Reading Isaiah 28, 29
My Verse: 28:17 "I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plummet: and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the hiding place."
Such purity! Such clarity!
Dear Lord, the world is so very far from this - I wonder at your love and patience with our waywardness.
I wonder and yet am so very grateful.
Thank You for opening my eyes to Your Truth.
Thank You for bringing me along even when I drag my feet.
Thank You for Your many blessings on my life!
Oh, for the purity and clarity of Your World!
I feel a longing for it deep within.
Is that that faint faint memory of Eden buried in the depths of my created being?
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
He Labors
Reading: Isaiah 26,27
My Verse: 27:3 "I, the Lord, am its keeper; I water it every moment; lest anyone harm it, I guard and keep it night and day."
What an image this places in my mind - that of my Lord showing His love for me by laboring away in the vineyard. He is my Keeper. He meets my every need. He guards me night and day!
To picture our Lord watering, pulling out weeds and thorns, keeping out bad stuff - is beautiful. It would seem that our God is too high above us to care for us in this way - but Isaiah often gives us this image (see Isaiah 5:4,5). And David shows us our Lord as a Shepherd - tending to our needs. (Psalm 23)
I relish those times when my husband does things for me - special things that show his love for me. It is a rather delicious feeling. I realize that we do this for each other because we are God's created beings. We do it because we are created in His Own Image. And especially if we love and follow Him we will tend to do those things that He does for His loved ones.
Oh, Lord, You are a just and holy God and so will be terrible in Your wrath in the final days. But that wrath will be directed to sin and those that hold onto it. Those of us that belong to You can rejoice and rest assured that we will be gathered close to You - because we are Your beloved. And yet . . .
Dear Lord, You do not want "... any to perish but that all should reach repentance.." (2 Peter 3:9) And so You continue to labor. Help me to be faithful to pray for my loved ones, to live out my life in such a way that others would see You and want You in their lives as well.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My Verse: 27:3 "I, the Lord, am its keeper; I water it every moment; lest anyone harm it, I guard and keep it night and day."
What an image this places in my mind - that of my Lord showing His love for me by laboring away in the vineyard. He is my Keeper. He meets my every need. He guards me night and day!
To picture our Lord watering, pulling out weeds and thorns, keeping out bad stuff - is beautiful. It would seem that our God is too high above us to care for us in this way - but Isaiah often gives us this image (see Isaiah 5:4,5). And David shows us our Lord as a Shepherd - tending to our needs. (Psalm 23)
I relish those times when my husband does things for me - special things that show his love for me. It is a rather delicious feeling. I realize that we do this for each other because we are God's created beings. We do it because we are created in His Own Image. And especially if we love and follow Him we will tend to do those things that He does for His loved ones.
Oh, Lord, You are a just and holy God and so will be terrible in Your wrath in the final days. But that wrath will be directed to sin and those that hold onto it. Those of us that belong to You can rejoice and rest assured that we will be gathered close to You - because we are Your beloved. And yet . . .
Dear Lord, You do not want "... any to perish but that all should reach repentance.." (2 Peter 3:9) And so You continue to labor. Help me to be faithful to pray for my loved ones, to live out my life in such a way that others would see You and want You in their lives as well.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Moon Confounded & Sun Ashamed!
Isaiah 23, 24,25
My verse: "Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, when [they compare their ineffectual fire to the light of] the Lord of hosts, Who will reign on Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders will show forth His glory."
What an amazing visual! Isaiah is so full of them. To think of the moon as confounded and the sun ashamed! I am looking out the window and enjoying the brilliance of the sun as it casts amazing light on the snow covered landscape. It is so bright and wonderful and to think this is nothing compared to the Light of the "Lord of hosts Who will reign on Mt Zion and . . . show forth His glory."
