I was working in the kitchen recently with Matthew at my side, pulling out all of the pots and pans. I was surprised to see that he had done this:
Whoops! 🙂
I was working in the kitchen recently with Matthew at my side, pulling out all of the pots and pans. I was surprised to see that he had done this:
Psalm 13:1 How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
I admit, that I’ve felt this way lately. I’ve wondered where the Lord is, how long must I be in difficult situations, forever? I was eager to read this chapter, which is only 6 verses long, to see the answer that David got. David basically pours his heart out to the Lord for four verses and then stops. Just like that.
Verses 5-6 say: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. David totally changes perspective. He remembers the mercy that God gave him, and that God is extending that same mercy to others who equally don’t deserve it. He remembers that God has blessed him, so he can no longer complain to the Lord, but rather, praise Him, for truly, God has “dealt bountifully with him”.
You know, it’s true for me, too. I have problems and enemies. Yet, God freely gives His mercy. I know, because I receive it every day. So, I say with David, He has dealt bountifully with me, and I will trust Him. It really is just a matter of perspective.
Psalm 9:9-10 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
These verses were such a blessing to me today! I just wanted to share them. What a blessing that those of us who know the name of the Lord will trust in him. Why? Because, as verse ten says, he “hast not forsaken us”. I’ll be honest, sometimes I feel like waving toward heaven and saying “Yoohoo! I’m down here!”, because I feel invisible to the Lord. But feelings, as we all know, are not facts. The facts are found in God’s Word, and He says He is my refuge and that He has not forsaken me, nor will He ever forsake me.
Isn’t that wonderful news?! I’ve been oppressed lately from various angles. I’m weary, I feel beaten up. These are truly troublesome times. What a comfort to know where to go in times like these – to the feet of my Lord in prayer; to the pages of His Word. My Lord is my refuge and I run to Him today. Would you like to come, too? There’s room for all.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Dusting is always the chore that I put off until last. I only dust when it’s bad enough to write your name in it! At least then I can see the difference after I dust! It looks shining and beautiful. I dust our ceiling fans once a year, and the blinds…well, about once a year. Periodically, I dust my kitchen cabinets and the corners of the ceilings in all the rooms where cobwebs like to gather. I never thought about the walls, until one day, the door to our school room was open and the light from those windows shone perfectly on the wall of our darkened entry room, where I was standing. The light revealed a layer of dust and even cobwebs clinging in lines across the wall! I was shocked! How could a wall get so dusty? How could I let it get so dirty?
It immediately made me think about how I feel whenever I look into the perfect law of liberty, God’s Word, or hear a sermon and the light is shone on my sin. I’m shocked! How could I let that sin in my life? Perhaps it’s envy or anger or bitterness, sins that only I know about.
I’m thankful for the light of God’s Word that reveals the things I need to “clean out” of my life. I’ll be cleaning the dust off the walls and the sins from my heart.
I’ve always known that the Lord is the answer to everything. I’ve known it in my mind, but convincing a broken heart is often much harder. Stopping the flow of tears, laying aside the heavy weight within my chest cannot be done by just “knowing”. For instance, I know my husband loves me because he’s told me. But, I don’t want to simply hear the words once, I like hearing it often, especially during hard times.
I also enjoy hearing that my Father loves me. Sometimes, the journey seems long and all uphill. The answers to my prayers are “wait” or “no”. Discouragement lurks in the shadows, overwhelming me when I least expect it. What a blessing it is to my heart to see tangible proofs from my Father that He is with me in the darkness! Reminders that He is near when I am overwhelmed; He is my Rock.
Matt.11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them.
John the Baptist is in prison. He began to doubt if Jesus was Christ. He wondered, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” in Matt.11:3. The man who baptized Jesus, heard the voice of God say, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” and saw the Holy Spirit descend like a dove, wondered if this was, in fact, the Christ.
Is it any wonder then, that I, who am nowhere near the Christian that John the Baptist was, sometimes question and doubt what I’m living for? I’m trying to make right choices everyday. I’ve made every major decision of my life based upon God’s Word. I married my husband because I believed it was God’s will. I chose to stay home with my children and even homeschool them because I believed that’s what the Bible taught .But sometimes, friend, I wonder why I’m doing it all? I’m tired of the criticism, the lack of funds and the inferiority placed upon me by the world. I’ve asked the Lord, “You are there, aren’t You? I am doing right, aren’t I?”
