The words from the Lord are so rich. He is so good and gracious to us. The more that I have read scripture the more I am overwhelmed with his love and more thankful for those who took so much of their lives just to write these words for us to read even today.
v.6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
So many times I read the first part of this saying "Don't be anxious about anything" and then read the last part really fast, but the first part is really what we remember anyway!
For me it is easier to not be anxious that it is to slow down and pray to God and thank Him for what he is doing, but also praying about what our needs are. It's very easy for me to just pray "Dear Lord, FIX THIS!" The Lord wants us to come to him with a holy fear of who he really is. Not with a holy rage about what He's not doing.
For me the beginning about "Not being anxious about anything" is to say that when something is going on I still have the some trust and hope in Christ that He is my provider and my protector and is still working out his perfect plan for my life. Not for me to live in haste or stress or worry about something that I have no control over, but to trust his hand.
v.12-13 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
This really speaks to the person that Paul was. He wasn't speaking out of His knowledge of the Lord as merely head knowledge, but he had been through this. In the midst of his heartache and struggle and life he knew that the Lord was good. He knew that he wasn't defeated because of who was and is and already had fought and WON the battle for him.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Friday, March 6, 2009
Some Thoughts On Worship from Piper - Desiring God
"Worship is a way of gladly reflecting back to God the radiance of His worth."
"Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead."
"Worship is authentic when affections for God arise in the heart as an end in themselves."
"The real duty of worship is not the outward duty to say or do the liturgy. It is the inward duty, the command "Delight yourself in the Lord!" (Ps. 37:4). "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice!" (Ps. 32:11)
"Don't let your worship decline to the performance of mere duty."
"The irony of our human condition is that God has put us within sight of the Himalayas of His glory in Jesus Christ, but we have chosen to pull down the shades of our chalet and show slides of Buck Hill - even in church!"
I have nothing to add. Some sobering thoughts to think about!
"Where feelings for God are dead, worship is dead."
"Worship is authentic when affections for God arise in the heart as an end in themselves."
"The real duty of worship is not the outward duty to say or do the liturgy. It is the inward duty, the command "Delight yourself in the Lord!" (Ps. 37:4). "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice!" (Ps. 32:11)
"Don't let your worship decline to the performance of mere duty."
"The irony of our human condition is that God has put us within sight of the Himalayas of His glory in Jesus Christ, but we have chosen to pull down the shades of our chalet and show slides of Buck Hill - even in church!"
I have nothing to add. Some sobering thoughts to think about!
Friday, July 11, 2008
I don't have too much time to write this afternoon, but I thought that I would real quick anyway just to follow up on my previous post.
There is a very good chance that I will be moving to TEXAS early next week! After having a job interview and the only reason given why I didn't get the job was because he "needed someone immediately." I about had a breakdown! We realized that It would be a good idea for me to go ahead and move down there simply to look for a job and begin the process that way.
Things are looking pretty good. I have called the McAlister's Deli down there and they ARE hiring so I will work there as soon as I get there, and I also have an appointment to meet with a lady at a staffing agency the day after my arrival....whenever that day is.
I am more than thrilled right now that it is all coming together. I know that God has something great in store, but it has been really hard to be patient these last couple of months. I am very thankful that this time is nearing an end!
I will miss all my friends in St. Louis very much, but I am confident that many of them will come and visit. I will not be gone forever. I will come back frequently to visit family and friends!
Your grace is sufficient for me
Your strength is made perfect when I am weak
And all that I cling to, I lay at your feet
Your grace is sufficient for me
There is a very good chance that I will be moving to TEXAS early next week! After having a job interview and the only reason given why I didn't get the job was because he "needed someone immediately." I about had a breakdown! We realized that It would be a good idea for me to go ahead and move down there simply to look for a job and begin the process that way.
Things are looking pretty good. I have called the McAlister's Deli down there and they ARE hiring so I will work there as soon as I get there, and I also have an appointment to meet with a lady at a staffing agency the day after my arrival....whenever that day is.
I am more than thrilled right now that it is all coming together. I know that God has something great in store, but it has been really hard to be patient these last couple of months. I am very thankful that this time is nearing an end!
I will miss all my friends in St. Louis very much, but I am confident that many of them will come and visit. I will not be gone forever. I will come back frequently to visit family and friends!
Your grace is sufficient for me
Your strength is made perfect when I am weak
And all that I cling to, I lay at your feet
Your grace is sufficient for me
Monday, July 7, 2008
I just wannt be in TEXAS!!
So many of you know that we have been in the process of moving since about April! Dad's official last Sunday at the church was June 8th...and here I still sit in the MO! Dad moved to Palestine, TX a little over a week ago and has now had two Sundays at his new church there. Ma and I are here trying to sell this cotton pickin house! I really didn't see us here this long. I truly thought that we would be moving the 2-3 week of June!
I feel like this is another part in the Christian walk where "the rubber meets the road"....and if it doesn't....well folks, that's what I like to call having an "oh crap" moment! KNOWING that God will provide. KNOWING that God is still in control. KNOWING that we are following His will and doing what He has called us to do is one thing! Waking up everyday up unto that point is another. It's just not a whole lot of fun sometimes. These past few days have probably been the hardest EVER! I think I am feeling more of the pressures now because I am an adult....by age! =) and it's not just movin' with my P's and goin' to school and life's grand. This is my future. This is where I would like to stay once I move. I mean, after all, it did take me 8 years to get back to Tyler. I'm not gonna leave too easily or willingly this time.
