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Filtering by Category: Psalm

The Waiting Game

Meg

I’ve been learning a new meaning of the verse “love is patient” as of late (see 1 Corinthians 13). It’s hard to be patient when you know something is happening soon. I think back to graduation high school, getting married, having a baby—those were all impatient times of my life. I was always looking forward to something special, something wonderful, something I was waiting for with great anticipation. And, now, I find myself doing that again. It’s hard to wait, when something is just ahead. Just the same, God’s word tells us that love is, indeed, patient. So patient I am trying to be. As our busy deployment days wind their way down, I’m trying to enjoy each moment. Yes, it’s been difficult, but, I’ve also created some wonderful memories with my little girl. Walks, trips to the zoo, craft days, where the house was exploding with pieces of fabric and scrapbook supplies, lazy days watching movies, trips to see family.

God definitely taught me a lot, about depending on Him. I’ve also found that I’m a lot stronger than I thought I was. I really wasn’t sure I could handle this house and the parenting thing on my own, but I did. I really think we’ve come out stronger at the other end, which is saying a lot. So, as I wait out these last few days of the deployment, I have nothing but thankfulness in my heart. Thankfulness for my wonderful family and friends, that have given us so many prayers, love and encouragement. Thankfulness for my husband, who has empowered me with his prayers and encouragement across the miles, and thankfulness for my Savior, who has strengthened me on this journey.

So, instead of being impatient, I’m trying to be thankful, and looking at all the love in my life.

 

 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Psalm 100:4, NIV).

 

What are you thankful for today?

 

Cleaning

Meg

I scrubbed the baseboards, cleaned out the stove, washed the windows, and wiped out the microwave this morning. For five hours (minus a trip to the playground), I washed our house inside and out. But looking around, you wouldn't know it.  It seems like my toddler tries her best to wreck havoc while my back is turned. The rug I just vacuumed yesterday is now covered in cereal, random toys are spread throughout the house, ready to be tripped on. No matter how hard I try, my level of cleanliness is never quite enough. There's always something else to do. Always another area that needs attention.

In a house, this is understandable. Good enough really is good enough. To be honest, I'd rather spend time outside with my toddler, versus having an immaculate house.

But good enough, isn't good enough when it comes to my heart, my soul.

I can try my best.

I can live a good life. Help those around me, make sure I don't steal, or curse, or commit adultery.

But it's not enough.

I can't get to heaven on works enough.

The outer rooms of my heart may be decently clean, but there's a level of silt that never goes away. There are those dark corners, those closets, where sin resides. Those tiniest areas that never, quite, get fully cleaned.

And those areas are enough to keep me from heaven, unless I let Jesus come in.

Jesus' death and resurrection cover those bits that I can never quite reach on my own.

Because of His sacrifice, my heart is completely clean. There's no longer any hidden crevices. He has access to it all, and, because I asked, He's wiped it all away. It is no more.

"As far as the east is from   the west, s o far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12, HCSB).

"'Come, let us discuss this,' says the LORD. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool'" (Isaiah 1:18, HCSB).

 

 

 

Gossip Girl

Meg

I try my best not to gossip. When I’m in a circle of friends, I try to re-direct the conversation, so that gossip isn’t the outcome. But  I fall up short sometimes. I’m talking to someone, sharing my hurts, when, before I know it, I’m gossiping. I’m so focused on myself that I don’t even realize the words that our coming out of my mouth. I’m venting. I’m looking for encouraging. But, in the process, my words are less than edifying. I’m someone, without even meaning to do so.

Sigh.

It’s a quick downhill battle, one that we’re so talented at as women. I really think women are bigger gossipers because we share our hearts. We talk a lot, analyze out loud, and, in the process, make judgments of those around us.

I would be so completely hurt if I overheard someone gossiping about me. Yet, I find myself falling into the same exact trap. I gossip about others, often as a well-intentioned friend.

But where to draw the line? Perhaps, if I asked myself these questions, I would hesitate before gossiping:

Who am I talking to?

Why do they need to know this information?

 Can they empathize with me, without knowing the full story (in order to protect other people?

What am I getting out of this exchange?

If the person I’m talking about was standing here, would I still say this?

What’s at the heart of the matter?

What does Jesus think about this?

