Tossed?

But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.

James 1:6-8

Contemporary English Version, copyright © American Bible Society, 1995

I believe this is a pretty straight-forward message for today.  I like the way the Contemporary English Version just puts it out there.

Photo Credit: Anita Ritenour on Flickr's Creative Commons

Needing Some Peace?

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

            your consolation brought me joy.

Psalm 94:18-19

I found this passage this morning and decided it was a good one for me this week...accompanying a new choir at school, back at teaching piano after a hiatus of many years, a last minute accompanying job for a 50th wedding anniversary tonight (found out yesterday), picking music for Senior Adult Choir and a women's quartet (my husband has about 20 picked out and I'm the deciding factor), practicing for music I may or may not play while I stand in the wings for a full-term young mother due this weekend...when my daughter called.

It's enough for her being pregnant with #4 but add moving to a new house 2 1/2 weeks ago, homeschooling her kids, keeping the food stocked and on the table in a timely manner, putting away the massive amount of stuff needed to live, having a stomach bug and THEN finding that a mouse has been eating your homemade bread...well, that's more than one Mommy can handle! 

I'm praying for peace for you, baby girl.

The world needs peace.  Every household has its pressures and every job its problems.  On top of all of that...it's so "worldly."  Where is God in all of this?  Where is peace...?

...just a prayer away...

Photo Credit: Charles Knowles on Flickr Creative Commons

Wanting More?

He who did not spare his own Son,

 but gave him up for us all—

how will he not also, along with him, 

graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:32

Never satisfied?  Always wanting more?  Didn't get what I ordered?  Down in the dumps?  Life never treats me right?

I REALLY NEED TO GET OUT MORE AND LOOK AROUND!

Photo Credit: Liz West on Flickr Creative Commons

Leaning on a Web

Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh?
    Can reeds thrive without water?

While still growing and uncut,
    they wither more quickly than grass.

Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
    so perishes the hope of the godless.

What they trust in is fragile;
    what they rely on is a spider’s web.

They lean on the web, but it gives way;
    they cling to it, but it does not hold.

Job 8:11-15

Why do we continue to cling to the ephemeral when God has the eternal to be grasped?  We're a foolish and wicked generation.  It looks like things haven't changed much and we don't seem to learn from previous generations.

You are my strength,

 I sing praise to you; 

you, God, are my fortress, 

my God on whom I can rely.

Psalm 59:17

Photo Credits: Frederic Bisson and 

A. Bremner

My Portion and My Cup

LORD, you alone 

are my portion and my cup; 

 you make my lot secure.

Psalm 16:5

I value the special time I have in the mornings with God's Word and a cup of coffee.  Both are gifts from God...

but not in the same category.

Photo Credit: Jeff Noble on Flickr Creative Commons

Wisdom Is A Tree

She is a tree of life

to those who take hold of her;
    those who hold her fast will be blessed.

Proverbs 3:18

Wisdom, again. 

 I guess these verses hit me hard since I've been known to have allowed Wisdom to escape me too many times.  Getting older, I've established that it is a gift from God and sometimes I have to realize I need it and ask for it.  I'm constantly in need and don't ask enough but when I do and hold tightly, I'm blessed.

Photo Credit: Slava Markeyev on Flickr Creative Commons

Going to College

Union University Clock Tower

Teach me knowledge 

and good judgment,

 for I trust your commands.

Psalm 119:66

My oldest grandchild is going to college today--Union University, the Alma Mater of my husband and me, our three children and their spouses.  It just seems right.  It was his choice, though, as it was for our children.  They all wanted to go to a "Christian College" so we started looking and they wound up there.

"Christian College" is in quotes because the evil force invades all things "Christian."  My prayer is that, along with knowledge, he will have good judgment by trusting the commands under which he was raised.  I'm excited that we live close and that I will probably see him in the Music Department!  Yes!  He's a music major!  How great is that?  A fun day is ahead for all of us--his family, my daughter's family and the two of us--a mini family reunion at Union. (Missing you and yours, BDS.)

Photo Credit: Matt on Flickr Creative Commons

We Know We Shouldn't...But...

Whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, 

because their eating is not from faith; 

and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Romans 14:23

The old adage, "When in doubt, don't.," is solidified in this scripture.  This chapter gives both the vegetarian and the carnivore permission to eat what they want if they are convinced it is good for them to do so.  The matter remains between them and God and we have nothing to do with it.  I stand in judgment too many times of large people who chow down and vegetarians who refuse good meat.  I'm sinning when I do so.

  I know what is good for me to eat and yet, in the confines of my own home, I eat it anyway.  I need to listen to my conscience, a.k.a. the Holy Spirit, who says, "You shouldn't have that."  I argue and say, "One won't hurt," and I eat it anyway.  I need to realize that God knows what is best for my body and tries to tell me what to eat, drink, watch, listen, etc.

Now, why don't I do what He says?

Yet, again, I'm sinning and I know better.

Photo Credit: Steven Depolo on Flickr Creative Commons

Honored Guest?

These are the words of the Amen, 

the faithful and true witness,

 the ruler of God’s creation.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 

I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

Revelation 3:14,20

We are a complaining nation.  Nothing seems right in our homes, work or school.  We act as if we deserve the best when we are not willing to give our best first.  What's going on?  We don't care what we say, to whom, in what tone of voice, or where we say it.  I believe we have forgotten that Christ is with us, our Emmanuel...in us.  I don't know about you but I tend to forget who sits in that empty chair at my dinner table.

Photo Credit: Victor Bezrukov on Flickr

What? Me Work?

For we are God’s handiwork, 

created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

 which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

God has a good work for us to do today.  In our "Me Work" we'll find it if we are alert to the Holy Spirit's leading.  He made us especially for it and he wants us to do it.  If we don't he'll bless someone else with the task.  Don't end your day without that blessing.

Photo: Artist Trading Card 2008 by Sally L. Smith

Stitches

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves,

 “Quiet! Be still!” 

Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Mark 4:39

Packing to move daughter and family, drying knives, stabbed finger, 3 hours and 5 stitches in finger, moving day today, herding children, playing for wedding this weekend...looks like I need a little quiet in the storm (we all do.)  Depending on Jesus to pick us up out of the waves this week.  Thank you ahead of time, Jesus.

Photo:Sharon on Flickr

A Prayer for Strength

So put on all of God’s armor. Evil days will come.

 But you will be able to stand up to anything. 

And after you have done everything you can,

 you will still be standing.

Ephesians 6:13

"I pray for you to find the strength in Christ alone to stand. I ask our God to give to you an eternal picture of your life lived souly for him. In Jesus name I pray for His peace and His promises to become the foundation of your faith and may the joy of your salvation become your strength."

From Sheri Rose Shepherd 

I've borrowed this prayer from my devotional today in the hopes that we can gain the strength we need for the day ahead.  

Photo Credit: Chris Waits

Gaining Understanding

 The entrance of thy words giveth light; 

it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalm 119:130

Even the King James Version makes sense when one wants to learn.  However, I'm very happy that newer versions say the same thing in words this simple person can more readily understand, such as

Understanding your word
brings light
 to the minds
  of ordinary people.

Contemporary English Version®

Copyright © 1995 American Bible Society 

Thank you, Lord, that you saw fit to allow the common man the ability to understand your Word in their modern language.

Photo Credit: damieneva on Flickr

Keeping Records

[Love] does not dishonor others,

 it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered,

 it keeps no record of wrongs.

1 Corinthians 13:5

Yes, I've tried keeping records before but that is very counter-productive.  When the Word hits me in the face, it humbles me and makes me try to be better for I am selfish and quick-tempered.  Since my memory is not acute, I seem to forget my blow-ups but it is difficult to not notice the scars they have left on others.  As the years have passed I've been able to be a little more in control but every day I depend more and more on God's working in me to accomplish that for me...I'm helpless to do it on my own and still---I lose it.  Guilt is a troublesome partner.

Photo Credit: waferboard on Flickr

The Good Things

Though I make attempts at making beautiful things,  they cannot begin to compare to the beauty the Lord creates.
Praise God from whom all
blessings flow.

I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.”

Psalm 16:2

 Peter Gronemann on Flickr

jon on Flickr

gnuckx on Flickr