Woe is ME!

     This morning for devotions, I Ps. 37:1-8. During our Christian walk, we all go through times when we think that God has forgotten us. However, if we read the words of David, we are reminded of how ever present our loving Savior truly is.

     The first couple of verses serve to break down our insecurities. Then the chapter transitions to words of encouragement and then a call to action.

     When times are rough, do not fall in the trap of "woe is me!" Many find themselves trapped in that ever deepening pit for years. There is nothing good that comes from spending so much time thinking about yourself let alone your "problems." A particular student of mine comes to mind because he has a way of painting a picture in his mind that he is being held back by life and everyone around him is moving on. The peers who are doing what they need to do or even the ones who could care less about giving life a try. No matter what you say, the clouds in the sky are bleak and the storm is morphing into a hurricane. Is it interesting to notice that the "clouds" only loom over him?

     Do not create this doomed world that is not the reality God intended for you. Eventually you will become so comfortable in that reality that you make it your residence. How do you break free?

"Trust in the Lord and do good. Live in the land and feed on truth. Enjoy serving the Lord, and he will give you what you want." Ps. 37:3,4

     There is little else I can say that the Word is not saying. Simmer on these verses because they need to become your anthem. Serving and praising God needs to flow through your veins along side your blood cells.

     If you are going through hard times right now, then PRAISE the LORD!

"But you suffer because you are a Christian, do not be ashamed. Praise God because you wear that name." 1 Peter 4:16

     The trial you are enduring is not worth severing your relationship with God. It will end just as dawn comes each morning. Jehovah is right here, so "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." Look up towards the sky instead of staring at the ground for inspiration. Let the vast endless sky remind you of the vast greatness of God which is without limit. Limit how many times you ask Why? and never cease to inquire into the Character of Him.

"Shout to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with joy; come before him with singing." 

In your life, can you see how God makes you stronger through tribulation instead of weakens you?


photo credit: ROSS HONG KONG via photopin cc

More than a Phrase

I know that Happy New Year is a phrase that is easy to roll off the tongue. However, I actually want this year to be a happy one. I don't want mediocrity. I do not desire to barely make it through. This new year will be more than I could ever imagine, but I have to do it God's way. I have expectations and desires. I can envision a future that makes me smile:

My Happy New Year:

Increase of patience

Writing more

More dates with God

A successful semester

My students drawing closer to God

Visiting friends in different parts of the country

Traveling more than in 2013

Becoming more financially sound

My heart opening up more to God's will

This is not the end of the list, I see a future of adjusting more to living a balanced lifestyle. Exercising more and drinking 3 liters of water everyday. 

So Lord, I want to give you the desires of my heart that would make me happy. I also open the door for you to give me desires that I do not know I have....

My Happy New Year Part 2:

Trials that increase my love of others

More challenges from my students

Hard weeks to remind me that I need you

... As many challenges that come my way, I renew my commitment to you. 

It will not be easy to achieve a happy year. I must always lean on Christ. I must be content with the life that God has given me instead of dreaming of a different one. I must have God's Word live in me and ignite me. I must choose to be happy. Not an impossible task because I have experienced happiness in the Lord before, so let's do this thang!

~Shana

King Jehu

     I just finished reading a few chapters in 2 Kings- 8,9, and10. Usually I will only read just a chapter or a portion of a chapter so that I can really dig into that chapter. But this morning, I read more. I went from story to story, learning a lot, but also gaining a nice sized picture of the events of that time. Then arrived at the story of Jeru. Very interesting story.
     Jeru was a commander of Jerhoram, King of Judah. One day a young prophet comes to him to anoint him and let him know that he would be the new king of Judah. The prophet also gave specific instructions for Jeru that entailed eradicating the entire family of Ahab- just as Elijah had prophesied. If you read the story, you see that Jeru did a mighty fine job. But, what gets me is how his story ends. He was clearly skills at what he did. Wise and also influential. He rid of any trace of Baal worship from the land.Woot!! Right? Yea, that's some good stuff, but then he remained a worshiper of golden calves. What?!
     God does this thing in Exodus where He took His finger and wrote ten wonderful commands onto stone tablets. The first two say that we should not have any gods other than God and that we should not make any idols to worship. Jeru was on fire for the Lord, mostly. But does mostly even count?

Can we be mostly Christian? Can we be mostly driving in one lane? Can we mostly clean a dirty dish and it be considered clean?  

Joshua 24:15 challenges us to choose who we are going to serve. In Matthew 6:24, Jesus counsels that no man can serve both God and Satan, he will always pick a side.
     It's a sad ending to such a great beginning. Reminds me of the story of Judas, such a sad ending to such a great beginning. Morale of the story? We have to go all the way, man! We can't only give a portion of our life to God and think that that is good enough. We all know the verse,

"For what shall it profit a man, if should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" ~Mark 8:36. 

So, what shall it profit a man if he thinks that giving most to God is good enough, and is used by the Lord, but looses his soul in the end?
     "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive our demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly,'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'"