DAILY READING
5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Ps 130
2 But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Ps 131
I’m encouraged this morning to wait on our LORD today, to still and quiet my soul, and not allow any anxiety to creep in over circumstances. I will trust like a child, and learn contentment.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
WHERE'S YOUR GAZE?
DAILY READING
Solomon and the psalmist have their focus in two completely different directions. One, a king on earth, was seeking fulfillment here through earthly things, and the other, a psalmist, lifted his gaze and focused on the true King of heaven.
“I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.” Eccl 2:1
“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.” Ps 123:1
The problem with Solomon’s gaze was that it led him to nothing but emptiness. Everything that is important to the world seems to magnetically pull for our attention, and may please us for a time but ultimately is futile. How we all have been pulled this way at some point or another.
Today, let my eyes be ever toward you LORD! Only you satisfy my heart! I lift up my soul to your seat of judgment where I find mercy and strength to follow you better and love you more today.
Solomon and the psalmist have their focus in two completely different directions. One, a king on earth, was seeking fulfillment here through earthly things, and the other, a psalmist, lifted his gaze and focused on the true King of heaven.
“I thought in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless.” Eccl 2:1
“I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.” Ps 123:1
The problem with Solomon’s gaze was that it led him to nothing but emptiness. Everything that is important to the world seems to magnetically pull for our attention, and may please us for a time but ultimately is futile. How we all have been pulled this way at some point or another.
Today, let my eyes be ever toward you LORD! Only you satisfy my heart! I lift up my soul to your seat of judgment where I find mercy and strength to follow you better and love you more today.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
BREATHE THE LIGHT
DAILY READING
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Ps 119:130-131
We can all give thanks that God didn't make this life confusing for us, he LIT the way! His word to us is full of everything we need to live godly lives today.
Thank you Father for the privilege as your child this morning to open my mouth and TAKE A DEEP BREATH of your holy word. Help me to BE SATISFIED in you alone!
I praise you also for the light of your word to us this weekend through Pastor Bobby to take our Christians lives to the next level. Help me grow in every discipline but mostly to love and serve you extensively more. How much MORE you have done for me. I could never repay, only humbly thank you.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. Ps 119:130-131
We can all give thanks that God didn't make this life confusing for us, he LIT the way! His word to us is full of everything we need to live godly lives today.
Thank you Father for the privilege as your child this morning to open my mouth and TAKE A DEEP BREATH of your holy word. Help me to BE SATISFIED in you alone!
I praise you also for the light of your word to us this weekend through Pastor Bobby to take our Christians lives to the next level. Help me grow in every discipline but mostly to love and serve you extensively more. How much MORE you have done for me. I could never repay, only humbly thank you.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
TWO KINDS OF HELP
DAILY READING
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory. Ps:108:12-13a
How much better to “take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” Ps 118:8 We can save ourselves the torture of anxiety and even endless heartache by resting in the promise that he will help us. Easier said than done, but what victory we can have! How much better to rise above whatever struggles we are facing and to soar like eagles because we have confidence in our King!
Father, help me avoid needless anxiety today by trusting you are with me and to keep firm confidence in the one who helps me, rather than turning to any person to fill my needs. Help me be bold with your truth in your strength today. Give me open doors! Let me be your reflecter!
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory. Ps:108:12-13a
How much better to “take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” Ps 118:8 We can save ourselves the torture of anxiety and even endless heartache by resting in the promise that he will help us. Easier said than done, but what victory we can have! How much better to rise above whatever struggles we are facing and to soar like eagles because we have confidence in our King!
Father, help me avoid needless anxiety today by trusting you are with me and to keep firm confidence in the one who helps me, rather than turning to any person to fill my needs. Help me be bold with your truth in your strength today. Give me open doors! Let me be your reflecter!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
WHEN HOPE IS MISSING
DAILY READING
Such raw pain! Such fierce despair! There’s NO MENTION OF HOPE in Job’s words today (and is almost absent in psalm 88 as well). This blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil, wanted to die. Yet at this crossroad of faith, we see Job begin to pour out his heart before God. We see him ultimately choose to remain faithful to his Creator in the face of extreme tragedy.
Thank you Father for speaking through Job’s life today. Thank you for not abandoning us in our deepest darkest hours because of the eternal HOPE we cling to in Jesus Christ. Just like you heard and recorded Job’s laments, you hear us when we cry out in pain with broken hearts. Sometimes we are slow, like sheep, not always understanding - and even sometimes wishing death over moving forward, but ultimately we know your voice and choose to follow you.
