Thank you Lord! Oh the FREEDOM that comes with not taking ourselves too seriously! Hahaha! Let's take a break today from being overly introspective and examining ourselves WAY too much. Let's just take this day and enjoy the Lord. Take a deep breath. Smile. Relax. Pray. How sad it is when we forget to just love Jesus. Reach out to someone. Send them an email or word of encouragement.
Self-focus and self-absorption is death to us and those around us will suffer the consequences as well. Enjoy those relationships God has given you. Be thankful. Be still and know that He is God. We all aren't good enough, wise enough or qualified enough. But we all know the One who is. We all are saved by grace through faith and help us when we think otherwise!
Last night Luke was crying for me and I went up to check on him and found that his little, one year old chubber thighs were stuck in the crib. They weren't really wedged in, but he wasn't in a position to get them out. I then went back to bed and was trying to sleep but was suffering the consequences of magnified self-examination. Oh how I LOVE Colossians 3:2. It's the EASIEST verse to memorize and it immediately puts my mind in the right focus and perspective. It says, "Set your mind on things above, not on things on earth." I was feeling stuck and I just had to do the same thing Luke did, cry out for help. God was faithful this morning to give me those scriptures that cut to the heart...and though they are painful...they are life and liberty.
Jesus...YOU are awesome.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
A Humble Opinion
Here is an excerpt from Thomas a Kempis that is very direct and challenging. I encourage you to read it thoughtfully and let it's message direct you into the reality of our call as believers.
HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF ONE'S SELF by Thomas a Kempis
Everyone has a natural desire for knowledge but what good is knowledge without the fear of God? Surely a humble peasant who serves God is better than the proud astronomer who knows how to chart the heavens' stars but lacks all knowledge of himself.
If I truly knew myself I would look upon myself as insignificant and would not find joy in hearing others praise me. If I knew everything in the world and were still without love, what advantage would I have in the eyes of God who is to judge me according to my deeds?
Curb all undue desire for knowledge, for in it you will find many distractions and much delusion. Those who are learned strive to give the appearance of being wise and desire to be recognized as such; but there is much knowledge that is of little or no benefit to the soul.
Whoever sets his mind on anything other than what serves his salvation is a senseless fool. A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God.
The more things you know and the better you know them, the more severe will your judgment be, unless you have also lived a holier life. Do not boast about the learning and skills that are yours; rather, be cautious since you do possess such knowledge.
If it seems to you that you know many things and thoroughly understand them all realize that there are countless other things of which you are ignorant. Be not haughty, but admit your ignorance. Why should you prefer yourself to another, when there are many who are more learned and better trained in God's law than you are? If you are looking for knowledge and a learning that is useful to you, then love to be unknown and esteemed as nothing.
This is the most important and salutary lesson: to know and to despise ourselves. It is great wisdom and perfection to consider ourselves as nothing and always to judge well and highly of others. If you should see someone commit a sin or some grievous wrong, do not think of yourself as someone better, for you know not how long you will remain in your good state.
We are all frail; but think of yourself as one who is more frail than others.
HAVING A HUMBLE OPINION OF ONE'S SELF by Thomas a Kempis
Everyone has a natural desire for knowledge but what good is knowledge without the fear of God? Surely a humble peasant who serves God is better than the proud astronomer who knows how to chart the heavens' stars but lacks all knowledge of himself.
If I truly knew myself I would look upon myself as insignificant and would not find joy in hearing others praise me. If I knew everything in the world and were still without love, what advantage would I have in the eyes of God who is to judge me according to my deeds?
Curb all undue desire for knowledge, for in it you will find many distractions and much delusion. Those who are learned strive to give the appearance of being wise and desire to be recognized as such; but there is much knowledge that is of little or no benefit to the soul.
Whoever sets his mind on anything other than what serves his salvation is a senseless fool. A barrage of words does not make the soul happy, but a good life gladdens the mind and a pure conscience generates a bountiful confidence in God.
The more things you know and the better you know them, the more severe will your judgment be, unless you have also lived a holier life. Do not boast about the learning and skills that are yours; rather, be cautious since you do possess such knowledge.
If it seems to you that you know many things and thoroughly understand them all realize that there are countless other things of which you are ignorant. Be not haughty, but admit your ignorance. Why should you prefer yourself to another, when there are many who are more learned and better trained in God's law than you are? If you are looking for knowledge and a learning that is useful to you, then love to be unknown and esteemed as nothing.
