TXT3

Wow.  This passage from 17-24 has really hit home with me this morning; very timely.  I read it through first in the NIV, but the personal application really shone through when I read the version in The Message.  (I mentioned to one of our family who posted a comment yesterday that we are so fortunate to have all of the resources that we do!  To be able to read the same passage in however many different versions can really send a point home and offer clarity.)

I will tell you that the hurtful situation I referred to yesterday has attempted to consume my thoughts for the last 36 hours or so.  And, there have been moments where I admit I, without even realizing it, completely entertained the negative thoughts even though I kept praying for that not to happen.  So, maybe I am praying for the wrong thing???  Instead, I should be praying to just stay “absorbed” in the Word (23), and to continue getting delight and fulfillment from It.  Seek happiness, not misery…what a concept.  Why is it such a Eureka moment to realize it would be much easier to ignore gossip and negative attitudes and to just stay focused on the Lord and scripture?  I mean, I read and learned on Day One that I will be blessed as long as I stay on His course, but yet I still let the words of imperfect humans make me forget that just hours later!!!  I continue to be humbled by what God reveals to me, but there is joy in learning his lessons!  “Open my eyes so I can see…”

I felt very energized and excited about facing the day yesterday.  I wrote that anything that could come up would seem small after spending the morning with God, but the Devil decided to use that against me.  Actually, I expected to be hit with temptation and trouble throughout this process, and, therefore, made that my a huge part of my prayer yesterday.  I pleaded with God to give me strength and shield me against the Evil’s schemes.  I found myself facing one of the most hurtful situations I can recall in a very long time yesterday afternoon, and turned myself back into Psalm 119:8-”I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.”  Yesterday morning those words of the psalmist seemed a little bold to me, but at that point it was the plea and prayer I needed. 

 So this morning, I am feeling even a little stronger, because as much as I hurt I am still going to delve into the Word, follow His decrees, and keep praising.  Psalm 14 struck me today-”I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”  When I think of rejoicing in great riches, I picture the dance and I’d be doing if I were to play and win the lottery.   Trust me, it would be wild and go on forever, and I would call everyone I knew to tell them about it.   That is how I am supposed to feel about what God has laid out in the bible for me to follow, and it should be shared!  I think I will get up and jump around and read a little more…

Thanks for your comments yesterday!  I really enjoyed reading them!

So, here I am to embark on this journey of an exposed daily quiet time.  For the record, I am not a morning person.  In fact, I am about as far from a morning person as you can get.  I was hopeful that I would wake up this morning hearing birds sing, a smile on my face, and skip into the other room to begin praying.  Not exactly.  But, I did sit down and start my day with prayer and reading.  I will say that I have missed this feeling that after a good morning conversation with GOD, the fears of the rest of the day already seem small in comparison.  No matter what is thrown at me today, I know that I have blessings to look forward to as long as I  “walk according to the law of the Lord” and “seek him with all of my heart”.   Hope you are joining me!

Application

• What film always makes you cry? Watch it again this week and reflect on the emotions inside of you. God loves you more than any movie can depict love.
• God expressed His love to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. How about expressing your love to someone by sacrificing some time and energy and writing them a letter explaining how you fell about them.
• Read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman and begin figuring out how best to show love to your family in the way they understand it.
• Take your spouse out on a date and “lavish love” on them.

Text Questions

When you hear the words “The Cross,” do you think of Jesus’ death or a piece of jewelry? Be honest!
With 40 answers, 35 people said Jesus’ death, and 5 replied with jewelry.

Does realizing just how much your Heavenly Father loves you actually impact the way you live your life?
With 67 responses, 2 said Always, 24 said Often, 36 said Sometimes, 5 said Seldom, and 0 said Never.

Video

Music

Let God Arise, Chris Tomlin
Everyday, Lincoln Brewster
Hosanna
Revelation Song

There are two interpretations to Finding Your Following.

1. Do people follow you? If so, who?
2. Who are you following?

Think about those questions for a moment. Really. Stop reading right now and answer those questions.

Answering one can answer the other. Show me the kind of people who follow you and I can make a pretty good guess as to who you’re following.

Last Sunday, Jimmy talked about being like our Father, a.k.a. God. In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul wrote, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

If you’ve been having a hard time in your spiritual life, seek out a mentor. Find someone you respect and admire for their knowledge, their heart, and the way they live their lives. Then ask if they’ll invest in your life. As you begin to see change in your life, you’ll begin to follow Christ more on your own accord than having to be prodded. (Although we all need motivation from time to time from our trusted friends).

It’s important to truly think about who you’re following because, no matter who you are, someone is following you, whether you know it or not. As Kelly said here, you might be the only Bible some people read. And I’d like to think they’d get a better impression of the life of a Christian from you than from something like this:

I mean, their hearts are in the right place (I guess), but…