Monthly Archives: May 2010

These Are the Words in My Mouth

14 Friday May 2010

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I don’t have much time to type today, so instead I want to list some verses that I will be meditating and pondering on throughout my day. Hopefully I will have time later to come back and share what’s come up for me through these reflections.

There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger

and directs us to hidden treasure.

Otherwise how will we find our way?

Or know when we play the fool?

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

Keep me from stupid sins,

from thinking I can take over your work;

Then I can start this day sun-washed,

scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.

These are the words in my mouth;

these are what I chew on and pray.

Accept them when I place them

on the morning altar,

O God, my Altar-Rock,

God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

Psalm 19:11-14 (message)

 

You don’t get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It’s who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

Luke 6:45 (message)

 

Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don’t miss a trick. Make the most of every opportunity. Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.

Colossians 4:6 (message)

God’s Timing

12 Wednesday May 2010

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You know, God’s got an ironic sense of humor. It’s funny what methods he chooses to get his point across. Yesterday he even used Facebook. Yes, Facebook.

It’s how I learned of JJ Heller yesterday, for example. Who has turned into one of two favorite Christian artists (the other is Jill Phillips). I have probably spent too much time looking up her videos of her songs on YouTube for the past two days. But her music has really been speaking to me lately.

Also yesterday, I was in a bit of a cranky mood towards one person I know. I’ve not been too thrilled with some of our interactions lately. A part of this is that I’ve gotten older and more assured in myself in recent years, I’ve become more aware of how these interactions have shaped my self-view and therefore affected my actions and behavior. I’ve gotten more open to speaking up and speaking out. Of course this was all completely unbeknownst to her, and pretty much just a cranky monologue going on in my head. I’m sure you know exactly what I’m talking about.

And yes, you guessed it, last night on Facebook, God decided to strike again.

I’m a fan of “The Bible” on Facebook, and last night, this verse was posted: “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. (Eph 4:29,31)”

Umm, yeah, God, I hear you. I need to clean up my mouth and my behavior and the nasty monologue running in my head. Certainly what was going through my noggin’ was not encouragement for anyone – even if it was only me hearing it. And that self-talk only continually feeds on itself until it explodes into a big, nasty, hairy monster.

And if that’s not enough for you, this morning I opened up the daily devotional email I received from Girlfriends in God. And this week’s them is on the Proverbs 31 Woman. Ha! I think God’s trying to tackle me from all angles right at the moment! But I’ll talk more about the message of that devotional later on.

JJ Heller “Only Love Remains”

11 Tuesday May 2010

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By accident today, I think I have found my own theme song. I hope that today you can pray the prayer of this song along with me.

 “Be gentle with me Jesus, as you tear me apart.”

 What is totally amazing of the words of this song? That it truly makes clear to me how “violent” this process of change really is. I think that sometimes I beat myself up thinking that because it is “hard” and “hurts” that I’m not doing it right.

And it really has nothing to do with that. And doesn’t the Bible talk about the process of the refining fire? Of us being the clay in the Potter’s hands? Well, have you ever thought how the process of pounding and shaping that clay must feel to the clay? Dude, that has to hurt. (I took a pottery class once upon a time.)

“I know that I am a shadow, but I am dancing in Your light.”

“Show me how to walk with You upon the waves.”

“Breathe into my spirit, Breathe into my veins, until only Love remains.”

Please, just listen to this song. Over and over and over and over and over. There is nothing else I can add here, just that this song couldn’t be a more perfect prayer for me today.

Oh, and if you would like to find JJ Heller on Itunes, here is the link.

Taking Heed of His Word

10 Monday May 2010

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9 How shall a young (wo)man cleanse his(her) way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not wander from Thy commandments!

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.

12 Blessed art Thou, O LORD; teach me Thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on Thy precepts and attend unto Thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy word.

Psalm 119:9-16 (kjv)

Today’s lesson was on meditation of God’s word. Donna Partow’s message today was to go a step further and deeper than mere memorization of verses.

For me, just the verses were enough to emphasize the importance of spending a true time investment into the Word of God. Not just marking time, but quality time.

