A Sacrifice

Hi friends...I have some disappointing news.  My son's laptop died and so until we can get it repaired he is taking my computer back to University.  It looks like I won't have access to my blog until at least February 3rd.  I'm extremely disappointed, but have to help out #1 son.

Thanks for understanding and I hope to see you in 3 weeks.
Blessings and prayers,
Joy
PS. If you're looking for today's post, just scroll down below!

A Little Bit Wiser

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."  

James 1:5

Before I began my quiet time this morning, I bowed my head as I always do, asking the Lord to prepare and speak to my heart.  I also very intentionally committed this avenue of sharing to the Lord, and asked Him to open up His Word to me and give me understanding so that I would be His channel, for the purpose and encouragement of anyone who's eyes read these ponderings.  I specifically asked Him for wisdom.  I long to see hidden truths. I want to grasp not just the literal meaning, but God's heart that inspired each word.

Very quickly goosebumps were rising.  I opened my devotional book and almost immediately read, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him."

WOW LORD!  How quickly You responded.  The answer comes in my asking.  The desire for wisdom was planted, I recognized my need, and I asked.  Is it really that simple?  But there it is: if I lack, then I ask, and God gives. And how does He give?  Liberally and without reproach.  

God longs to open up His teaching freely, lavishly, abundantly and without reproach.  Do you know the tenderness in that last phrase?  His Spirit explains things to us "without reproach".  He doesn't shame us for our lack of intelligence.  He won't call us dumb for asking.  He will never laugh at us or express disapproval with our inquiries.  No ridicule.  No making us feel inadequate.  No disgrace.  

As we sit in His classroom, He gently puts His arm around us and says, "It's OK that you don't understand right now.  No worries.  I will help you.  I will interpret My Word to you in ways that you will grasp it's meaning.  Then, once you understand, you have a responsibility.  The accumulation of knowledge alone can result in selfishness and pride. I am opening my Word to you to change Your heart."

How do we know if our interpretation of God's Word is from Him?  James goes on to tell us that the "wisdom that is from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."  (James 3:17)  Each one of those descriptions causes my thoughts to pause as God searches my motives and intent.

If any area of our decision making, actions, advice or comprehension lacks the above characteristics; 

       if our response isn't virtuous or if it has hidden agendas; 

       if it isn't kind, considerate or courteous; 

       if it isn't willing to yield to reason;

       if it's all about me and my way;

       if it isn't gracious and producing prosperous results; 

       if it's showing favouritism or is pretentious, insincere or false, 

that wisdom is not from God and should never be credited to Him.

Father, today I confess to You my lack of understanding.  Lord, there are areas even now that You are revealing to me where I have sought my own wisdom without being "easy to be intreated".  I have stubbornly held to my opinion to protect and promote self.  Through Your Holy Spirit, continue to open up Your Word to me.  May my understanding be divinely informed.  Thank You that You promise to give to those who ask.  May even my asking come from a pure heart.  Lord, I just want to know You.  Rise up within me a deeper desire for Your Word and then when I open it, feed me my portion for that day and let me grasp it's truth, giving me the ability to share it here and double the blessing.

Giggling

"I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify Him with thanksgiving."  "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me..."  Psalm 69:30,Psalm 50:23

Oh Lord, I come to You this morning with much praise on my lips and thankfulness in my heart. Last night a friend called and shared with me the miraculous way You had just worked in her life.  My response to her initially was giggles of delight.  The joy inside came bubbling over in the form of laughter.  No words could adequately express my response.  Oh Father, such happiness in Who You are and what You alone have done.  In fact, I just realized, even as I type this now I have the biggest smile on my face, a natural, unrestrained response to Your goodness.

Lord Your generosity to Your children overwhelms me at times.  This situation had been big...I mean, we're talking HUGE, and You have done exceedingly, abundantly more than we could hope or imagine...and quite honestly, I don't believe You're finished yet.  *smile*   Your Word says that You inhabit the praise of Your people, and as we lift up Your Name even now You continue to plan ways to restore the years the locust have eaten.  I think of how You returned to Job twice as much as what he had lost.  You are a God of completion.  When You start a good work, You carry it out.  As unworthy as we are, You give us unrestrained access to unlimited promises.  May we walk in obedience that You may fulfill them all in and through us.

