peace, His affection and His joy. I can remember living that way. In my early twenties I was passionate about the business of doing the will of God every moment. I was so full of faith that I said and did seemingly wacky things in order to always and completely fall in line with seeking first His Kingdom. I felt completely free of all other concerns...God took care of those things...they were "added unto me" as He saw fit. I have felt for some time that I have slipped in this area. That I am no longer up upon the rock (vs. 5). That as time passes and distractions have come I have taken myself down step by step, until I can only look longingly at the top and remember the view for what it was to me at one time. Now, with a family and the responsibilities that I have, it is harder to drop all other concerns and focus on the Kingdom of God, but it is infinitely more important. What greater example can I be to Owen than to show him true peace under the protection and instruction of God. What is better for a husband than to have a wife that knows and follows the heart of God.
David ends verse 6 by once again reminding me that praise is key in accomplishing true faith. "I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord." My praise unifies my heart, and surrenders my will. I have often said that worship is not just something we do on Sunday morning...it is a lifestyle. Worship is a lifestyle of confession, that "I am not God and I do not wish to apply for the job." (from Intimacy, the Longing of Every Human Heart by Terry Hershey)
It's so funny because I've known the answer for so long and yet I am continually realizing how many areas of my life still need to be surrendered. I don't wish to go back to where I was years ago...I want what God has for me now. I want to forget those things which are behind, (even the good things) and press on toward the goal of the high calling of God. What is the goal? To know Him! Really...that's all it is. Just to know Him.
Psalm 27:8 "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek."
Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" I've been working in my Mind Of Christ workbook and learning of the ordered mind of Christ. There is no conflict in a mind that only seeks the will of God and this verse in Amos really triggered conviction because I am not so ordered, so pure or so focused. I want to walk with God, but I so often live a life that disagrees with Him. What mercy He shows in never leaving me.
Psalm 27:4-6 "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 enquire in his temple. (5) For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. (6) 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."
One thing. How hard it is to desire one thing. I have so many desires I can't keep track of them all and yet...all I really need is One thing. It seems like such a long road to get to that place...to have a heart like David. In reality though, I think it is just a matter of surrender and for some it takes a long time for others it is simply a process of opening the eyes to see the truth. The Bible is full of promises like this...Matthew 6:33 is one of my favorites. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." This is what the Bible study lesson is about this morning. Seeking what's important. If we truly desire the One thing...the presence of God...we will automatically receive His protections, His peace, His affection and His joy. I can remember living that way. In my early twenties I was passionate about the business of doing the will of God every moment. I was so full of faith that I said and did seemingly wacky things in order to always and completely fall in line with seeking first His Kingdom. I felt completely free of all other concerns...God took care of those things...they were "added unto me" as He saw fit. I have felt for some time that I have slipped in this area. That I am no longer up upon the rock (vs. 5). That as time passes and distractions have come I have taken myself down step by step, until I can only look longingly at the top and remember the view for what it was to me at one time. Now, with a family and the responsibilities that I have, it is harder to drop all other concerns and focus on the Kingdom of God, but it is infinitely more important. What greater example can I be to Owen than to show him true peace under the protection and instruction of God. What is better for a husband than to have a wife that knows and follows the heart of God.
David ends verse 6 by once again reminding me that praise is key in accomplishing true faith. "I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord." My praise unifies my heart, and surrenders my will. I have often said that worship is not just something we do on Sunday morning...it is a lifestyle. Worship is a lifestyle of confession, that "I am not God and I do not wish to apply for the job." (from Intimacy, the Longing of Every Human Heart by Terry Hershey)
It's so funny because I've known the answer for so long and yet I am continually realizing how many areas of my life still need to be surrendered. I don't wish to go back to where I was years ago...I want what God has for me now. I want to forget those things which are behind, (even the good things) and press on toward the goal of the high calling of God. What is the goal? To know Him! Really...that's all it is. Just to know Him.
Psalm 27:8 "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek."
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
I Will Bless the Lord
Daily Reading: Joel 3, Psalm 26, 56, 86
Psalm 26:12 "My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregation will I bless the Lord."
My foot standeth in an even place. A balanced, firm and level place. He has not only set good boundaries to protect me. He has allowed me the security of level ground. I am not afraid when I stand. I am not afraid to walk after the one whose footsteps have cleared and leveled the ground before me. As I stand among the saints...in the congregation...I am standing firmly so that without reservation I can abandon all fear, all worry and all questions to bless the Lord.
Psalm 56:12 & 13 "Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. (13) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?"
Thou hast delivered my soul from death. I am made acceptable to you because of the Cross of Christ. I am saved from Hell and will spend eternity with you in Heaven...but what about now? Can I count on you to deliver me from daily snares? Will you keep me from falling again and again while I am still here on earth? Protect me from Hell, Yes, but protect me from sin...that I may walk unashamed, free from the shadows of embarrassment and guilt...let me walk before you God, in the light of the living.
Psalm 86:11-13 "Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (12) I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (13) For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."
Unite my heart to fear thy name. Oh, to have a heart with one desire. How simple life could be if we truly meditated on this word and really focused our hearts toward Christ. Our hearts, not collectively, but individually are not united. We have one heart with many wants and passions. I so desire to serve God but I desire to live for myself as well. I desire to see us do well financially so that we can afford nice things to comfort, fill and protect us. I desire to see my family love and care for one another in health, both physically and emotionally. I desire to travel and experience and enjoy the world around me. I desire carnal things as well as Godly things. I desire to have more than what I need, I desire to eat more than what will fill me, I desire to look good, be admired, looked up to and be seen as "having it all together". I am human, with human desires. My heart is sadly divided. Verse 12 has a simple remedy for my divided heart. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart. For moments at a time I can be united. If I praise Him with all my heart...forget the other desires to lift up the name of Jesus. Putting aside all the lack that makes up my feeble emotions I will stand before God in awe and fear to praise Him. I have one heart united.
Do you suppose that if I were to do this often...it would stick? Is it possible that a heart that praises God more and more often exercises a "unity muscle"? Would it make sense to practice being unified? I think so.
Psalm 26:12 "My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregation will I bless the Lord."
My foot standeth in an even place. A balanced, firm and level place. He has not only set good boundaries to protect me. He has allowed me the security of level ground. I am not afraid when I stand. I am not afraid to walk after the one whose footsteps have cleared and leveled the ground before me. As I stand among the saints...in the congregation...I am standing firmly so that without reservation I can abandon all fear, all worry and all questions to bless the Lord.
Psalm 56:12 & 13 "Thy vows are upon me, O God: I will render praises unto thee. (13) For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?"
Thou hast delivered my soul from death. I am made acceptable to you because of the Cross of Christ. I am saved from Hell and will spend eternity with you in Heaven...but what about now? Can I count on you to deliver me from daily snares? Will you keep me from falling again and again while I am still here on earth? Protect me from Hell, Yes, but protect me from sin...that I may walk unashamed, free from the shadows of embarrassment and guilt...let me walk before you God, in the light of the living.
