March 2013 Archives
Hearing and Obeying
I do a lot of reflecting this time of year. Thinking about what Christ did for me and evaluating my life in light of His to see where I’m failing. Up against that mirror, I’m failing quite a bit. It’s these times when I’m especially thankful that His mercies are new every morning. It’s never too late to begin to live a life that pleases Him. If you are truly walking with God, your life will be a continual life of growth. If you stop growing, you’re dead. If not literally, then spiritually, and that’s worse.
I hope I never stop listening but the flip side of listening is obeying. Scripture says, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” If you notice how much God talks about sacrifice, it brings perspective as to how important obedience is. As we draw nearer to Christ’s return, it’s even more vital that we learn to hear His voice. He knows what He’s talking about.
Don’t treat Easter as just another holiday. Take time to really reflect on Christ and everything that He did for you during His death and resurrection. Think about how you’re living. Is your life pleasing to Him? He created you for a purpose. Make sure you’re fulfilling that purpose. Then shine for Him. You’ll not be disappointed.
Reflecting During a Moment of Rest
Now that the calendar tells me it’s spring and we’re getting a slight reprieve from the snow, I’m making myself take walks again. I just finished what I estimate to be a 2-mile walk, and I am tired! As I sit here, my mind is going in a million directions: things I need to do, people I need to pray for, things I’m concerned about, etc. I don’t feel like doing anything about any of it…well, I take that back…I do feel up to praying, even in my weakened state. After all, it’s in my weakness that God often proves Himself the strongest.
When I’m down is when the smallest thing seems like a mountain but I consciously remind myself that I know the Maker of those mountains and He can just as easily move them out of my way or give me strength to climb them. Whichever He decides, I trust Him because He also made me and knows what is best for me. He won’t ask me to do anything that He won’t also enable me to do.
With that thought, I pick myself up and strive to accomplish a few more things before caving in to my desire to get under the warm covers. (I said we’re not getting snow right now but it is still a bit chilly.)
Thank You, Lord, for taking care of me. Thank You for loving me and for walking beside me each moment. Thank You for the strength You give. May I never cease to praise You for Your unmerited goodness to me.
Just Pray
“When you don’t feel like praying, pray,” “You’ve got to pray in the morning, pray in the evening, pray even in the midnight hour, pray,” “Never throw a hungry lion in the den with a praying man.” These are just some of the lyrics I’ve been singing lately. Do you notice a theme?
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16), “And he spoke a parable to them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1), “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms” (James 5:13). Over and over again, we are told to pray.
You may feel like you don’t have time to pray but, if you are too busy to pray, you are too busy. Prayer is much more than making my petitions known. It’s about drawing near to God, taking time to build a strong relationship, letting Him know how much I love Him, and listening to Him remind me how much He loves me. It’s seeking His guidance when I don’t know what He wants me to do, learning to hear His voice, and growing in being a daughter that pleases Him in everything I do.
I confess I have days too which begin with a bang and I don’t feel like I have time to pray other than a few minutes here and there while I’m running. I will tell you, though, those are my worst days. God is merciful and will sometimes give me grace for a day or two but too many days without quality time with my Father produces a void, and I notice it.
Prayer and Bible reading should not be drudgery. They should be things we anticipate. I love time with Him when the phone isn’t ringing, no one is needing my attention, and I can talk to Him. I still need to learn to listen more as the greatest fellowship comes when, as He gives me His undivided attention, I give Him mine. All the cares of the world vanish at that moment and I feel like the most loved person on earth.
Lord, keep me from becoming too busy. Thank you for being available night and day to listen to whatever is on Your daughter’s heart. May I continually learn from You so that I can return the love You’ve given me in full. Thank You, Father!
CD Review: Sing Your Way to Joy (Ann Downing)
Ann Downing‘s life has been a mixture of ups and downs but, even through the down times, she’s been able to sing her way to joy. Each song on this recording is a message of hope and encouragement for those who are having a hard time finding joy in their lives. Ann co-wrote all but the last song on this CD.
Bring on the Joy – talks about going through a trial but knowing everything will be all right. After all, weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.
You Know the Valley Too – reminds us that Jesus went before us. There’s nothing He doesn’t understand. Just give your burdens to Him. He’ll bring you through.
There’s Still a Cross – “There’s still a cross where sins are washed away. There’s still a cross where every debt is paid, where every gain has vanished and all is counted loss. There’s still a place where grace abounds. There’s still a cross.”
Pray for Power – It’s not by might or power but by God’s Spirit that miracles happen. We need to pray for that power of the Holy Ghost which sets the captives free and gives liberty.
Sing Your Way to Joy – The first verse talks about Paul and Silas while the second verse talks about how hard life can be and yet how, with God’s help, you can still sing in the midst of it.
A Little Goes a Long, Long Way – talks about the miracle God performed with two fish and five loaves of bread. The second verse talks about how you don’t need a lot to serve God. Just use what you have.
