I feel a fresh understanding of something I often considered, but needed to be challenged in, wash over.
Forgiving others as we are forgiven.
I believe wholeheartedly that this is not a command given to us by God as a "suggestion" to help us gain peace.
To those who have been given much, much is expected.
Consider others better than yourself.
Love one another.
Turn the other cheek.
This is what sets us apart from unbelievers.
Our love and our willingness to forgive.
Our willingness to do unto others as we would have them do, regardless of what they have done.
But do we really do this?
Do we take the the ugly criminal of a grudge, fueled by self righteousness, and do we battle it head on, not relenting till it is completely defeated?
Or do we beat it till we grow tired and then brush it under the carpet, it is weak for a time, but grows stronger, yet out of sight, subtly.
Do we put others before ourselves when it conveniences us?
Or perhaps when we are faced with our own sin and desire a quick feeling of restitution that soothes our wounded spirit?
What if we were able to let go of all pretense, humble ourselves, and swallow our prides, and offer the cup of true forgiveness?
I struggle to know what that even looks like? It doesn't say "I forgive" yet harbor unspoken resentment. It doesn't "forget" the sin until something else happens and then it is remembered with fierce recollection.
Its to go to that person who rubs you the wrong way, who makes your life difficult, who is abrasive, obnoxious, smug. It is to take the basin of water and wrap your cloak around you and kneel and remove their sandals and wash their feet.
Oh, that I would know this level of humility. It feels like a discipline, a depth of holiness, that I am far from grasping. But I desire it, I know in my heart it is worthy of seeking.
Forgive, as you have been forgiven.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
If God Seems Far Away, Who Moved?
How great is our God?
How just is He?!
How merciful His hand in my life?!
Who am I that He is mindful of me?
I am but a human.
Nothing, apart from my Creator.
Yet He pours Himself out in me.
He knits my life's moments and experiences.
And sinful is my nature.
Except His nature is in me, so it is not.
How beyond my understanding are His ways?
Yet they are worked together for my gain.
Life is but a blip.
And my life is but a mist.
And my purpose is to glorify Him.
How shamefully I fail.
My prayer can only be for His presence to complete me.
Oh God, how you complete me!
I am a grain of sand, with You there is an endless desert of it.
I am a drop of water, with You there is an endless sea.
In my weakness, He is made strong!
And so, how strong He is made!
For my weakness is great, His strength is greater!
Be magnified, O Lord!
May the whole earth sing of Your praises!
May every breath grant You glory!
May every word utter of Your great love!
How just is He?!
How merciful His hand in my life?!
Who am I that He is mindful of me?
I am but a human.
Nothing, apart from my Creator.
Yet He pours Himself out in me.
He knits my life's moments and experiences.
And sinful is my nature.
Except His nature is in me, so it is not.
How beyond my understanding are His ways?
Yet they are worked together for my gain.
Life is but a blip.
And my life is but a mist.
And my purpose is to glorify Him.
How shamefully I fail.
My prayer can only be for His presence to complete me.
Oh God, how you complete me!
I am a grain of sand, with You there is an endless desert of it.
I am a drop of water, with You there is an endless sea.
In my weakness, He is made strong!
And so, how strong He is made!
For my weakness is great, His strength is greater!
Be magnified, O Lord!
May the whole earth sing of Your praises!
May every breath grant You glory!
May every word utter of Your great love!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
That NONE Should Perish
"God has shown me that He doesn't think anyone is unclean or unfit" -Acts 10:28
The Lord has pointed out a common element as I've read through the gospels and Acts, and now Romans; along with points made in church, Bible study, in books I'm reading and what I've heard on the radio, and I love the way the Lord weaves His point through different threads in my life till it is permanently imprinted on my heart.
GOD LOVES EVERYONE.
Simple, in theory, to nod and to agree. But to claim of the most hateful people we can think of? ehhhh......
Its intrigued me the way that God unfolded His plan for all peoples through the disciples. How strange it must have been for them. Jews set apart as God's children is all they ever knew. They built their lives around this truth, as did their ancestors. They completely disassociated themselves from any other culture based on this truth. And now that was all changing.
Jesus eats with the tax collectors. He's chatting up samaritan women!
You can ALMOST empathize with the Pharisee's who's knickers were tied in knots over this. We don't handle change well, do we? We cling to what we know to be true with all our strength because that's where we are most comfortable. Of this I am shamefully guilty.
Post resurrection, its finally clicking with the disciples, this message of Jesus Christ, thanks in large part to the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are nodding in a collective, "oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh, THATS what He meant!" They are taking the Good News to the far ends of the earth! Paul made it His mission in life, once the Lord got hold of his soul, to reach out to the very people He was far too indignant to acknowledge in his pre-Demascus days!
Don't you love that our God is a God who shows NO partiality?! Who loves every sinner who ever lived and whoever will live?!
It sort of baffles me, the prejudice in Jesus' day. Those Jews, they really considered themselves superior. I mean, God had set them apart, but to not even acknowledge others because they were not Jewish? We circle back to that often. Sadly, racial prejudice, although not legal, still exists at catastrophic degrees in our very country today. And aren't we (generally speaking) a nation of snobs? We cast off others for every reason in the book!!
We ought to see others as Jesus does. We ought to embrace those who are different than us, not as right/wrong, but as uniquely designed by the Maker of Life! To that woman who has a rough, blunt personality. To that guy who insists on showing off all his possessions repeatedly. To that neighbor who relays the story of her husband's passing and her dog's various ailments every time you say hello. Oh, Lord, You love them all, just as You love me! Please let me not judge or condemn those who aren't "enough" like me. I pray I'll see them as You see them, dearly loved! Thank You, Jesus, that You did not come to earth to offer salvation to only the best of the best, for which I would never come close to qualifying. But You adore every single soul, and died on the cross for each and every person. Be glorified for your unwavering and relentless love, Lord! Amen.
The Lord has pointed out a common element as I've read through the gospels and Acts, and now Romans; along with points made in church, Bible study, in books I'm reading and what I've heard on the radio, and I love the way the Lord weaves His point through different threads in my life till it is permanently imprinted on my heart.
GOD LOVES EVERYONE.
Simple, in theory, to nod and to agree. But to claim of the most hateful people we can think of? ehhhh......
Its intrigued me the way that God unfolded His plan for all peoples through the disciples. How strange it must have been for them. Jews set apart as God's children is all they ever knew. They built their lives around this truth, as did their ancestors. They completely disassociated themselves from any other culture based on this truth. And now that was all changing.
Jesus eats with the tax collectors. He's chatting up samaritan women!
You can ALMOST empathize with the Pharisee's who's knickers were tied in knots over this. We don't handle change well, do we? We cling to what we know to be true with all our strength because that's where we are most comfortable. Of this I am shamefully guilty.
Post resurrection, its finally clicking with the disciples, this message of Jesus Christ, thanks in large part to the gift of the Holy Spirit. They are nodding in a collective, "oooooooohhhhhhhhhhh, THATS what He meant!" They are taking the Good News to the far ends of the earth! Paul made it His mission in life, once the Lord got hold of his soul, to reach out to the very people He was far too indignant to acknowledge in his pre-Demascus days!