Psalm 86:11-13 "Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. (12) I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (13) For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell."
Unite my heart to fear thy name. Oh, to have a heart with one desire. How simple life could be if we truly meditated on this word and really focused our hearts toward Christ. Our hearts, not collectively, but individually are not united. We have one heart with many wants and passions. I so desire to serve God but I desire to live for myself as well. I desire to see us do well financially so that we can afford nice things to comfort, fill and protect us. I desire to see my family love and care for one another in health, both physically and emotionally. I desire to travel and experience and enjoy the world around me. I desire carnal things as well as Godly things. I desire to have more than what I need, I desire to eat more than what will fill me, I desire to look good, be admired, looked up to and be seen as "having it all together". I am human, with human desires. My heart is sadly divided. Verse 12 has a simple remedy for my divided heart. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart. For moments at a time I can be united. If I praise Him with all my heart...forget the other desires to lift up the name of Jesus. Putting aside all the lack that makes up my feeble emotions I will stand before God in awe and fear to praise Him. I have one heart united.
Do you suppose that if I were to do this often...it would stick? Is it possible that a heart that praises God more and more often exercises a "unity muscle"? Would it make sense to practice being unified? I think so.
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Rend Your Heart
Daily Reading: Joel 1 & 2, Psalm 25
Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."
Rending a garment is just a symbolic way to show regret or repentance but I believe from this verse that God was tired, and is still tired, of seeing our show of repentance and never seeing our hearts changed. Rend your heart, He says, break your will, bow your desires and passions down at my feet and let me fill what you have emptied. Let me show you who I am...the gracious, forgiving, merciful, loving, kind, compassionate me. I can prove your broken heart is worth repairing, I can fill the void that your desires never could.
He is a good God, but we rarely give Him the chance to do more than answer the prayers for what we desire. We bring Him what we think is noble and try to convince Him of the merits of our passions. He will sometimes oblige these things but He wants so badly to show us more. What could He do for us, to us and in us if we came to Him empty handed? What if we just came to Him with nothing but our praise? What if we knelt down and said..."God, I don't know enough to know what I want...will you just fill me with you today?" Can you imagine what He could do with that? No, you can't imagine...you're not creative enough. I don't care who you are...your mind cannot conceive the good that God has for you!
In verse 25 of the same chapter: "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."
Not only does he promise to be merciful (v.13) but he promises to restore. He knows that the desires of the flesh (no matter how noble they are) cannot fulfill and they cannot serve you and comfort you as His desires for you could have. He knows that by the time you come to Him you have missed out on the blessings that He had waiting for you. He does not flaunt them, turn up His nose and say...look what you could have had if you had been a good girl. No...He restores...He gives...He blesses...He offers abundance for our lack and freedom to replace our bondage.
verse 26 "And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed."
Psalm 25:1 & 2 "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. (2) O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me."
Here again...I lift up my soul to God and put my trust in Him for the gracious reward that never leaves me ashamed.
Joel 2:13 "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."
Rending a garment is just a symbolic way to show regret or repentance but I believe from this verse that God was tired, and is still tired, of seeing our show of repentance and never seeing our hearts changed. Rend your heart, He says, break your will, bow your desires and passions down at my feet and let me fill what you have emptied. Let me show you who I am...the gracious, forgiving, merciful, loving, kind, compassionate me. I can prove your broken heart is worth repairing, I can fill the void that your desires never could.
He is a good God, but we rarely give Him the chance to do more than answer the prayers for what we desire. We bring Him what we think is noble and try to convince Him of the merits of our passions. He will sometimes oblige these things but He wants so badly to show us more. What could He do for us, to us and in us if we came to Him empty handed? What if we just came to Him with nothing but our praise? What if we knelt down and said..."God, I don't know enough to know what I want...will you just fill me with you today?" Can you imagine what He could do with that? No, you can't imagine...you're not creative enough. I don't care who you are...your mind cannot conceive the good that God has for you!
In verse 25 of the same chapter: "And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."
Not only does he promise to be merciful (v.13) but he promises to restore. He knows that the desires of the flesh (no matter how noble they are) cannot fulfill and they cannot serve you and comfort you as His desires for you could have. He knows that by the time you come to Him you have missed out on the blessings that He had waiting for you. He does not flaunt them, turn up His nose and say...look what you could have had if you had been a good girl. No...He restores...He gives...He blesses...He offers abundance for our lack and freedom to replace our bondage.
verse 26 "And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed."
Psalm 25:1 & 2 "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. (2) O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me."
Here again...I lift up my soul to God and put my trust in Him for the gracious reward that never leaves me ashamed.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Right Thinking, Right Living
Daily Reading: Hosea 9-12, Psalm 22, 52
Psalm 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”
A green olive tree takes 20 years from the time it’s planted to the time it bears fruit. Though I feel a rush to spew forth all the knowledge God has planted in me…I am not ready to be fruitful to the degree in which I desire. I have a lot of maturing to do. A lot of learning to do…it’s going to take lots of sunshine, lots of rain and lots of quiet submission to a gardener who will sometimes prune me in areas I don’t want to be pruned.
Speaking of pruning…This Mind of Christ study really has me thinking and I’m glad. I didn’t enjoy the last Bible study all that much, but I think this one is going to be more challenging, and probably more convicting. I am not single-minded as Christ was, and I am not pure…though I want to be. This morning I read about having right desires and really concentrating on feeding thoughts that are godly and putting away thoughts that conflict with godly thoughts. I don’t do that. I let my mind play and rattle away. I have conflicting desires because I allow both desires to be nurtured. I need to make right choices in my mind and then it won’t be so hard to act right later. It sounds so simple but when I really applied it to one little area it became so apparent that I am not doing this. I have a desire to lose weight, but I also have a desire to eat a lot of sweet and fatty foods. It’s obvious which one is a right desire and which one is wrong, but I had to admit that I meditate on yummy foods more than I do on a skinny body or exercise. I am bombarded with pictures, recipes, commercials and all sorts of marketing for the wrong choice. I then dwell on those things and what I could make with that little bit of sour cream left over from our tacos the other night. I rarely think…my what a great feeling it would be to go out in the cold and walk up and down hills pushing a whiny baby with a runny nose. That’s not desirable to meditate on for some reason. I need to find a way to meditate on the right decision. Maybe I should break out some old photos or something from when I was skinny and fit. Better yet, I need to study the Bible and find all the scriptures I can on being healthy, well, and able to serve with vigor. Jesus was no slouch…neither should I be.
Psalm 52:8 “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.”
A green olive tree takes 20 years from the time it’s planted to the time it bears fruit. Though I feel a rush to spew forth all the knowledge God has planted in me…I am not ready to be fruitful to the degree in which I desire. I have a lot of maturing to do. A lot of learning to do…it’s going to take lots of sunshine, lots of rain and lots of quiet submission to a gardener who will sometimes prune me in areas I don’t want to be pruned.