I Will Sing – Ann talks about how she will sing and tell the world what God has done for her.
It’s Not the End – No matter what you’re going through, it’s not the end. “It’s just another bend in the road of life.” Let God use it for His glory.
Make Room – tells us to make room for God to do what He wants to do. Too often, we get so busy with our own schedules and fulfilling our own desires but our lives should be centered around God and what He desires of us.
A Higher Place – This is my favorite song on the project. A prayer to God to take me to a higher place above the cares of this world. “Lord, I long for Your embrace. Until I see You face to face, take me to a higher place.”
Ann ends the CD with Albert E. Brumley’s beautiful song If We Never Meet Again.
God Resists the Proud
“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be on every one that is proud and lofty, and on every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low” (Isaiah 2:11-12).
“An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin” (Proverbs 21:4).
“Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).
Pride. Something just about everyone has but one of the things which Scripture repeatedly says that God will not bless. I don’t know about you but I want … no, I need … God’s blessing in my life. Pride is extremely hard to get rid of though.
God has been speaking to me lately about the importance of being humble. It can be really hard sometimes but I find that most of the problems in life come because of “flesh” getting in the way. Humanly, I want to be right, I want to be understood, I hate being misquoted, etc. but I find that most things would never be the big deal they end up being if I would just let it go. I need to content myself with the fact that it’s not the end of the world if people don’t applaud everything I do. I just need to place it in God’s hands, answer in a humble way, and move on.
This is not an easy lesson for me but I’m praying God will help me get there–that I will truly walk in the gracious humility that He desires me to walk in. As I do, I will be more full of the joy of His Spirit and I can shine brighter with His love. Thank You, Lord, for loving me and being an example that I can follow. Help me to be faithful. Amen!
Let Me Tell You His Name Again
I don’t watch the news. That may be hard for some to understand but I decided a long time ago that the news is full of nothing but bad news. There may occasionally be a tidbit of something positive but that is definitely the exception, not the norm. As I listen to people discuss the various negative things going on in the world, I’ve been thinking of the One who knows everything going on much better than we do but it doesn’t phase Him a bit. His name is Jesus.
For the Christian, this should be no surprise but I see a lot of professing Believers ringing their hands as well. Folks, if you’re troubled by the things that are happening in this world, I want to encourage you to look up, for your redemption draws nigh. God is not asleep. He is not surprised by life as we know it. He is simply preparing to bring His children Home. That should bring joy to your heart, not fear and despair.
Back in the 1980s, the Hinsons sang a song titled, “Let Me Tell You His Name Again.” I would encourage you to listen to the words of that song and praise the Lord that you know the Answer to the questions the world is asking. His name is Jesus!
Thank God for the Promise of Spring
This has been a very busy few months for me. Not that that’s not typical. It just amazes me how busy life can be sometimes. As the weather begins to warm a bit, I am so looking forward to spring. I’ve learned to handle winter as a part of life but I still love going barefoot, feeling the breeze through the open windows, hearing the birds chirping. These may seem like little things but they are the daily blessings of spring.
Here in the north, it is possible we’ll get more snow yet but I’m grateful for every warm day. (I hear it’s supposed to get in the 40s this coming week!) As the temperature gradually gets warmer, the ground begins to dry up, and the sun makes its appearance more often, I begin to see once again the blessings I may have lost sight of when everything looked gray. Even though I didn’t always see them, if I thought about it, I knew they would appear again.
That’s how it is in life. Life is full of seasons. Some we like better than others but all are necessary. In the northern states, the cold and snow is necessary to kill the bugs and give the ground the moisture it needs to produce good crops for the farmers. If we had no rain or cold in our personal lives, our growth would be hindered and it’s possible we’d never get rid of the negative parts of our character that needs to go in order for us to be more like Jesus.
To everything, there is a time and a season for every purpose under heaven. Regardless of the season you’re at in life, thank God for it. You may not understand it but it is there for a reason. God doesn’t make mistakes. Spring is right around the corner. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Why Are You Following Jesus?
In his book Not by Bread Alone: Daily Devotions for Disciples, Greg Hinnant asks, “Are we ‘following’ to have Jesus or something, anything else, even His clearly promised benefits, gifts, and blessings?” Hmm. I’m pondering that this morning.
I love Jesus and tell Him so often but I’m also very blessed. I receive the blessings He promises to those who love Him so I sometimes think about what satan said of Job. “Does Job fear God for nothing?Have not You made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face” (Job 1:9-11). Satan knows something about human nature but I hope I’m not that fickle.
The fact is God loved me when no one else would have seen value in me. He saw beyond what I was to what I could be with Him. He has been patient, kind, and so faithful. I want to return that favor, to let Him know that I do love Him just because. He could have chosen anyone else to follow Him but He chose me! That, in itself, is a blessing.
Thank You, Jesus, for calling me to follow You. May I never stop following You. I look forward to the day I finally see Your face. I love You!
