His Word Sunday

Remember

Many times in scripture - actually throughout the entire Word of God - we are reminded to "REMEMBER".

As I get older, remembering things that happened in the past gets harder and harder.  Like, where did I leave my keys, did I sign Jordan's homework, what did I do with (fill in the blank)?

But often times we also forget the good that the Lord has done for us - especially in those dark days He allows us to walk.

This morning in my One Year Bible the Psalmist said over and over to "remember".  I haven't provided the entire Psalm 42 - but just a portion that calls us all to remember the Lord in our hard days.

Psalm 42:5-6 (ESV)

Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,

 my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan 

and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

When you are feeling low... remember the Lord.  Recall all the places He has delivered you, met with you, and taught you.

He will bring you hope - and you will again praise Him.

His Word Sunday

Remember

Many times in scripture - actually throughout the entire Word of God - we are reminded to "REMEMBER".

As I get older, remembering things that happened in the past gets harder and harder.  Like, where did I leave my keys, did I sign Jordan's homework, what did I do with (fill in the blank)?

But often times we also forget the good that the Lord has done for us - especially in those dark days He allows us to walk.

This morning in my One Year Bible the Psalmist said over and over to "remember".  I haven't provided the entire Psalm 42 - but just a portion that calls us all to remember the Lord in our hard days.

Psalm 42:5-6 (ESV)

Why are you cast down, O my soul, 

and why are you in turmoil within me?

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him,

 my salvation and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember You from the land of Jordan 

and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

When you are feeling low... remember the Lord.  Recall all the places He has delivered you, met with you, and taught you.

He will bring you hope - and you will again praise Him.

Long Way Home

Earlier in the week I posted on Facebook my Certification status.  Just in case you missed it... I have 1 more trip to Kilgore, 3 online classes, an ESL class, an ESL exam and I'll be done!!!

What a long trip this has been!!!  This part of the journey began in February 2011.  And now, a year later, I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.  I've learned things that I never thought I would, I've encountered challenges that have indeed surprised me, and I've definitely grown as a person, and as a servant of the Lord.

One of the things that has definitely stood out in such a big way since this all started is just how much "this place" is not my home.  No, I'm not talking about Lufkin, Texas.... I'm talking about planet Earth.  As a believer, we're all heading to a REAL place, our REAL HOME!

Some of us however, get to take a shortcut - and some of us God has allowed us to take the long way.  Sometimes short cuts are AWESOME!  And some times, it's nice to take the long way.  Apparently God thinks the longer path is what's best for me.  So I'm going to do my best to find joy in the long way home!

Enjoy today's song about the long way home.

So here's the thing...

I often encourage my students, as well as my own children, to use proper vocabulary - to not be lazy with their words.  So in a way, I feel a little guilty about my blog this morning - because I'm going to use a word that will probably seem a little on the lazy side.

What's the word?  THING.

You know... it's the word you use when you're having trouble defining what it is you're talking about or what you really want to say.

Recently someone called me to let me know how they were frustrated about a particular situation and that they needed prayer to make it through this season of their life.

As I prayed, I said these words to the Lord... "God this is just one more thing she has to deal with!"  It was in that moment that the Holy Spirit began to teach me something.  Did you know the Holy Spirit has been assigned as our Teacher?!

Almost immediately when I said the words "one more thing" - my perspective changed.  The Lord showed me that often times what we see as that "one more thing" we have to deal with in life - that may seem so annoying, frustrating and exhausting - is indeed THE THING He's created us for in the first place!

Let that sink in for just a moment.  Instead of saying, "this is just one more thing on my plate" -try this... "how can I bring honor to the Lord in THE THING He's given me to handle?"

Perspective.  I've been chewing on this one for quite some time.  It helps me when I think I just want to get past something to realize that perhaps I'm not supposed to just get past it - but triumph in it in some way!

What if I miss out on God's total purpose for my life because I was trying to get past this THING (that is hard) - when He wants to bring Glory THROUGH or BECAUSE of this THING.

As I was typing out this blog - and aware of the fact that I was over-using the word THING - a verse came to my mind.  It made me realize that to use the word "thing" is not so lazy after all!

Psalm 27:4

The one thing I ask of the Lord, the thing I seek most, 

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, 

delighting in the Lord's perfections 

and meditating in His Temple.

This "thing" that may indeed, after all, be my purpose instead of my enemy, can best be handled when I'm seeking Him the most.  I know that as I live in His presence He will direct my steps and my heart!

His Word Sunday

Ahhh.... the quiet of Sunday morning.  I absolutely love this time of day!  Coffee & my Bible.

I've typed and deleted several different things already for my regular Sunday post.  I just can't get a peace about what God wants me to share - so I'm going to keep it really simple.