When John questions Jesus from prison, Jesus gave John a message. He didn’t go to him in person or send an angel to talk to him, he just sent word. He said, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:Â
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached unto them. (Matt.11:4-5) Jesus didn’t condemn John for his lack of faith, after all, it was a momentary thing. John had suffered great things for the cause of Christ and was in prison when he began to doubt. Jesus understood that John was human. (Ps.103:14) Instead, He reminded him of the many great things that had happened. Only God could do such miracles!
He doesn’t condemn me when I doubt, either. He also doesn’t send a great miracle to convince me He’s there. Instead, He reminds me through His Word, like He did today. He sends me a rainbow, a hummingbird or a beautiful sunset. He shows me through a friend’s kind word, e-mail or note. He reminds me of past miracles that He’s performed in my life, and provides for me from day to day. Only God could such miracles! And then I am comforted. I know that He is real, and He is here.
Matt. 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.
It seems we have two extremes in Baptist churches today. We either have churches where there is much activity and many people working, or churches where absolutely nothing is going on. The first one is the right one. Churches should be busy reaching the lost and helping other believers. However, have you noticed that most of the time, it is women who run or work in the ministries of the church? Most Sunday School teachers, Children’s church workers and bus workers are women! Many Christian school teachers are women! I’m not saying it’s wrong for women to serve in these ministries, but often, they get overloaded with “church ministry” and fail to do well at their “God given ministry” – the family.
In the verse today, we see Peter’s mother-in-law is ill and Jesus heals her. She immediately begins her ministry again – serving her guests! Hospitality is almost a thing of the past, yet, we are told in God’s word to be hospitable. (Rom.12:13, 1 Pet.4:9) Why is this? Because we’re busy working in other “ministries”.
As a Pastor’s wife, I know everyone has expectations of me. Recently, a women informed me that a former pastor’s wife used to sit with a different family in the church each Sunday. She said this as though I should do the same. I’m glad that she was happy with that other lady for her choice to sit somewhere new each week, and I think that was fine for that pastor’s wife to do so. But it is not something I can do. I have to serve in the ways that my husband wants me to. I have to be careful that I please God and my husband, not man.
The same is true of all women. Our ministry is our families! They come first and church work comes second. I know. This sounds like I’m saying to put off church work, or quit doing it entirely. I don’t mean that at all. As women, our tender hearts can allow us to try to fill every need we see. Most of us can’t do everything without experiencing frustration and burnout. We must learn to prioritize. We can’t all do everything, but we can all do something.
Speaking of family, I better tend to mine! Have a wonderful Thursday!
Matt. 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?Â
I’m having severe allergy trouble today, so I’m not feeling thing best, but I wanted to pop in and share this verse. It really encouraged me! I have so many needs, and it thrilled my heart to read this. If my earthly father, who was flesh and blood and sinful, could give me good gifts (and he did), then how much more would my perfect, sinless, Heavenly Father! I can boldly bring my needs, and even my wants, before him, and He wants to help me!
Praise the Lord!
Is.29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me me is taught by the precept of men:
This verse reached out and grabbed me today. I think it could be describing Christianity today. We have so many people filling up Baptist churches all over America, yet it’s hard to “spot” a Christian in the real word. Everyone is the same – so few are vibrant, excited to share the Gospel with others! They come to church and say they are saved, they say they love God, they even say they fear God. But, do they? If you love the Lord, you’ll obey Him (John 14:15) To truly fear God, you have to believe that He is God, you have to realize that all things are under His authority; you have to believe on Him and know that one day you will stand before Him. It’s not a fear as in “I’m shaking in fear”, but a fear as in “I know His power and I respect Him for it.”
The best way, or rather, the only way to know His power is to have experienced His salvation. Probably many folks lack a true love for and fear of God because they don’t really know Him, they merely know of Him. There is a difference.
I grew up in a Christian home. My parents, brother and sister were the real deal: what you saw on Sunday, was they were on Monday-Saturday. I remember as a five year old, wanting what they had, but not knowing exactly what it was. I bet I prayed to ask God to save me two dozen times! I didn’t get saved, however, because I didn’t understand. I didn’t even know I was a sinner, or what sin was! The day I got saved, June 12, 1993, I experienced a change! It was not a feeling – I didn’t cry or anything – but I knew in my mind and heart that I was born again! No doubt about it. There was something different now. I no longer searched or tried to imitate my parents’ or siblings’ walk with God. I had my own.
Perhaps you’ve never truly met Jesus for yourself. It’s not too late! If you already know Him, then you’ve seen the difference for yourself.
My prayer is that others will easily see the difference in me.
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