Friday, March 16, 2007
March 16, 2007: Held
Held
Natalie Grant
Two months is too little.
They let him go.
They had no sudden healing.
To think that providence would
Take a child from his mother while she prays
Is appalling.
Who told us we'd be rescued?
What has changed and why should we be saved from nightmares?
We're asking why this happens
To us who have died to live?
It's unfair.
Chorus:
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved,
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
This hand is bitterness.
We want to taste it, let the hatred numb our sorrow.
The wise hands opens slowly to lilies of the valley and tomorrow.
(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
Bridge:
If hope is born of suffering.
If this is only the beginning.
Can we not wait for one hour watching for our Savior?
(Chorus)
This is what it means to be held.
How it feels when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive.
This is what it is to be loved.
And to know that the promise was
When everything fell we'd be held.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
March 15: Mark 5:34
"He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.", Mark 5:34, NIV
Oh, us of little faith... it is true. We get so caught up in what we think is essential-- what we see as important and we base our prayers around that. Typically, our prayers contain more requests for help-- it's often about our own suffering and less about our faith and thankfulness that God is in control. We forget to praise God in times of suffering because it's all about us... and that is human-- I believe He expects that of us. But, if we could see past that humanity for a moment and see the bigger picture, we would know that our suffering will not last forever. That is so hard for these human eyes to see. Our faith in His power and control over our lives is truly all we need. We can be free from suffering when we give it over to Him in full belief that He will release us from it.
Oh, us of little faith... it is true. We get so caught up in what we think is essential-- what we see as important and we base our prayers around that. Typically, our prayers contain more requests for help-- it's often about our own suffering and less about our faith and thankfulness that God is in control. We forget to praise God in times of suffering because it's all about us... and that is human-- I believe He expects that of us. But, if we could see past that humanity for a moment and see the bigger picture, we would know that our suffering will not last forever. That is so hard for these human eyes to see. Our faith in His power and control over our lives is truly all we need. We can be free from suffering when we give it over to Him in full belief that He will release us from it.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
March 13, 2007 Friends
Today's reading in the "Let Go" book was about letting go of seeking friends who fit this need or that need, but seeking the friendship of God first... all other friendships will fall into place when we seek the friendship and comfort of our heavenly Father first.
The friends that God plants in our lives are also often not the friends we might have picked for ourselves-- but there is a purpose in that. The friendships I have grown most from myself were ones that were with unlikely people. God knows us and our needs better than we know ourselves-- oh, to trust Him with the choosing-- just as He does with our family members. Imagine the powerful relationships we could build!
The friends that God plants in our lives are also often not the friends we might have picked for ourselves-- but there is a purpose in that. The friendships I have grown most from myself were ones that were with unlikely people. God knows us and our needs better than we know ourselves-- oh, to trust Him with the choosing-- just as He does with our family members. Imagine the powerful relationships we could build!
Monday, March 12, 2007
March 12 2007: Quiet
I don't know if anyone has been reading this blog-- but if you have, I want to apologize for not being here. While I have been quiet here, my spirit has not been quiet and that has kept me from writing my devotional. More importantly, I have allowed it to keep me from doing my devotionals at all and from spending time with God. I've allowed myself to lose my focus and to focus on things that are worrisome instead of giving all of it over to God. It was not intentional, but I have turned my attentions inward in my worry, and I am still struggling with that now. I am sorry to have allowed it to keep me from the thing that would have helped me the most. And if you have been reading this, I am sorry to have not been here.
Today, I finally allowed myself to pick up the "Let Go" book I have been reading for my devotional and I wanted to share some of what it said.
This reading was from letter 17-- the header, "Quietness in God is our True Resource".
According to this letter, if we allow "self" to get in the way, "We are constantly afraid of not saying or doing enough. We get angry, excited, exhausted, distracted..." and, it goes on to say, "And you will be better off both physically and spiritually when you quietly place everything in God's hands." The text also goes on to explain that humans are humans-- "People will always be weak, vain, unreliable, unfair, hypocritical and arrogant."
I know that I have placed too much trust into human hands, while also allowing that to contribute to my own worries-- humans cannot fix everything-- we are all imperfect. I know that I need to heed these words from this letter, "Rest in peace in the bosom of God"-- he does know it's purpose and has allowed it-- there is a purpose in it all and He wants to take my burden.