I read about the seed that falls on the ground today in my One Year Bible.  I saw three things that I need to make sure I'm doing as the seed falls on good soil.

1.  Actually hear - really listen to the Lord
2.  Accept it - don't question why - just accept HIS WORD
3.  Bear fruit - not just once - but over and over

Mark 4:20 (ESV)

But those that were sown on the good soil are the 

ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, 

thirtyfold, and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

I got Your letter!

Don't you love getting letters addressed to you in the mail?  Occasionally when I come home, I find mail laying on my bed.  Most of the time it's just boring stuff - but every now and then - there's a letter!  It's in some pretty colored envelope with my name written in someone's handwriting.

I heard this song today and from the very beginning I was captivated.  Did you know that the Bible is like a handwritten letter to us from God Himself?

As we read this letter it draws us in  - to look forward to the day that we won't have to read the letter - but that we will be able to see Him face to face!

What a day - and what a song we will sing!!!
Happy Friday everyone!

His Word Sunday

Can you tell?

I love my morning time with the Lord.  It's a time where I can share my heart, pray, read His Word, let Him minister to my soul and gain strength for the day.


I talk to Him about what concerns me and gain insight and instruction for how I should handle certain situations.  When my quiet time has come to a close, I typically have another task awaiting my attention.  I go about my day - hopefully more equipped to live with joy.

Can you tell?  Can you see on my face that I've been with the Lord?  In other words - does what I gain from being with the Lord "stick" for the rest of the day?

It did with Moses!  Now... I'm not saying that my face should glow like it did for Moses - but I still think that people should be able to tell that I've been with the Lord.

This passage really spoke to me today and it was my prayer that those around me would be able to tell that I've spent time with God.

Exodus 34:29 (ESV)

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, 

with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand 

as he came down from the mountain, 

Moses did not know that the skin of his face 

shone because he had been talking with God.

When they collide...

I know, I know!  I'm a day late with my Friday song!  Yikes!  Yesterday morning, when I typically am writing on my blog - I was grading papers.  I'm desperate to find my blog time again!

I heard MercyMe's new song and wondered if they've been watching some sort of secret movie of my life from wherever they live!

I know we've all had heartache in our lives.  I'm not the only one to hurt.  I listened to the lead singer describe how this song came to be.  He said something that was an actual feeing I've had in the past year.  He talked about how great the pain and hurt can be - and yet in some strange way be more alive - because the hurt collides with The Healer!

I am so very thankful that my hurt didn't crush me - but instead collided with the Great Healer!

I hope you enjoy this song!

His Word Sunday

I love getting up early!  I know I'm a weirdo in this area.  It's even strange to me, because I love sleep!  I love going to bed early.  And when my alarm clock goes off, I don't pop right up - excited to start the day.  I love the hit the snooze button just like everyone else.

But once I get up, I realize just how peaceful the early morning is to my spirit.  I think most of us would say we hear the voice of the Lord better when it's quiet - when we have no other distractions.

While we do need to have quiet time with the Lord, His voice can be louder than all the things that surround us.  I was reminded of this as I read from Psalms this morning.  I think too often people think they can't hear the voice of the Lord because they don't have enough quiet time in their day.



Well - check this out - see just how loud the voice of the Lord can be...

Psalm 29:3-5, 7-9

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; 

the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; 

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; 

the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth 

and strips the forest bare, and in His temple all cry, "Glory!"

The end of the passage about the "voice of the Lord" ends like this...

Psalm 29:11

May the Lord give strength to His people!  

May the Lord bless His people with peace!

It is my prayer that I will hear the voice of the Lord in the quiet and in the loud.  I don't want to use "it's too noisy in my house" to not read my Bible.  If the voice of the Lord can really do all that is described above - break trees, flash flames of fire, shake the wilderness - then certainly it can cut through cartoons  and noisy children!

I want the voice of the Lord to be powerful in my own life 

so I can experience His strength and His peace!

Still Standing

Yay!  We've made it to the end of another week.  I have to admit this has really been a wonderful week.

At the beginning of this new semester I was faced with a new challenge in my classroom.  No, I'm not talking about typical discipline issues or crazy schedules.  While I don't want to share the details here in this public forum - it all stemmed around communication.  And I've been trying different keys to unlock the doors... to find a way to really reach a particular student.

I was unwilling to just let it go.  While I'm not 100% there - for the first time this week - I think we both felt a sense of progress and quite possibly even a little victory!

I don't know why I am still amazed by the provisions and wonderful grace and mercy of the Lord in my life - but I'm so glad that no matter what comes my way He allows me to still stand in Him.

I love this song.  It talks about when the world fall beneath our feet and distractions just won't let up - we can still stand in Him.

I wouldn't want to stand any other way!  Have a wonderful Friday!