Becoming

“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ…”

 Philippians 1:27

This verse has been on my heart since one of my late night studies on the trip! I have been deeply convicted and challenged to strive for becoming conversation in my life in a more fervent way!

The word conversation literally means to behave as a citizen, to live. The Greek word for becoming means appropriately:–suitable. The dictionary’s definition for becoming is an attractive appearance.

I am to live in a way that is appropriate in light of the Gospel! I am to behave as a citizen of the country to which I belong and that is the Heavenly country that Christ died to give me entrance into!

Then today I “stumbled” upon this quote that paralleled this verse perfectly.

“Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Savior’s, recognizing in you His features of  love and His countenance of holiness.”

~ Charles Spurgeon

Are my manners Christian? Is my speech like that of the Nazarene’s? Do my actions point to the Place where I belong? As others pass by or encounter my actions do they know to Whom I belong? Do I look like Jesus?

These questions are on my mind tonight calling me to a more faithful prayer life as I strive to become a more becoming Christian.

He Came!

Home again! After a quick trip to North Carolina this weekend, we arrived home last night just in time for bed! Today has been busy as I transitioned back into school and the normal schedule, but the weekend was a good one! It was good to have time to rest and refocus on my Lord!

I found myself up late each night with my Bible on my lap and no need to get to bed for anything pressing the next morning.  The Lord was so gracious, giving me great direction and strength from His Precious Word!

Sunday morning found us in a wonderful service with a message focusing on the Lord’s Return. This thought led me to thinking upon an occurence that took place 2,000 years before we now await “the glorious appearing of the Great God our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” (Titus 2:13) the second time, the thought and fact that He came.

He, a sinless, perfect, Supreme sacrifice, came to die the Ultimate death for sinful humanity.

He, the Creator,came to take the place of His Creation.

He, Lord of all, came to put death and sin under His feet once and for all.

He, the Lover of my soul, came so He could show forth His marvelous love for me there on Calvary and now in my life everyday.

He came so that He could bear my burdens, share in my hurting, and calm all my fears.

What a wonderful thought that the God of Heaven came, took on flesh, and laid down His life for me!!!!!

He came to Jarius’ daughter bringing life. (Mark 5:41) He came into the lives of weary fisherman making them faithful and fervent disciples. (Matthew 4:19) He came to a murderer on Damascus Road and counted him faithful to be put into the ministry. (1 Tim. 1:12)

When He comes, He changes everything! (2 Cor. 5:17) When He comes, He comes to stay! (Phil. 1:6)

 He came to seek and to save that which was lost, and oh how lost and wretched I was before His coming! (Luke 19:10) Not only did He come into the world on that starry night in Bethlehem, but He came into my heart on the Sunday night in April nearly 13 years ago!

I am rejoicing tonight because He came!

He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:7-8 

He came, and He’s coming again! May we live in light of that!

So little time…

Does that seem to be the theme of your life? These days, it fits mine well! I am busily rushing through every day, needing to get from here to there, accomplish this and that and do it all well. Sometimes it all gets overwhelming. There is so much to do and so little time!

My cell phone is constantly reminding me that the minutes are swiftly passing! My desk calendar is full of numerous tasks that must be accomplished in the only 24 precious hours of each day! As I fall into bed at the end of the day or in the early hours of the next day, I mentally review the day’s events, trying to make sure I’ve done all that needs to be done!

In the midst of the busyness, it’s easy to skip what should be first on the list, time with my Lord. I am more convinced everyday that if time with Him doesn’t occur first regardless of how busy the day is to be or how many items await a check mark on the to-do list, it probably won’t occur or will occur for a few minutes before I drift off to sleep somewhere around midnight.

Somehow there’s always the “I’ll read after I do such and such” or “Just let me finish this and then I’ll pray.” These are often my responses to my Lord’s gentle nudging and reminding that I’ve yet to approach His Throne for any extended period of time. All of this can be quickly eliminated if I would only seek Him FIRST!

The concept is not complex. He simply told us in Matthew chapter 6 that time with Him should be the TOP priority. I am so very guilty of trying to serve without seeking. My service will then be in vain if I miss the seeking. It takes SEEKING+SERVING to equal SUCCESS in the Christian life, and they must come in that order!

