Overwhelmed

The Lord is with us when we feel overwhelmed.  We can rest in Him and His way, even though it doesn't make sense.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. [Psalm 142:3]

Lighting Our Way

Today, I read the familiar Psalm 119:105:  Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.  

I always have related that Scripture to being a guide for the choices that we make, when we aren't sure which path to take in life.  However, the light of God's word also can brighten our inner person when we are in emotional darkness.  The Psalms in particular can bring great comfort.


TV~ (Today's Verse)
This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me. [Psalm 119:50]

Emmanuel - God With Us!

Our Lord and Saviour draweth nigh.  O come, let us adore Him.

O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,

and order all things far and nigh;

to us the path of knowledge show,

and teach us in her ways to go.

 

 

TV~  (Today's Verse)

... Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord
be before you, and keep yourself from evil: ...  [Proverbs 3:7]

The Strength of My Heart

Christmas has a way of marking the years.  We think of the season present, and of past seasons with remembrance.  Some years, our hearts are filled with happiness.  Other years, we are wrought with grief, pain and even strife.

Wherever you find yourself this Christmastide, I pray that your heart will be cloaked with the Love of Christ.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.  My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.…

Cheer Us by Your Drawing Nigh

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Vs. 6 - Encouraging if the holidays seem gloomy....

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Vs. 7 - Encouraging if there is family conflict...

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Whatever prayer or supplication is made by any man or by all Your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own pain, and spreading his hands toward this house, then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and render to each according to all his ways, whose heart You know for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men, that they may fear You, to walk in Your ways as long as they live in the land which You have given to our fathers.… [II Chronicles 6:29-31]

Trusting

Lean not on your own understanding.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Proverbs 3:5b, 5a

Seeing this verse transposed helps me to live it.  Trusting is hard because our own eyes don't see how situations can work out for good.  Trusting God means that we believe that he is BIG and will work everything together for good.

The Power of Love

A friend's Christmas card included this quote by Gandalf, taken from The Hobbit movie:  

"Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love.”

These small deeds demonstrate the power of love within a family.  They are what make the home a safe haven from the world.   

TV~ (Today's Verse)
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. [I Peter 4:8]

Acting Right When Your Spouse is Wrong

She was feeling overwhelmed with all she had to do - work responsibilities, family responsibilites, the constant housework.  She complained to her husband that he didn't help enough.  Instead of being defensive and angry, he said, "Okay, how can I help you?" 

She hesitated a minute and then said, "You can do the grocery shopping, cook dinner and do the dishes for the next week." 

He did it for her.  The menu was hot dogs, frozen chicken nuggets, frozen pizza (twice) and other similar entrees.  But he did it and it was a beautiful act of love.

Her book is entitled,  How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong, by Leslie Vernick.





TV~  (Today's Verse)
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. [Romans 12:21]

Thorns

"The ministry of thorns has often been a greater ministry to man than the ministry of thrones.  -Streams in the Desert, p. 362

Adversity and persecution are effective means of turning us to God.  Prosperity, ease and approval often result in a gradual drifting away from the Lord.

Going through adversity?  Your God is BIG, cling to Him.  Enjoying prosperity?  Ask God to bind you to Him, so you will not wander.  "I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead..."   (http://www.prayerfoundation.org/st_patricks_breastplate_prayer.htm)

TV~  (Today's Verse)

 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice. 
[Ezekiel 34:16]

Confusion

Tonight, I was involved in a lengthy conversation in which confusion seemed to reign.  We were talking in circles with someone who professed to have a relationship with God, yet the conversation was not solid.  I felt that we were more on shifting sand than the rock of Christ.

The scripture that kept coming to mind was from James 3:16: For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

TV~ (Today's Verse)
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock... [Matthew 7:24]

Leaving

There are different ways in which loved ones leave us:

In Body - Their physical presence can be gone either by moving away or ultimately, through death.  Sometimes they initiate this departure, but quite often it is determined by outside forces.

In Spirit - They can go to a far-away-land spiritually, where no longer is there a mutual love and seeking of the Lord together.  Satan is active in this process, as he tries to steal, kill and destroy anything that is beautiful in the Lord.

