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My Song

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:40:10 -0500

All of creation declares the glory of God:

1 Chronicles 16:33
“Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth.”

Ps 19:1
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

Ps 65:13
“The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.”

Ps 69:4
“Let heaven and earth praise Him, The seas and all that move in them.”

Ps 96:12
“let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy”

Ps 98:8
“Let the rivers clap their hands, Let the mountains sing together for joy

Is 44:23
“Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.”

Is 55:12
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Just as all creation praises its glorious maker, we were created to glorify the Lord. Each of us has been given a song to sing. Its melody, harmony and sometimes dissonance are revealed in the way we live our lives. We choose to let God’s glory shine or we silence His song as we become preoccupied with the demands of life.

Pretending

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:58:20 -0500

So many of us spend our lives pretending. Pretending everything is OK, pretending we’re happy, pretending life doesn’t hurt. But pretending isn’t really living. We hide in the shadows hoping no one will find out who we really are. God invites us to dance the dance of life with Him. Life can be one exciting and glorious adventure. (There will be pain and disappointment too – that’s just part of our fallen world.) The song Offering (Paul Baloche) includes this line: “There are no shadows in Your presence”. If we are going to really live our lives as God intends us to, we can’t hide in the shadows. We have to step out and dance with the King of the Universe.

Jerimiah 1:5 says “Before I formed you I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

This is God’s call to Jeremiah. I believe it is His call to each of His children. He may not have appointed us as prophets, but He knows us intimately and has set each of us apart for a purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

, Phillipians 2:15 “so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”

, Phillipians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God, give us the courage to let go of all the lies we have believed and move beyond our fears. Teach us to trust You and see ourselves as you see us. God teach us to dance instead of hiding in the shadows.

(In Do You Think I’m beautiful? Angela Thomas compares our walk with God to a dance. I highly recommend this book as well as her Bible study with the same title.)

Walking by Faith

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:38:16 -0400

Abraham’s journey with God was filled with times when he had to walk by faith. Only the eyes of faith could see that seemingly impossible things would come to pass in Abraham’s and Sarah’s lives. I can’t imagine having to leave home and family to follow God to an undisclosed land. He must have met much resistance from family and friends.
Not only did God promise Abraham land, but numerous descendants. Abraham and Sarah were already old. That must have seemed impossible, but Abraham chose to believe God when there was no human way for them to have a child. When they finally they had their precious son who restored laughter to their lives, God told Abraham to sacrifice him. Why would God give this child only to take him away? Without Isaac, how would the promise be fulfilled? Abraham trusted God, believing in Resurrection long before it had been seen.
Faith wasn’t dependent on anything Abraham had to offer, or on his limited human abilities. Faith depends only on how trustworthy the object of our faith is. God’s promises are always true – He is completely trustworthy and faithful. If we have enough faith, we will trust Him for everything. Because we have a God who is always faithful, we have no need to fear. This requires keeping our eyes on God and not our circumstances. My anxiety can be a thing of the past if I learn to walk by faith.
Whether or not Abraham believed God, God would have carried out His plan. God’s plan was very detailed and specific. He knew what was on the horizon even though Abraham couldn’t see what was to come. God revealed His plan to Abraham a little at a time, when the time was right. He has a detailed plan for my life too. And He will reveal His plan as I need to know the details. I can choose to trust and follow Him in faith and help bring His plan to pass, or I can walk by sight and fumble around in anxiety and insecurity hindering God’s plan. It is up to me.

Jeremy’s Egg

Sun, 5 Apr 2009 15:22:24 -0400

I first saw this touching story in Focus on the Family’s magazine years ago. The approach of Easter each year sends me looking for it again. It is the story of a teacher’s frustration with a special needs child and how he shows her that while he doesn’t seem to understand what she is teaching, he knows what is really important.

Read the story here:

http://www.sofinesjoyfulmoments.com/mstrstch/emptyegg.htm

God is with me

Fri, 1 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0400

From the mountaintop back to the desert. I thought everything would be different after our experiences last week. The girls are still angry at each other about everything and I am still reacting badly. I continue to pray for changed hearts and renewed minds.
In Joshua 23, I read this morning about the Israelites time in Egypt and then in the desert. In all the years Joseph was in Egypt, he knew that God was with him even though he didn’t understand God’s plan. In forty years of wandering in the desert with rebellious children Moses always trusted God to bring about His promises.
Right now it needs to be enough to know that God is here guiding even though I don’t understand. I need to run to Him when things are tough and lean on Him. I need to stay there until I feel reassured and ready for the next battle.
God’s promises are yes and amen in Jesus - whether or not it feels like it right now. He will bring about His purposes in our lives. I will just choose to believe that for now.

Reconciliation

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:20:59 -0400

I wouldn’t have missed this for anything! (I know, not what I said a few days ago.) God is here and He is moving with great power!
After two days of anxiety attacks, I finally relaxed and learned how to be alone. Solitude is something we don’t do well in this day and age. There are so many distractions that we must purpose to find a quiet place to be alone with God. Having it imposed on me was hard at first.
The Bible study I was leading was not going well. The girls just didn’t seem to connect with the material. I let God show me what to teach instead of doing the lessons as written and it went much better today.
We are seeing young men and women using their gifts to glorify God and are being blessed. Last night during worship God brought us all to our knees as Joel Goddard taught on confession and the power of James 5:16. The Bible study leaders have been receiving prayer requests for things that are strongholds in these young people’s lives and we had decided to have a location on campus for the girls to pray with a female leader after the service and one for the men. God in His wisdom sent a torrential downpour that kept us in the gym and focused on the business to be done.
Three nights ago, I wept as our fifteen year old told her sister to go away. The thirteen year old sat with me during worship fighting tears because she had no one to sit with. Last night I wept tears of joy (actually, I’m having troubling seeing through my tears to type even now) as they clung to each other seeking forgiveness. We have prayed for two years that the walls that were going up between them would be brought down. Especially in the last few months, bitterness, anger and resentment have grown so much that I have often wept as I sought God for reconciliation.
Have I mentioned, I almost didn’t come. This is something I have really wanted to do, but our thirteen year old didn’t want to come. Two weeks before camp I got a call from the director asking if I could fill the remaining dorm counselor/Bible study leader opening. (I had talked months before with someone associated with the camp who had passed on my name.) I told him I would have to be able to convince our daughter to go with me and I would call him back. She didn’t want to.
Ever have one of those times when God knocks you in the head and says you’re going about this the wrong way. That is what happened. I decided God wanted me at the camp and Jen could come with me or stay home. She came reluctantly. Because she came, my husband was able to be there too, as we witnessed the first step in healing our daughters’ relationship.