Don't you love that our God is a God who shows NO partiality?! Who loves every sinner who ever lived and whoever will live?!
It sort of baffles me, the prejudice in Jesus' day. Those Jews, they really considered themselves superior. I mean, God had set them apart, but to not even acknowledge others because they were not Jewish? We circle back to that often. Sadly, racial prejudice, although not legal, still exists at catastrophic degrees in our very country today. And aren't we (generally speaking) a nation of snobs? We cast off others for every reason in the book!!
We ought to see others as Jesus does. We ought to embrace those who are different than us, not as right/wrong, but as uniquely designed by the Maker of Life! To that woman who has a rough, blunt personality. To that guy who insists on showing off all his possessions repeatedly. To that neighbor who relays the story of her husband's passing and her dog's various ailments every time you say hello. Oh, Lord, You love them all, just as You love me! Please let me not judge or condemn those who aren't "enough" like me. I pray I'll see them as You see them, dearly loved! Thank You, Jesus, that You did not come to earth to offer salvation to only the best of the best, for which I would never come close to qualifying. But You adore every single soul, and died on the cross for each and every person. Be glorified for your unwavering and relentless love, Lord! Amen.
Friday, May 6, 2011
The Prayers of My Heart
Lord, give me Your eyes so that I can see as you see. I want to to view others in the light of Your love and Your mercy. I want to cast off all the trappings of this world, the cultural views that poison the pure heart. In the most righteous and godly sense, I want to live my life with eternal perspective, I want my actions to reflect an eternally minded heart and soul. I don't want to wait till death to begin living fully for You. My eyes have scales, Lord. I recognize that my vision is impaired, my heart is still calloused. Break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me open arms and open doors.
Lord, I just want to honor You with my life. I can't figure out what that looks like on a daily basis, but I hope that each day, as I seek You, You will show me clearly. Help me to be busy, help me to be kind and forgiving. Help me to consider others better than myself. Help me to act in confidence of who I am as Your child. Thank You for loving me so dearly. Thank You for giving my life purpose. Thank You for the masterful and supernatural way You weave our lives together and guide us along the path of righteousness. May all glory be Yours forever and ever. In the precious and Holy Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Lord, I just want to honor You with my life. I can't figure out what that looks like on a daily basis, but I hope that each day, as I seek You, You will show me clearly. Help me to be busy, help me to be kind and forgiving. Help me to consider others better than myself. Help me to act in confidence of who I am as Your child. Thank You for loving me so dearly. Thank You for giving my life purpose. Thank You for the masterful and supernatural way You weave our lives together and guide us along the path of righteousness. May all glory be Yours forever and ever. In the precious and Holy Name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
One Thousand Gifts
I was recently wooed by an unexpected treasure in the bookstore. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp has revolutionized my thinking in what I believe is a beautiful and God-pleasing way. This book is beautifully and artfully written in a way that awakens all senses. However, the driving message between the covers is what has had the biggest impact on my life.
The challenge is to give thanks, in all circumstances. To swim against the current of lamenting, of focusing on our have-nots and woe-is-me's. And to count your blessings instead. I always considered myself one who is easily amused. I can stare at a sunset with complete infatuation. I relish the sounds of my children in the next room, chattering away. I could go on and on. But this practice of literally counting ways to thank our Father in heaven, to literally list them with pen on paper, it has me subconsciously seeking to find the treasures of blessings, gifts, that God has lavished on us each and everyday. And I'm hopelessly hooked. I find myself slowing down even more to take in my surroundings. And in this act of seeking, I have found no time for lamenting. Daydreaming of "what if's" and "if only's" has lost its hold on me.
Oh, how I wish this increasing joy for everyone. Please do not let me discount that this act is nothing if it is simply noticing nice things. It is acknowledging the Giver of these gifts, it is lifting up His name for all that He has bestowed to us, His created, THAT is the point. HE has given us so much. And HE deserves our eternal and total gratitude and worship. Praise the Lord, Oh my soul!!!
And so I am in the process of collecting my own list, 1000 gifts. I am currently on #68 and God is so good!
The challenge is to give thanks, in all circumstances. To swim against the current of lamenting, of focusing on our have-nots and woe-is-me's. And to count your blessings instead. I always considered myself one who is easily amused. I can stare at a sunset with complete infatuation. I relish the sounds of my children in the next room, chattering away. I could go on and on. But this practice of literally counting ways to thank our Father in heaven, to literally list them with pen on paper, it has me subconsciously seeking to find the treasures of blessings, gifts, that God has lavished on us each and everyday. And I'm hopelessly hooked. I find myself slowing down even more to take in my surroundings. And in this act of seeking, I have found no time for lamenting. Daydreaming of "what if's" and "if only's" has lost its hold on me.
Oh, how I wish this increasing joy for everyone. Please do not let me discount that this act is nothing if it is simply noticing nice things. It is acknowledging the Giver of these gifts, it is lifting up His name for all that He has bestowed to us, His created, THAT is the point. HE has given us so much. And HE deserves our eternal and total gratitude and worship. Praise the Lord, Oh my soul!!!
And so I am in the process of collecting my own list, 1000 gifts. I am currently on #68 and God is so good!
Monday, February 28, 2011
And my heart cries out...
Holy. Holy. Holy.
...I consider things A LOT. I'm always in thought, but it occurs to me that as much as I contemplate, I seldom arrive at a conclusion... {-randomness}
I have, on my heart, a matter that weighs heavily. After this weekend's sermon about worrying, I have considered, "Am I worried about this? Or burdened?" But I believe, I am simply grieving this matter, while also enduring, and seeking to persevere through it. A loved one, who's thinking is SO 10,000 miles in the wrong direction that for some she might seem hopeless. But my God is THE God of hope!
While I am not convinced that I am worrying over this matter (I do believe the Lord is in control) I might be a tad anxious as to how to act, how to show love without enabling poor choices.
In the past I would agonize, but right now I am determined to take it to Scripture. And thanks to this weekend's sermon, I am armed with Philippians 4:6-7 fresh on my mind, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." And so I pray. Asking for wisdom and discernment. Thankful for the truths I know that God hears my prayers, answers them, provides me according to His glorious riches. And I surrender my anxiety. :)
Several days ago, the Lord put Psalm 23 on my heart. This is a passage of scripture that is ofte
n quoted, memorized by children, etc. But I don't think I've ever taken the time to hide it in my own heart. So I felt prompted to commit it to memory, and since then, I've had reasons to claim it daily.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads my beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Praise God! Amen!
And today, God drew me to another bit of Scripture, Psalm 94:18,19 "When I said,'my foot is slipping,' Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.'"
