"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will that go among so many? Jesus said, 'Have the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, 'Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.' So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." John 6:9-13
This past year at school I took on a new role. I became the sponsor for our Student Council group. It was a new position so I probably didn't do everything "right" but I had fun with the kids and learned a lot. During the year we did several activities that dealt with fund raising for different groups. Toward the end of the year the students voted to have a penny drive. I had been part of penny drives before but just by bringing pennies and dumping them in the collection container. Great idea kids!! I was very naive! My plan was to collect all the pennies and then have the kids help me count and wrap them. It would work out well! Or so I thought!
Right now I have two very large boxes full of pennies in my dining room. Some things happened at the end of school that prevented the STUCO students from helping me with the counting and wrapping part. So the responsibility fell to me. This summer I have been counting and wrapping pennies. The problem is the more I count and wrap the more pennies seem to be in the box. When I think I'm getting towards the end there is a multitude of pennies left!
I keep thinking it's like the loaves and fishes! However, I have not been thrilled by the new appearance of more pennies. After reading this verse this morning I realize the people of Jesus' time must have been overwhelmed with this miracle and thankful for the food that was supplied!
Suddenly, I am very humbled. I realize that I have been seeing this penny counting as a terrible chore that just has to be finished. I have been dreading sitting and counting and wrapping. I have been selfish in my thoughts about how I wish the students had not voted to do this project. Now, I see the beaming faces of my students as they proudly added their pennies to the container knowing that their money is going to help children suffering from cancer. How many other small parts of my life do I see like this? Am I thankful for the clothes we have to wear or do I grumble about how much laundry I have to do? Am I thankful for the house I have or do I complain about having to clean it up? Am I thankful for my job or do I dread having to grade papers? Am I thankful for my husband while others are widowed or do I get upset that he's not romantic enough for me? Am I thankful for my three healthy children or do I get ruffled over their smallest offenses? I think you get the picture!
How many of us go through life with so many blessings from God and never pause to even acknowledge them? Sure, we are great at being thankful for the big stuff-the clear CT scan, the promotion or raise at work, the tornado that didn't hit our house, the accident that didn't happen and so on. How are we at the small stuff though? Check out this passage in 1 Thessalonians, verses 16-18.
"Be joyful always: pray continually; give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
The emphasis on the word "all" is mine. I see that it doesn't say "give thanks when you feel like it" or "give thanks when it's something really great" or "give thanks when you feel you deserve it". I might be naive when it comes to penny drives but I am not naive enough to think that I will suddenly start being thankful for "ALL" in my life. I do know though that if I ask God to start helping me in this area of my life he will. Then it will come more naturally. It is definitely easier to be a complainer or whiner in this world. So will you be thankful with me my friends? Let's give it a try with God's help! And, while I'm being thankful, I think I might take the advice of my principal who helped carry one of the penny boxes to my van. "Next year we'll do a dollar drive-it'll be lighter!!"
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Living Waters
"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Isaiah 58:11
Back in the seventies when I was a young girl my family took a vacation to the southwest part of the United States. I don't remember exactly where we were but I know that we were in the middle of a desert and it was definitely a sun-scorched land! We had our trusty red and white water Thermos that traveled with us on all our family vacations. It had this cool little cup that fit inside the lid. We all used that cup and nobody complained that there might be germs or even thought about separate bottles of purified water! The Thermos had a spout at the bottom so usually when our family made a stop we would open the van/camper door, slide it to the edge and fill the white cup with water. We had pulled off the road (to probably take pictures of the glorious view) and everyone got their fill of water. That's when IT happened. Somehow the Thermos was knocked out of the vehicle. (I'm sure it had nothing to do with kids scrambling in and out of the vehicle!) Our precious drinking water was being sucked into the dry cracked earth!! We were in the middle of the desert with miles to travel before we could refill the water!! I don't really remember a lot about those miles except that we kids were THIRSTY-PARCHED BEYOND BELIEF!! I'm not sure how our parents put up with us during those miles but somehow we survived to tell the story!
Today opened with a verse from Isaiah in which we are assured that God will take care of our needs. He promises to make us a "well-watered garden". Although I know that God sees to our physical needs I also know there is more to this verse than that. Has there ever been a time in your life in which you have been parched?? I'm not talking here about some child's imagined thirst because she knows the water supply is limited. I'm talking about the need down deep inside that threatens to overtake us. The one in which everything seems like it will never be right again. The one that drags down our day until we are numb. The one that cries out for somebody to love us and cherish us. The one that begs to be understood when we are in the valley of the shadow. All of us have this parched feeling inside of us that far surpasses the physical. We all have a need inside of us that calls out for something to quench this thirst. Many of us flit from one worldly idea or product to another trying to find this "spring whose waters never fail". The problem is we will never find it in what the world has to offer.
