Psalm 78:7
The Voice
7Tell them to put their confidence and hope in God, and never forget the wondrous things He has done...
If you are at all aware of social media trends, the title of this post will sound familiar. Throwback Thursday's, a way to basically reminisce about a time that you remember with nostalgia. Plus, everyone else gets to see a photo of how you looked back in the day!
Well, as I contemplated this little trend, it made me think of another way to "throwback" and "share". Life seems to be so full of trials and tribulations. If it isn't me dealing with something, someone I know is dealing with something. Regardless of the reasons and whys, we all deal with life.
It is so easy to get caught up in the daily struggle. When you're in the middle of something, it is hard to see the end of it. And depending on how long the struggle lasts, sometimes it's hard to remember life before that struggle. But, what if we all did a Throwback Thursday about the things that God has done in our life? This scripture in Psalms just says it how I feel today. And to rearrange the wording just a little...if I can remember the wonderful things He has done, that puts hope and confidence in my heart for my current situation or struggle.
And what would happen if we used social media to promote confidence and hope in God? Maybe this particular trend won't ever catch on, but to those reading this post, maybe the next time you think of Thursday, you will at the very least think of something wonderful that God has done in your life...which will put hope and confidence back into your heart!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Seasons
Ecclesiastes 3:1
(New Century Version)
1There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.
If you continue to read this chapter, you will find that both the positive and negative aspects of life are mentioned. Looking at it through this perspective makes life make a little more sense. If not really easier sometimes.
Any of you who have read my blog from the beginning know that it started as a result of my oldest child turning 18 and leaving home for college and my angst and struggle with that transition. Well, here we are, almost two years later. Another child, my youngest child, is getting ready to head out into life on his own. Another wrenching of my heart. Another piece of it out there walking around bound to bump into hard times and all the things life tends to throw at us.
I find myself with the same worries as my baby graduates from high school and leaves for his military training as I did two years ago. Who is going to gently wake him up in the mornings? How will I be able to go to sleep at night not being able to make sure he's safely tucked into bed? I know some (mostly the dads) will read that and raise an eyebrow, but some (all the moms) will know or imagine what these feelings are like.
Yes, I have to let go. Yes, I will. And yes, I know it is an important season in both our lives. But with this season there comes a little rain, too. I remember the day this boy of mine was born. Showing you to your big brother. Having no idea that within a month colic would set in and I would have many, many sleepless nights. But those were seasons, too. Too many to mention in a short post about feelings.
So, for this next season of life, while hard and painful, it is with pride and love that I will let my last child go. Mom's prayers will be going continually before God, son of mine, you are loved so much!!
(New Century Version)
1There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.
If you continue to read this chapter, you will find that both the positive and negative aspects of life are mentioned. Looking at it through this perspective makes life make a little more sense. If not really easier sometimes.
Any of you who have read my blog from the beginning know that it started as a result of my oldest child turning 18 and leaving home for college and my angst and struggle with that transition. Well, here we are, almost two years later. Another child, my youngest child, is getting ready to head out into life on his own. Another wrenching of my heart. Another piece of it out there walking around bound to bump into hard times and all the things life tends to throw at us.
I find myself with the same worries as my baby graduates from high school and leaves for his military training as I did two years ago. Who is going to gently wake him up in the mornings? How will I be able to go to sleep at night not being able to make sure he's safely tucked into bed? I know some (mostly the dads) will read that and raise an eyebrow, but some (all the moms) will know or imagine what these feelings are like.
Yes, I have to let go. Yes, I will. And yes, I know it is an important season in both our lives. But with this season there comes a little rain, too. I remember the day this boy of mine was born. Showing you to your big brother. Having no idea that within a month colic would set in and I would have many, many sleepless nights. But those were seasons, too. Too many to mention in a short post about feelings.
So, for this next season of life, while hard and painful, it is with pride and love that I will let my last child go. Mom's prayers will be going continually before God, son of mine, you are loved so much!!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Original Love
1 John 4:19
The Message (MSG)
19We, though, are going to love--love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
I have been thinking about this concept the last couple of days and being unable to get it off my mind, I decided it must be put into words. This is not my first mention of love in this blog, but I do feel like there is an important element of love, especially God's love, that we miss sometimes.
As mentioned in a previous post, some of us don't really even know what love is. Society, for sure, has confused it with so many different things. But, if you really want to get down to it, love originated with God. He is love. I don't know about you, but there have been times in my own life where my perception of God was a little skewed. I pictured Him sitting up in the sky somewhere on a big throne...with a stick of some kind. Yep! I figured He would use that on me if I did something bad.
