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My God is…the One who sustains me Psalm 54

27 Mar

Psalm 54 – Relationship-conflict

Save me, O God, by your name;
vindicate me by your might.
 Hear my prayer, O God;
listen to the words of my mouth.

Arrogant foes are attacking me;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
people without regard for God.

Surely God is my help;
the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Let evil recoil on those who slander me;
in your faithfulness destroy them.

I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you;
I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
You have delivered me from all my troubles,
and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.

Arrogant foes are attacking me; ruthless people are trying to kill me—people without regard for God.

That’s never happened to you, right? You’ve never had anyone talk bad about you or tell people something that wasn’t true, have you? I’m guessing there are many who are reading this saying, “It has happened to me, and it’s happening right now!” Maybe it’s someone at work who is trying to make themselves look better than you. Maybe your friend is cutting you down to make herself look more important. Maybe someone is straight up lying about you. Does it sometimes seem that people are lying in wait to trip you up? They sometimes seem well-intentioned, but then “whammo” they complain about you to your peers or superiors. Or maybe you feel someone is trying to isolate you, and remove others from your life so that you’re dependent on them. These kind of attacks are really hard to take, aren’t they.

They may not be out to kill you, but they’re killing your spirit, because being misrepresented, lied about and manipulated is not good for the soul. These actions are often sadly performed by those professing to be Christians (full disclosure – I’m one of these people. I know that I have fallen short of treating others the way the Lord would treat them). But as painful as it is for me to admit I’m one of these people it’s even harder to hear that what I am doing shows disregard for God. And those who do this to you are disregarding God as well. They’re not following His command to love others as yourself. It’s all to easy to look out for “Numero Uno”. Oh wait. I guess that might be the problem, God should be “Numero Uno” in our lives, and when we replace Him with our own desires, we always get off track.

Surely God is my help.

How do you get through those horrible situations when people are on the attack, when the devil is on the attack and trying to distract you from your walk with God. Well, you’re not alone. God is your help. We need to lean on God in our tough situations and let Him handle them for us. Praying before we interact with those who trouble us, praying for opportunities to have healthy relationships with those who manipulate and to have the words to be firm but kind.

Definition of SUSTAIN

1: to give support or relief to
2: to supply with sustenance : nourish
4: to support the weight of : prop; also : to carry or withstand (a weight or pressure)
5: to buoy up <sustained by hope>
6a : to bear up under

 b : suffer, undergo <sustained heavy losses>
7a : to support as true, legal, or just
 b : to allow or admit as valid <the court sustained the motion>
8: to support by adequate proof : confirm <testimony that sustains our contention>
The Lord is the one who sustains me
Looking at the definition of sustain helps us to see the depth of the word that this scripture says God will do for us. He will give us support and relief. He will supply us with what we need to survive. He will help us persevere. When we can no longer stand under the strain, He will prop us up. He knows the truth, and testifies on our behalf. He gives us hope.
Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in your faithfulness destroy them.
When others slander and mistreat us, we can trust in God to administer His justice. It might not be in the time we want, but He’s got it under control. He is the one who will “Give them what they deserve”. We don’t have to think about revenge and restitution. We don’t have to think about anything but God.
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good.
There is nothing sweeter than having these kinds of situations resolved. When people are no longer attacking us in such a direct manner, we can recognize God’s provision and protection. We praise His name for everything He has accomplished in our lives, and the way He has helped us to grow in our faith and maturity through these situations.
You have delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.
 
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Posted by on March 27, 2013 in My God is the one who sustains me, Psalm

 

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My God is…Robed in Majesty Psalm 93:1-2

25 Mar

Psalm 93: 1-2 – The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; God-Creation
the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
 Your throne was established long ago;
you are from all eternity.

The Lord reigns

God is in charge. If you want to talk to the man at the top, God is your man. He’s the go to guy for any situation. If you want answers, He’s got them. If you want justice, He provides it. If you want security, He’s your God. He fulfills everything we need. No matter whether we acknowledge Him or not, He reigns.

