suffering

1 Peter 4: 1 So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2 You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3 You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.
4 Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5 But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.6 That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead — so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.
7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8 Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.9 Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

12 Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad — for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
14 So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. 15 If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs. 16 But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News? 18 And also,

"If the righteous are barely saved,
what will happen to godless sinners?"

19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.

Lyrics to "Be Ye Glad" :
In these days of confused situations
In these nights of restless remorse,
When the heart and the soul of a nation
Lay wounded and cold as a corpse

From the grave of the innocent Adam
Comes a song bringing joy to the sad.
Oh your cry has been heard and the ransom
Has been paid up in full, be ye glad

Chorus:
Oh, be ye glad, oh, be ye glad.
Every debt that you've ever had
Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord.
Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad

So be like lights on the rim of the water
Giving hope in a storm sea of night
Be a refuge amidst the slaughter
Of these fugitives in their flight

For you are timeless and part of a puzzle.
You are winsome and young as a lad.
And there is no disease or no struggle
That can pull you from God, be ye glad

Chorus:
Oh, be ye glad, oh, be ye glad.
Every debt that you've ever had
Has been paid up in full by the grace of the Lord.
Be ye glad, be ye glad, be ye glad

Scriptural Reference: "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." Isaiah 65:18 (KJV)

worrying

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25, "Don't worry about your life..." (NIV)

It located in that section of the "Sermon on the Mount" that talks about the liles of the field & the birds of the air & how God clothes them & takes care of them.

It was Aaron Barth back at the beginning of 2008 that told me one day at staff prayer, "you don't have to read the rest of it - it's all summed up in that 1st phrase - don't worry about your life."

Hundreds of times since then God's whispered to me, "don't worry about your life."

Over the past 2 years, I've come to a place a surrender that I didn't know possible. It's not a high, holy, & dramatic thing. It's a simple "whatever" & then REALLY trusting God as He handles my life.

All of us are desperately trying to make our lives happen. I've learned in the last 2 years to trust God at a gut level. I don't know what's ahead for me. I DO know Who's out ahead of me, preparing the way. And I DO know Who's gonna sustain me through the "whatever" that comes.

This isn't some kind of thing I just decided to do. Over these past 2 years as I walked toward establishing a presence in downtown Macon, & then as we started being & doing it at the beginning of 2009, when I've been fretting or worrying, or griping to God about something, "what if"ing, He's just say, "don't worry about your life."

How did I live before?

All I can tell you is that this way of living is infinitely better than whatever it was I was doing before. It DOES take a trust & a simple letting go & accepting whatever He leads me toward. But then, we ARE talking about trusting the God of the universes here.

Do it - let go - say whatever - trust - don't worry

Today would be a great day to start

clinging

don't cling to your life...

"if you cling to your life, you'll lose it. if you let go of your life for Me, you'll find it." Matthew 10:39

iow, if we let go & let God make our life happen, it frees Him up to create the life He dreamed for us happen.

which makes better sense - creating a life WE'VE dreamed up (we're kinda finite) or letting God (who's the infinite God of the universes) implement the He dreamed for us a gajillion years ago?

He's been having me live this verse for the last 2 years. And look where it's taking me

just sayin'...

deferred

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life & joy.

idleness

Proverbs 12:11 Hard work means prosperity; only fools idle away their time.

...idle away their time.

I have a number of people around me right now who don't have a job. Who in this country doesn't?!

Many of them are not only having a hard time with the stress of not making or having any money, but are crashingly bored.

I was wondering if it would be insensitive to suggest that in the time they have out of work, maybe it would help them pass the time, & be constructive, as well as cut back on the boredom, if they'd volunteer somewhere?

When people are unemployed, it can be easy to become paralyzed with nothing to do. Getting out will free up a person's mind by mixing with people, doing something helpful, & just doing something other than sitting around the house.

Macon Outreach (at Mulberry Methodist) has a meal every day to people who need it. People can always use help serving it, Mondays - Fridays. Christ Church Episcopal does the same thing on Saturdays & Sundays.

Habitat for Humanity always needs help building the homes they are currently building.