Dear Lord, it is too wonderful to wrap my brain around! Thoughts too great for me. I think of Psalm 8:4,5 "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?" I am so blessed to belong to You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My verse: "Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, when [they compare their ineffectual fire to the light of] the Lord of hosts, Who will reign on Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders will show forth His glory."
What an amazing visual! Isaiah is so full of them. To think of the moon as confounded and the sun ashamed! I am looking out the window and enjoying the brilliance of the sun as it casts amazing light on the snow covered landscape. It is so bright and wonderful and to think this is nothing compared to the Light of the "Lord of hosts Who will reign on Mt Zion and . . . show forth His glory."
Dear Lord, it is too wonderful to wrap my brain around! Thoughts too great for me. I think of Psalm 8:4,5 "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?" I am so blessed to belong to You!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Drawing a Blank
Isaiah 20, 21, 22
Read these three chapters twice and I 've got nothing. My brain feels dull so I believe I will go on. I don't like doing this because the whole purpose of my journaling as I read is to hone in on an idea - an idea that the Lord gives me - that I can react to and meditate on for the rest of the day. Some days there are so many ideas that I have trouble narrowing down to just one. Then there are days, like today when I have to really struggle to find even one idea that I can grab onto. Today I just don't have anything. It is not a good feeling to be so blank.
Lord, I will be obedient and keep reading. I know that at times I do not approach You with the proper attitude of worship and seeking. Help me to pause and prepare my mind and heart before I enter into Your Word. Your Word is alive,holy and life - changing. (II Timothy 3:16)
Thank you that I can read it at my leisure. I am so blessed.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Read these three chapters twice and I 've got nothing. My brain feels dull so I believe I will go on. I don't like doing this because the whole purpose of my journaling as I read is to hone in on an idea - an idea that the Lord gives me - that I can react to and meditate on for the rest of the day. Some days there are so many ideas that I have trouble narrowing down to just one. Then there are days, like today when I have to really struggle to find even one idea that I can grab onto. Today I just don't have anything. It is not a good feeling to be so blank.
Lord, I will be obedient and keep reading. I know that at times I do not approach You with the proper attitude of worship and seeking. Help me to pause and prepare my mind and heart before I enter into Your Word. Your Word is alive,holy and life - changing. (II Timothy 3:16)
Thank you that I can read it at my leisure. I am so blessed.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Progression of Healing
Reading Isaiah 15 - 19
My verse: 19:22 "And the Lord shall smite Egypt smiting and healing it and they will return to the Lord, and He will listen to their entreaties and heal them."
I like the progression here. The Lord will "smite" and 'heal' then "they will return to the Lord." Lord this is pretty awesome what you do to Egypt here. I can see a direct application to my life. I know how often I need the "smiting" to get my attention, then the "healing" to enable me to see my need of You. Only then can I call on you for help and only then will you forgive and heal me.
Dear Lord, walking with you can be sweet but so often I get tied up in knots about the wrong things. I become absorbed with solving things my own way. It is then I need the smiting to get my attention. Thank you for being so patient and never giving up on me! Thank you again for Phillippians 1:6!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My verse: 19:22 "And the Lord shall smite Egypt smiting and healing it and they will return to the Lord, and He will listen to their entreaties and heal them."
I like the progression here. The Lord will "smite" and 'heal' then "they will return to the Lord." Lord this is pretty awesome what you do to Egypt here. I can see a direct application to my life. I know how often I need the "smiting" to get my attention, then the "healing" to enable me to see my need of You. Only then can I call on you for help and only then will you forgive and heal me.
Dear Lord, walking with you can be sweet but so often I get tied up in knots about the wrong things. I become absorbed with solving things my own way. It is then I need the smiting to get my attention. Thank you for being so patient and never giving up on me! Thank you again for Phillippians 1:6!
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Lord of Hosts Has Purposed!
