"...so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope."
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Henry David Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them." I've heard and even shared the first half of that quote with others over the years but until recently had not been familiar with the last half, "...and go to the grave with the song still in them." How sad that for so much of humanity this statement rings painfully true. Fortunately for those of us who know Christ, that doesn't have to be the case.
Notice that I said it doesn't have to be the case. The Bible says in Colossians 1:27 that it is Christ in us "the hope of glory". As believers we possess what everyone else is desperate and longing for-- yet they don't know it. How sad. Perhaps even more grievous is that oftentimes we ourselves live as though we don't know it either! We have the song in us that others so desperately need to hear us sing.
Do you rub shoulders with people everyday who are headed to the grave with the song still in them? I don't want that to be me. Don't let it be you.
Sing your song!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Numbering Our Days
"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12
It is fall in New England, one of my most favorite times of the year. I looked out my bedroom window this morning to see that my little backyard is totally covered in leaves--red, yellow, orange and brown.
On my walk I shuffled my feet through intermittent piles of those beautiful colors and my mind began to think some of "those thoughts". You know the kind I mean. The "Hmmm, time sure has flown by. Just yesterday the kids were tiny and we were taking nature walks together. Now they are all grown up and on their own and......" Yeah. Fall has a way of doing that doesn't it?
Psalm 90:12 kept running through my mind as I made my way back home. "Teach us to number our days...." You know I'm not sure that psalmist meant for us to try and numerically calculate just how many days we have left but maybe more so that we should keep in mind that our days really are numbered. We really are but a vapor, arent' we? After all, none of us really know how many days we have left, do we? Some of us may have 20 years, some 20 months and some just 20 minutes.
The last part of the verse says "...that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Sounds to me like we don't just come by hearts of wisdom naturally. If that's true then we should make sure we know how to get one. I, for one, am always asking for wisdom. The book of James tells us that if any of us lack wisdom we are to ask of God. I willingly admit that I'm in the lacking category. I want to sign up for as much as I can get.
If I keep in mind that my days are numbered does that affect the way I treat those that I love? How about those that I don't love? How about those that I don't know? How about the one who loves me most?
Numbering my days...... Yes, I need to spend a lot more time on that one.
Psalm 90:12
It is fall in New England, one of my most favorite times of the year. I looked out my bedroom window this morning to see that my little backyard is totally covered in leaves--red, yellow, orange and brown.
On my walk I shuffled my feet through intermittent piles of those beautiful colors and my mind began to think some of "those thoughts". You know the kind I mean. The "Hmmm, time sure has flown by. Just yesterday the kids were tiny and we were taking nature walks together. Now they are all grown up and on their own and......" Yeah. Fall has a way of doing that doesn't it?
Psalm 90:12 kept running through my mind as I made my way back home. "Teach us to number our days...." You know I'm not sure that psalmist meant for us to try and numerically calculate just how many days we have left but maybe more so that we should keep in mind that our days really are numbered. We really are but a vapor, arent' we? After all, none of us really know how many days we have left, do we? Some of us may have 20 years, some 20 months and some just 20 minutes.
The last part of the verse says "...that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Sounds to me like we don't just come by hearts of wisdom naturally. If that's true then we should make sure we know how to get one. I, for one, am always asking for wisdom. The book of James tells us that if any of us lack wisdom we are to ask of God. I willingly admit that I'm in the lacking category. I want to sign up for as much as I can get.
If I keep in mind that my days are numbered does that affect the way I treat those that I love? How about those that I don't love? How about those that I don't know? How about the one who loves me most?
Numbering my days...... Yes, I need to spend a lot more time on that one.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Peace
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27
I find myself praying for peace alot lately. Not world peace, even though that is certainly a worthy prayer. We all know that there won't truly be peace in the world until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns. No, I am talking about personal peace--the "please breathe on me Lord before I lose my mind!" kind of peace.
We all have those days (or weeks or months or even years) when the best we can do is cry out for His help or His peace or both! No thou's and thee's, no "Dear Heavenly Father's", no praying around the world for everyone we know (which definately has it's place). Just a simple " I need your peace, Lord." He knows all that is really packed into that one line request. In fact, more than likely, He's the one who put it on our hearts to ask Him for it in the first place! Try to wrap your mind around that one. He often tells us what to ask Him for so that He can turn around and give it to us! Wow, really?
Need any peace?