I truly believe in the deepest part of me that God is working out His plan. There is not a doubt in my mind that He is up to something great and that I am going to land in Texas and look back and say "What in the world just happened this summer?" I know that God is up to something. It's just living right now and I'm not able to physically see what God is doing. Or am I?
Am I just not focused on God enough to see it, OR is it right in front of me and I'm looking so hard for something else?
God has called me to worship Him. To glorify Him with all I do. To glorify His Son with everything I say. With every breath I breathe is supposed to be to the glory of God. THAT is God's will for my life. So what does it matter right now if I breathe air in MO or TX? I don't know. I just know that my focus right now is stuck on WHEN THE HECK AM I GONNA GET TO LIVE IN TEXAS. When it should be. "How does God want me to bring glory to himself while I am here.
That's kinda deep for 10:30 at night, but my mind is just flooded right now and I can finally hear that sweet whisper amidst the screaming that is all around me and the questions that surround me.
God is God and He alone is in control!
I want to learn the secret of being content in all circumstances!
I feel like this is another part in the Christian walk where "the rubber meets the road"....and if it doesn't....well folks, that's what I like to call having an "oh crap" moment! KNOWING that God will provide. KNOWING that God is still in control. KNOWING that we are following His will and doing what He has called us to do is one thing! Waking up everyday up unto that point is another. It's just not a whole lot of fun sometimes. These past few days have probably been the hardest EVER! I think I am feeling more of the pressures now because I am an adult....by age! =) and it's not just movin' with my P's and goin' to school and life's grand. This is my future. This is where I would like to stay once I move. I mean, after all, it did take me 8 years to get back to Tyler. I'm not gonna leave too easily or willingly this time.
I truly believe in the deepest part of me that God is working out His plan. There is not a doubt in my mind that He is up to something great and that I am going to land in Texas and look back and say "What in the world just happened this summer?" I know that God is up to something. It's just living right now and I'm not able to physically see what God is doing. Or am I?
Am I just not focused on God enough to see it, OR is it right in front of me and I'm looking so hard for something else?
God has called me to worship Him. To glorify Him with all I do. To glorify His Son with everything I say. With every breath I breathe is supposed to be to the glory of God. THAT is God's will for my life. So what does it matter right now if I breathe air in MO or TX? I don't know. I just know that my focus right now is stuck on WHEN THE HECK AM I GONNA GET TO LIVE IN TEXAS. When it should be. "How does God want me to bring glory to himself while I am here.
That's kinda deep for 10:30 at night, but my mind is just flooded right now and I can finally hear that sweet whisper amidst the screaming that is all around me and the questions that surround me.
God is God and He alone is in control!
I want to learn the secret of being content in all circumstances!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Hosea 14
I have been real stuck on the Shane & Shane song Hosea. I have always loved this song, but it's one of those that you like all your life and then you get to a point in your life and the words of a song suddenly become your exact prayer.
Pretty much the same with the Bible. We've heard so many of the stories over and over again, but sometime along our journey we will have someone explain it to us in a whole different way and then you feel like an idiot and wonder how you couldn't figure that out......okay, maybe that's just me!
The words of this song that are continually running through my mind are this.
Come, let us return
He has torn us into pieces
He has injured us
Come, let us return
To the Lord
He will heal us.
He will bandage our wounds
In just a short time he'll restore us.
In just a short time he'll restore his church
So we, we might live
We might live in His presence
In his presence
Oh, that we might know the Lord
Oh, that we might know the Lord
Oh, that we might know the Lord
Let us press onto know him
Let us press hard unto him
And as surely as the coming of the Lord
He will respond
He will respond
http://www.shaneandshane.com
I just feel the Lord wrap his arms around me as I listen to this song. No matter the trials we've faced. No matter the injustice that surrounds. HE alone is God and HE alone will have the final word. If I don't find my peace in that fact that what am I doing here?
I am nothing!
Pretty much the same with the Bible. We've heard so many of the stories over and over again, but sometime along our journey we will have someone explain it to us in a whole different way and then you feel like an idiot and wonder how you couldn't figure that out......okay, maybe that's just me!
The words of this song that are continually running through my mind are this.
Come, let us return
He has torn us into pieces
He has injured us
Come, let us return
To the Lord
He will heal us.
He will bandage our wounds
In just a short time he'll restore us.
In just a short time he'll restore his church
So we, we might live
We might live in His presence
In his presence
Oh, that we might know the Lord
Oh, that we might know the Lord
Oh, that we might know the Lord
Let us press onto know him
Let us press hard unto him
And as surely as the coming of the Lord
He will respond
He will respond
http://www.shaneandshane.com
I just feel the Lord wrap his arms around me as I listen to this song. No matter the trials we've faced. No matter the injustice that surrounds. HE alone is God and HE alone will have the final word. If I don't find my peace in that fact that what am I doing here?
I am nothing!
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The first of.....many??
So I'm kinda goin' out on a whim here with this blogging! Never have I done it before. Thought this may be an easier way to let those in STL know what's going on in TEXAS! Not sure how long this is gonna last but I'll give it a go! =)
Hope y'all enjoy!!
Hope y'all enjoy!!
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