Speaking of pruning…This Mind of Christ study really has me thinking and I’m glad. I didn’t enjoy the last Bible study all that much, but I think this one is going to be more challenging, and probably more convicting. I am not single-minded as Christ was, and I am not pure…though I want to be. This morning I read about having right desires and really concentrating on feeding thoughts that are godly and putting away thoughts that conflict with godly thoughts. I don’t do that. I let my mind play and rattle away. I have conflicting desires because I allow both desires to be nurtured. I need to make right choices in my mind and then it won’t be so hard to act right later. It sounds so simple but when I really applied it to one little area it became so apparent that I am not doing this. I have a desire to lose weight, but I also have a desire to eat a lot of sweet and fatty foods. It’s obvious which one is a right desire and which one is wrong, but I had to admit that I meditate on yummy foods more than I do on a skinny body or exercise. I am bombarded with pictures, recipes, commercials and all sorts of marketing for the wrong choice. I then dwell on those things and what I could make with that little bit of sour cream left over from our tacos the other night. I rarely think…my what a great feeling it would be to go out in the cold and walk up and down hills pushing a whiny baby with a runny nose. That’s not desirable to meditate on for some reason. I need to find a way to meditate on the right decision. Maybe I should break out some old photos or something from when I was skinny and fit. Better yet, I need to study the Bible and find all the scriptures I can on being healthy, well, and able to serve with vigor. Jesus was no slouch…neither should I be.
Friday, January 21, 2005
Honey From The Rock
Daily Reading: Proverbs 31, Psalm 21, 51, 81
This morning I have had such a desire to solve problems. I am anxious to be about the tasks of making things work. Our little house on McKeige Dr. is still sitting empty. It's a cute little house and I cannot understand fully why it is not sold after all this time. I know that God has a time-table that He works with and I am sure that it will sell eventually and that He has it all under control, but I began to feel this morning that I may need to make some phone calls. Maybe we should rent the house. Maybe there is someone at the Gideon’s (where I used to work) that needs a place. Their office is literally 2 miles away. Maybe I should just call over there and ask if there's anyone looking for a place. Maybe we should buy the house next door and rent that too. Maybe that's what I'm supposed to do. I could take care of it. I could manage it. As long as we have an account for repairs and for updates...it could be my job to handle those houses. To make sure they get rented and make sure that our income is coming in. I have resources...Kris' brother rents a couple places...I could get pointers from him on how to best manage problems and concerns. I started thinking of the verse in Proverbs 31...
Proverbs 31:16 "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard." The Proverbs 31 woman was a business woman. She looked at what was available, what she needed and she did something about it. Why shouldn't I do that?
And what about Proverbs 31:11 & 12 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." It's my job to be a help to Kris. I could do this.
I almost went to the phone right then but something checked my spirit. Don't you think it would be better to maybe spend some time in the Word before just making a crazy phone call? If you want your husband to trust you, than he will want to know that you are using caution and wisdom in your decisions. You can't have those things without the Word of God. So I stopped and sat down at my little quiet time computer and began my daily reading. Psalm 21...that's not pertinent. Psalm 51...nothing. I began to pray. "God, I want to know what I need to do." I felt a tug at my heart and reflected once again on the truth of who God wants to be in my life. Yes, He has all the answers, and yes, He wants me to come to Him to get them. He is also my loving Father. He wants me to just come to Him with or without questions. I sat back and took a breath and asked him again what I should do and I imagined him smiling and putting my head in his chest as he securely embraced me. "Just rest", He said. I gave in and found Him again. This time I read Psalm 81 and I could really hear Him in His Word.
Psalm 81:10-16 "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. (11) But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. (12) So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. (13) Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! (14) I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. (15) The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. (16) He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee."
He is not holding out on me or Kris by this house not selling. He doesn't do that. He wants us to stop gritting our teeth trying to figure out what to do and open our mouths wide...so He can fill them. I don't want to walk in my own counsel...I want to know the mind of Christ. The single-minded, lowly, alive, responsive, pure and peaceful mind of Christ. Christ did nothing without the advice and commission of the Father. How arrogant must we seem when we don't consider first the will of the one who loves us more than we can love ourselves. Verse 14 says that He was about to do what was needed...He was on the verge of solving their problem when they got impatient and did it their way. What we gain on our own can never compare to what He has planned for us...He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. He can produce honey from a rock. He can produce something out of nothing. That's the kind of God He is...I don't have to work so hard at making things happen...I just have to be about the business of doing what I already know to do. When the phone rings and the answers come...His Word is confirmed and the Kingdom of God is at hand.
This morning I have had such a desire to solve problems. I am anxious to be about the tasks of making things work. Our little house on McKeige Dr. is still sitting empty. It's a cute little house and I cannot understand fully why it is not sold after all this time. I know that God has a time-table that He works with and I am sure that it will sell eventually and that He has it all under control, but I began to feel this morning that I may need to make some phone calls. Maybe we should rent the house. Maybe there is someone at the Gideon’s (where I used to work) that needs a place. Their office is literally 2 miles away. Maybe I should just call over there and ask if there's anyone looking for a place. Maybe we should buy the house next door and rent that too. Maybe that's what I'm supposed to do. I could take care of it. I could manage it. As long as we have an account for repairs and for updates...it could be my job to handle those houses. To make sure they get rented and make sure that our income is coming in. I have resources...Kris' brother rents a couple places...I could get pointers from him on how to best manage problems and concerns. I started thinking of the verse in Proverbs 31...
Proverbs 31:16 "She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard." The Proverbs 31 woman was a business woman. She looked at what was available, what she needed and she did something about it. Why shouldn't I do that?
And what about Proverbs 31:11 & 12 "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. (12) She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." It's my job to be a help to Kris. I could do this.
I almost went to the phone right then but something checked my spirit. Don't you think it would be better to maybe spend some time in the Word before just making a crazy phone call? If you want your husband to trust you, than he will want to know that you are using caution and wisdom in your decisions. You can't have those things without the Word of God. So I stopped and sat down at my little quiet time computer and began my daily reading. Psalm 21...that's not pertinent. Psalm 51...nothing. I began to pray. "God, I want to know what I need to do." I felt a tug at my heart and reflected once again on the truth of who God wants to be in my life. Yes, He has all the answers, and yes, He wants me to come to Him to get them. He is also my loving Father. He wants me to just come to Him with or without questions. I sat back and took a breath and asked him again what I should do and I imagined him smiling and putting my head in his chest as he securely embraced me. "Just rest", He said. I gave in and found Him again. This time I read Psalm 81 and I could really hear Him in His Word.
Psalm 81:10-16 "I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. (11) But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. (12) So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. (13) Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! (14) I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. (15) The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. (16) He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee."
