Ps. 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
What does it actually mean to wait for the Lord. Since we are unable to do anything on our own, aren't we forced to wait for Him. Is waiting on the Lord saying, "Well, He is in charge and I can't do anything about it, so I'm just waiting on Him"?
First off; shouldn't we be more than willing to wait for Him, as He has waited so long for our repentance? We are willing to wait for all kinds of things that are but a breath of time when they arrive, and yet we push to hurry God's timing. Whatever we are waiting for may not be on our time table, but it certainly is not out of God's timing.
Second; Waiting suggests patience in trials. "Patience is a cheerful submission of our will to God: 'The will of the Lord be done' (Acts 21:14). A godly man acquiesces in what God does, as being not only good but best for himself. The great quarrel between God and us is, Whose will shall stand? Now the regenerate will falls in with the will of God." Thomas Watson.
Can we just say that we have to be patient and have that still be patience? It seems like we don't have any choice, and patience is willingly lining up under God, not forced. What does it say if we submit while being whipped? Nothing, except that we were smart enough not to push back any more, so we are no longer being whipped. It reveals much more about our hearts when we have the choice to do whatever we want, yet we choose to wait for God to direct us. This clearly says we want to follow Christ.
It is easy to say that we need to be patient, but much harder to do. Likewise, saying "Be still and know that I am God", or "Wait patiently for the Lord", is much easier to say than to put into practice. When God allows trials in our lives, we are still to be patient. When He takes away something, or someone, we love, we are still to be patient. Thomas Watson said, "He never takes something away from us without giving us something better to replace it".
Let us practice waiting on the Lord, and watch Him work everything for our good. Hope in God and just wait to see what He does to show off His goodness. He is faithful, kind and good and He wants what is best for us.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Plants and Pillars
Ps. 144:12 May our sons in their youth
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Our children are a heritage from the Lord; each one a blessing from His hand. They are the generation that will either build and grow on our faith, or fall away, as the generation of the Israelites did after coming into the Promised Land.
May our young men be strong in their faith, bold in their proclamation of the Gospel and planted in His Word that they would continue to grow through the years to come.
It is interesting that the daughter are the pillars holding up the palace, rather than the sons. Our daughters can keep family ties strong and tight; they can be a grace to our homes and churches as they grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Oh that the Lord would continue to bless our families and grow our children into the men and women He would have them to be. May He give fruit for our labor and increase of faith as we watch Him work in the lives of our off spring. May our barns be full, as He gives the increase. May we be content to live and love as He provides.
Lord, You have blessed me with so much more than I deserve. You have blessed me with great kids of my own, and surrounded them with other young men and women who love You and want to pursue You above everything else. May they love Your portion, seek You first, love Your Word and grow to be strong examples of Your grace in a life spent pursuing You. Bless them for following You. Give them fruit for their labor enough to keep them encouraged, but not so much as to become proud. May they be the leaders of tomorrow's churches and families that You would have them to be. Root them deep in Your Word and then from that deep foundation, make them as giant trees in the land that others can come for food, shelter and protection.
be like plants full grown,
our daughters like corner pillars
cut for the structure of a palace;
13 may our granaries be full,
providing all kinds of produce;
may our sheep bring forth thousands
and ten thousands in our fields;
14 may our cattle be heavy with young,
suffering no mishap or failure in bearing;
may there be no cry of distress in our streets!
15 Blessed are the people to whom such blessings fall!
Blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!
Our children are a heritage from the Lord; each one a blessing from His hand. They are the generation that will either build and grow on our faith, or fall away, as the generation of the Israelites did after coming into the Promised Land.
May our young men be strong in their faith, bold in their proclamation of the Gospel and planted in His Word that they would continue to grow through the years to come.
It is interesting that the daughter are the pillars holding up the palace, rather than the sons. Our daughters can keep family ties strong and tight; they can be a grace to our homes and churches as they grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Oh that the Lord would continue to bless our families and grow our children into the men and women He would have them to be. May He give fruit for our labor and increase of faith as we watch Him work in the lives of our off spring. May our barns be full, as He gives the increase. May we be content to live and love as He provides.
