1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Psalm 23:4, NIV
I have said before that there are reasons for valleys-- God knows why we are in the valleys we are in. Today He revealed part of the why for me. Today I hit the bottom of the lowness I have been in... today, I begged for His help. Today, I let go of everything and surrendered it all to His will. The reason for my valley has been that all along. If I am not the one in control and I firmly believe that, I need to give it ALL back to Him-- no more holding on to anything-- nothing. He knows me too well-- if I think I have the slightest bit of my own control over anything, I will take more and more back-- little bit by little bit. I cannot say that I do not want out of this valley, but I now know, it is not mine to climb out of.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Monday, April 30, 2007
April 30, 2007
Life... a strange journey where it is easy to get wrapped up in the unimportant things, to worry deeply about the every day stuff. It's difficult to pay attention to the things that really matter... until a moment hits-- or a series of moments-- that make you stop in your tracks and re-think things. And yet, when the dust settles (or maybe even before it does) we still keep worrying... about the stuff that in the end won't even matter.
We feel like we need to be "in charge" of life, and yet we continue to feel that we are at its will. We allow life to run us-- in the place of God. We make the decision to give it all back to God and have faith that He will guide us, but in the end, our humanity doesn't allow it. It's a cycle that keeps going... a lesson that for many of us, God continues to work our entire lives long. Will we ever get there?
God promises that prayer does not return void. He indeed knows better what we need that we do ourselves, we know that and yet we remain fearful. If we would silence our thoughts, our fears, our worries for just a few minutes, and wait on the Lord to form our prayers within our hearts, our prayers would be in line with God's perfect plans for us and there would be no room for fear or worrying. God is indeed perfect-- His prayers and His answers are as well... relinquishing our imperfect will to that should not be a scary thing.
We feel like we need to be "in charge" of life, and yet we continue to feel that we are at its will. We allow life to run us-- in the place of God. We make the decision to give it all back to God and have faith that He will guide us, but in the end, our humanity doesn't allow it. It's a cycle that keeps going... a lesson that for many of us, God continues to work our entire lives long. Will we ever get there?
God promises that prayer does not return void. He indeed knows better what we need that we do ourselves, we know that and yet we remain fearful. If we would silence our thoughts, our fears, our worries for just a few minutes, and wait on the Lord to form our prayers within our hearts, our prayers would be in line with God's perfect plans for us and there would be no room for fear or worrying. God is indeed perfect-- His prayers and His answers are as well... relinquishing our imperfect will to that should not be a scary thing.
Monday, April 23, 2007
April 23, 2007
This morning, I visited a devotion site I read from time to time. Feeling frustrated this morning about the difficulties of life, I find myself feeling "beaten". The reading this morning addressed the storms of life and the purpose for them... it totally spoke to my current state of mind, so I thought I would share it here, too. Maybe it will speak to you... Devotion
The other thing it brought to mind was the need to keep going and to keep praying-- whatever the circumstances of life-- good or bad. And, to trust that God will still bless us through the storms, pits and valleys. I posted this song on my personal blog today and it's just such a powerful reminder, I thought it belonged here, too:
And lastly, I've been thinking a lot about the kind of home I would like to have... one that relies on the strength of God, not on my own, or on my trust of others. Sometimes, we all feel alone, let down, like there's no one we can depend on. I am realizing through the struggles, that there is a purpose in that feeling. People will let you down, God never will. Our homes need to be built on that and nothing less.
The other thing it brought to mind was the need to keep going and to keep praying-- whatever the circumstances of life-- good or bad. And, to trust that God will still bless us through the storms, pits and valleys. I posted this song on my personal blog today and it's just such a powerful reminder, I thought it belonged here, too:
And lastly, I've been thinking a lot about the kind of home I would like to have... one that relies on the strength of God, not on my own, or on my trust of others. Sometimes, we all feel alone, let down, like there's no one we can depend on. I am realizing through the struggles, that there is a purpose in that feeling. People will let you down, God never will. Our homes need to be built on that and nothing less.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
April 18, 2007
Hello any and all reading!
I have been away from the blog for a bit-- spring break and such. :)
I've been thinking a lot about the power of prayer. There are so many people who are in need of prayer right now. So much pain, so many lost, so many need God. It is sometimes easier for us to pray non-personal prayers for groups of people than it is for us to pray for individual, personal needs and to keep praying. It's not that God doesn't hear non-specific prayers-- He does-- He knows all our needs, but specific prayers are so powerful, and where two are in agreement, God hears and answers.
If you are in need of prayer or know of someone who is and would like some specific prayers, please post them here-- even anonymous is fine-- I would love to pray for you. I would also very much appreciate your prayers as well-- for my health and healing. Prayer is always heard and God is always good!
I have been away from the blog for a bit-- spring break and such. :)
I've been thinking a lot about the power of prayer. There are so many people who are in need of prayer right now. So much pain, so many lost, so many need God. It is sometimes easier for us to pray non-personal prayers for groups of people than it is for us to pray for individual, personal needs and to keep praying. It's not that God doesn't hear non-specific prayers-- He does-- He knows all our needs, but specific prayers are so powerful, and where two are in agreement, God hears and answers.
If you are in need of prayer or know of someone who is and would like some specific prayers, please post them here-- even anonymous is fine-- I would love to pray for you. I would also very much appreciate your prayers as well-- for my health and healing. Prayer is always heard and God is always good!
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
April 4, 2007
My favorite quote from my reading today, "We must give up hope in ourselves, and have no hope but in God".
Wow!
We have all had the thought at one time or another that we are "alone"-- that no one "gets" us... there are even times that we grow weary of ourselves and frankly do not even "get" ourselves. It is of great comfort to know that there is a purpose in that feeling of being alone... even in feeling hopeless. When we are weak, He is made strong... when we have no earthly hope to cling to, we see that He is all the hope we need.
Wow!
We have all had the thought at one time or another that we are "alone"-- that no one "gets" us... there are even times that we grow weary of ourselves and frankly do not even "get" ourselves. It is of great comfort to know that there is a purpose in that feeling of being alone... even in feeling hopeless. When we are weak, He is made strong... when we have no earthly hope to cling to, we see that He is all the hope we need.
Monday, April 2, 2007
April 2, 2007
Suffering in "quietness" brings about growth-- the subject of my reading in Let Go today. When we go through times of trial-- times of suffering, we grow from the grace that God gives us through life lessons. The real trick is to hang onto these lessons when life returns to the "normal" busy day-to-day routine. The lessons and gifts that we receive through times of suffering are meant to go on with us through life-- in the "good times". Our prayer needs to remain that God imprints the lessons of suffering on our hearts so that we do not forget them in the better times.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
March 28, 2007: 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"Pray continually" 1 Thessalonians 5:17, NIV
Two simple words that are so easy to forget. We should pray in all circumstances-- in both good and bad times, giving God the glory for all things that we are given and in all situations. We receive His grace and His discipline as signs of His love, and yest all to often we pray only when we are in need. We need to remember that God deserves our praise in the blessings, too.
Two simple words that are so easy to forget. We should pray in all circumstances-- in both good and bad times, giving God the glory for all things that we are given and in all situations. We receive His grace and His discipline as signs of His love, and yest all to often we pray only when we are in need. We need to remember that God deserves our praise in the blessings, too.
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