And so, through all of this, how can I not do anything but rejoice. Though my heart at times feels heavy, never am I without help, His yoke to help me carry it. And not only that, but to know that it is not without purpose, a good purpose, one that even benefits me, which sounds selfish in a way, but more than that, to me, it shows evidence that the Lord is alive and active in my own life :) and so I can faithfully say, with God by my side right now, that "I consider it pure joy to face [these trials] because I know the testing of my faith develops perseverence." James 1:2
I pray this peace for everyone! Its so marvelous!!! :)
...I consider things A LOT. I'm always in thought, but it occurs to me that as much as I contemplate, I seldom arrive at a conclusion... {-randomness}
I have, on my heart, a matter that weighs heavily. After this weekend's sermon about worrying, I have considered, "Am I worried about this? Or burdened?" But I believe, I am simply grieving this matter, while also enduring, and seeking to persevere through it. A loved one, who's thinking is SO 10,000 miles in the wrong direction that for some she might seem hopeless. But my God is THE God of hope!
While I am not convinced that I am worrying over this matter (I do believe the Lord is in control) I might be a tad anxious as to how to act, how to show love without enabling poor choices.
In the past I would agonize, but right now I am determined to take it to Scripture. And thanks to this weekend's sermon, I am armed with Philippians 4:6-7 fresh on my mind, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." And so I pray. Asking for wisdom and discernment. Thankful for the truths I know that God hears my prayers, answers them, provides me according to His glorious riches. And I surrender my anxiety. :)
Several days ago, the Lord put Psalm 23 on my heart. This is a passage of scripture that is ofte
n quoted, memorized by children, etc. But I don't think I've ever taken the time to hide it in my own heart. So I felt prompted to commit it to memory, and since then, I've had reasons to claim it daily.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want; He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads my beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies. You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Praise God! Amen!
And today, God drew me to another bit of Scripture, Psalm 94:18,19 "When I said,'my foot is slipping,' Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought joy to my soul.'"
And so, through all of this, how can I not do anything but rejoice. Though my heart at times feels heavy, never am I without help, His yoke to help me carry it. And not only that, but to know that it is not without purpose, a good purpose, one that even benefits me, which sounds selfish in a way, but more than that, to me, it shows evidence that the Lord is alive and active in my own life :) and so I can faithfully say, with God by my side right now, that "I consider it pure joy to face [these trials] because I know the testing of my faith develops perseverence." James 1:2
I pray this peace for everyone! Its so marvelous!!! :)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
We Never Go Into Battle Alone
This morning I read from the Max Lucado book, "Six Hours One Friday." Lucado, ever the masterful storyteller, paints this picture of sin's earthly debut:
"It came camouflaged. It came in a golden cup with a long stem. It was in the flavor of fruit. It came not in the hands of the king, but the hands of a prince-the prince of shadows. Until this moment there had been no reason to hide in the Garden. The King walked with his children and the children new their King. There were no secrets. There were no shadows.
Then the prince of shadows entered the Garden. He had to hide himself. He was too ugly, too repulsive. Craters marred his face. So he came in darkness. He came encircled in ebony. He was completely hidden; only hi voice could be heard.
'Taste it,' he whispered, holding the goblet before her. 'It's sweet with wisdom.'
The daughter heard the voice and turned. She was intrigued. Her eyes had never seen a shadow. There was something tantalizing about his hiddenness.
The King watched. His army knew the prince of shadows would be no contest for their mighty legion. Eagerly they awaited the command to attack.
But no command was given.
'The choice is hers,' the King instructed. 'If she turns to us for help, that is your command to deliver her. If she doesn't turn, if she doesn't look to Me-don't. The choice is hers.'"
...I will leave the rest of the story for you to read yourself, but the point I want to emphasize is at the end, when the zooms out of that scene in the garden, and focuses on the heavenly realms. There is, most definitely, an unseen army that stands at the ready to intercede and go to battle for us against the evil that tries to overcome us. How seldom we employ this 'legion.'
"...the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 1 Corinthians 10:3-4
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
All we need to do is turn to Him in our hour of struggle. Just say the word, and our Lord is swift to come to our rescue.
"No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Next time you hear the hissing voice of the shadow, be slow to react. Don't take another step before you seek the discernement of the Lord, no matter how sweet and fruitful the fragrance is of what's being offered. And do not forget, His great and powerful army stands ready, mounted on their horses, swords drawn, all you need to do is say the words, "Lord, help me" and you will be saved. How it could have saved Eve! But always, the choice is yours...
"It came camouflaged. It came in a golden cup with a long stem. It was in the flavor of fruit. It came not in the hands of the king, but the hands of a prince-the prince of shadows. Until this moment there had been no reason to hide in the Garden. The King walked with his children and the children new their King. There were no secrets. There were no shadows.
Then the prince of shadows entered the Garden. He had to hide himself. He was too ugly, too repulsive. Craters marred his face. So he came in darkness. He came encircled in ebony. He was completely hidden; only hi voice could be heard.
'Taste it,' he whispered, holding the goblet before her. 'It's sweet with wisdom.'
The daughter heard the voice and turned. She was intrigued. Her eyes had never seen a shadow. There was something tantalizing about his hiddenness.
The King watched. His army knew the prince of shadows would be no contest for their mighty legion. Eagerly they awaited the command to attack.
But no command was given.
'The choice is hers,' the King instructed. 'If she turns to us for help, that is your command to deliver her. If she doesn't turn, if she doesn't look to Me-don't. The choice is hers.'"
...I will leave the rest of the story for you to read yourself, but the point I want to emphasize is at the end, when the zooms out of that scene in the garden, and focuses on the heavenly realms. There is, most definitely, an unseen army that stands at the ready to intercede and go to battle for us against the evil that tries to overcome us. How seldom we employ this 'legion.'
"...the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." 1 John 4:4
"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." 1 Corinthians 10:3-4
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12
All we need to do is turn to Him in our hour of struggle. Just say the word, and our Lord is swift to come to our rescue.
"No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13
Next time you hear the hissing voice of the shadow, be slow to react. Don't take another step before you seek the discernement of the Lord, no matter how sweet and fruitful the fragrance is of what's being offered. And do not forget, His great and powerful army stands ready, mounted on their horses, swords drawn, all you need to do is say the words, "Lord, help me" and you will be saved. How it could have saved Eve! But always, the choice is yours...
Friday, August 20, 2010
8.15.10 Francis Chan Sermon
I really have a great respect for Francis Chan, author of "Crazy Love" and "Forgotten God." He was, up until recently, the pastor of a church out in California and a lot of his convictions, his interpretations of Scripture fall right into line with mine, so I've been listening to some older sermons of his a couple times a week for the past month or so. Anyways, this one below is pretty good. The first 15 minutes is "announcements" of sorts to the church, so you can skip over that if you want. The question he poses that I find really thought-provoking is, "If you started with the Bible, would you do church the same way?"
Towards the end of the sermon, I like how Francis Chan lists off Scripture of what God has called us to do/be as a church. Rather than just write down what he said, I decided to do a word search of my own and look through the references to make sure I wasn't stretching the passage to fit the topic. So below is a list of instructions for believer's in how we should treat/respond to/live with 'one another.' I think its really good to go down through and say them outloud and mentally consider if we are obedient to God in these.