Lord, You have blessed me with so much more than I deserve. You have blessed me with great kids of my own, and surrounded them with other young men and women who love You and want to pursue You above everything else. May they love Your portion, seek You first, love Your Word and grow to be strong examples of Your grace in a life spent pursuing You. Bless them for following You. Give them fruit for their labor enough to keep them encouraged, but not so much as to become proud. May they be the leaders of tomorrow's churches and families that You would have them to be. Root them deep in Your Word and then from that deep foundation, make them as giant trees in the land that others can come for food, shelter and protection.
Plastic and Fabric
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
Matt. 4:8 The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"
I wonder what it must have looked like, to Jesus, to look at the world from the perspective Satan was trying to give Him. Was it even remotely a temptation to accept his offer when Jesus created the world, knows the flaws it has, after sin, knows the final outcome and has seen the immeasurable differences of Heaven. Was this really a temptation when He had already tasted Heaven?
If we could just get a glimpse of Heaven many of our issues, sins and earthly loves would just go away, because we would see how foolish these small joys are compared to what is coming.
Little girls play with dolls. This is a good thing for them, so they can learn what it is like to "love" this little entrusted to their care. Soon after they get this dolly they are hugging, kissing and talking to this piece of plastic and fabric. When they grow up and become real moms they do the same thing to their actually babies, but they never seem to go back with the same affection to the doll. Why do you suppose that is? Because now they have tasted the true joy and love from the real thing.
When we start to see Heaven as our prize, then all that this life has doesn't compare. All the things we work and plan to get are like a little plastic and fabric dolly, yet we spend most of our lives working to get a new and better dolly.
"The world rings changes. It is never constant except in its disappointments. How quickly we may remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust! The world is but a great inn where we are to stay a night or two and be gone. What madness it is so to set our heart upon our inn as to forget our home!" Thomas Watson.
Lord, give us a glimpse of Heaven that we might truly see what we are running after here. Give us a taste of Your feast so we would know and never be completely satisfied with what we are chasing here on earth. Make Heaven our passion. Make Your Presence our highest aim. Give us other worldly loves. Of our selves, we are weak and want cheap trappings that satisfy for but a breath. Help us to see the futility and look for eternal things. You can change our loves and our hearts. Please do that, so we may be more like Your Son. May we love You most of all.
Matt. 4:8 The devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
"'You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.'"
I wonder what it must have looked like, to Jesus, to look at the world from the perspective Satan was trying to give Him. Was it even remotely a temptation to accept his offer when Jesus created the world, knows the flaws it has, after sin, knows the final outcome and has seen the immeasurable differences of Heaven. Was this really a temptation when He had already tasted Heaven?
If we could just get a glimpse of Heaven many of our issues, sins and earthly loves would just go away, because we would see how foolish these small joys are compared to what is coming.
Little girls play with dolls. This is a good thing for them, so they can learn what it is like to "love" this little entrusted to their care. Soon after they get this dolly they are hugging, kissing and talking to this piece of plastic and fabric. When they grow up and become real moms they do the same thing to their actually babies, but they never seem to go back with the same affection to the doll. Why do you suppose that is? Because now they have tasted the true joy and love from the real thing.
When we start to see Heaven as our prize, then all that this life has doesn't compare. All the things we work and plan to get are like a little plastic and fabric dolly, yet we spend most of our lives working to get a new and better dolly.
"The world rings changes. It is never constant except in its disappointments. How quickly we may remove our lodgings and make our pillow in the dust! The world is but a great inn where we are to stay a night or two and be gone. What madness it is so to set our heart upon our inn as to forget our home!" Thomas Watson.
Lord, give us a glimpse of Heaven that we might truly see what we are running after here. Give us a taste of Your feast so we would know and never be completely satisfied with what we are chasing here on earth. Make Heaven our passion. Make Your Presence our highest aim. Give us other worldly loves. Of our selves, we are weak and want cheap trappings that satisfy for but a breath. Help us to see the futility and look for eternal things. You can change our loves and our hearts. Please do that, so we may be more like Your Son. May we love You most of all.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Home Show
Ps. 127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
We start the home show today. It's 9 days of meeting people, visiting and making friends. Some of those friends turn into clients.
