Eternity Ahead

Titus 3:7

"...so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

God has struck me lately with the idea of eternity. Eternity with Christ is something I look forward to. I cannot even fathom a life without sin in a regenerated body! God fills me with awe and thankfulness at the amazing grace of this generous act of salvation. Yet, what exactly does eternity mean for us now, in each of life's moments? 

When you think about it, I don't know that there's any good thing here we won't be able to do in heaven... consider that a moment. Whatever gifts you want to cultivate, whatever projects you want to complete... we have an eternity to enjoy God and His gifts. But what about the people? 

I think eternity focuses our perspective on what really does matter. What are we here for? We are here because God is longsuffering: 

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 

- 2 Peter 3:9

There is one thing we won't be able to do in heaven: save the lost. By then, all of God's children will be accounted for. Please understand, I'm not claiming WE can save the lost - only God can bring a person to that point - but God does call us to witness. Our lives here are the only testimony some have of our loving Father. I quickly lose track of my witness in the day-to-day necessities of life... and I start to think more about what would make things easier here, rather than what's important in the face of eternity. Yet the reason (so far as my human eyes can see) Jesus hasn't yet returned to claim His rightful place is that He is "...patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."

I don't know about you, but I'm not "gifted" in evangelism. I can't strike up a conversation with a random person I just met and bring them to Christ on the spot, then continue on my merry way (at least, it hasn't happened yet - God can do anything). This doesn't mean I'm not called to evangelism. Let me explain. 

Many of us have put evangelism in a box: you meet a person, take them along the "Romans Road" or show them the "Bridge Illustration" and thereby share the gospel with them. There is ABSOLUTELY a place for that - but this is not the extent of evangelism. Our every moment lived out in front of people is our testimony - our evangelism to others. God placed you where you are in life to show Himself to those only you know; to minister through you as only you are positioned to. As a mother, a wife, an understanding friend, God has placed you where you are to minister His love, thereby glorifying Him. How we deal with trials, how we enjoy God's gifts, how we live... these are our testimonies of God. 

This does not absolve us of broaching the subject of salvation; it gives our words weight when we share. Don't expect the opportunity to always come to you; be as intentional about sharing Christ as you are about seeking Christ.

Who is the Lord putting on your heart to share His love with? Don't be afraid! 

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." 

- Matthew 28:19-20

Sovereignty and Free Will

As a parent, would you rather your child followed your every whim, or was free to make their own choices? True love wants them to make their own choices… and this is God’s desire for His children. I will never be able to fully reconcile the two inherent truths of our free will and His sovereignty, but God has shown me an inkling in the following perspective.

We as human beings cannot control everything. It’s a basic fact of life and one of the main reasons many of us struggle with anxiety. In many cases, “life” throws us many circumstances that play a huge role in charting our course. Now consider… if God is truly sovereign, then He has control over all things, including those circumstances. One thing that must be understood before we move on is that “…God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (James 1:13b) God may allow circumstances caused by sin and evil intent, but He Himself hasn’t a shadow of evil in Him. (“…God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5b The context being darkness is sin.) So, if He is sovereign and good, then why does He allow circumstances caused by evil?

Enter the beautiful truth of Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that God causes all thing to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren[.]”

Paul is giving us a rare peek behind the curtain of God’s will, here - and not just any peek, but a look at what lays the foundation for all of God’s will! According to this passage, God’s purpose is that His children would be “conformed to the image of His Son,” or, in other words, that we would think and act like His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is part of the Triune God, and as such, lived the example of how we should act and think like Him. (Just like we want our children to be like us!) So if the beginning of that quoted passage is true, then God is using His sovereignty (His power over everything) to work everything to teach us to be more like Christ (please note the distinction to being like Christ rather than being like God; they had very different roles). Even our trials. Even our joys. And make no mistake - Job 42:2 says, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”

Just as we don’t control every little thing our child does (and even less as they get older), God does not control us (unless, of course, we engage in the joy of offering ourselves to be used by Him), but rather lets us make our own choices. This is how we learn and grow. And just like our children often make wrong choices, so do God’s children (us). While we may regret a poor choice, God, in His sovereignty, uses it to make us more like Christ! We as parents can sometimes do this, but God, per Romans 8:28, uses all things toward this end. This is another piece of the joy of following Christ: even our failures don’t make us less, but instead God, in His grace, uses them to teach us. God does not want to force us into the image of His Son, He wants us to choose to be like His Son. 