He is robed in majesty

Definition of MAJESTY

1: sovereign power, authority, or dignity
2—used in addressing or referring to reigning sovereigns and their consorts <Your Majesty> <Her Majesty’s Government>
3a : royal bearing or aspect : grandeur

 b : greatness or splendor of quality or character
When we look at the phrase, “robed in majesty” I immediately pictured a king in his fanciest of robes. But to be robed in something is a bit different, I think. Robed means, “to clothe or cover with or as if with a robe”. It’s not the robe itself, but instead being covered with something. I think in the example of our verse above, it means that God has majesty all over Him. He’s got that sovereign power, authority, and the dignity only God can have, and it’s all over Him. His greatness and splendor is in every part of Him. He’s covered in it. He’s robed in it.
So why does it matter if God is robed in majesty?
I think the point of describing God as robed in majesty is to point out that He is God. He has supreme authority over all that happens. He has been around for all eternity and uses His strength for our good. Why does He have this supreme authority? This sovereign power? The author of our verses give us a couple of reasons. The first reason, “the world is established, firm and secure,” is like saying, you made all of this, and clearly you knew what you were doing, because each part of the world works off and with all of the other parts. There is no detail God has not created. In addition to being the majestic creator, the author also mentions that God’s  “throne was established long ago” and that God is “from all eternity.” God knows more, has seen more, understands more because He has seen it all. Literally. There is nothing that has been hidden from God. He has been present for every moment of every life. 
The Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength
Not only does God have the supreme authority, but He’s got the strength to back it up. He doesn’t have someone else fighting His battles for Him. He’s able to fight off all the evil in the world, and guess what the devil and all his minions have to listen. Why because God is robed in His majesty – God has the sovereign power, and He has had it since before the world began. We can trust our wants, needs and dreams to Him, because He has the power and strength to back up all His claims. His love for us allows us to lean on Him in all circumstances. Praise God!
 
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Posted by on March 25, 2013 in My God is Robed in Majesty, Psalm

 

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My God is…patient 2 Peter 3:8-9

18 Mar

2 Peter 3:8-9 – But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and Salvationa thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness

Clearly the Lord and I do not understand time in the same way. This verse even says so. It says, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” This concept is so big for my mind to even fathom. What I do know, is that my Lord doesn’t always do things on my time. I can sometimes find that frustrating. I may want a burden of mine (or a loved one) lifted, but I want it to happen now. It hardly ever happens right when I ask for it. Sometimes it happens quickly other times it’s hard for me to even recognize the answer to my prayers, no matter when they’re answered.

God isn’t being slow, as you and I think of slowness. 

God isn’t dragging His heals, He’s waiting for perfect timing. Timing that has our best interest at heart. His timing may not be what we think is perfect timing, but He has the perspective of actually understanding eternity. For Him, it’s all about Eternity. If waiting helps you or someone else come to faith, deepen their faith or acknowledge the Lord, than God will likely wait. He is patient, waiting for the perfect moment that will help draw us closer to Him.