Move forward into the new testament of the Bible to the gospel of John. Here in Chapter 4 Jesus has asked a woman in Samaria to draw some water for him to drink. The author has my attention now! The Son of God?- a Jew?-is asking a Samaritan woman to give him some water? That would have been unheard of during Jesus' times. She knows this to be true also and questions him about it. Jesus replies, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10 She misunderstands him and questions him about the water in the well and how he could get the water without even having a jar. He responds to her with these words. "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14
Now please feel free to turn to the fourth chapter of John and keep reading to see what happens to this Samaritan woman and her friends and neighbors! I know you'll love the ending! However, let's focus on what this means to you and me. This parched feeling we have inside us has to do with a separation from God that happened a long time ago in the Garden. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy this thirst, not even a red and white Thermos in the middle of the desert. But, you can find it through God's only son sent here because God loves us so much and desires for us to be with him for all times! Start quenching your thirst my friends!!
Back in the seventies when I was a young girl my family took a vacation to the southwest part of the United States. I don't remember exactly where we were but I know that we were in the middle of a desert and it was definitely a sun-scorched land! We had our trusty red and white water Thermos that traveled with us on all our family vacations. It had this cool little cup that fit inside the lid. We all used that cup and nobody complained that there might be germs or even thought about separate bottles of purified water! The Thermos had a spout at the bottom so usually when our family made a stop we would open the van/camper door, slide it to the edge and fill the white cup with water. We had pulled off the road (to probably take pictures of the glorious view) and everyone got their fill of water. That's when IT happened. Somehow the Thermos was knocked out of the vehicle. (I'm sure it had nothing to do with kids scrambling in and out of the vehicle!) Our precious drinking water was being sucked into the dry cracked earth!! We were in the middle of the desert with miles to travel before we could refill the water!! I don't really remember a lot about those miles except that we kids were THIRSTY-PARCHED BEYOND BELIEF!! I'm not sure how our parents put up with us during those miles but somehow we survived to tell the story!
Today opened with a verse from Isaiah in which we are assured that God will take care of our needs. He promises to make us a "well-watered garden". Although I know that God sees to our physical needs I also know there is more to this verse than that. Has there ever been a time in your life in which you have been parched?? I'm not talking here about some child's imagined thirst because she knows the water supply is limited. I'm talking about the need down deep inside that threatens to overtake us. The one in which everything seems like it will never be right again. The one that drags down our day until we are numb. The one that cries out for somebody to love us and cherish us. The one that begs to be understood when we are in the valley of the shadow. All of us have this parched feeling inside of us that far surpasses the physical. We all have a need inside of us that calls out for something to quench this thirst. Many of us flit from one worldly idea or product to another trying to find this "spring whose waters never fail". The problem is we will never find it in what the world has to offer.
Move forward into the new testament of the Bible to the gospel of John. Here in Chapter 4 Jesus has asked a woman in Samaria to draw some water for him to drink. The author has my attention now! The Son of God?- a Jew?-is asking a Samaritan woman to give him some water? That would have been unheard of during Jesus' times. She knows this to be true also and questions him about it. Jesus replies, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10 She misunderstands him and questions him about the water in the well and how he could get the water without even having a jar. He responds to her with these words. "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14
Now please feel free to turn to the fourth chapter of John and keep reading to see what happens to this Samaritan woman and her friends and neighbors! I know you'll love the ending! However, let's focus on what this means to you and me. This parched feeling we have inside us has to do with a separation from God that happened a long time ago in the Garden. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy this thirst, not even a red and white Thermos in the middle of the desert. But, you can find it through God's only son sent here because God loves us so much and desires for us to be with him for all times! Start quenching your thirst my friends!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Tongue
Have you ever thought about your tongue?
Okay, a weird question but it got your attention didn't it? Do you ever say something that you regret the moment it comes out of your mouth? Recently, I did this very thing. I was tired and frustrated with my oldest daughter and before I could stop it my tongue was in action. It was like I was spewing poison. The look on her face told it all. The next day I asked her to forgive me but I also gave some excuses trying to make myself feel better. But scripture kept coming to mind and then my favorite ministry website devotion that day spoke directly about this problem of the tongue. Yes, God speaks to us through many means and he was getting my attention!! I have this problem of speaking before thinking. Although I have improved over the years I find myself backsliding sometimes. As I looked over the last couple of months I could see words coming out of my mouth that I was not very proud of. In the devotion I read that day the author had us read a passage from James.
