A few weeks ago I was encouraged to put my purpose for writing into 10 word statement. That meant putting on my thinking cap for several days and seeking God's wisdom.
My purpose statement:
Encourage women to grow in their Faith and Treasure Joy
Like my lighthouse picture this statement has quickly become a guiding strength for my writing. It's a magnifying glass I can use to evaluate my writing.
Will this blog,
this devotional,
this book chapter
help me encourage others to treasure godly joy?
We each need guideposts (lighthouses) in our lives to keep us going in the right direction.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
"As the Deer"
As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:1-2a, NKJV)
What if God would have said, "As the camel . . ."?
Would this Psalm have the same meaning?
Behind the glass doors of a display cabinet in our living room is a toy camel my husband received as a gift when he was a small boy. Our daughters consider it very old since it is stuffed with straw.
One of Tom's Sunday school teacher went on a mission trip and purchased the toy while she was abroad. She thought since Tom is blind it would help him "see" what a camel is like for himself. The thoughtful teacher made a special trip to his house to present her gift. Tom's camel is an Arabian Dromedary with one hump. It stands eleven inches tall and is a skillfully crafted likeness of its living counterparts.
Unlike deer, camels can go nearly a week without water. How? They drink as much as thirty-two gallons of water at a time. Deer need a fresh source of water daily. No the passage would not have the same meaning if God had said, "As the camel pants for the water brooks . . ."
Even the deepest drink once a week will not meet our needs. God wants us to desire ("pant for") fellowship with Him (time in prayer and reading His Word) as a deer. Not as a camel. We need to drink regularly . . . every day.
When is the last time you drank His Refreshing Waters?
What if God would have said, "As the camel . . ."?
Would this Psalm have the same meaning?
Behind the glass doors of a display cabinet in our living room is a toy camel my husband received as a gift when he was a small boy. Our daughters consider it very old since it is stuffed with straw.
One of Tom's Sunday school teacher went on a mission trip and purchased the toy while she was abroad. She thought since Tom is blind it would help him "see" what a camel is like for himself. The thoughtful teacher made a special trip to his house to present her gift. Tom's camel is an Arabian Dromedary with one hump. It stands eleven inches tall and is a skillfully crafted likeness of its living counterparts.
Unlike deer, camels can go nearly a week without water. How? They drink as much as thirty-two gallons of water at a time. Deer need a fresh source of water daily. No the passage would not have the same meaning if God had said, "As the camel pants for the water brooks . . ."
Even the deepest drink once a week will not meet our needs. God wants us to desire ("pant for") fellowship with Him (time in prayer and reading His Word) as a deer. Not as a camel. We need to drink regularly . . . every day.
When is the last time you drank His Refreshing Waters?
Sunday, January 13, 2008
"Heavenly Father" Meditation
The Sovereign Ruler of the Universe calls me His child, and I am no longer alone. That is a statement that flooded into my mind sometime back. I’m not sure if it is original or if I heard it or read it at a forgotten point in the past. What I do know is this statement comforts me like a warm fluffy blanket.
Today is Sunday, but I’m under the weather. It would be selfish for me to attend church and share my germs with all my friends. But, I can still worship and meditate on my Heavenly Father’s greatness.
This morning I visualize myself opening the treasure chest God gave me on my spiritual birthday. That was the day more then a quarter of a century ago when He signed the adoption papers for my soul in the blood that flows from Calvary. I pull back the heavy lid and sparkles of colorful light dance across the riches inside. The chest is full of diamonds and rubies, silver and gold.
Here is an acronym to put words to my joy.
F - Faithful
A - Adoration
T - Treasuring
H - HIS
E - Endless
R - Riches
And now its time for me curl up with a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup and rest in my Heavenly Father's love.
Yes, the Almighty will be your gold
And your precious silver;
For then you will have your delight in the Almighty,
And lift up your face to God. (Job 22:25, 26 – NKJV)
Today is Sunday, but I’m under the weather. It would be selfish for me to attend church and share my germs with all my friends. But, I can still worship and meditate on my Heavenly Father’s greatness.
This morning I visualize myself opening the treasure chest God gave me on my spiritual birthday. That was the day more then a quarter of a century ago when He signed the adoption papers for my soul in the blood that flows from Calvary. I pull back the heavy lid and sparkles of colorful light dance across the riches inside. The chest is full of diamonds and rubies, silver and gold.
Here is an acronym to put words to my joy.
F - Faithful
A - Adoration
T - Treasuring
H - HIS
E - Endless
R - Riches
And now its time for me curl up with a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup and rest in my Heavenly Father's love.
Yes, the Almighty will be your gold
And your precious silver;
For then you will have your delight in the Almighty,
And lift up your face to God. (Job 22:25, 26 – NKJV)
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Pearls
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:45, 46 – NKJV)
It’s just a simple strand of imitation pearls, but I treasure each bead. The clasp is a single pearl set in filigree. The pearls are white with a slight hint of ivory.
After Mama died from cancer two weeks before my high school graduation the pearls passed on to me. Mama was no longer here, but I had her strand of pearls.
A few years later when Tom and I where married I decided to wear the strand of pearls as my “something old”. But, the strand was too long for the neckline on my wedding gown. With scissors, needle and thread the length was no longer a problem. The leftover pearls were content to be stored away in a small medicine bottle in the bottom of my jewelry box.
With the approach of middle age the strand grew too small for my expanding neck. Once again out came the scissors, needle and thread. The medicine bottle is now a few beads lighter, but Mother’s strand of pearls is the prefect length.
