It's Friday! Friday, the 13th to be exact. Are you superstitious? We kid about it, but I don't think I am. When I mentioned the date to Allie and Timm, Allie got all excited. Timm, well, he wants to watch a scary movie tonight. They are so different. But so are we, as children of God. We all are made up of quirks and think differently. I am glad about that. I like that I am an individual. But we all have the same goal. To live for Christ. To win nonbelievers to the kingdom of God. To worship God. I think the last one is sometimes the easiest thing to do, but sometimes our hearts and minds are not atuned with others. Life's distractions get in the way. Money, children, work, friends, all these add up to life's frustrations. If these things are worrying you and keeping you from worshiping God, then read Psalm 113.
1Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
Praise the name of the LORD.
2Blessed be the name of the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
3From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the LORD is to be praised.
4The LORD is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.
5Who is like the LORD our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
6Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
7He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8To make them sit with princes,
With the princes of His people.
9He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Prosperity from God
Psalm 112 is a praise to the man who fears God. God will bless him with prosperity. Some months it feels like we have it all, and other months it feels like we are just getting by, if at all. Does that mean that we are not doing God's will? Does it mean that we are not following God's commands? I can not answer that for you. But it feels I am doing something wrong. I know I am unworthy to even be called a child of God, let alone receive all the blessings He has for me. I know I am not a very good steward. I am always striving to do better. I pray every day that God will bless my family and that we will be able to do His will with what he has given us. We sometimes need to be reminded that though we feel poor, we, in America, are among the richest people in the world.
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD!
How blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who greatly delights in His commandments.
2His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3Wealth and riches are in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6For he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be remembered forever.
7He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8His heart is upheld, he will not fear,
Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
9He has given freely to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted in honor.
10The wicked will see it and be vexed,
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked will perish.
Psalm 112
1Praise the LORD!
How blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
Who greatly delights in His commandments.
2His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
3Wealth and riches are in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
4Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
5It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
He will maintain his cause in judgment.
6For he will never be shaken;
The righteous will be remembered forever.
7He will not fear evil tidings;
His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
8His heart is upheld, he will not fear,
Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
9He has given freely to the poor,
His righteousness endures forever;
His horn will be exalted in honor.
10The wicked will see it and be vexed,
He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
The desire of the wicked will perish.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Your Godly Heritage
What is your heritage to your children? Heritage is defined at dictionary.com as something that comes or belongs to one by reason of birth; an inherited lot or portion:; something reserved for one: .
Heritage is normally land, but most of us in these days and times does not have a lot of land, except maybe the little bit our house is on. But we can give our children the heritage of Godliness. Taking them to church, living your life as an example, prayers, faithfulness, devotions, through all of this your children will see God in your life. They will see how through the dark times you react. They will see how through the times of exultation you praise God. So give them a heritage they can hold on to.
Psalm 111
The LORD Praised for His Goodness.
1Praise the LORD!I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.
2Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.
3Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.
4He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
5He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.
6He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.
7The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.
8They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.
9He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Singe Parents
2 Timothy 1:5
5For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
Single parents sometimes get a bad wrap. Most of them go day in and day out going it alone. They do not have a spouse to fall back out. They have to deal with discipline, chores, finances, repairs, emotional blow ups, laundry, meals, and being outwitted, outlasted, and outplayed by their children. Single parents do the best they can. If a couple is unsure, at least they have each other to fall back on and to help make decisions. Single parents do not have that. They can't say, Go ask your father/mother. They have to make it. If they have a support system, someone they can lean on, then they have someone special. It may be a set of grandparents, or siblings, a great friend. But, what Christian people need to understand is that we are not alone. We are all here to encourage and help each other. It's hard to ask for help, but that's just being prideful, isn't it? But that is a whole different issue.
We have a duty to help the widows and young parents who seem to be going it alone. Whether we visit with them, work on their car, clean their yard, babysit so they get some adult time, it doesn't matter. Just help out. It's the right thing to do.
5For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.
Single parents sometimes get a bad wrap. Most of them go day in and day out going it alone. They do not have a spouse to fall back out. They have to deal with discipline, chores, finances, repairs, emotional blow ups, laundry, meals, and being outwitted, outlasted, and outplayed by their children. Single parents do the best they can. If a couple is unsure, at least they have each other to fall back on and to help make decisions. Single parents do not have that. They can't say, Go ask your father/mother. They have to make it. If they have a support system, someone they can lean on, then they have someone special. It may be a set of grandparents, or siblings, a great friend. But, what Christian people need to understand is that we are not alone. We are all here to encourage and help each other. It's hard to ask for help, but that's just being prideful, isn't it? But that is a whole different issue.
We have a duty to help the widows and young parents who seem to be going it alone. Whether we visit with them, work on their car, clean their yard, babysit so they get some adult time, it doesn't matter. Just help out. It's the right thing to do.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Hannah and Samuel
Yesterday, Mother's were celebrated all over the country. Sons and daughters loved on, gifted, and cherished their maternal parent. I love the Bible stories that involve mothers. One of my favorites is of Hannah.