This weekend, we’re going to North Carolina for what I pray will be a few days of consistent time with Him. Away from that calendar full of tasks to be accomplished and from the alarm clock that seems to sound a few hours too early every morning, it is my prayer to re-establish some things in my walk with Him. Pray that He will enable me to seek Him first so that my service will be effective. The Harvest is too plenteous to waste the time we have left!

I’m not sure if I’ll have Internet access while I’m away, but I am taking my computer, just in case! If I don’t, I pray I will have had some great studies on the trip to post when we return!

Enjoy the last few days of October!

  “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

 Matthew 6:33

Words

Words. I write them on the chalkboard every morning. I type them on my laptop’s keyboard on an almost daily basis. I speak them constantly to my family, to my students and co-workers, and in prayer to my Lord.

When written, words come easy for me. They flow quickly and easily from my pen when it hits the paper and from my fingertips as I click the keys on the keyboard. Every other day words are my means of getting His Word from my heart to yours. It’s almost second-nature to write kind words of blessing and post on encouraging topics, but I find that my words change quickly when spoken.

As I speak to those I love the most, I find a disturbing difference between words written and spoken. Often my responses are short and spoken without grace. My words come as a revealer of my attitude that is all too frequently unpleasing to the living Word that lives within my heart. Tonight my Lord lovingly admonished me to think or better yet pray before I speak.

“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious…” Ecc. 10:12

The verse seemed to jump off the page as I flipped through my Bible. I stopped to read it and then re-read it. Man, do I need His help with my words! I’m thankful that His Word has much to say about mine! I found great conviction and challenge from my study of the word “gracious.”

What exactly do gracious words sound like? Probably not like my words often do!

The word gracious comes from the Hebrew word chanan meaning to bend or stoop in kindness. Now that is a challenge to my heart! My words, if I desire to be known as wise, are to be words that bend toward the good of others even when I don’t feel like bending! Even when someone else’s words aren’t stooping to my good, I am to ensure that my words are doing just that! Even when I have been hurt or offended, I am to respond in a loving and Christ-like manner. How often I have offended Him yet He STILL responds with forgiveness!

I am to “admonish” (Romans 15:14) others with my words not only my written words on my blog but in all of my words especially those spoken! I am told in Colossians that my words are to be “ALWAY with grace, seasoned with salt.” (4:6) This verse affirms that I can’t just choose when I desire my words to be pleasing, but that they are to be pleasing at ALL times!

Oh that He would give me more grace that my words will be words of graciousness! The prayer upon my heart tonight is the prayer of the Psalmist in Psalms 19:14: “Let the words of my mouth,…be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

 Make me bendable, Lord, that I might reflect You in a better way!

“Consider…

Christ Jesus…”

Hebrews 3:1

That has been His challenge to me since a wonderful study He gave me yesterday morning! He called me to slow down and take some time to look at Him for a while!

I loved what I found when I searched out the Greek meaning of the word “consider.”

To consider means to observe fully, behold, perceive. It comes from a root word that means to exercise the mind, to comprehend.

It seems that the call to comprehend Christ is an impossible task for His greatness cannot be fathomed by our finite minds. However, this doesn’t keep the writer of Hebrews from including this challenge at the beginning of the third chapter. I believe that the Holy Spirit led the writer to include this challenge because it is the Point of the Christian life.

He does not save us to only give us salvation, but to give us access to a knowledge of Him and a life of growing to understand more about who He is! Isn’t that an awesome thought? To know that the Lord desires me to desire Him is amazing to me! My sinfulness. His Sacrifice. My failure. His Perfectness. He is everything I’m not yet He wants me to know Him! He has given us such a precious privilege!

This verse made me think of a passage in Ephesians. This is another group of verses that challenges us to embark on a journey of knowing Jesus though we’ll never know all there is to know until we reach Heaven. That we “may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height; and to know the love of God which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph. 3:18-19) A challenge that will take a lifetime of daily seeking and following to accomplish.

Why take time to strive toward something that the Word itself says “passeth knowledge?” Because the glimpses of His glory that we’ll receive are worth more than words can express! The God of Heaven has given us the call to “know” His love, to be sure of it, to understand it. Oh how I desire to know just that! The only way we’ll ever be more like Him, love like Him, and live like Him is to know Him better.

