Like stop signs on a roadway, some words in Scriptures invite us to pause and ponder, to stop and give our minds to deeper contemplation. Words like, all and every and always. Words like, nothing and never. These words are expansive or extreme. Totally inclusive or exclusive.
This practice can be very helpful in looking afresh at well-known passages. When I come upon them, I let the red light flash in my mind and I stop reading so I can consider carefully what is being said.
Do I praise God with all my heart, or just parts of it? If he really will never leave me or forsake me, then I can be comforted when I feel alone. Do I really worship no other gods, or are there a few I hide in my tent?
Others for meditation:
"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NASB)
"Every day I will bless You, And I will praise Your name forever and ever." Psalm 145:2 (NASB)
"always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;" Ephesians 5:20 (NASB)
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6 (NASB)
"The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail." Lamentations 3:22 (NASB)
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Spirit sorrow
"But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit." Isaiah 63:10
Our rebellion doesn't make the Holy Spirit mad. It makes Him sad. The compassion-heart of God responds to our self-determination and independence not with anger, but with the sorrow that comes with loss.
Our rebellion doesn't make the Holy Spirit mad. It makes Him sad. The compassion-heart of God responds to our self-determination and independence not with anger, but with the sorrow that comes with loss.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Obscurity
I was asked to give devotions for a missions recruitment event. I felt very honored to be asked. To be honest, I felt very important to be asked. When I arrived, the organizer was not there, but his assistant greeted me with a hurried, "Oh, you must be the devotional speaker. We'll be ready in a few minutes," and dashed off to take care of some other duty. When it was time for me to speak, the assistant introduced me by saying, "Our director arranged for this speaker, please welcome her." There I stood, nameless and obscure, feeling no longer honored or important. Just a filled block on a schedule.
Sometime later I received a note from a participant in the event. "What you said had a deep impact on me. It has changed how I listen to God's word and apply it to my life. Thank you." As I read this I recalled how I had felt as I stood before the group -- obscure (the condition of being unimportant or unknown). Yet God's word had been delivered in power and accomplished its work.
"Meanwhile, be content with obscurity like Christ" Colossians 3:4c (MSG)
Sometime later I received a note from a participant in the event. "What you said had a deep impact on me. It has changed how I listen to God's word and apply it to my life. Thank you." As I read this I recalled how I had felt as I stood before the group -- obscure (the condition of being unimportant or unknown). Yet God's word had been delivered in power and accomplished its work.
"Meanwhile, be content with obscurity like Christ" Colossians 3:4c (MSG)
Monday, January 2, 2012
Random #7
Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3
Jesus came to our world as a little child.
Makes sense that we need to become little children to enter his.
Jesus came to our world as a little child.
Makes sense that we need to become little children to enter his.
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