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.

but still i hear You call me May 14, 2008

a written plan You do not have for me
nor a step-by-step treasure map

clarity I do not know
but still I hear You call me through the fog of doubt

I lean in toward You
listening for Your voice
but have I let the darkness of a busy life drown You out

keep calling me I ask
I want to follow only You
I want to take the step
that of faith into Your plan

help me close my eyes and take the leap
rip away the fear that stops me
take away the voices of reason and replace them with truth
and lead me faithfully to the place where I know that You know that I know You want me to be

yes Lord – take me there

Constant Yearning April 26, 2008

I want to be like Daniel.
He was a man who knew God’s word – he was constantly listening to what God was saying to him – and he had incredible faith.  It seems as if he never winced.  Daniel’s constant yearning for God made him a man that was trusted by God; and much wisdom and knowledge was given.  From that, I believe that he was equipped with his faith that God is in control.  My favorite verses that echo this are Daniel 2:20-23.

Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.  It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding.  It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him.  To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For you have given me wisdom and power; even now You have made known to me what we requested of you.  For You have made known to us the king’s matter.

unraveling more of who He is March 30, 2008

As long as I am breathing on this earth – I will never be able to wrap my finite mind around my infinite God.  He is too big - too great — He is God.  Even knowing that I cannot fully grasp Him I long to know more of who He is.  The more I unravel, the clearer it becomes that He is a firm rock – steady and unchanging.  He is the only one whom I can trust without fear of Him failing me.  He knows every aspect and detail of my life and He can handle it; not my friends, my family, my self, or even my own dreams and aspiration can be depended upon.  They will fail me but He will not.   

Proverbs 3:4-6  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Doubt Not Darling March 6, 2008

James 1:2-6

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Lord – I ask for Your wisdom.  Let me heed to your Holy Spirit.  May my reflexes be Yours.  God guide my words and my steps every moment.  I do not want to be a wave upon the sea – instead let me be a sail that is powered by Your wind.  God – release me from my doubts and fears and Trust You Always.   Forgive me Lord for the times that I do not lean on my faith in Your assurance.  Amen

Serenity and Surrender March 4, 2008

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.  Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it: Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever in the next. Amen.

I ran  across this prayer today.  It was my Grandmother’s (Ruth) favorite prayer.  I can still hear her saying it in my head even though it’s been ten years since she’s graced this earth.  I think that most of us know those first few lines.  It’s the rest of the prayer that really challenges me – the part we never seem to get to.  It forces the questions:   

Do I trust God?  yes . . . but every moment?  no, but I want to
Why wouldn’t I?  perhaps I’m scared.  maybe I like the false sense of control.  there really isn’t any reason I shouldn’t trust Him.  He’s proven Himself over and over from the beginning of time throughout the ages.

Do I enjoy this life God gave me? i am a half-glass-full kind of person but I don’t think I “seize the day” everyday.  i want to live that life of liberty in ways that my mind hasn’t even wrapped itself around yet.

Have I surrendered my will to His? yes – undeniably i accept the call that God has placed on my life – but i know that He is calling me to surrender every little iota – i want to – but what does that look like?

Rescue Line February 12, 2008

If you’ll hold on to me for dear life, says God,
“I’ll get you out of any trouble.
I’ll give you the best of care
if you’ll only get to know and trust Me.
Call Me and I’ll answer, be at your side in bad times;
I’ll rescue you, then throw you a party.
I’ll give you a long life,
give you a long drink of salvation!”
-Psalm 91 (The Message)