Definition of PATIENT

1: bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
2: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
3: not hasty or impetuous
4: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
5a : able or willing to bear —used with of
 b : susceptible, admitting <patient of one interpretation>
Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain
Forbearance: a refraining from the enforcement of something (as a debt, right, or obligation) that is due. I had to look that up three times for it to stick in my memory. God is all about forbearance, isn’t He. Everything He has done was to help us escape the punishment we deserved. My mom seemed to understand that about our God. When my sister and I were in college, and my mom was sure we were making some stupid decisions, she would pray that we would not have the full consequences of our sins. She was asking the Lord for patience, forbearance and grace. That is what Jesus on the cross is all about, as well. Jesus died on the cross so we could benefit from God’s forbearance for us. He took on the enforcement of our punishment.
Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint
With this definition of patience, I feel like Jesus could be the synonym for patience. Our Lord Jesus took on our sins, took the full punishment, even unto death. He went through so many pains and trials, and didn’t complain, but calmly took it upon Himself so you and I might be freed from our sins.
Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Everything God does is with the intent of drawing us closer to Him. He wants everyone to come to repentance and to have faith in Him so that they will not perish but have eternal life that only comes through Jesus Christ. He is patient with you. As you learn and grow in Him, He knows you’re going to stumble and fall, but He stays by your side so that when you reach out, He’s right there to catch you. Oh how it pains Him when we ignore Him, or deny Him or sin against Him, but He is patient with us as we grow through His Holy Spirit and learn to cling to Him each day.
He wants a relationship with you
Sin stands between us and the Lord. It makes us want to deny Him, pull away from Him and ignore Him all together. But God, who loves you and I more than we can ever imagine, doesn’t want that for us. He wants us to live eternally with Him, and that’s why, even though we fail over and over again, He is patient. He loves you too much not to be.
 
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Posted by on March 18, 2013 in 2 Peter, My God is Patient

 

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My God is…True 1 John 5:20

13 Mar

I John 5:20 – We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may Survey or Questionnaireknow him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Definition of TRUE

1 a : steadfast, loyal
  b : honest, just
  c archaic : truthful
2 a (1) : being in accordance with the actual state of affairs<true description> (2) : conformable to an essential reality(3) : fully realized or fulfilled <dreams come true>
 b : ideal, essential
 c : being that which is the case rather than what is manifest or assumed <the true dimension of the problem>
 d : consistent <true to character>
3 a : properly so-called <true love> <the true faith> <the true stomach of ruminant mammals>
  b (1) : possessing the basic characters of and belonging to the same natural group as <a whale is a true but not a typical mammal> (2) : typical <the true cats>
4: legitimate, rightful <our true and lawful king>
5 a : that is fitted or formed or that functions accurately
  b : conformable to a standard or pattern : accurate
6: determined with reference to the earth’s axis rather than the magnetic poles <true north>
7: logically necessary
8: narrow, strict <in the truest sense>
9: corrected for error

Do you know what is true? 

Before I looked up the definition of the word “True”, I thought, what’s the point, we all know what true means. And that may be, but I did not expect the fullness of the word and how it may relate to my God. Besides the very last definition, I feel like reading the definition of true gives such a full, almost 3-D picture of the True God, my true God. Read the definitions again slowly, thinking about how God is true and see if it feels like more than you thought it did when you first read the Bible verse above. Amazing the depth of it all.

We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.

Jesus has given us understanding. Before Jesus came, believers were trusting that God would one day send a savior. They had faith that God would do what He said He would do. When Jesus came and fulfilled the many prophecies, He gave us a fuller understanding of God. Because Jesus fulfilled all those prophecies to the nth degree, we can see that God is true to His word. And He is so much more, true in so many ways, so many ways included in the definition above. But I think there is a very important part of this section of our verse that I don’t want to miss. Jesus came to give us understanding so that we may know Him who is true. God wants us to know Him. How do you get to know someone? I’m not talking about acquaintances. I’m talking about those people who really know us. Is it your family? Your best friend? Maybe it’s your enemy. How do they know you?

Spending time with someone and going through things with people is the way we get to see the character of a person. Our perception of someone may not be the same as their other friends, because it may depend on your shared experiences. When you get married and join another family, you quickly realize how well your family knows you and gets you (good or bad). You understand and know each other better than you know your new family. You’ve been through a lot with them (usually years and years). They’ve seen you at your best and at your worst. You’ve not always treated them kindly, but they haven’t always been kind to you either. But you know each other. God wants you to know Him, inside and out too. He wants you to be able to say, “That God, He’s so funny.” or “It’s so nice to spend time with someone who gets me”.

So that we may know him who is true.

