"He leads me beside still waters" -Psalms 23:2
In this verse is God's promise for peace for my life. He promises to lead me beside still waters, yet I feel like my life is a raging river. Why? I think I've come up with the answer for that.
I'm the one turning my still waters into a raging river. God has done his part. He's led me to the still waters, but I am the one refusing to be still. In reality, I should have peace. Everything I need for peace is in Jesus Christ, but instead, I get beside my still waters and I jump in and start panicing and splashing around. I let simple worries of everyday life get me all excited and then I get my still waters moving so much that they turn into a raging river. I'm making peace difficult when in reality I just need to be still and know that He is God. The still waters are there, but I will never experience them unless I can learn to be still.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Wants vs Needs
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" - Psalm 23:1
Today I am reading about how God provides all my needs. It's kinda made me take a step back and think about what those things are that I actually need and what the things are that I simply want. God doesn't promises to provide all of our wants, but he does promise to provide all of our NEEDS. This is a quote from the book I am reading called "Powerful Promises for Every Woman"
"In His omniscience (His complete knowledge), God knows (or sees) our need; In His power, He can provide; and In His goodness, He must provide for what his knowledge and wisdom reveal to be the true need of His people"
At first when I read this, I almost felt uncomfortable by the word "must." It almost seemed like a demand- God MUST do this. But as a re-read it, I realized that because of God's character, because of His goodness, because of His love, he really must provide for my NEEDS.
Again, this causes me to ponder what things in my life are needs and what things are simply wants. I know that I NEED food and clothing, which God has provided. I WANT to be able to go out to eat whenever I feel like it and buy a new outfit whenever I see something cute, but that isn't always the case. I NEED shelter, but I WANT to refurnish some of our apartment. I NEED to have times of rest, but I really WANT to go to California this summer with Isaac. I NEED love and encouragement, but sometimes I WANT to find it in people rather than in Christ. I NEED purpose in my life, but sometimes I WANT to create my own purpose that may not neccisarily be what God desires for me. I think for a long time I have felt like God wasn't going to provide for me because I have been looking for God to provide my wants, rather than my needs. Honestly, as I look back on my life, I can't remember a time that God did not provide my needs. For a while, I worried that God was not providing my needs. In reality, God was just not always giving me what I wanted. BIG DIFFERENCE. I think if I really looked at needs and wants, I would realize that I serve a God that can be trusted to provide all my needs. As for my wants, the Bible says " Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. I believe that as I draw near to God, he will begin to fufill the things that my heart desires. Now, am I saying that as I draw near to God, he will provide for me to get new clothes or eat out all the time, or have a refurnished apartment? No. I know that as I delight myself in God, His desires will become my desires, and those things he will provide!
Side note for today: Isaac and I are trying to plan a vacation around our anniversary. We never really got a honeymoon and anytime we have tried to have a vacation, we have had a major family crisis. Basically we have never been able to just get away and enjoy some time with each other. We are trying to see if we can spend a few days in Califonia in San Diego because we have family there and may have a place to stay, but it seems like a bit of a long shot. Please keep us in prayer. This is definately one of those Wants. I know that Isaac and I desperately NEED to be able to rest and enjoy some time with each other, but we very much WANT to do that in California. I guess we will see what happens!!
Today I am reading about how God provides all my needs. It's kinda made me take a step back and think about what those things are that I actually need and what the things are that I simply want. God doesn't promises to provide all of our wants, but he does promise to provide all of our NEEDS. This is a quote from the book I am reading called "Powerful Promises for Every Woman"
"In His omniscience (His complete knowledge), God knows (or sees) our need; In His power, He can provide; and In His goodness, He must provide for what his knowledge and wisdom reveal to be the true need of His people"
At first when I read this, I almost felt uncomfortable by the word "must." It almost seemed like a demand- God MUST do this. But as a re-read it, I realized that because of God's character, because of His goodness, because of His love, he really must provide for my NEEDS.
Again, this causes me to ponder what things in my life are needs and what things are simply wants. I know that I NEED food and clothing, which God has provided. I WANT to be able to go out to eat whenever I feel like it and buy a new outfit whenever I see something cute, but that isn't always the case. I NEED shelter, but I WANT to refurnish some of our apartment. I NEED to have times of rest, but I really WANT to go to California this summer with Isaac. I NEED love and encouragement, but sometimes I WANT to find it in people rather than in Christ. I NEED purpose in my life, but sometimes I WANT to create my own purpose that may not neccisarily be what God desires for me. I think for a long time I have felt like God wasn't going to provide for me because I have been looking for God to provide my wants, rather than my needs. Honestly, as I look back on my life, I can't remember a time that God did not provide my needs. For a while, I worried that God was not providing my needs. In reality, God was just not always giving me what I wanted. BIG DIFFERENCE. I think if I really looked at needs and wants, I would realize that I serve a God that can be trusted to provide all my needs. As for my wants, the Bible says " Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4. I believe that as I draw near to God, he will begin to fufill the things that my heart desires. Now, am I saying that as I draw near to God, he will provide for me to get new clothes or eat out all the time, or have a refurnished apartment? No. I know that as I delight myself in God, His desires will become my desires, and those things he will provide!