Isaiah 12, 13, 14
Verse: 14:27 "For the Lord of Hosts has purposed, and who can annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"
Wow! For all our striving, planning and scheming - if it is without any consideration of God the Almighty - it is for naught. I do not believe that our lives are set in stone. I do believe that life is dynamic. I make decisions everyday and sometimes I know that I make the wrong decision - not the one the Lord would have had me make. I will suffer the consequences for that, especially if I did it willfully and rebelliously. And yet, Lord, I know that you will bring me through if I repent of my willfullness. I know, too, that if I had made the right decision I would been so much more blessed. I think of David and all the wrong that he did and all the terrible consequences he and his family suffered. Yet, You forgave him and he became a 'man after God's own heart'.
This is such a huge topic. I have come a long way here, for there was a time that I fretted often about 'my free will'. I like how Tozer addresses this concept - that we 'true believers' travel "an appointed way!" Colossians 3:3 tells us "your life is hidden with Christ in God!" Such wonderful assurance.
We cannot see the 'Big Picture'. Max Lucado illustrates this with a wonderful little story on http://www.crosswalk.com.upwordswithmaxlucado/ called 'The Woodcutter.' I know I can look forward to the future with a deeper more abiding assurance of what is to come because God loves me.
Dear Lord, that doesn't mean that I still don't fret, for I do as life here is often scarey, yet I "know that my Redeemer lives . ." (Job 19:25) and that You "will keep my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forevermore" (Psalm 121:8)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Verse: 14:27 "For the Lord of Hosts has purposed, and who can annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"
Wow! For all our striving, planning and scheming - if it is without any consideration of God the Almighty - it is for naught. I do not believe that our lives are set in stone. I do believe that life is dynamic. I make decisions everyday and sometimes I know that I make the wrong decision - not the one the Lord would have had me make. I will suffer the consequences for that, especially if I did it willfully and rebelliously. And yet, Lord, I know that you will bring me through if I repent of my willfullness. I know, too, that if I had made the right decision I would been so much more blessed. I think of David and all the wrong that he did and all the terrible consequences he and his family suffered. Yet, You forgave him and he became a 'man after God's own heart'.
This is such a huge topic. I have come a long way here, for there was a time that I fretted often about 'my free will'. I like how Tozer addresses this concept - that we 'true believers' travel "an appointed way!" Colossians 3:3 tells us "your life is hidden with Christ in God!" Such wonderful assurance.
We cannot see the 'Big Picture'. Max Lucado illustrates this with a wonderful little story on http://www.crosswalk.com.upwordswithmaxlucado/ called 'The Woodcutter.' I know I can look forward to the future with a deeper more abiding assurance of what is to come because God loves me.
Dear Lord, that doesn't mean that I still don't fret, for I do as life here is often scarey, yet I "know that my Redeemer lives . ." (Job 19:25) and that You "will keep my going out and my coming in from this time forth and forevermore" (Psalm 121:8)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
A Lighted Pathway
Reading: Isaiah 9, 10, 11
My verse: 9:1, 2 "But, [in the midst of judgement there is the promise and the certainty of the Lord's deliverance] . . . The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined."
Amidst all this incredible sadness and wretchedness of man - Isaiah inserts these bright lights of hope. He brings to focus the fact that God is a righteous God. A righteous God Who cannot condone sin yet Who also wants so much for us to come to Him that He gives us a Light (Jesus). A Light to show us a way out of our dark world. We need to take that active step of looking to the Light of Jesus and then actually actively stepping onto the Lighted Path. Once on that Lighted Path we so need to keep our eyes ever focused on Christ or we will stray off the Path.
Dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on you. There are so many distractions, seemingly good things that draw me, draw me away from You. Thank you for making known to me "the path of life" (Psalm 16:11). Thank you for your word which is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
My verse: 9:1, 2 "But, [in the midst of judgement there is the promise and the certainty of the Lord's deliverance] . . . The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who dwelt in the land of intense darkness and the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined."
