For the past week I have been without my computer as without warning the electrical cord for my laptop refuse to work. As a few people stated I seemed like a person without their right hand since my laptop is my constant companion. I honestly felt as though I had lost a part of me and many times throughout the week my thoughts were consumed with the internet, writing, blogging and all the fun things that come with having a working computer.
I almost went into withdrawal :) but by Wednesday or so I had resigned to the fact that I would have to wait a bit to buy a new electrical cord as more important things were beckoning my finances.
So I started to enjoy the evenings more with my family as I didn't have the distraction of my laptop. I got a few more hours of sleep as there was nothing to keep me awake or even if I had fallen asleep earlier there was nothing drawing me like a magnet anytime I awoke during the night.
The whole thing however got me to thinking about; what if I didn't have my bible for a whole week. Now I have more than one bible, but what if I either didn't have my bible or what if I didn't have access to my bible for a whole week, how would I make it? How would I fare?
In thinking about that I saw the value of hiding God's word in my heart.
If I didn't have my bible to read Psalm 27 would I remember in time of trouble that 'the Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?'
If I didnt have my bible to read Romans 8, would I remember when I felt guilty about failing God another time that "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus?"
If I didn't have my bible to read Philipians 4, when my heart became overwhelmed would I remember that He said "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God?"
It can never be emphasize enough how much we need to hide God's Word in our heart. Everything and everyone else is secondary to Him. Without Him I don't want to imagine where I would be today.
God's word is our fuel, it's our compass, it's our very sustenance. He even said that we should not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from His mouth. So for me His Word is life.
I am happy to know that even after a few days I can adjust without my laptop, but I don't ever want to live without the Word of God.
The law from Your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Psalm 119:72
Blessings,
Vickie
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sabbath-rest
The last couple of days my soul, my spirit, my heart, my whole being has all felt pretty quiet. I am always going. Always on my way to work, or to the store, or to the supermarket. Always going somewhere. In the midst of all that, my mind is always going, always thinking, always reasoning, a song is always in my head or a passage of scripture, or a conversation.
However, for the last two days or so even though I am still going physically I feel as though I have slowed down on the inside for some reason. Not sure what is happening or why, I turned to the word of God to help me sort out what I was or wasn't feeling.
I have been studying the book of Acts for a new study we have coming up starting tomorrow, but then I decided to put it aside and go back to my study of the Pauline Epistles. I had started in the Hebrews and so I went right there, spent some time praying asking God for fresh insight and a clearer understanding of His word.
In reading Hebrews 3 &4, God showed me right away: its time for a sabbath-rest. Paul in these chapters was referring to the time when God's people hardened their hearts and rebelled against His voice even though they had seen His hand meeting their needs time and time again. God in His anger, had declared that they would never enter into His rest. (3:11)
They would never enter His rest but there was still a sabbath rest laid up for the people of God.
"There remains, then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his. Let us therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." (4:9 & 10)
God is calling us to a rest in Him. Yes we set aside a certain day or time for worship with the saints, which is absolutely necessary. If that was the only kind of rest we needed, we would not be so burnt out time and time again.
A Sabbath-rest is not just resting from work on the Sabbath day but laying aside all our worries and resting in God. I need a refreshing, I need a rest from going all the time, thinking all the time. God is saying to my spirit today, stop working so hard at worrying about life and food and family and just rest in me.
So one of my new intentions is to 'make every effort to enter that rest.'
I don't know what you are working hard at today, and it may all be legitimate, but I want to encourage you to pause and enter into the beloved rest of God. His hands are outstretched with peace and contentment for all who would take Him at His word.
Blessings,
Vickie
However, for the last two days or so even though I am still going physically I feel as though I have slowed down on the inside for some reason. Not sure what is happening or why, I turned to the word of God to help me sort out what I was or wasn't feeling.
I have been studying the book of Acts for a new study we have coming up starting tomorrow, but then I decided to put it aside and go back to my study of the Pauline Epistles. I had started in the Hebrews and so I went right there, spent some time praying asking God for fresh insight and a clearer understanding of His word.
In reading Hebrews 3 &4, God showed me right away: its time for a sabbath-rest. Paul in these chapters was referring to the time when God's people hardened their hearts and rebelled against His voice even though they had seen His hand meeting their needs time and time again. God in His anger, had declared that they would never enter into His rest. (3:11)
They would never enter His rest but there was still a sabbath rest laid up for the people of God.