God’s sovereignty enables our free will.

As I said before, this doesn’t fully explain how free will and God’s sovereignty coexist, but it satisfies me enough that I can look at Job 40:2 and 40:8 and bow humbly before His will. God addresses Job in both verses:

Job 40:2

“‘Will the faultfinder [that would be me, too] contend with the Almighty? Let Him who reproves God answer it.’”

Job 40:8

“‘Will you [again… me!] really annul My judgment? Will You condemn Me that you may be justified?’”

Who am I to reprove God and question His judgment? Did I create the earth and its workings? Did I create man and know his very thoughts? Do I really want to serve a God I can fully understand? Would He be God if I could fully understand Him?

I am insignificant and yet, God, in His amazing grace, chooses to work all things for the good of His children (of whom I am one!), and for His glory! These two goals never part. Our good gives Him glory! This isn’t to make it all about us - it’s all about Him! - but to show you the value God has given you as His child. In this lies our worth - not in what we can do for Him. This granted value never changes. It is not raised or lowered by anything you do, and God Himself does not raise or lower it. God loves you with a love so pure, it brought Him to death on a cross. God is so pure, that He rose again, freeing us from the penalty of our sin.

Praise God for His sovereignty! And praise God for granting us free will!

Reminders

2 Peter 1:12

"Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, and have been established in the truth which is present with you."

In my walk with God, it took me a rather long time before I realized the true importance of reminders. If I already knew something about God, I didn't see much point in going back over it unless there might be something more to be gleaned (it isn't called the Living Word for nothing). I noticed this most when my Biblical Counselor gave me an assignment to read a number of verses and write down the main point of each. As I worked through the list, I began to feel like I had just been given busywork. I didn't have time for busywork.

The epiphany didn't come until further into the counseling process, but the Lord convicted me of my pride of knowledge versus my forgetfulness. I don't have the greatest memory, but I'm referring more to when the Bible talks about how mankind is quick to forget. Israel did it time and again, and if we're honest with ourselves, we do it, too.  I may know a truth, but that doesn't mean I live it. 

Now, when I hear someone mention a truth they've just discovered, I don't just think, "Ah, so that's what they're learning right now."  I consider, "Is my life reflecting that truth?"

My son is three-and-a-half years and my daughter is just over four months old; I'm still dealing with some post-partum hormones and the rebellion of the threes. I'm also struggling with a pain in my rib that isn't subsiding with physical therapy, and my son wrecked the control to the fan in his room.  I cried.

As I sat there on the floor with his sweet voice reassuring me, I tried to pull myself back together. Then I heard, "It's okay, Mommy, you don't have to cry, because God is here." 

That got my attention. 

"You're right, buddy," I sniffed. "You're absolutely right."  I knew it was God's grace that my little man was reminding me of God's presence. I felt His love in that moment, and several truths came flooding to mind.  God works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28); God gives me the strength to carry out His righteousness (Philippians 4:13); I'm not alone in my temptation and I don't have to give in to it (1 Corinthians 10:13); God's grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9).  With these under my belt, I was able to continue the day as a mother through God's strength, rather than my own. 

Which of His truths do you need to be reminded of today?

Reason to Breathe

1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

My playlist pulled up "Reason" by Shawn McDonald on my drive to work this morning. As I listened to the lyrics "Please give me a reason to breathe," my eyes welled up with tears at the realization that I no longer live in that place of depression where I constantly and urgently wish I was no longer on earth. For many many years, life was just something to get through until I finally died and could go be with Christ. I was so ready to die. 

