| Tuesday, September 9, 2008 |
| Inability |
One thing that speaks to me now is the fact that we can do nothing without Christ. It's a simple concept but it astounds me how we can so easily forget that when we want to do our own thing. We quit following God and His Word, we do our own thing, and for a while things are going good. Then things turn sour and we become fearful of and worried and anxious over everything. We put ourselves through so much misery when if we would repent and turn back to what we KNOW God is telling us and trust Him, we wouldn't have so much to worry about. Yet still we keep trying to do things in our own strength. Practical ideas in the world's eyes, but useless when you're doing it all in your own strength. We don't realize that things are just going to get worse and worse because God's trying to get our attention and say, "Hey! Remember me? Yeah, remember what I told you back then, and yesterday, oh, and remember what I said in my Word about doing things in your own strength? All right, you can try that, but it's not going to work, oh, see? If you would only come back to Me and trust Me, all of this can be worked out." It never ceases to amaze me how patient God is with us humans. We keep trying, and keep trying, and keep plodding on as our world falls apart around us and yet we still ignore Him. How tragic. Satan is working hard, ky'all. Keep your eyes continually focused on God. This song posted below is an incredible song that reminds me of my inability to do things on my own.
"In Me"
by Casting Crowns
If you ask me to leap
Out of my boat on the crashing waves
If You ask me to go
Preach to the lost world that Jesus saves
I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong
Chorus
Cause when I'm weak,
You make me strong
When I'm blind,
You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your truth,
and I'll fight with Your strength
Until You bring the victory,
by the power of Christ in me
If You ask me to run
And carry Your light into foreign land
If You ask me to fight
Deliver Your people from Satan's hand
I'll go, but I cannot go alone
Cause I know I'm nothing on my own
But the power of Christ in me makes me strong
Makes me strong
Repeat Chorus
To reach out with Your hands
To learn through Your eyes
To love with the love of a savior
To feel with Your heart
And to think with Your mind
I'd give my last breath for Your glory
Cause when I'm weak,
You make me strong
When I'm blind,
You shine Your light on me
Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
Repeat Chorus
The power of Christ in me,
The power of Christ in me,
The power of Christ in me.Labels: anxiousness, Casting Crowns, fearfulness, helpless |
Slid down the rainbow at 8:49 PM  |
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| Monday, September 8, 2008 |
| Beautiful Christian Sister |
I got this from my mom and I really liked what it said.
BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER
by Maya Angelou
'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.' When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not shouting 'I'm clean livin'' I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.' When I say... 'I am a Christian' I don't speak of this with pride. I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not trying to be strong. I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on. When I say.. 'I am a Christian' I'm not bragging of success. I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible but, God believes I am worth it. When I say... 'I am a Christian' I still feel the sting of pain..I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.When I say... 'I am a Christian' I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow! Praise the name of Jesus Christ!Labels: Beautiful Christian sister, Christian living, God's grace, holy living |
| Slid down the rainbow at 2:35 PM |
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| Saturday, September 6, 2008 |
| Meditating day and night |
Tonight our stove wasn't working so I was cooking meat in a rather interesting little contraption that wasn't cooking very fast at all. So while I stood there waiting for it to heat I started to read one of my books from the library. At one point the character was speaking of God's Word and meditating on it day and night and it kind of reminded me of my lack of reading the Bible every morning. I was so good at it for two years. Then EXCEL happened. I still read it every morning like I was supposed to. But afterwards, when I went home, it was as if everything BEFORE EXCEL had left me. I couldn't remember to do it. I struggled with it off and on for months until about August and then I was starting to get back into it. For whatever reason I went for three months doing it pretty well and then slacked off more. It went off and on until STEP when I did really good and was faithful at my devotions, even BEFORE my leader required us all to do it in the same room with her since some were having difficulties remembering to do their quiet time. It was frustrating me because I felt like my devotions was a personal thing that was being violated by a "one-disobeys-and-all-get-punished" sort of democracy. Now it's September, STEP ended the end of June, and I find myself lacking in discipline to read the Word every morning. Having to get up early enough to read the Bible and then get dressed in time to get to work in time every morning became so difficult that I was flaky at best. I'm not proud of myself. Every time I get to reading the Word I find myself asking God's forgiveness for my slackfulness. Too, there's the fact that I've read the Bible through in year and then since in those two years I read every New Testament book from Romans to Jude like six times. I wasn't interested in going through the genealogy and repetitious stories with conflicting stories found in Matthew through John, and Acts was a bunch of history that I simply wasn't interested in reading six times. I was looking for God to speak to me through Paul's letters and Peter's but had read them so many times that I felt like I couldn't get anything else from it. I felt like I was stalling in my walk with God, anyway, I wasn't going anywhere. I hadn't enough time to read more than three chapters at a time and I felt like I was cheating God anyway by reading so little. One saved as long as I have been and raised in the church I've been priviliged to be raised in should be reading books a day! But time... About three weeks ago I laid in my sister's bed (which is underneath mine) and rememorized part of Psalm 119 and I was able to do some more this week, but not to the extent that I would like to say I have. When at EXCEL I made it to verse 128 but now I can hardly get to verse 32! So here I was cooking supper and reading this fictional book. When I read this portion of meditating day and night, I put the book down and found my Bible. I started in Psalm 1 and I read through chapter 5 amidst interruptions and intermissions. But I feel like the Lord spoke to me even still. So I'm going to type out the chapters here.