Asking these questions, and saying a quick prayer, might make all of the difference in the choices I make. What about you? Is there anything else you would add to this list?

 

I’ll leave you with some verses on the power of the tongue. They’re definitely something I needed to read today:

“And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness,
Your praise all day long” (Psalm 35:28, HCSB).

“The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom;
his tongue speaks what is just” (Psalm 37:30, HCSB).

“A wicked person listens to malicious talk;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue” (Proverbs 17:4, HCSB)

“The one who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps himself out of trouble” (Proverbs 21:23, HCSB).

“If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself” (James 1:26, HCSB).

So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell” (James 3:5-6, HCSB).

Letting Go of Fear

Meg

"I don't know how you do it," people tell me. "I just wouldn't be able to handle my husband being over there."

I've gotten comments like this quite a bit since my husbands been away.

In answer to them, yes, I'm afraid sometimes. Yes, I worry. But most of all, I have to trust.

I have to trust that God holds the keys to life and death in His hands. He, and He alone, knows the number of our days (See Psalm 139).

And so, I give my fears to Him, time and again, and let Him be in control.

Yes, it's hard having my husband gone. Yes, I miss him with every breath. But it's not as bad as you might think. For the most part, little E and I just live our every day lives. We've had playgroups, birthday parties, trips to the park, coffee dates, craft projects, and visits with family over the holidays. I can honestly say that, for the most part, these deployment months have flown by quickly. We stay busy, which helps. But, most of all, we cast all of our cares at the foot of the Cross, day after day. He and He alone gives us joy and peace each day.

Do you have any fears in your life, today? Anything you need prayer for? Leave them at the foot of the Cross, the peace you'll receive is indescribable.

 

"My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:15-16, NIV).

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

The Prayers of Friends

Meg

This Lent Season has a lot to do with prayer for me. I know the importance of prayer. I've seen it's effects, for the good, in my life. Yet, time and again, I forget how marvelous it can be.

There have been some very private times in my life. Times of immense hurt and grief. In those times, it's been my tendency to draw into myself self. I'm hurt from what other people said. I'm grieving over dreams that were shattered. I'm fearful of what other people will say, the judgments they'll hold over me.

I know that keeping my feelings to myself isn't always for the best. There are people around me that honestly care about me and what to hold me and my struggles up in prayer. Yet, I'm scared to share, scared to open myself up to the world at large.

A friend reminded me of the power of prayer recently. She mentioned that, by sharing, others were able to pray for her through a difficult time, and that she truly felt those prayers at work. She felt strong, at peace, and able to face the hard days in front of her.

I would love such a peace.

I would love to know that so many people were praying for me during a difficult time.

But to do that, I would have to open up. I would have to share my deepest struggles, knowing that some people might criticize, while others would pray with me every step through it.

It's a hard choice to make, this opening up.

But I'm starting to think that prayer is worth it.

Friendship is worth it.

Community is worth it.

 

What do you know about the power of prayer? Have you ever seen it at work in your own life? Who could you pray for today?


"The LORD will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night— a prayer to the God of my life" (Psalm 42:8, HCSB).

"Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18, HCSB).

 

 

Fasting from Worry

Meg

She dances...

Last week was a hard one for me. At times, this deployment seems to have a dark cloud of stress and discouragement hanging over it. It seemed like, the more I tried to give this season of Lent over to God, the more I was attacked and discouraged.

But this weekend, things changed for the better. I did a good bit a praying, spent a good amount of time in scripture, and let go of some worries that were heavy on my heart.

And then, the light began to shine.

As the worry left my heart, peace began to seep in.

It started in the outer corners, and soon invaded even the deepest parts of me. Those deepest corners of my heart are the rockiest. Those crevices are where my deepest worries and hurts are stored.

But God once again took them over.

What a great feeling it is to be set free from those things!

I feel happy. Light. Tranquil.

 I feel as if I could dance.

Yes, I still go to my calendar and daily count down the days until my husband comes home. Yes, I still don’t exactly like this current reality.

But I’m starting to find joy in it once again.

I’m starting to see the good, instead of focusing on the bad.

I’m starting to see what a life free of worry could be like.

 

I’m dancing, just because I can.

Twirling around the room with my little girl, without a care in the world.

Because that’s how my little girl dances.