We need God to bring us the people He wants us to meet, that are ready to begin a project and like what we have to offer. We are at His mercy and grace in this endeavor, as we are at every place else in our lives.
Lord, give us grace for the hearers today, and for the week, that we might be a light to this dark world, even at the home show. Bring us the work You have for us to do Lord, and let us rest in you care. Don't let me be anxious about show traffic and what others are saying is happening to them, but let me look only to You, as You are more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. Thanks for our abundant provision already, on our behalf, and for the markers You have given us along the way that we might remember them and then remember Your goodness to us. You are great and worthy to be praised and we look forward with great anticipation for the day when we will be perfectly rejoicing in front of Your throne. Oh, for that day!
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.
We start the home show today. It's 9 days of meeting people, visiting and making friends. Some of those friends turn into clients.
We need God to bring us the people He wants us to meet, that are ready to begin a project and like what we have to offer. We are at His mercy and grace in this endeavor, as we are at every place else in our lives.
Lord, give us grace for the hearers today, and for the week, that we might be a light to this dark world, even at the home show. Bring us the work You have for us to do Lord, and let us rest in you care. Don't let me be anxious about show traffic and what others are saying is happening to them, but let me look only to You, as You are more than able to accomplish what concerns me today. Thanks for our abundant provision already, on our behalf, and for the markers You have given us along the way that we might remember them and then remember Your goodness to us. You are great and worthy to be praised and we look forward with great anticipation for the day when we will be perfectly rejoicing in front of Your throne. Oh, for that day!
My Valentine
Song of Solomon 4:9 You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride;
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
11 Your lips drip nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
My sweet Teresa. You are the love of my life, even though there are certainly times I don't express that to you. You are my helper and completer, more than you know.
Before Kimmy was born it was hard for you to think about staying home and "Just being a mom", but as soon as she arrived she changed your heart. Thanks for being willing to be a great mom to our kids. They are so much better for your investment in them. Thanks for taking up the slack that I left while I was at work.
Thanks for your heart for working hard, both in side and outside. You are an encouragement to so many people as you just stop by a weed a little patch, or plant some little tree. You are spreading your "branches of generosity" wide.
Thanks for being willing to share our home with so many others. It is always a lot of work, but you are willing to minister to others in this way.
Thanks for your tender heart. You are compassionate and caring, and want to carry others' burdens with them.
Teresa is;
Pasture- a place to go in order to be refreshed and filled with good things.
Partner- both to me and others as we work towards Christ-likeness.
Philanthropy- always giving of herself for others.
Peace Maker- always wanting everyone to get along.
Pace Setter- especially when it comes to gardening.
Predictably- unpredictable.
Phun- always looks at the lighter side.
Thanks for being my Valentine for all these years.
you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
with one jewel of your necklace.
10 How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
and the fragrance of your oils than any spice!
11 Your lips drip nectar, my bride;
honey and milk are under your tongue;
the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.
My sweet Teresa. You are the love of my life, even though there are certainly times I don't express that to you. You are my helper and completer, more than you know.
Before Kimmy was born it was hard for you to think about staying home and "Just being a mom", but as soon as she arrived she changed your heart. Thanks for being willing to be a great mom to our kids. They are so much better for your investment in them. Thanks for taking up the slack that I left while I was at work.
Thanks for your heart for working hard, both in side and outside. You are an encouragement to so many people as you just stop by a weed a little patch, or plant some little tree. You are spreading your "branches of generosity" wide.
Thanks for being willing to share our home with so many others. It is always a lot of work, but you are willing to minister to others in this way.
Thanks for your tender heart. You are compassionate and caring, and want to carry others' burdens with them.
Teresa is;
Pasture- a place to go in order to be refreshed and filled with good things.
Partner- both to me and others as we work towards Christ-likeness.
