As I read my Bible this morning, I was reminded of how much I love the crisp sound of Bible pages turning, and in thankfulness for the gift of hearing, I decided to study "hearing." I have always prayed and asked the Lord to "open my eyes, that I might behold wondrous things out of thy law," (Ps 119:18), and He never fails me: if I really want to see - He DOES show me wondrous things as I read His Word. But what about hearing?? I am mindful of the fact that the Bible says that faith cometh by hearing (Romans 10:17).
Imagine being able to see an orchestra, but not hear it, or being able to hear the waves crashing on the beach, but not see the ocean! Praise the Lord, our senses work together to help us enjoy God's creation, and Praise the Lord for being fortunate enough to not be deaf or blind. But even Helen Keller was quoted as saying that "It is a terrible thing to see, but have no vision." The gifts of sight and hearing are of little value to us spiritually if we do not choose to see and hear what God wants us to see and hear.
I am reminded of the children's song" Oh, be careful little eyes (ears) what you see (hear)." We need to be careful not to look at or hear things that will hurt us spiritually; but also, in studying the Bible, we need to be careful that we are not just seeing or hearing the words without applying ourselves to understanding what we are seeing and hearing. Jesus spoke of this in Matthew 13:13, that "seeing they see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand."
In I Samuel 3:9+10, Samuel could hear God calling him, but it was not until Eli told him to tell the Lord to "Speak: for thy servant heareth," that God revealed more to him. Like Samuel, we must make a conscious decision to really listen to what we are hearing, and really see what we are seeing when we study the Bible. I like what the Psalmist says in Ps 85:8 - "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints..."
Lord, help me to always remember to truly hear what You are saying when I study Your Word!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Daddy's Hands
As a child, when I felt insecure I would always seek out my father. Just sitting beside him made me feel secure. Since I am now grown, and my father is in heaven, it is on such days that I always find myself turning to the book of Isaiah to seek comfort from my Heavenly Father.
I know that for many people, when they need to feel near to God, they turn to the Psalms. But for me, I have always felt closest to God in Isaiah, where He reminds me that I am feeling insecure "Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength." (17:16)
He tells me that "He will swallow up death in victory: and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces..." (25:8)
I am reminded that "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." (26:3); that He is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (28:29); that "in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (30:15); that I will hear Him saying to me "This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (30:21)
He promises that "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of Our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8); that He "fainteth not, neither is weary...there is no searching of His understanding" (40:28); that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint." (40:31)
He comforts me by saying "Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God:; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (41:10). He says that "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins(44:25) and reminds me that it is He who "formed thee from the womb, which will help thee..." (44:2)
He gives me the confidence that "the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and i know that I shall not be ashamed" (50:7); that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (54:17); and He says of His word that "it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (55:11).
In my confusion, he tells me of Himself that "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways ... for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (55:8+9)
In my failures, he says "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners" ((57:18); and that though my "righteousnesses are as filthy rags (64:6); I can say "O Lord, thou art our father, we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand." (64:8)
I don't remember how it started, but when I would seek out my dad as a child, he would always squeeze my little hand within the vice grip of his big, powerful hand until I would giggle and beg him not to squeeze any harder. I was always impressed with his strength, and I was comforted to know that those hands belonged to a man who would always love and protect me ... so it is, that I find myself comforted to "sit beside" my heavenly Daddy in Isaiah, as I read His promise to uphold me with His right hand (41:10) - the same Hand that Isaiah 48:13 says spans the universe!. When I think about the fact that I am being upheld with the same hand that upholds the universe, I can feel that same security that I felt as a child. Praise the Lord!
I know that for many people, when they need to feel near to God, they turn to the Psalms. But for me, I have always felt closest to God in Isaiah, where He reminds me that I am feeling insecure "Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength." (17:16)
He tells me that "He will swallow up death in victory: and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces..." (25:8)
I am reminded that "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee." (26:3); that He is "wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (28:29); that "in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" (30:15); that I will hear Him saying to me "This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." (30:21)
He promises that "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of Our God shall stand for ever" (Isaiah 40:8); that He "fainteth not, neither is weary...there is no searching of His understanding" (40:28); that "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint." (40:31)
He comforts me by saying "Fear thou not; for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God:; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (41:10). He says that "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins(44:25) and reminds me that it is He who "formed thee from the womb, which will help thee..." (44:2)
He gives me the confidence that "the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded, therefore have I set my face like a flint, and i know that I shall not be ashamed" (50:7); that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (54:17); and He says of His word that "it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (55:11).