I Samuel 1:1-20
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”
How many of us ask God for something and then follow through on our promise to him? Once we get what we want (and usually it isn't as important to as as we would like to think), we don't think of how we have gotten it or how we can cherish it. Hannah dedicated her son to God. She poured out her heavy heart to the Lord, but I'm not sure she really thought he would give her the desire of her heart, a child. When the priest, Eli talked to her and told her that God had granted her wish, it didn't happen immediately. Verse 20 says, that "in the course of time" she became pregnant. It doesn't tell us if she was unhappy that it took some time, or if she was patient. But God did honor her. He gave her a son and in to motherhood she headed. How precious that time must have been for her. I know that I loved being pregnant. I never felt better (after the first trimester), and we were so excited for the new editions to our family. I know that Hannah must have been so excited. The excitement of pregnancy is wonderful and scary. But knowing that God has granted this gift of a child to me is how I still, after sixteen years of motherhood, feel about my children. Yes, I get frustrated with their actions and decisions, but I love them more than they will ever know. I'm sure Hannah felt that with Samuel.
I Samuel 1:1-20
There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite[a] from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. 2 He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.
3 Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the LORD Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the LORD. 4 Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. 5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the LORD had closed her womb. 6 Because the LORD had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. 7 This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. 8 Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”
9 Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house. 10 In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly. 11 And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
12 As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
15 “Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
19 Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. 20 So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel,[b] saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”
How many of us ask God for something and then follow through on our promise to him? Once we get what we want (and usually it isn't as important to as as we would like to think), we don't think of how we have gotten it or how we can cherish it. Hannah dedicated her son to God. She poured out her heavy heart to the Lord, but I'm not sure she really thought he would give her the desire of her heart, a child. When the priest, Eli talked to her and told her that God had granted her wish, it didn't happen immediately. Verse 20 says, that "in the course of time" she became pregnant. It doesn't tell us if she was unhappy that it took some time, or if she was patient. But God did honor her. He gave her a son and in to motherhood she headed. How precious that time must have been for her. I know that I loved being pregnant. I never felt better (after the first trimester), and we were so excited for the new editions to our family. I know that Hannah must have been so excited. The excitement of pregnancy is wonderful and scary. But knowing that God has granted this gift of a child to me is how I still, after sixteen years of motherhood, feel about my children. Yes, I get frustrated with their actions and decisions, but I love them more than they will ever know. I'm sure Hannah felt that with Samuel.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Psalm 110
What a stress-filled week. I have been very busy at work, and at home. Then I messed up the computer and we haven't had the money to get it fixed, and with all this rain, emotions are at an all-time high. So it's nice to see that God has sent me a message. Psalms 110:1 says,'The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."
Not that I have enemies, per se, but it is nice to see that God wants me to sit and put my feet up. Between band, dance, track, church, choir, and everything else, I am spent. I tell the Lord, I will be happy to sit down and put my feet up, but Lord? Just one more load of laundry, or one more dirty dish to clean. The Lord doesn't wait for us. We need to wait for him. Sometimes it is okay that the dishes haven't been done in two days (that would be me!). Sometimes it's okay to sit on the couch, lean back and close your eyes for a moment. But, listen. God wants to tell you something. For each of us it's a different message. But to hear him, sometimes you have to stop what you are doing and meditate. Be quiet. Turn off the tv or the iPod, or send the children to Grandma's, if only for a day. So take some time this weekend and do what God asks, sit and put your feet up!
Not that I have enemies, per se, but it is nice to see that God wants me to sit and put my feet up. Between band, dance, track, church, choir, and everything else, I am spent. I tell the Lord, I will be happy to sit down and put my feet up, but Lord? Just one more load of laundry, or one more dirty dish to clean. The Lord doesn't wait for us. We need to wait for him. Sometimes it is okay that the dishes haven't been done in two days (that would be me!). Sometimes it's okay to sit on the couch, lean back and close your eyes for a moment. But, listen. God wants to tell you something. For each of us it's a different message. But to hear him, sometimes you have to stop what you are doing and meditate. Be quiet. Turn off the tv or the iPod, or send the children to Grandma's, if only for a day. So take some time this weekend and do what God asks, sit and put your feet up!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Psalm 109
Psalm 109 is a good psalm to read today, the day after it was announced that Osama Bin Laden was killed. My son asked why he was killed, and I told him he was public enemy number one for the United States of America. But for someone who was four years old when September 11th happened, it's still hard to take in. I just know that God will take care of repaying Bin Laden, and I don't have to. I still feel sad at the senseless lives lost on that day, and sad for the brave soldiers who have been looking for him ever since. I am still proud to be an American!
Psalm 109:14 - 16
14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15Let them be before the LORD continually,
That He may cut off their memory from the earth;
16Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness,
But persecuted the afflicted and needy man,
And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.
Psalm 109:14 - 16
14Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD,
And do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15Let them be before the LORD continually,
That He may cut off their memory from the earth;
16Because he did not remember to show lovingkindness,
But persecuted the afflicted and needy man,
And the despondent in heart, to put them to death.
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