Amidst all this incredible sadness and wretchedness of man - Isaiah inserts these bright lights of hope. He brings to focus the fact that God is a righteous God. A righteous God Who cannot condone sin yet Who also wants so much for us to come to Him that He gives us a Light (Jesus). A Light to show us a way out of our dark world. We need to take that active step of looking to the Light of Jesus and then actually actively stepping onto the Lighted Path. Once on that Lighted Path we so need to keep our eyes ever focused on Christ or we will stray off the Path.
Dear Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on you. There are so many distractions, seemingly good things that draw me, draw me away from You. Thank you for making known to me "the path of life" (Psalm 16:11). Thank you for your word which is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)
Ditat Deus - God Enriches!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Laboring in the Vineyard
Reading: Isaiah 6, 7, 8.
Verse: 5:4,5 "What more could have been done for My vineyard that I have not done it it? . . . Why did it yield wild grapes?"
I know I should be beyond this passage but for some reason it haunts me. This image of Jesus laboring in the vineyard and then the vineyard yielding only wild grapes. There is such a poignant sadness here. That our Lord labors for us - to bring us to Him and we still go our own wild way. You read on through chapters 5 and 6 and see that God then takes away His protection - this is really scarey and tragic. Our Lord is so loving and patient but . . . we still need to respond to that love. We need to open up our hearts to receive His protection and saving grace.
Lord, forgive me for the times that I have turned you aside, for those times I have stubbornly gone my own way. For even as your child I can still turn away from you. I can still get out of your protection. That I do not want to do. Thank you for Philippians 1:6. Your promise to keep me, to bring to completion the good work that you began in me.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches
Verse: 5:4,5 "What more could have been done for My vineyard that I have not done it it? . . . Why did it yield wild grapes?"
I know I should be beyond this passage but for some reason it haunts me. This image of Jesus laboring in the vineyard and then the vineyard yielding only wild grapes. There is such a poignant sadness here. That our Lord labors for us - to bring us to Him and we still go our own wild way. You read on through chapters 5 and 6 and see that God then takes away His protection - this is really scarey and tragic. Our Lord is so loving and patient but . . . we still need to respond to that love. We need to open up our hearts to receive His protection and saving grace.
Lord, forgive me for the times that I have turned you aside, for those times I have stubbornly gone my own way. For even as your child I can still turn away from you. I can still get out of your protection. That I do not want to do. Thank you for Philippians 1:6. Your promise to keep me, to bring to completion the good work that you began in me.
Ditat Deus - God Enriches
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Relativism!
Reading for today Isaiah 4,5. My verse: 5:20,21
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight!"
Relativism! We have become so 'politically correct' and concerned about hurting people's feelings that sin is no longer called sin. And by renaming sins we become desensitized to the sins around us. I was just reading about evangelical 'trends.' One such trend is that there will start to be more and more leniency re homosexuality in the conservative, evangelical churches.
Oh, what a slippery slope it is!
Dear Lord, help me to stay tuned into you! Help me to be so tuned in to You that I will be discerning to those things that are truly wrong in your sight and yet be loving in how I respond to those that commit those sins!
Ditat Deus - God enriches.
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight!"
Relativism! We have become so 'politically correct' and concerned about hurting people's feelings that sin is no longer called sin. And by renaming sins we become desensitized to the sins around us. I was just reading about evangelical 'trends.' One such trend is that there will start to be more and more leniency re homosexuality in the conservative, evangelical churches.
Oh, what a slippery slope it is!
Dear Lord, help me to stay tuned into you! Help me to be so tuned in to You that I will be discerning to those things that are truly wrong in your sight and yet be loving in how I respond to those that commit those sins!
Ditat Deus - God enriches.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Song of Solomon
Song of Solomon 1, 2. My verse: 1:13,14 ". . . Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. So I went with
him, and when we were climbing the rocky steps up the hillside, my beloved shepherd said to me, O my Dove, while you are here in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret place of the cliff, let me see you face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face lovely."