Now “heed” is a word that is old fashioned and awkward to many. I happened to have read a lot of “old fashioned” classics once upon a time, so I’m quite comfortable with the word. But even reading it today, I realized that I was not sure exactly what it meant. So, looking it up at Dictionary.com, I found that here we are being told to take “careful attention, notice, or observation” to God’s word. Will a couple of synonyms help you create a mental picture? How about “observe, consider, mark, consideration, care, caution, vigilance, or watchfulness”? In literature, I’ve noticed that “take heed” is used often like “Watch Out!” or “Pay attention” might be used today. So I really like how the concepts of “caution” or “vigilance” fit in as part of my mental picture of these verses.

And how do we do this meditation? These verses tell us almost exactly what to do:

  • Take heed.
  • Seek with whole heart.
  • Do not wander from commandments.
  • Hide God’s word in your heart.
  • Declare with your lips.
  • Rejoice.
  • Meditate.
  • Attend to God’s ways.
  • Delight in God’s statutes.
  • Don’t forget God’s Word.

See, nowhere does it mention rote memorization, flash cards, or writing everything fifteen times on a piece of paper till you can repeat it perfectly!

There are two resources that I use quite often, Bible.com and Dictionary.com when I study the Word.

First, I like to look at the same set of verses in many different translations. I feel this gives me a better feel for exactly what is going on and what God is trying to say to me through these verses. Bible.com makes this very quick and easy.

For example, let’s look at the same verses above in different translations.

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it. Psalm 119:9-16 (The Message)

 

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.

10 With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments.

11 Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.

12 Blessed are You, O LORD; Teach me Your statutes.

13With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways.

16 I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word. Psalm 119:9-16 (nasb)

See how even though they are all very similar, there are very subtle wording differences? Some make one line easier to understand, or perhaps opens your eyes to a different view. I have seen verse 9 (using the word “pure” like in NASB) as a specific example for sexual purity. However, I like the other verses that show there is a much larger connotation in this particular context of “living a clean life” (as in The Message) which can relate to all of us, and also show that these verses have a wider meaning than just sexual purity.

I chose to begin with the King James Version today, because of the mental picture of “cleansing my way” through the Word of God. What that says to me is a) it’s just like a bath, something you need to do every day. Cleansing is a constant, continual thing. And b) The Word of God has the power to clean us and purify us.

Secondly, I like to look up certain words. Dictionary.com is a very handy resource that I use when I don’t understand something, or like today, when I want to confirm a word means what I think it means. And it can be useful to deal with those “church-isms” that are thrown about like candy, but no one really ever truly explains or defines, such as Precepts and Statutes. I do this to make sure I can’t gloss over even one single word and that I mine every single morsel of understanding that I can from these verses.

I’ve found that studying with this sometimes intense method helps me to truly “relish” and “delight” the juiciness found from feeding on the Word of God.

Happy Mother’s Day

09 Sunday May 2010

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For my Mother’s Day I got a bit spoiled and enjoyed every minute of it. I got to sleep in (which NEVER happens in this house), breakfast made for me, and a rousing rendition of a “Happy Mother’s Day” song my almost four year-old sang with the two-year old singing back up. And while I truly appreciated the spoiling that my husband and my two toddlers gave me, it made me reflect on how difficult it must be for women who do not have that loving supportive husband to celebrate this day with them.

I have three specific women on my heart. These three women have all recently become single through divorce. Two of them have children, one does not. But all of them have gone through a severely painful time; and while no divorce is ever painless, they seem to have been dealt an extra bad hand.

Frankly, it’s hard to know how to support these ladies. They’re not geographically close to me at the moment. About the only support I can give them right now is through my prayers. So, today I prayed for these three ladies. I am not even sure exactly what to pray for. But in my prayer I prayed that the Lord Who is All Knowing, will take the “groanings” of my heart and translate that to the help most needed in their lives.

Many of the problems these women are dealing with are the result of their exes are living in rebellion, open rebellion, to the will of God. Instead of praying for God to restore these marriages, I prayed for these men to reconcile with God and acknowledge His truth. After that, I believe all other things will slowly fall into place.

I also asked the Lord to please give His comfort, peace and support to these three women and the children involved. I pray that He will show me how I can pray more specifically for them, and what I might be able to do to help them.

To Work in Delight.

03 Monday May 2010

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She looks for wool and flax

And works with her hands in delight.