It will be my goal this week and in the weeks to come to make sure that the busyness and craziness of it all doesn’t keep me from “consider(ing)…Christ” my Lord.I want to see His Cross and understand better His love for me. I want to see His forgiveness and be more forgiving of others. I want to see Him as He is! I want to observe Him fully!

The Valley from Above

Here’s the post I promised I’d post yesterday, a day late:

The Valley looks different when you are viewing it from above. I have learned this through real-life trials over the last few years. While walking in the midst of the painful, dark, and often very lonely valley, our hearts are often convinced that nothing good will ever come of those seasons in our lives. I have been there many, many times, but thankfully I now stand on the mountain and can view those valleys from above.

I heard this song earlier this week and I believe I’ll claim it as another one of my testimony songs (I have several! ) because it brought this wonderful thought to my mind and described my valleys so perfectly. Since hearing it on Tuesday night, I have been singing it over and over and meditating upon the Truth found in its lines.

‘You’re standing on the mountain holding to the Shepherd’s hand. The valley you just came through was hard to understand. Then the Shepherd draws you closer, there’s something He wants you to see, and points back to the valley and unfolds its mystery.

As the eagles soar around you, you look back on where you’ve been. One by one He answers questions that He did not answer then! He now shows the danger of going your own way, all those roads you thought were better would have led your soul astray.

He reminds you of that moment when you could not make it through. Now you see one set of footprints where He reached down and carried you! As your tears fall on His shoulder, and you thank Him for His love, He says “Child, I knew that one day you’d see this valley from above!”

Things look different on the mountain from the Shepherd’s point of view! Standing high above the trial that He brought you safely through! All the valley’s, disappointments will never look the same to you for things look different on the mountain from the Shepherd’s point of view!’

Oh how different the valley looks when looking through the Savior’s eyes! He knew all along how wonderfully profitable the pain was. He willing allowed the disappointment because He knew we’d one day (in His time!) see it from the mountain top!

What was once a mystery can now be viewed as a source for ministry. That time in your life that was so horrible has been and will continue to be used by the Shepherd to draw you closer to Himself. 

Where questions once resounded unanswered, there are now answers. And not just any old answers, but answers from the very Creator of the valley! The One who knew the answers all along, but has waited for the perfect time to reveal them to you.

Looking back at those painful and trying times, sometimes I wonder “How did I make it through?” Now as I enjoy the mountaintop, I hear His sweet reply, “My precious child, I carried you. I carried you when you had lost everything. I carried you on the days when you were bitterly refusing to see the valley through my eyes. I carried you on your ”up days” when you were whole-heartedly believing that I had a purpose and a plan. Regardless of your response, child, I was there, carrying you!”

It’s from this mountaintop that I now see this valley as  a tremendous blessing instead of the burden it once was. I now know the danger that would’ve awaited me had I gone my own way. Had my loving Lord not stepped in, extended His staff and directed me into the valley, I am confident that this blog would not be in existence for I would still be going through the motions, neglecting to really love and live for Him. Now I see that His “rod and (his) staff”  really do bring “comfort!” (Psalm 23:4) I had my plans, but oh how MUCH better His plan is! He knew best even though His plan included a few valleys along the way!

And now over four years later, I am thankful that He has chosen to show me that valley from above. Above, physically speaking ,as I stand on the mountain looking down into it, but also above spiritually speaking as I now know it was a sweet and precious gift from Above, lovingly allowed by my Shepherd!

The famous Psalm is now personal. He truly is “MY Shepherd” and never allows anything that He doesn’t have a splendid purpose for!

I’m praying that He will one day allow you to see your valley’s from above! Have a great weekend everyone! Trust the Shepherd, He KNOWS what’s best! Just as He has carried you in the past, He is carrying you today!

” The Lord is MY Shepherd, I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1

HE WILL ANSWER!

Before praying this morning, I took a few minutes to make a quick list of the things on my heart. Before 3 minutes even passed I had comprised a list of 17 situations, sicknesses, burdens and desires! There is SO MUCH to be prayed for! I can’t imagine how lengthy the list would be had I spent more time making it! At times, the needs seem overwhelming, but how thankful I am that the Lord has given us the sweet privilege of prayer and that He is ever listening to my cries.

Then at prayer meeting tonight, this verse brought affirmation and reminder that not only is He listening, but that He has also promised to answer!

 ”In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Psalms 86:7 

I write often about the certainty of Scripture, but I’ll never get over how wonderful it is! It’s not that He might answer but that He WILL answer!