Do you get what a miracle it is that the God of the universe wants a personal relationship with you (and me). I’m amazed. The most important being ever, wants you to get to know Him. He wants to spend time with you, be there for you to lean on when you’re going through troubles and to know all of your inside jokes. Oh how different our lives would be if we truly tried to get to know our Lord.

And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ.

So how to we get to know God? By getting to know Jesus Christ. Spending time reading His word, doing Bible studies, worshiping and praying, and by spending time with other believers that build you up in Christ.

We don’t always want to know the truth.

In my Bible study that I do with a friend on Tuesday mornings, there was an interesting example of how we (and the people of Judah) sometimes react to hearing what is true. In Isaiah 30:8-11 it says, Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the Lord’s instructions. They tell the seers, “Stop seeing visions!”
They tell the prophets, “Don’t tell us what is right. Tell us nice things. Tell us lies. Forget all this gloom. Get off your narrow path. Stop telling us about your ‘Holy One of Israel.’”

Some times we don’t want to know what is True. Sometimes we rebel, but pulling away from the True God only leads to destruction. God is always waiting for us to return to Him. He’s always ready to help us get to know Him more fully. Later in Isaiah 30 it says, ”

So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.

O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
Then you will destroy all your silver idols
and your precious gold images.
You will throw them out like filthy rags,
saying to them, “Good riddance!”

 

What do you want? True or False? 

 
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Posted by on March 13, 2013 in 1 John, My God is the Truth, My God is True

 

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My God is…hearing 1 John 5:14-15

08 Mar

1 John 5: 14-15 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his earwill, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

 

Are you confident approaching God? 

I know that the word confidence might throw some people off here. I have been told by several people that they are not confident in praying. Not about their confidence in God, but in their ability to pray. I don’t believe that there is any right way or wrong way to pray. Jesus did give us an example of how to pray. in the Lord’s Prayer:

 

Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.

Another good tool is to use a structure something like this: Praise (Saying who God is), confession (asking God for forgiveness for your sins), Thanksgiving (Thanking Him for all He’s done for you), and Supplication (Any requests you have on behalf of yourself or others).

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

Have you ever walked into a room, started talking to someone, then suddenly realize they can’t hear you because they’re wearing ear buds  Maybe you’re like me and when you’re working on your computer or watching TV, you’re so über focused, that you don’t hear your children when they ask you a question. Most humans have a little work to do on their listening skills. Not God. Not only does God listen to you, he hears you. He understands your full meaning. When I’m talking to my friend, we often say, “I hear ya”. We don’t just mean we’re listening (as it might be if my kids are talking loudly to me), we mean, I get it. We understand each other. Why do my friend and I feel like we understand each other? Because we’ve spent time together. We are in relationship with one another. We share our feelings, hopes and dreams with each other. We also talk about our problems and what our plans are. God wants to be in relationship with us as well. He wants us to talk to Him, through prayer about all of those things. He wants us to ask Him about anything and for anything. He understands us. God hears us. You can be confident that when you’re speaking to God, it’s not a futile task. There are no busy lines (most kids don’t even know what that is, do they?) or voice mail  You’ve got a direct line through prayer to the One who can handle all of your problems.

And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

What an amazing promise this is! I must confess, I find it hard to wrap my head around sometimes. Because of this promise, we can be confident in our prayers, assured that He’s listening, hearing and acting on what we pray. God is fully engaged in His relationship with you. He is ready to listen at the drop of a hat. He’s waiting for you to talk with Him, to turn to Him, to trust Him, to believe Him.

Are you confident approaching God?

 
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Posted by on March 8, 2013 in 1 John, My God is Hearing

 

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My God is…My Bridegroom Isaiah 62:5

06 Mar

Isaiah 62:5 – As a young man marries a young womanWedding Groom Waits
so will your Builder marry you;
as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,
so will your God rejoice over you.