Somewhere in this journey of thankfulness, that changed. (See my testimony here.) Certainly, I still long to be with my Savior, and I have no qualms about dying, but it isn't this urgent desire that constantly sucks away at my soul. Now, the only way I can describe it, is that I'm content with serving my Savior in whatever capacity He chooses - which happens to be as a physically present being in this sinful world at the moment. 

I have a reason to breathe. As much as I love them, it isn't my family. It isn't my job, or hobbies, or talents. It is simply serving God. The One who saved my soul from the death penalty. The One who has been there with and for me during my whole life of depression, pain, worry, and pride, of happiness, feeling lithe, enjoying passions and talents. The One who has provided His Holy Spirit so that I can actually do good things. The One who opened my eyes to His everyday gifts and miracles. Christ is my hope, my contentment, and my reason to breathe.

This life is my privilege, given by my Savior. It is not a drudgery or a curse. Rather, "...to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

Philippians 1:18f-21

"Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Each Day's Own Trouble

Matthew 6:32b-34

"...for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Praise the Lord for His bountiful grace! I deserve none of His good gifts, and yet He lavishes them freely. This passage holds two related gifts:  the lack of the need to worry about 1) tomorrow, or 2) my basic needs. I just need to focus on seeking His kingdom and His righteousness, and He'll take care of the rest. So what does that look like?

The greek word for "seek" in this verse is zeteo, and one of its sub-definitions is "to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into." So the more I think about, meditate on, and find out about His kingdom and righteousness, God Himself will see to my needs. How do I find out about them? How do I think and meditate upon them? By reading His Word.

God gave us His Living Word - the Bible and infallible Word of God - for our knowledge (among other things). If I seek after God and His kingdom and how to be like Him within the pages of that book, God will reveal Himself. Each time that I read it when I am truly seeking Him, I come away with a little something more. That's part of what makes it "living." Even if I find myself reading it without truly seeking, I fill my mind with its thoughts, and remind myself of some piece of His truth. It helps me to Meditate upon Him - even when I stop reading.

As with all things in the Bible, it isn't just about the academia. It isn't just about reading and learning about Him; it's about applying what I have learned. So to seek His kingdom and righteousness after I have set the Bible down, I am to live it. I am to live in Light of Eternity with Him, and  For His Glory. What, in this moment - not tomorrow - would glorify Him?

I thank the Lord for this grace of not needing to worry about tomorrow or my basic needs, and instead to have the ability to focus on and seek Him.

Surrender

James 1:2-4

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Both today and yesterday were high-pain days.  I came toward the end of my work day (made it through!) and found myself analyzing my serenity.  I realized that I was content, and started to delve for the reason in order to repeat the feat.  Here is what I discovered.

I woke in the morning with the same pain I had gone to bed with, and I couldn’t reapply lavender oil to relax the hurting areas, or I wouldn’t be able to work.  (The second application doesn’t usually work as well anyway.)  Instead of thinking about the pain, though, I thought about my husband’s desire to not rush in the mornings.  I wanted to serve him and help keep his morning smooth.  So I roused myself and made my way to the bathroom to begin my day.

Later on, we pulled into my in-laws’ driveway (where we make our breakfast) and I found myself thanking the Lord for its steep incline, because it made getting out of the car less painful.  On our carpool to my work, I told my husband it should be “Take Your Wife to Work Day,” because I wanted to spend more time with him.  Yet I was content to go to work - if a little unsure as to whether or not I could last the whole day.  While at work, I also found myself thankful that the postwoman delivered my mail direct to my door (due to the Lord’s timing of a large package), which saved me the pain of rising from my chair to head to the mailbox.