If your heart is heavy tonight, know that you have His Word that your prayer is not in vain! He sees and in fact bottles up your tears! (Psalm 56:8) He has been where you are and can be touched with the feeling of your infirmities! (Heb. 4:15) Trust Him, and remember that He listens and that He WILL answer!

 Tonight’s post is a short one, but stay tuned for tomorrow evening’s post on seeing His answers through His eyes!

 

Singing of His Sufficient Grace…

I haven’t felt much like singing tonight. With a heavy heart and a grumpy attitude to match, I’ve been mustering through my To-Do list for the last several hours and taking my frustration out on those I love the most  but the Lord loves to snap me out of my selfish pity parties by using His precious Word. As I began to read Spurgeon’s evening devotional, it reminded me that I should still be singing regardless of what’s going on around me or how I’m feeling inside! ( You can read the devotion by clicking here: http://www.spurgeon.org/morn_eve/this_evening.cgi  )

My song should be constant because I sing to One who is ever constant. Though circumstances change, He doesn’t so I should live in that Reality.

Where I am doesn’t impede His ability to work. We don’t work on the same time-table therefore what seems far off to me is really not so far away in His Eyes.  What I’m lacking doesn’t hinder His desire to give and strengthen. He has access to limitless provisions with which to provide for me. No matter what His grace is sufficient and that should keep me singing.

Though the midnight hour found Paul and Silas beaten, bleeding, and bound, they were still singing. (Acts 16:25)

Though the Psalmist’s heart was heavy with sorrow as he was bearing the reproach of evil men, we find him singing of his Defender and Strength. (Psalm 59:16-17)

A grief stricken Job spoke of a God who gave songs in night seasons. (Job 35:10) You know those dark times when you wonder if morning will ever come? Job tells us God wants to give us a song.

Paul admonished us to sing, making melody in our hearts to the Lord, and He didn’t put specific conditions upon the command. (Eph. 5:19) He didn’t say “When all is well, sing” he just told us to sing!

Wherever you are tonight, whatever you’re facing, you have a reason to sing, dear one! For you see, He promises ( and He ALWAYS keeps His promises!!! ) His children… grace all-sufficient. (2 Cor. 12:9)

 ”I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.”

Psalms 104:33 

Twenty-two

Twenty-two years ago tonight, I hadn’t yet made my entrance into this world. I’m sure it found Mama anxious and uncomfortable and Daddy nervously waiting, but oh how quickly the last 22 years have passed! Tonight, as I look at my parents, I see the two people who blessed me with life and have taught me what it means to truly live.

On the eve of my 22nd birthday, I am feeling many things. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for their example and teaching. Their consistency in living out what they’ve taught in words is amazing. They have taken their responsibility as parents so very seriously, and I will be forever grateful for that.

 I am grateful that they have diligently prayed for me. Over the years the direction of their prayers has changed, but their praying has never ceased. First, it was for my safe delivery. Then from that Sunday morning in October 1987 until that Sunday night in April 1997 it was for my salvation. And from then on, their prayer has been that I would love God and live for Him, that I would make the right choices, that I would choose the right way. I am a product of a praying Daddy and Mama that lived their prayers in a daily and apparent way.

I am grateful tonight that they loved me enough to say no even when I didn’t like that answer. Looking back at my years in public school, I know they were so much of the reason why I wasn’t influenced severely by my surroundings. The world held little pull or sway on me because I had parents who were living their love for their Lord in a way that made me desire to do the same though it was often the least popular thing to do.

I am grateful that they have taught me to make wise choices and to always look at life in light of Scripture. For our family, our Christian living did not begin when we put on our Sunday best or end with the final hymn of morning worship service. I am grateful that they were examples of real faith seven days a week, 365 days a year. They taught me to be truthful. They taught me to love the unlovable. They taught me to always give to God  first and to always give my best. They taught me so much and continue to teach today with their wonderful testimonies that are much more than words! I am thankful to be called their daughter.

Not only am I thankful for my parents, but I am so very blessed with so many other people in my life that love God and live for Him.

I am granddaughter and great-granddaughter to 4 of the most godly people I’ve ever met. They love me, counsel me, spoil me, and allow me to glean from their wisdom and love for Him for hours each week. Also a part of my 22 years are 2 godly preacher’s that I called Papal and PopPop. Though they have since gone 0nto their Eternal reward, their influence and impact upon my life is still evident.