As a bridegroom rejoices over his bride

Like most women, I love a good wedding. Yes, I love the beautiful dresses, the make up, the rings, the flowers, and the reception. I love it all. It’s a blessed thing to be able to join a couple at their wedding and rejoice with them in their future together. But, one of my all time favorite parts of a wedding is watching the groom. I love to see him as he squirms around trying to catch the first glimpse of his bride. He shifts his weight. Leaning right, then leaning left, he waits to see her enter the doorway. But the most glorious moment? When he sees her for the first time on the day they’re becoming husband and wife. His face beams. Those watching him can feel the love he has for his bride beaming off of him like hot sun rays in summer. My heart warms, my eyes water. It’s a beautiful thing. It’s a truly amazing thing when you’re the bride.

So will your God rejoice over you

Our God rejoices over us just like the bridegroom waiting for his bride. Imagine, there He stands. Waiting for a glimpse of the one He loves so much. He sees all that you’ve gone through. There is no one who knows you better. He’s your soul mate. He’s waiting for you. He’s leaning left and right just to catch sight of your face. He sees you and His face lights up. He’s beaming. Everyone around can tell that you love Him, and He loves you. He’s going to be with you forever. Never leaving you. Never forsaking you. He delights in you and rejoices over you. Everything else is inconsequential when you have His love. His love sees you through, set you free to be you and allows you to have eternal life with Him in Heaven.

I understand that if you’re a man reading this, it might be harder for you to put yourself in the place of the bride, but I think you can understand the feeling of seeing the one you love, and that person lighting up your life and being the only one who can bring you true happiness, joy and peace. God rejoices in you. He sees you and He gets who you are and what you want to become. He delights in you.

Who Rejoices over you?

 

 
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Posted by on March 6, 2013 in Isaiah, My God is my bridegroom, Uncategorized

 

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My God is…feeding Luke 12:23-25

04 Mar

Luke 12:23-25 – For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not girl-hand-on-stomachsow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

I don’t know about you, but I like my food and my clothes. I am not happy when I don’t have the right food or the right clothes. How many of us are working to put food on the table and clothes on our children’s backs. We feel it is our responsibility as parents and spouses to provide and contribute to our households. And it is, but sometimes that desire to provide moves our focus onto money, things and food and off of the most important thing in our lives…Jesus Christ.

We worry.

The devil not only wants us to put our trust in money, position and food, but he will be satisfied to make us worry about them. To try to get us not to trust God for all our needs. The devil wants us to doubt that the Lord will actually provide actual money when we need it. He wants us to think that we can’t trust the Lord with our bills, bodies or our clothing.

Provided for

Many times throughout my life, my parents, who are very faithful followers of the Lord have found themselves in situations where we didn’t know how we were going to pay for things. The Lord gave my mother amazing shopping skills, a keen perception for finding ways to make money stretch, but even those gifts were not always enough. Sometimes there just wasn’t any money for what we needed. But then there would be. The one time I remember most clearly (though I’m quite sure I have vague memories of more) was when we were feeling particularly in a bind, because of this bill or that and in the mail we received a check from a company my mom had worked for a year or more before. She had no idea that there was any money out there, but the Lord provided it the moment we needed it.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.

This part of the verse is very interesting to me. And truth be told this may get some of your backs up. I think we often do too much. Maybe this is wishful thinking from a slightly lazy woman. I think sometimes the Lord would prefer that we spent our days focused on Him and less focused on work, cleaning our cars or our house, or even paying the bills. I know those things in themselves are not bad things, but I believe that the Lord can provide for us even when we aren’t doing “enough” to get by in life. I know that this year my husband and I have reduced our income by over $10,000. But by the grace of God, we have barely noticed (at least beyond the first few months). We have been blessed by support of our family and friends, not always monetarily (though my parent’s are very generous with their help), but with their time and talents as well. God may not always provide in the way we want or the way we expect, but we have what we need if we allow the Lord to reveal it to us.