The Salvation Army has 2 thrift stores that could use help sorting, labeling, & pricing stuff.

That's just 3 things. There's plenty more. The most important thing is to get out & move around. Ya never know, you might hear of a job or something that could end this streak of unemployment.

Anybody got any other suggestions of volunteer things people could do?

what I got today

There are some people in my life who think I'm crazy bc I get up so early every morning. (well, to be honest, some people think I'm crazy regardless of when I get up! ;-)

Anyway, I can't imagine NOT getting up. I mean, the God of the universes chooses to speak to me - ME! - through His Word EACH DAY! And people wonder why I get up?!!!

Here's some of what I got just this morning...

Proverbs 11:17 Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.

24 It is possible to give freely & become more wealthy, but those who are stingy will lose everything.

25 The generous prosper & are satisfied; those who refresh others will be refreshed themselves.

James 4:2b ...the reason you don't have what you want is because you don't ask God for it. 3 And even when you do ask, you don't get it bc your whole motive is wrong - you want only what will give you pleasure.

5b ...the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, jealously longs for us to be faithful. 6a He gives us more & more strength to stand against evil...

7 humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, & he will flee from you. 8 Draw close to God, & God will draw close to you.

And that was just what I got this morning!

Ya know, I'm aware that probably some of you who read this blog, or are around me very much, may get kinda tired of me talking about reading the Bible every day.

The smartest thing I've probably ever done in my life was to start getting up each day & reading the Bible & listening out for what He has to say to me.

The dumbest thing I've ever done is wait until I was 52 to do it!!! (I'm 59 now)

Don't be as dumb as I was!!!

I cannot adequately explain the rich backlog of scripture that now sustains my life. I can't tell what an incredible glimpse I've had into the mind & personhood of God.

I've found THE well of life - why in the world would I NOT want to drink from it?!

Why do I beat this drum all the time?

Because I KNOW what it will mean for you & do for your life. I know because I'm livin' it, & I'm seeing how many of you have started to change too who have started reading every day.

So, you don't know where to start?

Read the Gospel of John (New Testament). Just 1 chapter a day. Takes about 10-15 minutes.

Read the chapters sequentially - don't jump around.

Me & Billy Graham read 1 psalm every day. Read 1 chapter each day in Psalms (Old Testament). Psalms is pretty much right in the middle of your Bible. Read them sequentially.

Then, after reading John, maybe read on in the New Testament, books like 1 & 2 Corinthians, then Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians. (Those last 4 are right next to each other)

One chapter a day. Underline stuff that strikes you.

Now, I wanna caution you about something...

If you read the Bible, God's gonna MESS with you.

Just a thought, I'm your friend.

what's holding me together

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Beth said something yesterday in her sermon at SportsTowne that struck me.

She said something along the line of "Once you've become a Christ follower, it's no longer all about you."

It's about others - loving God & loving people.

So much of contemporary Christianity is self-focused - 10 steps to a perfect life, become a better you, claim your miracle - you get the idea. Like this thing called following Jesus is something we can muster up on our own.

The longer I live I would think that it's enormously obvious that I ain't the one who making my life happen & that I'm held together by the grace of God & the power of the Holy Spirit.

favor

James 2:1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, "You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor"—well, 4 doesn't this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

5 Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6 But you dishonor the poor! Isn't it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7 Aren't they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name you bear?

8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

just ask

James 3:5 If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask Him & He will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. 6 But when you ask Him, be sure you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven & tossed by the wind.

I'm just sayin'...

the same

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, & forever.

In a world whose culture changes every 2 yrs, whose information base doubles every 6 months, I'm glad to know this.

running the race

Hebrews 12:1
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.

for such a time as this

Hebrews 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. ⁹ And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents.

Abraham picked up his wife & family, & his whole household, & set out on a journey he thought God had told him to take - he didn't know where he was going, or when they'd arrive. That took INCREDIBLE faith.

And here's the kicker - just one sentence from the footnote about these verses in my Life Application Bible...

"Do not be surprised if God asks you to give up secure, familiar surroundings in order to carry out his will."

Oh boy...

