Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Bopping Heads
Exodus 17:7 The people had complained and tested the Lord by asking, “Is the Lord really with us?” So Moses named that place Massah, which means “testing” and Meribah, which means “complaining.”
Seventeen chapters into the book of Exodus and the Israelites are stilling complaining and doubting God. Wow! Look at all the incredible acts God has done on their behalf and they're still wondering if, "Is God is really with us?"
As I sit here wondering how the Israelites could think like that I am convicted of my own doubting and complaining. Granted I don't have a Pillar of Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night always before me, but I have incredible memories just the same.
My biggest problem is doubting whether I am hearing God. When I feel like I'm stuck in a desert I doubt myself whether I truly did hear God in the first place. I wonder if I've made a wrong turn somewhere along the path. I wonder if by being stagnant-stagnant because I want to move and don't see that possibility in the near future-I've missed God's directive.
I love reading the miraculous exploits of the million plus people in Exodus.
God creating dry ground for the Israelites to walk on while the Egyptians got stuck in the mud.
God carving out a path through the Red Sea with "walls" of water on each side. I wonder if it looked like a fish tank while the Israelites walked on by? "There's little Nemo swimming around!"
God turned the Red Sea into cottage cheese! Ex. 15:8
What creativity!
And with all this creativity that God has shown over the years in my own life why do I wonder and doubt?
If God truly wanted me somewhere new He'd get me there. In the mean time I must "be content whatever my situation". Phil 4:12 Thankfully, God promises peace - not always a direct answer to my prayer, but I'll take that over the unknown!
I love that game at arcades where the heads pop out of holes and you must bop them with your soft hammer for them to go down.
Today I'm going to concentrate on "bopping" doubt out of my head!
There's a fabulous song by Brownsville Revival-Look What the Lord Has Done.
My mission today-be focused.
Seventeen chapters into the book of Exodus and the Israelites are stilling complaining and doubting God. Wow! Look at all the incredible acts God has done on their behalf and they're still wondering if, "Is God is really with us?"
As I sit here wondering how the Israelites could think like that I am convicted of my own doubting and complaining. Granted I don't have a Pillar of Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night always before me, but I have incredible memories just the same.
My biggest problem is doubting whether I am hearing God. When I feel like I'm stuck in a desert I doubt myself whether I truly did hear God in the first place. I wonder if I've made a wrong turn somewhere along the path. I wonder if by being stagnant-stagnant because I want to move and don't see that possibility in the near future-I've missed God's directive.
I love reading the miraculous exploits of the million plus people in Exodus.
God creating dry ground for the Israelites to walk on while the Egyptians got stuck in the mud.
God carving out a path through the Red Sea with "walls" of water on each side. I wonder if it looked like a fish tank while the Israelites walked on by? "There's little Nemo swimming around!"
God turned the Red Sea into cottage cheese! Ex. 15:8
What creativity!
And with all this creativity that God has shown over the years in my own life why do I wonder and doubt?
If God truly wanted me somewhere new He'd get me there. In the mean time I must "be content whatever my situation". Phil 4:12 Thankfully, God promises peace - not always a direct answer to my prayer, but I'll take that over the unknown!
I love that game at arcades where the heads pop out of holes and you must bop them with your soft hammer for them to go down.
Today I'm going to concentrate on "bopping" doubt out of my head!
There's a fabulous song by Brownsville Revival-Look What the Lord Has Done.
My mission today-be focused.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Growing like a goldfish
What a devastating time for Japan right now. To experience a massive earthquake and then to watch a wall of water come at you. For those of us who have never experienced anything like that it's hard to comprehend. My heart and prayers go out to all the victims.
I'm listening to a song called Facedown. The words are "I'll fall face down as your Glory shines around". As nature's outburst of destruction takes place I am brought to my knees to think of what it would be like to stand under God's wrath.
We don't like to think of God as Judge who requires justice for sin. We like to think that He is always there to help us in our time of need and want Him to be quiet till we need Him again. That's wrong.
The infinitely glorious Son of God endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God so that I wouldn't have to. Jesus then through his magnificent Power came back from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God interceding for me-for me!!! That is a Saviour worth trusting in.
I am in no way proclaiming that God causes devastating destruction on people to get their attention.
I am just taking what happened this week and putting myself into a future situation and thanking God for my solution.
Can you imagine standing onshore as a thousand foot tsunami came at you- not of water but of fury?
What can one possibly say or do to quell such wrath?
I envision myself in a bubble of God's Love and Mercy protected from this tsunami not because I'm so wonderful, but because Jesus came to me and helped me to see my precarious situation. I'm needy, sinful and helpless in creating my own solution!
The question I think of is: Do I live in this protection daily or run out from underneath it every now and then?
I read this morning about Joseph being sold into slavery BY HIS BROTHERS and imprisoned for no wrong he did . Thirteen years later God restored him to the ultimate position. Thirteen years-that's a long time to wait in an uncomfortable bubble. I have so much to learn!
I dare not carelessly take for granted God's gift of Salvation for when I THINK that tsunami will happen, but learn to live "in Christ" and "conform to the image of Christ" daily.
Just like a goldfish will grow to the size of it's container I want to conform to my container, The Holy Spirit.