Father, may our continued praise usher in an encore.  It's not that I'm not ecstatic at what You have done.  The performance You have given demands continuous applause.  A standing ovation!  You have graciously, favorably answered countless hours of travailing prayer, but I believe You are bigger still. I don't believe it's time for the curtain to close on this story yet.  I'm going to ask for restitution, not just of tangible loss, but restoration from pain, hurt, unfounded accusations, deformation of character, and false judgement. Attacks have left this dear one with a timid sense of self-worth.  A child of Your's has been very deeply wounded.  Father, show her how much You value her.  Enable her to breathe fresh hope.  Bring complete healing to body, soul and mind.  Plant dream seeds and give her a vision for her tomorrows.  Don't allow the enemy to steal her present opportunity to rejoice in You.  May she not entertain doubt or second-guess the validity of what has been spoken.

Lord thank You for the gladness that accompanies praise.  I thank You for this joyful feeling that companions Your presence.  Even at this moment I pause and breathe in deeply.  Yes, You are here.  Your nearness overwhelms me.  Thank You Lord for demonstrating Your power once again.  Remind me often of this moment, and when You do, return with the memory the enchantment of amazement that can only be described as You.

Giggle 

Captivity or Captivated

"Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive;..." Psalm 68:18

Whenever God repeats a verse to me in my quiet time, He has my attention.  Sometimes I don't always recognize it's significance immediately.  I suppose that's why He has to speak it again to my heart. *smile*

Christ has led captivity captive.  The state, place or period of being imprisoned is being held restrained through Jesus.  Confinement by sin becomes impossible as He declares forever our liberty.  

Think of it...captivity is captive. If something is held or contained, bound or behind bars, it has no access.  Through His Son, the Lord has made freedom possible to us all.  Any opportunity for imprisonment, whether in body, soul or mind, is being held by nail-scarred hands declaring that we can live without sin's control.  We are not bound by evil, nor can it impose boundaries of fear, insecurity, worry, anger, etc...  We are no longer servants to sin.

So, if we are no longer servants to sin, why is it still such a struggle?  If Christ has declared captivity captive, why are we not walking in liberty?  Why are days spent in despair?  Why is sin rampant?  Satan is the captor, and he is unwilling to see anyone free from sin. Christ destroyed sin's power over us at the cross, as well as the effects of sin, death and hell, but it's presence is still palpable.  As a believer, sin cannot bind us for eternity, but as it rattles the prison doors and shakes it's chains it sure can distract us. 

What has tied a rope around you?  What is holding you prisoner?  Is it a feeling...a circumstance...a habit..what is making you feel captive?

There are choices we need to make daily.  We can be lured by evil's enticement or we can be held by the One who holds captivity and be captivated by Him.  May He alone capture my heart today.

Lord, forgive me...

"For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.  You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.  You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich fulfillment."  Psalm 66:10-12

Reading these verses this morning, my heart could relate.  The truth of God's Word resonated inside me.  Over the past month my world was rocked.  My faith was refined.  Today I saw God bringing us to the richness of fulfillment.

What characterized my faith over these last 5 weeks?  Did I live believing that God knew my family situation and was taking care of us, even when moments of despair threatened?  I don't know that I walked through the "fire and water" well at all times.  There was discouragement.  There was resentment.  There was disappointment.  There was fear.  I don't know that trust was always evident in my actions or my words.  It's easy to claim faith when my feet are no longer burning from the intensity of the fire's flame.  It isn't difficult to hang on to hope when the flood water's aren't threatening to suffocate.  In my 'now', standing on this side, with many prayers already answered, the praise and thanks flow ceaselessly, but what about in my 'then'?

Lord, what about in the heat of the blaze...
                when I was waiting to see You move...
                when the coals were so hot that my thoughts were singed with panic...
                when the net of despair entangled me and I got caught in knots of  fear...
                when the options seemed few and the doors locked?
Lord, would others have seen my faith when the battle was fiercest?  Did they look at me and wonder the source of my strength?  I know there were moments of confusion and heartache, but Lord...was there doubt?  Did I let myself succumb to disbelief?  Did I hold tight to Your promises?  Did I live as one completely trusting in the One who quenches any fire and gains victory over any storm by walking on the water?

