Either we trust Him or we don't!
I said this to a coworker the other day and she told me it has haunted her, so I thought I'd post it here. It should haunt us... it's so simple but so BIG!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Who will let it?
Isaiah 43:13: "Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?"
Someone must really need this today because I just HAD to find this verse... it was not easy. I searched and searched... thought I knew the wording but had a few words wrong... there's NOTHING He can't do. BUT, are we letting Him? The Amplified says "I will work and who can hinder or reverse it?"
...And from The Message (my favorite interpretation of this verse)... "Yes, I am God. I've always been God and I always will be God. No one can take anything from me. I make; who can unmake it?"
Someone must really need this today because I just HAD to find this verse... it was not easy. I searched and searched... thought I knew the wording but had a few words wrong... there's NOTHING He can't do. BUT, are we letting Him? The Amplified says "I will work and who can hinder or reverse it?"
...And from The Message (my favorite interpretation of this verse)... "Yes, I am God. I've always been God and I always will be God. No one can take anything from me. I make; who can unmake it?"
Monday, February 23, 2009
Wordless Sighs
I am so amazed at the way God continually confirms His words to us. You know what I mean? You feel like He's leading you in a particular direction and then He sends people your way who have been feeling the same thing... it's so amazing!
The last few days I've been really seeking out scriptures about those "groans that cannot be uttered"... sighs... we don't even have the words to say sometimes but He knows even our sighs and groanings... At lunch yesterday this very subject came up again from yet another person. Wow! Looking in my prayer journal this morning, I found that our conversation was almost quoted out in the pages... you never cease to amaze me, Lord!
He promises a mark of protection for those who sigh & cry out... groans of intercession:
Ezekiel 9:4: "And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."
Romans 8:26-28 "...the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."
The last few days I've been really seeking out scriptures about those "groans that cannot be uttered"... sighs... we don't even have the words to say sometimes but He knows even our sighs and groanings... At lunch yesterday this very subject came up again from yet another person. Wow! Looking in my prayer journal this morning, I found that our conversation was almost quoted out in the pages... you never cease to amaze me, Lord!
He promises a mark of protection for those who sigh & cry out... groans of intercession:
Ezekiel 9:4: "And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."
Romans 8:26-28 "...the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good."
Friday, February 20, 2009
God of Every Detail
I'm just continually amazed at how personal our God is... unbelievable! Little did I know, a friend of mine was up since 2 am this morning asking God about some of this very stuff. We are the body of Christ so fitly joined together. We can't hesitate to share what He gives us. Our own worry over the opinion of man stops us so many times. I felt led to text some of this to her this morning and learned that is was all to go to her. God is so incredible! This is what I felt like He was saying:
I know your deepest heart's cry. I understand it in a way that you yourself don't even know. ...groans that cannot be uttered. Just don't stop crying out to me. I am the solution, the mender, the provider, the leader, the healer. Death to self brings clarity. I see the desires of your heart.
Psalm 145:19 (Amp) "He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them."
Psalm 38:9 (KJV) "Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee."
Proverbs 11:23 "...the desire of the righteous brings only good..."
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
I know your deepest heart's cry. I understand it in a way that you yourself don't even know. ...groans that cannot be uttered. Just don't stop crying out to me. I am the solution, the mender, the provider, the leader, the healer. Death to self brings clarity. I see the desires of your heart.
Psalm 145:19 (Amp) "He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them."
Psalm 38:9 (KJV) "Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee."
Proverbs 11:23 "...the desire of the righteous brings only good..."
Psalm 1:1-3 "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Not By Works
My prayer is that I can take the filter off of the way I perceive Him... hear Him... speak to Him. If we could ever just get past our own thinking... our own understanding. I want to gain a better understanding of Him and His ways.
Psalm 119: 103-104 "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts (commandments/instructions) I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way."
Proverbs 16:22 "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it, but the instruction of fools is folly."
Proverbs 3:5 from the Amplified says: "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."
We know that we are not saved by works, so why do we worry so much about whether or not we've done enough to merit hearing His voice or being used by Him? He's been really dealing with me about this... I hope I can get it! His love for us is so vast that we can't begin to comprehend it. Yes, we must pray and fast but that's for us to train our ear and our flesh... to be dead to flesh and be attentive to His voice. Nothing we do can change how He speaks to us or loves us. It's never changing... we're the ones who miss His voice and the opportunities He places before us because we are so focused on our "works". I want to daily remind myself... He loves me and wants to use me to my full capabilities irregardless of what I have to offer.