I find myself praying for peace alot lately. Not world peace, even though that is certainly a worthy prayer. We all know that there won't truly be peace in the world until Jesus, the Prince of Peace, returns. No, I am talking about personal peace--the "please breathe on me Lord before I lose my mind!" kind of peace.
We all have those days (or weeks or months or even years) when the best we can do is cry out for His help or His peace or both! No thou's and thee's, no "Dear Heavenly Father's", no praying around the world for everyone we know (which definately has it's place). Just a simple " I need your peace, Lord." He knows all that is really packed into that one line request. In fact, more than likely, He's the one who put it on our hearts to ask Him for it in the first place! Try to wrap your mind around that one. He often tells us what to ask Him for so that He can turn around and give it to us! Wow, really?
Need any peace?
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Dwelling and Abiding
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
What a precious week-end we shared together at the Women's Retreat! The Lord was so evidently present with us.
We learned that dwelling with Him means that we make our home with Him. We don't just pop in and out from time to time when we need something--we actually live there! When we live with someone we get to know who they really are. God wants us to get to know who He really is.
We also learned that abiding means that we stay even when we feel like running away. When we are committed to abiding in Him, we actually give Him the opportunity to prove Himself to us. Oh, how He wants to prove His love and faithfulness to us.
If you are a mother who has ever been separated from a child, you know how your heart breaks and longs to hold that child and pull them close to you. Our loving Father is no different. He longs for us to dwell and abide with Him--to live and to stay with Him no matter what happens.
Thank you ladies of HCF for the unconditional love you have for each other and for me. Thank you again for the beautifully engraved jewelry box you gave me. I am blessed to be a part of you.
God is faithful!
What a precious week-end we shared together at the Women's Retreat! The Lord was so evidently present with us.
We learned that dwelling with Him means that we make our home with Him. We don't just pop in and out from time to time when we need something--we actually live there! When we live with someone we get to know who they really are. God wants us to get to know who He really is.
We also learned that abiding means that we stay even when we feel like running away. When we are committed to abiding in Him, we actually give Him the opportunity to prove Himself to us. Oh, how He wants to prove His love and faithfulness to us.
If you are a mother who has ever been separated from a child, you know how your heart breaks and longs to hold that child and pull them close to you. Our loving Father is no different. He longs for us to dwell and abide with Him--to live and to stay with Him no matter what happens.
Thank you ladies of HCF for the unconditional love you have for each other and for me. Thank you again for the beautifully engraved jewelry box you gave me. I am blessed to be a part of you.
God is faithful!
Monday, September 7, 2009
You Are The Light
"You are the light of the world--like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all." Matthew 5:14-15
What a powerful verse! Jesus said that we are the light of the world. Notice he didn't say we should be or we can be or that someday we might be. We are the light of the world.
If you're like me, some days you don't really feel like being the light of the world. Some days I would rather just turn my light off, take out the batteries and let someone else do the honors. This light stuff is pretty intense, though. We can't just decide when and where we want to be a light. This is a full time job. More than that--I guess it's really a calling. Once we receive His gift of salvation we are the light of the world.
Someone once said, "There is no plan B!" It's up to us to be the light that points the rest of the world to Jesus.
What a responsibility. What a calling. What a privilege. What an honor. What a Savior!
What a powerful verse! Jesus said that we are the light of the world. Notice he didn't say we should be or we can be or that someday we might be. We are the light of the world.
If you're like me, some days you don't really feel like being the light of the world. Some days I would rather just turn my light off, take out the batteries and let someone else do the honors. This light stuff is pretty intense, though. We can't just decide when and where we want to be a light. This is a full time job. More than that--I guess it's really a calling. Once we receive His gift of salvation we are the light of the world.
Someone once said, "There is no plan B!" It's up to us to be the light that points the rest of the world to Jesus.
What a responsibility. What a calling. What a privilege. What an honor. What a Savior!
Friday, August 21, 2009
The Word
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.....and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...." John 1:1, 14
I know, I know--it's not Christmas. This verse is the stuff that some of the most beautiful Christmas cards are made of. I've just been thinking a lot about the Word lately--no, not the word--the Word.
I won't mention how many years it's been since I took New Testament Greek in college and to say I'm a bit "rusty" would be quite an understatement. In fact, I'm sure I've forgotten ninety percent of what I learned back then, I'm ashamed to admit. There are, however, a couple of Greek words that have always stuck with me. One of those is LOGOS or the Word. The English dictionary says of the term logos, "The creative word of God which is itself God and incarnate in Jesus. Also called Word."