 

"You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever" (Psalm 30:11-12, NIV)

 

What do you need to let go of today? What can you fast from, during this season of Lent ?

Prayer for our Troops

Meg

This seson of Lent came in with a whole bunch of worry. Worry is one of my greatest enemies, it seeps in, invades my every thought, and destroys many a peaceful moment. And so, I combat that worry with prayer. Prayer, that focuses my thoughts, not on myself, but on those around me. 

My prayer for the rest of this week is for our troops. Will you join me?

This world, this time in history, is a scarey one.

Battles are being waged.

Battles that, ultimately, only the Lord can fight.

How do we do it? How do we, as spouses, live for months on end, knowing that our loved ones are in harms way? We don't do it easily. We don't do it without reservation.

We do it only with a lot of prayer.

A lot of faith.

A lot of knowing that this life we live has never been our own.

And so, my prayer, for the rest of this week, is for the men and women fighting over seas.

Lord, protect them.

Lord, be a light in a very dark world.

Lord, be their strength. Their comfort.

Be their family, when they feel alone.

Be their light, whe there seems to be none.

Be their solace, when they're afriad.

Be their joy, even on dark days.

Be their refuge, their place to come to for comfort and strength.

Be their everything.

 

Psalm 91

1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High
dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

 2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

 3 He Himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net,
from the destructive plague.
4 He will cover you with His feathers;
you will take refuge under His wings.
His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night,
the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in darkness,
or the pestilence that ravages at noon.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side
and ten thousand at your right hand,
the pestilence will not reach you.

 14 Because he is lovingly devoted to Me,
I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he knows My name.
15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble.
I will rescue him and give him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with a long life
and show him My salvation.

(HCSB)

Love does not keep a record of wrongs

Meg

Love does not keep a record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5, HCSB).

Sometimes I think my skin is a little too thin. My heart gets hurt a little to easily. My feelings seem so fragile. Sometimes these hurts are intentional, many other times, they are not. They are slights, overlooks, forgotten dates and times, extended family conflicts.

The choice is then up to me. Do I take all of these experiences personally, shove the people that hurt me out of my life, and hold onto griviences with all I am?

Or do I forgive.

"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 HCSB).

If God has removed all of my transgressions, how can I not forgive those around me? Memories can be so painful.

My heart is still hurting today. But I chose to forgive. I chose to love. I chose to look for the good in each sittuation. I chose not to dwell. I chose to live.

The Lord is For Me

Meg

“I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place. The LORD is for me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” Psalm 118:5-6 HCSB

 

The Lord is for me...

The mentality forms that I'm on my own. That this house, the bills, and my daughter's well being, are soley on my shoulders. The holidays with family were such a wonderful break, that the pressue feels immense now that I'm back home. It's easy to get overwhelmed by the list of to-dos. Clean house, healthy meals, exercise, educational activities for the little one, military wife obligations, Bible studies, church, friends. I get pulled in so many directions so easily. While I thrive on business, it is my tendency to do it on my own. This verse above is a great reminder that I'm never alone. God is not working against me in this life. I don't have to fight Him for His favor, His blessing. It's right in front of me. Why a deployment is part of that plan, I can't say, but it is. God must have something great in it for us as a family. And all of these obligations, all of these things I'm involved in? There not there to overwhelm me, but to bless me. God is for me and for you as well.

He follows me everywhere...

Meg

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:9-10, NIV).

As the end of our trip approaches, I can't help but be thankful for the blessings of family. Yes, it's strange living under the same roof with all of them again. On my own, I have my own system. My own way of keeping my house up and running. When I'm back in my mother's house, I feel like a bit of an outsider. I feel like I'm in a world I don't exactly belong in anymore. Just the same, it's great laughing and talking with some of the people that know me best in this world. It's great watching my small daughter form a relationship with her grandparents and uncle, one that will only become more beautiful with time. And it's great having people to chat with in the evenings.

A part of me is nervous about returning home next week. Nervous about what it will be like when little girl and i are on our own. These last few weeks have not been easy. Little girl has been a horribly restless sleeper. Sometimes she'll wake up and cry for hours on end. It's been nice having people around to help me on those long nights. The lies in my head tell me that it will only be worse when we're back home.