He is not holding out on me or Kris by this house not selling. He doesn't do that. He wants us to stop gritting our teeth trying to figure out what to do and open our mouths wide...so He can fill them. I don't want to walk in my own counsel...I want to know the mind of Christ. The single-minded, lowly, alive, responsive, pure and peaceful mind of Christ. Christ did nothing without the advice and commission of the Father. How arrogant must we seem when we don't consider first the will of the one who loves us more than we can love ourselves. Verse 14 says that He was about to do what was needed...He was on the verge of solving their problem when they got impatient and did it their way. What we gain on our own can never compare to what He has planned for us...He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. He can produce honey from a rock. He can produce something out of nothing. That's the kind of God He is...I don't have to work so hard at making things happen...I just have to be about the business of doing what I already know to do. When the phone rings and the answers come...His Word is confirmed and the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Prayer of Encouragement
Daily Reading: Psalm 20
Psalm 20 " The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; (2) Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; (3) Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt-sacrifice; Selah. (4) Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. (5) We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. (6) Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. (7) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we are risen, and stand upright. (9) Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call."
This is an awesome prayer. A beautiful petition for the victory and welfare of another. Not only do we pray for you...it says...we believe you will be victorious and when you are we will be the first ones cheering for you. We will raise the flag that signifies your triumph and we will praise God with you as He wins this battle for you. Some build up their ranks with more and more ammunition...but we stand up under the arm of the Almighty.
Mmm. That's good stuff.
Psalm 20 " The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; (2) Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; (3) Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt-sacrifice; Selah. (4) Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. (5) We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions. (6) Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. (7) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we are risen, and stand upright. (9) Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call."
This is an awesome prayer. A beautiful petition for the victory and welfare of another. Not only do we pray for you...it says...we believe you will be victorious and when you are we will be the first ones cheering for you. We will raise the flag that signifies your triumph and we will praise God with you as He wins this battle for you. Some build up their ranks with more and more ammunition...but we stand up under the arm of the Almighty.
Mmm. That's good stuff.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
I Give Myself Unto Prayer
Daily Reading: Hosea 5 - 8, Psalm 19, 49, 79, 109
Psalm 109:1-4 "hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; (2) For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. (3) They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. (4) For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer."
I love this scripture. There have been times in life when I have found out through gossip or by accident that someone I trusted, someone I thought was a friend, was just putting on a show for my benefit. In reality they had secrets they thought me too naive to share with, opinions they thought me too narrow minded to understand and experiences they thought me too mellow to enjoy with them. (Granted, I am narrow minded when it comes to certain thoughts, but I am not narrow hearted and I may not agree with certain opinions but I don't base my love for a person on our differences.) Whether people intend it or not...their lack of honesty hurts more than the truth. To find out later what someone said about you is a very humbling thing. What's just awesome about the scripture above however...is verse 4. The last part says..."but I give myself unto prayer." The first time I read that it was in the New International Version which says "but I am a man of prayer." All of the above may be true BUT! I am a woman of prayer. I am this person who has this weapon of communication with God. I'm like a superhero. :) I give myself unto prayer. That makes all the difference. I could be treated mercilessly, given the cold shoulder, and told I was worthless, but I give myself unto prayer. I could be beaten, wrongly accused and thrown in prison, but I give myself unto prayer. No matter what the circumstances...the alternate truth is prayer. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise. He is the God of my praise...I praise Him as my hero! My hero hears my prayers, He rescues me, He does not let my enemies go without giving account of their deception. He is on my side and will not let His daughter see destruction. I am His and He is mine, forever and ever.
Psalm 109:1-4 "hold not thy peace, O God of my praise; (2) For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. (3) They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause. (4) For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer."
I love this scripture. There have been times in life when I have found out through gossip or by accident that someone I trusted, someone I thought was a friend, was just putting on a show for my benefit. In reality they had secrets they thought me too naive to share with, opinions they thought me too narrow minded to understand and experiences they thought me too mellow to enjoy with them. (Granted, I am narrow minded when it comes to certain thoughts, but I am not narrow hearted and I may not agree with certain opinions but I don't base my love for a person on our differences.) Whether people intend it or not...their lack of honesty hurts more than the truth. To find out later what someone said about you is a very humbling thing. What's just awesome about the scripture above however...is verse 4. The last part says..."but I give myself unto prayer." The first time I read that it was in the New International Version which says "but I am a man of prayer." All of the above may be true BUT! I am a woman of prayer. I am this person who has this weapon of communication with God. I'm like a superhero. :) I give myself unto prayer. That makes all the difference. I could be treated mercilessly, given the cold shoulder, and told I was worthless, but I give myself unto prayer. I could be beaten, wrongly accused and thrown in prison, but I give myself unto prayer. No matter what the circumstances...the alternate truth is prayer. Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise. He is the God of my praise...I praise Him as my hero! My hero hears my prayers, He rescues me, He does not let my enemies go without giving account of their deception. He is on my side and will not let His daughter see destruction. I am His and He is mine, forever and ever.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
The Protection of God
Daily Reading: Hosea 2-4, Psalm 18
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
The book of Hosea compares Israel to a harlot, a wife of whoredoms. This verse is speaking to Israel, to the people who took the blessings of God and offered them to others. I think when He says they are destroyed for lack of knowledge that He specifically means the knowledge of God. We are not destroyed because we aren't educated...although there is an appropriate application there as well...we are destroyed because we don't know who God is. The people of Israel were seeking other gods, mingling with other nations and forgetting to follow the laws God had given them for boundaries, safety and security. God doesn't lash out at them with fire from heaven and plagues. He simply says...if you don't want to follow my law, that’s fine, you're on your own. Unfortunately, the generation to come will be paying the price.
How true is that today? Not specifically for one nation or another, although I would say it is more obvious in America because we claim to be a Christian nation, but all Christians around the world. The church as a whole is often neglectful of their calling. How can we expect the protection of God, when we don't desire the knowledge of God? Things are bad in the world...real bad...and the only thing people can say is...if there was a God...how could he let this happen? No...if there was a God...how could you question whether He exists? There is a blindness to Him that is brought on by the absence of goodwill and love in the world.
I shudder when I think of the consequences to being rid of something as basic as the Ten Commandments. How can you disagree with something so simply good? So what if it's from the Bible...doesn't everyone agree that thou shalt not kill? The first and greatest commandment Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and will all thy might. The second is like unto it. Love thy neighbor as thyself. If we could get that down...maybe we could see a little light at the end of this tunnel.
I disagree when I hear talk of the tsunami being a judgment of God...His judgment is swift and terrible, but it is not for this world. His judgment comes later. I do agree that this is quite possibly a sign of the end times. I don't know for sure because there have been so many disasters of incredible magnitude. I will say though that as the world continues to reject their creator...He cannot protect us. If we swear our allegiance to ourselves, then He cannot interfere with our worship of the god of self. If we swear allegiance to other gods...he will not step in to solve the problems that our god is incapable of. He cannot! He is a jealous God, but He is a gentleman and will not make us worship Him...He will always accept us, always take us back, but never will he bring us to him without our free will turning us in His direction. Choose life!