Side note for today: Isaac and I are trying to plan a vacation around our anniversary. We never really got a honeymoon and anytime we have tried to have a vacation, we have had a major family crisis. Basically we have never been able to just get away and enjoy some time with each other. We are trying to see if we can spend a few days in Califonia in San Diego because we have family there and may have a place to stay, but it seems like a bit of a long shot. Please keep us in prayer. This is definately one of those Wants. I know that Isaac and I desperately NEED to be able to rest and enjoy some time with each other, but we very much WANT to do that in California. I guess we will see what happens!!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Quiet times and Recreation
Right now I am reading a book called "Powerful Promises for Every Woman" I read something today that stuck out to me and I'm not so sure what I think about it. It is an excerpt from a letter by Susanna Wesley to her famous son, John, the founder of Methodism.
"I will tell you what rule I observed...when I was young, and too much addicted to childish diversions, which was this-Never spend more time in mere recreation in one day than I spend in a private religious devotions"
I've been really thinking about this and I asked myself if this is possible- to spend more time in private devotion with God in a day than I do in recreations. Seriously, I think this would be hard to do. If I watch a movie, for example, that is 2 hours long, than should I make sure that I have spent more than 2 hours that day, alone with Jesus? What about on the days where I have softball games? Thats another hour of my time on Sundays and usually Sundays are days that my husband and I try to have some fun so there's a few more hours there. On the other hand, I do think that I need to invest more time in quiet, private devotion with the Lord. I know that this is an area I struggle with, but should I be calculating my time to make sure I spend more time with Jesus than I do in everyday recreations? Personally, I think I need to spend quiet devotional time with the Lord, but I also think that I just need to make sure that I am keeping Christ with me all day long, with everything I do.
Also, in context of where the author used this quote, she was talking about making sure I am not feeding on foolishness. She warned to beware of the inevitable stumbling blocks and to stay close to the safety and shelter of God's promise of care. I definatly think there are somethings that I could probably root out of my life. I definatly think there are some TV shows that I probably don't need to watch, maybe some movies I should avoid. I think I need to be aware of what it is that I feed myself. Sometimes without realizing it, some of the things I watch could be feeding my negative messages, and its not always that obvious. For example, I love watching the show King of Queens. I think its hilarious. But if I don't take a step back and think for a second, I might actually believe that this is a healthy way that a marriage should function. I think I need to draw more from Jesus and from his Word and make it more a part of my thought process. I need to stick close to the Lord who cares for me in everything I do.
Not sure where I am going with all of this today... just some thoughts
"I will tell you what rule I observed...when I was young, and too much addicted to childish diversions, which was this-Never spend more time in mere recreation in one day than I spend in a private religious devotions"
I've been really thinking about this and I asked myself if this is possible- to spend more time in private devotion with God in a day than I do in recreations. Seriously, I think this would be hard to do. If I watch a movie, for example, that is 2 hours long, than should I make sure that I have spent more than 2 hours that day, alone with Jesus? What about on the days where I have softball games? Thats another hour of my time on Sundays and usually Sundays are days that my husband and I try to have some fun so there's a few more hours there. On the other hand, I do think that I need to invest more time in quiet, private devotion with the Lord. I know that this is an area I struggle with, but should I be calculating my time to make sure I spend more time with Jesus than I do in everyday recreations? Personally, I think I need to spend quiet devotional time with the Lord, but I also think that I just need to make sure that I am keeping Christ with me all day long, with everything I do.
Also, in context of where the author used this quote, she was talking about making sure I am not feeding on foolishness. She warned to beware of the inevitable stumbling blocks and to stay close to the safety and shelter of God's promise of care. I definatly think there are somethings that I could probably root out of my life. I definatly think there are some TV shows that I probably don't need to watch, maybe some movies I should avoid. I think I need to be aware of what it is that I feed myself. Sometimes without realizing it, some of the things I watch could be feeding my negative messages, and its not always that obvious. For example, I love watching the show King of Queens. I think its hilarious. But if I don't take a step back and think for a second, I might actually believe that this is a healthy way that a marriage should function. I think I need to draw more from Jesus and from his Word and make it more a part of my thought process. I need to stick close to the Lord who cares for me in everything I do.
