Praise – He Knows My Name


http://youtu.be/JKuEwf9W1cQ - He knows my name - the McRaes

There are days when I wonder why God's not answering my prayers.  During those moments, a spiritual battle goes on in my mind.  "Why doesn't God do something?  Why doesn't He answer?", whispers the Enemy.  But in my heart, I can hear a stronger, kinder, more loving Voice, and that voice soothes my spirit and reminds me.  HE knows my name, and He cares when I hurt more than anyone can imagine. I have His undivided attention and He will not leave me to face whatever I'm facing alone. That's the Voice I will believe. 

Isaiah 49:14-16

Yet Jerusalem says, “The LORD has deserted us;

the Lord has forgotten us.”

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?

Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

But even if that were possible,

I would not forget you!

16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.



"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning... Face it, friend. He is crazy about you! "

— Max Lucado



The Creator of the Universe has my name written on His Hand. He loves me unconditionally. Nothing I've done deserves His love yet He loves me still. All through the old testament God makes it very clear that He loves His people. In this passage, the Israelites are complaining, "The LORD has forgotten us" they said. But God's response was "NO, I could no more forget you than a mother could forget her nursing child." God loves His people even when they turn away from Him, He draws them back to Himself, sometimes through persecutions and struggles.



It's easy to judge the Israelites. God was so good to them. He provided for all their needs. They were His chosen people and He loved them. I read the stories of their unfaithfulness and I think "How in the world do they keep turning to idols- inanimate objects made of wood or metal or stone, objects that can't do anything on their own. They can't speak or move yet the Israelites worshipped them. What on earth were they thinking?"



Haven't you ever felt that way?



It seems that when the Israelites had everything they needed, they would turn from God and worship idols made by human hands. If I were God, after a few of those episodes, I'd blast them all into eternity! But instead, He doesn't give up on them. Because He loves them, He draws them back, many times by leaving them to themselves for awhile or even through adversities, just until they realize they need Him.



As frustrated and angry as we can get with the Israelites, we can be just like them. When everything is going fine, it's easy to forget God. We turn to other "gods" just as surely as the Israelites worshipped those dumb idols.





What are your idols?



Think about it. What do you spend most of your time doing? What do you spend most of your money on? Anything that takes so much of your attention that you can't make time for God - well, that just may be your "idol".



But God is faithful, even when we are not. We fall down, He picks us up. We turn away from Him, He draws us back. We get distracted with meaningless junk, we fill our lives to overflowing with busyness, sometimes forgetting all about Him, but He never forgets about us. He can't. That's undeserved love and mercy. That is Grace.



This morning, Lord, I give you all my praise and worship. You are God Almighty, Creator of all things that are, were or will be. You care for all Your creation, Lord, from the tiny sparrow, to the lilies of the field, to me, your floundering child who can't seem to keep her head on straight. Thank You Father for loving me anyway. Thank You for reaching out to me when I fall. Thank You for letting me start fresh every morning. Thank You Jesus for covering me with Your Righteousness. Without that, I could never stand before the Throne of our Father, but because of what You did, when HE looks at me, He sees His daughter standing before Him - spotless. What an amazing gift. What amazing love.

Lord, You know how the Enemy tempts me with distractions.  Please protect me from those distractions. Help me to keep my eyes on You today and every day. For You are my Rock, my Salvation. I love You more than life itself, and I don't want anyone or anything to keep me from giving You full attention this day. Lord Jesus, be glorified in my life. I humbly ask these things in Your Name. Amen.


http://youtu.be/mBcqria2wmg - Who am I - Casting Crowns




2 Chronicles 16:9

The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.



Isaiah 43:1

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says,“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.



Psalm 139:1-3, 13-16

1 O LORD, you have examined my heart

and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up.

You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.

You know everything I do.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.





Psalm 63:7-8

7 Because you are my helper,

I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

8 I cling to you;

your strong right hand holds me securely.



Psalm 56:8 You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.



2 Corinthians 6:17-18

17 Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,

and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.

Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.

18 And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters,

says the LORD Almighty.



Hebrews 13:5b-6

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." 6 So we can say with confidence, The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”







http://youtu.be/hXsiWoyjw60 - He Knows My Name  Maranatha Singers



I have a maker

he formed my heart,

before even time began

My life was in his hands


He knows my name

He knows my every thought,

He sees each tear that falls

and hears me when I call

I have a father,

he calls me his own

He'll never leave me,

no matter where I go

He knows my name

He knows my every thought

 sees each tear that falls

and hears me when I call



He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

and hears me when I call



He knows my name

He knows my every thought

He sees each tear that falls

And hears me when I call

He hears me when I call

Through it all



Then call on Me when you are in trouble,

and I will rescue you,

and you will give Me glory.”