In Soul/Emotions - They can remove their "emotional capital" from us by disengaging in the relationship and looking elsewhere for emotional fulfillment.

For those of us left behind, let us never despair over the loss.  May we press forward in faith, love and friendship. 

TV~ (Today's Verse)
The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. [Job 1:21]

Advent = Arrival

The word "advent" comes from the Latin word adventus, which means arrival.  The Advent season marks the beginning of the church calendar each year.  It is a four-week period of anticipation and preparation as we reflect upon Christ coming to earth. 

I was with a group of women this week, who were lamenting about the challenges of focusing on Christ's birth during the busy Christmas season.  They do not attend churches that recognize the Advent season.  I encouraged them to look online to get some daily readings during Advent, as it might help them in their desire to focus on the reason for the season.

We currently are in the second week of Advent.  Here is a link to daily Advent readings.  Enjoy.

http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/

TV~  (Today's Verse)
The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. [Matthew 4:16]

Trust in the Lord

This is a favorite song of mine, from a kids' CD - Go to the Ant by Judy Rogers.  If....

"You feel alone and disappointed 'cause your life's not like you wanted...."

then, watch this: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSSW5ef3wNg

TV~ (Today's Verse)
For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. [Isaiah 50:7]

Ten Words to Stay Married

I'm sorry.  Please forgive me.   To be said when there is a conflict.  We can ask God to show us what we are doing wrong in the situation and ask forgivenesss, even if the much greater fault seems to be on the other person's side.

Thank you.  We can recognize the things that our spouse does, not taking anything for granted.  We can say thank you at least once a day.

I love you.  This can't be said too often.  It's possible to say this even without warm feelings.  Love is shown through actions that benefit the other person.

Is God Good?

When difficult situations arise, it is easy to think that God is not good.  However, Jesus encountered difficult situations while on earth.  In His ultimate trial, he willingly submitted to God's will.  He is our example.

Afflictions cannot injure when blended with submission.  God will use the hard times to produce good things.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds... [James 1:2]

Through it All

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair. (2 Corinthians 4:8)


One of our cars was totalled today.  Thankfully, the driver is okay.

TV~
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. [Romans 15:4]

Rising Early

A successful business man that I know says, "Nothing good happens after ten o'clock at night."

In keeping with this is the old adage, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

Getting up early is not possible unless one gets to bed early...


TV~  (Today's Verse)
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. [Mark 1:35]

When You Don't Know What to Do

1. Don't worry.
2. Pray for wisdom.
3. Seek Godly counsel.
4. Pray again for wisdom.
5. Make the best decision you can, in keeping with scriptural principles.
6. Trust God for the future.
7.  Keep praying.

TV~  (Today's Verse)
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. [James 1:5]

A Big Blow-up

She wrote, "There was a big blow-up last night..." 

What to do if there is a big blow-up? 

1.  Step away and find time to pray and wait on the Lord.
2.  Ask Him to give you His heart for your spouse.
3.  Ask Him to show you how you are contributing to the conflict.
4.  If you are fearful, ask Him to show you what is causing the fear and ask for His perfect love to cast out   that fear.
5.  When the time is right, go and ask forgiveness for what you did to contribute to the conflict.

TV~ (Today's Verse)

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. [James 3:17]

Tenderness, Compassion, Sympathy and Tolerance

"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these." 

- George Washington Carver

My experience is that one has to live many years before becoming fully capable of tenderness, compassion, sympathy and tolerance.  Even then, it is only Christ in us that produces these qualities.

TV~ (Today's Verse) 

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  [Luke 10:34]

The Great Litany

Today is the first Sunday of the church year, the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent means "the coming" and is a time of expectant waiting for the entrance of our Savior into the world. 

On this first Sunday of Advent, the Great Litany is recited.  This lengthy responsive prayer was compiled in the 1500s from a combination of litanies by Thomas Cranmer, St. John Crysostom and Martin Luther.

It is worth reading and praying.  When sung responsively in church, it feels holy and powerful.

http://www.bcponline.org/GreatLitany/Litany2.html

TV~  (Today's Verse)
Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer...  [Psalm 17:1]