Romans 8:1 NKJV "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Don't let our own self condemnation hinder you're working through us!
Psalm 119: 103-104 "How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through Your precepts (commandments/instructions) I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way."
Proverbs 16:22 "Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it, but the instruction of fools is folly."
Proverbs 3:5 from the Amplified says: "Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths."
We know that we are not saved by works, so why do we worry so much about whether or not we've done enough to merit hearing His voice or being used by Him? He's been really dealing with me about this... I hope I can get it! His love for us is so vast that we can't begin to comprehend it. Yes, we must pray and fast but that's for us to train our ear and our flesh... to be dead to flesh and be attentive to His voice. Nothing we do can change how He speaks to us or loves us. It's never changing... we're the ones who miss His voice and the opportunities He places before us because we are so focused on our "works". I want to daily remind myself... He loves me and wants to use me to my full capabilities irregardless of what I have to offer.
Romans 8:1 NKJV "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."
Don't let our own self condemnation hinder you're working through us!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
How You Live
No words today... just want to share this song... I've been hearing it a lot lately and it's one of my favorites. I've always told my family that if anything ever happens to me, I want this played at my funeral. Let it be an anthemn to us while we have today! "...it's not who you knew, it's not what you did, it's how you live..." "...have what you want but want what you have..." ...lots of great words throughout the song... "go see your folks more than just on the holidays..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNOvLqNVnSY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNOvLqNVnSY
Friday, February 13, 2009
Get Rid of the Stink!
Well, I'm off today and tackling some things I've been putting off. One of the big ones... the stink in the refrigerator! Some things you can put off for a while but you can't hide a stink for very long. Here's the crazy thing... there's not much in my fridge. It actually looks pretty clean. That's why I was so baffled. I opened every container and there it was... just a very, very small serving of soup that hadn't been eaten. UGH!!!! The stink radar was going off!!!
It's amazing how emptying that out and cleaning the bowl completely got rid of that horrid smell we had been fussing about every time we opened the fridge this week. I couldn't help but think of the "stinks" in our lives. How many times do we look pretty clean on the outside... we're doing everything right... yes, even praying! BUT... there may be that one little "unfinished soup" that we let sit in the back corner of our hearts that we didn't deal with. Oh, the stink will eventually surface and we'll have to deal with it! I want to empty out those things before they cause a stink! Search my heart every day, Lord!
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
It's amazing how emptying that out and cleaning the bowl completely got rid of that horrid smell we had been fussing about every time we opened the fridge this week. I couldn't help but think of the "stinks" in our lives. How many times do we look pretty clean on the outside... we're doing everything right... yes, even praying! BUT... there may be that one little "unfinished soup" that we let sit in the back corner of our hearts that we didn't deal with. Oh, the stink will eventually surface and we'll have to deal with it! I want to empty out those things before they cause a stink! Search my heart every day, Lord!
Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
BE THE CHURCH!
Over the past few months our pastors have really been leading our church to have our homes "BE THE CHURCH". I have definitely felt the atmosphere in our home change since we've been having these weekly family devotions. It has become easier and more open for our children to "dialogue" spiritual things. Now... let me clarify... we are not walking on clouds having spiritual moments every day! Is there such a home?
I said all that to share this... we had an out of town funeral and wake last week that required us to be in the car for a couple of hours 2 days in a row. I was amazed at all the dialogue that happened on those 2 trips. On one of the days we were listening to the radio as usual and Tanner asked what the song meant that says "there's a place where religion finally dies". This opened the door to discuss how we don't want to be religious and like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. He called them hypocrites! That song goes on to say "there's a place where I lose my selfish pride". I'm thankful for pastors that challenge us to push beyond our comfort zones on all levels. If you aren't having family devotion, please start one! Bryan has the boys read all the scripture readings. There's nothing like having your children read the Word to you!
I'd like to borrow a quote from Pastor Terry & Sis. Melani's blog (http://www.questmiles.blogspot.com/)... a kingdom thought~~ Until the home becomes the church, the church is merely religion. What more needs to be said?!