Psalm 50:15


http://youtu.be/Bo-mp_m3nj8 - Through It All - Selah



I must admit, there are days when I get a prayer request, and it just breaks my heart. I don't understand why good people have to suffer so much. I plead for God's mercy and healing, "Please Lord! Help them!" Sometimes, I wonder why He won't just fix it, make it better. Haven't they been faithful to trust Him? Wouldn't redemption from this horrible suffering be a testimony to others of His faithfulness? It's not fair, LORD! Please make it better!



But my ways are not His ways. I'm not in control, and honestly, that's a really good thing. My vision is so limited. God sees the present, past and future. He knows how every action, every event, will affect others. I have to trust that HE wants what's best for me and for my friends. He loves us more than we can possibly understand. His plan for us is good, not evil. So I trust Him.



I know that the greatest injustice of all was Jesus suffering and dying on the cross for my sins. He did nothing to warrant such a horrible death. He was so good to everyone. There was no reason for Him to suffer the way He did. No reason except that through His suffering, we could be redeemed. We could be saved. Jesus thought our spending Eternity with Him in Heaven was worth all the pain.



As I think about the struggles my friends are going through, I weep for them. But then God reminds me that Jesus understands our suffering more than anyone. It wasn't fair for Him to have to take our punishment. But He did it. He trusted His Father, and He went through it all for the joy set before Him. Our redemption, our future with Him was purchased by His suffering. And He knew it was worth it.



1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. Hebrews 12:1-3



Prayer

Holy Father, help us keep our eyes on Jesus. Whatever You allow in our lives, LORD, use it to draw us closer to You. Help us not listen to the lies of the Enemy as he whispers discouragement and defeat. You have already given us Victory in Christ. Help us to look for the opportunities You have placed right in the middle of our suffering. And even if we don't ever see Your purpose in our struggles, help us to trust You and Your great love for us. Through it all, Lord, strengthen our faith and our trust in You. You have said that the suffering may last for a while, but joy will come in the morning. Even if that morning is not until we wake up in heaven with You, help us to hold on to Your Hand until then. In Jesus' Precious Name we pray. Amen.


http://youtu.be/0JYGhQWgqq4 - Before the Morning - Josh Wilson





Weeping may last through the night,but joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5b NLT

IN THE BEGINNING

Genesis 1 - In the Beginning God created heaven and earth. He separated the light from the darkness and He called the light - Day and the darkness - night. He created Day and Night in very beginning of Creation.

And for those doubters whom He knew would come later, He described what a Day was - "Evening and morning was the first Day.

Each Day of Creation He reiterated - evening and morning was the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day and the six Day. 6 Days of Creation. One day was evening and morning - not millions of years.

And everything produced after its own kind. Read Genesis 1. Man did not evolve from something - God created Man, full grown. The changes that take place in man never make him anything less or more than "man".

After the end of each Day of Creation, God looked at what He had done and each Day, He said it was good. And on the 6th Day, after He had created man and breathed into his nostrils the Breathe of Life, God said "it was VERY good."

As a believer, I trust that my God is unlimited in what He can do. I do not doubt Genesis 1. I've entertained the idea that He could have used evolution in His plan to create, but I don't buy that any more. It really doesn't make sense. There's too many things in creation that could not evolve without having to die before getting the "end result" of a new thing.

If I don't trust God's Word to true, it leaves the door open for me to not "believe" anything in the Bible that I don't want to be true. When I don't believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God, I can pick and choose what goes into "my own personal bible". If I doubt one thing, how do I trust any of it?

I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and He speaks to us thru this amazing, sometimes incomprehensible Gift.

How do we get billions of years out of Genesis 1? We limit God's Power because we can't comprehend it. Instead of giving Him all the glory and adoration He deserves, some find it easier to believe that everything that exists just happened. Both scenarios, God creating everything in 6 days and Evolution taking billions of years - both are very hard to believe (for a non-believer) but for those who profess the Name of Jesus, we believe in our amazing Creator who continues to sustain the Universe by His word.

Genesis 1 - In the Beginning God created heaven and earth. He separated the light from the darkness and He called the light - Day and the darkness - night. He created Day and Night in very beginning of Creation.

And for those doubters whom He knew would come later, He described what a Day was - "Evening and morning was the first Day.

Each Day of Creation He reiterated - evening and morning was the second day, the third day, the fourth day, the fifth day and the six Day. 6 Days of Creation. One day was evening and morning - not millions of years.

And everything produced after its own kind. Read Genesis 1. Man did not evolve from something - God created Man, full grown. The changes that take place in man never make him anything less or more than "man".