"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:3-6
Those are extremely harsh words! God wants us to understand though how important this issue is and that we need to work on taming the tongue. James goes on to say in the this section that no man can tame the tongue. I believe that to be true. No man can tame the tongue but Jesus can for us. If we ask him to help us with this problem he will! In Proverbs we read,
"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Proverbs 12:18
Jesus is the tongue of the wise. He is the wisdom that we need to heal up the wounds that we as sinners make. Only with him will we be able to tame our tongues. My plan is to ask Jesus to be my wisdom every day. Won't you join me in making this request my friends?
Okay, a weird question but it got your attention didn't it? Do you ever say something that you regret the moment it comes out of your mouth? Recently, I did this very thing. I was tired and frustrated with my oldest daughter and before I could stop it my tongue was in action. It was like I was spewing poison. The look on her face told it all. The next day I asked her to forgive me but I also gave some excuses trying to make myself feel better. But scripture kept coming to mind and then my favorite ministry website devotion that day spoke directly about this problem of the tongue. Yes, God speaks to us through many means and he was getting my attention!! I have this problem of speaking before thinking. Although I have improved over the years I find myself backsliding sometimes. As I looked over the last couple of months I could see words coming out of my mouth that I was not very proud of. In the devotion I read that day the author had us read a passage from James.
"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." James 3:3-6
Those are extremely harsh words! God wants us to understand though how important this issue is and that we need to work on taming the tongue. James goes on to say in the this section that no man can tame the tongue. I believe that to be true. No man can tame the tongue but Jesus can for us. If we ask him to help us with this problem he will! In Proverbs we read,
"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Proverbs 12:18
Jesus is the tongue of the wise. He is the wisdom that we need to heal up the wounds that we as sinners make. Only with him will we be able to tame our tongues. My plan is to ask Jesus to be my wisdom every day. Won't you join me in making this request my friends?
Monday, May 24, 2010
Make a Joyful Noise
Recently I was in the hospital with an intestinal blockage. This recurring problem is caused by the scar tissue left in my body after two life saving cancer surgeries. Unfortunately, these spider web-like adhesions can cause trouble in the abdomen by pulling and catching the intestine causing things to come to a screeching halt. This problem usually results in a trip to the emergency room, a hospital admittance and several days of waiting to see if the procedure being used will solve the issue. This time was extra stress filled for me as I had my son's graduation to attend over the weekend and I was not sure I would make it out in time. Fortunately the problem resolved itself and I was able to make it to the ceremony to watch this milestone in our lives.
Yesterday as I was thinking about my "spider webs" I was suddenly struck by how life can be very similar to this situation. We get caught up in the world and its ways and suddenly the way we want to live our life comes to a screeching halt. We forget to be thankful, our thoughts become very "me" focused and we even question God's ways. Let me give some examples to you from my own life and as you read them perhaps you will see some similarities.
I watch a home improvement show on television or go to a friend's home and what I see is a house that is so much better than mine I begin to covet what I don't have. Suddenly my house becomes not good enough! I am not thankful for the shelter that God has provided or for the many happy times that have occurred in this "lived-in" home! I forget how happy I am to be home after a time away. My mind focuses on what I want to have, not on what God has blessed me with.
At the end of a long work week I complain, "Is this all there is God?" Can't there be a better job for me? Why can't I make more money? It would be great to have that person's job. Can you imagine getting paid that much for what they do? Do I have to put up with that person that I work with? Perhaps I should get a different job-it has to be better than this one. I forget that I have been blessed with a job when so many have none. I forget the co-workers that work so hard with me. My focus goes to greener pastures on the other side of the fence.
My child has made a mistake. What were they thinking? Will I constantly be cleaning up after them? I know their father and I have taught them better than this! Does their life really need to have that much drama in it? Why doesn't he talk to us anymore? Am I just a taxi service? I forget there are crosses on the side of the road where a mother weeps and wishes to have a single minute again with her child. I forget there is a father who wonders where his child is and if he will ever return.
I lament my lack of time. How can I be expected to fit in excercise? Just when will I help at church and have a devotional time when someone is not clamoring for something? I list my excuses as I sit down to watch an hour of television, as I sit waiting to pick up my child from that one more important activity or as I sign in to Facebook. Where in the world would I find that kind of time?