Philanthropy- always giving of herself for others.
Peace Maker- always wanting everyone to get along.
Pace Setter- especially when it comes to gardening.
Predictably- unpredictable.
Phun- always looks at the lighter side.
Thanks for being my Valentine for all these years.
Evangelism
Matt. 28:16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Evangelism; what kind of things just popped into your head? Was it Billy Graham, a guy standing on the street corner on a milk box, some fanatical people in a stadium that for sure were not there to watch the game or a couple of guys walking around knocking on doors? All of these are forms of evangelism, but is this what Jesus had in mind, inclusively?
I don't think that is what Jesus was trying to get across to His disciples that day. There are times when these forms of evangelism work, but Jesus was talking about making disciples "as you go". As you go to the grocery store, as you go about your work, as you go riding in the car, as you go visit with your friends, as you go talking to clients and whatever else it is that you do every day- make disciples.
You might say, "I can't do that, it's too scary", or "God hasn't given me the gift of evangelism". I might say "Really?", in a sarcastic tone of voice:)
I am not the greatest evangelist, but every one of us has a platform for making disciples that is different then the next. If you're a stay at home mom with 5 little kids, first of all- praise God for allowing you to fulfill His command for your life- and second- you have a very different platform than your husband does, who might be running some fortune 500 company. The people who are watching you are very different than those watching your husband, but people ARE watching both of you. There is no way the women around you are going to listen to your husband the same way they are going to listen to you. Your husband has a great opportunity where he is working, but it is very different than yours.
Why am I posting this? Well if we are here "On Purpose- For A Purpose" and Jesus' final instructions for His disciples was "As you are going, make disciples" then shouldn't we all be making disciples?
Moms, you are making disciples when you tell your kids what God is doing, and has done, in your life. This way when they are older they will remember the good things that God has done and want to serve Him.
Dads, you are making disciples when you live out Christ in front of your families, so they will know what it is like to have a kind, gentle and serving father. When they see you living out Christ, they will want Him more than anything this world can offer.
Children, you are making disciple as you honor your parents. When many of the kids around you are not honoring their parents you will have a platform for evangelism as you share the joy that God gives when we are obedient to His Word.
Bosses, you are making disciples when you work as unto the Lord, giving God the glory in every situation and letting Him direct your business. When your employees fall on hard times they will come to you and ask about the hope that is in you.
Employees, you are making disciple when you, also, work as unto the Lord. Your fellow employees, and your boss, will see that you are different. Someday they will ask you why you work so hard and you will have a platform for evangelism.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven, Matt 5:16. We are to be salt and light, not 24 grit sand paper, as we go through this life. People are looking for something to hope in, and Jesus is the Only Hope.
As we go, take the time to tell the people you have a relationship with of the Hope that is in you. If God gives you a bigger platform for evangelism, then that is great. But for right now, practice your evangelism by loving others as only Christ can love, and tell them about the change repentance towards joy has brought in your life.
Lord, give us love for others, love for Your Word and courage to speak of Your goodness as we go. May our lives be fountains where others want to come to be refreshed. May we always tell of Your greatness and faithfulness. May this be the praise of our hearts, our main point, the focus of our lives and the joy of our hearts. May You be the song that we are always singing. Give us opportunities and then give us boldness. You are our greatest love and highest prize, may we want to share the best we have with others.
Evangelism; what kind of things just popped into your head? Was it Billy Graham, a guy standing on the street corner on a milk box, some fanatical people in a stadium that for sure were not there to watch the game or a couple of guys walking around knocking on doors? All of these are forms of evangelism, but is this what Jesus had in mind, inclusively?
I don't think that is what Jesus was trying to get across to His disciples that day. There are times when these forms of evangelism work, but Jesus was talking about making disciples "as you go". As you go to the grocery store, as you go about your work, as you go riding in the car, as you go visit with your friends, as you go talking to clients and whatever else it is that you do every day- make disciples.