Not sure where I am going with all of this today... just some thoughts
Friday, May 16, 2008
Little Lost Sheep
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:27-30
Sometimes I feel like I'm a little lost sheep. I know the voice that I need to follow. I know the voice of God, yet sometimes I have trouble listening to it. I tend to listen to every other voice that speaks to me; satan's voice, the voices of others, even my own voice. For a while now, I have been driven by just about every voice, but the voice of Jesus. I'm really trying to figure out why I have trouble trusting God. I tend to look at him like I look at my earthly dad. When I was a kid, my dad left. Now, my dad is a major influence in my life, yet I still can't shake the fact that he left when I was a child and today I am convinced that someday God will leave too. Even though God's word says he will never leave me, nor forsake me; even though it says that no one can snatch me from his hand, I am still convinced that at some point God will no longer be there. This really bugs me. This is the number one thing that holds me back from being everything God has called me to be. I can't ever be effective in ministry if I'm not connected to the Lord. I can't grow closer to God if I don't trust Him. This creates quite the dilema. Somehow, I have got to learn to trust the Lord. The Scripture above says that his sheep know his voice and follow Him. I believe that somewhere in me, I know his voice. But the voices that tell me that God can't be trusted seem to overpower it. I tend to listen to the louder voice and that creates a little problem being that the voice of the God is a small still voice. I've got to learn to quiet my own voice, set aside the voices of others who tear me down, and rebuke the voice of satan if I'm going to be able to hear God. I use to hear His voice all the time. It was comforting. When I can hear the voice of God, I believe with my whole heart that no one can snatch me from his hand. I really want to get to that place again. I don't know why I am so consumed with fear, but it really is destroying me. I really just need to get over this, but seriously, how do you do that? A lot of people say to me, "well just learn to trust God" GREAT! Does anyone have a step by step solution on how to trust God? Is there an easy 1, 2, 3 to growing in a deeper relationship with Him? Is there a quick fix on going from being afraid of God to having a healthy fear of Him? I'm really getting tired of where I am at in this battle. I want to be able to hear his voice and follow him. I want to trust that he will never leave me, nor forsake me. I want to be able to believe that no one can snatch me from his hands. I've rambled today, but I'm just so frustrated. I need answers.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
The Beauty of a Woman
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."
1 Peter 3:3-4
This verse seems to be completely contrary to everything that women are taught in this society. We have forgotten that true beauty comes from our inner selves, from the person that God created. Instead, we think that beauty is what a woman looks like. If you open any magazine you will see that the ideal for beauty is very tall, extremely thin, big eyes, big lips, a small nose. tan skin and big breasts. As women, we look at this and think "I must look like this if I am going to be beautiful. I don't measure up. I must not be beautiful" The truth, however, is that the people in the magazines have gone through hours of hair and makeup and the pictures have had extensive airbrushing. We're trying to measure up to something that isn't even real. The Dove Campaign for True Beauty did a survey of women around the world and of the woman that answered, only 2% of them considered themselves beautiful. Why? I believe it is because we have confused looks with beauty. We assume that because something looks good on the outside, that it must be beautiful. The realiy of it, however, is that it is just an illusion.
I believe what this verse said. True beauty comes from the inner self. Our beauty is our culture and where we have come from. Our beauty is our history and what God has brought us through that has made us who we are. Our beauty is our quirks. It is our goals and accomplishments. Our beauty is our realationships, those around us that we impact. Our beauty is in the fact that we are children of God, daughters of the King. Our beauty is in the love of Christ that radiates from within us. And none of those things can be judged by a photograph.
God has created each of us as beautiful, yet I think we sometimes cover up our true beauty for looks that fade. Don't get me wrong, I don't see anything wrong with doing our hair and makeup and wanting to lose weight (if its to be healthy). I don't see anything wrong with wanting to dress nice. I love to do my hair and makeup and I want to get into better shape. However, I don't believe that God wants us to obsess over these things thinking that they will make up beautiful. I believe that God wants our beauty to radiate from our relationship with Him, our inner beauty, which never fades.
1 Peter 3:3-4
This verse seems to be completely contrary to everything that women are taught in this society. We have forgotten that true beauty comes from our inner selves, from the person that God created. Instead, we think that beauty is what a woman looks like. If you open any magazine you will see that the ideal for beauty is very tall, extremely thin, big eyes, big lips, a small nose. tan skin and big breasts. As women, we look at this and think "I must look like this if I am going to be beautiful. I don't measure up. I must not be beautiful" The truth, however, is that the people in the magazines have gone through hours of hair and makeup and the pictures have had extensive airbrushing. We're trying to measure up to something that isn't even real. The Dove Campaign for True Beauty did a survey of women around the world and of the woman that answered, only 2% of them considered themselves beautiful. Why? I believe it is because we have confused looks with beauty. We assume that because something looks good on the outside, that it must be beautiful. The realiy of it, however, is that it is just an illusion.
I believe what this verse said. True beauty comes from the inner self. Our beauty is our culture and where we have come from. Our beauty is our history and what God has brought us through that has made us who we are. Our beauty is our quirks. It is our goals and accomplishments. Our beauty is our realationships, those around us that we impact. Our beauty is in the fact that we are children of God, daughters of the King. Our beauty is in the love of Christ that radiates from within us. And none of those things can be judged by a photograph.
God has created each of us as beautiful, yet I think we sometimes cover up our true beauty for looks that fade. Don't get me wrong, I don't see anything wrong with doing our hair and makeup and wanting to lose weight (if its to be healthy). I don't see anything wrong with wanting to dress nice. I love to do my hair and makeup and I want to get into better shape. However, I don't believe that God wants us to obsess over these things thinking that they will make up beautiful. I believe that God wants our beauty to radiate from our relationship with Him, our inner beauty, which never fades.
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