After the end of each Day of Creation, God looked at what He had done and each Day, He said it was good. And on the 6th Day, after He had created man and breathed into his nostrils the Breathe of Life, God said "it was VERY good."

As a believer, I trust that my God is unlimited in what He can do. I do not doubt Genesis 1. I've entertained the idea that He could have used evolution in His plan to create, but I don't buy that any more. It really doesn't make sense. There's too many things in creation that could not evolve without having to die before getting the "end result" of a new thing.

If I don't trust God's Word to true, it leaves the door open for me to not "believe" anything in the Bible that I don't want to be true. When I don't believe the Bible is the infallible Word of God, I can pick and choose what goes into "my own personal bible". If I doubt one thing, how do I trust any of it?

I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and He speaks to us thru this amazing, sometimes incomprehensible Gift.

How do we get billions of years out of Genesis 1? We limit God's Power because we can't comprehend it. Instead of giving Him all the glory and adoration He deserves, some find it easier to believe that everything that exists just happened. Both scenarios, God creating everything in 6 days and Evolution taking billions of years - both are very hard to believe (for a non-believer) but for those who profess the Name of Jesus, we believe in our amazing Creator who continues to sustain the Universe by His word.

-----------------------
Note:  This is my testimony, what I've come to believe with all my heart thru reading the Bible and studying.  I don't claim to be a Bible scholar.  I don't know Greek or Hebrew or Latin... But I know that when I open the Bible to hear from God, He uses this Booke bible to instruct me, to guide me, to remind me of how much I'm loved.  Each time I study the Word, He gives me what I need for that day or moment.  The Word of God is not just a book of History.  It's living -

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

"Were you there, Job?"

Just about everyone is dealing with a burden or struggle.  Sometimes, we don't understand why God allows bad things to happen to good people.  For me, the hardest thing is to see a child who is dealing with a chronic illness or condition - living in pain without much hope of a normal life.  I do not understand why God allows that to happen - ever!  But... then I remember Job.

Job was blameless and upright.  He respected God and shunned evil.  He was blessed with a wonderful family and great material wealth.  In fact, the Bible says he was the greatest man among the people of the East.

One day when the angels came to present themselves to the Lord, Satan also came with them.  The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" 

Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through all the earth - going back and forth in it."   You see, Satan was out looking for opportunities to destroy anyone who honored the LORD.

 1 Peter 5:8
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Satan hated that God honored Job.  He hated that Job respected the LORD. 

At one time, Satan was a beautiful and powerful angel who served Almighty God.  But Satan didn't want to serve God.  Satan thought he deserved to be God.  And he was just arrogant and prideful enough to think he could be the ruler of the Universe. He couldn't stand it that Jehovah God was more powerful and more honored and respected. He wanted to push God off His throne.   So, he  challenged God.  Was Job really that devoted?

 "Sure, Job praises You.  You've put a hedge around him protecting his family and all his property.  Everything is going great for old Job, but if life wasn't so good for him, he wouldn't praise You anymore."

Well, God knew Job's heart.  He knew that Job would always serve Him, no matter how much suffering he had to endure. In my mind, I imagine one of those contests where each team selects his best, strongest player to fight the opposing team's best player.  In this competition,  it's Job against Satan.   Poor Job didn't have a clue.

I wonder if Job had known how very much God believed in him, would  the suffering  have been easier for him to endure?

I don't know. 

For me, it's hard to read the book of Job.  I can't imagine losing my children and then losing everything I own, and I don't have nearly the material wealth Job had.  The physical deterioration of Job's body must have been unbearable.  Job was so confused.
He had done everything right, hadn't he?  He was a good man who feared the Lord.  Why wasn't God coming to his rescue? Surely Job deserved better!

I hope you have time to read these chapters.  If time is an issue, just scan chapter 38 and get a feel for what God is saying. In a nutshell, His message is, "I AM GOD and you are not!" But if at all possible, read the whole book of Job. Those last few chapters just put me on my knees.

I don't know of anyone who has suffered more than Job, yet in the end,
after questioning God, Job admits: 

"Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
   things too wonderful for me to know."

We can ask why bad things have to happen, but when we start accusing God of being unjust, we may be stepping over the line.  God is good.  He is patient.  He is loving.
If He allows suffering, I have to believe there is purpose to that suffering.  I may never know what it is, but I just keep trusting in the One who sent His own Son to die for me - to take my place.  That's all I need to know.  He loves me, so I will trust Him. 

Maybe, just maybe, God allows the suffering in your live because He knows you'll  look to Him to get through it.  My dear friend, Cayce has had adversity her whole life.  Not just one thing, but several difficult ongoing challenges.  Once I asked how she handled the adversity, and she said she always thinks of Job.  She imagines God telling satan, "Have you considered my servant Cayce, there is no one on earth like her; she is blameless and upright, a woman who fears God and shuns evil."  Cayce considers it an honor that God has trusted her with the burdens she carries.  God believes in Cayce, just like HE believed in Job. 

