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Monday, October 8, 2012
Friday, October 5, 2012
God works for our good
"And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
This was the first Scripture I ever memorized.
It is such a comforting Scripture.
In conversation today with a friend who has every right to be asking God, why us? why me? what is your plan? this verse came up. Our friend said that as he tells his kids every evening that God has a plan for them, God loves them, God is watching out for them, he is reminding himself of the same thing.
And as this verse came up, I was reminded too.
As we head into a short sale on our house, I was reminded that God does "work for the good of those who love Him." I was reminded that "in ALL things" God works for my good. Even when I can't see the good. Even when I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
God is good!
In His Grace...
This was the first Scripture I ever memorized.
It is such a comforting Scripture.
In conversation today with a friend who has every right to be asking God, why us? why me? what is your plan? this verse came up. Our friend said that as he tells his kids every evening that God has a plan for them, God loves them, God is watching out for them, he is reminding himself of the same thing.
And as this verse came up, I was reminded too.
As we head into a short sale on our house, I was reminded that God does "work for the good of those who love Him." I was reminded that "in ALL things" God works for my good. Even when I can't see the good. Even when I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.
God is good!
In His Grace...
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Perfectionism and Pride
As I was working on yesterday's post about pride, God nudged me about something else. Something else with which I struggle.
Perfectionism: "a personal standard, attitude, or philosophy that demands perfection and rejects anything less." Dictionary.com
This is something that I have lived with my entire life. My parents tell me that I wouldn't try to do anything new unless I knew I could do it well. I am still working on this issue.
But as I read the verses about pride in Scripture, it became apparent to me that perfectionism is led by pride.
Pride: "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct..." Dictionary.com
Scripture tells me that only one person has ever been or will ever be perfect -
God/Jesus
"As for God, his way is perfect..." 2 Samuel 22:31
"Every good and perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17
No matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, I will never be perfect. I am a human being, I am flawed and I live in a sinful world. By trying to be perfect, I set myself up for disappointment because I am trying to prove myself and please those around me.
There is only one I need to please and that is God.
I pray that I will keep my focus on Him and work toward pleasing Him based on what He has written in Scripture.
In His Grace...
Perfectionism: "a personal standard, attitude, or philosophy that demands perfection and rejects anything less." Dictionary.com
This is something that I have lived with my entire life. My parents tell me that I wouldn't try to do anything new unless I knew I could do it well. I am still working on this issue.
But as I read the verses about pride in Scripture, it became apparent to me that perfectionism is led by pride.
Pride: "a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct..." Dictionary.com
Scripture tells me that only one person has ever been or will ever be perfect -
God/Jesus
"As for God, his way is perfect..." 2 Samuel 22:31
"Every good and perfect gift is from above..." James 1:17
No matter how hard I try, no matter what I do, I will never be perfect. I am a human being, I am flawed and I live in a sinful world. By trying to be perfect, I set myself up for disappointment because I am trying to prove myself and please those around me.
There is only one I need to please and that is God.
I pray that I will keep my focus on Him and work toward pleasing Him based on what He has written in Scripture.
In His Grace...
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Pride
I wrote of the struggle I am having as we realized that it is not in our best interest financially to keep our house. As I prayed about this, I heard a still, small voice whisper to me - pride.
I am struggling with pride. I feel ashamed that we made such a big mistake. I am embarrassed that we might end up having to do a short sale.
But what does God say about pride? Plenty.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
"A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." Proverbs 29:23
"God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands." Isaiah 25:11
God says he "hates" pride. It brings destruction, it causes us to fall, it brings us low.
I have been allowing pride to guide my actions, to keep me from admitting our mistake and, in the end, to prevent us from doing what is best for our family.
In His Grace...
I am struggling with pride. I feel ashamed that we made such a big mistake. I am embarrassed that we might end up having to do a short sale.
But what does God say about pride? Plenty.
"To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech." Proverbs 8:13
"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18
"A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." Proverbs 29:23
"God will bring down their pride despite the cleverness of their hands." Isaiah 25:11
God says he "hates" pride. It brings destruction, it causes us to fall, it brings us low.
I have been allowing pride to guide my actions, to keep me from admitting our mistake and, in the end, to prevent us from doing what is best for our family.
Forgive me Lord, for my prideful spirit. I place it at the foot of your cross and thank you for the opportunity to have chance after chance to get it right.
In His Grace...
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
God's Grace
I close every blog post with "In His Grace" because I live every day in his grace.
Grace is a subject that is not very familiar in today's society. The idea that someone will give you something, whether or not they receive something in return is fairly foreign.