One more thing...

Esther 4:13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. ¹⁴ If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

I never noticed until today that Mordecai told Esther that if she didn't take up the job of rescuing the Jews from the death degree from the king, then someone else would be asked to do it.

If we don't do what God calls us to do, He'll simply get someone else to do it. All of us were created to be & do some things in the overarching will of God for humankind. Sometimes if we don't do them, they don't get done. And sometimes, God will just get someone more willing to obey Him to do it.

And we, like Esther, may be who we are & where we are to be the pivotal component in God's will for someone, or something.

something's afoot

Proverbs 4:25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don't get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.

Hebrews 10:35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord, no matter what happens. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Something's up...

There's those words again - "no matter what happens"

Something's coming...

I don't know what.

anticipating

Proverbs 3:5 Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track.

Something's up. I don't know what or when or or whom. But there's something coming.

trust...

don't try to figure it out...

listen...

God will keep you...

Am I afraid?

no...

just anticipating

no matter what

1 Thessalonians 5:18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus

where I'm reading

I finished Nehemiah this morning. What a slog through lists that was! And it just ends, after Nehemiah kicks a lot of butt about Israel's intermarrying. I wish I felt like I got something from this book. Oh well, maybe when the movie comes out...

Esther is next! Woot! Love, romance, intrigue!

Finished Psalms for the umpteenth time, too. As you may or may not know, me & Billy Graham read a psalm every day. Yep, that's right. I figure, if it's good enough for Billy, it's good enough for me. There's a richness about psalms that is incomprehensible unless you've read it consistently more than once. This was probably the 14th? time I've read it since January of 2003. (That's when I started reading the Bible EVERY day & listening out for what God may want to say to me)

And I'm in Hebrews. Wonder who wrote it? It seems Pauline in lilt & structure. Maybe Timothy? Maybe Paul? Oh well, truth is truth, no matter who it comes from.

If you haven't started reading the Bible EVERY day, without fail, start today.

The smartest thing I've ever done is start reading the BIble EVERY day.

The dumbest thing I've ever done is wait till I was 52 to start doing it.

Don't be dumb like me.

;-)

what I'm hoping for

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unfair. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him & how you have shown your live for Him by caring for Christians, a you still do. 11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.

What do I hope for right now?

I wish I could reproduce myself.

There are so many people who just need someone to love them & care about them; 20somethings who need someone to show them how to function in life; people of all ages who just need someone to listen to them.

What I am & do isn't all that hard. God love people through me. I can't explain it, I just know He does. I can feel it happen when it happens.

God can love people through anyone - if He can love them through me, He can do that through anyone.

There's SO MANY people who need simple loving that I can't get to them all. There needs to be more people being & doing what I am & do.

I'm not talking about setting up a ministry. I'm talking about a lifestyle.

Would you like to talk about it with me?

yo

was up with stomach virus all night - a little short on wisdom this morning

what it is

Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes us for who we really are.13 Nothing in all creation can hide from Him. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and This is the God to whom we must explain all that we have done.

14 That is why we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to Him & never stop trusting Him. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin.16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

hard hearts

In Hebrews 3, in verse 8 & then again in verse 15, the author says "Don't harden your hearts..."

Somewhere, back in the mists of the last 7 years, I previously had underlined those words when reading this chapter. I can't remember.

Today, those were the words that stood out to me.

In both cases, it says the same thing...

In verse 6b, it starts by saying, "We are God's household, if we keep up our courage & remain confident in our hope in Christ. 7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, 'Today you just listen to His voice. 8 Don't harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled...' "

Then starting again over in verse 12...

12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.13 You must warn each other every day, while it is still "today," so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God.14 For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.15 Remember what it says:

"Today when you hear his voice,
don't harden your hearts
as Israel did when they rebelled."

I wonder this morning, as I wrote in my journal, if these verses stood out because my heart is hardening, & I wonder what exactly it is that it's hardening toward?

Or is it just a warning that if I don't keep my heart tender in some areas of my life, I can get hard hearted, like I used to be?

TD Jakes says, "Nothing just happens."