This is the most important and salutary lesson: to know and to despise ourselves. It is great wisdom and perfection to consider ourselves as nothing and always to judge well and highly of others. If you should see someone commit a sin or some grievous wrong, do not think of yourself as someone better, for you know not how long you will remain in your good state.
We are all frail; but think of yourself as one who is more frail than others.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Esther
"Esther couldn't do everything, but she could do something; and what she could do, she did." -Warren W. Weirsbe
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established."
Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."
Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be established."
Proverbs 16:9 "The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
CONTINUAL OR COMPARTMENTAL?
I hate it when I lay down in bed at night and think..."Oh Lord, I wasn't in continual communion with you throughout the day." I think of how my day could have gone much better. I think of the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit that I was not sensitive to. Why did I miss out? I compartmentalized my time with Him. I spent time with the Lord but didn't stay in fellowship with Him throughout the day.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."
How do you remain in Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;" -PRAYER
Psalm 119:97 "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." -THE WORD
John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." -BE IN LOVE WITH JESUS
Abiding in Jesus is anything but compartmental. It's all about continual AND...this is a key to joy. Jesus says in verse 11 that He was telling them these things "that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." Wow! Joy...sometimes it may just seem so far beyond your reach and not something you are able to live in and live with but know that your Father LOVES you and desires for you to have joy. Please remember joy is NOT circumstantial. You may have everything you ever wanted...and still not have joy. When it comes to joy it's all about Jesus.
THE WAY OF JOY -these scriptures are awesome!
Nehemiah 8:10c "Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Psalm 16:11 (my favorite) "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."
Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing."
How do you remain in Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing;" -PRAYER
Psalm 119:97 "O how I love Thy law! It is my meditation all the day." -THE WORD
John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love." -BE IN LOVE WITH JESUS
Abiding in Jesus is anything but compartmental. It's all about continual AND...this is a key to joy. Jesus says in verse 11 that He was telling them these things "that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." Wow! Joy...sometimes it may just seem so far beyond your reach and not something you are able to live in and live with but know that your Father LOVES you and desires for you to have joy. Please remember joy is NOT circumstantial. You may have everything you ever wanted...and still not have joy. When it comes to joy it's all about Jesus.
THE WAY OF JOY -these scriptures are awesome!
Nehemiah 8:10c "Do not be grieved for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
Psalm 16:11 (my favorite) "Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; in Thy presence is fullness of joy; in Thy right hand there are pleasures forever."
Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found and I ate them, and Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Thy name."
Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Your Good Shepherd
I thank you all so much for all of your prayers! I am continuing to work hard...there are so many details involved. I pray you are all doing well and I really am so blessed when I get to see you in person...not via the internet! Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you today with what the Lord is speaking to me.
HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD
Are you allowing the work of your Good Shepherd to be accomplished in your life? Do you remember what His work is? Isaiah 61:1-3 describes it.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
Are you brokenhearted? Captive? Mourning? Depressed?
Take some time away and be immersed in the Lord and His presence. Allow the Good Shepherd to tend to you. Isaiah 40:11 "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes."
Maybe you're always pouring out and neglect your time with Jesus. Is your cup overflowing? Psalm 23 gives very descriptive ways that the Lord tends to us. He makes us lie down and restores us. He leads us in righteousness. He comforts us. He anoints us so our cup overflows! If you feel like you're trudging forward...go to your Good Shepherd so you can live out of an overflowing cup rather than out of a dry and empty one.
Be Blessed
Love you!
Rach xoxoxoxo
HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD
Are you allowing the work of your Good Shepherd to be accomplished in your life? Do you remember what His work is? Isaiah 61:1-3 describes it.
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
Are you brokenhearted? Captive? Mourning? Depressed?
Take some time away and be immersed in the Lord and His presence. Allow the Good Shepherd to tend to you. Isaiah 40:11 "Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes."
Maybe you're always pouring out and neglect your time with Jesus. Is your cup overflowing? Psalm 23 gives very descriptive ways that the Lord tends to us. He makes us lie down and restores us. He leads us in righteousness. He comforts us. He anoints us so our cup overflows! If you feel like you're trudging forward...go to your Good Shepherd so you can live out of an overflowing cup rather than out of a dry and empty one.
Be Blessed
Love you!
Rach xoxoxoxo
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