I cannot believe that I am having this health issue again! Why couldn't God have given me a better body? Did he really think when he made me that this is what he wanted? In fact, what was he really thinking? Surely he could have planned this better. Why me? I forget that he made me perfect in his eyes. I forget that he spared my life so I could proclaim him to the ends of the earth.
Just a few examples but I could provide many more. Any sound familiar? A year and a half ago my surgeon performed a less invasive surgery to clear away a lot of my adhesions and has once again suggested this procedure. As I consider this possiblity I will also continue to think about clipping the other ties that bind in my life. While pondering all of this I remember a chapter from the Bible that I worked on memorizing many years ago. It allows me to become focused on what is important. Make it your verse, too!
"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 100
King James Version
Yesterday as I was thinking about my "spider webs" I was suddenly struck by how life can be very similar to this situation. We get caught up in the world and its ways and suddenly the way we want to live our life comes to a screeching halt. We forget to be thankful, our thoughts become very "me" focused and we even question God's ways. Let me give some examples to you from my own life and as you read them perhaps you will see some similarities.
I watch a home improvement show on television or go to a friend's home and what I see is a house that is so much better than mine I begin to covet what I don't have. Suddenly my house becomes not good enough! I am not thankful for the shelter that God has provided or for the many happy times that have occurred in this "lived-in" home! I forget how happy I am to be home after a time away. My mind focuses on what I want to have, not on what God has blessed me with.
At the end of a long work week I complain, "Is this all there is God?" Can't there be a better job for me? Why can't I make more money? It would be great to have that person's job. Can you imagine getting paid that much for what they do? Do I have to put up with that person that I work with? Perhaps I should get a different job-it has to be better than this one. I forget that I have been blessed with a job when so many have none. I forget the co-workers that work so hard with me. My focus goes to greener pastures on the other side of the fence.
My child has made a mistake. What were they thinking? Will I constantly be cleaning up after them? I know their father and I have taught them better than this! Does their life really need to have that much drama in it? Why doesn't he talk to us anymore? Am I just a taxi service? I forget there are crosses on the side of the road where a mother weeps and wishes to have a single minute again with her child. I forget there is a father who wonders where his child is and if he will ever return.
I lament my lack of time. How can I be expected to fit in excercise? Just when will I help at church and have a devotional time when someone is not clamoring for something? I list my excuses as I sit down to watch an hour of television, as I sit waiting to pick up my child from that one more important activity or as I sign in to Facebook. Where in the world would I find that kind of time?
I cannot believe that I am having this health issue again! Why couldn't God have given me a better body? Did he really think when he made me that this is what he wanted? In fact, what was he really thinking? Surely he could have planned this better. Why me? I forget that he made me perfect in his eyes. I forget that he spared my life so I could proclaim him to the ends of the earth.
Just a few examples but I could provide many more. Any sound familiar? A year and a half ago my surgeon performed a less invasive surgery to clear away a lot of my adhesions and has once again suggested this procedure. As I consider this possiblity I will also continue to think about clipping the other ties that bind in my life. While pondering all of this I remember a chapter from the Bible that I worked on memorizing many years ago. It allows me to become focused on what is important. Make it your verse, too!
"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
Psalm 100
King James Version
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Put Your Hope in the Lord
There are many things in life that I cannot predict but there is one thing I can be sure about. If there are several days without sunshine my body begins to react. Researchers usually say there is a lack of Vitamin D in the body and encourage eating healthy and exercising to increase serotonin levels. The problem is my brain tells me to do the opposite. I want to sleep more and eat tons of carbs. I absolutely hate to get out of the house especially if it is raining! My viewing of worthless television increases and my mood gets rather sour. I want to crawl under a warm blanket and not come out. I am not a fun person to be around. Life stinks! The problem with this is that life goes on whether there is sunshine or not. I have learned that through God's help our attitude and mood can change, though.
I love reading Psalm 42:11 when this mood attempts to overcome me. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my
Savior and my God." My favorite part of this verse is the "put your hope in God" section. You see, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!! Although my moods and attitudes can change and vary quite frequently he never changes. He is a constant throughout my life. I can come to him any time and he will always be there.
Earlier I said life goes on whether there is sunshine in our life or not. I was not just talking about the weather. Our lives can change in a fraction of a second. We feel we are at the mountain top and then we come crashing down to the valley. So, when the sunshine in your life seems to have disappeared, turn to him. Let him wrap his loving arms around you and give you peace. Let him melt away the sour mood in your life. Let Jesus be the light that you need when the clouds threaten to break you.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
I love reading Psalm 42:11 when this mood attempts to overcome me. "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my
Savior and my God." My favorite part of this verse is the "put your hope in God" section. You see, God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow!! Although my moods and attitudes can change and vary quite frequently he never changes. He is a constant throughout my life. I can come to him any time and he will always be there.