"There remains, then a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for those who enter God's rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his. Let us therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience." (4:9 & 10)
God is calling us to a rest in Him. Yes we set aside a certain day or time for worship with the saints, which is absolutely necessary. If that was the only kind of rest we needed, we would not be so burnt out time and time again.
A Sabbath-rest is not just resting from work on the Sabbath day but laying aside all our worries and resting in God. I need a refreshing, I need a rest from going all the time, thinking all the time. God is saying to my spirit today, stop working so hard at worrying about life and food and family and just rest in me.
So one of my new intentions is to 'make every effort to enter that rest.'
I don't know what you are working hard at today, and it may all be legitimate, but I want to encourage you to pause and enter into the beloved rest of God. His hands are outstretched with peace and contentment for all who would take Him at His word.
Blessings,
Vickie
Monday, November 10, 2008
God is not only able, but He is willing
Now to Him who is able to keep you without stumbling, slipping or falling, and to present (you)unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the presence of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation (with unspeakable, ecstatic delight) Jude 1:24 (AMP)
One of the things I so love and appreciate about God, is that He is not only able but He is willing.
There are people in life who are able; people who are able to meet a need because they have more than you do. People who are able to open a door because they either have the keys or they know of someone who may have keys as well. The one big difference between God and these kind of people is that God is not only able but He is willing.
So many times in the word we see that God is willing for good to happen. He is willing to save us, willing to help us, willing to deliver us and willing to keep us.
An able person doesn't always equal to a willing person. People are able to help, but sometimes have no desire to help. They have in excess but are not willing to share with others who don't have. They have access to open doors and opportunities but are not willing to let others in. The position, status and resources they have at their disposal are in abundance but they are not willing to offer them to others.
Maybe you are one of those persons who are able to help but find yourself unwilling many times. Ask God to give you a willing heart. Ask Him to fill you with compassion, so that when you hear the sound of a need in someone's life, you don't look around for the next person to meet that need, you be the one used of God to meet it.
God's desire is to use each of us to meet one another's need. We have been blessed to be blessings. When we open our bowels of compassion to offer our hands, hearts and ultimately our lives for the good of others, He gets the glory and our lives become very fulfilled. This design is not by accident. God knows that when we allow ourselves to be used of Him, we draw even closer for strength and our relationship with Him blossoms.
Maybe on the other hand, you have some needs in your life, and find yourself surrounded by those who are able but not willing to help. Ask God to free you from any bitterness or resentment and pray that people would respond to His call and yield themselves as instruments of righteousness in His hand.
Let's take some time today and just thank God for His willingness to send us a Savior. We also ask Him to help us to be willing to bless others with what we have.
Father, in the name of Your precious son Jesus, I thank You for not only being able, but willing to save, to meet needs and to keep us. Thank you Lord for making us instruments of righteousness in Your hands. Where our hearts are hard, help us to yield and submit them to You. Where we have already been used by You, help us to yield even more so that we can relieve some of the burdens of others. Thank you, in Jesus name.
Blessings,
Vickie
One of the things I so love and appreciate about God, is that He is not only able but He is willing.
There are people in life who are able; people who are able to meet a need because they have more than you do. People who are able to open a door because they either have the keys or they know of someone who may have keys as well. The one big difference between God and these kind of people is that God is not only able but He is willing.
So many times in the word we see that God is willing for good to happen. He is willing to save us, willing to help us, willing to deliver us and willing to keep us.
An able person doesn't always equal to a willing person. People are able to help, but sometimes have no desire to help. They have in excess but are not willing to share with others who don't have. They have access to open doors and opportunities but are not willing to let others in. The position, status and resources they have at their disposal are in abundance but they are not willing to offer them to others.
Maybe you are one of those persons who are able to help but find yourself unwilling many times. Ask God to give you a willing heart. Ask Him to fill you with compassion, so that when you hear the sound of a need in someone's life, you don't look around for the next person to meet that need, you be the one used of God to meet it.
God's desire is to use each of us to meet one another's need. We have been blessed to be blessings. When we open our bowels of compassion to offer our hands, hearts and ultimately our lives for the good of others, He gets the glory and our lives become very fulfilled. This design is not by accident. God knows that when we allow ourselves to be used of Him, we draw even closer for strength and our relationship with Him blossoms.
