Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. ~ Psalm 143:8 (NASB)
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These words from the Psalms come from one who sounds like they are full-face toward God -- they are seeking Him with all their being, wanting to be close to Him and do the things that please Him. That is a beautiful thing to witness.
This past Sunday, I met a woman reaching out for God, for community, for friendship, for love. She loves God and cried out to Him for help. She knew that He was her best and only source of comfort and help, and she has been seeking a church family that could come alongside her and walk the walk with her. What a blessing to meet her, cry and pray with her, and put her in touch with some beautifully loving ladies who immediately took her under their wings and embraced her. Her response was to thank God for answering her prayers and meeting her needs. She's excited about becoming part of a women's Bible study and now having some familiar faces in the worship service. I know God is working mightily in her life, as she has sought Him for her life needs.
Our lives may not be perfect. In fact, who are we kidding? None of our lives are perfect. But running to God, seeking Him for our needs and surrendering to Him our weaknesses, is the best and only thing we can do for real life. Because He is life -- at its fullest...at its purest...at its best.
Reach for God and you reach for life. I pray that is the direction you're running toward today.
Love,
Joelene
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Verse of the Day - Proverbs 21:2
All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. ~ Proverbs 21:2 (NIV)
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Are we, as believers in Christ, really interested in becoming more like Him, or are we content to just go along running on our own instincts? Do we really want the mind of Christ, or do we just want to make up our own mind? Hmm...
God says that He can help us if we're interested, because He weighs our hearts against His truth -- if it's not in line, there is some tweaking that needs to be done. But I wonder how much we're listening to Him as we go about our days...
~ Someone does something that you don't like, and you're ready to give them a piece of your mind. Does it occur to you to check with God and see if it's something you ought to do, or do you just run headlong into ranting and raving?
~ You get a bonus check from work and think of all the things you could buy for yourself. Does it occur to you to check with God to see if He'd like you to do something selfless with it, (or at least something frugal like your own personal debt reduction), or do you just run headlong to the mall to spend it?
~ You have the freedom to check personal email while at work and it seems harmless enough. Does it occur to you to check with God to see if you're abusing this privilege and not honoring your employer with an honest day's work, or do you just run headlong into time mis-management and a less-than-stellar work ethic?
(please know that I am speaking to myself here, too -- these aren't just ouches for you, my friends... :-)
When we decide to take our spiritual growth seriously and want a heart after God's own heart, we will be willing to listen to God as He weighs our heart. If the scales aren't tipping in His direction with our thoughts and actions, He will let us know. Question is: Will we listen AND will we make change if necessary?
Obedience is a discipline. But more than that, it is an act of love toward God. And our love for Him is manifest when we actively pursue a godly heart. Be willing to check with God today as you go about your daily life. Be willing to watch and see how the scales of your heart tip -- toward God or toward self -- and pursue godliness, obedience and spiritual growth.
Love,
Joelene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are we, as believers in Christ, really interested in becoming more like Him, or are we content to just go along running on our own instincts? Do we really want the mind of Christ, or do we just want to make up our own mind? Hmm...
God says that He can help us if we're interested, because He weighs our hearts against His truth -- if it's not in line, there is some tweaking that needs to be done. But I wonder how much we're listening to Him as we go about our days...
~ Someone does something that you don't like, and you're ready to give them a piece of your mind. Does it occur to you to check with God and see if it's something you ought to do, or do you just run headlong into ranting and raving?
~ You get a bonus check from work and think of all the things you could buy for yourself. Does it occur to you to check with God to see if He'd like you to do something selfless with it, (or at least something frugal like your own personal debt reduction), or do you just run headlong to the mall to spend it?
~ You have the freedom to check personal email while at work and it seems harmless enough. Does it occur to you to check with God to see if you're abusing this privilege and not honoring your employer with an honest day's work, or do you just run headlong into time mis-management and a less-than-stellar work ethic?
(please know that I am speaking to myself here, too -- these aren't just ouches for you, my friends... :-)
When we decide to take our spiritual growth seriously and want a heart after God's own heart, we will be willing to listen to God as He weighs our heart. If the scales aren't tipping in His direction with our thoughts and actions, He will let us know. Question is: Will we listen AND will we make change if necessary?
Obedience is a discipline. But more than that, it is an act of love toward God. And our love for Him is manifest when we actively pursue a godly heart. Be willing to check with God today as you go about your daily life. Be willing to watch and see how the scales of your heart tip -- toward God or toward self -- and pursue godliness, obedience and spiritual growth.
Love,
Joelene
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