Psalm 18:6 "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."
Psalm 18 has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible since college. I have often read it in times of utter despair. This verse is the beginning of an incredible series of verses that tell of the powerful deliverance of God. Unlike the paragraph above...this writer is calling to God for help...he knows God personally and you can tell because he describes Him in detail. In verse 19 he says "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." God is our protector, our shield, our deliverer, our Savior. He wants so badly to pull us from the destruction around us, because He delights in us. I love that. He doesn't just know my name; He doesn't just keep track of my Sunday School attendance...He delights in me! All of me...He loves the fat me, the grey haired me, the lazy me, the good, the bad and the ugly me. He'd reach down into "many waters" (v.16) to draw me out, He would move heaven and earth to see me stable, strong and set down in a large place...a large place...a place of opportunity, a place of ideas, a place of freedom.
Where then is the line? How far from the knowledge of God do we have to be to lose His protection and deliverance? I don't know. I don't want to know. I want to stay close. Not just for the sake of having "deliverance insurance" but for the sake of a relationship I cannot live without. I love my God. I really do. I think most of my life I would say that but it was more of a regurgitation of what was taught to me in church. I knew that I was supposed to love God and I knew that He was good and that He made all the good things in my life possible. I loved a lot of things about Him but now I can truly say that I love Him. I've actually spent time with Him...just Him and me, and He is amazing.
"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." Psalm 18:1
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou has forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
The book of Hosea compares Israel to a harlot, a wife of whoredoms. This verse is speaking to Israel, to the people who took the blessings of God and offered them to others. I think when He says they are destroyed for lack of knowledge that He specifically means the knowledge of God. We are not destroyed because we aren't educated...although there is an appropriate application there as well...we are destroyed because we don't know who God is. The people of Israel were seeking other gods, mingling with other nations and forgetting to follow the laws God had given them for boundaries, safety and security. God doesn't lash out at them with fire from heaven and plagues. He simply says...if you don't want to follow my law, that’s fine, you're on your own. Unfortunately, the generation to come will be paying the price.
How true is that today? Not specifically for one nation or another, although I would say it is more obvious in America because we claim to be a Christian nation, but all Christians around the world. The church as a whole is often neglectful of their calling. How can we expect the protection of God, when we don't desire the knowledge of God? Things are bad in the world...real bad...and the only thing people can say is...if there was a God...how could he let this happen? No...if there was a God...how could you question whether He exists? There is a blindness to Him that is brought on by the absence of goodwill and love in the world.
I shudder when I think of the consequences to being rid of something as basic as the Ten Commandments. How can you disagree with something so simply good? So what if it's from the Bible...doesn't everyone agree that thou shalt not kill? The first and greatest commandment Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and will all thy might. The second is like unto it. Love thy neighbor as thyself. If we could get that down...maybe we could see a little light at the end of this tunnel.
I disagree when I hear talk of the tsunami being a judgment of God...His judgment is swift and terrible, but it is not for this world. His judgment comes later. I do agree that this is quite possibly a sign of the end times. I don't know for sure because there have been so many disasters of incredible magnitude. I will say though that as the world continues to reject their creator...He cannot protect us. If we swear our allegiance to ourselves, then He cannot interfere with our worship of the god of self. If we swear allegiance to other gods...he will not step in to solve the problems that our god is incapable of. He cannot! He is a jealous God, but He is a gentleman and will not make us worship Him...He will always accept us, always take us back, but never will he bring us to him without our free will turning us in His direction. Choose life!
Psalm 18:6 "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears."
Psalm 18 has been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible since college. I have often read it in times of utter despair. This verse is the beginning of an incredible series of verses that tell of the powerful deliverance of God. Unlike the paragraph above...this writer is calling to God for help...he knows God personally and you can tell because he describes Him in detail. In verse 19 he says "He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me." God is our protector, our shield, our deliverer, our Savior. He wants so badly to pull us from the destruction around us, because He delights in us. I love that. He doesn't just know my name; He doesn't just keep track of my Sunday School attendance...He delights in me! All of me...He loves the fat me, the grey haired me, the lazy me, the good, the bad and the ugly me. He'd reach down into "many waters" (v.16) to draw me out, He would move heaven and earth to see me stable, strong and set down in a large place...a large place...a place of opportunity, a place of ideas, a place of freedom.
Where then is the line? How far from the knowledge of God do we have to be to lose His protection and deliverance? I don't know. I don't want to know. I want to stay close. Not just for the sake of having "deliverance insurance" but for the sake of a relationship I cannot live without. I love my God. I really do. I think most of my life I would say that but it was more of a regurgitation of what was taught to me in church. I knew that I was supposed to love God and I knew that He was good and that He made all the good things in my life possible. I loved a lot of things about Him but now I can truly say that I love Him. I've actually spent time with Him...just Him and me, and He is amazing.
"I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." Psalm 18:1
Monday, January 17, 2005
Speaking Words of Worship
Daily Reading: Hosea 1, Psalm 17, 47, 77, 107 & 137, Proverbs 17
Psalm 77:1-3 "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. (2) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. (3) I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed."
Who knows the troubles that others face? What each man or woman encounters in life, what causes pain for some, what is the sore that runs in the night and ceases not? We each think at times that our lives are painful beyond comparison, but how do we know? I have heard plights of some and thought...I do not want to go through that, but then realized...they probably wouldn't want to go through what I've gone through either. We all have pain...we all carry burdens, we all have reason to complain. The difference that brings a smile or a tear is in how we handle our broken pieces. It's not just a matter of seeking the Lord. If it were, we would have a lot more smiles. It's a matter of knowing the Lord. Do we seek the Lord so that he will swoop down and carry us away from our pain and suffering, or do we seek the Lord to recognize His ways, know His thoughts, and understand His heart? The Lord is always present...we do not need Him to come crashing through the wall on a white horse. Our souls refuse to be comforted because we don't worship Him. "I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed." Indeed. Complaining will do that. God is our father...we don't come to him as such.
Psalm 107:20&21 "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (21) Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
This is a part of that "knowing His ways" that I mentioned earlier. It doesn't say he healed them and delivered them. It says, "He sent his word" to do the work. His word is powerful...do we know His Word? Not well enough, I can tell you. This verse is followed by a statement that is repeated throughout the chapter. Oh that men would praise the Lord. Not because He wants it, not because He's egotistical and needs to be affirmed. Because it makes His ways work in our lives. Worship draws the goodness of God to the surface and complaining causes it to sink to the bottom every time.
Psalm 107:41-43 "Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. (42) The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. (43) Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord."
Proverbs 17:9 "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."
