the spiritual journey of someone desiring to know and do God's will, even when it is difficult.
Children caring for children
Abba... Heavenly Father to the fatherless
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Day 100! Faith
How appropriate! Faith. A simple word that is the foundation of our salvation...it is what we use daily when we push on the breaks of our car...but it so easily slips away for me in my daily schedule.
I'm under a huge time crunch right now with several plates spinning...I'm not complaining because it is all good...I just don't know how I will get it done. And that's the point that the online devotion reminded me of today! It's not about me!
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
It is about Christ giving me the strength to do all things according to His will.
I have the faith in you Lord
Luke 18:27 (ESV)
27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
I can do only what you see fit, Lord.
So, now I will put on my shoes, pick up my purse and head on out the door...whatever I accomplish today will be up to the Lord. I have faith that I will accomplish what He desires. I'll stay tuned in to him - my part - and he will guide my steps - his part.
Lord,
I commit this day to you. You know what I need to accomplish. I have faith you will guide my steps.
Amen
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Day 99: Knowing
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9
"You reign, forever your's is the victory...." Hillsong
"In my life be lifted be high ... " Hillsong
Oh Lord,
I long to bring you praise....to be your servant...Lord of Lords....You are so close yet I am so far from you at times. Oh, my Savior, Lord of Creation, My Lord, My strong tower, hear my prayers...I desire to sit close to you and know you more intimately. I believe you are in my life...you are hearing the prayers of my heart...you are responding, My Father....you are Holy! Several months ago I placed fleeces before you...oh, my Abba you are moving...help me not to run ahead of you...but to joyfully see the answers, see your hand. I love you, Lord. Thank you for providing and caring for our family. I pray that I will honor you...that I will come to know you in a more intimate fashion....That I will understand your will and your way...
Amen
"There's a stirring in my heart unexplainable, there's a calling on my days undeniable...and there's a fire in my bones...uncontainable....and it's causing me to burn...for YOU! I'll go anywhere...I'll do anything...at any cost for you my King!" Fee
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
DAY 98: Sickness
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. Isaiah 53:4a
Lord,
You are at work all around me and yet my eyes have blinders. I am sick and should be using this time simply to be with you...I acknowledge my own spiritual laziness before you. I desire my body to be your temple. Help me to know how to do this moment by moment. To take a walk...go to bed on time and get up on time...half my portions so I'm not a glutton...eat when hungry; not when bored...to fast in order to spend time with you on behalf of those I love...to beseech your hand in their lives.
Forgive me for focusing on the women's retreat as a fun time...help me to communicate it will be a time for ladies to come closer to you and tune into hearing your voice...
Help my children to hear your voice...
James as he leads
Kelsey as she seeks a job
Michael in his future after graduation and in his present
Becca as she seeks your voice for her future
Lonnie and I as we wait patiently for your perfect timing for our future service to you
Those struggling now in relationships and those that seem far from you...
Lord, you promise to hold us close..help us not to forget that you suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually; therefore, we are experiencing nothing you haven't felt. Heal us Father of our sickness.
Amen
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Day 97: Pride?
Father, forgive me of my pride. Help me to know when that is an issue in my eating. Walk near and close to me so that I can become the servant you desire... physically as well as spiritually. Amen
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Day 96: 194 Pounds
1 Corinthians 3:16
Well....
- I was an alternate so didn't get to deliberate.
- My first reaction was disappointment.
- My thought was, seriously God? You put me here and then scoot me off?
- I was relieved when the press reported the jury was hung, mistrial declared, and new trial scheduled.
- I thanked the Lord for not wasting two of my days.
- Healthy I am not...gallbladder attack and lingering symptons
- I weigh 194 pounds! There it is out on the web...Debbie Warren weights way too much!
- God is convicting me and I'm sensing - yet again - that this is a spiritual battle. I am a home ec major for Pete Sakes and I know how to eat healthy!
- I've paid Weight Watchers a lot of money in the past to loose 30 pounds...only to return to unhealthy eating and be right back where I am now. Money wasted.
- The money I would pay to weight watchers - primarily for accountability - I could contribute to an intern.
- God won't give me a piece about going back to WW.
- I am lazy and don't excercise...not even an evening walk with the dog. Pitaful!
I am doing Breaking Free by Beth Moore. This is my bondage...unhealthy eating...which produces excess weight and possibly gall bladder problems. I must depend on God to help me fight this and not man. I must be accountable to a God I can't physically see and not person I can.
For me, and only me, Weight Watchers is not what God wants me to do right now. I must depend on him.
I will sign into my blog weekly with my weight...that will be my accountability...I will see it.
Lord, help me to hold fast to you. Thank you for showing me this is a spiritual battle that I can't fight on my own. I need you to walk alongside me. For this season you are saying "No" to outside help. Be my helper. Be my supporter. Be my ultimate accountability. I am your servant and desire to serve you well with my whole body. Amen
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Day 95: God of Tomorrow
How easy it is to forget that God is a personal God and knows us personally. Recently I was reminded of how personally God knows my life and my tomorrows.
I was disappointed that I wasn't assigned an additional class to teach for LU. It would have meant an overlap of 4 weeks in terms which equals teaching 40 students at one time - on top of my ministry.
I realized the importance of God saying "no" to the additional assignment when I was selected to serve on a Federal case as a juror! From 240 people taking the questionnaire...72 called back...20 some dismissed on jury selection day...names in a tumble barrel...my name pulled out...both sides agreeing to me...I'm in the jury box for the next three weeks.
I know it is God that placed me on this jury and I desire to serve him well.
Thank you Father for not giving me what I initially asked for. I know ask for now and the finances to make up the difference.
I worship you, El Roi
Friday, September 10, 2010
Day 94: I Can Love ... even when it's hard
Galatians 5:6
Recently I heard from a couple that they had agreed not to quickly say the words, "I love you" but to wait and let their actions demonstrate what love is. I know that our son and his wife during their courtship made a covenant not to say "I love you" until they had dated one year. Sounded odd to me at first...but I began to enjoy the last comments of a phone conversation, "Good night, I like you ... I like you allot!" Precious. And then on a silly movie yesterday it was said, "Love is friendship on fire!"
Love is an expression....of friendship...through acts of kindness...liking someone.
But love isn't always easy. It does take time and effort. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13 lists all the things love is and isn't. As Beth Moore points out it is by God's filling of us through the Holy Spirit that we have the capability to love. People in our lives don't always love us in return the way we want to be loved and appreciated. But that's not the point is it? Christ loved us and died for us in spite of our sin and rejection of Him. 1 Corinthians 13:8 says love never fails. Love is never without an effect. It has an effect and a power whether we see it and realize it or not.
The challenge is allowing the Holy Spirit to help me love those I, in my human self, have a difficult time loving.
Lord, guide me and Holy Spirit show me how to actively and faithfully love those that "tweak my nerves."