Maybe on the other hand, you have some needs in your life, and find yourself surrounded by those who are able but not willing to help. Ask God to free you from any bitterness or resentment and pray that people would respond to His call and yield themselves as instruments of righteousness in His hand.
Let's take some time today and just thank God for His willingness to send us a Savior. We also ask Him to help us to be willing to bless others with what we have.
Father, in the name of Your precious son Jesus, I thank You for not only being able, but willing to save, to meet needs and to keep us. Thank you Lord for making us instruments of righteousness in Your hands. Where our hearts are hard, help us to yield and submit them to You. Where we have already been used by You, help us to yield even more so that we can relieve some of the burdens of others. Thank you, in Jesus name.
Blessings,
Vickie
Friday, November 7, 2008
A change, yet He is the same
Tuesday evening, well before midnight, it was announced that we would be having a new president.
It was a time of change for many. For those who supported Barack Obama it was a time of rejoicing. For those who didn't support him there wasn't much to rejoice about.
With a change in government, there comes endless possibilities for change. Change in policies, change in offices, change in style. So much to look forward to. As with any new head there is always a bit of apprehension as well, since we don't know if we will like his method of operation.
We are hoping for change, good change as things have been in a slump for quite a while now. As we look forward to new things, I want to just take a minute and remind us of what God has said in His word.
In Malachi 3:6 He says,"I the Lord do not change.........." There could be nothing clearer than that. God says He doesn't change. People change, situations change, our goals, dreams and desires change, our government changes, but God does not change. It means that no matter how the new president perform we still have the assurance that God is in control. He will still look after us even if the country doesn't come out of its slump. He is still faithful to His people. He still loves us.
Our role now is to work with God. Do as He asks, pray for our nation, pray for our government. Recognize that we the body of Christ has been given the power and authority to effect more change by praying than we could ever do by voting. Voting is just one necessary, important part of it, but we need to pray. He ask us to pray without ceasing, devote ourselves to prayer if we truly want change. There is no way the President can make decisions that are beneficial to the country unless the people of God seek His face.
It's exciting to think of the things that can happen with a new leader who has new vision but let's never forget where our trust lies. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
When we seek His face then we will hear from Heaven and our land will be healed.
We have more power than the government. We have the power of prayer to a holy, faithful, righteous and unchanging God.
Blessings,
Vickie
It was a time of change for many. For those who supported Barack Obama it was a time of rejoicing. For those who didn't support him there wasn't much to rejoice about.
With a change in government, there comes endless possibilities for change. Change in policies, change in offices, change in style. So much to look forward to. As with any new head there is always a bit of apprehension as well, since we don't know if we will like his method of operation.
We are hoping for change, good change as things have been in a slump for quite a while now. As we look forward to new things, I want to just take a minute and remind us of what God has said in His word.
In Malachi 3:6 He says,"I the Lord do not change.........." There could be nothing clearer than that. God says He doesn't change. People change, situations change, our goals, dreams and desires change, our government changes, but God does not change. It means that no matter how the new president perform we still have the assurance that God is in control. He will still look after us even if the country doesn't come out of its slump. He is still faithful to His people. He still loves us.
Our role now is to work with God. Do as He asks, pray for our nation, pray for our government. Recognize that we the body of Christ has been given the power and authority to effect more change by praying than we could ever do by voting. Voting is just one necessary, important part of it, but we need to pray. He ask us to pray without ceasing, devote ourselves to prayer if we truly want change. There is no way the President can make decisions that are beneficial to the country unless the people of God seek His face.
It's exciting to think of the things that can happen with a new leader who has new vision but let's never forget where our trust lies. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
When we seek His face then we will hear from Heaven and our land will be healed.
We have more power than the government. We have the power of prayer to a holy, faithful, righteous and unchanging God.
Blessings,
Vickie
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Probing the Proverbs 1
As we noted in the introduction of Probing the Proverbs, they are natural sayings that reveal spiritual truths. Because they are obscurely expressed we need the Holy Spirit to give us deeper insight into the true revealed meaning. A first glance at a proverb or a parable seldom gives the real meaning.
Chapter 1 reveals many purposes of the proverbs. A few of them are:
Chapter 1:20 tells us that wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square, on top of the wall she cries out. God's common sense is speaking to us. He is not whispering, but calling out loud and clear for His children to seek Him. It is all throughout His word. It is not a secret: the church is called to be the moral mouthpiece in this fallen world. How can we not be conformed to this world? By being transformed in our minds through His word, through His wisdom. He wants His children to be the leaders, He wants His children to be the ones to give insight and offer sound advice.