If you're like me in your journey of faith, there are seasons that you "re-discover" the wonder of it all. I suppose I'm in one of those seasons. As my youngest will soon leave for college, I have been much more introspective lately. When I am introspective and looking at my life and life in general, my faith always plays a leading role. I find more and more that the Word, or Jesus Christ, is my anchor and my plumb line. As the scripture says, he is my "Rock". Without him, nothing else really makes much sense.
I am forever in awe of the language the Apostle John used when describing Jesus' entrance into our existence..."and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." In layman's terms I guess you could say that Jesus "put skin on and jumped down in this hole with us." Now don't go off on my use of the term "hole". I'm not referring to specifics in our lives but rather to the human condition in general. Let's face it, the scripture says that without Christ we were and are utterly lost and without hope. When the Word entered the picture--everything changed. If we surrender ourselves and our lives to Him we find the hope that our souls long for. With Christ we have a way out and a way up!
St. Augustine said, "Thou has made us for Thyself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."
Logos. The Word. Think about it.
I know, I know--it's not Christmas. This verse is the stuff that some of the most beautiful Christmas cards are made of. I've just been thinking a lot about the Word lately--no, not the word--the Word.
I won't mention how many years it's been since I took New Testament Greek in college and to say I'm a bit "rusty" would be quite an understatement. In fact, I'm sure I've forgotten ninety percent of what I learned back then, I'm ashamed to admit. There are, however, a couple of Greek words that have always stuck with me. One of those is LOGOS or the Word. The English dictionary says of the term logos, "The creative word of God which is itself God and incarnate in Jesus. Also called Word."
If you're like me in your journey of faith, there are seasons that you "re-discover" the wonder of it all. I suppose I'm in one of those seasons. As my youngest will soon leave for college, I have been much more introspective lately. When I am introspective and looking at my life and life in general, my faith always plays a leading role. I find more and more that the Word, or Jesus Christ, is my anchor and my plumb line. As the scripture says, he is my "Rock". Without him, nothing else really makes much sense.
I am forever in awe of the language the Apostle John used when describing Jesus' entrance into our existence..."and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." In layman's terms I guess you could say that Jesus "put skin on and jumped down in this hole with us." Now don't go off on my use of the term "hole". I'm not referring to specifics in our lives but rather to the human condition in general. Let's face it, the scripture says that without Christ we were and are utterly lost and without hope. When the Word entered the picture--everything changed. If we surrender ourselves and our lives to Him we find the hope that our souls long for. With Christ we have a way out and a way up!
St. Augustine said, "Thou has made us for Thyself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee."
Logos. The Word. Think about it.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
A New Song
"He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3
In this particular Psalm, David begins by giving us a brief overview of a recent trial in his life. He speaks of several things including: patience, crying, a slimy pit, mud and mire. His description then moves on to a picture of the Lord setting his feet on a rock and a firm place to stand.
Toss all of the above into a mixing bowl and "voila"! Out pops a new song--right! Not so fast. Don't forget who the cook is. God alone gives us the patience to wait as He is working. His gentle voice is whispering the melody in our ears. He knows when the slimy pit, mud and mire part is finished. He hums the harmony at that point. It is His hand that sets our feet on the rock and gives us a firm place to stand in His perfect timing. Then we have it--the new song!
Interesting thing about new songs; we usually end up teaching them to those around us while we are learning the words ourselves! Whether you are initially interested or not, you usually can't help picking up the tune if the person next to you sings it often enough.
The Psalmist says of our new song, "Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord". Why? Because of us! When we sing our song others will want what we have.
Learning any new songs?
In this particular Psalm, David begins by giving us a brief overview of a recent trial in his life. He speaks of several things including: patience, crying, a slimy pit, mud and mire. His description then moves on to a picture of the Lord setting his feet on a rock and a firm place to stand.
Toss all of the above into a mixing bowl and "voila"! Out pops a new song--right! Not so fast. Don't forget who the cook is. God alone gives us the patience to wait as He is working. His gentle voice is whispering the melody in our ears. He knows when the slimy pit, mud and mire part is finished. He hums the harmony at that point. It is His hand that sets our feet on the rock and gives us a firm place to stand in His perfect timing. Then we have it--the new song!
Interesting thing about new songs; we usually end up teaching them to those around us while we are learning the words ourselves! Whether you are initially interested or not, you usually can't help picking up the tune if the person next to you sings it often enough.
The Psalmist says of our new song, "Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord". Why? Because of us! When we sing our song others will want what we have.
Learning any new songs?
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