Does HE believe in me?


http://youtu.be/fktj1yOQ2nQ - My Redeemer Lives - Nicole Nordeman

Job 38 and following...

1 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
 2 “Who is this that obscures My plans
   with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
   I will question you,
   and you shall answer Me.
4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
   Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
   Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
   or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
   and all the angels shouted for joy?
 8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
   when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
   and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
   and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
   here is where your proud waves halt’?
 12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
   or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
   and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
   its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
   and their upraised arm is broken.
 16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
   or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
   Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
   Tell me, if you know all this.
 19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
   And where does darkness reside?
20 Can you take them to their places?
   Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
   You have lived so many years!
 22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
   or seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
   for days of war and battle?
24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
   or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
   and a path for the thunderstorm,
26 to water a land where no one lives,
   an uninhabited desert,
27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
   and make it sprout with grass?
28 Does the rain have a father?
   Who fathers the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
   Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
30 when the waters become hard as stone,
   when the surface of the deep is frozen?
 31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades?
   Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons
   or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
   Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?
 34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
   and cover yourself with a flood of water?
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
   Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom
   or gives the rooster understanding?
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
   Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens
38 when the dust becomes hard
   and the clods of earth stick together?
 39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
   and satisfy the hunger of the lions
40 when they crouch in their dens
   or lie in wait in a thicket?
41 Who provides food for the raven
   when its young cry out to God
   and wander about for lack of food?

Throughout chapters 39-41, the Lord continues to impress upon Job just who HE is.  Job is completely humbled.  Even a good, decent man like Job realizes that he is nothing when he stands before the Creator of the Universe.  All his good deeds are like filthy rags - nothing he has done or will ever do will make him righteous before Almighty God.   Isaiah 64:5 - "and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags"

I'm sure Job has his face to the ground as he answers God in chapter 42 verses 1-6:

2 “I know that You can do all things;
   no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures My plans without knowledge?’
   Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
   things too wonderful for me to know.
 4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
   I will question you,
   and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of You
   but now my eyes have seen You.
6 Therefore I despise myself
   and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job was a godly man.  He thought he was doing everything right.  His heart's desire was to honor God.  All the good he did wasn't enough.  Just like Job, our good deeds and intentions will never be enough to make us worthy to stand in the presence of Holy God.  God knew that.  He knew we were just dirt.  He loved us still.  Through His Son, He made a way for us to be righteous.

At the end of the book of Job, we are told that the LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first.  We may have to endure great suffering and pain in this life because this world is not our home.  Satan is prowling around seeking to bring us down.  But there is Hope for the Christian. The LORD will bless the latter part of our lives with unimaginable blessings for all Eternity.

I can't help but think of how often we cry out to God questioning His love because He doesn't answer our prayers they way we think He should.  Sometimes it's as if we think He  doesn't care or that He can't be bothered to help us when we are struggling with too heavy a burden.  We forget what He did to proof His unmatchable love.

There's a passage in Hosea that breaks my heart.  Jehovah God is reminding the children of Israel that it was He who taught them how to walk, taking them by the arms like a Father does with his precious child.  This is the picture God wants us to see - He wants us to know how very much He loves us.  And those burdens...He carries them with us.  He never leaves us to face them alone.  Oh Lord, forgive my unbelief! 

Hosea 11:3-5

New International Version (NIV)

³ It was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
taking them by the arms;
but they did not realize
it was I who healed them.
⁴ I led them with cords of human kindness,
with ties of love.
To them I was like one who lifts
a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.

Merciful Father, thank You for this image You've placed in my heart.  The imagine of a loving and gentle Father who leads me with cords of kindness through anything that I may have to face.  Thank You for loving me and for being so long suffering.
Holy Father, You are God Alone.  There is no one like You.  Thank You for Your great love and, oh, LORD, thank You for Your mercy when we question Your justice or goodness.  Those times when I'm frustrated or scared because of struggles or sickness, and I wonder why?  Holy GOD, Creator of the Universe, I put my hand over my mouth.  I do not know what I'm talking about.You are Almighty God and my hope is in You.
I love You.  I trust You.  May Your will be done always - on earth as it is in Heaven.  I pray this in the name of Your precious Son who died for me. Amen.

Lots of people I love are facing surgeries this week.  It's hard not to be anxious or worried, but what gets us through these scary times is knowing God is in control.  Today, I'm praying for each of my friends, trusting God to take care of them and bring them through in victory.  I love them so much, but HE loves them even more.  I know I can trust Him to take very good care of my friends.