Earlier I said life goes on whether there is sunshine in our life or not. I was not just talking about the weather. Our lives can change in a fraction of a second. We feel we are at the mountain top and then we come crashing down to the valley. So, when the sunshine in your life seems to have disappeared, turn to him. Let him wrap his loving arms around you and give you peace. Let him melt away the sour mood in your life. Let Jesus be the light that you need when the clouds threaten to break you.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Fear Not
Recently a friend of mine got some disturbing news. The kind that makes you sit for long periods of time and ponder what it is that is important in life. The kind that makes you take a look at your past and wonder if you should have done anything differently. The kind that makes you realize that you are not the one in charge and that you have to learn to give up control. The kind that you have to surrender everything you have and are to God.
I have been in this same situation several times in life. If you have ever had any of these life changing days then you probably have felt fear and uncertainty. Or perhaps you are feeling that right now with your own news. What I have learned in my situations is that there is actually good news in these periods of your life. If God was willing to give up his own son for us, then he will be there for us always even in these times of fear and uncertainty. Psalm 139:1-18 tells us of this great love of God for us and how important we are to him. Do not only read these verses with your head but also press them upon your heart. With God we have no reason to fear. Let him give you this peace in the knowledge that he is always with us!
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
I have been in this same situation several times in life. If you have ever had any of these life changing days then you probably have felt fear and uncertainty. Or perhaps you are feeling that right now with your own news. What I have learned in my situations is that there is actually good news in these periods of your life. If God was willing to give up his own son for us, then he will be there for us always even in these times of fear and uncertainty. Psalm 139:1-18 tells us of this great love of God for us and how important we are to him. Do not only read these verses with your head but also press them upon your heart. With God we have no reason to fear. Let him give you this peace in the knowledge that he is always with us!
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
He Heals the Brokenhearted
I think we have all felt this pain before. The one that pierces our heart like an arrow and causes us to stumble. The one that causes our conversations to be stilted or come to a halt altogether. The one that sucker punches us and takes us down for the count. The one where trust is broken and seems irreparable. It makes us feel broken and hopeless. It makes us feel that all is impossible and lost. It is BETRAYAL.
Many of us have felt the sting of this in our lives. Perhaps yours came in the form of a divorce. Others might have been duped in a business deal. The doctor who said not to worry, later gives you a crushing diagnosis. Maybe your co-worker or boss did not back you in a situation. The promotion you were hoping to get went to the boss' relative. The loving and understanding parent you wish you had in your life is really difficult to live and communicate with. The friend you thought you had turns out to be helping to shove the knife in your back.
Jesus felt betrayal. The same people who waved the palm branches and yelled "Hosanna!" were the same people who asked for his death less than a week later. Jesus felt betrayal. His life was sold for a mere 30 pieces of metal. Jesus felt betrayal. The man he called "The Rock", his disciple Peter, denied even knowing him or being part of his ministry not once but three times in one night. Jesus felt betrayal.
Because of sin in the world others will let us down. There is no one on this earth that is completely perfect in their actions. Not our bosses, co-workers, friends or even our spouses can live up to all of our expectations. However, our God can. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will help us through these times of heartache. These precious words from the Psalms can give us strength.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
Many of us have felt the sting of this in our lives. Perhaps yours came in the form of a divorce. Others might have been duped in a business deal. The doctor who said not to worry, later gives you a crushing diagnosis. Maybe your co-worker or boss did not back you in a situation. The promotion you were hoping to get went to the boss' relative. The loving and understanding parent you wish you had in your life is really difficult to live and communicate with. The friend you thought you had turns out to be helping to shove the knife in your back.
Jesus felt betrayal. The same people who waved the palm branches and yelled "Hosanna!" were the same people who asked for his death less than a week later. Jesus felt betrayal. His life was sold for a mere 30 pieces of metal. Jesus felt betrayal. The man he called "The Rock", his disciple Peter, denied even knowing him or being part of his ministry not once but three times in one night. Jesus felt betrayal.
Because of sin in the world others will let us down. There is no one on this earth that is completely perfect in their actions. Not our bosses, co-workers, friends or even our spouses can live up to all of our expectations. However, our God can. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He will help us through these times of heartache. These precious words from the Psalms can give us strength.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Psalm 147:3
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)