"Be at peace with one another"
"Wash one anothers feet"
"Love one another"
"Be devoted to one another"
"Give preference to one another in honor"
"Live in harmony with one anohter"
"Be of the same mind with one another"
"Accept one another"
"Admonish one another with love"
"Greet one another with a holy kiss"
"Stop depriving one another"
"Wait for one another"
"Care for one another"
"Serve one another"
"Not challenging or envying one another"
"Restore one another in a spirit of gentleness"
"Bear one another's burdens"
"Show tolerance of one another"
"Be kind to one another"
"Forgive one another"
"Speak to one another with hymns and Spiritual songs"
"Submit to one another"
"Regard one another as more important than yourselves"
"Be truthful to one another"
"Comfort one another"
"Encourage one another"
"Seek after that which is good for one another"
"Not hating one another"
"Spur one another on toward love and good deeds"
"Not speaking against one another"
"Confess your sins to one another"
"Pray for one another"
"Be hospitable to one another"
"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another"
"Have fellowship with one another"
Towards the end of the sermon, I like how Francis Chan lists off Scripture of what God has called us to do/be as a church. Rather than just write down what he said, I decided to do a word search of my own and look through the references to make sure I wasn't stretching the passage to fit the topic. So below is a list of instructions for believer's in how we should treat/respond to/live with 'one another.' I think its really good to go down through and say them outloud and mentally consider if we are obedient to God in these.
"Be at peace with one another"
"Wash one anothers feet"
"Love one another"
"Be devoted to one another"
"Give preference to one another in honor"
"Live in harmony with one anohter"
"Be of the same mind with one another"
"Accept one another"
"Admonish one another with love"
"Greet one another with a holy kiss"
"Stop depriving one another"
"Wait for one another"
"Care for one another"
"Serve one another"
"Not challenging or envying one another"
"Restore one another in a spirit of gentleness"
"Bear one another's burdens"
"Show tolerance of one another"
"Be kind to one another"
"Forgive one another"
"Speak to one another with hymns and Spiritual songs"
"Submit to one another"
"Regard one another as more important than yourselves"
"Be truthful to one another"
"Comfort one another"
"Encourage one another"
"Seek after that which is good for one another"
"Not hating one another"
"Spur one another on toward love and good deeds"
"Not speaking against one another"
"Confess your sins to one another"
"Pray for one another"
"Be hospitable to one another"
"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another"
"Have fellowship with one another"
8.7.10 - Personal Reflection
It is an interesting thing to me when you live long enought to see connections in how God has allowed your life to be influenced. For instance, my desire to work with teenagers was birthed well before I ever was one myself. My tumultuous years as a teen has equipped me for this season of my life to work with them, empathize to some degree, and hopefully encourage and challenge them.
Likewise, my desire for God's Word was birthed well before I began my relationship with Him. As a nine year old I remember dusting off my father's old King James leatherbound Bible, starting "In the beginning" and usually not making it past "On the fifth day..." before giving up-but the desire was there. Our family didn't go to church or talk about God, but I knew it was an important book. Then as a 19 year old newlywed, I went back to Genesis 1:1 and prayed that God would excite me for His Word-and since then, those pages became like a gripping suspenseful page-turning novel in that I can't seem to get enough! I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to show me next! God is so faithful!!
I used to struggle quite a bit, and sometimes still do, over how the Lord convicts people differently in gray matters like alchohol, birth control, politics, etc. It would drive me crazy that other people weren't convicted like I am. As I write that the image pops up in my head of the lecture I am constantly giving my daughters when they want to tattle or boss one another, I say, "YOU worry about what YOU are doing!" Because the truth is we are each held accountable for our own actions. It is not for us to decide how one ought to be convicted. Now, there are definite wrongs and rights clearly discussed in God's Word, but for those gray areas-I have too much plank left in my own eye to get worked up about the sawdust in my neighbor's. Leave the convicting to the Holy Spirit.
That said, I am beginning to see definite connections throughout my life that lead me to believe God is calling me to live radically for Him. My convictions are deep. My interpretations of Scripture are such that I draw closer to Paul's proclamation "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." (Philippians 3:8). That is to say, "what else matters?" I remember being 20 years old, newlywed, with a baby and having every financial "complication" stacked against me. I remember feeling an odd sense of joy in my circumstances that with an empty wallet came a humility that would/could bond my little family and somewhat force us to rely on the Lord. Ha. And I remember getting that "she is crazy" look from others for this view. As years have passed I've watched "good fortune" fall on a lot of people around me. They accumulate toys and wealth, success, etc. and the temptation is to envy them. Now, I want to pause a moment and say that I KNOW that I am EXTREMELY blessed, living on means that would be categorized under "ridiculously filthy rich" to most of the world. But in the context of middle-class America and the narrow-minded temptations we are challenged by to compare ourselves to other middle-classed Americans (which is just nonsense and foolishness), this is what we face. And in that, we would "seem" to be at a disadvantage. As years pass and the more I study Scripture, the more thankful I become that so much wasn't handed to me freely without having to work for it. Knowing my personality and prone to pridefulness, I tend to believe I would not respond well to it. What humility I have is because things have not gone my way. After all, "God does not tempt you beyond what you can bare..." I doubt I am strong enought to win the lottery and do right by it. haha. But seriously, the more I seek God, the less appeal the trappings of this world have on me and I'm so thankful for it!!! Pursuing such things always left me empty! Pursuing God-now there's a promise that delivers!!
So instead of constantly fighting my convictions I am learning to embrace them. I believe God will continue to refine me in this way, and I believe, by doing so, make me a little more Christ-like. :)
Likewise, my desire for God's Word was birthed well before I began my relationship with Him. As a nine year old I remember dusting off my father's old King James leatherbound Bible, starting "In the beginning" and usually not making it past "On the fifth day..." before giving up-but the desire was there. Our family didn't go to church or talk about God, but I knew it was an important book. Then as a 19 year old newlywed, I went back to Genesis 1:1 and prayed that God would excite me for His Word-and since then, those pages became like a gripping suspenseful page-turning novel in that I can't seem to get enough! I can't wait to see what the Lord is going to show me next! God is so faithful!!
I used to struggle quite a bit, and sometimes still do, over how the Lord convicts people differently in gray matters like alchohol, birth control, politics, etc. It would drive me crazy that other people weren't convicted like I am. As I write that the image pops up in my head of the lecture I am constantly giving my daughters when they want to tattle or boss one another, I say, "YOU worry about what YOU are doing!" Because the truth is we are each held accountable for our own actions. It is not for us to decide how one ought to be convicted. Now, there are definite wrongs and rights clearly discussed in God's Word, but for those gray areas-I have too much plank left in my own eye to get worked up about the sawdust in my neighbor's. Leave the convicting to the Holy Spirit.