I said all that to share this... we had an out of town funeral and wake last week that required us to be in the car for a couple of hours 2 days in a row. I was amazed at all the dialogue that happened on those 2 trips. On one of the days we were listening to the radio as usual and Tanner asked what the song meant that says "there's a place where religion finally dies". This opened the door to discuss how we don't want to be religious and like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. He called them hypocrites! That song goes on to say "there's a place where I lose my selfish pride". I'm thankful for pastors that challenge us to push beyond our comfort zones on all levels. If you aren't having family devotion, please start one! Bryan has the boys read all the scripture readings. There's nothing like having your children read the Word to you!
I'd like to borrow a quote from Pastor Terry & Sis. Melani's blog (http://www.questmiles.blogspot.com/)... a kingdom thought~~ Until the home becomes the church, the church is merely religion. What more needs to be said?!
Friday, February 6, 2009
What's Our Measure?
This morning I was thinking about the ways WE measure ourselves even though we know His Word says "...they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (2 Cor 10:12). I never want to forget what "the bar" is... what "our measure" should be.
Verse 13 (NKJV) "But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you."
As a mother, I am daily conflicted over where to set boundaries... what battles do we fight... when to hold on... when to let go... it gets overwhelming. So often I'm influenced by what others are doing in similar circumstances with somewhat similar convictions. Then, when I take it to Him in prayer, He continually reminds me (and yes, He has to CONTINUALLY keep reminding me) that HE is the only measure we need. Just because the "masses" say something is acceptable does not make it so! He has a plan for my family that is for "us"... just like He has a specific plan for "your family". We are each accountable to Him for the ways He leads (or WANTS to lead) our individuals families. I want "the Cook clan" to get it right!
Verse 13 (NKJV) "But we will not boast of things beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you."
As a mother, I am daily conflicted over where to set boundaries... what battles do we fight... when to hold on... when to let go... it gets overwhelming. So often I'm influenced by what others are doing in similar circumstances with somewhat similar convictions. Then, when I take it to Him in prayer, He continually reminds me (and yes, He has to CONTINUALLY keep reminding me) that HE is the only measure we need. Just because the "masses" say something is acceptable does not make it so! He has a plan for my family that is for "us"... just like He has a specific plan for "your family". We are each accountable to Him for the ways He leads (or WANTS to lead) our individuals families. I want "the Cook clan" to get it right!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Hope
While sitting here feeling overwhelmed about a few things I have to take care of today, I was reminded of the verse in Psalm 42: 5 that says:
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
I looked it up in "The Message"
"Psalm 42:5-8 "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God. When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer."
What more needs to be said? He's our HOPE! He can take care of all of it!
***********************************************************************************
HAD TO ADD THIS!!!!
After posting this, I had left work this afternoon and was in line to get gas. On the radio, they had what they call a "daily minute". Guess what it was? Yep! Psalm 42:5! God is so good! I got it, Lord!
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."
I looked it up in "The Message"
"Psalm 42:5-8 "Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues? Fix my eyes on God— soon I'll be praising again. He puts a smile on my face. He's my God. When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you, From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar. Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers crash and crush me. Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer."
What more needs to be said? He's our HOPE! He can take care of all of it!
***********************************************************************************
HAD TO ADD THIS!!!!
After posting this, I had left work this afternoon and was in line to get gas. On the radio, they had what they call a "daily minute". Guess what it was? Yep! Psalm 42:5! God is so good! I got it, Lord!
Monday, February 2, 2009
As A Child...
Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."
I was reminded of the weight of this verse while tucking Cam in tonight. He asked me, "Mom, what does it mean... He is jealous for me?" This is a line from his absolute favorite song, "How He Loves" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps). I have to admit... it's one of my favorite songs too. It has particularly captured his heart. We did cardboard testimonies during our Christmas concert with this song. Since we were on the platform singing, he was sitting with my parents. Mom said that during this song he was standing there with his sweet little 7 year old hands lifted straight up to Heaven with tears streaming down his cheeks.
Back to the "tuck in"... I explained how that God is jealous for our affection... of course, he didn't quite understand that either so we kept breaking it down. I told him how that we were created because God loves us so much and we were created to praise Him. He is so jealous for us because we love other things more than Him. He really got it... He ended up really speaking to me. The conversation turned to the parable of the ten talents (he brought this one up...). He LOVES music and feels like God has given Him talent to write songs. It was hard to fight back tears as he shared from his sweet little 7 year old heart.