Such raw pain! Such fierce despair! There’s NO MENTION OF HOPE in Job’s words today (and is almost absent in psalm 88 as well). This blameless, upright man who feared God and shunned evil, wanted to die. Yet at this crossroad of faith, we see Job begin to pour out his heart before God. We see him ultimately choose to remain faithful to his Creator in the face of extreme tragedy.
Thank you Father for speaking through Job’s life today. Thank you for not abandoning us in our deepest darkest hours because of the eternal HOPE we cling to in Jesus Christ. Just like you heard and recorded Job’s laments, you hear us when we cry out in pain with broken hearts. Sometimes we are slow, like sheep, not always understanding - and even sometimes wishing death over moving forward, but ultimately we know your voice and choose to follow you.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
SACKCLOTH TO RICHES
READING
This story stirs such emotion in me. Earlier we see faithful Mordecai wailing loudly and bitterly in the city and wearing sackcloth and ashes after hearing the king's edict to annhialate the Jews. After such a death sentence, one could have lost hope. However God's plan was greater and he chose to use this man who humbled himself to play a great part in his plan.
Now Mordecai is wearing a crown! 15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
I admire this man's faithfulness and his humility before God. It's also exciting and comforting to see that God heard his prayers, used him in his grand plan of lovingly restoring his people, and exalted him to such a high place in Xerxe's kingdom.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today! Thank you for giving prosperity and hope in place of our dark clouds! Thank you for your divine love toward your people!
This story stirs such emotion in me. Earlier we see faithful Mordecai wailing loudly and bitterly in the city and wearing sackcloth and ashes after hearing the king's edict to annhialate the Jews. After such a death sentence, one could have lost hope. However God's plan was greater and he chose to use this man who humbled himself to play a great part in his plan.
Now Mordecai is wearing a crown! 15 Mordecai left the king's presence wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
I admire this man's faithfulness and his humility before God. It's also exciting and comforting to see that God heard his prayers, used him in his grand plan of lovingly restoring his people, and exalted him to such a high place in Xerxe's kingdom.
Father, thank you for hearing our prayers today! Thank you for giving prosperity and hope in place of our dark clouds! Thank you for your divine love toward your people!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
COLOSSAL POWER
READING
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." Esther 1:4
Evidently the power and splendor of King Xerxes' wealthy kingdom would take your breath away. What a extraordinary show he must have put on for all to see and admire. Imagine six months of gloating over one's power and colossal wealth.
In contrast, all of King Xerxes' "stuff" is like dirt compared to the eternal power and glory and splendor of our King in heaven!
"You alone are to be feared." Ps 76:7a
"What god is so great as our God?" Ps 77:13b
Awesome, holy, omnipotent God, you stand alone!
"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12
"For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty." Esther 1:4
Evidently the power and splendor of King Xerxes' wealthy kingdom would take your breath away. What a extraordinary show he must have put on for all to see and admire. Imagine six months of gloating over one's power and colossal wealth.
In contrast, all of King Xerxes' "stuff" is like dirt compared to the eternal power and glory and splendor of our King in heaven!
"You alone are to be feared." Ps 76:7a
"What god is so great as our God?" Ps 77:13b
Awesome, holy, omnipotent God, you stand alone!
"I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds." Ps 77:12
Sunday, July 20, 2008
WHATEVER THE COST
DAILY READING
"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah . . . He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
"But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" Neh 6:10-12
Oh to have such courage! Self-preservation would have been a natural response but Nehemiah overcame this temptation and identified that this man was not sent by God. Nehemiah was committed to his God-given task whatever the cost.
Father, please help me to also vanquish whatever temptations come my way today. Help me have the same courage and unwavering commitment to your purposes.
"One day I went to the house of Shemaiah . . . He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, because men are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you."
"But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Or should one like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!" Neh 6:10-12
Oh to have such courage! Self-preservation would have been a natural response but Nehemiah overcame this temptation and identified that this man was not sent by God. Nehemiah was committed to his God-given task whatever the cost.
Father, please help me to also vanquish whatever temptations come my way today. Help me have the same courage and unwavering commitment to your purposes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Sofia-Maree
Braydon
Jack