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to “one pearl of great price”. This single pearl was given to me by my Heavenly Father more than a quarter of a century ago out of the storehouse of His love. This one pearl holds the weight of eternity, purchased through the death of Jesus on the cross.
How many pearls do you have?
It’s just a simple strand of imitation pearls, but I treasure each bead. The clasp is a single pearl set in filigree. The pearls are white with a slight hint of ivory.
After Mama died from cancer two weeks before my high school graduation the pearls passed on to me. Mama was no longer here, but I had her strand of pearls.
A few years later when Tom and I where married I decided to wear the strand of pearls as my “something old”. But, the strand was too long for the neckline on my wedding gown. With scissors, needle and thread the length was no longer a problem. The leftover pearls were content to be stored away in a small medicine bottle in the bottom of my jewelry box.
With the approach of middle age the strand grew too small for my expanding neck. Once again out came the scissors, needle and thread. The medicine bottle is now a few beads lighter, but Mother’s strand of pearls is the prefect length.
Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to “one pearl of great price”. This single pearl was given to me by my Heavenly Father more than a quarter of a century ago out of the storehouse of His love. This one pearl holds the weight of eternity, purchased through the death of Jesus on the cross.
How many pearls do you have?
Saturday, January 5, 2008
"God Meant it for Good"
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good . . . " (Genesis 50:20 - NKJV)
Have you been mistreated or abused? Did it leave you feeling abandoned and cheated? Where was God? Read the account of Joseph in the last fourteen chapters of Genesis.
Joseph was the favored son of his father, and the object of jealousy to his brothers. His brothers plotted to kill him then greed raised its tempting head so they sold him as a slave to a group of traveling merchants heading for Egypt instead. Talk about abuse!
In Egypt Joseph went from being head servant in Potiphar's household to the inner prison because of a wicked lie told against him. Through a series of events only the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe could orchestrate Joseph became the second in command of all of Egypt - second only to Pharaoh. He became the instrument through which God saved many people from a famine, including Joseph's own family.
When their father died years later Joseph's brothers were afraid he would retaliate and seek revenge. Joseph answered their concerns with an understanding of God's sovereignty, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good."
God meant the abuse for good. Everything that comes into the life of a believer is orchestrated by the hand of God for our good. At first that may be a hard concept to put our arms around, but there is freedom knowing we are not mere ponds in the hands of wickedness. God is in control of every event of our lives.
Heavenly Father: Teach us to trust You. Like Joseph, help us accept mistreatment or even abuse as a gift from Your sovereign hand . . . intended for good.
Have you been mistreated or abused? Did it leave you feeling abandoned and cheated? Where was God? Read the account of Joseph in the last fourteen chapters of Genesis.
Joseph was the favored son of his father, and the object of jealousy to his brothers. His brothers plotted to kill him then greed raised its tempting head so they sold him as a slave to a group of traveling merchants heading for Egypt instead. Talk about abuse!
In Egypt Joseph went from being head servant in Potiphar's household to the inner prison because of a wicked lie told against him. Through a series of events only the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe could orchestrate Joseph became the second in command of all of Egypt - second only to Pharaoh. He became the instrument through which God saved many people from a famine, including Joseph's own family.
When their father died years later Joseph's brothers were afraid he would retaliate and seek revenge. Joseph answered their concerns with an understanding of God's sovereignty, "You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good."
God meant the abuse for good. Everything that comes into the life of a believer is orchestrated by the hand of God for our good. At first that may be a hard concept to put our arms around, but there is freedom knowing we are not mere ponds in the hands of wickedness. God is in control of every event of our lives.
Heavenly Father: Teach us to trust You. Like Joseph, help us accept mistreatment or even abuse as a gift from Your sovereign hand . . . intended for good.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Looking Forward: 2008
The name of the Lord is a strong tower, The righteous run to it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10, NKJV)
Everyone is talking about New Year resolutions, even the evening news.
Did you know most New Year resolutions are discarded by the end of the first week? Yesterday I heard a medical explanation. Our activities become part of our mind, forming habits. It takes at least 20 days to change a habit, and several months before it becomes routine.
Instead of resolutions I prefer to write goals. Look to my “Strong Tower” for direction and chart my course.
In 2008 I pray I will be able to appreciate the treasure I have in Christ more fully than I did in 2007. Surrender more of my selfish will to God. Drink more deeply of the joy found only in Him. Become a more effective servant in my church and home.
Yes, I want to lose another 20 pounds in the next six months and finish my first book before Christmas. Tom and I are making plans to remodel our 50+ year old kitchen.
But, the most important goals can only be evaluated with the heart as God changes us from the inside out. Those are the changes that will help us navigate any choppy waters that lay ahead.
Everyone is talking about New Year resolutions, even the evening news.
Did you know most New Year resolutions are discarded by the end of the first week? Yesterday I heard a medical explanation. Our activities become part of our mind, forming habits. It takes at least 20 days to change a habit, and several months before it becomes routine.
Instead of resolutions I prefer to write goals. Look to my “Strong Tower” for direction and chart my course.
In 2008 I pray I will be able to appreciate the treasure I have in Christ more fully than I did in 2007. Surrender more of my selfish will to God. Drink more deeply of the joy found only in Him. Become a more effective servant in my church and home.
Yes, I want to lose another 20 pounds in the next six months and finish my first book before Christmas. Tom and I are making plans to remodel our 50+ year old kitchen.
But, the most important goals can only be evaluated with the heart as God changes us from the inside out. Those are the changes that will help us navigate any choppy waters that lay ahead.
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