At times like this, when the mountain in front of us seems so high and so tough to climb, I can't help but think of how often  I stress over things that don't really matter at all.  This is a devotional I posted last year.  Hope it will remind us all to keep our eyes on the big picture and not to sweat the small stuff.

 I'm not sweating the small stuff!

Philippians 4:8-9
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. 9 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.

Happy thoughts make my day better. I feel more confident, more capable, more satisfied when I think on things that are honorable, right, pure, lovely and of good repute. Things that are excellent and worthy of praise - these are the things God tells us to dwell on. That's where we will find peace, even when everything in our lives is going crazy and feels out of control.

I stumbled onto this song by Francesca Battistelli and it made me smile. I can relate to every line. I can get stressed out over the smallest things. There's a lesson in the song. I hope I can remember it today.

http://youtu.be/pqqdA8LHN7I - This is the Stuff - Francesca Battistelli

I lost my keys
in the great unknown
and call me please
'Cuz I can't find my phone

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed

This is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
45 in a 35
Sirens and fines while I'm running behind
Whoa

This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff that's getting to me lately
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm
is the stuff that gets under my skin
But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff You use
So break me of impatience
Conquer my frustrations
I've got a new appreciation
It's not the end of the world
Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff that drives me crazy
This is the stuff
Someone save me
In the middle of my little mess
I forget how big I'm blessed
This is the stuff that gets under my skin
And I've gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing
It might not be what I would choose
But this is the stuff
You use
Oh Oh Oh Oh
This is the stuff You use.

I can let myself get bogged down in the little things that drive me crazy. The more I focus on those things, the larger they become in my mind. But God has given me a great tool to handle those kinds of thoughts. He says "take each thought captive to the obedience of Christ". I don't have to let my whole day be ruined because traffic on Highway 80 was stopped this morning, and Tyler was 40 min. late to school! = )

2 Corinthians 10:4-5
for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

I can "capture the thought". Instead of pounding on the steering wheel and getting angry about something I cannot change, I can use that time to count my blessings. I can use that time to pray. I can redeem that bad traffic situation if I make the decision to just "capture the thought".

When I have a negative thought, I can ask myself, "is this a thought that honors God?" If it's not God honoring, then I better not dwell on it.

I love Facebook. It's a wonderful way to stay connnected to family and friends. I can "check in" each day and see how everyone is doing, and see what's going on in their lives. I've gotten reconnected with friends from school and stayed connected with friends and family who have moved away. What a blessing Facebook can be!
But just like God can take the worst things and use them for good, the Enemy can take a good thing and use it for evil.

I tend to be a "Pollyanna" - the dictionary defines that as "A person regarded as being foolishly or blindly optimistic. " I confess! I do try to see the glass as "half full" as opposed to "half empty". So it bothers me to see Facebook postings that seem to dwell on the negative. = ( I can watch a negative post become like a snowball rolling down hill. It gathers more and more size and speed as it rolls down, down, down... Everyone has something to add to the negativity. I don't like that. My "pollyanna" heart yearns for someone to break up that snowball so that it doesn't do any damage to people who might be in it's path. Sometimes, a brave soul steps up and tries to defuse the negative. I can't tell you how refreshing it is to see that one little positive comment in the middle of all the negative. It's like a beam of light shining in the darkness of the moment, melting that snowball.

There's a saying "what you feed grows and what you starve dies". If I "feed" the negative thoughts in my head, before long they are not so little. I can get myself all worked up over the smallest thing.

But if I choose to think on my blessings, those good thoughts flood my mind and give me a much better attitude, and my day becomes much more pleasant and productive. Not only is my day better, my attitude can spill over into the lives of those around me.
Lots of my Facebook Friends use their "status" to share Scriptures and encouraging thoughts. I love that! Those postings bless my day. The negative postings... not so much of a blessing. = (

So today, I choose to be positive. I choose to dwell on God's blessings and not on my "lost keys".
There are much worse things happening in this world than my burning the casserole I had planned for dinner!

I'm blessed beyond measure! The little bumps along the way, well, I'll use them as reminders of all the times I have safe, smooth journeys without any bumps.
And what if the bumps God allows in my life are blessings in disguise? How many times have my "lost keys" kept me from being in the middle of an accident? That 5 extra minutes of searching for my keys may have saved me from a terrible wreck.