Then we moved on to the rapture. We had an incredible service Sunday morning in which Pastor preached about the rapture and the "End Time" that we are living in. I was so blown away by how much Cam knows about the coming of the Lord and wants to be ready. Pastor talked about how so many things are aligned right now for "Armeggedon". We don't hear that enough and are so easily "lulled" to sleep by the world around us. I pray we never lose our "childlike" faith and how simple it is... we must love Him with an understanding of how much He loves us... when we understand that, we won't have guilt for what we aren't doing right or how we aren't doing enough. Children don't worry about whether or not they deserve our love, they are just so happy to receive it. We'll never do enough to merit the love He has for us... let's stop beating ourselves up and let Him love us with the everlasting love that we can't even begin to comprehend! And of course, let's not ever lose sight of the fact that He IS coming soon!
I was reminded of the weight of this verse while tucking Cam in tonight. He asked me, "Mom, what does it mean... He is jealous for me?" This is a line from his absolute favorite song, "How He Loves" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoC1ec-lYps). I have to admit... it's one of my favorite songs too. It has particularly captured his heart. We did cardboard testimonies during our Christmas concert with this song. Since we were on the platform singing, he was sitting with my parents. Mom said that during this song he was standing there with his sweet little 7 year old hands lifted straight up to Heaven with tears streaming down his cheeks.
Back to the "tuck in"... I explained how that God is jealous for our affection... of course, he didn't quite understand that either so we kept breaking it down. I told him how that we were created because God loves us so much and we were created to praise Him. He is so jealous for us because we love other things more than Him. He really got it... He ended up really speaking to me. The conversation turned to the parable of the ten talents (he brought this one up...). He LOVES music and feels like God has given Him talent to write songs. It was hard to fight back tears as he shared from his sweet little 7 year old heart.
Then we moved on to the rapture. We had an incredible service Sunday morning in which Pastor preached about the rapture and the "End Time" that we are living in. I was so blown away by how much Cam knows about the coming of the Lord and wants to be ready. Pastor talked about how so many things are aligned right now for "Armeggedon". We don't hear that enough and are so easily "lulled" to sleep by the world around us. I pray we never lose our "childlike" faith and how simple it is... we must love Him with an understanding of how much He loves us... when we understand that, we won't have guilt for what we aren't doing right or how we aren't doing enough. Children don't worry about whether or not they deserve our love, they are just so happy to receive it. We'll never do enough to merit the love He has for us... let's stop beating ourselves up and let Him love us with the everlasting love that we can't even begin to comprehend! And of course, let's not ever lose sight of the fact that He IS coming soon!
Mom's Memoirs...
These are two of the greatest people you will ever meet on the face of this earth... my wonderful parents! Dad is (and always will be) the great protector... his many years of law enforcement have forever turned him against any type of internet posting of pictures. Sorry, Dad! I know you don't want your picture and esp. pictures of your grandkids online. Mom has recently started writing what we're calling "Memoirs"... things we will have long after she's gone. She is truly a gifted writer. Some of these (well, a lot of these) are in the form of poems. There are so many great writings of hers that it's hard to pick a favorite... but I will be posting some of them...Enjoy!
THE ROAD
Sometimes it’s narrow, sometimes it’s straight
It may travel far or end at the gate.
Some are rocky and some are long
Whilst others are bumpy, dirty – no fun.
We can’t live without them so it seems
It is the way we must travel to reach our dreams.
Our dreams of wisdom, fortune and fame
Can only be had by this pathway of gain.
Sometimes well traveled and sometimes it’s new
Sometimes it’s weary, it’s the same avenue.
Tis the road of life of which I speak
A road you must take though often bleak.
Sometimes to treasures and many good things
Sometimes to heartache and pain that it brings.
The key to this path is simple you see
Never travel alone; with Him you must be.
He alone knows which way to go;
He can help carry your heavy load.
It is He who carved out this path in life
So who else should we trust with our plight.
Sometimes it’s narrow, sometimes it’s straight
It may travel far or end at the gate.
Some are rocky and some are long
Whilst others are bumpy, dirty – no fun.
We can’t live without them so it seems
It is the way we must travel to reach our dreams.
Our dreams of wisdom, fortune and fame
Can only be had by this pathway of gain.
Sometimes well traveled and sometimes it’s new
Sometimes it’s weary, it’s the same avenue.
Tis the road of life of which I speak
A road you must take though often bleak.
Sometimes to treasures and many good things
Sometimes to heartache and pain that it brings.
The key to this path is simple you see
Never travel alone; with Him you must be.
He alone knows which way to go;
He can help carry your heavy load.
It is He who carved out this path in life
So who else should we trust with our plight.
Author: Suzanne M.
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