Bible Passage for the Week

A bible passage to post around the house for the week is Psalm 32:8.  "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."  This is a great reminder that God is instructing us and guiding us.  The question is are we listening to Him?

Take moments each day to be quiet and listen.  If God is instructing us and we are not taking the time to listen we are missing out on His plans for us! 

Cheryl

Are you giving up something?

Lent is upon us as it is Ash Wednesday today; a 40 day period of prayer and fasting.  So I ask you are you giving up something for lent?  Are you going to fast from something that will give you the opportunity to draw closer to God?  Yesterday, I shared Psalm 119:10 where it stated, "With my whole heart I seek you..."  The idea behind giving up something is to allow us to seek God as well as "experience" to a very small degree what Jesus experienced while fasting for 40 days.  Jesus was faced with temptation as well as we are faced with the temptation of "using" the very thing we gave up for 40 days.  The difference - Jesus did not succumb to the temptation as we do.

Growing up in a Catholic town giving up something for lent topped the conversation chart every time lent rolled around.  The students in school would try and hold each other accountable but there was a lack of seriousness to it.  It was something that had to be done because that was tradition; however, the tradition failed to hone in on growing closer to God.  I would not say that this was the case for everyone, but from my perspective of looking in many felt it was something that was done just because.

So I ask you again - are you giving up something?  If you are giving up something is it something that will allow you the opportunity to seek Christ with your whole heart?  If you are someone that does give up something for Lent, I challenge you to find something that will allow you to seek Him.  If you are not one that gives up something, I challenge you to spend the next 40 days seeking Him through a different avenue.

One idea I came across is a book entitled "Writing to God" by Rachel G. Hackenberg.  It is an exercise of 40 days of praying with a pen.  This is the challenge I am putting before myself.  I am going to spend the next 40 days really focusing on my prayer life; an opportunity to grow closer to my Savior. 

Another idea I am asking of a group of people at my church is to send one card a day for 40 days.  When the 40 days are up each family will have sent 40 individuals a card.  The card can be sent for any purpose, but in that card hopefully Christ's love will be shared in some way.  This is a way to serve people as Christ came to earth to serve and not be served.  (Matthew 20:28)

I am not one that "gives up" something for lent; yet, I think the focus being on Christ for 40 days is truly important.  It reminds us of just what Christ did for us as well as deepens our relationship with Him.

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

This week take some time to ponder Psalm 119:10.  "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments."

We are entering the season of Lent; a time to reflect upon what Christ has done for us.  He died on the cross and rose again so we didn't have to.  This next week take time to seek Him and reflect upon the goodness of Christ.

Cheryl

Bible Passage for the Week

This week we are looking at James 1:17.  "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

As you go about your week take notice of all the blessings that are upon you.  Even consider taking time to keep a list for the week to show just how abundantly blessed we are from our Heavenly Father.  Also remember to take time to thank Him!

Cheryl

Celebrating What Today?

Do you ever look at websites or calendars that share what the "National Day" is?  I was looking through a website this morning and found it amusing to see what we could be celebrating each and every day.  National Chocolate Day, National Pancake Day, National G.I. Joe day, and whatever else you want to insert after the word National! 

While I was reading the interesting days that we could be celebrating, one stuck out for me.  February 11th is "National Shut-in Visitation Day".  What a great way to spend a day!  Go visit someone that cannot go out and visit other people.  Go visit someone that is lonely.  Go visit someone that would love to see a smile.  Go visit someone and share with them God's love. 

If you don't know someone that is a shut-in call your church.  They have a list of people that would love to see someone.  Call a nursing home and ask if there is someone there that doesn't get regular visitors and would enjoy someone to visit with.  Take a moment in life to share yourself with someone who would love to have someone care about them. 

Cheryl    

Bible Passage for the Week

This week take a moment to consider Isaiah 64:8.  "But now, O Lord, you are our Father, we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."

The Lord is our potter.  We are the work of His hands!  Place this passage on your bathroom mirror and when you look at yourself you will be reminded that the Lord has molded you!

Cheryl

In Your Time...

Have you ever thought about our sense of entitlement?  We as Americans seem to have a huge sense of entitlement and I believe that sense can sum up many of our problems we face!  We want things and we want them now.  We don’t want to wait for anything including God’s timing. 

Psalm 6:4 says, “Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of Your steadfast love.”  We know, because we have been promised, that our life will be delivered.  Christ paid the ultimate price. (John 3:16)  He has conquered and overcome the world. (John 16:33)  We have nothing to worry about.  However, that is not how our sinful being thinks.  We want to be delivered from what ever trial and tribulation we are facing NOW!  We also have a sense that God has abandoned us because He simply is not taking care of things in a quick enough matter. 

This is so far from the truth; yet, we are blinded by our sinfulness.  God has a great deal to say about time. 

Ecclesiastes 3:11a – “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Hosea 10:12 – “Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Romans 5:6 – “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Romans 8:18 – 19 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.  For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

Ephesians 1:7-10 – “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

Ephesians 5:15 – 17 – “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

1 Peter 5:6 – “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you.”

And in Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Nowhere in all of those verses did it say we get what we want when we want it.  What it did say was in God’s timing things will happen for the good of all believers.  Those verses also gave us a whole heap of hope.  We don’t have to sit in despair because God’s perfect timing seems to take a long time.  We have grace and mercy in the time of need.  He has lavished His forgiveness upon us and His riches as well.  He died for us while we were still weak. 

God also didn’t say we have to live this life by ourselves and endure the evil by ourselves.  He said He would walk side by side, carry our burdens, give us peace, give us wisdom, give us comfort, give us strength, and the list goes on.  What we have to do is ask.  “Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.”  We have to trust God’s timing is perfect and we know He will follow through on all the promises He has provided us. 

Psalm 69:13 – “But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.  At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.”  In your time God… 

Cheryl