http://youtu.be/4mmgV6mPvb0 - Blessings - Laura Story

Holy Father, I'm so blessed to be Your child. You are so faithful. You are my Provider and Protector. You rescue me from my human weaknesses every day. Dear Father, thank You for loving me even when I have my little "pitty parties" and spend way too much time thinking about stuff that doesn't really matter. You give me everything I need, yet sometimes I complain that it's not enough. Please forgive me, LORD.
I forget how blessed I am just to be able to have a clean drink of water when I'm thirsty, or food on the table at every single meal. Thank You, God, for providing water and food for me.
Lord, when I see someone with a flat or stalled car on the side of the road, help me to remember the blessing of having a car that is reliable.
And when I wake up my son for school each day, remind me of the enormous blessing of having a healthy child.
Lord, I'm thankful for my job.
I'm thankful for a husband who still loves me after 25 years of marriage.
I'm thankful for my family and my friends.
Most of all, I'm thankful that You love me so much that You sent Your only Son to save me.
So today, Lord, if my computer crashes, if I misplace my keys, if my car runs out of gas, or some other annoying little thing happens, help me to remember all my blessings instead of dwelling on the little negatives. I don't want to be a complainer, Lord. I don't want to be a snowball of negativity. Instead, I want to be full of gratitude and thanksgiving for all my blessings!

Lord, please help me not to let annoying stuff take all my attention away from my many blessings. When I'm tempted to give in to the negativity, show me Your truth. I'm loved by the Creator of the Universe. That blessing by itself cancels out all the bad stuff.
In the Blessed Name of Jesus I pray. This day is for Your Glory! Amen.

P.S. I had this devotional almost completed but before I could proofread and send it out, I had to stop and take Tyler to school. About 10 minutes into our 35 minute trip, traffic came to a complete stop! It took almost an hour longer to get school than it normally takes.
Hmmm.... maybe that was a test for me. Thankfully, I had just been focusing on not sweating the small stuff, and I used the time to thank God for having a sense of humor. = )

FREEDOM

http://youtu.be/VaVg0cWkgAw - Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Oh,what I would do to have
the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is,
And he's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name
and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win,
You you'll never win
But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth
Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the Voice of truth says "this is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth
But the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves they don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
singing over me
But the Voice of truth tells me a different story
The Voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
And the Voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe (I will choose to listen and believe)
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of truth
I will listen and believe
I will listen and believe the Voice of truth
I will listen and believe
'Cause Jesus you are the Voice of truth
And I will listen to you.. oh you are the Voice of truth
                                       

Charles Stanley was talking about Freedom - living in freedom, not letting ourselves be bound by the chains of Satan's lies and deceit.  Today, I want to share some of his insight.   
                                                                            
So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;  and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”  John 8:31-32


What is the truth?  And how can I know it? 

The truth is the Word of God.  I can know the truth by reading, studying, meditating on Scripture, memorizing, asking Him to write His Word on my heart, taking each scripture and pondering over how it applies in my life. 

 Jesus says "If you continue (abide) in My word" - how do we continue in His Word? 

It's not just reading a chapter in the bible at night before I fall asleep.  It's being intentional about spending time with Jesus, letting His words fill my heart. When I abide or continue in His Word, it's constantly on my mind.  I allow Him to fill my brain with His Truth, and when I do that, there's simply no room for the lies of the Enemy. 

Satan wants me to feel inadequate, depressed, discouraged, alone, helpless, hopeless, useless, defeated.  But when I abide in God's Truth, I am no longer bound by Satan's chains - his lies and deception are designed to destroy my walk, to render me ineffective for the Kingdom.  John 10:10  - The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. 

What happens when I think the way Satan wants me to think rather than the way God wants me to think?

I become trapped, locked up in a prison of deception. Nothing makes the Enemy happier than to immobilize a believer.  But Christ has given me freedom from this prison.    

When I spend time reading, studying the Bible, listening and concentrating on each verse, asking God to reveal how each passage applies in my life, memorizing, meditating on His Word, searching for His truths so that I don't just "hear" His Word, but I listen with a sincere desire to obey what He says - that's abiding in His Word.

And when I  abide in His Word, I come to know the truth about who I am, my position in Christ and my inheritance in Christ.

My Position - I am in Christ.  I am His ambassador to the world.  

Galatians 3:27-29 -  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you. 

2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Who am I?  I am a child of my Heavenly Father who loves me beyond my greatest imagination.

Romans 8:14-16 -  For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

My Position in Christ?  I share an inheritance with Christ.  Eternity with my Father.

 1 Peter 1:3-5  -  3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

God not only has an inheritance for me - Eternal life with Him - He has sealed me with the Holy Spirit, who lives in me, giving me strength and power to face any challenge.

 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 -  21 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, 22 and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.

Ephesians 3:16-17 - I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

Luke 12:30-31 - 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

If I abide in these Truths and claim them every day as my inheritance in Christ, I will be free from the chains that Satan uses to bind me, I can reject those lies and live in freedom, because my thoughts and  y heart are constantly on His Word.