Rather than keep quiet in my worry, and rather than allow myself to put all my needs on humans, I just need to quietly give it all to Him. Easier said than done, I know... but I am trying. If you're struggling with giving control to Him, let go and give it a try with me.
Today, I finally allowed myself to pick up the "Let Go" book I have been reading for my devotional and I wanted to share some of what it said.
This reading was from letter 17-- the header, "Quietness in God is our True Resource".
According to this letter, if we allow "self" to get in the way, "We are constantly afraid of not saying or doing enough. We get angry, excited, exhausted, distracted..." and, it goes on to say, "And you will be better off both physically and spiritually when you quietly place everything in God's hands." The text also goes on to explain that humans are humans-- "People will always be weak, vain, unreliable, unfair, hypocritical and arrogant."
I know that I have placed too much trust into human hands, while also allowing that to contribute to my own worries-- humans cannot fix everything-- we are all imperfect. I know that I need to heed these words from this letter, "Rest in peace in the bosom of God"-- he does know it's purpose and has allowed it-- there is a purpose in it all and He wants to take my burden.
Rather than keep quiet in my worry, and rather than allow myself to put all my needs on humans, I just need to quietly give it all to Him. Easier said than done, I know... but I am trying. If you're struggling with giving control to Him, let go and give it a try with me.
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Today's devotion (3/6/07) Matthew 6:25
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6:25, NIV
This scripture is part of my favorite passage of scripture. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that it applies directly to my faults. I struggle with not worrying-- especially in the midst of things that are "worrisome", and for me, I know that is something that God continues to work on in me. As Christians, we know that God is in control, but as humans, our actions do not always match what we know to be true. What a grace-giving God we have that He would wait so patiently for us to get it.
This scripture is part of my favorite passage of scripture. That probably has a lot to do with the fact that it applies directly to my faults. I struggle with not worrying-- especially in the midst of things that are "worrisome", and for me, I know that is something that God continues to work on in me. As Christians, we know that God is in control, but as humans, our actions do not always match what we know to be true. What a grace-giving God we have that He would wait so patiently for us to get it.
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Weekend thought (3/3-3/4/07)
"If we can reach
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe"
Let Mercy Lead, Rich Mullins
It is so easy to fall into the lie that worldly knowledge makes us better people. We strive for more-- for better-- accomplishments, knowledge, awards, possessions... While it isn't wrong to "accomplish"or "have", it is wrong when it becomes our only goal. When we are weak, He is strong-- when we reach into God's "foolishness" and put away our earthly desires for worldly knowledge, perfection and pursuit of things-- we become brilliant... not by mere earthly standards, but by the standards of our Creator.
Beyond the wisdom of this age
Into the foolishness of God
That foolishness will save
Those who believe"
Let Mercy Lead, Rich Mullins
It is so easy to fall into the lie that worldly knowledge makes us better people. We strive for more-- for better-- accomplishments, knowledge, awards, possessions... While it isn't wrong to "accomplish"or "have", it is wrong when it becomes our only goal. When we are weak, He is strong-- when we reach into God's "foolishness" and put away our earthly desires for worldly knowledge, perfection and pursuit of things-- we become brilliant... not by mere earthly standards, but by the standards of our Creator.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Today's devotion (3/1/07) Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men" Colossians 3:23, NIV
How hard is it for us to remember to do everything as if for God when we are forced into doing things we do not like? Especially for those of us who like to be in control. The simplest task can become enormous when we dislike it. But, when we approach the task from a different place-- when we do it out of love for the Lord, we often find that the task is not as bad as we thought.
Even in the midst of suffering, if we approach it from the standpoint that there is a purpose in it from and for God, we can endure anything.
How hard is it for us to remember to do everything as if for God when we are forced into doing things we do not like? Especially for those of us who like to be in control. The simplest task can become enormous when we dislike it. But, when we approach the task from a different place-- when we do it out of love for the Lord, we often find that the task is not as bad as we thought.
Even in the midst of suffering, if we approach it from the standpoint that there is a purpose in it from and for God, we can endure anything.
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