Proverbs 31:13 (nasb)

Uggh. Monday morning was a rude wake-up call this morning. Slightly overslept, running around getting ready, dropping the oldest at preschool and then running off to do those dreaded yearly exams. Yeah, uggh. 

 So by the time I got home and ate lunch and got the rugrats settled, my brain was pretty toasted today. I tried calming down by praying for a few minutes before entering my prayer closet, and then read my “prescribed reading”, but honestly nothing really stuck. 

However this one verse really intrigued me. “She . . . works . . . in delight.” How awesome is that? How often do you hear of someone saying they actually delight in their work??? Not, “I’m satisfied,” or “I enjoy,” but “I delight in my work.”

Delight sounds better than joy. When I hear the word “delight,” in my head I define that as excited, eager, fun, joy, and happy all rolled up into one. And who gets that from their work?

 The truth of the matter is, no one. No one gets delight handed to them on a platter from an outside source. Delight comes from within. You have to CHOOSE to work in delight. Not drudge, not complaining, not blaming others, not bitter. You can make the mental choice to delight in any work you do.

 Why does this little bitty word mean anything to me? Well, have you ever lived with someone who drudged and trudged through their day? When they come home after eight hours a day, that attitude comes home as well. And if we are striving to be the Proverbs 31 woman, we can’t be creating welcoming, blessing homes if we wear a suit of bitterness all day long.

 This verse implies also that physical work is what brings this particular woman joy. Throughout Proverbs 31, you see this woman being highly involved in whatever work she happened to be doing. Perhaps your “work” is sewing or weaving like this woman, perhaps it’s typing away at a computer like me. Whatever it happens to be, we should choose to do all of our work with delight. (Delight in the Lord) We can thank God each morning that we are given the opportunity to choose to work with delight, and we can open our hearts to help others to find their delight as well.

Celebrate God, All Day, Every Day

01 Saturday May 2010

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Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

Philippians 4:4-9 (the message)

 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9 (nasb)

Today, in going to my quiet time, I had an interesting experience. Frankly, my life is anything but quiet right now. Even as we speak my two little girls are squealing with all the fun that “after bathtime” brings – right outside my office door. Even inside my own head there is plenty of noise, from my ongoing “Don’t forget this” and “I’ve got to remember that” to all the major life events that are going on for our family in the next few months that I, as the mom, seem to be in charge of preparing everyone for. There is no quiet here right now. Or frankly ever.

And I think that’s what keeps happening to me. I keep trying to gain quiet. I started my prayer asking for God to calm my mind and quiet my heart so that I could truly listen. And I thought, heck, if I wait for that to listen to God, I’ll never get started. (I’m not saying that God can’t calm my mind and heart because I have experienced that many times. I’m just saying I can’t keep using that as an excuse to not listen.)

 Where I am right now is stressed and in the midst of total chaos. I’m running around a bit like a chicken with my head cut off, due to me being sick last week and the kiddos being sick all weekend. It’s always something though, right? So, instead I begged God to come meet me where I am right this very moment. To come find me in my chaos and help me keep afloat.

 In reading today’s little lesson from Becoming the Woman God Wants Me to Be,  it’s funny how these little “coinkidinks” happen. Here in the prayer section, it says,

Today I choose, by faith, not to be anxious about anything. Instead, I’m presenting it all to you and trusting you to work all things together for my good. . . Holy Spirit, teach me how to recognize and remain in the peace of God, even when my circumstances are anything but peaceful.

Here are few other quotes that jumped out at me:

Capable women don’t complain. They take action to change the situation or have enough faith to accept the things they cannot change.

Of course, the Bible said it first: “A joyful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:33(esv)”

As I’ve been focusing on my mouth a lot lately, I’ve started to realize how my words are affecting others. and also how my mouth affects my own thoughts and mind. I know it’s new age-y to push the “speak it into being” philosophy, but I do believe that words have true power. I’m coming grips with how that power defines us, and how it also seems to travel down generations (my mother’s words to me and mine to my children). This takes that concept just a bit further, in that it’s not just our words that have power, but our thoughts themselves.

A huge step in the journey to becoming the women God wants us to be –capable, dignified, virtuous, women, is learning to discipline our minds to focus on what’s right rather than what’s wrong.  . . . reprogramming our mind with the truth of God’s word. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:1)