The mighty Power of God resides in each believer.  His Divine Power works on my behalf in every struggle or challenge I face.  I am a child of Almighty God, Creator of the Universe.  What can I ever face that is too hard for Him? 

Whom then shall I fear?  

Holy Father, You have given me freedom in Christ.  You've given me a new identity - I am Your child!  You've made me an ambassador for Christ, to be His representative on earth to those who are lost.  Thank You for putting Your Holy Spirit in me, and providing me with everything I need for every challenge I might face.  Lord, please remind me who I am.  That I belong to You and my freedom was purchased by the blood of Your precious Son.  I am free indeed.  Help me to hear Your voice of truth and quickly recognize and reject the lies that the Enemy throws at me every day.  You created me, Father, and I am who You say I am.  I have value because I am Your special possession, created in Your imagine. You have a purpose and a plan designed just for me.  I want to honor You with my life and through Your strength, I can do anything You put before me.
I will not fear for I know You will be with me, always.
 Thank You so much for forgiving me when I fail to abide in Your Word.  Lord, please write it on my heart, give me wisdom and understanding so that I can walk according to Your truth, and live in the Victory Christ has given me.   It's in His precious Name that I pray.  Amen. 

http://youtu.be/trUI1wtIIFk - Word of God Speak - MercyMe

I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
[Chorus:]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak
I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
[Chorus 2x]
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay

"They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me."



Take a little stroll with me, if you dare, through the book of Malachi.  It's really a love story.  God is pleading with His chosen ones to come back.  He so longs for them to turn back to Him so that He can bless them and keep them safe.  But they are clueless! "What did I do wrong?"  they said.  How can they not see?  The old testament is full of the Israelites falling over and over again.  Surely...

But wait.  Maybe I'm not so unlike those Israelites.  I get so caught up in my own life - "me, me, me, stuff", that I don't always see how far I'm slipping away from my Lord.  I let so much meaningless stuff crowds Him out of my life.  "I just don't have time!"  LORD forgive me!

If we're honest, I think most of us would have to agree that we're not much better than those awful Israelites.  we, too,  "honor Him with our lips but our hearts are far from Him."

Malachi is a love letter to me.  Do you see your name written in those pages, too? 

This video is not easy to watch.  But it helps me to remember just how much HE loves me.  The Israelites asked "How have you loved us?"   Well, they may not have got it,  but I know how He's loved me.  I can't watch this video without feeling a little ashamed at how easy I let things push Him out of my life. 

http://youtu.be/e4uZn5gLIY8 - Remember Me - Mark Schultz

Malachi is a very short book.  It's the last book of the old testament.  Once that book was written, 400 years went by before God spoke to His people again.  As I read Malachi, I thought of how thankless the Israelites were.  God had done so much for His "chosen people" and they repeatedly turned their backs on Him.  But is there a message there for me, too?

Malachi is a dialogue between the Lord Almighty and His people.  Listen to the first thing that comes out of His mouth:

"I have loved you deeply, " says the Lord.

Their answer:  "How have you loved us?" 

I cannot imagine saying that to God!  After all He had done for them, they dared to question His love, His provision?

He loved them all right.  Just like He loves me even  when I dishonor Him.  He loves me when I fail to obey His directions.  He loves me enough to discipline me, purifying my heart of anything that would take me away from Him. Sometimes, that process is not fun.  I don't necessarily like being "refined", but I'm glad He loves me enough to stay with me during those times when I take my eyes of Jesus.

Malachi describes Israel's unfaithfulness and how they are worthy of punishment.  God has had enough of their disobedience and the day of judgment is coming.  As he offers this final warning, once again He provides an option; one more time He gives them hope.  If they will just return to Him, He will return to them. 

Malachi 4:2 - "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture."

Malachi gives us some guidelines for honoring our commitment to God.  He deserves my very best - not the left overs.  He sacrificed His own Son for me.  Living for Him seems like a reasonable thing to do, such a small "sacrifice". 

Malachi 1:7-10 -  "You have despised my name by offering defiled sacrifices." 

The Israelites were offering lame, blind, diseased animals to God as a sacrifice.   This worship was no longer from their hearts. They were just going through the motions of  "offering a sacrifice to the Lord".  It meant nothing to them.

How do I do that?  I give God my left over time, my left over money (at least part of the left overs), and I don't give Him a place of honor and respect in my daily life.  When I live like that, so unaware and unconcerned about all He's done for me, I dishonor Him.  And He wants no part of my "sacrifices".  He doesn't need my left-overs.

Romans 12:1  -   And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

Isaiah 29:13 - And so the Lord says,“These people say they are mine.They honor me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me.And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.