"God loves perfectly and completely. And his love is a love of action - giving, guiding, and guarding. He is altogether faithful, true to his promises to his chosen people. But consistently they spurn their loving God, breaking the covenant, following other gods, and living for themselves. So the relationship is shattered.
But the breach is not irreparable; all hope is not lost. God can heal and mend and reweave the fabric. Forgiveness is available. And that is grace." Intro to Malachi, NIV Life Application Study Bible
God's gift to me - to us - is His Grace. That while we live for ourselves, worship other gods (money, possessions, etc) and reject His love, he still offers us forgiveness. He still offers us his never ending, never giving up, all encompassing love. When we turn to him, when we open our hearts to him and receive his love - no matter what we have done, the kind of person we have been - he offers us his forgiveness.
He paid the ultimate price for us.
I am so grateful.
In His Grace...
Grace is a subject that is not very familiar in today's society. The idea that someone will give you something, whether or not they receive something in return is fairly foreign.
"God loves perfectly and completely. And his love is a love of action - giving, guiding, and guarding. He is altogether faithful, true to his promises to his chosen people. But consistently they spurn their loving God, breaking the covenant, following other gods, and living for themselves. So the relationship is shattered.
But the breach is not irreparable; all hope is not lost. God can heal and mend and reweave the fabric. Forgiveness is available. And that is grace." Intro to Malachi, NIV Life Application Study Bible
God's gift to me - to us - is His Grace. That while we live for ourselves, worship other gods (money, possessions, etc) and reject His love, he still offers us forgiveness. He still offers us his never ending, never giving up, all encompassing love. When we turn to him, when we open our hearts to him and receive his love - no matter what we have done, the kind of person we have been - he offers us his forgiveness.
He paid the ultimate price for us.
I am so grateful.
In His Grace...
Monday, October 1, 2012
Lean on Him
I was having a discussion with my sister-in-law recently. She is not yet a believer but I think she is seeking the Lord. She had heard someone state that God won't give you more than you can handle. This may be true, but there should be something added to it.
God won't give you more than you can handle, with His help. If you are trying to handle everything in your own strength, then it may in fact be more than you can handle.
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
The key to this verse is through him. We can try with all our might, all our strength, to handle everything that life throws our way. But if we are not funneling it all through Christ, we sometimes do not have the ability to overcome.
Christ has overcome, through Him we can overcome as well.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all life is throwing at you? Run to Him, cry out to Him. Pour your heart out to Him - He will listen, He will respond.
He loves you.
In His Grace...
God won't give you more than you can handle, with His help. If you are trying to handle everything in your own strength, then it may in fact be more than you can handle.
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
The key to this verse is through him. We can try with all our might, all our strength, to handle everything that life throws our way. But if we are not funneling it all through Christ, we sometimes do not have the ability to overcome.
Christ has overcome, through Him we can overcome as well.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by all life is throwing at you? Run to Him, cry out to Him. Pour your heart out to Him - He will listen, He will respond.
He loves you.
In His Grace...
Friday, September 28, 2012
Declaration
God is Good!
Our pastor spoke on this after the passing of one of our church members on Wednesday. He put aside the scheduled sermon and addressed the confusion, the struggle of having someone so young, so loving and in so many ways, a picture of Christ, taken from her family and friends so soon.
The first thing he stated was "In spite of the fact that I really don't know what to say, I want to declare that God is Good."
And He is.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2
"He rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19
When tragic things happen, we often hear it said, how could a loving God let something like this happen? We don't have all the details. We don't know everything He knows.
In times like these we can trust Scripture, that God has a purpose and a plan for all of us. God is with us when we are brokenhearted, that he will save us when we are crushed. That he is our helper even while he is our creator. That he rescues us because he loves us, he delights in us.
He delights in you and me.
He is my Lord and Savior, my deliverer, my rescuer.
God is Good!
In His Grace...
Our pastor spoke on this after the passing of one of our church members on Wednesday. He put aside the scheduled sermon and addressed the confusion, the struggle of having someone so young, so loving and in so many ways, a picture of Christ, taken from her family and friends so soon.
The first thing he stated was "In spite of the fact that I really don't know what to say, I want to declare that God is Good."
And He is.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18
"I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." Psalm 121:2
"He rescued me because he delighted in me." Psalm 18:19
When tragic things happen, we often hear it said, how could a loving God let something like this happen? We don't have all the details. We don't know everything He knows.
In times like these we can trust Scripture, that God has a purpose and a plan for all of us. God is with us when we are brokenhearted, that he will save us when we are crushed. That he is our helper even while he is our creator. That he rescues us because he loves us, he delights in us.
He delights in you and me.
He is my Lord and Savior, my deliverer, my rescuer.
God is Good!
In His Grace...
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