Psalm 3:3 "But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
"Sometimes when you live by faith, all you have are God's promises"--Jarrett Stephens
How full is your memory bank: can you claim the Lord's promises from memory when things are difficult? Practice putting God's Word in your heart. Do not students practice for the ACT in prepration for college? Do not athletes train for the big game? Is it not wise to build a savings account for emergencies? Should we not fill up our memory in preparation for the trials of life? Be prepared. Hide God's word in your heart, that you might have truth at your fingertips to claim in time of need!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Results are in...
..."Following all that the Lord my God has commanded" and not turning "to the right or to the left" is quite a challenge. (Last week's memory verses Deut. 5:32-33)
Last week's scripture memory has been one of my favorite verses to think on in terms of God's will, and God's best. He knows what is best for His children, and sometimes it's as simple as obeying what He has already told us.
One big way that we can obey is to be debt free. It's hard. Really hard in this culture of 'have it now' and 'pay later.' But so important. This is a goal that my husband and I have been diligently working toward, and God is blessing our obedience already. Can't wait for the day to be able to say we are DEBT FREE!
Another way we know we need to obey is spending time with our Lord. Good, quality time. Oh, car conversations are important, and so is corporate worship and group Bible study, but we need to make time for Him on our own. Time to read. Pray. Listen. Obey.
House work. "What?" you might ask. "How is housework God's will?" It's a seemingly small thing butI think God considers it important. In it's place (not above family or God) it is part of being diligent and responsible for what God has entrusted us. Spending time dusting and doing dishes on a regular basis is a way to obey God by taking care of His gift to us.
So why am I going on and on about all this? These are some of the things that I believe take discipline in the Christians life. God's Word says to follow what God has told us, and not to get sidetracked by things on our right hand or left. And one thing I've noticed is that when I'm distracted from even little things like house work or saving money, other areas of my life don't run as smoothly.
A week ago, my husband and I sat down and talked about one area we needed to address in our discipline: watching TV. Although not bad in itself, TV for us was relaxation after a long day at work, but consumed our energy and time which affected our timeliness in chores, and time with the Lord. Together, we decided that during the week we would not watch any TV. Shows we wanted to see would be recorded and watched on the weekends (fast forwarding commercials), and weeknights would be spent taking care of our house, devos, couple time, and true relaxation.
And what fun it has been! By practicing discipline in one area, I have found discipline in many! I have had time to work out, cook dinner, clean up the house, play games with my husband and fall asleep as early as 8:30pm if I needed to! Such freedom! And another example of how God blesses our obedience.
So, two weeks into the memorization, and God is already at work. His Word is alive, and does not return void.
*************
My heart is burdened in prayer for several brothers and sisters I know facing health issues. Would you please pray for Matt, *Amy* and *Tammy* (names changed for privacy) who are facing serious health problems. Pray for God's peace that passes understanding, and wisdom for the doctors and family, as well as healing of their bodies.
How can I pray for you?
Last week's scripture memory has been one of my favorite verses to think on in terms of God's will, and God's best. He knows what is best for His children, and sometimes it's as simple as obeying what He has already told us.
One big way that we can obey is to be debt free. It's hard. Really hard in this culture of 'have it now' and 'pay later.' But so important. This is a goal that my husband and I have been diligently working toward, and God is blessing our obedience already. Can't wait for the day to be able to say we are DEBT FREE!
Another way we know we need to obey is spending time with our Lord. Good, quality time. Oh, car conversations are important, and so is corporate worship and group Bible study, but we need to make time for Him on our own. Time to read. Pray. Listen. Obey.
House work. "What?" you might ask. "How is housework God's will?" It's a seemingly small thing butI think God considers it important. In it's place (not above family or God) it is part of being diligent and responsible for what God has entrusted us. Spending time dusting and doing dishes on a regular basis is a way to obey God by taking care of His gift to us.
So why am I going on and on about all this? These are some of the things that I believe take discipline in the Christians life. God's Word says to follow what God has told us, and not to get sidetracked by things on our right hand or left. And one thing I've noticed is that when I'm distracted from even little things like house work or saving money, other areas of my life don't run as smoothly.
A week ago, my husband and I sat down and talked about one area we needed to address in our discipline: watching TV. Although not bad in itself, TV for us was relaxation after a long day at work, but consumed our energy and time which affected our timeliness in chores, and time with the Lord. Together, we decided that during the week we would not watch any TV. Shows we wanted to see would be recorded and watched on the weekends (fast forwarding commercials), and weeknights would be spent taking care of our house, devos, couple time, and true relaxation.
And what fun it has been! By practicing discipline in one area, I have found discipline in many! I have had time to work out, cook dinner, clean up the house, play games with my husband and fall asleep as early as 8:30pm if I needed to! Such freedom! And another example of how God blesses our obedience.
So, two weeks into the memorization, and God is already at work. His Word is alive, and does not return void.
*************
My heart is burdened in prayer for several brothers and sisters I know facing health issues. Would you please pray for Matt, *Amy* and *Tammy* (names changed for privacy) who are facing serious health problems. Pray for God's peace that passes understanding, and wisdom for the doctors and family, as well as healing of their bodies.
How can I pray for you?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
New Year Challenge
It's a new year and there are lots of things we as people try to do to better ourselves and our lives as we move forward with a fresh calendar. Amazingly, I have a pretty open calendar in the year of 2010 so far, but one thing I know is that I want to mark it up with scripture memory.
Most believers agree that it is important to memorize scripture, but find it hard to commit to, make time for, and follow through with. This year, ask God to show you how important it is to your walk, and commit to put His Words in your heart. No one can ever take away what you hide in your heart, and what goal for such a time as this!
"I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:11
"They Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16
At the end of last year I saw http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ (Beth Moore's ministry blog) where ladies across the globe had been working together to memorize two verses a month. That's my challenge to myself and to you this year. Choose two passages a month that you can commit to memory. I will post my verses here as I work on new ones every other week, and I would love to hear what you are working on, and how God is using it to empower your daily living!!
Verse one for me is found in Deuteronomy 5:32-33.
"Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess."
Ready! Set! Memorize!
Most believers agree that it is important to memorize scripture, but find it hard to commit to, make time for, and follow through with. This year, ask God to show you how important it is to your walk, and commit to put His Words in your heart. No one can ever take away what you hide in your heart, and what goal for such a time as this!
"I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:11
"They Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16
At the end of last year I saw http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ (Beth Moore's ministry blog) where ladies across the globe had been working together to memorize two verses a month. That's my challenge to myself and to you this year. Choose two passages a month that you can commit to memory. I will post my verses here as I work on new ones every other week, and I would love to hear what you are working on, and how God is using it to empower your daily living!!
Verse one for me is found in Deuteronomy 5:32-33.
"Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess."
Ready! Set! Memorize!
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