Why?

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. (1 Timothy 4:7-10 NLT)

Why? That's usually what runs through my mind when I start back in an exercise routine. Before the actual start date, I am talking myself into it with all the whys in the world, but once I start I seem to lose focus and forget them all.

The light and momentary situation becomes so real, so big, so hard, so fast.

After that, the struggle.  I remember the reasons but the pain and circumstances, the waves of lightheaded exhaustion and the demands or mistakes of fellow strugglers overshadow me. My mind is in a constant battle of perspective. 

I can't distinguish this description now from exercise and life at times, until I read this scripture. Life is more important, specifically the holy life that God requires is more important than anything, including my own sustainable health. Not to minimize other things, but to understand that these moments in life that seem so hidden, the thoughts that remain unsaid, these duties that seem insignificant, these decisions that affect no one but our attitude, well they are paramount. These are the building blocks of true life and godliness. 

So I continue to struggle through things that devastate my heart. Circumstances that I can not change. Losses that I can't redeem, actions I can't erase.

Until the moment that I catch my breathe.

Remembering that "these light and momentary struggles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." ( 2 Corinthians 4:17)

Remembering where my hope comes from. 

Remembering my Lord, my Father, my Savior, my Friend.

He will never leave me, nor forsake me. He sees every tear, He knows my every thought, He loves me with an everlasting love, He is for me and not against me, though my father and mother forsake me, my God, He never will. He is faithful, He is true. 

Also He is no respecter of persons, so that means, He will do the same for you. Don't give up. Training is underway. There is no way you can fail, so throw your all on God.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:26

Psalm 90:17

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A Song?

I wrote a prayer song to God many years ago. I did not officially write it down, but it comes back to my mind from time to time. 

Precious Lord, You're my heart's desire,

Fill me with Your fire, burn inside of me.

Morning Star, light my path to You,

Lead me to Your throne, I need You alone.

1. Longing to be where You are

2. Dying my only choice

3. Living to know who you are

4. Waiting to hear your voice

I numbered the second stanza because, when I first wrote it my understanding of God put these words in numeric order (1,2,3,4), but after walking with God and saturating in His Word and Presence, I sing them in 1,4,3,2.

I understand, His sheep hear His voice, and the Good Shepherd never leaves us or forsakes us. 

I also understand it is in losing your life for Christ's sake, that you truly live.

(John 10:27, John 10:11, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 10:39)

Thank you, o God for transforming my mind and my understanding, Your even gooder and better than this mind started out believing. You are faithful.

How's Your Flow?

Living Water has been on my heart. Jesus said in John 7:38, "Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

Recently I was sharing in my church's Sack Lunch Gathering (you can find the recording for January 15, 2015 posted on February 3, 2015 here.)

After talking a bit on different seasons or scenes from a rivers life, one lady came up afterward and said she grew up going to school at the top of Niagara Falls. She said all that we talked about was true, but another cool and overwhelming truth that overshadows all other lessons to glean from this "river scene" is the sound. She said the went through school with the sound of rushing water in the background and it overwhelmed everyone's lives, until they got used to it. I guess it is like jet noise in VA Beach.

Not to belabor, but John the Revelator said that the voice of Jesus sounded like the sound of rushing waters. Oh to have my life overwhelmed by His Word, His Voice, His Prayers, His Promises, Him.
When I think of the love that the Father has LAVISHED on me (1 John 3:1), scarce being able to take it in. One picture I get in stereo is Niagara Falls. I think I would like to visit there.

Revelation 7:17
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Comings and Goings

“life is made up of many comings and goings and for everything that we take with us,we must leave something behind” a quote from Herman Raucher

I am understanding this truth realized in my life and in the life of those around me more and more it seems in this season. The main difference I see is His Presence, the Presence of God. Those that know Him and know His Presence have different heart cries.

 Psalm 139 - There is comfort in knowing He knows.

God Knows Everything

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1Lord, you have examined me

and know all about me.

2You know when I sit down and when I get up.

You know my thoughts before I think them.

3You know where I go and where I lie down.

You know everything I do.

4Lord, even before I say a word,

you already know it.

5You are all around me—in front and in back—

and have put your hand on me.

6Your knowledge is amazing to me;

it is more than I can understand.

7Where can I go to get away from your Spirit?

Where can I run from you?

8If I go up to the heavens, you are there.

If I lie down in the grave, you are there.

9If I rise with the sun in the east

and settle in the west beyond the sea,

10even there you would guide me.

With your right hand you would hold me.

11I could say, “The darkness will hide me.

Let the light around me turn into night.”

12But even the darkness is not dark to you.

The night is as light as the day;

darkness and light are the same to you.

13You made my whole being;

you formed me in my mother’s body.

14I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way.

What you have done is wonderful.

I know this very well.

15You saw my bones being formed

as I took shape in my mother’s body.

When I was put together there,

16you saw my body as it was formed.

All the days planned for me

were written in your book

before I was one day old.

17God, your thoughts are precious to me.

They are so many!

18If I could count them,

they would be more than all the grains of sand.

When I wake up,

I am still with you.

19God, I wish you would kill the wicked!

Get away from me, you murderers!

20They say evil things about you.

Your enemies use your name thoughtlessly.

21Lord, I hate those who hate you;

I hate those who rise up against you.

22I feel only hate for them;

they are my enemies.

23God, examine me and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any bad thing in me.

Lead me on the road to everlasting life.

 

 

James 3:17,

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Wickedness and Trust

The title of my devotion today from Dennis Kinlaw's "This Day with the Master"

Question: is there any place in your life that "worries" you? Any place of confusion or anxiety?

Whether you know immediately or you are not sure, if there is Kinlaw reminds us, "The opposite of trust is not simply anxiety; it is wickedness."

My next breath breathes...

Lord, Search me, know me, see if there is any wickedness in me.

Pray through the different translations of these verses found in Psalm 139:23-24, then trust Him that He will, we can start there.

God is Faithful and Just (1John 1:9)...you can trust Him.

James 3:18,

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Grasshopper @ RMH

A few days ago I saw a grasshopper jumping down the hall on the third floor of the hospital. He reminded me that to say that I am where I am in my journey called life because of me would be as silly as the grasshopper taking credit for making his way to the third floor. While I do not know the plans for that grasshopper, My God plans include hope, a future, and good for me. In light of my understanding and His ...well to not trust Him as I hop along would just be plain silly.

Isaiah 40:22

22 God is enthroned above the earth,
    and those who live on it are like grasshoppers.
    He stretches out the sky like a canopy
    and spreads it out like a tent to live in.

James 3:18,

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What You Can't See

Twice a year we have a Cruise In at our church where hundreds of classic, restored, beautiful cars are on display. Why? well I received a picture from my friend, Samantha because she caught what you can't see. If you were to have a panorama of her environment, you would see a thick crowd of people eating hotdogs and walking around the parking lot, which the kids raced tricycles around the circle. But nestled in the nook of the building behind a Chinese Maple tree was this little girl... what is she doing. It seems she found Him. 

 

The statue of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed by Himself before the crowds came and took Him away to be crucified. His disciples were asleep across the garden that day. He asked them after He finished praying, will you not pray with me for one hour? (Matthew 26)

Jesus was hidden from their sight that day, but last Friday night, He was seen by a little girl, in spite of the crowds. 

This is not the greatest sound quality, but a new song on Kim McLean's new album... makes me smile... A LOT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT9Z6yb4pbs

 

James 3:18,

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