I apologize to any of you who read this who are wanting a regular refreshing from the Word of God. I admit to a very busy life, but a convicted heart knowing I need to be spending more time in the Word. Martin Luther once said, "I have so much to do today, I must spend three hours in prayer." I often sense that urging, but admit failure in following through. I started this blog as a sort of "accountability partner" to keep me in the Word. Not that I need to do it for others ~ I need it most of all, trust me! Without my time with the Author of Life my life is WAAAAAY off track. However, knowing others are being refreshed, spoken to and encouraged in their walk through what I write is a motivator to keep this up. So, with trepidation I make this request, "If you read this, and are blessed and/or challenged by it, will you let me know? I believe our relationship with God is inward-changing so we can be more outward-focused in our service to others. Guilt can be a great motivator, and knowing there are those who read this and are blessed by it would be a nudge on my heart day to day. Thank you!
So, with that said, it is with this heart I write today's devotional. I pray you are blessed by what you read here.
Exodus 33:12-14
12 One day Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Take these people up to the Promised Land.’ But you haven’t told me whom you will send with me. You have told me, ‘I know you by name, and I look favorably on you.’ 13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
Isn't this an insight into leadership? Moses thinks he surely can't lead the people alone, "God? Aren't you going to send someone more, um, leader-like to help me here?" It's easy to think this way, "if you're really calling me, show me what I'm supposed to do so I can continue to be called." (then, under his breath almost, "I don't want to mess this up and lose your favor...these are YOUR people!")
God's beautiful reply is one we can grasp on to and walk forward confidently resting on our ears, "I will personally go with you....." What amazing grace!! To know the very Creator of the Universe, the One who calls us to serve, to share, to invest in those around us goes with us personally. What have we to fear, then? If God is for us...if God walks with us...if we are seeking HIM with all our heart, with all our strength, with all our might...what have we to fear? Really, what's the worse that could happen? As Paul said, if we are killed for our faith...if we lose it all and end up dead...we have truly gained because we are HOME.
Are you walking confidently today knowing you do not walk alone?
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Philippians 1:6
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6 NLT
6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NASB
What a promise! To know we are on a journey with God to a place of absolute freedom and fulfillment is the spur many of us need to "keep on keepin' on." If God has called you to fill a role you never expected; if God has shown you He wants you to make a change requiring more discipline and focus than you have ever been able to give; if you are seeing a need for more simplicity and less chaos...no matter what road we are on we can live in confidence knowing it is leading us to completion. Each day He will work in us to bring us to that beautiful place where we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Take the time today to consult your journey's GPS ~ God Positioning System. It is when we seek Him with all we are that we are able to be all we can be.
God bless you today ~ LIVE OUT LOUD!!
PS: bonus! On a side "note" read this article on what Japan has done to some of it's stretches of roads: "http://inventorspot.com/articles/melody_road_gives_whole_new_mean_8235" I can't help but think of the many times God has brought a song of praise or surrender or whatever to my mouth as I walk with Him! Japan ain't got nothin' on God!! LOL!
Philippians 1:6 NLT
6For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NASB
What a promise! To know we are on a journey with God to a place of absolute freedom and fulfillment is the spur many of us need to "keep on keepin' on." If God has called you to fill a role you never expected; if God has shown you He wants you to make a change requiring more discipline and focus than you have ever been able to give; if you are seeing a need for more simplicity and less chaos...no matter what road we are on we can live in confidence knowing it is leading us to completion. Each day He will work in us to bring us to that beautiful place where we will hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."
Take the time today to consult your journey's GPS ~ God Positioning System. It is when we seek Him with all we are that we are able to be all we can be.
God bless you today ~ LIVE OUT LOUD!!
PS: bonus! On a side "note" read this article on what Japan has done to some of it's stretches of roads: "http://inventorspot.com/articles/melody_road_gives_whole_new_mean_8235" I can't help but think of the many times God has brought a song of praise or surrender or whatever to my mouth as I walk with Him! Japan ain't got nothin' on God!! LOL!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Jeremiah 17: 9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”- Jeremiah 17:9-10
The God of the Bible ~ the One who created all things and holds all things together ~ He sees us as no one else can. In fact, He sees us even as we ourselves cannot. He sees us for who we really are. This can be a scary reality for some. Those who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior but live lives in opposition to His Word don't like to hear it. Those who don't know God personally and are looking for reasons not to approach the possibility can use this as a reason to stay away for fear of condemnation. Even those who profess Christ as Lord and Savior and strive to live according to His Word but are struggling with a secret sin want to gloss over this passage and/or point out it is from the Old Testament and therefore no longer necessary to apply to their lives since they now live under grace.
No matter who it is who is reading it, the verse is truth. The beauty is knowing we can approach the throne of grace with confidence in repentance and desire for a clean heart. Realizing the Jesus we interact with is the very One who didn't belittle the woman at the well but spoke truth and grace to her allows us to come out of hiding and live freely before Him. It also allows us...no, demands that we...live in love. Our actions ~ the ways we treat others, the ways we talk, the ways we do business, etc ~ those are what reflect our true hearts.
Ask God to show you (in His amazingly tender way) who you are. Allow yourself to be cleansed from the inside out and live in obedience to Him. Then, live in a way that allows others to, as well. People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. God cares...deeply, passionately, for each of us. If you are saying your life is devoted to Him, are you showing others how much you care or how much you know? What will your reward be?
The God of the Bible ~ the One who created all things and holds all things together ~ He sees us as no one else can. In fact, He sees us even as we ourselves cannot. He sees us for who we really are. This can be a scary reality for some. Those who profess Christ as their Lord and Savior but live lives in opposition to His Word don't like to hear it. Those who don't know God personally and are looking for reasons not to approach the possibility can use this as a reason to stay away for fear of condemnation. Even those who profess Christ as Lord and Savior and strive to live according to His Word but are struggling with a secret sin want to gloss over this passage and/or point out it is from the Old Testament and therefore no longer necessary to apply to their lives since they now live under grace.
No matter who it is who is reading it, the verse is truth. The beauty is knowing we can approach the throne of grace with confidence in repentance and desire for a clean heart. Realizing the Jesus we interact with is the very One who didn't belittle the woman at the well but spoke truth and grace to her allows us to come out of hiding and live freely before Him. It also allows us...no, demands that we...live in love. Our actions ~ the ways we treat others, the ways we talk, the ways we do business, etc ~ those are what reflect our true hearts.
Ask God to show you (in His amazingly tender way) who you are. Allow yourself to be cleansed from the inside out and live in obedience to Him. Then, live in a way that allows others to, as well. People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care. God cares...deeply, passionately, for each of us. If you are saying your life is devoted to Him, are you showing others how much you care or how much you know? What will your reward be?
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