That said, I am beginning to see definite connections throughout my life that lead me to believe God is calling me to live radically for Him. My convictions are deep. My interpretations of Scripture are such that I draw closer to Paul's proclamation "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." (Philippians 3:8). That is to say, "what else matters?" I remember being 20 years old, newlywed, with a baby and having every financial "complication" stacked against me. I remember feeling an odd sense of joy in my circumstances that with an empty wallet came a humility that would/could bond my little family and somewhat force us to rely on the Lord. Ha. And I remember getting that "she is crazy" look from others for this view. As years have passed I've watched "good fortune" fall on a lot of people around me. They accumulate toys and wealth, success, etc. and the temptation is to envy them. Now, I want to pause a moment and say that I KNOW that I am EXTREMELY blessed, living on means that would be categorized under "ridiculously filthy rich" to most of the world. But in the context of middle-class America and the narrow-minded temptations we are challenged by to compare ourselves to other middle-classed Americans (which is just nonsense and foolishness), this is what we face. And in that, we would "seem" to be at a disadvantage. As years pass and the more I study Scripture, the more thankful I become that so much wasn't handed to me freely without having to work for it. Knowing my personality and prone to pridefulness, I tend to believe I would not respond well to it. What humility I have is because things have not gone my way. After all, "God does not tempt you beyond what you can bare..." I doubt I am strong enought to win the lottery and do right by it. haha. But seriously, the more I seek God, the less appeal the trappings of this world have on me and I'm so thankful for it!!! Pursuing such things always left me empty! Pursuing God-now there's a promise that delivers!!
So instead of constantly fighting my convictions I am learning to embrace them. I believe God will continue to refine me in this way, and I believe, by doing so, make me a little more Christ-like. :)
8.4.10 Acts 9:1-19
Saul's life and conversion to Christianity was so substantial! Saul was known for being zealous and a 'Pharisee of pharisees.' I tend to beleive that he and many others truly believed what they were condemning. They thought they were defending the truth from false teachers, but were in fact cruxifying God Himself and persecuting His followers. I've got to believe nobody in their right mind would believe Jesus was/is who He says He was/is would still put Him to death. I do imagine, however, some of the religious leaders had doubts. Perhaps their pride kept them from voicing their wonderings. Perhaps they would quickly snuff out their convictions as soon as they rose. I have been guilty of that all too often. Then, in pride, we turn our defenses all the way up instead of considering that we may be wrong-we get angry. At others.
Maybe that was Saul. Or maybe Saul never doubted his beliefs. Whatever the case, he was going to great lengths to persecute those who followed "the Way." And then "the Way" got in his way! Jesus, Himself, meets Saul on the side of the road, confronts him, blinds him, and sets him straight about who he's really hurting. Knowing, somewhat, of how the rest of Saul's life goes, I find it intriguing! Sometimes God uses other people in our life to reveal His Truth. Sometimes He uses circumstances to get our attention. This time Jesus comes down from heaven! And oh! Doesn't God love irony!! He turns the guy who was determiend to stop the spread of Christianity, and taps him to extend His grace to the Gentiles!!! He takes the persecutor and so changes his heart that 'Saul' would go on to willing become the 'persecutED'! Never say never with the Almighty-I can vouch for that!
Maybe that was Saul. Or maybe Saul never doubted his beliefs. Whatever the case, he was going to great lengths to persecute those who followed "the Way." And then "the Way" got in his way! Jesus, Himself, meets Saul on the side of the road, confronts him, blinds him, and sets him straight about who he's really hurting. Knowing, somewhat, of how the rest of Saul's life goes, I find it intriguing! Sometimes God uses other people in our life to reveal His Truth. Sometimes He uses circumstances to get our attention. This time Jesus comes down from heaven! And oh! Doesn't God love irony!! He turns the guy who was determiend to stop the spread of Christianity, and taps him to extend His grace to the Gentiles!!! He takes the persecutor and so changes his heart that 'Saul' would go on to willing become the 'persecutED'! Never say never with the Almighty-I can vouch for that!
7.29.10 Acts 6:1-15
Stephen was such a man of God! The disciples chose him to oversee some internal problems rising in the early church-along with six other people. But none of the other guys had the favorable description as Stephen did: "a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit."(v.5) Then in verse 8: "Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power..." and as he performed miracles and got some opposition, the Bible says, "they could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke." Wow! And here's the icing on the cake: "All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel." (v.15)!! That the light of Christ would shine through someone so intently!!! How proud of him God must have been! This is my prayer-that I would walk so closely with my Savior that others would see it clearly in me before I've even said a word!
"While we may think of a balanced Christian life as an insipid life of moderation in everything we do, a biblically balanced life is a radical life, where we follow a revolutionary Lord in everything we do." -The ACTS NIV Application Commentary
"While we may think of a balanced Christian life as an insipid life of moderation in everything we do, a biblically balanced life is a radical life, where we follow a revolutionary Lord in everything we do." -The ACTS NIV Application Commentary
7.24.10 Acts 4:23-31
This passage is called "The Believer's Prayer" and I love it!!!!
So here are Peter and John, just returned from being jailed for telling others about Jesus. They return home on fire!!!!! How empowering it can be when we take a stand for Jesus Christ! I imagine they were excited and animated as they "reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." (v.23) I also imagine that the crowd eagerly took it all in! And what was their reaction? To get mad? To sit around and gripe, gossip, and protest? Did they give in to fear and beeline out of the Sanhedrin? Nope! They prayed! Together! Automatically!! It was their 1st response! And my favorite part was what they prayed :) It wasn't for safety-they didn't say "Lord, keep us from harm's way!" No, instead they claimed God's sovereignty and prayed for boldness. They didn't hesitate, they prayed for more work to do in Christ's name :)
I just love their unity, "they raised their voices together in prayer to God." (v.24) And the Lord was swift to answer their prayers- v.31 says, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God, boldly." Uh oh! :) Not what the priests and elders were hoping for! I can just imagine them dismissing Peter and John and reassuring themselves, "Maybe this whole situation will just disappear quietly." Haha. No. God is so good!
So here are Peter and John, just returned from being jailed for telling others about Jesus. They return home on fire!!!!! How empowering it can be when we take a stand for Jesus Christ! I imagine they were excited and animated as they "reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them." (v.23) I also imagine that the crowd eagerly took it all in! And what was their reaction? To get mad? To sit around and gripe, gossip, and protest? Did they give in to fear and beeline out of the Sanhedrin? Nope! They prayed! Together! Automatically!! It was their 1st response! And my favorite part was what they prayed :) It wasn't for safety-they didn't say "Lord, keep us from harm's way!" No, instead they claimed God's sovereignty and prayed for boldness. They didn't hesitate, they prayed for more work to do in Christ's name :)
I just love their unity, "they raised their voices together in prayer to God." (v.24) And the Lord was swift to answer their prayers- v.31 says, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God, boldly." Uh oh! :) Not what the priests and elders were hoping for! I can just imagine them dismissing Peter and John and reassuring themselves, "Maybe this whole situation will just disappear quietly." Haha. No. God is so good!
