...where I share different verses from the Psalms! May you find truths about God, yourselves, and living life in the images and word pictures shared here!
Psalms
73:21-28 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,I was senselessand
ignorant; I was a brute beastbefore you.Yet I
am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.You guideme with your counsel,and
afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?And
earth has nothing I desire besides you.My flesh and my heartmay
fail,
but God is the strengthof my heart and my portionforever.
Those who are far from you will perish;you destroy all who are
unfaithfulto you.But as for me, it is
good to be near God.
I have
made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will
tell of all your deeds.
May we remember where we were before coming to the Lord and where we are now! Praise be to God!
Sorry, this week's post is a little late. Guess you could say I have felt challenged lately. (Don't you just love it when that happens? Sometimes, God has to come up with unique ways to get our attention, I think.) It first started with an inner voice (not literally a voice, but the Holy Spirit's prompting), telling me that I've got to make some changes. source Then, the speaker at a Bible Study I attended recently talked about taking a self-evaluation and making changes/getting rid of old habits that are hindering your spiritual life. The verses that the speaker used were... "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
"And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. "
(Do you feel like this turtle sometimes? There are days that I do.)
source "For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."
(I find this to be so true, as well as frustrating!! Don't you?)
"So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"(Rom. 7:14-25)
source "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do:forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
"Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things."
(I love this last part!)
"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory,(Yes!!!) by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself."
(Philippians 3:13-21)
Right after the Bible study, I read a post written by an inspirational blogger that I've been following lately... Audrey (Botti) Roloff's Blog Page, called AujPoj That name might sound familiar to some of you. Audrey recently married one of the twin Roloff brothers. The Roloffs have a reality show on TLC, call "Little People, Big World". Both Audrey and her husband, Jeremy are devoted Christians. Jeremy is a gifted photographer and Audrey is a motivational writer and fiery red-head! She wrote in a recent post about motivation and overcoming old habits and asks and discusses questions, like:
What are some of your goals for 2015? How do you make your goals happen?
It seems like every year at this time of the season (between New Years and Easter), I find myself slacking in many areas of my life. My hubby and I were just talking about how the cold, dreary, winter weather seems to drag on forever. We eat all the wrong things, don't get enough exercise, and even find ourselves pushing and straining to crack open God's Word together. - I truly do think the physical and spiritual go hand in hand, when it comes to motivation. So, here I am, thinking about what I'm going to do about it. I find that I have to reach deep down (or up, as it really is going to come from the Lord) and break those old winter weather habits. They definitely die hard, though. Do you find this to be your struggle...whether it is physical, spiritual, or any kind of lifestyle that is not healthy for us? One thing I do know...they do die, if we give them to God! I'm reminded of the Word given to us...
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.(Phil. 4:13)
God is able to help us overcome and get rid of all this hinders us!
Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us...(Hebrews 12:1)
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. (Eph. 3:20)
I love listening to Joni and Friends on the radio, too! I found an old recording from her show that shared some of her beautiful singing and how we do need to keep striving to cast off those old habits. i plan on doing that as soon as possible. I will keep you all updated on my plan of attack and how I'm doing.. Until then, enjoy her radio segment by clicking on the words below.
Another year has begun and I find myself reading many posts of other bloggers who have chosen different ways to prepare their hearts for the new year. Some used the same old plan..choose a word...set goals...plan to make certain changes. Others have been quite unique and different. I personally have found it a challenge to do any specific planning or goal-setting. I think that may have to do with how things went for me in 2014. Nothing seemed to go as hoped or planned. Even the word I chose for the year, "fervent" seemed to fade from my focus about halfway through the year. If I learned anything last year, it was that God is in control and He will take us where He wants to take us. I learned that prayer is vital, but not to just get what I want or ask for, but more to help me grow in my relationship with Him. I learned that life is really a journey and as long as we let the Lord be our Navigator, we will be o.k., even along the bumpy, curved, chuck-hole paths. I learned that there is joy in the journey, but we have to be aware of and not miss those "joy" moments....being grateful for the small things, instead of just waiting for the big things to happen. Each season of our lives takes us down different roads...some are much more difficult than others, and sometimes we make unwise choices, because of our own selfish desires. But God is faithful and true! We can always trust in His promises to us. This year, I'm not choosing just "one word" for the whole year! I'm choosing many words (and verses) that will help navigate me where I am able to focus during different seasons of my life (not literal seasons of the year.) Winter - A time to rest and wait and listen Contemplate; ponder; treasure up
But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19) Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.(Matt. 11:28)
Spring - A time to start fresh and anew Renewed; in attitude of mind (Eph. 4:23; Ro 12:1-3); as a new creation, in knowledge (Galatians 6:15); renewed like an eagle (Psa. 103:5); in strength (Is. 40:31); day by day...
