Good morning!
Psalm 55:22: Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will support you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (HCSB)
I can't tell you how many times I have been shaken so bad that I was on the verge of falling. How many times I have stumbled. How many times I have taken the wrong road. How many times the right road seemed so bumpy.
So why was I so shaken if God promises that I wouldn't be? Because I never followed the first part of His command. I left the casting part out. I held on to my troubles for whatever reason. I wanted His support but I failed to give up my burden which was the one thing that was making my life so lost, so bumpy and so shaken.
The Hebrew word for cast is shalak and the literal definition is to throw, cast, throw away, cast off, shed, cast down. That throwing word keeps popping out and sticking in my mind. I am a very literal person and I like to see things so I can better understand. Maybe the next time my burdens are weighing me down and are getting to heavy for me to carry, I will literally take them off of my back, claiming this Scripture and praying over my problem, put them in a huge sack, tie it real tight, say my goodbyes and physically launch them up to God! He promises that He will catch them and forever take them from you. He promises He will support you. He promises if you do this, He will never allow you to be shaken!
It would ne nice to walk without feeling like you are about fall. The road is clear in front of you. You are light and free and without worry. You are dealing with problems with a clear head and a firm heart. You know your God is on your side and knowing that feels oh so good!
Get your big bag ready for that next burden seeking to weigh you down and cause you to fall over. Don't be shaken so bad that it causes you to leave the One who can support you and sustain you. He is the Almighty Catcher waiting for your best fastball!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Mark 14:60-62
Good evening!
Mark 14:60-62: Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
All the things I could ever think or want to say about my savior, Jesus is in this 3 minute sermon. I wish I could have heard the whole thing. I bet it was amazing. I get goosebumps every time I hear it! Jesus is the Christ and He will be coming on the clouds of heaven. You don't want to miss that do you!?
Mark 14:60-62: Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" "I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."
All the things I could ever think or want to say about my savior, Jesus is in this 3 minute sermon. I wish I could have heard the whole thing. I bet it was amazing. I get goosebumps every time I hear it! Jesus is the Christ and He will be coming on the clouds of heaven. You don't want to miss that do you!?
Monday, October 19, 2009
Luke 23:39-43
Good afternoon!
Luke 23:39-43: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Whatever this man had done, it was bad enough to deserve to be put to death by crucifixion, the worst way a man could die back then. Even still, Jesus bore his chains and walked to Calvary for him. The reason Jesus died and the reason He came was for the life of that accused man, sentenced to die next to him. Surely, our sins are not so bad that they warrant death but even if they are, yes...Jesus came for your life too.
I love this song and the way the words play off of each other. It stretches my mind and gives me a new vision of how much that walk to Calvary must have torn Jesus apart. In all of my faults, frailties, and failures, He came for the life of me.
Luke 23:39-43: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."
Whatever this man had done, it was bad enough to deserve to be put to death by crucifixion, the worst way a man could die back then. Even still, Jesus bore his chains and walked to Calvary for him. The reason Jesus died and the reason He came was for the life of that accused man, sentenced to die next to him. Surely, our sins are not so bad that they warrant death but even if they are, yes...Jesus came for your life too.
I love this song and the way the words play off of each other. It stretches my mind and gives me a new vision of how much that walk to Calvary must have torn Jesus apart. In all of my faults, frailties, and failures, He came for the life of me.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Isaiah 42:16
Good morning!
Isaiah 42:16: I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Seven years ago today, I was laying in a hospital bed, getting lots of love from my family, and getting ready to go into surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy. In a matter of hours, I went from not knowing I was even pregnant, to intense pain and bleeding, rushing to the ER where I was told I was pregnant and that I would need emergency surgery...right away. My head was reeling. The pain was almost too much to take. I was tired. I was scared. I saw my husband scared for the first time in my life. This wasn't happening to me. It couldn't be. We had prayed for a baby and this is what we get?!
As I look back on these last seven years, I can tell you that I thank God for that little baby and the short life he/she had. For years I held on to that baby as "if only things could have been different". Now, I no longer live in the past but I celebrate what God has done by using that horrible night to benefit my future.
The good always outweighs the bad when it comes to God. Sure I had pain, and I was confused, and I still carry a hurt for that baby that only a mother can understand. But my husband and I grew closer together, I met the doctor that would one day deliver my triplets, our family prayed for us like they have never prayed before. God guided me down unfamiliar paths that I would not have chosen to walk down myself. He lit the right way before me and darkened the paths that I did not need to go down. I learned to lean on Him when the road grew rough and I watched in wonder as He smoothed them right before my eyes.