7.22.10 Acts 4:1-22
I can relate so much to the apostle Peter! Here he was, one of the inner three, had been one of Jesus' closest companions for three years, and he still managed to mess up big time (denying Jesus)! Still, the Lord saw something in Peter He liked. God still chose Peter to be the rock upon which He built the first church. Peter was a leader among the disciples. Yeah, he messed up, but then he'd pick himself up and press on! I also wonder if Jesus chose Peter because of his willingness to be taught. In my experience with scripture God does not tend to seek out a "pulled together" or strong spirit, but seeks a willing one. Someone who will humbly allow God to change him into the likeness of Christ. That is what I strive to be.
V.13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
-That I would spend so much time with Jesus that it would confuse onlookers that a self-proclaimed "epitemy of unnoticeable averageness" would boldly and courageously live and speak the Truth of Christ!!!
V.13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized they were unschooled ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
-That I would spend so much time with Jesus that it would confuse onlookers that a self-proclaimed "epitemy of unnoticeable averageness" would boldly and courageously live and speak the Truth of Christ!!!
7.21.10 A Sweet Affirmation from the Lord
The past few entries have been small excerpts from my journal, and not complete thoughts, and todays will be from my journal too. I want to share a sweet answer to prayer that God recently blessed me with. The funny thing is, I'm posting this a month later, when I am once again wrestling some of these same thoughts, so to read God's response to me again, ministers to me again as it did last month.
So. The first part is my prayer to God:
"Lord, I knkow you have given me a heart fro ministry. In fact, I think back to high school years when I would day dream about reaching my peers for Christ and how I would gladly spend my days doing volunteer work if I could survive off of it. Making a difference has always been important to me. I also know, Lord, that my own stubborn foolishness has set me back in this, but I still believe this is what I am meant to do. This past year has been evidence of that. Lord, it hardly makes sense though. Ministry is full of imperfect people, I know that, but I don't know of any who have made as monumental mistakes as I have.........Still, I know you delight in busting stereotypes, so my hope is still fully intact. But how, Lord? I have no formal education, I don't have the support of my family.....Lord, how???"
And God's response to me was in my reading of Acts. Verse 3:16 says, "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man who you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."
-Wow! What an immediate response to my prayer-and a loving one from my Father! Now it is up to me to claim that promise! Just as Peter was restored, I am as well! God saw fit to use him, and so I must believe that he is still able and willing to use me too! Praise God! Peter goes on to say, "I know that you acted in ignorance...repent then and turn to God." I love v. 24 too, "Indeed, all of the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." - It's a wonderful reminder that God is not just shooting from the hip, He has had this planned since before time, and over thousands of eyars He has been preparing His people for this! Then Jesus arrives, but that is not the end of it. He is still putting things into practice for the big finale, "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything." (v.21) - and even then, once it is restored we have a limitless eternity with our heavenly Father!
So. The first part is my prayer to God:
"Lord, I knkow you have given me a heart fro ministry. In fact, I think back to high school years when I would day dream about reaching my peers for Christ and how I would gladly spend my days doing volunteer work if I could survive off of it. Making a difference has always been important to me. I also know, Lord, that my own stubborn foolishness has set me back in this, but I still believe this is what I am meant to do. This past year has been evidence of that. Lord, it hardly makes sense though. Ministry is full of imperfect people, I know that, but I don't know of any who have made as monumental mistakes as I have.........Still, I know you delight in busting stereotypes, so my hope is still fully intact. But how, Lord? I have no formal education, I don't have the support of my family.....Lord, how???"
And God's response to me was in my reading of Acts. Verse 3:16 says, "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man who you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see."
-Wow! What an immediate response to my prayer-and a loving one from my Father! Now it is up to me to claim that promise! Just as Peter was restored, I am as well! God saw fit to use him, and so I must believe that he is still able and willing to use me too! Praise God! Peter goes on to say, "I know that you acted in ignorance...repent then and turn to God." I love v. 24 too, "Indeed, all of the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days." - It's a wonderful reminder that God is not just shooting from the hip, He has had this planned since before time, and over thousands of eyars He has been preparing His people for this! Then Jesus arrives, but that is not the end of it. He is still putting things into practice for the big finale, "He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything." (v.21) - and even then, once it is restored we have a limitless eternity with our heavenly Father!
Monday, August 2, 2010
7.20.10 Acts 2:42-47
I LOVE the Acts 2 church!! Here's the passage:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
How fantastic it would have been to be an apostle of Jesus Christ while He lived, then to be among the first to receive the Holy Spirit! What fire they must have had - speaking in tongues and healing the lame - what faith! It remind me of the book about Brother Yun in China and the many miracles he witnessed - which were coupled by such horrible persecution.
I love the Acts 2 church because I believe it is the ideal of what church ought to be. They shared everything - including joys and burdens; they devoted themselves to learning about God; they fellowshipped-building one another up-EVERYDAY!! Its a portrait of how God intended family to be!
"They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
How fantastic it would have been to be an apostle of Jesus Christ while He lived, then to be among the first to receive the Holy Spirit! What fire they must have had - speaking in tongues and healing the lame - what faith! It remind me of the book about Brother Yun in China and the many miracles he witnessed - which were coupled by such horrible persecution.
I love the Acts 2 church because I believe it is the ideal of what church ought to be. They shared everything - including joys and burdens; they devoted themselves to learning about God; they fellowshipped-building one another up-EVERYDAY!! Its a portrait of how God intended family to be!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
7.9.10 Acts 1:1-11
I love that Jesus did not merely make an appearance after His death, like a magician and in a cloud of smoke pronounce "Ta-Da!" Instead He revealed Himself in personal ways, because He is such a relational, loving God. And, as verse 3 says, He "gave many convincing proofs that He was alive." Its quite marvelous! He then spent over a month doing much of what He did in His three years of ministry prior to the cruxifiction> spending time with and teaching His followers. He must have really had their attention!! And it was not as though He died by a single gunshot. Nobody could argue, "maybe it was all a hoax" "it was just a flesh wound" "and besides did anybody REALLY see it?" No. His beatings, His humiliation, every step of that walk to Calvary was public and undeniable! And days later He sits with them again to break bread?!
The disciples, to me, were a bunch of average Joe's, with average smarts, average hang-ups, and average temperaments. They spent much of their time before Jesus death trying to make sense of what Jesus was telling them, through no fault of the Savior. I imagine them walking around after Jesus death in a mixture of grief and bewilderment thinking, "Well, that's not quite how I thought this Messiah-thing was going to pan out." And even after Jesus' resurrection, they were still stuck on matters that were irrelevent in the grand plan of the Almighty God (v.7&8). This is both encouraging because I get so frustrated w/ my own lack of understanding-but they'd witnessed it all first hand and still struggled - so I don't feel AS inadequate. But also discouraging a little too because they'd wintessed it first hand and still struggled- so do I stand a chance?!
Enter: The Holy Spirit!!! "With God, all things are possible." Pre-HS the disciples were knocking heads with doubt, denial, and discouragement. The Post-HS crew were STRONG, solid, super-leaders! BLAM! The TV monitor screen remains black until someone plugs it into a power source!