Are you content with what the Lord provides? 

Sometimes it is more about being content with what He provides than whether or not He provided. When we lived in St. Louis, I thought to myself, maybe I should join a gym, then I’m sure I would be motivated to work out. We didn’t have the money for a gym membership (especially when my enthusiasm waxes and wains so). I began to think about how the Lord provides for my every need. I thought to myself, what am I missing. God wants me to be fit, I believe. So how has he provided what I need. At the time we lived on the back of a large park with wonderful walking trails. In our apartment complex there was a small gym (yep – already had one at my disposal). In my own home there were two flights of stairs, numerous workout tapes and plenty of opportunity to work out. I didn’t like those options as much as going to a shiny gym with lots of classes, but truth was, I had everything I needed within walking distance of my couch (which is where I had spent most of my time).

How much more valuable you are than birds!

You are the Lord’s greatest possession. He loves you so much. 1 Peter 2:8-10 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” He loved us so much He sent His son to die for us that we might live eternally with Him in Heaven. If He has such amazing plans for you in Heaven, why would he want you to be unprovided for here on earth? He doesn’t.

He has provided all you need. 

Outside of our physical needs, God has provided all we need for eternity. He has provided a way for us to spend eternity with Him. He has given His life so we may be forgiven. Our past is forgotten, and only our future with the Lord is in effect. We have hope, peace and a future. When we believe that Jesus, Son of God, died and rose again to save us from our sins, we have all we need. Our future is secure.

Do you have what you need?

 
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Posted by on March 4, 2013 in God is My Portion, God is my Provider, Luke, My God is feeding

 

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My God is…a fortified tower Proverbs 18:10

27 Feb

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; strong-tower
the righteous run to it and are safe.

Where do you go to feel safe? 

I remember when I was little, my grandma would come to visit. She was from California. She hated thunderstorms and was very scared there would be a tornado. She didn’t have a lot of experience with either of them, and they frankly scared her beyond reason. I always thought it was kind of fun when there would be a thunderstorm when my grandma was around. She would make us all go to the basement, we would take the little portable black and white television, set it on the washing machine and keep an eye on the news so we could see the ensuing storm. My sister and I would sit on the floor playing Barbies, and not even flinching a bit. We had seen lots of storms, but grandma hadn’t,so we all did what it took to make her feel protected. The basement, having her family around her made her feel like she was safer. The thick walls of the basement gave her security.

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower

I wonder how my life would change if I took this verse from scripture to heart. If, like my grandma would take off for the basement, when life got stormy I went running to my strong tower, the name of the Lord. Calling on the name of the Lord. This morning, I was a mess. I was having problems with my computer yesterday, so I had my husband take it to the store and ask to get it repaired. He did. This morning, I totally freaked out. I was concerned about my files, passwords and identity theft. I couldn’t contain myself. I looked to my husband to fix it. He had no good answers. I started to blame him, cry and basically go a bit crazy. It was embarrassing.

I had just finished a Bible study the night before where we talked about the power of the Lord’s name, and how we have to call on Him when we’re in trouble. I felt pumped. I told myself things were going to be different now. I was always going to trust God and let Him handle the stresses of my life. That lasted about 8 hours. I was so busy throwing a fit that I never calmed down enough to pray about it and turn it over to the Lord.

The righteous run to it and are safe

God promises when we come to Him believing that He will take care of us, we will be safe. I didn’t trust that this morning, and for that I am ashamed. I don’t want to live like that anymore. I want to live in the freedom of Christ in me and letting Him handle things for me. I don’t have to fix everything.

Putting our trust anywhere else is futile

Isaiah 50:9-11 says,”Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord
and rely on his God.
Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches!
Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled!
This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.”

