7/31/10

The Lord's Everlasting Love

We often look to people to love us.  And for the most part we usually have that one or two in our lives that do succeed to love us most of the time.  Yet, all of us have faced that moment when we feel as if no one loves us at all.  We have noexcuse though.  God loves us.  His love is with us, even before we confess our sin (Romans 5:8).  His love is perfect and everlasting.  We have no excuse to feel unloved, when the Author of love has loved us!

Never Been Unloved - MWS

From everlasting to everlasting
the Lord's love is with those who fear Him,
and His righteousness with their children's children -
with those who keep His covenant
and remember to obey His precepts.
Psalm 103:17-18

I will be gald and rejoice in Your unfailing love,
for You have seen my troubles,
and You care about the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to my enemies
but have set me in a safe place.
Psalm 31:7-8

You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Psalm 86:15

I will say, "Your love continues forever;
Your loyalty goes on and on like the sky."
Psalm 89:2

I Will Sing of Your Love and Fairness

Delcare me innocent, O Lord,
for I have acted with integrity;
I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
For I am always aware of Your unfailing love,
and I have lived according to Your truth.
Psalm 26:1-3

I will sing of  Your love and fairness;
Lord, I will sing praises to You.
I will be careful to live an innocent life.
When will You come to me?
I will live an innocent life in my house.
Psalm 101:1-2

As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And You set me in Your presence forever.
Psalm 41:12

"Life isn't fair," is a popular motto nowadays.  And I am guilty of thinking that.  But really, if we believe Who God is, we cannot say that life isn't fiar.  My only concern should not be whether circumstances in my life (or the life of others) are fair or not.  My concern should be like the Psalmist in theses passages.  He wanted to "act with integrity" so that he could, with boldness, sing praises to God for His fairness.  God never promised that if we disobey His commands that things would work out right.  When we walk according to His commandments, life will ultimately be fair.  Maybe not easy, but that is why God's love is worthy of praise as well!

7/26/10

The Lord is our Refuge

Psalm 5:11-12
But let all who take refuge in You rejoice;
let them sing joyful praises forever.
Spread Your protection over them,
that all who love Your name may be filled with joy.
For You bless the godly, O Lord;
You surround them with Your shield of love.

Psalm 91:4
He will cover you with His feathers,
and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Psalm 18:1-3
I love You, Lord.  You are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.
My God is my rock.
I can run to Him for safety.
He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender.
I will call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I will be saved from my enemies.

When so many things are troubling your heart, it is reassuring to know that a refuge exists.  Sometimes we have so many worries and anxieties that it seems so overwelming!!  We look to other things to cope with it all.  Not only does a refuge exists, it is the only True place we can find shelter and comfort.

When I am abiding in Christ, my days go so much smoother.  My heart is far less troubled.  My emotions are much more in check.  I lose sight sometimes of how to abide as well.  I read my Bible, but it doesn't hold the kind of power that it has had in the past.  I pray, what seems like empty prayers.  Yet, it is these two things that hold me to Him.  I think getting into a routine of reading scriptue and praying takes away the meaning and strength.

Lately I have found that music has stirred my heart toward God and Truths about Him.  It helps me push away the distractions that cloud my mind and helps me to focus on Him.  I think that it is a wonderful thing that God has given us to bring our hearts closer to Him (as long as the music is God-honoring and uplifting). 

So, my prayer for today is in a form of a song by Bebo Norman:

Sometimes at night

I am afraid
I cover my eyes,
Cover my shame
So here in the dark
Broken apart
Come with your light
And fill up my heart

The wind of this world
Can push us around
Folding us up
Backing us down
But here in the dark
I’m not alone
So come with your strength
And carry me home


Oh great light of the world
Fill up my soul
I’m half a man here
So come make me whole
Oh great light of the world
Come to impart
The light of your grace
To fill up my heart

O Lord,  I pray that I can take refuge in You today.  Fold me up in the shadow of your wings and hold me close to Your heart.  Strengthen me.  Comfort me.  Protect me. Give me Joy. Cover me. Remind me of Your faithfulness.  I love You. Amen.

Love is Not a Feeling

Now, love is not a feeling in your chest
It is bending down to wash another’s feet
It is faithful when the sun is in the west
And in the east

It can hurt you as it holds you
In its overwhelming flood
Till only the unshakeable is left
“This new command I give you,” He said,
“Love as I have loved”
So brother, love her better than yourself
And give her your heart

For the love of God
In the name of Jesus
The groom who gave his life
To love his bride

7/19/10

Call Out to God

Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me because of Your unfailing love.
Ps. 109:26

Don't turn a deaf ear when I call You, God.
If all i get from You is defaening silence,
I'd be better off in the Black Hole.
I'm letting You know what I need, calling out for help
And lifting my arms
toward Your inner sanctum.
Ps. 28:1-2 (the message)

In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.
May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.
May He send you help from His sanctuary
and strengthen you from Jerusalem.
May He remeber all your gifts
and look favorably on your burnt offerings.
Ps. 20:1-3

We call out to God as a last resort.  And maybe that is one answer to our many trials.  God knows that in our greatest need we turn to Him, so He brings us to the place of greatest need often so that He can give us Himself.  May I not wait to be in the miry pit before I call to God.  May I not get to the end of myself before I turn to Him.  I pray that today - as the very first thing, I look up to Him and say: "I can't do it today without You.  Help me."

You Know Me Inside and Out

Lord, You have examined me
and know all about me.
You know when I sit down and when I get up.
You know my thoughts before I think them.
You know where I go and where I lie down.
You know everything I do.
Lord, even before I say a word,
You already know it....
You made my whole being,
You formed me in my mother's body.
I praise You because You made me in an amazing and wonderful way.
What You have done is wonderful.
I know this very well.
You saw my bones being formed
as I took shape in my mother's body.
Psalm 139:1-4, 13-15

I obey Your precepts and Your statutes,
for all my ways are known to You.
Psalm 119:168

Sometimes I wonder if the Lord of the universe even is aware of my existence.  Then, I read Psalm 139.  Not only does He know me, is intimately aware of every detail about me, He knows more about me than I know about myself!? Amazingly, He still chooses to love me.  This causes such a peace and love in my life.  To know that there is Someone out there who is so aware of me, cuases me to want to know Him better.

7/5/10

You Are My Hiding Place

In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.
Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of strength,
A stronghold to save me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me.
You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O LORD, God of truth.
Psalm 31:1-5

You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
Psalm 32:7

There are a lot of "little hurts" in our lives. Those little hurts are those little things that people say or do or fail to do. Like an unkind word. Like being left out of something you thought you would be invited to. Like a judgment statement that isn’t true about you. Those things can wound us and over time really hurt! But, if I am constantly abiding in Christ, He has become like a hedge to keep those little hurts out. He, I can hide in. He, I can trust! He not only can deliver me out of trouble, but preserve me from trouble. He can protect me so that even though my circumstances (and people) are exactly the same, I am now hid in Him. I don't have to feel those little hurts anymore when I am hiding myself in Him.

7/2/10

New Little Life

Welcome to the world, Jonathan Titus

Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 9:21 am

Weighing 8lbs 3 oz.

Mommy and Daddy are so happy to have you in our lives!