Why was I content?  I truly desired not to hurt, and to spend more time with my husband.  These desires certainly weren’t being met.  However, the Truth that stuck with me was that God’s plan for me today was for it to be a high-pain day, and for me to go to work.  I couldn’t avoid the one (especially with no meds due to the pregnancy), and it was my responsibility to at least give the other (work) a shot.  So if the Lord was willing to allow it in my life, then I could rest in His promise that it would be for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28-29).  God would use this circumstance toward His purpose to make me more like Christ.

Not only this, but I could rest in the promise that His grace is sufficient for me (2 Corinthians 12:9).  Not only was the Lord using the circumstance to make me more like Him (for my good and His glory), but He would give me the grace and His power to actually be more like Him.  This is how He builds our endurance, as mentioned in James 1:2-4.  I also realized that I had work to do, and took that work one step at a time, remembering Colossians 3:23-24:  “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

So why was I content?  In the face of these Truths, I was able to surrender my desires to God’s will.  I didn’t bury them, but neither did I dwell on them.  I surrendered them to His perfect will.  Yes, I would rather not hurt, and yes, I would rather spend more time with my husband, but God’s plan for me was different today, and I am content to rest in His superior knowledge of what is best for me.  My focus wasn’t so much on myself, my pain, and my desires, but on serving others, on what God was doing in my life, and His power to see His will done.

My contentment resulted from my surrender.  In that humble place, it was far easier to focus on Christ and His work - to be aware and thankful for what He was doing, instead of bitter at what I was not receiving, or that things were “not going my way.”  I thank God for surrender - both for its existence, and for His power to be able to do so.  May I take advantage of this gift of grace more often.

Have you fully surrendered your desires to God’s will?  Is there a particular desire you have trouble letting go of?  Is there something - maybe even something good - that you’re willing to sacrifice your obedience to God in order to get?  Look up the passages I mentioned, and write down something God has provided you in the midst of your circumstance despite a desire.  Look for what the Lord might be teaching you through these Scriptures. 

Attitude

2 Peter 1:5-11

“Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”

In my fight with chronic pain and chronic fatigue, I realized that I am fighting to do.  I want to do the things that other people can: clean the house, do the laundry, do the dishes, take care of the yard, move the furniture to clean behind.  In my chronic pain, these are the things that I have chosen to fight for.  Yet, as I consider my life in light of God’s Word (and more specifically, the verses above), I realize that these are not the things that a Christ follower expends all of his or her energy on.  It is my attitude that I should be fighting over.  Am I serving Christ in diligence, seeking His knowledge, holding myself to His standard consistently, striving to be more like Christ and to show His love (verses 5-7)?

These things are not accomplished strictly by doing.  In fact, were I a complete invalid, I could still possess and successfully portray these qualities.  Here’s where grace finally enters in.  I cannot possess these qualities on my own.  It is only Christ’s work in me that allows these qualities to blossom and grow.  Not my own pushing through the pain, nor my determination to do something no matter how much it hurts.

My job is to seek Him.  To seek to know Him, to put it a little differently.  Christ will reveal Himself to me, and will empower me through His grace to do what He has set before me to do.  I often get so caught up in my own agenda.  I reason to myself that as a wife and mother, my first ministry is to my husband and son.  Good so far.  So I need to attend to all of the chores, right?  Well… doing the chores is an obvious way to minister to my husband and son, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that I need to do them.  The chores being done is not as important as the attitude that I portray to my family.  If I am allowing the chores to interfere with the ministry of my attitude, then I need to shift my focus.  (Notice I didn’t say don’t do the chores?)

Rather than a physical fight, I should be concentrating on the spiritual fight.  If, ultimately, the physical fight needs to stand aside in light of the spiritual fight, it’s worth it.  Honestly, this type of fight feels far more “relaxing.”  Far more doable.  Because I am not fighting on my own.  Christ extends His grace to me and empowers me with His Spirit and with His Word.  (He can use other things, too, but I would venture to say that these are the funnel through which all of His other tools flow.)

Where is your energy going?  You may not struggle with chronic pain or chronic fatigue, but the lesson is no less true.  Are you allowing the things that you do to crowd in and demand your focus?  Or are you seeking Christ first and how to portray His love in the things that you do?