I shudder to think where I would have ended up had I gone through losing this baby, and the seven after it, without knowing the Lord was with me through it all. Life can painfully blind us at times, without warning or remorse. Who is going to lead you? How will you make it out? How will you get through the rough times?
God promises that He will do these things for you...He will not forsake you. He will not leave you where you are at. He can make that dark path before you illuminate like you have never seen it before! You may not know where you are headed but just take a hold of His hand and follow Him. He knows where you are going and trust me, it's a far better place than you could ever get to by yourself.
October 15th is ironically for me Pregnancy and Baby Loss Remembrance Day around the world. Check out this site and hug a friend you know is suffering today. If you have never lost a baby, hug your kids extra hard today for they are gifts from God!
To my crew of babies up in Heaven..."Momma loves you little angels and I can't wait to hug you for real one day. No matter how short your lives were, you were created for a purpose and I thank God for that!"
Isaiah 42:16: I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.
Seven years ago today, I was laying in a hospital bed, getting lots of love from my family, and getting ready to go into surgery to remove an ectopic pregnancy. In a matter of hours, I went from not knowing I was even pregnant, to intense pain and bleeding, rushing to the ER where I was told I was pregnant and that I would need emergency surgery...right away. My head was reeling. The pain was almost too much to take. I was tired. I was scared. I saw my husband scared for the first time in my life. This wasn't happening to me. It couldn't be. We had prayed for a baby and this is what we get?!
As I look back on these last seven years, I can tell you that I thank God for that little baby and the short life he/she had. For years I held on to that baby as "if only things could have been different". Now, I no longer live in the past but I celebrate what God has done by using that horrible night to benefit my future.
The good always outweighs the bad when it comes to God. Sure I had pain, and I was confused, and I still carry a hurt for that baby that only a mother can understand. But my husband and I grew closer together, I met the doctor that would one day deliver my triplets, our family prayed for us like they have never prayed before. God guided me down unfamiliar paths that I would not have chosen to walk down myself. He lit the right way before me and darkened the paths that I did not need to go down. I learned to lean on Him when the road grew rough and I watched in wonder as He smoothed them right before my eyes.
I shudder to think where I would have ended up had I gone through losing this baby, and the seven after it, without knowing the Lord was with me through it all. Life can painfully blind us at times, without warning or remorse. Who is going to lead you? How will you make it out? How will you get through the rough times?
God promises that He will do these things for you...He will not forsake you. He will not leave you where you are at. He can make that dark path before you illuminate like you have never seen it before! You may not know where you are headed but just take a hold of His hand and follow Him. He knows where you are going and trust me, it's a far better place than you could ever get to by yourself.
October 15th is ironically for me Pregnancy and Baby Loss Remembrance Day around the world. Check out this site and hug a friend you know is suffering today. If you have never lost a baby, hug your kids extra hard today for they are gifts from God!
To my crew of babies up in Heaven..."Momma loves you little angels and I can't wait to hug you for real one day. No matter how short your lives were, you were created for a purpose and I thank God for that!"
Thursday, October 8, 2009
John 20:27-29
Good evening! This was meant to go out yesterday for Winning Souls Wednesday but of course I am late. I blame everything on my kids! ;)
John 20:27-29: Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer." Thomas responded to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."
It took me a long time to believe and I feel like I went through many times where God was trying to show me His hands and asking me to put my hands in His side. But I just kept walking away and I kept ignoring Him. I was an unbeliever. In order to get my attention, He had to take over my mind one morning in the shower and gave me a vision that blew my socks off. Finally, I had seen His hands...I had felt those nail holes...I touched His pierced side. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was real. I saw Him and I believed.
But it makes me so excited when I think about my children and their opportunity to believe without seeing. They will grow up very different than I did and hopefully, they will know in their hearts way before I did that He is their Lord and their God. They will be blessed in more abundance than I will ever be and have unspeakably awesome favor for their entire lives. Because they will believe without seeing. This is my prayer for them.
He will show you His hands and you can touch His side that was pierced for you. Don't be an unbeliever...be a believer!
John 20:27-29: Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don't be an unbeliever, but a believer." Thomas responded to him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said, "Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed."
It took me a long time to believe and I feel like I went through many times where God was trying to show me His hands and asking me to put my hands in His side. But I just kept walking away and I kept ignoring Him. I was an unbeliever. In order to get my attention, He had to take over my mind one morning in the shower and gave me a vision that blew my socks off. Finally, I had seen His hands...I had felt those nail holes...I touched His pierced side. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He was real. I saw Him and I believed.