The disciples, to me, were a bunch of average Joe's, with average smarts, average hang-ups, and average temperaments. They spent much of their time before Jesus death trying to make sense of what Jesus was telling them, through no fault of the Savior. I imagine them walking around after Jesus death in a mixture of grief and bewilderment thinking, "Well, that's not quite how I thought this Messiah-thing was going to pan out." And even after Jesus' resurrection, they were still stuck on matters that were irrelevent in the grand plan of the Almighty God (v.7&8). This is both encouraging because I get so frustrated w/ my own lack of understanding-but they'd witnessed it all first hand and still struggled - so I don't feel AS inadequate. But also discouraging a little too because they'd wintessed it first hand and still struggled- so do I stand a chance?!
Enter: The Holy Spirit!!! "With God, all things are possible." Pre-HS the disciples were knocking heads with doubt, denial, and discouragement. The Post-HS crew were STRONG, solid, super-leaders! BLAM! The TV monitor screen remains black until someone plugs it into a power source!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
31 Days Of Prayer For Your Child
31 Days of Prayer for Your Child
1. Pray for your child’s parents, and their parenting. For the continual surrender of your child into God’s capable and just hands.
2. Pray for safety, securing protection from harm. Pray that they would use wisdom in uncertain situations. Pray for God’s presence and protection during times and in places where parents cannot control.
3. Pray that your child will feel loved and accepted. Pray that they would be affirmed. That they would be shown unconditional love often and that they would enjoy freedom from fear.
4. Pray for your child’s eternal future; pray that your child would know God, accept Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior if they haven’t already, and that they would pursue the Lord for the rest of their lives.
5. Pray that your child will resist rebellion and honor his/her mother and father, pray that they would maintain good family relationships
6. Pray that your child will attract godly friends and role models, pray for those people in your child’s life that have influence on them. Pray that they would be godly people, and that your child would have the boldness and courage to sever ties to anyone with negative influence on them
7. Pray that your child will develop a hunger for the things of God, that they would pursue Him with wild abandon, that they would feed that hunger with prayer and God’s Word at every opportunity, and hide His word in their hearts
8. Pray that your child will be the person God created him/her to be and not seek to be anyone else. Pray that they would have confidence in who they are in Christ, that they are capable, and that they would be kept from any shame
9. Pray that your child will follow the Truth and reject lies. Pray against their culture that seeks to devour them and keep them from God.
10. Pray that your child will enjoy a life of health and healing, pray that your child will have the motivation for proper body care, that they would not be given to gluttony, that they would honor their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit
11. Pray that your child will have instilled the desire to learn and grow as a person
12. Pray that your child will identify his/her God-given gifts and talents and use them to minister to others.
13. Pray for your child’s bedroom, home, that they would be and remain places of rest and safety for your child. Pray that they would be sanctuaries for your child.
14. Pray for your child’s school, that godly freedoms would be protected, that teachers and faculty would bless their lives and be sources of encouragement and guidance. Pray for their safety and security. Pray that their academics would challenge and stretch them in healthy ways.
15. Pray that your child will receive a sound mind and that he/she would use it! Pray for wisdom and discernment for your child. That they would pursue what is right and just and that they would stay alert.
16. Pray that your child will know the joy of the Lord. Pray that it would be their strength. Pray that they would know the peace that transcends all understanding.
17. Pray for the destruction of an inheritance of family bondage. Pray that the sins of his/her mother/father would not be passed on to them but that the cycle of sin would be broken
18. Pray that your child will avoid alcohol, drugs, and other addictions
19. Pray that your child will reject sexual immorality, pray that they would remain pure and undefiled, that they would have a godly view of sex and intimacy, pray that they themselves would be attracted to holiness and purity
20. Pray that your child will find the perfect mate for him/her, that they would not compromise, pray for that future spouse, wherever they are at right now.
21. Pray that your child will walk in repentance and live free of unforgiveness
22. Pray that God will break down any ungodly strongholds in his/her life
23. Pray that your child will continue to grow in Faith, that they would not lean on their own strengths or rely on other people but that they would lean on God, surrendering all things to Him, trust that God has prepared a future for him/her, and obey regardless of knowing what that future holds.
24. Pray that your child will be able and willing to communicate, to ask questions, to seek Truth, and to trust.
25. Pray that your child will be competent, willing, eager to good, and able to finish tasks big and small. That they would be responsible. “Whatever you do, do it all for the Lord.”
26. Pray for your child’s emotions. That they would be able to work through their feelings, to be wise against acting on emotions alone, and that they would be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
27. Pray that your child would use words wisely. To build others up, to speak Truth, and that they would hold a tight reign on their tongue. Pray that your child would speak life.
28. Pray that your child would be kept from jealousy. That they would not envy the world, that they would be content in all circumstances.
29. Pray for your child’s mind. That it would be kept pure. That they would be kept from images that would poison them. Pray that your child’s mind would be continuously exposed to that which would bring glory to God and keep them from guilt. Pray that whatever is noble, whatever is pure, trustworthy, acceptable, that they would think on these things.
30. Pray for perseverance for your child. That during the storms of life your child will hold tightly to the Truth and with the power of God that they lean on, will weather the ups and downs of life and come out the other end stronger and more firmly rooted.
31. Pray with thanksgiving for your child. Thank the Lord for the privilege of being his/her parent, for all the things about your child that are unique and amazing. Thank God for being the perfect role model of what a parent should be. Thank God for the special love that is unique between a parent and their child.
1. Pray for your child’s parents, and their parenting. For the continual surrender of your child into God’s capable and just hands.
2. Pray for safety, securing protection from harm. Pray that they would use wisdom in uncertain situations. Pray for God’s presence and protection during times and in places where parents cannot control.
3. Pray that your child will feel loved and accepted. Pray that they would be affirmed. That they would be shown unconditional love often and that they would enjoy freedom from fear.
4. Pray for your child’s eternal future; pray that your child would know God, accept Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior if they haven’t already, and that they would pursue the Lord for the rest of their lives.
5. Pray that your child will resist rebellion and honor his/her mother and father, pray that they would maintain good family relationships
6. Pray that your child will attract godly friends and role models, pray for those people in your child’s life that have influence on them. Pray that they would be godly people, and that your child would have the boldness and courage to sever ties to anyone with negative influence on them
7. Pray that your child will develop a hunger for the things of God, that they would pursue Him with wild abandon, that they would feed that hunger with prayer and God’s Word at every opportunity, and hide His word in their hearts
8. Pray that your child will be the person God created him/her to be and not seek to be anyone else. Pray that they would have confidence in who they are in Christ, that they are capable, and that they would be kept from any shame
9. Pray that your child will follow the Truth and reject lies. Pray against their culture that seeks to devour them and keep them from God.
10. Pray that your child will enjoy a life of health and healing, pray that your child will have the motivation for proper body care, that they would not be given to gluttony, that they would honor their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit
11. Pray that your child will have instilled the desire to learn and grow as a person
12. Pray that your child will identify his/her God-given gifts and talents and use them to minister to others.
13. Pray for your child’s bedroom, home, that they would be and remain places of rest and safety for your child. Pray that they would be sanctuaries for your child.