Psalm 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Now, I want to know why the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment. I guess I had this picture that the judgment seat was where all went, ungoldy and godly alike, and it was publicly determined (God already knew, in other words, it was just revealed to others) who was covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ and who wasn't, but now that I think about it, if you're an unbeliever, you go straight to hell. The judgment seat...that's a study for another time. Remind me later.
The first verse, though, speaks a lot! How careful we must be that we not associate ourselves closely with unbelievers. Here in Psalm 1:1 and in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" First the Bible talks of how we will be blessed if we do not walk with nonbelievers and the other one just tells us not to.
Psalm 2
Why do the heathen rage, and th epeople imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled bu ta little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalm 3
Lord, how are they increased that trouble me! many are they that rise up against me.
Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter of mine head.
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.
I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that set themselves against me round about.
Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
Salvation belongeth unto the Lord: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.
So often in the midst of trials and "persecutions", satan tries to get you to believe that God isn't there, that He's not watching, He's not listening to my prayers, He doesn't care. But the Lord IS my shield and He is faithful to uplift and encourage me in the hardest of times.
Psalm 4
Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.
O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.
But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.
Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
There be many that say, Who will shew us any good: Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.
Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.
Psalm 5
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.
My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.
For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.
Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name b joyful in thee.
For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.
Well, that's all I have time for now. I hope this has touched you in some way. |
| Slid down the rainbow at 5:44 PM |
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| Friday, September 5, 2008 |
| Does Anybody Hear Her? |
The title of this post is the title of a song sung by Casting Crowns. Wow. It's a powerful song.
"She is yearning for shelter and affection that she never found at home. She is searching for a hero to ride in and save the day...in walks her prince charming...he knows just what to say. Momentary lapse of reason and she gives herself away."
I don't by any means condone Christian and non-christian girls, alike, for running of with a boyfriend on "dreams" of marriage or even going so far as to get yourself pregnant out of wedlock. But it kind of reflects on what the home life is like, if you stop and think about it. One potential might be quiet and withdrawn while another may argue and buck their parents' decisions. Parents are probably frustrated with them either way. One might seem completely obedient for the most part, a "good kid", not a threat to anyone or anything. But all it takes is for rifts between parents, a parent not walking with the Lord, pressure being brought down on that girl's head for long periods of time that they feel like they can't breathe under the hand squeezing them. Desperation for someone to understand what they're going through might lead to feelings being shared with a "friend". When that "friend" responds positively to their emotional needs, the girl is then emotionally engaged and shares more and more. Her emotional attachment to that "friend" leads her to believe she's in love with him. He loves her. Love is all they need, right? Parents may not like the friend, but she doesn't care. She might see him openly or even secretly. Then one day, the day "he's" been patiently waiting for, she snaps and agrees to run off with him. Parents are devastated. One day down the road, be it a couple days or a couple years, he runs off and leaves her, maybe even pregnant, and she's devastated. Instead of turning to the Lord to fill her empty void, she turned to a man, a human, and once again she has an empty space in her life (an empty space that was always there that she tried to fill with him and for the most part was able to convince herself she had filled it) that she either fills with other worldly pleasures, another man, or finally admits to herself that God is the only one Who can fill that void. But the heart's already been broken, the mistake has already been made, and it takes a lot to repair a broken heart, and the mistake may not be fixable. Then there's the struggle to forgive herself for making that mistake. If she got pregnant, and heaven forbid she didn't make the second mistake of aborting the life she conceived in sin, then she has to live with that mistake and yet not see the child himself/herself as a mistake. The action was the mistake, the sin, but the child could not have made the choice for her and therefore the child is not to be blamed. She must learn to accept God's forgiveness for her sin as well as forgive herself. I think that once she has made the choice to turn from her sin to the Father, the hardest part afterwards is learning to forgive herself. I've never made that mistake, by the way, but I'm just saying. To have to forgive yourself for making that mistake has got to be the hardest decision to make aside from the initial decision to repent. And then there's the attempt to reconcile with their family. Coming home with a child and no husband can cause a lot more heartbreak from judgmental family members. It's awkward at first, and it might even be awkward for the rest of the child's life. If aunt's talk about the girl and her child to their children and then in playdates the cousins speak unkindly of the child, it can be very heart rending for the child. Not that I would know from personal experience, but you just...just know! The child didn't make that choice and they might take it as hate and rejection from others when they are poorly spoken of and gossiped about. Anyway, that's all I have for today.Labels: broken hearts, mistakes |
| Slid down the rainbow at 8:43 PM |
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| Where To? |
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| Posts of Note |
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| Verse of the Week |
- "Let us therefore
come boldly unto the
throne of grace,
that we may obtain
mercy, and find
grace to help in
time of need."
Hebrews 4:16
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