Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates correction is stupid.
There is a phrase I've heard a lot lately. It may not be a very nice phrase, but it fits perfectly with today's verse. The phrase has many variations, but in general it sounds something like this, "AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!! Stupid people irritate me!!"
Sometimes I find that *I* am the stupid person. I don't like to be told I'm wrong. I don't like to be disciplined because I have to admit I didn't get it right. Now, before you go looking at me in that tone of voice, you have to admit there are very few people in the world who *do* like to be corrected and/or disciplined...even you, probably. However, even though we may not like it, we need to learn to accept it. Correction...Discipline...they help us to become more of the person God has created us to be. When the correction is in line with the Word of God we have no wiggle room. We either conform to the Word of God and live a long life or we choose to avoid the way of God and suffer the consequences. The options are clear and easy...the choice? Not so much at times. But always worth it.
Today, as you go through your motions of living life pay attention to how you react to what people have to say to you. It may not be your issue that is causing the problem, but before you assume it's not ask God if it is. Then be willing to listen and fertilize knowledge. Listen and grow wise. You'll be glad you did.
Go with God...
Monday, June 22, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Psalm 4:1
Psalm 4
Evening Prayer of Trust in God.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!..."
It seems so....well, expectant, doesn't it? Maybe it's the "Mom voice" in my head that makes it sound so stern, but reading it and hearing it that way stopped me and made think about that very idea. It *is* expectant...it *is* desperate...and it is exactly how many of us have felt at times. We cry out and wonder if He even hears us. We pray because we know we can't get through it on our own and we feel like we need to say it so He knows just how desperately we need Him and His strength.
I re-read that first sentence with the entire verse and couldn't help but think that sometimes we use the "Mom voice" and we're so overwhelmed and think we're walking through it alone that we get stern and say it like, "*ANSWER ME* when I call...O God of my RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!" (are You there? YOU know I'm innocent! ANSWER!!)
Other times it's more defeated and hopeful. Much like an exhausted Mom or Dad who is at the end of one of "those" days with the kids and we wonder if what we're doing makes any difference whatsoever. It sounds like this (inserts mine, obviously), "*sigh* annnnsweerrrr me when I call. Ohhhhhhhhh, Lord of my righteousness *sigh* " (I really have to ask You to answer me? You declare me innocent and know the number of hairs on my head...You're going to answer, right?)
Maybe it's more desperate. In the midst of the news, the school involvements, the sports and the politics, the church duties and ministries, we cry out to the One Person we know truly knows us..."Answer me when I call, O GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS!" (There's so much...people defile my name when they don't know who I really am, but YOU...YOU know me and declare me righteous. Answer me....please answer me.)
Whichever one it is doesn't really matter.But the rest of the verse brings it all to the thing that does. "You have relieved me in my distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer." Isn't it beautiful? Saying, "You've been faithful to me and relieved this stress before. Do it again, God. Realize my love for You ~ my faithfulness in knowing You are who You say You are ~ and hear my heart cry out to You in the midst of all." We don't have to convince Him to hear us. He does already. But to be so transparent and personal with the very God who intimately holds us together is simply beautiful.
What are you wanting Him to hear today? What is it that you desperately, or exhaustingly, need Him to carry you through? He will...and He's listening...cry out.
Evening Prayer of Trust in God.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.
1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
"Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!..."
It seems so....well, expectant, doesn't it? Maybe it's the "Mom voice" in my head that makes it sound so stern, but reading it and hearing it that way stopped me and made think about that very idea. It *is* expectant...it *is* desperate...and it is exactly how many of us have felt at times. We cry out and wonder if He even hears us. We pray because we know we can't get through it on our own and we feel like we need to say it so He knows just how desperately we need Him and His strength.
I re-read that first sentence with the entire verse and couldn't help but think that sometimes we use the "Mom voice" and we're so overwhelmed and think we're walking through it alone that we get stern and say it like, "*ANSWER ME* when I call...O God of my RIGHTEOUSNESS!!!" (are You there? YOU know I'm innocent! ANSWER!!)
Other times it's more defeated and hopeful. Much like an exhausted Mom or Dad who is at the end of one of "those" days with the kids and we wonder if what we're doing makes any difference whatsoever. It sounds like this (inserts mine, obviously), "*sigh* annnnsweerrrr me when I call. Ohhhhhhhhh, Lord of my righteousness *sigh* " (I really have to ask You to answer me? You declare me innocent and know the number of hairs on my head...You're going to answer, right?)
Maybe it's more desperate. In the midst of the news, the school involvements, the sports and the politics, the church duties and ministries, we cry out to the One Person we know truly knows us..."Answer me when I call, O GOD OF MY RIGHTEOUSNESS!" (There's so much...people defile my name when they don't know who I really am, but YOU...YOU know me and declare me righteous. Answer me....please answer me.)
Whichever one it is doesn't really matter.But the rest of the verse brings it all to the thing that does. "You have relieved me in my distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer." Isn't it beautiful? Saying, "You've been faithful to me and relieved this stress before. Do it again, God. Realize my love for You ~ my faithfulness in knowing You are who You say You are ~ and hear my heart cry out to You in the midst of all." We don't have to convince Him to hear us. He does already. But to be so transparent and personal with the very God who intimately holds us together is simply beautiful.
What are you wanting Him to hear today? What is it that you desperately, or exhaustingly, need Him to carry you through? He will...and He's listening...cry out.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Jonah 3:10, 4:11
When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened....Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
Because God changed His mind and granted mercy to the people of Ninevah (whom He had sent Jonah to inform He was going to destroy because of their wickedness), Jonah got mad at God. Isn't this just like us? We want justice, and when repentance is real we still want "justice." We can accept an apology as long as the consequences are still appropriate, but when we're called to accept the apology and see blessing in place of discipline we get upset and, like Jonah, pout. Maybe it's that you know the life's history of someone who seems to be blessed now and you don't understand. Maybe the consequences of someone's sin didn't end up like you thought they would (or should?). Who knows why we pout when God doesn't do what we think He should...but shouldn't we suck in our lower lips and instead be thankful that God doesn't deal with us as we deserve, either?
Because God changed His mind and granted mercy to the people of Ninevah (whom He had sent Jonah to inform He was going to destroy because of their wickedness), Jonah got mad at God. Isn't this just like us? We want justice, and when repentance is real we still want "justice." We can accept an apology as long as the consequences are still appropriate, but when we're called to accept the apology and see blessing in place of discipline we get upset and, like Jonah, pout. Maybe it's that you know the life's history of someone who seems to be blessed now and you don't understand. Maybe the consequences of someone's sin didn't end up like you thought they would (or should?). Who knows why we pout when God doesn't do what we think He should...but shouldn't we suck in our lower lips and instead be thankful that God doesn't deal with us as we deserve, either?
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