Lord, please forgive the times I feel like I'm carrying the weight of my circumstances alone.  It's so needless.  You offer to bear my burdens.  Why do I so often hold on to them?  Lord, forgive me for sleepless nights, for trying to take control, for second-guessing Your promises and for allowing anxiety, worry and despair.  Father, I pray that You will continue to help me through these trials of refinement.  Allow me to see You in my difficulties and distresses.  Allow others to see You in me.  Possess me with Yourself.   Thank You for bringing me out to a place of "rich fulfillment". Father, that is Your promise.  Deliverance.  Not just survival, but finishing well, beyond what I could ask or imagine.  Continue Your perfecting work in me.

Without Words

This morning Lord, I came to Your Word with expectation.  I quietly and eagerly prepared my heart to hear what You were waiting to speak to me, but nothing jumped off the page.  I read the verses again wondering what I had missed.  Was my mind distracted?  Was I not focusing on Your truth?  Was there any unconfessed sin standing in the way?  Where was the verse that was going to carry me through the day?  Your Word is always alive and active, where was it breathing fresh life to my soul today?

I read once that God is sometimes silent with those whom He knows will continue to wait on Him.

Father, let me be one You can trust with Your silence.  Yes Lord, I will wait.  Maybe it's good to learn early in the year that there are silent days.  There are days when my coming and kneeling will be met with heaven's solitude.  But, in the quietness, You are there.  You were there.  Like best friends who can sit together without saying a word, understanding the special wordless exchange, You came and sat with me.  In the speechless encounter other senses were awakened.  I could taste that Your Word was still good.  I could see Your love, grace and mercy.  I felt Your nearness.  The fragrance of Your presence permeated this place of sanctuary.  I was held in a moment of holiness.  I closed my eyes and saw You.  I reached out my hand and I knew Your righteous right hand was holding me.

Father, may these quiet times each morning not always be about me.  Help me not to be annoyed and aggravated when nothing specific is spoken.  May it not always be the Word that You give me that is of most value, but may it be my longing just to be with You.  Teach me to sit fully satisfied in the silence.

Lord, I realize You don't need me, but You long for my companionship.  May I, Your child, be a cup of cold water in Your Hand, willingly ministering to Your Kingly thirst of relationship.  Let me embrace and welcome silence as a gift; the gift of knowing that words are not always necessary because our friendship is deeper and Your love unfailing.  You speak without Words.  You articulate Yourself to me even through speechless wonder.

Without uttering a sound, You have filled my heart today with our wordless conversation.

Our Mover

"Truly my soul silently waits for God...I shall not be greatly moved."  

"My soul, wait silently for God alone...I shall not be moved."  

Psalm 62:1a,2b, 5a, 6b

I sure can relate to the transition in wait from David's Psalm above.  Do you see it? The Psalm begins with confidence and assurance declaring a soul's waiting.  Very quickly the Psalmist's resolve shifts from content to command.  "Truly my soul silently waits" becomes the imperative, "My soul, wait silently."  The initial serene and satisfied soul needs to be summoned to silence and waiting.

I have often seen this similar pattern copied in my life.  When a new challenge is placed before me, I resolutely affirm my belief in God as my rock, salvation and defense (see the first part of verses 2 and 6).  Without question I declare that my soul is silently waiting for God to act and will for His good pleasure.  However, like David, not much time elapses before I need to change my tone and intentionally begin to enforce the wait.  Soul silently waiting becomes soul, wait silently!

Just because we know the "what" to do, doesn't always make the doing easy.

In both verses David states that he shall not be moved.  Why is that?  Because he knows that Someone is moving on his behalf and that is the reason for the wait.  The Lord is moving and setting in place all that needs to be prepared so that when He finally invites us to come, the path has been readied and we will walk forward holding His Hand.

Today realize that we have a Mover who is taking action in our waiting.  He most definitely is not silent.  He is tending to all the details of everything that concerns us, and that is why our soul can rest.  God is in control.

Let's boldly instruct our souls today to wait silently; God is moving on our behalf.