That picture, even at this moment, makes me grin a little sheepishly. I realize that that concept of God and love is a bit backwards and turned around. He loved me, you, first!! He is not waiting for us to love Him. He is not waiting for us to get our lives all straightened out. He is not waiting until we feel worthy of His love. He is not waiting for us to even know how to love. He loved us first. Already. Before. In spite of!!
If you feel unworthy, sinful, ugly, guilty, shameful and somehow you think that means you don't deserve or can't be loved by God. It's too late! He already loves you and me and proved it via the cross. And all He wants in return is for us to love Him back with that same kind of love.
The Message (MSG)
19We, though, are going to love--love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.
I have been thinking about this concept the last couple of days and being unable to get it off my mind, I decided it must be put into words. This is not my first mention of love in this blog, but I do feel like there is an important element of love, especially God's love, that we miss sometimes.
As mentioned in a previous post, some of us don't really even know what love is. Society, for sure, has confused it with so many different things. But, if you really want to get down to it, love originated with God. He is love. I don't know about you, but there have been times in my own life where my perception of God was a little skewed. I pictured Him sitting up in the sky somewhere on a big throne...with a stick of some kind. Yep! I figured He would use that on me if I did something bad.
That picture, even at this moment, makes me grin a little sheepishly. I realize that that concept of God and love is a bit backwards and turned around. He loved me, you, first!! He is not waiting for us to love Him. He is not waiting for us to get our lives all straightened out. He is not waiting until we feel worthy of His love. He is not waiting for us to even know how to love. He loved us first. Already. Before. In spite of!!
If you feel unworthy, sinful, ugly, guilty, shameful and somehow you think that means you don't deserve or can't be loved by God. It's too late! He already loves you and me and proved it via the cross. And all He wants in return is for us to love Him back with that same kind of love.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The Power of Love
Romans 13:10
(New Century Version)
Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law.
As my fingers try to articulate my thought today, I find it difficult to put into a few simple words the overwhelming sense I have of the power that love has. The word love is thrown about carelessly so much of the time. Some mistake other feelings for love. Some think love hurts. Some have no idea what love even looks like.
Notice I did not say what love feels like. While the love Jesus has for us is perfect because He is perfect, I believe the love we have for each other is not perfect, we are not perfect...because feelings do get involved.
Thankfully, our imperfections to not preclude love. When one obeys and fulfills the law...that is love. That's when the power of love happens.
(New Century Version)
Love never hurts a neighbor, so loving is obeying all the law.
As my fingers try to articulate my thought today, I find it difficult to put into a few simple words the overwhelming sense I have of the power that love has. The word love is thrown about carelessly so much of the time. Some mistake other feelings for love. Some think love hurts. Some have no idea what love even looks like.
Notice I did not say what love feels like. While the love Jesus has for us is perfect because He is perfect, I believe the love we have for each other is not perfect, we are not perfect...because feelings do get involved.
Thankfully, our imperfections to not preclude love. When one obeys and fulfills the law...that is love. That's when the power of love happens.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Where God Is
Psalm 34:18
(The Message)
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;
if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
Recently I was thinking about how resilient people are. The human spirit has an amazing capacity to recover and move forward, sometimes against all odds. I think we encounter these kinds of people everyday without even knowing it. Whether it's a child or an adult. That's the amazing part of it. One can experience some sort of trauma or set back and then adjust and cope without most people even knowing about it.
In contemplating all of this, I realized that resilience, while a natural coping mechanism that is created within us, is not actually how we should live. If one is being resilient and/or coping, it must mean there is something there to be resilient from or some reason to be coping...which means there is a need for healing.
Resilience is the opposite of broken. But it is in the brokenness that God is there. Not in the "strength" of resilience and coping. There are so many other scriptures that I could include in this thought, but I think the point is clear. We have to quit being so "strong" and let God in so He can get to the broken parts and heal. And because of our "amazing human strength", that can be a hard thing to do sometimes.
Instead of people feeling like they should be strong and get a grip, they should let themselves be weak and broken...because that's where God is! His strength is perfect.
(The Message)
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;
if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
Recently I was thinking about how resilient people are. The human spirit has an amazing capacity to recover and move forward, sometimes against all odds. I think we encounter these kinds of people everyday without even knowing it. Whether it's a child or an adult. That's the amazing part of it. One can experience some sort of trauma or set back and then adjust and cope without most people even knowing about it.