How do I change my behavior?  What can I do to show God the respect He deserves?  I can choose each day to live the way He wants me to live.  I can listen to His commands and guidance and obey Him out of trust.  I know who He is.  I know His love for me is immeasurable.  I know He has saved me from my sins.  I'll live for Him because He died for me.

Malachi 2 -  They lived by their own rules - marrying women who worshipped idols.  The men divorced their wives for no better reason than they wanted someone else.


 15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are his. And what does he want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”

God hates divorce.  Marriage is a holy covenant and this bonding relationship was to illustrate the union of God with His chosen people.  Instead, the Israelite men were disloyal to their wives and ignored the vows they had made before God.  God's intention was for these marriages to result in godly children who would love the Lord. But how could the children learn faithfulness from a unfaithful father?
If I walk away from my marriage, not only am I dishonoring my spouse, I'm dishonoring God.  "So guard yourself; always remain loyal to your wife." means to have the same commitment to marriage that God has to His promises for His people. 
God is so good and kind.  Divorce is not the unforgivable sin.  I'm so thankful for His mercy.  After having gone through a divorce, I know too well why God hates it.  How do I show God that I'm sorry for my sins?  I confess them to Him, and I do my best not to make those same mistakes again.  I commit my marriage and my heart to the Lord.

Malachi 3 - God called the Israelites to repent.
"Now return to me, and I will return to you, " says the Lord Almighty."  The Israelites had lived life their own way for so long, they couldn't even see their sins.  "How can we return when we never went away?" they said.  "What do you mean? How have we spoken against you? What's the use of serving God? What have we gained by obeying His commands or by trying to show the Lord Almighty that we are sorry for our sins?" 
They were selfish - always expecting God to give them something. They had a sense of entitlement - not unlike ours sometimes.  When we pray, we expect God to give us our heart's desire.  But shouldn't we all serve God, not for what we can get, but because He is God and worthy of all our praise and worship?  Shouldn't our heart's desire yield to be His Will- however that needs to look?

Malachi 3:8-12 -  “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me!
   “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’
   “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

One of the reasons for tithing was to provide support for the tribe of Levi.  The Levites were assigned the role of taking care of the tabernacle/temple, serving God and ministering spiritual help and direction to the Israelites.  When the people didn't tithe, there was no money for the Levites to live on. So the Levites were forced to take jobs to earn a living, which caused them to  neglect their God-given duties and responsibilities.  They no longer provided spiritual leadership and the people looked to their own wisdom - choosing to worship idols.

How can I avoid this pitfall?  God doesn't ask me to give what I don't have.  But HE has given me so much - He has given me all I do have.  He wants me to give from my heart - not because I have to. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8  
6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

We get hung up on the 10% tithe but the Israelites really ended up giving much more than 10% when you think of all the giving they were required to do.  And 10% percent for someone on a very low income is much harder to give than for someone with a six figure income.  Don't you agree?  Yet the widow gave her last mite.  It was all she had and I'll bet she had the right heart about it, too.

God says it's not how much I give, but the condition of my heart when I give.  I give because of how much He has given me.  And if I really think about it, it's all His anyway. 
                                                                                                                    
God was pleading with the Israelites and He pleads with me, too.  "Come back to me and I'll come back to you." If I don't see what I've done wrong, or if I chose to disobey, because He is my Father, He will purify my heart.

Malachi 3:1-5 -   “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
 2 “But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes. 3 He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold and silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. 4 Then once more the Lord will accept the offerings brought to him by the people of Judah and Jerusalem, as he did in the past.

In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with fire until it melts.  The impurities separate from it and rise to the surface.  They are skimmed off, leaving the pure metal.  Without this heating and melting, there could be no purifying.  As the impurities are skimmed off the top, the reflection of the worker appears in the clear, pure surface.  As we are purified by God, His reflection in our life will become more and more clear to those around us.  (Life Application Bible) 

Sometimes that process is painful, but the results are worth the pain. God has a purpose for me.  Sometimes, I get so caught up in my own desires. I try to do things my way, with my own understanding instead of looking to God. Then I fall.  But God is so good.  He is always ready to reach down and pick me up.  All I have to do is return to Him.  He is so worthy of all my praise and thanksgiving.  He deserves all honor and glory.

Father, I want people to see Your character and love reflected in my life.  I want to  be a living sacrifice that brings You honor.  You bless me over and over again, and I worship You.  I honor You because You are my Father who loved so much You sent Your only Son to die for me so that I could live.  If that were the only blessing I ever received, it would be more than enough.  I'm sorry for all the times I've dishonored You by living life my way. Please forgive me.  Purify my heart so that I will be more like Jesus.  It's in His Name that I pray. Amen.





 http://youtu.be/9Y8zP34AhuU - Refiners Fire

Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within