But then I'm reminded of how far I've come. How little girl and I did handle things before. How we're returning, not only to our house, but to friends and a church family that love and care for us. But most of all, I'm reminded that God will not stay on this side of the country, when I board that plane home. No, He'll follow me back across the long miles, and continue to be my comfortor and provider.

My verse for this deployment (Phillippians 4:8) tells me to focus on the truths of God, not the lies of this world. Our mind can be such a battle field, but our God is so much bigger!

 

Do you have a special verse in your life right now? If so, what is it? How is it helping you?

Valleys

Meg


Depression. A hard word to stomach. A hard thing to try to even discuss. I have gone through two distinct times of depression in my life. And I honestly recognize this deployment as holding the possibilities for another. My depression has always revolved around times of great stress. Times when circumstances around me felt out of control. Times when I started to view myself as worthless. They were tough times. Times in which I had to reach up to heaven and ask to be rescued from the deep valley below.
This Christmas isn’t easy in any sort of way. Just the same, I see the choice in front of me. I could let this Christmas, this deployment, become a time of deep sadness and depression, or I could let go, and try to enjoy this season for what it is.
I recognize the choice. I see it with my eyes, know it in my heart. But still, it’s hard choice to make.
I don’t know if this Christmas is an easy or hard one for you. I know I’ve had other hard Christmas. Other Christmas that I thought where the worst. But can I live my entire life dwelling on the worsts?
Or has God called me to trust in Him as my shepherd and King?
Please know that I am in no way attacking depression. I’m just processing my own feelings this holiday season, and trying to encourage you with some truths from scripture.
For Scriptural truths are a great combatant against the lies of this world.

God is the ultimate Shepherd, leading us through the darkest valleys of this life. Yes, it may feel like the worst of times, but, in the end, He will provide, and get you to the other side.

Dwell on these truths today:

“THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

           He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

     Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me”

(Psalm 23: 1-4, Amplified).


“GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.
     Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas,
     Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!”

(Psalm 46:1-3, Amplified).

The “perfect” girl learns to live in an imperfect world.

Meg

 

I don’t know where it started, this desire to be perfect. I know I can’t really blame it on Barbie dolls… nor can all the blame be pushed on the 1950s image of the perfect house wife. What I do know is that, somewhere along the way, I formed this notion of perfection.  I created this image of the ideal woman, and set out to obtain that image for myself.

Perfect body.

Perfect smile.

Perfect house.

Perfect life.

When my life fails to meet up to these expectations, I beat myself up. I criticize, I demean, I shake my head in disgust. I hate my lack of perfection.

The image looking back at me in the mirror is 30 pounds overweight, and her hair isn’t perfectly curled, but instead hastily pulled back in a ponytail.

My daughter didn’t smile for most of her Christmas pictures.

 There are often dirty dishes in the sink, piles of papers by the computer waiting for weeks to be sorted through, and laundry piled up, ready to be put away, when I finally get around to it.

Sometimes I break down in tears, so overwhelmed by my messy house, less than perfect figure, and the daunting responsibilities set before me.

I’m anything but perfect.

My house is anything but perfect.

My life is anything but perfect.

I never seem to measure up.

It seems like I’ve given these feelings over to my Savior a million times. Yet, time and again, I find myself caught up in the dangerous web of perfectionism. I find myself comparing my life to others, and seeing how much it falls short.

How do I not compare? How do I begin to be comfortable in my own skin? How do I let go of the perfect image I’ve created in my brain, and grab onto the reality of this messy, beautiful life?

It’s a hard one. I’m honestly sharing something with you today that I haven’t truly figured out. It’s a daily struggle with me. What I do know is that my Jesus is faithful. He is able to take all of my struggles and make something beautiful from them.

And so, I’m going to take the advice of a good friend of mine today. I’m going to replace all of the lies in my life with Biblical truth.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1: 5-6, HCSB).

For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know [this] very well” (Psalm 139: 13-14 HCSB).

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. 10 So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10, HCSB).

 

 

Do you think our society has given us false ideals? How do you deal with feelings of insufficiency? Are there any verses you turn to?

 

On things that creak in the night

Meg

I was on the phone with my husband recently, telling him about my silly evening routine of checking all the windows and doors, and turning on lights in empty rooms, just to make sure there was nothing in there.  For some reason, the house seems to creak more when he’s away. Empty rooms, which don’t bother me in the middle of the day, feel rather creepy when nighttime falls.