I wonder what this "don't harden your heart" thing is all about?

Does this say anything to any of y'all?

Jesus

Hebrews 2:14 Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham.17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tempted.

Not sure why, but lately I've been struck by the incredible things Jesus is, & what all of that does for us.

just a word

Psalm 144:17 The Lord is righteous is everything He does;
He is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on Him,
yes, to all who call on Him sincerely.
19 He fills the desires of those who fear Him
He hears their cries for help & rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love Him,
but He destroys the wicked.

21 I will bless the Lord,
& everyone on earth will bless His holy name forever & forever.

Sometimes I just think I need to share a scripture in this blog - nothing deep or profound - just verses from where I'm reading. I guess maybe God wants to speak through His word to the people who read this blog?

In the last few years I've quit trying to explain my life. I just try to be obedient as best I can.

Don't know who this is for. The parts I underlined where pretty profound to me this a.m.

Have a good day today - live in the strong truth of these verses

why do You care about us?

Psalm 144:3 O Lord, what are mortals that You should notice us,
mere humans that You should care for us?
4 For we are like a breath of air;
our days are like a passing shadow.

I wonder about a lot of things.

I wonder why God really love us.

Yeah, I know all the usual reasons we give.

But sometimes, I just wonder.

I mean, we ARE talking about the God of the universes here...

Who's bigger than His creation,

Who's pretty stinkin' holy,

Who, like, knows everything,

Who's timeless, yet timely.

What are we compared to him?

Less than a nanospeck in the cosmos?

And yet, He cares & loves us individually.

I just wonder sometimes...

depression

I know about depression.

There seems to be a predisposition toward depression on both sides of my family.

At one point in my life, I was clinically depressed for 4 1/2 years. A few years later I was clinically depressed again for 2 years.

I see so many people around me who are depressed, at all kinds of levels. Some are simply depressed, some are clinically depressed, & some are teetering on a mental illness.

Depression seems to be brought on by unrelenting, &/or seemingly unresolvable stress. It's not something we can wake up on day & just decide to "suck it up" & feel better. We don't get depressed overnight, nor do we pull out of it overnight.

The issue isn't THAT we're depressed, but WHY we're depressed. That is usually a long process, of searching through the rumble of our psyche for the primary issue(s) that drive the leadened life in depression.

I have learned (the hard way) to let God invade those primary areas of my life where my tendency toward depression lives & where those demons sent by satan want to drag me. (Yes, I'm one of those people who believes that depression has a human AND a spiritual/demonic component. That's another conversation)

Here's a psalm I've read & encourage those who are depressed to read. There's just something about the way the phrases come that somehow speak to our situation. I think that maybe only those who are or have been depressed for long periods of time really "get" what's going on in this psalm.

So, if you're out there dealing with depression, know that I know EXACTLY how you feel, & I really do understand where you are.

This psalm's for you... & me...

Psalm 143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
listen to my plea!
Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.
2 Don't put your servant on trial,
for no one is innocent before you.
3 My enemy has chased me.
He has knocked me to the ground
and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.
4 I am losing all hope;
I am paralyzed with fear.
5 I remember the days of old.
I ponder all your great works
and think about what you have done.
6 I lift my hands to you in prayer.
I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain.

7 Come quickly, LORD, and answer me,
for my depression deepens.
Don't turn away from me,
or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, LORD;
I run to you to hide me.
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O LORD, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
and destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.

refuge

Psalm 142:4 I look for someone to come & help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one care a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to You, O Lord.
I say, "You are my place pf refuge.
You are all I really want in life."

It's interesting how God can use certain times in our lives.

I remember reading this passage when I was going through a really hard time. Life wasn't going like I wanted it to. I was in a lot of turmoil & anguish. And for some reason, no one around me picked up on my troubles.

God finally led me out of that very frustrating time. Things got worked out. Life went on.

I learned a valuable lesson through the experience - that in the final analysis, the only One I can truly depend on is God. People tend to be self-absorbed. They also sometimes just miss the cues we give them.

But God doesn't. He knows what we're thinking. He knows what we need when we need it. And He's always there, ready, & available.