I am Sissy to a sweet and spunky 19 year old who has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She’s hardworking, outspoken, strong, and incredibly adorable. I am a bit more fond of her today then I was the day she was born as I hid underneath a chair in the hospital waiting room! I’m glad I decided to come out and accept the fact that I wasn’t an only child anymore! She’s the complete opposite of me, but loves her Lord and desires to live for Him. While working a secular job, she is a consistent and faithful witness and testimony for this I am thankful.

I am niece, cousin, friend. Coming from a LARGE family, it would be easy to lose touch with my many family members, but they are such a huge part of my life. Not only does physical blood connect us, I am blessed to share a spiritual bond with many of them! And for those who have yet to see Jesus for who He really is, I long for and pray for the day when they do.

Every day I am blessed with the opportunity to instruct 8 of the best students I’ve had in my nearly 6 years of teaching. As I watch them succeed though they face each task with learning differences, I know that I am where I am suppossed to be. I am thankful that I am called teacher.

And most recently, my loving Lord has given me the precious privilege of knowing someone that shares my desire of loving Him and living for Him. As He closed many of the doors over the last 4 years, I didn’t know He was preparing me for the opening of this one. I am thankful that He has blessed me in this way as I approach my 22nd birthday. I am looking forward to the great things He has in store. It is a safe thing to trust Him with the desires He creates! His timing is perfect, this is living proof of that!

And for all of this I am filled with praise and adoration for my sweet Jesus, the Giver of all good things. I deserve nothing and yet He has given everything. I deserve death yet He has given life. I deserve Hell yet Heaven is waiting. I realize tonight that it is nought of good that I have done, but because of  the Blood shed for my sinful soul on Calvary some 2,000 years before I would enter this world.

Twenty-two years ago, He knit me together in the womb.

Twelve years ago, He replaced my stony heart with a heart of flesh, removing the sin and washing me clean.

Four years ago, He called me from my plans that I might truly know Him and to show me how wonderful His way would be!

One year ago, as I turned 21, I had no way of knowing that the year ahead would hold all that it has. I am thankful it has held every heartache for in them I found the Comfort of Christ. I am thankful that it has held every blessing for in them I have come to know more about my Savior and how very good He is!

Tonight, I am unsure of what the year ahead will hold, but I am assured that my Jesus will be there each step of the way giving me joy for this journey called life.

I have MUCH to be praising Him for as I turn twenty-two tomorrow!

 ”For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.” Psalms 92:4 

  “And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant…my God shall be my strength.”

Isaiah 49:5

Affliction is an Avenue…

Affliction, not a word any of us are too fond of. We shudder at the thought of pain, wince at the idea of having to sacrifice something/someone we love, and feel like running to hide when the news is different from that which we desired to hear.

The Greek word  for affliction means to depress literally or figuratively, to abase self, deal hardly with. Do any of us want to be dealt hardly with? I would say that all of us would opt out of that one!

But on my heart and mind over the last couple of days has been the thought viewing affliction as an avenue.

And exactly where is this avenue leading?

It is leading us to a place where we will  know our God better, to know what it means to share in the fellowship of His sufferings, to know what it means to hunger and thirst for His Word.

As the sinful, selfish, fleshly human beings that we are it takes an abasing of self to get us to that point. The flesh looks at affliction with frustration and questioning.

Why?

 Haven’t I been through enough?

These are common questions in the face of affliction, but whether the affliction is physical or emotional, He is allowing it for a spiritual purpose.

To truly know Him, we must be afflicted. It seems absurd to desire the affliction, but it’s not that we enjoy the process as much as we will enjoy and benefit from the outcome! Knowing Him is worth it all!

The Psalmist realized the value in affliction, “I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” (Psalms 119:75)

Through our eyes we don’t attribute His allowing of affliction to His faithfulness, but it has everything to do with it! Our Faithful Creator knows what is needful in our lives to make them useful for Him and a lot of times that is affliction. He uses it to call us from dependence upon self to total dependence upon the Savior.

I pray that He will teach me to look at life and it’s affliction with His eyes that I may know that  He is Faithful and He is Good regardless of the circumstances!

 ”Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.” Psalms 119:92 

  “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” Psalms 119:50