I'm listening to a song called Facedown. The words are "I'll fall face down as your Glory shines around". As nature's outburst of destruction takes place I am brought to my knees to think of what it would be like to stand under God's wrath.
We don't like to think of God as Judge who requires justice for sin. We like to think that He is always there to help us in our time of need and want Him to be quiet till we need Him again. That's wrong.
The infinitely glorious Son of God endured the infinitely terrible wrath of God so that I wouldn't have to. Jesus then through his magnificent Power came back from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God interceding for me-for me!!! That is a Saviour worth trusting in.
I am in no way proclaiming that God causes devastating destruction on people to get their attention.
I am just taking what happened this week and putting myself into a future situation and thanking God for my solution.
Can you imagine standing onshore as a thousand foot tsunami came at you- not of water but of fury?
What can one possibly say or do to quell such wrath?
I envision myself in a bubble of God's Love and Mercy protected from this tsunami not because I'm so wonderful, but because Jesus came to me and helped me to see my precarious situation. I'm needy, sinful and helpless in creating my own solution!
The question I think of is: Do I live in this protection daily or run out from underneath it every now and then?
I read this morning about Joseph being sold into slavery BY HIS BROTHERS and imprisoned for no wrong he did . Thirteen years later God restored him to the ultimate position. Thirteen years-that's a long time to wait in an uncomfortable bubble. I have so much to learn!
I dare not carelessly take for granted God's gift of Salvation for when I THINK that tsunami will happen, but learn to live "in Christ" and "conform to the image of Christ" daily.
Just like a goldfish will grow to the size of it's container I want to conform to my container, The Holy Spirit.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Rainy Day
I love rainy days-especially when there are no pressing appointments.
I think these days are blessings from above to force me to chill. I love waking up to the patter on the roof and the rhythm of thunder claps.
I'm sitting on the couch sipping my tea staring out the window relishing the gray in the sky and the spring green color of all the new growth on the trees.
What a time to ponder, pray and plan.
I think these days are blessings from above to force me to chill. I love waking up to the patter on the roof and the rhythm of thunder claps.
I'm sitting on the couch sipping my tea staring out the window relishing the gray in the sky and the spring green color of all the new growth on the trees.
What a time to ponder, pray and plan.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
I want to be slow
I'm a blockhead; not a solid one completely, but still learning that I need to be a bit more open.
For the most part, I have learned to give people a chance. Years ago, I remember meeting a young girl and thinking she was way to verbose for me and hyper. "I could never be friends with her", I thought.
As it turned out, we became very good friends and I often enjoyed her energy level. How sad and unfortunate it would have been if I went with my first thoughts.
Well, I continue to learn that I haven't quite overcome ALL my faults!
I have driven past this small restaurant in town a few times. It looks like a shack! The sign is hand painted and not very appealing at that. "How the heck do they think they're going to stay in business looking like that?"
Working at a friend's house yesterday she wanted to take me out to lunch. "We can we go around here?"
She suggested this small restaurant and off we went.
I was impressed as soon as I walked in the front door!
Yes, it was small; a few tables and chairs placed in the front with the kitchen-a real looking house kitchen in the rear. The menu was written on a large chalkboard with many items: soups, salads, sandwiches.
Lunch was delightful and at a reasonable price.
We met the owners who are from the UK and they mentioned that because they had never operated a restaurant before they wanted to start small, thus the reasoning behind their "look".
The chef has cooked for the British Royalty and a few other establishments in Europe-read: good food!
Their business is growing and I hope I continue to do so, too! How quickly we are to judge something or someone just by the cover without truly experiencing what's on the inside first. Oh, to be quick to listen and slow to speak-or quick to be open to the different and slow to judge!
God what you make and do is wonderful. Who am I to be critical of your workmanship? Forgive me.
Thank you for opening my eyes, again. Help me to walk in love.
For the most part, I have learned to give people a chance. Years ago, I remember meeting a young girl and thinking she was way to verbose for me and hyper. "I could never be friends with her", I thought.
As it turned out, we became very good friends and I often enjoyed her energy level. How sad and unfortunate it would have been if I went with my first thoughts.
Well, I continue to learn that I haven't quite overcome ALL my faults!
I have driven past this small restaurant in town a few times. It looks like a shack! The sign is hand painted and not very appealing at that. "How the heck do they think they're going to stay in business looking like that?"
Working at a friend's house yesterday she wanted to take me out to lunch. "We can we go around here?"
She suggested this small restaurant and off we went.
I was impressed as soon as I walked in the front door!
Yes, it was small; a few tables and chairs placed in the front with the kitchen-a real looking house kitchen in the rear. The menu was written on a large chalkboard with many items: soups, salads, sandwiches.
Lunch was delightful and at a reasonable price.
We met the owners who are from the UK and they mentioned that because they had never operated a restaurant before they wanted to start small, thus the reasoning behind their "look".
The chef has cooked for the British Royalty and a few other establishments in Europe-read: good food!
Their business is growing and I hope I continue to do so, too! How quickly we are to judge something or someone just by the cover without truly experiencing what's on the inside first. Oh, to be quick to listen and slow to speak-or quick to be open to the different and slow to judge!
God what you make and do is wonderful. Who am I to be critical of your workmanship? Forgive me.
Thank you for opening my eyes, again. Help me to walk in love.
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