I'm quite behind on posting the weekly Scripture that I'm to memorize; do forgive me!
This week is Psalm 37:7, which goes something like this:
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
I find it sadly amusing that this is quite pertinent to how I should live my life; I'm constantly on the go and am constantly late to appointments and other things that must be done. That and I don't slow down to listen to what God has to say; that's the sad part about the whole thing. I need to slow down and listen to that still, small voice that whispers amongst the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Perhaps now would be the best time to stop and listen. Won't you join me in that?
5/16/11
This Week in Scripture; Encouragement At It's Best!
When I chose this week's Scripture verse to memorize, I paused after I read it.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2, ESV)
It made me pause for this reason: During our trials and various problems through life, God will always be there and He will not turn His back on you.
When I was growing up, my dad was not the best dad out there; I knew that he would only show up at events I was involved in because my mom practically begged him to show up. Even when he did, he'd sit in the very back and closest to the exit; he was clearly not interested in being there and he showed his lack of enthusiasm. I knew that he would be bored out of his mind, yet I wanted him there to support and encourage me; I still never received that support and encouragement. The one thing I longed to hear from Dad was "I'm proud of you" and I never heard it from him.
When I became a Christian (God's grace alone did that; I can't claim anything on that one.) when I was 20 years old (That was 10 years ago; God's timing is perfect.), I had a hard time relating to God as Father (Sometimes, I still do.) and a perfect Father at that (That was even more mind-boggling.); He encourages, consoles and disciplines His children perfectly and with love. I never had that kind of example growing up and I struggled with that. I struggled a long time with the idea of an affectionate, loving and encouraging Father.
When I was younger, I looked at fathers with their kids and I ached with sadness; I was jealous of those kids because their dads actually cared. My dad was more concerned about his golf game and whether or not things were done his way.
I would not be surprised if Dad despised the idea of his daughter embracing Christ as Savior; it was the exact opposite of how he lived his life. He chose early on to reject Christianity and showed in various ways how hostile he was to the faith.
Now, I watch my husband with his little girl and I smile; he's encouraging her, he consoles her when she falls and disciplines her when she needs it. My daughter will know what a loving father is like, because she'll have both her temporal father and her eternal Father; that's what I want Bee to witness as she grows up and when the Holy Spirit draws her near to her Savior.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2, ESV)
It made me pause for this reason: During our trials and various problems through life, God will always be there and He will not turn His back on you.
When I was growing up, my dad was not the best dad out there; I knew that he would only show up at events I was involved in because my mom practically begged him to show up. Even when he did, he'd sit in the very back and closest to the exit; he was clearly not interested in being there and he showed his lack of enthusiasm. I knew that he would be bored out of his mind, yet I wanted him there to support and encourage me; I still never received that support and encouragement. The one thing I longed to hear from Dad was "I'm proud of you" and I never heard it from him.
When I became a Christian (God's grace alone did that; I can't claim anything on that one.) when I was 20 years old (That was 10 years ago; God's timing is perfect.), I had a hard time relating to God as Father (Sometimes, I still do.) and a perfect Father at that (That was even more mind-boggling.); He encourages, consoles and disciplines His children perfectly and with love. I never had that kind of example growing up and I struggled with that. I struggled a long time with the idea of an affectionate, loving and encouraging Father.
When I was younger, I looked at fathers with their kids and I ached with sadness; I was jealous of those kids because their dads actually cared. My dad was more concerned about his golf game and whether or not things were done his way.
I would not be surprised if Dad despised the idea of his daughter embracing Christ as Savior; it was the exact opposite of how he lived his life. He chose early on to reject Christianity and showed in various ways how hostile he was to the faith.
Now, I watch my husband with his little girl and I smile; he's encouraging her, he consoles her when she falls and disciplines her when she needs it. My daughter will know what a loving father is like, because she'll have both her temporal father and her eternal Father; that's what I want Bee to witness as she grows up and when the Holy Spirit draws her near to her Savior.
5/9/11
This Week in Scripture!
This week I decided to focus on the Old Testament, specifically from the book of Isaiah.
Isaiah 43:1 states the following:
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Several passages in Isaiah speak of a coming Messiah, one who will rise up for the Jewish people and will be a conqueror.
Christians, though, see Jesus as that Messiah; He conquered death and triumphed over sin (Granted, that's incredibly oversimplified.) just to save those that God has called to Him.
Pretty neat if you think about it.
Isaiah 43:1 states the following:
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."
Several passages in Isaiah speak of a coming Messiah, one who will rise up for the Jewish people and will be a conqueror.
Christians, though, see Jesus as that Messiah; He conquered death and triumphed over sin (Granted, that's incredibly oversimplified.) just to save those that God has called to Him.
Pretty neat if you think about it.
5/2/11
This Week in Scripture!
I'm ready for this week's Scripture!
It's Romans 6:17-18, which goes like this:
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
At one time, we were slaves to sin; our ankles were shackled to the most foul and disgusting things that weighed us down. We weren't able to free ourselves from that heavy burden; we were free when Christ took those foul and disgusting things and placed them upon Himself at the cross. In turn, we became slaves to that yoke that is Christ's righteousness.
He did say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30); why not lean on that Truth and take Him up on it?
It's Romans 6:17-18, which goes like this:
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
At one time, we were slaves to sin; our ankles were shackled to the most foul and disgusting things that weighed us down. We weren't able to free ourselves from that heavy burden; we were free when Christ took those foul and disgusting things and placed them upon Himself at the cross. In turn, we became slaves to that yoke that is Christ's righteousness.
He did say that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30); why not lean on that Truth and take Him up on it?
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