Trusting God

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:20:39 -0400

(or What in the World am I Doing Here?)

I’m sure this is where I am supposed to be. It sounded so good when I volunteered. Lead middle school Bible study at Youth Performing Arts Camp. No problem. God has been teaching me a lot lately and as much as I wanted to lead the Bible study, I looked forward to the time the kids would be in their tracks and I would have time to listen for God. I had heard from my daughters about the incredible worship times, and wanted to experience that too.

As so often happens, reality is so far removed from my imaginary camp experience. Why in the world did I think that this 40+ year old introvert with anxiety issues (who by the way hasn’t worked with youth in over 20 years) could come to a youth camp knowing almost no one and really enjoy myself? To make it even harder our 13 year old is only here because I am and is having separation and anxiety issues.

It is in the times we are willing to step outside of our comfort zones that God can best use us and change us. We talked about trusting God in small group last night. I need to live what I taught. As I tried to settle down to go to sleep last night, I questioned whether or not I really had heard God in this. Maybe I had just gotten caught up in my older girls’ excitement. I felt reassured that this is where I belong this week. God is big enough to calm my fears and my daughter’s. He will meet me where I am. I need to learn to step into new situations with confidence, knowing that I am just the person God made me. I need to trust that He will give me the words to say to the young ladies in my small group as well as in my care in the dorm. While so far this has not been the experience I had in mind, it is exactly what God had in mind. Trust and obey. Not always easy, but I’m glad I did.

I’m Beautiful (and so are you)

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:42:37 -0400

I am beautiful! God says it so it is true! I can’t always see it, but that doesn’t change the fact that He calls me beautiful. (So has my husband for 20 plus years, I just was never sure I believed him.) Why is it so hard to dig through the clutter and the voices in my head to see myself as God sees me and hear Him call me beautiful? Why am I more ready to believe the world and Satan than my heavenly Daddy who loves me more than I can imagine?
There are certainly days that I don’t see my beauty, but that doesn’t change it. When I’m feeling out of shape and unattractive - I’m still beautiful. When I’m tired and my eyes are sad and baggy - I’m still beautiful. When I’m disappointed in my husband and ugly towards him - I’m still beautiful. When I’m yelling at the kids - I’m still beautiful. When I feel like a failure - I’m still beautiful. When I’m lonely and feel like no one cares - I’m still beautiful.
There is no circumstance that can change the Truth. God says I’m beautiful - whether I believe it or not. What else does He say about me that I haven’t believed? What does He want to do with me that I’m not hearing because I am too busy feeling sorry for myself? How can I surround myself with beauty and be content with what God has given me?

(Do You Think I’m beautiful? by Angela Thomas explores the things that keep us from seeing ourselves as God does. I highly recommend it as well as her Bible study with the same title.)

My Purpose

Thu, 3 Jul 2008 10:36:18 -0400

Several weeks ago I cried out to God in desperation. Our children are becoming busy with their own interests and activities, and doing more to help me around the house. I am finding myself with time on my hands. I needed to know God’s purpose for my life, so I could find the best way to fill my days. God’s answer to my cry: “To glorify Me.” But how? God’s answer was “by giving my very best to the task at hand and to quit worrying about a year from now, a week from now, or even an hour from now.” So I will do the laundry, the grocery shopping, the cooking and cleaning, the planning and the homeschooling to the glory of God.
Imagine my joy and surprise when my devotions this morning were on this very thing. I am studying Taking Up Your Cross by Tricia McCary Rhodes and in the chapter on simplicity she answered my heart’s cry in a way I didn’t expect.
“The reason we don’t come to God when we’re busy, or tired, or
emotionally distraught is because we believe we come to give
instead of to get. We see quiet times as our Christian responsibility
and therefore we must do them when we are strong and in good
spiritual condition. But God doesn’t call us to Himself for what we
might bring, but that we might know the delight of finding our
deepest needs met in all that He is. What really glorifies Him are
empty, needy people being filled and made whole by His
goodness.”

“When the driving passion of our life is to find joy and delight in the
pursuit of God’s glory, then we have discovered our reason for being. “

I believe part of glorifying God is showing others His glory. Again, I have struggled with how to do that. This morning I remembered when Moses had been in God’s presence his face shone so brightly that the Israelites were frightened and he had to veil his face. I think as we spend more time in God’s presence, His glory will overflow from our lives onto those around us.

I guess I will keep pursuing God and wait for Him to show me what to do next.

(Tricia’s website has a lot of articles and devotional materials http://www.soulatrest.com/index.html)

Contentment

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:24:53 -0400

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Phil 4:12

“I am still determined to be cheerful and to be happy in whatever situation I may be, for I have also learnt from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances; we carry the seeds of the one or the other about with us, in our minds, wherever we go.” Martha Washington

1 Timothy 6:6
“ But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Job 36:11 “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.” (See vs. 5-14)