This verse reiterates the same principle as above. The words we speak are what causes us to rise up or fall down. The words we speak can cause others to rise up or fall down. Do we rejoice when God exalts others? Do we hold our tongue when we know something bad about someone else? Do we think that God doesn't know the thoughts and ways of every man? He will put down those who need to be brought down and he will exalt those who are worthy of being lifted up. It may not be when we want it to happen and it may not be the way we want it to happen but our worship will cause us to have peace about all of it. If we are faithful to praise the Lord...we will see the joy, the peace and the contentment of the Lord in our own lives. If we complain, if we stir up strife, if we repeat matters, we cause pain, destroy friendships and our souls will never be comforted.
Psalm 77:1-3 "I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. (2) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. (3) I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed."
Who knows the troubles that others face? What each man or woman encounters in life, what causes pain for some, what is the sore that runs in the night and ceases not? We each think at times that our lives are painful beyond comparison, but how do we know? I have heard plights of some and thought...I do not want to go through that, but then realized...they probably wouldn't want to go through what I've gone through either. We all have pain...we all carry burdens, we all have reason to complain. The difference that brings a smile or a tear is in how we handle our broken pieces. It's not just a matter of seeking the Lord. If it were, we would have a lot more smiles. It's a matter of knowing the Lord. Do we seek the Lord so that he will swoop down and carry us away from our pain and suffering, or do we seek the Lord to recognize His ways, know His thoughts, and understand His heart? The Lord is always present...we do not need Him to come crashing through the wall on a white horse. Our souls refuse to be comforted because we don't worship Him. "I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed." Indeed. Complaining will do that. God is our father...we don't come to him as such.
Psalm 107:20&21 "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (21) Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"
This is a part of that "knowing His ways" that I mentioned earlier. It doesn't say he healed them and delivered them. It says, "He sent his word" to do the work. His word is powerful...do we know His Word? Not well enough, I can tell you. This verse is followed by a statement that is repeated throughout the chapter. Oh that men would praise the Lord. Not because He wants it, not because He's egotistical and needs to be affirmed. Because it makes His ways work in our lives. Worship draws the goodness of God to the surface and complaining causes it to sink to the bottom every time.
Psalm 107:41-43 "Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock. (42) The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. (43) Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord."
Proverbs 17:9 "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends."
This verse reiterates the same principle as above. The words we speak are what causes us to rise up or fall down. The words we speak can cause others to rise up or fall down. Do we rejoice when God exalts others? Do we hold our tongue when we know something bad about someone else? Do we think that God doesn't know the thoughts and ways of every man? He will put down those who need to be brought down and he will exalt those who are worthy of being lifted up. It may not be when we want it to happen and it may not be the way we want it to happen but our worship will cause us to have peace about all of it. If we are faithful to praise the Lord...we will see the joy, the peace and the contentment of the Lord in our own lives. If we complain, if we stir up strife, if we repeat matters, we cause pain, destroy friendships and our souls will never be comforted.
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Staying within the boundary lines
Today's Reading: Daniel 12, Psalm 16, 46, 76, 106, 146, Proverbs 16
Psalm 16:6 "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." The New International Version says "The boundary lines" I love the security he speaks of here. There are lines we shouldn't cross but they are not to keep us in...they are to keep us out of unpleasant places. When we stay within bounds of what God desires for us we see that even if our family were a bunch of nuts, we still have a goodly heritage. How? We have a heritage that brought us to what we are now...a history that pushed us to become what God wants us to be rather than what the world would mold us into. Sometimes a past so despicable we are driven to be as far from a part of it as we possibly can. Once we find ourselves in the pleasant places of God. We can rest. We are secure...nothing can harm us. To add New Testament insight...we are a new person now. Our heritage is simply a story that got us here it is not a defining characteristic of who we are.
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth"
I can't wait to see God exalted among the heathen. Not to be cruel or anything...but there is a righteous anger in me when I see or hear people directly denying or belittling God. People who outright offend who and what he is, either with their actions or their words. Challenging his deity, his authority and his Holiness. I get a shudder when I see it and I want to either shush them and help them see what their actions will lead them to or then see God prove himself to them. How arrogant you must be to deny God.
Psalm 106:15 "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." This verse always catches me. He is talking about the children of Israel here. Their trek through the desert and the things they did that were displeasing. It opens my eyes though to the idea that sometimes, even if God doesn't want us to have or do something He will say yes. Sometimes He gives us what we want, regardless of how it will hurt us. Not without warning, not without saying "no" several times I'm sure, but if we insist...He may just give it to us. And then what...leanness into our souls? The amplified Bible says..."sent leanness into their soul and (thinned their numbers with) disease and death". It's sort of like that little phrase..."I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." This is thought provoking. I think of a woman who so desires to be with a certain man that she can see no other way to live. She begs of God and is told no, she begs again and is told no. She begs again and won't take no for an answer. God throws up His hands and says...okay...if you want him you can have him. She takes that as good enough regarding God's will and marries Mr. Wrong. A year later she can't understand why he doesn't want to go to church with her, he doesn't want to do anything with her anymore and seems to be working late with his female project manager a little too often. God said it was okay, didn't he? Why do so many bad things happen to me?
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." I love this verse. It is the motto for doing what's right. Sometimes you don't feel like it, sometimes you don't even believe it will do any good. Sometimes you think...if I'm only doing it because I think I should, than my motives are wrong and that's not good. But according to this verse...if you do what's right and commit what's right to God...He'll cause your motives to follow. He'll bring your feelings along and prove to you that obedience doesn't require you to believe it will work...it only requires you to do it. That's why obedience is better than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 says "To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" Sacrifice involves your feelings...good or bad and obedience involves faith. Just do it because you believe that I am who I say I am. More could be said, but I have an Owen to take care of.
Psalm 16:6 "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage." The New International Version says "The boundary lines" I love the security he speaks of here. There are lines we shouldn't cross but they are not to keep us in...they are to keep us out of unpleasant places. When we stay within bounds of what God desires for us we see that even if our family were a bunch of nuts, we still have a goodly heritage. How? We have a heritage that brought us to what we are now...a history that pushed us to become what God wants us to be rather than what the world would mold us into. Sometimes a past so despicable we are driven to be as far from a part of it as we possibly can. Once we find ourselves in the pleasant places of God. We can rest. We are secure...nothing can harm us. To add New Testament insight...we are a new person now. Our heritage is simply a story that got us here it is not a defining characteristic of who we are.
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth"
I can't wait to see God exalted among the heathen. Not to be cruel or anything...but there is a righteous anger in me when I see or hear people directly denying or belittling God. People who outright offend who and what he is, either with their actions or their words. Challenging his deity, his authority and his Holiness. I get a shudder when I see it and I want to either shush them and help them see what their actions will lead them to or then see God prove himself to them. How arrogant you must be to deny God.