The night before I read this I had wept my way through the final two chapters of Edith Wharton's House of Mirth. As you read you sense what is coming because you become so in tune with Lily, the main character. You sense her hopelessness. She couldn't bring herself to marry for money as she was taught to, as those in her social circle did. This was because she did love someone. She said this was what kept her morally straight. And yet she died with no hope, thinking she was unloved. Such profound sadness.
Here in the Song of Solomon is an exquisite illutration of love - of God's love for us. He desires us to come to Him - to come to Him for sweet fellowship, for refuge from the trials of the world, for strength to keep morally straight.
Unlike Lily's hopeless situation we do have a way out of a "loveless" live. God ever so sweetly calls to us, longs for us to come to Him. "... let me see you face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face lovely."
Such an amazing concept to wrap your mind around - but, so worth the effort!
Dear Lord, your Word constantly draws me to You! Thank you.
Ditat Deus - God enriches.
him, and when we were climbing the rocky steps up the hillside, my beloved shepherd said to me, O my Dove, while you are here in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret place of the cliff, let me see you face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face lovely."
The night before I read this I had wept my way through the final two chapters of Edith Wharton's House of Mirth. As you read you sense what is coming because you become so in tune with Lily, the main character. You sense her hopelessness. She couldn't bring herself to marry for money as she was taught to, as those in her social circle did. This was because she did love someone. She said this was what kept her morally straight. And yet she died with no hope, thinking she was unloved. Such profound sadness.
Here in the Song of Solomon is an exquisite illutration of love - of God's love for us. He desires us to come to Him - to come to Him for sweet fellowship, for refuge from the trials of the world, for strength to keep morally straight.
Unlike Lily's hopeless situation we do have a way out of a "loveless" live. God ever so sweetly calls to us, longs for us to come to Him. "... let me see you face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face lovely."
Such an amazing concept to wrap your mind around - but, so worth the effort!
Dear Lord, your Word constantly draws me to You! Thank you.
Ditat Deus - God enriches.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
A Beginning
I have been contemplating this for some time. I am hopeful that my thoughts or my interactions with
my Lord and Saviour will be 'edifying' to those that read them. I am also hopeful that this format (activity) will help me to be more disciplined in my daily journaling of God's Word.
My first journal entry is on a reading of Titus 1-3. My verse is 2:12 "It (God's Word) has trained us to reject all ungodliness and worldly desires, to live discreet, upright, devout lives in this present world."
Thought: I like this idea that God's word is "training" my mind. This makes it so necessary that I spend much time in the word - reading and studying - so that my mind will be trained in His Way! As I continue to grow in my spiritual walk with my Lord I am able to see growth and that is exciting. I do not want to be satisfied with status quo - but to be ever changing and growing as the Lord meets me where I am and brings me along His pathway. II Corinthians 3:18 tells me whenever a person turns to Christ they ". . . are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another . . ." Hard to apply such a thing to myself but there it is. Immersing myself in His word is key.
This blog will I hope be a help towards that end.
my Lord and Saviour will be 'edifying' to those that read them. I am also hopeful that this format (activity) will help me to be more disciplined in my daily journaling of God's Word.
My first journal entry is on a reading of Titus 1-3. My verse is 2:12 "It (God's Word) has trained us to reject all ungodliness and worldly desires, to live discreet, upright, devout lives in this present world."
Thought: I like this idea that God's word is "training" my mind. This makes it so necessary that I spend much time in the word - reading and studying - so that my mind will be trained in His Way! As I continue to grow in my spiritual walk with my Lord I am able to see growth and that is exciting. I do not want to be satisfied with status quo - but to be ever changing and growing as the Lord meets me where I am and brings me along His pathway. II Corinthians 3:18 tells me whenever a person turns to Christ they ". . . are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another . . ." Hard to apply such a thing to myself but there it is. Immersing myself in His word is key.
This blog will I hope be a help towards that end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)