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.(2 Corinthians 4:16)
Summer - A time of hardship, loss, lonliness, and drought Thirst; In soul/spirit (to thirst after God.)
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness.(Matthew 5:6)
...where I share different verses from the Psalms! May you find truths about God, yourselves, and living life in the images and word pictures shared here!
2014 will soon end.
2015 will then begin.
(Unless the Lord chooses to return for His children before then.)
In spite of many very
difficult circumstances, both physically and emotionally, the Lord truly has
blessed me! As you look back over some of the pictures I shared in my 48
posts throughout the past year in the video below, may you know that I appreciate all the great love and
support I have felt from my friends in bloggerland! You are an exquisite and amazing group of brothers and sisters in Christ! I know God has allowed me
also to bless others through my blog, "Christ in the Clouds". It's only
through His grace and providence that this has been possible.
In these last days of 2014,
may we remember that He will be our Guide, even to the end!
I remember, as a child, waiting with excitement and anticipation for Christmas morning, when we would finally open our presents! The weeks prior to that day were often filled with inquisitive hope. Sometimes my patience would run out and I would shake my wrapped items under the tree or beg my parents to open at least one gift early.
We, as the human race, are not so good at waiting either are we? I doubt waiting has ever been easy, but it seems especially difficult in our world of fast food, wifi internet, instant downloads, and text messages. We are conditioned to want immediate action, responses, and results.
Even David felt the overwhelming difficulty of waiting for the Lord to reply to his prayers...
Psalm 13 - How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes,or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
Psalm 89:47-48 - How long, Lord? Will you hide forever? Must your wrath smolder like fire? Remember how brief life is, how frail the sons of man you have created!” (Psalm 89:47-48). source
But, God never forgets us.God just takes a longer view. I have so much to learn about HIS view, as I tend to ask the very same questions that David asked....But, then David writes...
Psalm 13:5-6 - But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for He has been good to me.
Psalm 27:14 - Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 130:5 - I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.
I came across this song on Youtube and it seems to express these questions (and the answer) so well...
Advent is a time of waiting...The word Advent itself means “arrival,” but it’s not just any arrival — it’s The Arrival. Advent is not only about waiting for a baby to be born or for it to be Christmastime again. It is about waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise. It is the groaning of man in search for our everlasting hope, Emmanuel. Advent is the coming of hope to the hopeless.a season that serves as a reminder both of the original waiting by Israelites for the birth of the Messiah, and the waiting by Christians for the return of Christ. Sometimes we wait with eager anticipation; other times we wait with heavy burdens. Sometimes waiting is painful, or boring, or feels never-ending. But, God calls us to wait with:
Hope - We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises made to us. (Romans 15:12-13)
Anticipation - At Christmas, we anticipate the final moment that we celebrate Christ's birth. For all believers this also means to cultivate an eager expectation of Jesus’ return!
Joy - This often isn't easy to have, when we are waiting for something! We can lose our focus, our patience, and forget His promises to us. But, we are called to be joyful in "all" circumstances.(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Readiness - Whether it is being ready to truly prepare our hearts for the celebration of Advent (Christ's birth) or for His return...as in the parable of the ten virgins(Matthew 25:1-12), may we be be ready.
Longing - We longfor Him who will bring the light of day and shatter the darkness of sin and death, and we lookfor His coming as eagerly as the watchman looks for the first rays of dawn in the eastern skies.
Faith - Advent is also a spiritual journey that Christians take, through the truths of Scripture that point to the birth of the Messiah, to a reaffirmation that He has come, is present in the world today and will come again in glory. It mirrors the journey of faith that Christians make after that moment of realisation and acceptance of who Jesus is.
Waiting isn't easy....as we all know. Often, enduring the pain of waiting is a spiritual discipline that we must cultivate, as we learn to wait on God. This season, may you let yourself fall into the anticipation of Advent, the season that understands the longing and loneliness and long nights of expecting—the season where what was empty is filled, what was broken is repaired, and what was lost is found.