Psalm 106:15 "And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul." This verse always catches me. He is talking about the children of Israel here. Their trek through the desert and the things they did that were displeasing. It opens my eyes though to the idea that sometimes, even if God doesn't want us to have or do something He will say yes. Sometimes He gives us what we want, regardless of how it will hurt us. Not without warning, not without saying "no" several times I'm sure, but if we insist...He may just give it to us. And then what...leanness into our souls? The amplified Bible says..."sent leanness into their soul and (thinned their numbers with) disease and death". It's sort of like that little phrase..."I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you." This is thought provoking. I think of a woman who so desires to be with a certain man that she can see no other way to live. She begs of God and is told no, she begs again and is told no. She begs again and won't take no for an answer. God throws up His hands and says...okay...if you want him you can have him. She takes that as good enough regarding God's will and marries Mr. Wrong. A year later she can't understand why he doesn't want to go to church with her, he doesn't want to do anything with her anymore and seems to be working late with his female project manager a little too often. God said it was okay, didn't he? Why do so many bad things happen to me?
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." I love this verse. It is the motto for doing what's right. Sometimes you don't feel like it, sometimes you don't even believe it will do any good. Sometimes you think...if I'm only doing it because I think I should, than my motives are wrong and that's not good. But according to this verse...if you do what's right and commit what's right to God...He'll cause your motives to follow. He'll bring your feelings along and prove to you that obedience doesn't require you to believe it will work...it only requires you to do it. That's why obedience is better than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 says "To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" Sacrifice involves your feelings...good or bad and obedience involves faith. Just do it because you believe that I am who I say I am. More could be said, but I have an Owen to take care of.
Saturday, January 15, 2005
Remaining Unmoved
Daily Reading: Daniel 11, Psalm 15
Psalm 15:5 "He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved"
First of all I had to look up what "usury" meant. I have read this a million times and had some idea what it meant but wasn't sure. It basically means to lend money at a high rate of interest that would cause someone to be indebted to you beyond their ability to repay. This verse is especially referring to the case of a relative or close friend.
I love the statement..."shall never be moved." The whole chapter leads up to this with qualifications of honesty, righteousness, justice, love and defense of others. I guess to sum it up you could say that a person who thinks of others more highly than him/herself will be stable, assured, confident and strong. They will not be compromisers, they will be committed and reliable...when the storm comes against them...they will not be moved. It doesn't say that they become stronger because they are good people, and it doesn't say that God will supernaturally give them strength. I believe that both are probably true though. It would make sense to me that someone who is a giver, a person who lifts others up, would in turn grow strong from the effort. It also makes sense to me that this person would be sensitive to God's voice and understand the working of the Holy Spirit in such a way that they would know how to be still and allow God to be their strength in tough times.
This reminds me of white water rafting. I've only been on one rafting trip and it was so much fun! The guide who steers the raft down the river, runs through the dangers, and disclaimers before you start out so you are made aware of what can happen and what to do about it. The current of course is very powerful and if you fall out of the boat it is easy to become frantic and react to the water. Where the water actually "falls" the current sort of rotates and holds you in one place. If you flail about and kick frantically you will drown, but if you curl up, holding your knees to your chest, and hold still the current will bounce you out of the water like a ball. Likewise, when I try to remove myself from circumstances by kicking and screaming, I'm only holding myself under the circumstances longer...but if I curl up in a fetal position...ya know that whole "like a child" thing, the power of the current will draw me out of the water where I am safe and free. True freedom comes from submission, not to the circumstances (or the water as it were) but to the Creator (the powerful current). He moves us, He carries us, and the cool thing is, He can use the high water to do it. Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." All things. Mmmm...that's good stuff.
Psalm 15:5 "He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved"
First of all I had to look up what "usury" meant. I have read this a million times and had some idea what it meant but wasn't sure. It basically means to lend money at a high rate of interest that would cause someone to be indebted to you beyond their ability to repay. This verse is especially referring to the case of a relative or close friend.
I love the statement..."shall never be moved." The whole chapter leads up to this with qualifications of honesty, righteousness, justice, love and defense of others. I guess to sum it up you could say that a person who thinks of others more highly than him/herself will be stable, assured, confident and strong. They will not be compromisers, they will be committed and reliable...when the storm comes against them...they will not be moved. It doesn't say that they become stronger because they are good people, and it doesn't say that God will supernaturally give them strength. I believe that both are probably true though. It would make sense to me that someone who is a giver, a person who lifts others up, would in turn grow strong from the effort. It also makes sense to me that this person would be sensitive to God's voice and understand the working of the Holy Spirit in such a way that they would know how to be still and allow God to be their strength in tough times.
This reminds me of white water rafting. I've only been on one rafting trip and it was so much fun! The guide who steers the raft down the river, runs through the dangers, and disclaimers before you start out so you are made aware of what can happen and what to do about it. The current of course is very powerful and if you fall out of the boat it is easy to become frantic and react to the water. Where the water actually "falls" the current sort of rotates and holds you in one place. If you flail about and kick frantically you will drown, but if you curl up, holding your knees to your chest, and hold still the current will bounce you out of the water like a ball. Likewise, when I try to remove myself from circumstances by kicking and screaming, I'm only holding myself under the circumstances longer...but if I curl up in a fetal position...ya know that whole "like a child" thing, the power of the current will draw me out of the water where I am safe and free. True freedom comes from submission, not to the circumstances (or the water as it were) but to the Creator (the powerful current). He moves us, He carries us, and the cool thing is, He can use the high water to do it. Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." All things. Mmmm...that's good stuff.
Friday, January 14, 2005
Delivered From Fear
Today's Reading: Daniel 10, Psalm 14 & 34
Psalm 34:1-4 "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (3) O Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. (4) I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
I was just talking yesterday to my friend Tisra about this and other scriptures like it. Mom used to try to get us to put music to scriptures so that we would be able to memorize them better. This was one that we used to sing a lot. I don't know if it was one my mom and aunt put music to, or if it was something everyone sang. I'm sure I could find out, but I love this scripture and I'm glad it plays in my head from time to time. Yesterday I was praying and felt the truth of verse 4 so perfectly. I felt like I was right there in the lap of my father, telling him what a great Dad he is and then just resting as He melted away all the questions, worries and doubts that come to unsettle me. The rest of the day, it was as if He just granted me peace whenever I had a concern. Owen was sick and I wasn't sure what I should give him or if I needed to take him to a doctor. As soon as I asked for help...the phone rang and I got my answer. He just wanted me to feel safe, because I am safe. "I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears." I think it's so great that this verse doesn't say He delivered me from all my enemies or all my pain...it's fear that is our worst enemy. It's fear that drags us through the pits of depression and the horrors of bitterness and unforgiveness. Fear is the root of so many emotional issues, revenge, rebellion, hate...they are all fear in the form of self righteousness. How much time do I waste on these things...self-pity is the one I deal with most...poor, poor, me.