 

In these verses, we can see that we can trust in the name of the Lord and rely on God. The Lord God helps me. I spoke to a friend about my embarrassing behavior this morning, and she encouraged me that at least I was now recognizing my lack of faith. I can now start to practice having faith more often, even in the face of trials. Each moment is an opportunity to react differently than the world. To not freak out, trust in the Name of the Lord and give God the glory by our unusual reaction to trials, tantrums and torment.

Have you ever thrown a tantrum?

 
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Posted by on February 27, 2013 in My God is a fortified tower, Proverbs

 

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My God is…disciplining Hebrews 12:4-13

25 Feb

Hebrews 12:4-13

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you disciplining-daughtercompletely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Who likes to be disciplined?

I know, you do, don’t you! I’m sure when you were a child and your parents disciplined you, you said, “Thank you mom and dad for not letting me go to my friends party. I really needed to learn a lesson about respecting you more.” RIGHT! I don’t think any of us respond that way in the moment, but it is true that sometimes we can see the wisdom in our parent’s discipline.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Truth be told,only parents who don’t care about their children ignore their responsibility to discipline. God loves us so much that He is willing to discipline us. God wants us to grow in our relationship with Him, and sometimes we need redirection at least and full on discipline at the most. When we struggle with a sin, we can find ourselves replacing God as the most important thing in our lives. Problem is, when that happens we can get off track and end up someplace neither of us wanted it to end up.

God’s discipline is perfect
Our parents did their best. Sometimes they got that discipline thing just right. Other times, they over punished, or maybe let us get away with something that later became harmful. Our Earthly parents sometimes discipline out of frustration and anger instead of out of loving care. God always gets it right. He knows how much, when, and how it is best delivered. God’s discipline is always in our best interest. He never has his own agenda, except to have a closer, stronger relationship with you minus our distractions.

Now do you like discipline?

 
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Posted by on February 25, 2013 in Hebrews, My God is disciplining

 

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My God is…opposing the proud 1 Peter 5:4-6

22 Feb

1 Peter 5:4-6 – 

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.thumbs-up-fonz

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

 

Humble yourselves

Are you humble? Can anyone answer yes to that question without instantly making it untrue? I think of my Grandma who was probably the smartest person I’ve ever known. She was humble. I imagine her answer to that question might be some wonderful quip that would surely show her as humble without actually saying it. What exactly does it mean to be humble?

Definition of HUMBLE

1: not proud or haughty : not arrogant or assertive
2: reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission <a humble apology>
3a : ranking low in a hierarchy or scale : insignificant,unpretentious
b: not costly or luxurious <a humble contraption>
Humble does not mean self-deprecating
Even though one might be humble, that doesn’t mean they are honest about the achievements in their lives. The problem comes when you say you’re better than someone or take credit for something you didn’t actually do. For those of us who are Christians this comes down to giving God the Glory for the things that happen in our lives. It reminds me of the study of David were doing with my women’s group. David didn’t have much to do with being picked to be the King of Israel. He was out minding the sheep when the Lord selected him and had him anointed. Even after he was anointed, he didn’t become king right away. He first did an “internship” as a musician in the King’s Palace.
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble
God knows that He is the source of all the good that comes in my life, but too often I try to take all the credit for myself. But all good things come from God. James 1:17 reads, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” So anything that is going well in my life, all the blessings I have are from the Lord. He is the creator of my blessings. When I try to take the credit for the things in my life, I’m missing the opportunity to glorify God. To point to Him as the source of my blessings. I try to pretend that I am more than I am. Could I have done any of the things I have done without the brain He gave me? Could I be a blessing to others without the soul He created for me? No. I don’t have much to do with the successes of my life. God is the source of all of it.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
So if we are to be lifted up to a high position in the society, education or career, it will be by the grace of God. He will be the one lifting you and I up with His mighty hand. We must give Him the glory, allowing Him to be revealed in all we do.
So I’ll ask again, are you humble?
 
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Posted by on February 22, 2013 in 1 Peter, My God is opposing the proud

 

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