"...because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day." 2 Timothy 1:12
On my first break back home from my freshman year in college, my Dad asked me a question, "Well, now that you're in college what have you learned?" I distinctly remember answering, "I've learned that there is a whole lot that I don't know!"
After nearly 30 years in ministry I hear myself saying the same thing, "The older I get, the more I realize that there is so much I don't know!" But you know what? That's OK with me. I would be foolish to pretend that I have all of the answers. My goodness, I don't even know all the questions!
In ministering to those who are questioning their neglect or abuse by a family member, or rejection, or grieving the loss of a loved one, I often hear myself saying, " I don't know..." What I do know is that God loves me and he loves you, that he desires to bring good out of the most painful situations, and that someday when we get to heaven our questions will be answered and the pain and tears of this life will be but a brief memory. That is what I hang my hat on when things around me don't make sense. I have to trust the heart of the One who loved me so much that he gave his life in exchange for mine.
Paul said in 2 Timothy 1:12 that even in the midst of suffering he held on to the fact that he knew who he had believed and was fully convinced that the Lord was able to take care of what he had entrusted to him. Because of what he did know, it was OK to admit the things that he didn't know.
What do you know?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
My Gift To Him
"Therefore, those who also suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right." 1 Peter 4:19
What do you give the person who has everything? No doubt you have had that thought if not already spoken the phrase several times already during this holiday season.
I am purposely committing to step away from the shopping and planning and carve out some quiet time to think about what I want to give to my Lord this year. I know, we all want to give Him our love and devotion, our worship and adoration--all the things He so richly deserves and we so often neglect to offer. But what about me personally? What am I to offer Him this year and looking toward the year to come? As I think and pray, my mind continues to bring me back to the verse that I have committed to memorize for 2010--1 Peter 4:19. I am especially drawn to the last half of the verse, "...shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."
Whether I like it or not, suffering is a very real part of life--even the life of the committed believer. But how I respond to suffering and trials is really my gift back to Christ. Am I going to get angry, kick and scream, panic and run? Or am I going to release my will and continue to do what is right, trusting that my God, the Lover of my soul will be glorified and bring something good and precious from my trial?
My gift to Him this year is settled. I will entrust my soul to my faithful Creator in doing what is right.
How about you?
What do you give the person who has everything? No doubt you have had that thought if not already spoken the phrase several times already during this holiday season.
I am purposely committing to step away from the shopping and planning and carve out some quiet time to think about what I want to give to my Lord this year. I know, we all want to give Him our love and devotion, our worship and adoration--all the things He so richly deserves and we so often neglect to offer. But what about me personally? What am I to offer Him this year and looking toward the year to come? As I think and pray, my mind continues to bring me back to the verse that I have committed to memorize for 2010--1 Peter 4:19. I am especially drawn to the last half of the verse, "...shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."
Whether I like it or not, suffering is a very real part of life--even the life of the committed believer. But how I respond to suffering and trials is really my gift back to Christ. Am I going to get angry, kick and scream, panic and run? Or am I going to release my will and continue to do what is right, trusting that my God, the Lover of my soul will be glorified and bring something good and precious from my trial?
My gift to Him this year is settled. I will entrust my soul to my faithful Creator in doing what is right.
How about you?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Do The Next Thing
"Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:2
Elisabeth Elliot often quotes this beautiful old poem. When I am so overwhelmed with care and responsibility and not sure how everything is to be accomplished, these words encourage me not to look too far ahead. Many times faithfulness in this walk with Christ is a matter of being determined just to "Do the next thing."
"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
It's quaint Season legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, "Do the next thing."
Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, "Do the next thing."
Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, "Do the next thing."
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm
the light of His countenance
be thy psalm, "Do the next thing."
Elisabeth Elliot often quotes this beautiful old poem. When I am so overwhelmed with care and responsibility and not sure how everything is to be accomplished, these words encourage me not to look too far ahead. Many times faithfulness in this walk with Christ is a matter of being determined just to "Do the next thing."
"At an old English parsonage down by the sea,
there came in the twilight a message to me.
It's quaint Season legend deeply engraven
that, as it seems to me, teaching from heaven
And all through the hours the quiet words ring,
like a low inspiration, "Do the next thing."
Many a questioning, many a fear,
many a doubt hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from heaven,
time, opportunity, guidance are given.
Fear not tomorrow, child of the King,
trust that with Jesus, "Do the next thing."
Do it immediately, do it with prayer,
do it reliantly, casting all care.
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand,
who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on omnipotence, safe 'neath His wing,
leave all resultings, "Do the next thing."
Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
working or suffering be thy demeanor,
in His dear presence, the rest of His calm
the light of His countenance
be thy psalm, "Do the next thing."
Monday, November 16, 2009
Hope-Full
"...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!
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!
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!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)