131 Times

Romans 3:23-24

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…”

The Oxford English Dictionary defines grace as:  “(in Christian belief) the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.” Biblically, this is a pretty accurate definition.  How can we know this? Because the Bible mentions grace several times (131 occurrences of the english word in the NAS), and each of those mentions give us a clue about its meaning.

I find it interesting to note that the Old Testament comprises most of the Bible’s pages, and yet the english word “grace” is only mentioned within it 9 times. By comparison, the word makes 122 appearances in the rather smaller New Testament. What a difference Jesus’ death and resurrection makes!

If we dig a little further and look up the word in its original greek and hebrew, we find a similar theme, though with slightly better balanced proportions. The hebrew word that was translated as grace in the Old Testament - transliterated as chen - makes another 60 appearances, usually translated as favor (51 of the total 69 appearances).  The greek word is charis, and appears 156 times in the New Testament, primarily in Romans (22 times), 2 Corinthians (18), and Acts (17).

The reason I am thankful grace is listed so many times in the Bible, is because if I went off of the meaning of the word in its original greek and/or hebrew, I would miss the idea of it being unmerited. That idea can only be extrapolated by examining the usage of the word, and is a biblical definition (letting the Bible define itself), rather than a simple definition of the word. There are so many concepts in the Bible that need to be compared with one another across its 66 books, so we can understand what is really expressed. (I am told this is called systematic theology.)

If I had to choose a single verse to explain why the word “unmerited” has a place in the biblical definition of grace, I would choose Romans 3:23-24 (okay, so I cheated and used two verses!).  “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus…” If we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, then we certainly don’t deserve God’s gift of justification. That’s why it’s a gift. You can’t earn a gift, or it would be a wage.

That word, “unmerited” seems to make all the difference to me.  Most of my sin stems from my pride - from thinking I am somehow a “better” sinner, or that my work should somehow earn me prestige and thus, I deserve better than I have. Yet this thinking denies the grace of God. In truth, I have nothing to offer Him, since I have sinned and my wage (what I deserve) is death (Romans 6:23).

Yet, by His grace - His unmerited favor - He has “…granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” There it is again. Not by my merit, but by His own glory and excellence.

This is such a huge concept to wrap my head around, and it is difficult to remember at times. I hold onto the truths Christ has taught me through His Word. I thank Him that He defines His terms by explaining them in different ways in various places in the Bible.

May I remember His unmerited favor. What aspect of grace seems most relevant to you from what you know of the Bible? I encourage you to look up the verses that may come to mind (or do a search in your concordance or online) and read through them. Make note of these verses and how they relate to one another. You may refer back to it in the future when the concept grows hazy.

Knowledge

Jeremiah 29:13

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Dear Lord,

I have mentioned knowledge in 62 of my previous thankful things and weekly impressions; I think it’s about time I thanked You for it.  

Knowledge has such far-reaching ramifications, for we base our decisions on our knowledge, whether what we “know” is true or false.  You, of course, know the Truth of everything, but we must grow in knowledge.  It is through knowledge of You that You give us “…everything pertaining to life and godliness,” as it says in 2 Peter 1:3.  This impresses an urgency to learn Your Truth, for which You have given us Your Word.  It amazes me how You bring to light new lessons in Your Word each time I study it.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Your Word is, just as You say, the Living Word.  

This is why it so important that we remind ourselves of Your Truth with vigilance, constantly seeking to learn more about You, lest we fall to the false philosophies of this world.  Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, You will slowly peel away the scales that blind our eyes to the Truth in Your Word.  Knowledge - especially knowledge of You - is so valuable.

