making You my First October 28, 2008

It seems like I am oh too much like Paul when he says in Romans 7:15-16

“I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. “And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good.” and 7:19 “For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.”

How do I create the spiritual habit of making God first?  For it is my desire to put Him first and yet I write this post instead of spending time with Him.  Ugghh

Okay – so I stopped writing the post two hours ago and spent some time with God – reading – listening.  He welcomes me back every time.  So that’s part of it – making the choice – not letting other things get in the way.  It is a spiritual battle and it demands my choice to say “Yes God, You are First.”  God doesn’t want me to do the things that get in my way of spending time with Him.  He wants me to get rid of them.  As it says in Matthew 18:7-9  

“Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.”

So for me the second step is to write a list and cut out the things that rob my time with God.  I have to get rid of them even if I love them.  I have to make some hard choices.

O for grace to trust Him more July 25, 2008

This old song was written in 1882 by Louisa Stead and William Kirkpatrick.  It has been said that Stead wrote the lyrics after her husband drown.  Out of grief and sorrow came lyrics that inspire.  As I prepare for this week’s service on God’s will for our lives – I have learned that God calls us to know Him and then to obey Him.  God knows that it is quintessential that we trust Him in order to do His will.  This perhaps is why he doesn’t “lay the plan out” or “put in writing” the exact steps of our lives.  If we knew all of the plans He had for us – we wouldn’t have to exercise trust.  Rather, He wants us to trust Him so that we can know Him and obey Him.  As the first verse says; it is so wonderful to rest upon His promise.

On a side note, Stead also included another key component of doing God’s will and that is to remove sin and self.  When we actively pursue this removal we have less that separates us from God.  Consequently, we are closer to Him and our relationship with Jesus grows deeper. 

So I pray this song as a hope:  O Lord – I cry out to You – Please pour down Your grace so that I can trust you more.  For I long to know You – I long to rest in Your promise and do Your will.  Amen

Verse 1
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain
Jesus, Jesus How I trust Thee
How I proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus precious Jesus
O for grace to trust Him more

Verse 2
O how sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to trust His cleansing blood
Just in simple faith to plunge me
‘neath the healing, cleansing flood

Verse 3
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus
Just from self and sin to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace

Verse 4
I’m so glad I learned to trust Him
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that Thou art with me
Wilt be with me to the end.

brave July 21, 2008

brave . . . like others who have gone before:  corrie, daniel, nehemiah, elliot, and theresa.
they’re not afraid yet sure without certainty of where the next steps are.
unconcerned with what the world says . . .eyes fixed upon Jesus
narrow in focus . . .wide in compassion
obeying the commands to know God and follow after Him with heart, soul, and mind.

will You lift me up? July 17, 2008

Lord, I want to be like Abraham - willing to let it all go.  I want to trust so deeply that I am willing to take the risk.  I want to move from fear to FAITH – but it is so hard to get my feet out of this boat where it is dry and safe.  And so I ask, Lord, will You lift me up over the side of the boat?  Will You hold my hand?  Will you show me where to put my foot next?  If you lead – I will follow Lord.  It is my desire to walk in Your ways and do Your Will.  Amen

Clarity July 11, 2008

There is an urgent feeling in my community to be God’s Kingdom.  To be active participants in His plan.  It calls for a sensitive ear to hear God and a willing heart and spirit to obey him.  We often pray as He instructed us “Thy Kingdom Come”.  Now we are realizing that we can play active roles in this. 

The most challenging aspect of this for me is discerning exactly what God wants me to do.  I know that He could be calling me into big life changes – but how that happens – I have not yet been able to weed through.  My prayers right now are that God would bring me clarity – a clearness of purpose – a path to follow so that I can say “Yes Father – Here I am – Choose me”.