Why this is, I’m not sure. I live in a safe community with trusted neighbors near by. There truly isn’t anything for me to worry about.

Yet, when nighttime comes, I start to worry. The feelings I have kept so contained during the daylight hours begin to come out at night.

I think the nighttime is when Satan pries on my emotions the most. He knows that I’m the most vulnerable after I put my baby to bed and the house is finally quite. He knows that it’s only then that I truly relax and start to feel just how empty this dark house can be.

It is then that I have to bring the verses out. I have to combat the lies and worries with the truth of the Gospel.

 

“He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon”(Psalm 91: 4-6, HCSB)

 

 

Have you ever felt this way? What verses do you turn to, when you start to feel worried and afraid?

Deliverance

Meg

She woke up screaming. When I held her, the crying lessened, but didn’t stop.

In the middle of the night I prayed for deliverance. I prayed that whatever ailed my little girl would abate and that she would fall back asleep.

I felt so helpless. Nothing I tried seemed to make a difference. She seemed to be in so much pain. When I tried to lay her back down in her crib, she only started to scream even louder.

Finally, after what felt like hours, my baby let out a huge burp, and then almost immediately fell back asleep.

I had been so afraid that something was seriously wrong. I had felt so helpless.

But I never truly felt alone.

No, never that.

Although I wished more than anything that my husband could have been there to help, I felt the presence of Jesus so strongly in that room. He was comforting us both. He was getting us through. He was listening to our cries for help.

Instead of breaking down in my own pile of tears, I was able to minister to my daughter’s needs. I was able to be her strength and comfort. I was able to hold her close until she fell back asleep.

 

I’m so thankful that my comforter is holding me close. I’m so thankful that He is my rock, my strength today and everyday.

 

 “God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me, for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy. I will live in Your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings” (Psalm 61:1-4, HCSB).

 

Simply a joyful day

Meg

Today I:

  • Read some foody magazines as I sipped my morning cup of coffee.
  • Met a friend at a coffee shop for a much needed talk.
  • Took some family pictures.
  • Did some dishes and some laundry
  • Downloaded old videos of my daughter to our computer (finally!).
  • Played inside a cardboard box with my little one.
  • Laughed at the silliness of life through a child's eyes.

Sometimes I go through the day distracted. I get caught up in social networks or television shows, or just the the tediousness of household chores, and forget to enjoy the things around me. Yes, I have responsiblities. Responsibilities that I have to follow through on each day. But just the same, there's nothing wrong with enjoying life. There's nothing wrong with taking stock of the blessings all around me, and laughing like a little kid once again.

Have you listened to a child laugh lately? It's so wonderfully joyful! There's nothing like it. It makes your heart feel so complete and full. It's the kind of sound that reminds you of what happiness is like. Happiness untainted by this world and its troubles.

Be happy today, dear friends. Find joy where ever it may be. It's out there, even on the darkest of days.

You turned my wailing into dancing;  you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, (Psalm 30:11, NIV).

Pain with a Purpose

Meg





My little girl turns one tomorrow. It’s hard to believe that a year ago today the labor pains were just beginning to start. The natural process that brings babies into this world was beginning in me.

That pain had a wonderful purpose, but oh was it painful! After having my baby I never wanted to experience that again, but you know what? It’s made me stronger. Now, when I look at other obstacles, such as running a 5k, I think “if I can give birth, I can do this!. The pain only made me better. Isn’t life like that? We experience some horribly painful times, but God uses the experience to make us stronger. He is constantly molding and making us into something even more beautiful than before. Yes, it’s often impossible to see this in the midst of things, but when we look back, we see how awfully far we’ve come.

I’m praying that this deployment is like that for my family. I’m praying daily that the lonely months ahead only draw us closer to God, and that some beautiful things come out of this in the end.

What trials have you experienced? Have they drawn you closer to God?

Some verses to ponder:

“Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.  (Isaiah 64:8, NIV).

For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. (Psalm 66:10, NIV)

“This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:9, NIV).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1: 3-7, NIV).

The Mellow Days

Meg

Do you ever have mellow days? Days when you don’t necessarily feel anxious or sad or over the top happy either ?

Today was like that for me.

I spent a lot of time just listening.

Listening for the Spirit to move.

Listening for something.