1:23......
There is a rebuke to the child of God who continues to drink milk instead of moving on to solid food. He says 'repent'. How long will we continue to go to the ungodly for advice? How long will we continue to run to the self-help books and the wisdom of God is so freely available to those of us who would seek it out?
Repentance is never complete without a follow-up action(2 Cor. 7:10, Acts 26:20). In turning our ears to the call of wisdom, God says 'then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings." He is such a willing God. He is not willing that any of us should perish for lack of a vision. He wants to share confidences with His righteous people (3:32). How can we train our children in the right way, without the wisdom of God? How can we run successful businesses without the wisdom of God? How can we touch lives with our writing unless we seek the wisdom of God? How can we be the help-mates He intended us to be without the wisdom of God?
1:24-31
Unfortunately there is a price to pay for those who refuse to listen to wisdom's call. To those who would disregard her advice and not accept her rebuke, there is no shelter when disaster strikes. When calamity and tragedy overtakes or when distress and trouble overwhelms God will not be found by those who chose not to fear Him.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Be wise, for whoever listens will live in safety and be at ease without fear or harm. (1:33)
The cry of my heart is that we as the people of God would seek Him whole-heartedly. Nothing else matters as much as knowing Him in the most intimate way. Friends, family, jobs, possessions, hobbies, education, all pale in comparison to truly knowing God and then acting upon His word. Having His wisdom adds more meaning to our friends, our family, our education and all that we hold dear.
Lord Your word, Your wisdom is the most valuable thing I could ever have in this world. Don't let me be complacent about knowing the mind of Christ for my very life depend on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Forgive me for every time I went ahead and did it my way. Thank you for the wisdom You so freely offer to me, in Jesus name.
Blessings,
Vickie
Chapter 1 reveals many purposes of the proverbs. A few of them are:
- gaining wisdom and instruction
- instruction for prudent behavior
- prudence to those who are simple
- knowledge and discretion to the young
- increased knowledge for the wise
- guidance for the discerning
Chapter 1:20 tells us that wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square, on top of the wall she cries out. God's common sense is speaking to us. He is not whispering, but calling out loud and clear for His children to seek Him. It is all throughout His word. It is not a secret: the church is called to be the moral mouthpiece in this fallen world. How can we not be conformed to this world? By being transformed in our minds through His word, through His wisdom. He wants His children to be the leaders, He wants His children to be the ones to give insight and offer sound advice.
1:23......
There is a rebuke to the child of God who continues to drink milk instead of moving on to solid food. He says 'repent'. How long will we continue to go to the ungodly for advice? How long will we continue to run to the self-help books and the wisdom of God is so freely available to those of us who would seek it out?
Repentance is never complete without a follow-up action(2 Cor. 7:10, Acts 26:20). In turning our ears to the call of wisdom, God says 'then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings." He is such a willing God. He is not willing that any of us should perish for lack of a vision. He wants to share confidences with His righteous people (3:32). How can we train our children in the right way, without the wisdom of God? How can we run successful businesses without the wisdom of God? How can we touch lives with our writing unless we seek the wisdom of God? How can we be the help-mates He intended us to be without the wisdom of God?
1:24-31
Unfortunately there is a price to pay for those who refuse to listen to wisdom's call. To those who would disregard her advice and not accept her rebuke, there is no shelter when disaster strikes. When calamity and tragedy overtakes or when distress and trouble overwhelms God will not be found by those who chose not to fear Him.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Be wise, for whoever listens will live in safety and be at ease without fear or harm. (1:33)
The cry of my heart is that we as the people of God would seek Him whole-heartedly. Nothing else matters as much as knowing Him in the most intimate way. Friends, family, jobs, possessions, hobbies, education, all pale in comparison to truly knowing God and then acting upon His word. Having His wisdom adds more meaning to our friends, our family, our education and all that we hold dear.
Lord Your word, Your wisdom is the most valuable thing I could ever have in this world. Don't let me be complacent about knowing the mind of Christ for my very life depend on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Forgive me for every time I went ahead and did it my way. Thank you for the wisdom You so freely offer to me, in Jesus name.
Blessings,
Vickie
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