Why do I not yearn for it?  Where has my sense of urgency gone?  Lord, I pray for Your will to be my desire.  I pray that I might immerse myself in Your Truth, that I would not just know that You are my God, but that I would be willing to give up myself - my selfishness and pride - to give You what praise and worship You will reflect in me back to Yourself.  Help me to see You in everything, rather than myself.  Give me the perseverance and urgency to seek knowledge of You in each moment.  I want to pursue You.  Give me the clarity of mind to prioritize You, and strength and courage to follow through.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Learning to Block

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Gramma, who is always so willing to teach me anything she knows.  One of the areas I’ve been lacking in my knitting is knowing how to block it.  (For the reader, when finished, you “block” your piece to make it square, usually.)  As You know, I’ve had a project (which will be quite useful when finished) sitting waiting for months for me to finish it, which only requires that I block it.  Since Gramma explained the process to me (and sent me home with the additional tools I needed!), I was able to employ her directions to block a small piece upon which I could practice.

I’m still waiting for the finished result to dry, but I do think that I will be pleased with it, and can’t wait to employ it on my other project (a knitting needle case)!  Knowing how to block opens up numerous possibilities for the new projects that I can take on, and I am thankful for learning to block.  Help me to use the skill to glorify You.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Research

Dear Lord,

I have a love/hate relationship with research.  It is a wonderful thing, and the internet has made it so much easier (though, of course, one must be careful to corroborate what one finds on the internet).  Yet it takes so much time and requires a number of decisions in what to pursue.  You know that I virtually always try to accomplish things in the least amount of time, and that decisions are not my friend.  This is an area that You occasionally exercise in me, and even if the stretching may not be the most comfortable process, I am thankful for it.

Research can even be fun - especially about topics that I already enjoy.  Like knitting and other hobbies.  I occasionally research a little more about blogging (since I know there is so much out there that I haven’t taken advantage of), and always come away with some interesting tidbit.  Thank You that I can research to grow my knowledge - especially about You!  "Researching" You can even be a great pick-me-up when I am discouraged.  I pray again for Your blessing on my upcoming grace study for my next 100 thankful things, Lord.  I am excited to see how You use it!

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Email

Dear Lord,

It’s strange to think that I haven’t written a thankful thing on email, yet.  It’s certainly something that I use every day.  Thank You for the ability to write my thoughts down, edit it however many times I want to, and then send it off for the person to receive in his or her inbox immediately.  You know that I struggle with expressing my thoughts verbally, but writing seems to be the best way to organize my thoughts.  I am very thankful for that ability.

Honestly, though, I’m most thankful because it’s just easy.  Part of that ease comes from the above, and the fact that I find it easier to communicate when the person isn’t right in front of me (something that I think You are continuing to work on in me).  Yet I can also use it as a sort of to-do list of reminders from people, I can access it whenever I want, wherever I want (thank You for my iPhone!), and reply whenever I want.  Not to mention, I can communicate with an entire group of people who can respond in kind and keep everyone apprised.  It’s just easy!

Thank You, Lord, for email, and that it makes it easier for me to communicate.  Sometimes I feel as though I have a communication handicap, and email makes it easier to break through that.  Help me to focus on You throughout the day, until You permeate all my communication.  May my communication bring You glory.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Memorization

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Psalm 119:11

“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”

Dear Lord,

Thank You that You teach us through Your Word, and that we can memorize it to mull it over throughout the day.  You have been cultivating a greater respect in my heart for the memorization of Scripture, and I have already seen some results.  If there is one thing that You have taught me in this walk with You, it’s that the best thing that I can do is to focus on You throughout the day.  Memorization aids this immensely, if I intentionally use the Scripture that I have memorized to meditate on You.

It’s exciting to come up with questions as I meditate on You.  Questions that I can research in Your Word, or ask through other people who have researched Your Word.  That curiosity is one of the ways in which I can keep my love for You real.  Thank You for that.  I pray that You continue to impress the importance of memorization on my wandering heart, and that I continue in the discipline.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Reading

Dear Lord,

Thank You that You created reading, that not only might we read stories and instructions, but especially that we might read Your Word.  “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)  I love that verse because it reminds me that it is important to meditate and reflect upon and to live out Your Word.  When I walk in the way of Your Word, my path is clear.  In order to do all of this, I must read Your Word, and I thank You for the ability and the privilege.