Verse 5 of the same chapter "They looked unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed."
that's the answer. Look unto Him. Lightened? I'm tempted to look up what that is in the original text. That could mean so many things...maybe it means all of them. They were freed of their burden, glowed from the joy of His presence and felt light as a feather. And their faces were not ashamed. I wonder how much more often people would look each other in the eye and smile if they looked unto Him? Wouldn't our world be different if our faces were not ashamed? Honesty and peace would be prevelant and we wouldn't question the motives of those around us. Wow, I like that little world.
Verse 8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
Psalm 34:1-4 "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (2) My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. (3) O Magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. (4) I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
I was just talking yesterday to my friend Tisra about this and other scriptures like it. Mom used to try to get us to put music to scriptures so that we would be able to memorize them better. This was one that we used to sing a lot. I don't know if it was one my mom and aunt put music to, or if it was something everyone sang. I'm sure I could find out, but I love this scripture and I'm glad it plays in my head from time to time. Yesterday I was praying and felt the truth of verse 4 so perfectly. I felt like I was right there in the lap of my father, telling him what a great Dad he is and then just resting as He melted away all the questions, worries and doubts that come to unsettle me. The rest of the day, it was as if He just granted me peace whenever I had a concern. Owen was sick and I wasn't sure what I should give him or if I needed to take him to a doctor. As soon as I asked for help...the phone rang and I got my answer. He just wanted me to feel safe, because I am safe. "I sought the Lord and he heard me and delivered me from all my fears." I think it's so great that this verse doesn't say He delivered me from all my enemies or all my pain...it's fear that is our worst enemy. It's fear that drags us through the pits of depression and the horrors of bitterness and unforgiveness. Fear is the root of so many emotional issues, revenge, rebellion, hate...they are all fear in the form of self righteousness. How much time do I waste on these things...self-pity is the one I deal with most...poor, poor, me.
Shine
Shine down on me Jesus
I want to see what you see around me
How many tears have I wasted on circumstance?
How many moments were stolen by fear; what's it worth?
In the palm of your hand
Help me to stand
Shine down on me
Verse 5 of the same chapter "They looked unto him, and were lightened; and their faces were not ashamed."
that's the answer. Look unto Him. Lightened? I'm tempted to look up what that is in the original text. That could mean so many things...maybe it means all of them. They were freed of their burden, glowed from the joy of His presence and felt light as a feather. And their faces were not ashamed. I wonder how much more often people would look each other in the eye and smile if they looked unto Him? Wouldn't our world be different if our faces were not ashamed? Honesty and peace would be prevelant and we wouldn't question the motives of those around us. Wow, I like that little world.
Verse 8 "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him."
Thursday, January 13, 2005
Kris' Birthday
Today is Kris' birthday. He's 29 today. I can't believe it. Just yesterday he was 28.
Reading Today: Daniel Chapter 8 & 9, Psalms Chapters 13, 43, 73, 103 & 133, Proverbs Chapter 13.
Psalm 13:5&6 "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (6) I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
I love this verse, or verses as it were. Trust, mercy, rejoicing...salvation begets many a positive responce. My favorite part though is in verse 6. "he hath dealt bountifully with me.
He has! What a blessing to know the source of the bounty I live under. Last night I prayed for the choir. Pastor Dan asked me to come down and grab the mic to lift up the multiple requests that were given. I was very honored and felt very nervous all at the same time. I nearly started crying. As I prayed I asked God to give us a new faith, and praised Him for His protection, emphasizing the fact that the devil cannot touch us. That nothing bad can happen to us. As I mulled over this later, sort of wondering what people thought of that last part, I realized that though bad things do happen all around us and even "at" us...when we are under the blood of Christ they cannot happen too us! We choose to be hurt, if we are Christians. We choose to be discouraged, put down or shamed. We are more than conquerors and the only thing that can change that is our ever present free will to accept the lie. I had a tubal pregnancy...Satan sought to kill (literally) steal (my joy and future) and destroy (my confidence, my hope, and my ability to bear children). This was a bad thing...but it never touched me. I am protected, I am under the shadow of the Almighty. "he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 90:1) Jesus said that He came to give us LIFE. Life in Christ is more than just breathing...it is bountiful, abundant living, that exceeds temporal circumstances. I had a tubal pregnancy, but I am not limited by what my flesh experiences. I now "live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." This is all because "I am crucified with Christ." (Gal. 2:20) When the Psalmist wrote that God had dealt bountifully with him...how little did he know of the coming sacrifice that would far exceed the bounty he spoke of then. In temporal blessings alone...I am far from deserving what God has given, but in spiritual blessings. I am a worm in a Rolex...I have all the honor of the one who died for me.
Psalm 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
Psalm 73:25&26 "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
Psalm 103:1-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; (5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Wow...He's a good God!
It is a good day...I'm so full of love for God right now and I don't want it to let up. I need to pray and just lay it all before my creator and tell Him how glad I am that I am His.
Reading Today: Daniel Chapter 8 & 9, Psalms Chapters 13, 43, 73, 103 & 133, Proverbs Chapter 13.
Psalm 13:5&6 "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (6) I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."
I love this verse, or verses as it were. Trust, mercy, rejoicing...salvation begets many a positive responce. My favorite part though is in verse 6. "he hath dealt bountifully with me.
He has! What a blessing to know the source of the bounty I live under. Last night I prayed for the choir. Pastor Dan asked me to come down and grab the mic to lift up the multiple requests that were given. I was very honored and felt very nervous all at the same time. I nearly started crying. As I prayed I asked God to give us a new faith, and praised Him for His protection, emphasizing the fact that the devil cannot touch us. That nothing bad can happen to us. As I mulled over this later, sort of wondering what people thought of that last part, I realized that though bad things do happen all around us and even "at" us...when we are under the blood of Christ they cannot happen too us! We choose to be hurt, if we are Christians. We choose to be discouraged, put down or shamed. We are more than conquerors and the only thing that can change that is our ever present free will to accept the lie. I had a tubal pregnancy...Satan sought to kill (literally) steal (my joy and future) and destroy (my confidence, my hope, and my ability to bear children). This was a bad thing...but it never touched me. I am protected, I am under the shadow of the Almighty. "he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 90:1) Jesus said that He came to give us LIFE. Life in Christ is more than just breathing...it is bountiful, abundant living, that exceeds temporal circumstances. I had a tubal pregnancy, but I am not limited by what my flesh experiences. I now "live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." This is all because "I am crucified with Christ." (Gal. 2:20) When the Psalmist wrote that God had dealt bountifully with him...how little did he know of the coming sacrifice that would far exceed the bounty he spoke of then. In temporal blessings alone...I am far from deserving what God has given, but in spiritual blessings. I am a worm in a Rolex...I have all the honor of the one who died for me.
Psalm 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
Psalm 73:25&26 "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
Psalm 103:1-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; (5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Wow...He's a good God!
It is a good day...I'm so full of love for God right now and I don't want it to let up. I need to pray and just lay it all before my creator and tell Him how glad I am that I am His.
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