In my confusion, he tells me of Himself that "my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways ... for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (55:8+9)
In my failures, he says "I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners" ((57:18); and that though my "righteousnesses are as filthy rags (64:6); I can say "O Lord, thou art our father, we are the clay, and thou our potter, and we all are the work of thy hand." (64:8)
I don't remember how it started, but when I would seek out my dad as a child, he would always squeeze my little hand within the vice grip of his big, powerful hand until I would giggle and beg him not to squeeze any harder. I was always impressed with his strength, and I was comforted to know that those hands belonged to a man who would always love and protect me ... so it is, that I find myself comforted to "sit beside" my heavenly Daddy in Isaiah, as I read His promise to uphold me with His right hand (41:10) - the same Hand that Isaiah 48:13 says spans the universe!. When I think about the fact that I am being upheld with the same hand that upholds the universe, I can feel that same security that I felt as a child. Praise the Lord!
Refusing to Be Comforted
As I was reading Psalm 77, I realized that perhaps one of the reasons we find such comfort in the Psalms is because the Psalmists spoke so boldly the feelings that we sometimes find difficult to acknowledge or express ourselves. When troubles come our way, do we really seek the Lord? We may pray, but are we honest enough to admit, as David did in verse 2, that we refuse to be comforted?
We see David wavering between remembering how God had helped him before (and given him a "song in the night") ... and doubting that He would help him again. He gives in to feelings of despair: unable to sleep, feeling overwhelmed, complainiing (vv. 3+4); and by verses 7-9, he has begun to doubt God's mercy and promises.
Finally, in verse 10, he realizes that it is not God who has changed: it is he: "This is MY infirmity..." !!
Once he realizes that the problem is with himself, and his attitudes; he is able to put his focus back on God, the Problem-solver, and not on his problems. When I find myself refusing to be comforted, may this Psalm come to my mind and help me to focus on the One Who can solve my problems, and not on the problems!!
We see David wavering between remembering how God had helped him before (and given him a "song in the night") ... and doubting that He would help him again. He gives in to feelings of despair: unable to sleep, feeling overwhelmed, complainiing (vv. 3+4); and by verses 7-9, he has begun to doubt God's mercy and promises.
Finally, in verse 10, he realizes that it is not God who has changed: it is he: "This is MY infirmity..." !!
Once he realizes that the problem is with himself, and his attitudes; he is able to put his focus back on God, the Problem-solver, and not on his problems. When I find myself refusing to be comforted, may this Psalm come to my mind and help me to focus on the One Who can solve my problems, and not on the problems!!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Out of My Comfort Zone!!
Oh my!! Praise God for the time I finally have to fill my life up with the things that I choose (as God leads!). I have been enjoying getting familiar with Proverbs 31 Ministries, and entering all of the contests for scholarships to the She Speaks Conference that I would LOVE to attend. I've heard it said that our children are digital natives, while my generation are digital immigrants. Well, this digital immigrant is finding it difficult to forsake my native language of scraps of paper and worn journals for this new language of blogging!
Today's contest calls on us to emulate a wonderful example of writing that Ernest Hemingway gave us many years before the digital world was even imagined. His telling of a story in only 6 words certainly would have been good practice for Twitter.
Now, for my 6 words: Alzheimer's deletes ... but originals in heaven!
As I was thinking on what story I could tell, my mind went back to a truth God gave me in my devotions this morning, as I read Psalm 139. Verse 16 says that all of our days are written in God's book, and it struck me, that God keeps a diary of my days! Even though a disease can take our memories on earth, they are forever remembered in heaven, praise the Lord! Although I am so thankful that my life has not been touched by the pain of seeing a loved one lose their memories, the Holy Spirit told me to tuck that away in my heart. Perhaps one day, I or a loved one, or someone God brings across my path will need that assurance.
I have recorded the 6 word story the Holy Spirit gave me in the margin of my Bible by Psalm 139:16, and I am sharing it with my dear sisters seeking a scholarship to the She Speaks Conference.
Today's contest calls on us to emulate a wonderful example of writing that Ernest Hemingway gave us many years before the digital world was even imagined. His telling of a story in only 6 words certainly would have been good practice for Twitter.
Now, for my 6 words: Alzheimer's deletes ... but originals in heaven!
As I was thinking on what story I could tell, my mind went back to a truth God gave me in my devotions this morning, as I read Psalm 139. Verse 16 says that all of our days are written in God's book, and it struck me, that God keeps a diary of my days! Even though a disease can take our memories on earth, they are forever remembered in heaven, praise the Lord! Although I am so thankful that my life has not been touched by the pain of seeing a loved one lose their memories, the Holy Spirit told me to tuck that away in my heart. Perhaps one day, I or a loved one, or someone God brings across my path will need that assurance.
I have recorded the 6 word story the Holy Spirit gave me in the margin of my Bible by Psalm 139:16, and I am sharing it with my dear sisters seeking a scholarship to the She Speaks Conference.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Not Just Another May Day
This isn't just another May Day. Infact no day is just another May Day. Every day is a precious gift, and with my free time on this precious May Day, (in the month of April!), I've finally decided to dive into the blogging world, and see if I'll sink or swim. Catch me, Lord, because here I go...
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