At a Loss for Words?

We know it’s important to talk to God, but sometimes, for me at least, the words just don’t come.  Either I’m so wound up that I can’t focus, or I’m so beaten down no words come close to how I’m feeling, or I’m so exhausted, I fall asleep.  It’s those times that when I can’t find the words, I go with the best; God’s Word.

As I find my favorite verses or discover new ones, I pray through them and find such a sweet time of conversation with Father.  Sometimes the conversation goes like, “Father!  Remember when I discovered this verse?  What a day that was and what encouragement your words brought to my heart.  I needed to see that again.  Thank you.”

Maybe today is one of those days where your words are locked up tight and the conversation seems to be lagging.  Find your favorite verses, remind yourself why they are your favorite.  Better yet, let Father know why they are your favorite.  Let His words to you be the start of a precious conversation that leads to a closer relationship and an out-pouring of worship to Him.

I lift you up, O Mighty One, for you are so powerful that the sun rises and sets at your command.  I am so thankful, God, for your sending us your son who is our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.  Everything we need!  I praise you, Magnificent God, for in your infinite mercy, you have called us to Yourself; drawn us in; wooed us with your love.  I am so thankful that none of that was dependent on me for I know I would not have sought you on my own.  Thankful, heartfelt praises to you my Glorious God!  
(Psalm 50:1, Isaiah 9:6, Romans 9:16)

Thankful today,
Lisa

Just Like Father

I loved, and still do, hanging out with my dad.  He’s my hero, my friend, and one of my most favorite people in the world.  If my dad was making cinnamon rolls, I had my four-year-old fingers in that dough. If he was chopping and splitting wood, I was hauling and stacking it. When he worked on the cars, I was out there carrying the drip pan of old oil or sitting in the car pressing the brakes to bleed them. Even better, was having my head under the hood of the car as he explained how important it was to check the fluids often.  (that conversation I recalled quite vividly when during college I blew my engine on the interstate. Yes. True story).  Sometimes, it was just a game of bumper pool or hanging out over a bowl of popcorn. It didn’t matter what he was doing, if he was doing it, I wanted to be there with him.  Even the way we walked became very similar. And though I didn’t always particularly like the task, I loved the man so I stuck close to his side and hung on every word.  I wanted to be just like him.

I picture the same thing with our Heavenly Father.  John 2:6 says, ”the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.”  And then in Colossians 2:6 “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,” Abiding and walking.  It implies a close, intimate relationship; mirroring characteristics and “mannerisms”.  Just as I love being with my earthly dad, I long to do what Father does and be with Him.  I want to watch Him closely, listening and studying His words, paying attention to how he does things.  With great expectation I want to participate in all He does and keep His commands because that helps me stay close to Him while enjoying His closeness and love that pours out as we walk and abide together.  I want to be just like Him.

How about you?  You may not have had a good earthly father in your life, but you can have a strong, close relationship with the one true heavenly Father. Building a relationship with Him doesn’t have to be super complicated and difficult.  Some days it may be more involved with Scripture study and long times spent in prayer; working out deep truths.  While other days, it can be as simple as sitting at His feet, holding a drip pan of oil while He speaks love to your heart.

Abiding and walking,

Lisa

Where Does Your Compass Point?

I love to watch the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies.  I have even (dare I say it?) found myself pondering spiritual matters and seeing connections and analogies in the stories. For example:

Matthew 6:21 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” brought to mind Captain Jack Sparrow’s compass.  Yes.  It’s true.  I cannot explain my brain; just go with it for now.  Jack’s compass is not an ordinary compass because it does not point North.  It points to Jack’s deepest desires.  Whatever Jack desires most the compass will point the way so he can obtain it.  So, Jack gets a ship, a crew, and the necessary supplies, heads out into open waters, and does  what a respectable pirate will do while keeping his eyes on his compass. Aargh and Yo Ho Ho! (Sorry.  I was thinking it and so, well, I just had to.)

What does your heart desire?  If you were holding Jack’s compass, where would it point? Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” When our heart desires God, He has promised to be found. When we focus our heart and mind on our love for Him, Psalm 91:14-15 says that God will, “deliver him. I will protect him because he knows my name. When he calls out to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in his distress. I will deliver him, and I will honor him.” 

Captain Jack sought earthly treasure that would eventually be destroyed by moths, rust, or stolen by other pirates.  We sometimes do the same.  We settle for costume jewelry when we are promised heavenly treasure that will last forever. (Matthew 6:19-20)

My prayer for us as we enter into a new year is that we will keep our hearts with all vigilance on God, for from it flows the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23)  Yes! Springs of life and treasure that lasts forever!  Now that is treasure worth seeking!  Ahoy, ye mateys and freebooters!  Let’s go!

Setting my “heart compass” on Him, 

Lisa (aka Peg-leg Sue)

When All Is Gone, God Is Not

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It’s a relationship goal I long for with Father.  What rock-steady, absolute faith Habakkuk shows. I imagine a man standing in the midst of desolation, stripped bare, with no life around him with arms raised high, voice shouting and heart rejoicing to the God of his salvation. It’s as if he is oblivious to the emptiness around him; not a care in the world.  Completely secure, completely confident in God. Matthew Henry’s commentary says, that Habakkuk resolves to delight and triumph in God even if all the above happens because when all is gone God is not.

God is our salvation and so our soul is secure.  Our joy and security doesn’t come from our circumstances but in the knowledge that God has saved us and we are His forever. And even if all is stripped away, God is still present.

Psalm 46:1-3,7 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling...The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

May we have this unswerving faith and confidence in God.  To know Him so well, that we stand strong and not fear during those times when “the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines,” or “though the earth gives way” because He is our strength, our salvation, and is very present in our lives.

Rejoicing in the Lord with you today,

Lisa