In contemplating all of this, I realized that resilience, while a natural coping mechanism that is created within us, is not actually how we should live. If one is being resilient and/or coping, it must mean there is something there to be resilient from or some reason to be coping...which means there is a need for healing.
Resilience is the opposite of broken. But it is in the brokenness that God is there. Not in the "strength" of resilience and coping. There are so many other scriptures that I could include in this thought, but I think the point is clear. We have to quit being so "strong" and let God in so He can get to the broken parts and heal. And because of our "amazing human strength", that can be a hard thing to do sometimes.
Instead of people feeling like they should be strong and get a grip, they should let themselves be weak and broken...because that's where God is! His strength is perfect.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The Reason Why
2 Corinthians 1:4
New Century Version (NCV)
4 He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.
Ever notice how even scripture can sound so trite sometimes? That is, until it speaks directly to you. Then you find out that there is nothing trite about the Voice of God.
I have asked God "why" about things so many times I have lost count. As is obvious throughout my blog, I am completely human (not perfect) and painfully aware of that fact. Life happens. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our understanding. We wonder where God was or how could He have let circumstances arise...especially if they were out of our own control and not of our own fault.
I still wonder about that. But I do know that God didn't create us as robots...or angels...and so there is some explanation of how...if not why.
Interestingly, the mere mortal human while capable of suffering and pain, feeling it and causing it, is also capable of being used as an instrument of God to bring peace and comfort to another human. While the why question is lingering in my head today, I can also see that there is an answer to it in this scripture. Even if it is just one other person who is comforted...maybe that's a good enough reason why.
Ever notice how even scripture can sound so trite sometimes? That is, until it speaks directly to you. Then you find out that there is nothing trite about the Voice of God.
I have asked God "why" about things so many times I have lost count. As is obvious throughout my blog, I am completely human (not perfect) and painfully aware of that fact. Life happens. Sometimes things happen that are beyond our understanding. We wonder where God was or how could He have let circumstances arise...especially if they were out of our own control and not of our own fault.
I still wonder about that. But I do know that God didn't create us as robots...or angels...and so there is some explanation of how...if not why.
Interestingly, the mere mortal human while capable of suffering and pain, feeling it and causing it, is also capable of being used as an instrument of God to bring peace and comfort to another human. While the why question is lingering in my head today, I can also see that there is an answer to it in this scripture. Even if it is just one other person who is comforted...maybe that's a good enough reason why.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
No Fear?
Matthew 8:26
When I read this scripture, I sort of pictured the scene of the disciples in the boat with the storm going on, frantically asking Jesus to do something about it. (I know I'd be scared!) Maybe I'm the only one, but I've always seen this story as a sort of chewing out by Jesus for their lack of faith. But I look at it a little differently today. I don't think He was chewing them out. Maybe He was surprised that after the things He had already done they were still so easily frightened and lacking in faith. (Does that sound like anyone you know??) I think He was more likely filled with compassion by the weakness they portrayed.
He recognized and acknowledged their fear and lack of faith...and STILL got up and did what they had asked Him to do. He still calmed the storm. It comes to me that our fear does not scare God and our lack of faith does not limit His ability. Even when we are weak and fearful and having a hard time believing...He will still listen and do the work in our lives.
Good News Translation (GNT)
26 “Why are you so frightened?” Jesus answered. “What little faith you have!” Then he got up and ordered the winds and the waves to stop, and there was a great calm.
I am inspired by some particular friends to write today. Thanks to them, I have seen something in the Word that I have never seen before. Maybe I'm just a late bloomer...
Anyway, I've always felt like when my faith is weak, that I hold God back. Like my faith needs to be strong and courageous in order to move Him to do whatever it is I think He needs to do. For a long time I've had this sneaking suspicion that I'm running in circles with this sort of thinking, but haven't felt there was any solution other than to pray for stronger faith.
While probably not a bad thing to do at all...there was a man in the Bible who asked Jesus to help him with his unbelief...there are times in your life that you are so much in the middle of a problem that it is really humanly impossible to have the kind of faith that just flat out takes courage. There are times when things are really frightening. Whether it be sickness, finances, circumstances, emotional/mental struggles...those things can be scary! As humans, we do tend to worry and fret, and yes, we know we shouldn't!
He recognized and acknowledged their fear and lack of faith...and STILL got up and did what they had asked Him to do. He still calmed the storm. It comes to me that our fear does not scare God and our lack of faith does not limit His ability. Even when we are weak and fearful and having a hard time believing...He will still listen and do the work in our lives.
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