"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." (Col 3:1-3 )
If I take time out of my day to monitor my thoughts, what is it I am thinking about? Is my mind set on things above? Do I believe God will take care of provision for my physical life and leave that to Him? If I believe that, truly believe that, than my mind will not be preoccupied with taking care of me. I will put myself into His loving Hands and obey the command to set my mind on things above.
There is a lot of discussion lately on the great commission. I hear often that we have been commanded to go and spread the Word and that is true. But Jesus also told us to do a lot of other things - like love your enemies, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, turn the other cheek, love God, love others... In Col 3, we are told to set our mind on things above. It appears to me that none of God's Word can be taken apart with more emphisis on one part than another. It is a whole. It seems if you are doing one part, than you may be doing the whole. If that is the case, setting my mind on things above would place me in the position of doing God's will in all things. Loving God, loving others, spreading His love would be a reflection of where I set my mind. Please, Lord, help me to have a mind set on You.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Never alone
Hebrews 13:5b "because God has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Not only am I never alone, but my companion is God of this universe. He created all things and everything that is, is because of Him. This tree in front of me, He created. The grass, the sky, the moon, the sun, everything from His hand. Yet, He never leaves my side. I have been fortunate over the years to have family and friends, yet not one of them has always been able to be with me. No one else can possibly know what I think, what I feel at all times - only God who loves me. When I cry out, He hears me. He does not turn and walk away - He hears and comes. He knows every giant I see, every fear that grips me - that is why He reminds me that He is here with me.
He has made so many promises - always ahead the promised land. But those who looked at the seen, spoke of the giants in the land, lost sight of Who was with them on their side. They didn't listen when He told them to not fear. He was there - He knew their fear, yet He reminded them that their Creator would take care of them. No giant is too big for Him.
Today He reminds me through His Word that He knows all and is here with me. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He knit together everyone of us in our mother's wombs. He knows us intimately. He knows every detail of our lives. The "giants" do not scare Him. He is God. And He is with us.
Not only am I never alone, but my companion is God of this universe. He created all things and everything that is, is because of Him. This tree in front of me, He created. The grass, the sky, the moon, the sun, everything from His hand. Yet, He never leaves my side. I have been fortunate over the years to have family and friends, yet not one of them has always been able to be with me. No one else can possibly know what I think, what I feel at all times - only God who loves me. When I cry out, He hears me. He does not turn and walk away - He hears and comes. He knows every giant I see, every fear that grips me - that is why He reminds me that He is here with me.
He has made so many promises - always ahead the promised land. But those who looked at the seen, spoke of the giants in the land, lost sight of Who was with them on their side. They didn't listen when He told them to not fear. He was there - He knew their fear, yet He reminded them that their Creator would take care of them. No giant is too big for Him.
Today He reminds me through His Word that He knows all and is here with me. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He knit together everyone of us in our mother's wombs. He knows us intimately. He knows every detail of our lives. The "giants" do not scare Him. He is God. And He is with us.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
God is good all the time
Psalm 107
BOOK V : Psalms 107-150 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe
God is good and His love endures forever. I miss a little church where that refrain was a common greeting - often I was met with a "God is good" to which one replied "all the time." As I read the above scripture, I realized we are told to say (speak out) that God is good - perhaps so we will remember this fact when it is needed most.
The rest of the psalm is one I have related to most of my life. It lists many different situations where God has rescued His children - and a common refrain is repeated, " Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress." I have cried out so many times and He has delivered me. It is definitely not because of me or my "good" behavior (which is most often not there), but because He is God and He is love. He is my Father. I so desperately need Him - all the time. It is not always so apparent to me, yet in those times of distress, I am reminded of the reality that I need Him every second of every day. Thank You, God, that You are there every second. Forgive me for the times that I so arrogantly try to stumble through this life forgetting how much I need You. It is when I don't have the answers that I realize I never really have had them and it is foolish of me to think myself wise without talking to my Father.
Today I remind myself that God is good all the time. I need to be reminded. I need to hear it for those times when satan screams lies. We need to tell of the times that God has delivered us - for ourselves and for one another. It is for His glory that we speak of what a good God He is - full of mercy and grace. It is not because of us that He delivers us - but completely because of who He is. I have done nothing to merit God delivering me. In fact, it is just the opposite. My actions would damn me. Yet God loves me, forgives me, sent His only Son to die for me. I cannot imagine I would do the same for anyone - and God knows that and still He loves me, delivers me, and is there for me every second of every day.
BOOK V : Psalms 107-150 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe
God is good and His love endures forever. I miss a little church where that refrain was a common greeting - often I was met with a "God is good" to which one replied "all the time." As I read the above scripture, I realized we are told to say (speak out) that God is good - perhaps so we will remember this fact when it is needed most.
The rest of the psalm is one I have related to most of my life. It lists many different situations where God has rescued His children - and a common refrain is repeated, " Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress." I have cried out so many times and He has delivered me. It is definitely not because of me or my "good" behavior (which is most often not there), but because He is God and He is love. He is my Father. I so desperately need Him - all the time. It is not always so apparent to me, yet in those times of distress, I am reminded of the reality that I need Him every second of every day. Thank You, God, that You are there every second. Forgive me for the times that I so arrogantly try to stumble through this life forgetting how much I need You. It is when I don't have the answers that I realize I never really have had them and it is foolish of me to think myself wise without talking to my Father.
Today I remind myself that God is good all the time. I need to be reminded. I need to hear it for those times when satan screams lies. We need to tell of the times that God has delivered us - for ourselves and for one another. It is for His glory that we speak of what a good God He is - full of mercy and grace. It is not because of us that He delivers us - but completely because of who He is. I have done nothing to merit God delivering me. In fact, it is just the opposite. My actions would damn me. Yet God loves me, forgives me, sent His only Son to die for me. I cannot imagine I would do the same for anyone - and God knows that and still He loves me, delivers me, and is there for me every second of every day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)