14. Pray for your child’s school, that godly freedoms would be protected, that teachers and faculty would bless their lives and be sources of encouragement and guidance. Pray for their safety and security. Pray that their academics would challenge and stretch them in healthy ways.
15. Pray that your child will receive a sound mind and that he/she would use it! Pray for wisdom and discernment for your child. That they would pursue what is right and just and that they would stay alert.
16. Pray that your child will know the joy of the Lord. Pray that it would be their strength. Pray that they would know the peace that transcends all understanding.
17. Pray for the destruction of an inheritance of family bondage. Pray that the sins of his/her mother/father would not be passed on to them but that the cycle of sin would be broken
18. Pray that your child will avoid alcohol, drugs, and other addictions
19. Pray that your child will reject sexual immorality, pray that they would remain pure and undefiled, that they would have a godly view of sex and intimacy, pray that they themselves would be attracted to holiness and purity
20. Pray that your child will find the perfect mate for him/her, that they would not compromise, pray for that future spouse, wherever they are at right now.
21. Pray that your child will walk in repentance and live free of unforgiveness
22. Pray that God will break down any ungodly strongholds in his/her life
23. Pray that your child will continue to grow in Faith, that they would not lean on their own strengths or rely on other people but that they would lean on God, surrendering all things to Him, trust that God has prepared a future for him/her, and obey regardless of knowing what that future holds.
24. Pray that your child will be able and willing to communicate, to ask questions, to seek Truth, and to trust.
25. Pray that your child will be competent, willing, eager to good, and able to finish tasks big and small. That they would be responsible. “Whatever you do, do it all for the Lord.”
26. Pray for your child’s emotions. That they would be able to work through their feelings, to be wise against acting on emotions alone, and that they would be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
27. Pray that your child would use words wisely. To build others up, to speak Truth, and that they would hold a tight reign on their tongue. Pray that your child would speak life.
28. Pray that your child would be kept from jealousy. That they would not envy the world, that they would be content in all circumstances.
29. Pray for your child’s mind. That it would be kept pure. That they would be kept from images that would poison them. Pray that your child’s mind would be continuously exposed to that which would bring glory to God and keep them from guilt. Pray that whatever is noble, whatever is pure, trustworthy, acceptable, that they would think on these things.
30. Pray for perseverance for your child. That during the storms of life your child will hold tightly to the Truth and with the power of God that they lean on, will weather the ups and downs of life and come out the other end stronger and more firmly rooted.
31. Pray with thanksgiving for your child. Thank the Lord for the privilege of being his/her parent, for all the things about your child that are unique and amazing. Thank God for being the perfect role model of what a parent should be. Thank God for the special love that is unique between a parent and their child.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Sin Barge
Today I heard for the first time about the great pacific garbage barge. Apparently, given the natural currents, much of the trash that is disposed of into the ocean collects around a certain place in the Pacific. Over time this has created a massive barge of garbage twice the size of Texas!! Can you imagine what that must look like? What it must smell like?
Now that reality is beyond disturbing, but what is more disturbing is this. We all have our own sin barge. Trash from our sins which we put "out of sight out of mind" instead of dealing with, does it really disappear? The answer is no. Just because you refuse to acknowledge it does not mean it is not there. It wreaks havoc on our lives- and it just plain reaks! Think about the sin in your life, in your past. Can you count how many times you have made a bad choice? Done what you knew to be wrong? Lied? Stolen? Cheated? Now you have this monstrous pile of wasted debris floating around your life. What was meant to be a beautiful sea of blessings and communion with God. What can you do with it? Can you fix every wrong? No way.
Thankfully, God made a way to handle the barge in our lives. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to live and die to take on our trash, our waste. He invites us to confess our sins to Him, cast all our cares onto Him. And then what? He washes us white as snow. What freedom! What a gift!
Now that reality is beyond disturbing, but what is more disturbing is this. We all have our own sin barge. Trash from our sins which we put "out of sight out of mind" instead of dealing with, does it really disappear? The answer is no. Just because you refuse to acknowledge it does not mean it is not there. It wreaks havoc on our lives- and it just plain reaks! Think about the sin in your life, in your past. Can you count how many times you have made a bad choice? Done what you knew to be wrong? Lied? Stolen? Cheated? Now you have this monstrous pile of wasted debris floating around your life. What was meant to be a beautiful sea of blessings and communion with God. What can you do with it? Can you fix every wrong? No way.
Thankfully, God made a way to handle the barge in our lives. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth to live and die to take on our trash, our waste. He invites us to confess our sins to Him, cast all our cares onto Him. And then what? He washes us white as snow. What freedom! What a gift!
Monday, November 23, 2009
11/23/09
Servanthood. It's on my mind and heart constantly lately. It's my brain's topic d'jour! Lots of us like to lead. Jesus said to lead, you must serve. I love this, but it can be easier said than done. People look at serving as something we do here and there. I praise God because I know it is meant to be more, it is meant to be a lifestyle. In my selfish pride, I have for a long time desired to be a leader. It is always high on the ranks when I take those spiritual gifts tests. Who wouldn't rather give an inspiring speech over cleaning up messes and not even getting noticed for it? Well, lately, I wouldn't. I am learning that when you serve God with humility and sincerity, surrendering your desire for recognition or personal gain, there is a blessing that is given from Him to you. It is something there's simply no words for. A joy that seeps deeper into your skin than any surface skimming accolades of your peers. God's joy. I smile just at the thought of it. It goes beyond the satisfaction of knowing you did a good thing.
How did this happen? I am not sure. But if I had to guess, at some point-out of love for and obedience to God-I determined to fill a need if I see one. Whether in front of others or in private, to go the extra mile. Now, there have been many times when my pride or selfishness has fought and won when I had an opportunity. But not giving up. I learned to stifle that urge to "show off" my work, in fact, I might go out of my way to hide that it was me doing it. Doing this repeatedly established a habit. That mysterious amazing joy I spoke of earlier definitely fueled that habit. Before I knew it, serving had become one of my most favorite things to do. If you ask me when i die, whether I would rather leave the legacy of being an influential leader or a humble servant, I would choose the latter. Better yet, I would rather not be remembered so much at all as God be glorified. Let my quotes be marked anonymous, but let them exalt the Name above all names!
How did this happen? I am not sure. But if I had to guess, at some point-out of love for and obedience to God-I determined to fill a need if I see one. Whether in front of others or in private, to go the extra mile. Now, there have been many times when my pride or selfishness has fought and won when I had an opportunity. But not giving up. I learned to stifle that urge to "show off" my work, in fact, I might go out of my way to hide that it was me doing it. Doing this repeatedly established a habit. That mysterious amazing joy I spoke of earlier definitely fueled that habit. Before I knew it, serving had become one of my most favorite things to do. If you ask me when i die, whether I would rather leave the legacy of being an influential leader or a humble servant, I would choose the latter. Better yet, I would rather not be remembered so much at all as God be glorified. Let my quotes be marked anonymous, but let them exalt the Name above all names!
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