You might say, "I can't do that, it's too scary", or "God hasn't given me the gift of evangelism". I might say "Really?", in a sarcastic tone of voice:)
I am not the greatest evangelist, but every one of us has a platform for making disciples that is different then the next. If you're a stay at home mom with 5 little kids, first of all- praise God for allowing you to fulfill His command for your life- and second- you have a very different platform than your husband does, who might be running some fortune 500 company. The people who are watching you are very different than those watching your husband, but people ARE watching both of you. There is no way the women around you are going to listen to your husband the same way they are going to listen to you. Your husband has a great opportunity where he is working, but it is very different than yours.
Why am I posting this? Well if we are here "On Purpose- For A Purpose" and Jesus' final instructions for His disciples was "As you are going, make disciples" then shouldn't we all be making disciples?
Moms, you are making disciples when you tell your kids what God is doing, and has done, in your life. This way when they are older they will remember the good things that God has done and want to serve Him.
Dads, you are making disciples when you live out Christ in front of your families, so they will know what it is like to have a kind, gentle and serving father. When they see you living out Christ, they will want Him more than anything this world can offer.
Children, you are making disciple as you honor your parents. When many of the kids around you are not honoring their parents you will have a platform for evangelism as you share the joy that God gives when we are obedient to His Word.
Bosses, you are making disciples when you work as unto the Lord, giving God the glory in every situation and letting Him direct your business. When your employees fall on hard times they will come to you and ask about the hope that is in you.
Employees, you are making disciple when you, also, work as unto the Lord. Your fellow employees, and your boss, will see that you are different. Someday they will ask you why you work so hard and you will have a platform for evangelism.
Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven, Matt 5:16. We are to be salt and light, not 24 grit sand paper, as we go through this life. People are looking for something to hope in, and Jesus is the Only Hope.
As we go, take the time to tell the people you have a relationship with of the Hope that is in you. If God gives you a bigger platform for evangelism, then that is great. But for right now, practice your evangelism by loving others as only Christ can love, and tell them about the change repentance towards joy has brought in your life.
Lord, give us love for others, love for Your Word and courage to speak of Your goodness as we go. May our lives be fountains where others want to come to be refreshed. May we always tell of Your greatness and faithfulness. May this be the praise of our hearts, our main point, the focus of our lives and the joy of our hearts. May You be the song that we are always singing. Give us opportunities and then give us boldness. You are our greatest love and highest prize, may we want to share the best we have with others.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Let Us Not Forget To Praise Him!!
My Offering
Nicole Nordeman
If You made me like the grass that is green
Growing tall; covering the hills above me
Maybe I would pray for sunshine and a little rain
To fall now and then to make me lovely
I could be a place where sheep could graze
Or barefoot feet could play
And I would grow and grow and hope You'd bend down low
To hear me sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
If You made me to be a cloud in the sky
Found the perfect place way up high where I could hover
Maybe I would pray for skies that were blue
Or a sunset or two to show Your colors
Or maybe I might be
A mountain strong and steep
But I would try and stand as tall as I can
And I would sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
And the sun every morning can not wait to shine
And the stars every evening are all standing by to light the sky
Give the rocks and the stones voices of their own
If we forget to sing praises to our King
So open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
Hallelujah
We just want to praise you
We just want to praise you
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
Nicole Nordeman
If You made me like the grass that is green
Growing tall; covering the hills above me
Maybe I would pray for sunshine and a little rain
To fall now and then to make me lovely
I could be a place where sheep could graze
Or barefoot feet could play
And I would grow and grow and hope You'd bend down low
To hear me sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
If You made me to be a cloud in the sky
Found the perfect place way up high where I could hover
Maybe I would pray for skies that were blue
Or a sunset or two to show Your colors
Or maybe I might be
A mountain strong and steep
But I would try and stand as tall as I can
And I would sing my offering
Open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
And the sun every morning can not wait to shine
And the stars every evening are all standing by to light the sky
Give the rocks and the stones voices of their own
If we forget to sing praises to our King
So open up the heavens, open up the skies
All of Your creation wants to testify
Hallelujah
We just want to praise you
We just want to praise you
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
I have a song so let the earth sing along
'Cause I just want to praise You
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