What, I’m honestly still not sure of.

But I was definitely honest about some feelings I’ve been having.

Temptations.

Doubts.

Uncertainty.

I gave them to Jesus.

Life always has so many choices.

So many things start in our minds and move on from there.

And so, today, I cut some thoughts short.

I vanquished those ideas before they had time to grow.

And I waited,

Quietly.

I pondered God’s goodness and love.

And I enjoyed a day of

Just

Being

Me.

"LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit down and when I stand up;
You understand my thoughts from far away.

You observe my travels and my rest;
You are aware of all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue,
You know all about it, LORD.

---

God, how difficult Your thoughts are
for me [to comprehend];
how vast their sum is!    If I counted them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand;
when I wake up, I am still with You"

Psalm 139: 1-4, 17-18, HCSB

The Hike- Part 2

Meg

It was a time of re-focusing.

A time of calming.

A time of re-gaining a much-needed sense of peace.

As I walked with my family alongside a small stream, the words of Psalm 23 ran through my heart:
"THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:1-3, Amplified).

No, the creek we hiked beside was not still or all that quiet. But there was something about the sound. It was so peaceful and so refreshing. My soul was renewed high up in those mountains. The words of this Psalm encouraged my weary Spirit. God was reminding me once again of His peace and His love.

What are your favorite verses of encouragement?

The Dirty, Dark, Depressing Belly of the Fish

Meg

I have a rather lengthy passage of scripture to share with you today. I wanted to share Jonah 2 in its entirety with you. For background, in chapter one God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach a message of repentance. Jonah refused and ran away from God, hopping a ship. Soon awful storms began to brew and the crew members threw Jonah over the side of the ship, where he was swallowed by a huge fish. Read what happened next:

“Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish:

I called to the LORD in my distress,
and He answered me.
I cried out for help in the belly of Sheol;
You heard my voice.

You threw me into the depths,
into the heart of the seas,
and the current overcame me.
All Your breakers and Your billows swept over me.

But I said: I have been banished
from Your sight,
yet I will look once more
toward Your holy temple.

The waters engulfed me up to the neck;
the watery depths overcame me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.

I sank to the foundations of the mountains;
the earth with its prison bars closed behind me forever!
But You raised my life from the Pit, LORD my God!

As my life was fading away,
I remembered the LORD.
My prayer came to You,
to Your holy temple.

Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake faithful love,

but as for me, I will sacrifice to You
with a voice of thanksgiving.
I will fulfill what I have vowed.
Salvation  is from the LORD!

Then the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 2, HCSB).

Jonah was in the darkest place imaginable. To him, it felt like the lowest place on earth. He was smelly, he was hot and he was more than likely terrified. He was in dire need of deliverance, and so he called out to God for help. Even in this, the darkest of moments, Jonah understood a valuable truth.

God follows us everywhere.

We can be on the highest of mountains or in the greatest depths of the sea and God is still there, right beside us, seeing us through each trial and tribulation.

There is no place we can go or situation we can tangle our self up in that God can’t reach.

When we’re in the darkest of moments, it’s sometimes hard to remember this truth. Sometimes it’s impossible to see God at work, but he’s there.

I don’t like that I live in a world at war. And I don’t like that my husband has to take part in this war.

But I do take comfort in knowing that God will be there, right beside my husband, every step of the way.

Yes, this deployment will often feel like the belly of a fish: Dirty, Dark and Depressing.

But God will be there, giving air, giving light, giving life, all along the way.

“Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to heaven, You are there;  if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there. If I live at the eastern horizon[or] settle at the western limits, even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me.  (Psalm 139:7-10, HCSB)

A Cup of Tea

Meg

Would you like to sit and have a cup of tea (or coffee) with me this morning?

How has your morning been?

Has it been a good one, or has it been filled with stress and frustration?

Have you spent time with your Savior yet today?

There’s nothing that starts my day out better then a warm cup of tea. It makes me warm inside and helps me to set my heart at peace. That cup of tea reminds me that now, when my daughter is napping, is the perfect time to spend  with my Savior. That tea forces me to slow down for a few minutes and direct my eyes up above.

So pour yourself a cup. Close your eyes for just a moment. And breathe deeply.

Tell your Savior exactly what’s on your mind. And release it all into His hands.

"Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10 a, NIV).