Now, does this mean I've got trust issues (again!) with people?

Not really. I just cut people more slack - they're what they are - imperfect humans. Sometimes they're just not gonna be enough; they're gonna fail us.

God's always there, listening, guiding, & strengthening.

He's the only One we can truly depend on...

...as it should be.

smallness

No one can make you feel like a grasshopper, & that what you are about is inconsequential, unless you let them.

following Jesus

2 Timothy 4:5 You should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you.

Paul wrote these things to his adopted son, Timothy. Paul knew he was going to die soon. I doubt Paul was mincing words in that final letter.

There are 4 sentences in this verse. Each one is a huge & compelling thought.

It's all a part of the reality of what following Jesus really means.

a psalm that is a rock

I've been kinda spooked for the last 2 weeks adjusting to the "no matter what happens, always be thankful" thing.

Verse 23 talks about "anxious thoughts". I think that's what I've got these days, anxious thoughts. I don't know what this "no matter what happens" stuff means. Two years ago, I would be hanging from the ceiling fan with worry. Now, I'm just kinda waiting, kinda anxious about the unknown, but not paralyzed with worry.

Maybe anxious isn't a good word. Maybe "anticipating" what's ahead would be a better way of putting it. It's kinda like that anticipation we get right before we go on stage, or have a really cool lunch with someone we're crazy about, or right before we start a new "something" in our life.

This psalm has been a real rock for me during the last 2 years, especially verse 5. I guess I'm gonna have to continue to hold on to it this year.

Psalm 139:1 O LORD, you have examined my heart I've been
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.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, LORD.
5 You both precede me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!

7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave,* you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 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.

17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can't even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you;
your enemies misuse your name.
21 O LORD, shouldn't I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn't I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred,
for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

something's up, folks

Here's some verses that came off the page this morning. I don't know what's up, but something's up.

Psalm 138: 2b I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness;
for your promises are backed
by all the honor of your name. Here's
3 As soon as I pray, you answer me;
you encourage me by giving me strength.

6 Though the LORD is great, he cares for the humble,
but he keeps his distance from the proud.

7 Though I am surrounded by troubles,
you will protect me from the anger of my enemies.
You reach out your hand,
and the power of your right hand saves me.
8 The LORD will work out his plans for my life —
for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.
Don't abandon me, for you made me.

2 Timothy 2: 1b ...be strong through the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus

Here's what my Life Application Bible says about this verse...

"How can someone be strong with special favor? That 'special favor' refers to grace, God's undeserved favor on our behalf. Just as we are saved by God's special favor, we should live by it. This means trusting completely in Christ & His power, and not trying to live for Christ in our strength alone." (dan note: I did the living in my own strength part for decades - this is not something I recommend)

21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

I'm not confused these days, I'm just kinda waiting to see how all the stuff God seems to be saying to me in scripture & whispering to me all comes together.

I don't know what it all means right now. But I do know something's up. I'm not necessarily worried about it (Thank You, God!), but I just kinda waiting for all the pieces of this puzzle to come together.

honlding onto

2 Timothy 1:8 So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News. 9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. 11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of his return.
13 Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus.14 Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.

enduring

Psalm 136 is a litany - a blessing from God is mentioned in each one of it's 26 verses...

...and then psalmist says, "His faithful love endures forever"

I've got a funny feeling about 2010. I don't know if it's for me personally, for my family (immediate - Lynn, Hannah, & me - or extended - plus all the 7 daughters & 43 sons), for our extended ministry downtown with HOG, SMG, etc., or if it extends further.

I really believe God spoke to me the other day when I read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 - No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

In 2010 I think God's indicating to me that as we walk through whatever this year may hold, like the psalmist in Psalm 136, we're gonna need to remember "His faithful love endures forever"

And I feel like we need to hold on to the mandate, "No matter what happens, always be thankful..."

Don't know what 2010 holds. Don't know what it all may mean.

Do know "His faithful love endures forever."

Gonna hold on to "no matter what happens, always be thankful"

Happy New Year everyone. Thanks for reading these ramblings of mind. 2010's gonna be an adventure