Your Word is so pure.  With it, I can wash my mind of the day’s filth, whether apparent or concealed.  Your Word helps illuminate what is concealed.  It brings it to light and helps me to see it in Your light, not mine.  Thank You for renewing my mind through the true knowledge of You (Colossians 3:10), obtained by Your Word.

Continue to cultivate my desire for You and for Your Word, Lord.  Thank You for such an amazing tool and foundation of following You.  I pray for those who don’t have it, yet, or have limited access.  Continue Your work through Your saints and smooth the way before them that we might spread Your good news.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

Godly Advice

I am so glad to have people of whom I can ask godly advice.  I sought it from two people today, and also received it from a third by God’s design.  The first person I sought council from was my husband, and I am thankful for the talk we had.  It means a lot to be able to share my heart with my husband and to have him listen.  The other was a godly woman and biblical counselor whom I would ask to mentor me if she weren’t so busy.  The last was my grandma, whom I would not have ordinarily seen today, but for God’s orchestration.

They each had a different point of view on my current struggle, and each gave advice accordingly - all relevant and applicable.  That’s the best kind of advice - the kind that also explains the application.  I am thankful to have God’s people around me, that I might seek counsel that would align with His will.  Other perspectives can be invaluable - especially when I am having difficulty shifting my focus.  It helps me to see things in a new light.

I thank the Lord for godly advice, that He calmed my heart with it, and pointed me back to Him.  I pray that I might hold fast to my identity in Christ, and that I would remember that my worth is in Him.

Weekly Impressions - Moment-by-Moment Choices

Marriage can be tough.  Everyone knows that.  Honestly, any relationship can be tough.  When one human interacts with another, our sin will surface at some point in some way.  It’s not the most pleasant of experiences - but, to quote Alfred Lord Tennyson, “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

I am thankful that my Savior is gracious with me when I sin.  His love is better than life, and the ability to be a conduit of that love is even better still.  If I can keep the mindset of showing His love to my husband when sin rears its ugly head, then any “suffering” is by the grace of God for our good.  God also promises a reward for those who suffer for His name.  Of course, that means that I need to be pointing back to Him within my suffering.  Not always an easy thing to do.  Joyous, however, when accomplished.  

Christ also promises the strength to live by His name and will.  I have to choose His will moment-by-moment.  My choices weren’t all made in love, and I had to confess that to and ask forgiveness of my husband.  We both did.

What choices have you made today?

A Gentle Spirit

Philippians 4:4-5

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.”

What do you think of when you think of the word rejoice?  If you’re like me, you think of upraised hands and shouts of joy.  Exuberance, perhaps.  So I find it interesting that this verse follows an imperative command of “Rejoice!” with “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.”  Rejoice and gentle don’t typically go together in my mind.

Yet it didn’t take much more thought to consider what it is to experience the Joy of the Lord.  It is - in a word that doesn’t truly sum it all up - contentment.  Paul describes various practices of contentment before coming out and saying it in verse 11 (that he has learned to be content no matter his circumstances), but they are certainly all linked in his logical line of thought.

Joy and contentment are interesting things; they each tend to bring out the other.  As I considered my practices in my marriage, I realized that I am learning more and more how to be joyful and content within it.  When I practice biblical submission to my husband, my gentle spirit encourages him and I feel content in that role - it is God’s calling on my life and that brings me joy.

I rejoice in the Lord that He has taught me to have a gentle spirit.  I thank Him for His grace in those times that I choose differently - as well as my husband’s grace.  May I come to understand what it is to have a gentle spirit all the more as time goes on, and thus increase my joy.

When I let guilt at my sins enter the equation, my joy falters.  Guilt traps me in sorrow that leads nowhere.  Conviction leads me to confession and repentance, from which point I can move forward in the Lord.  When I accept God's grace, I can rejoice in God's gift even of grace itself.