But it makes me so excited when I think about my children and their opportunity to believe without seeing. They will grow up very different than I did and hopefully, they will know in their hearts way before I did that He is their Lord and their God. They will be blessed in more abundance than I will ever be and have unspeakably awesome favor for their entire lives. Because they will believe without seeing. This is my prayer for them.
He will show you His hands and you can touch His side that was pierced for you. Don't be an unbeliever...be a believer!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Nahum 1:3
Good evening!
Nahum 1:3: The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
I love reading these short minor prophets' books. The Old Testament is so expressive and details how much God cares for His people. It hurts Him when He sees us turn away from Him. Yet He is still slow to anger. But don't mistake that for a lack of caring or that He is inept of taking action. He is and always will be great in power. Someone needs to hear that today! God will never leave the guilty unpunished. You may not see what is going on and it may not happen in your lifetime or on this earth. But those who have hurt you will not escape His judgment. How could one escape His path so big it is in the winds and storm? How could anyone flee from Someone so immense that the clouds are dust beneath His feet? The guilty cannot hide from the Almighty!
Now every time the wind blows my hair and I see the storms rolling in, I'll be reminded of God's great power. Every time I see the beautiful, majestic clouds being illuminated by the gorgeous sunset, I will know that God is busy punishing those who have hurt me. I don't have to dwell in the past over those hurts because God is on my side. He promises they will never go unpunished!
I hope that brings you peace today. The world is full of horrible news everyday and it is overwhelming at times. But our God is slow to anger and great in power. His path is in the whirlwind and in the storm and the clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He is in control, Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name!
Nahum 1:3: The LORD is slow to anger but great in power; the LORD will never leave the guilty unpunished. His path is in the whirlwind and storm, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet.
I love reading these short minor prophets' books. The Old Testament is so expressive and details how much God cares for His people. It hurts Him when He sees us turn away from Him. Yet He is still slow to anger. But don't mistake that for a lack of caring or that He is inept of taking action. He is and always will be great in power. Someone needs to hear that today! God will never leave the guilty unpunished. You may not see what is going on and it may not happen in your lifetime or on this earth. But those who have hurt you will not escape His judgment. How could one escape His path so big it is in the winds and storm? How could anyone flee from Someone so immense that the clouds are dust beneath His feet? The guilty cannot hide from the Almighty!
Now every time the wind blows my hair and I see the storms rolling in, I'll be reminded of God's great power. Every time I see the beautiful, majestic clouds being illuminated by the gorgeous sunset, I will know that God is busy punishing those who have hurt me. I don't have to dwell in the past over those hurts because God is on my side. He promises they will never go unpunished!
I hope that brings you peace today. The world is full of horrible news everyday and it is overwhelming at times. But our God is slow to anger and great in power. His path is in the whirlwind and in the storm and the clouds are the dust beneath His feet. He is in control, Hallelujah! Praise His Holy Name!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Revelation 21:2-4
Good evening!
Revelation 21:2-4: I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
I just love the loving, almost romantic tones to this passage. God truly longs to see us, His church, beautifully dressed for Him. I seriously cannot wait for this to be our reality. To be able to dwell, to reside, to exist with God in the Holy City will be the end to all of our problems. No more tears, no more pain, no more death, no more crying. The old way that you are used to will no longer be.
This song describes this passage perfectly and when I listen to it, I can almost see the sky opening up and the new Jerusalem coming down. I can feel the tears being wiped away from my eyes. I am reminded of my eternal home that is awaiting me. I can see my loved ones that I have been separated from for far too long. I am pure and righteous before my God. I live with Him and He lives with me...forever.
"For eternity...all my heart will give...all the glory to Your name."
Revelation 21:2-4: I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
I just love the loving, almost romantic tones to this passage. God truly longs to see us, His church, beautifully dressed for Him. I seriously cannot wait for this to be our reality. To be able to dwell, to reside, to exist with God in the Holy City will be the end to all of our problems. No more tears, no more pain, no more death, no more crying. The old way that you are used to will no longer be.
This song describes this passage perfectly and when I listen to it, I can almost see the sky opening up and the new Jerusalem coming down. I can feel the tears being wiped away from my eyes. I am reminded of my eternal home that is awaiting me. I can see my loved ones that I have been separated from for far too long. I am pure and righteous before my God. I live with Him and He lives with me...forever.
"For eternity...all my heart will give...all the glory to Your name."
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