''Rejoice the soul of Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.'' Ps 86:4
Watch a small child when his or her favorite person enters the room. Usually the child will drop the toys and run to that person, arms outstretched, expecting and trusting to be held and loved. David poetically translates that image into our relationship with the Lord. We run to God, lifting up our souls, knowing that He is the only one who brings joy. Today, in every situation, let's run to God and let Him hold us and rejoice us - there's no better place to be.
October 29, 2012
October 25, 2012
Thought for Today - Overcomers
''He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.'' Revelation 3:5
In this passage in Revelation, Jesus individually addresses several churches, alternately praising and reprooving them for their deeds. He continuously promises eternal rewards, however, to those who ''overcome.'' The things we struggle with in this life seem overwhelming, but a bigger perspective in light of eternity shows these things to be just ''light afflictions'' (2 Cor 4:17). He provides the strength daily to hang in there and overcome - and what wonderful things await us in heaven!
In this passage in Revelation, Jesus individually addresses several churches, alternately praising and reprooving them for their deeds. He continuously promises eternal rewards, however, to those who ''overcome.'' The things we struggle with in this life seem overwhelming, but a bigger perspective in light of eternity shows these things to be just ''light afflictions'' (2 Cor 4:17). He provides the strength daily to hang in there and overcome - and what wonderful things await us in heaven!
October 24, 2012
Thought for Today - True Religion
''Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.'' James 1:27
Someone once said that when we have a decision to make, and one option lines up with a Biblical mandate, there is no need to pray about it - God has already spoken. Here He makes it clear that His heart for those who are alone in the world is so incredibly tender. As the body of Christ, we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to the widows, the orphans, and anyone else alone and helpless.
We are also to keep ourselves ''unspotted'' from the world. Is it just me or is that so difficult sometimes? We are called to be in the world but not of it. Lord, help us remain unspotted!
Someone once said that when we have a decision to make, and one option lines up with a Biblical mandate, there is no need to pray about it - God has already spoken. Here He makes it clear that His heart for those who are alone in the world is so incredibly tender. As the body of Christ, we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus reaching out to the widows, the orphans, and anyone else alone and helpless.
We are also to keep ourselves ''unspotted'' from the world. Is it just me or is that so difficult sometimes? We are called to be in the world but not of it. Lord, help us remain unspotted!
October 23, 2012
Thought for Today - Ownership
''The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter.'' Ps 74:16-17
What a beautiful expression of God's ownership over His creation! Since He has made all of it, including us, how can we hold back anything from Him? He has it all but He still wants our hearts.
What a beautiful expression of God's ownership over His creation! Since He has made all of it, including us, how can we hold back anything from Him? He has it all but He still wants our hearts.
October 18, 2012
Thought for Today - Sacrifice of Praise
''Therefore let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.'' Hebrews 13:15-16
Even in the Old Testament, the prophet Samuel declared that God desires obedience more than sacrifices. Here we see that we are still to offer sacrifices - the sacrifices of praising God and of obedience. These things truly are sacrifices - they're certainly not easy - but He declares that this is how to please Him. Today, no matter the circumstances or how difficult the sacrifice, let's focus on praising God!
Even in the Old Testament, the prophet Samuel declared that God desires obedience more than sacrifices. Here we see that we are still to offer sacrifices - the sacrifices of praising God and of obedience. These things truly are sacrifices - they're certainly not easy - but He declares that this is how to please Him. Today, no matter the circumstances or how difficult the sacrifice, let's focus on praising God!
October 16, 2012
''And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant.'' 2 Sam 7:28
In this passage, David humbly thanks God for everything that God has done for him and everything that He promised to do in the future. David also praises God for His strength, mercy, and character. How often do we take time to thank the Lord for the abundant blessings He gives us as well as praise Him simply for who He is?
In this passage, David humbly thanks God for everything that God has done for him and everything that He promised to do in the future. David also praises God for His strength, mercy, and character. How often do we take time to thank the Lord for the abundant blessings He gives us as well as praise Him simply for who He is?
October 15, 2012
Thought for Today - With Jesus
''Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.'' Acts 4:13
One of my favorite verses! These men had no formal training, but simply being in the presence of Jesus gave them everything they needed to reach out to their community. The very people to whom they were witnessing were amazed at their boldness and knew its source. When people see us, do they understand from the way we live that we have ''been with Jesus''?
One of my favorite verses! These men had no formal training, but simply being in the presence of Jesus gave them everything they needed to reach out to their community. The very people to whom they were witnessing were amazed at their boldness and knew its source. When people see us, do they understand from the way we live that we have ''been with Jesus''?
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