Is there something in your marriage that you have allowed to stifle your joy in the Lord?

His Input

My husband’s input comes in a variety of ways.  Sometimes it’s a new idea he thought of, sometimes a critique or praise.  

Last night I had a bit of a run-in with my candle.  It’s a pillar candle with three wicks, and it has previously melted a hole in its side to leak out - profusely.  After various attempts to prevent this, it happened again last night... while my husband slept and I was out of the room.  I had, shall we say, a bit of a mess to clean up.  It had leaked out of the plate on which I had set it, onto my night stand, into my crocheted headbands, off the nightstand, and onto (thank the Lord) a catalog lying on the carpet.  Some did, however, also seep off of the catalog and onto the carpet.  (There was A LOT of wax.)  Not to mention the splatter back up onto the nightstand.  A bit of a mess indeed.

At any rate, tonight I proclaimed to my husband that I had determined to never again use candles that weren’t contained in some form (at least, not for this particular purpose - a night light until I go to sleep).  This meant that I had a lot of wax from candles that were not contained, and he suggested the possibility that I could make my own candles with it.

The idea had crossed my mind, but I hadn’t been certain of its validity.  (I have a vivid imagination.)  My husband doesn’t suggest something of that nature unless he thinks it has a real chance of success.  I respect and value my husband’s opinion and input, and I had to smile in thanks to God for the validation of my unspoken idea.

I am thankful for my husband’s input, and that God blessed me with a man whose input I value.  Of course, that was part of my list of requirements for a husband, but I also see the Lord giving him wisdom as time advances.  I pray that God gives me wisdom, that my own input is as valuable.

Weekly Impressions - My Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for Your grace and mercy, and that You have called me as Your child.  Thank You for Your institution of marriage, and for the blessing that it is.  Help me to glorify You in mine.  Help me to keep my mind focused on You, and on serving You foremost, with an eye toward those that You would have me serve.

Thank You for the wisdom You have given me in the Bible, and I pray for the discernment to understand it.  Show me Your path in my life, and help me to remember that Your power and grace supersede my decisions.  There is more than one way to do a thing, as You have clearly shown me, and, while my decisions should be weighed according to Your Word, I don’t have to agonize over which way is “best.”  Thank You that, sometimes, You leave the choice to us in such a way that neither is necessarily better than the other - just different.  You will see Yourself glorified.

Thank You for my husband, and give him a good night’s rest tonight.  Thank You for what our son is learning, and I pray that You would give us wisdom in raising him.  I pray, too, that he would come to know You as his Savior, and to walk in an amazing relationship with You.  

Thank You that we have a home to call our own.  I pray You bless it, and the improvements that we work to complete.  Thank You for our cars, that they have been running well, and I pray your continued blessing on them, as well.

Lord, I hunger to know You more.  Thank You for that hunger, and I pray that You always engender its return when it fades.  The knowledge of You is too much to fathom; help me focus on the part of You that I need to in each moment.  Help me not to forget Your ways, and give me the courage to live them.

Protect Your children, and let us know what it truly means to be under Your protection.  Let us understand Your definition as we remember to serve You, and as You see us safely home.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Process

Each new day can bring new challenges to a relationship - especially one like marriage.  As we try to nail down this whole leadership/submission thing, there are bumps on the road.  My husband was feeling a bid inadequate today between some of the challenges we faced (primarily with our son) and our lack of goals for the day (it’s Christmas Eve - we took it as a day of rest).

I am thankful that he has stepped up to the leadership role.  So what if he (and I) doesn’t have it down yet?  Life is a process, and we are learning.  I’m just thankful that he’s willing and working at it.  Things may not always run smoothly, but, honestly, if he did have it down pat, he’d be showing me up quite a bit.  Dealing with that pride would be far less gentle, I think.

I am thankful to be “figuring it out” with my husband.  I am thankful that God has given him a desire to handle things according to His will, and that He is teaching us how to do that.  I am thankful for this process of learning about God.