Today, I am meditating on Ephesians 2. The following verses really stuck out to me.
v4 because of His love for me v5 He made me alive v6 He seated me in heavenly places
v7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace
v8 saved by grace through faith; and that not of myself, it is the gift of God
v9 not as a result of works
v10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them
v13 He has brought me near
v18 through Him we have access to the Father
He is so good to us! It is not something we earned or are able to earn by the things we do (works). At the same time He prepared good works in advance so that we could walk in them. He brought us near and gives us access to the Father.
What are you meditating on?
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Meditations
I am going to start a new type of post which I plan on making a regular thing here.
In Joshua 1:7-8, it says:"Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (NASB)
In Psalms 1:1-3, it says: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinner, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does no wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers." (NASB)
In Psalms 119:105, it says: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
In this post I plan on sharing what I am meditating on from the Word.
In Joshua 1:7-8, it says:"Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that that you may have success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." (NASB)
In Psalms 1:1-3, it says: "How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinner, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does no wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers." (NASB)
In Psalms 119:105, it says: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."
In this post I plan on sharing what I am meditating on from the Word.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Keep Running
Today on my run, I encountered someone who encouraged me. There she was heading towards me on the path with her cane in hand. I saw her from a long way off coming down the hill I was headed up. I was thinking about how I wanted to be done but I turned my focus on her instead. She was struggling along one step at a time but she was doing it. Watching her made me think about how thankful I am for my health and where I am at. I have not reached my goal but I am on the way. It made me a little ashamed about how I complain to myself about my progress. It also reminded me that I cannot compare myself to others. I have to go from where I am at. If I keep running, I am going to continue to see progress and results.
When I caught up with her, I had to say, "You are looking good, keep it up." She laughed and said "Thanks." I should have stopped and told her what an encouragement she was to me. If I see her again on my run, I will do exactly that.
It reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians 3:12: "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." He continues on in verses 13-14 saying: "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for that prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I am going to keep running.
We are all at different places in our walk with God. Sometimes I feel like I am moving so fast towards where I should be going and at others I feel like I am struggling along. I cannot compare myself to others. How can I compare an apple to an orange? There is no one else on earth like me. No one else is called to do exactly what I am called to do. No one else is called to reach those I am called to reach. (Of course, if I neglect what I am supposed to be doing God will send someone else to do it.) If I am focused on someone else and what they are doing, my focus is not on what I am supposed to be doing and it is likely that I will miss something. The same is true for you.
Keep running. Keep pressing. Don't worry about the pace of your progress unless you are not working towards your goal. If you keep going, there will be progress. If you quit, there won't. It is pretty easy, isn't it? Why do we complicate it sometimes?
When I caught up with her, I had to say, "You are looking good, keep it up." She laughed and said "Thanks." I should have stopped and told her what an encouragement she was to me. If I see her again on my run, I will do exactly that.
It reminds me of what Paul said in Philippians 3:12: "Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." He continues on in verses 13-14 saying: "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for that prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." I am going to keep running.
We are all at different places in our walk with God. Sometimes I feel like I am moving so fast towards where I should be going and at others I feel like I am struggling along. I cannot compare myself to others. How can I compare an apple to an orange? There is no one else on earth like me. No one else is called to do exactly what I am called to do. No one else is called to reach those I am called to reach. (Of course, if I neglect what I am supposed to be doing God will send someone else to do it.) If I am focused on someone else and what they are doing, my focus is not on what I am supposed to be doing and it is likely that I will miss something. The same is true for you.
Keep running. Keep pressing. Don't worry about the pace of your progress unless you are not working towards your goal. If you keep going, there will be progress. If you quit, there won't. It is pretty easy, isn't it? Why do we complicate it sometimes?
Running
I have been running since December. I have to admit when I started. I was saying "I am not a runner." It was very true at first. It took time. It helped that I have a friend that runs because I was meeting someone many times so I couldn't change my mind. I also have somewhere indoors to run. Our local high school has an indoor track that is open to the public. My ipod helps me too. When the run gets hard, I focus on the music instead of thinking about how I want to be done.
Another thing that helps me is running right away in the morning. I get up, get dressed to run and I am out the door within a few minutes. (I am sure I am quite a sight to some of my neighbors. If you are one of them, honestly I do look in the mirror and freshen up a bit.) This helps because I focus on getting ready (which takes all of my mental capabilities when I first get up) instead of thinking about how I don't really want to go outside, hit the pavement and get all sweaty. It is also much cooler at this time of the day. I have found that when I run in the morning I don't tend to suffer the afternoon tiredness which is very helpful.
I have seen a lot of benefits from running. I feel great. I have also dropped two pants sizes. I am sleeping better.
One website that a friend mentioned to me was Map My Run. I have enjoyed using this for about the last few weeks. You can use it to keep track of your workouts. I even joined the Asics challenge which is to run 100 miles in a month. I am 32 miles towards my goal.
How do you challenge yourself? Is there something you thought you could never do? Have you tried it? If you have and found it very difficult, do you have a support system? If you need encouragement, I will volunteer because I know how helpful it is to both of us.
Remember Philippians 4:13. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know you have probably heard it before and perhaps it seems a little overused but does that make it untrue? The key is "through Christ." Perhaps it seems like your goal would be unimportant to Christ but Paul said "all things." Your goal is important to God.
Another thing that helps me is running right away in the morning. I get up, get dressed to run and I am out the door within a few minutes. (I am sure I am quite a sight to some of my neighbors. If you are one of them, honestly I do look in the mirror and freshen up a bit.) This helps because I focus on getting ready (which takes all of my mental capabilities when I first get up) instead of thinking about how I don't really want to go outside, hit the pavement and get all sweaty. It is also much cooler at this time of the day. I have found that when I run in the morning I don't tend to suffer the afternoon tiredness which is very helpful.
I have seen a lot of benefits from running. I feel great. I have also dropped two pants sizes. I am sleeping better.
One website that a friend mentioned to me was Map My Run. I have enjoyed using this for about the last few weeks. You can use it to keep track of your workouts. I even joined the Asics challenge which is to run 100 miles in a month. I am 32 miles towards my goal.
How do you challenge yourself? Is there something you thought you could never do? Have you tried it? If you have and found it very difficult, do you have a support system? If you need encouragement, I will volunteer because I know how helpful it is to both of us.
Remember Philippians 4:13. Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I know you have probably heard it before and perhaps it seems a little overused but does that make it untrue? The key is "through Christ." Perhaps it seems like your goal would be unimportant to Christ but Paul said "all things." Your goal is important to God.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Be Still and Know
The other day I was reading a post by Heidi at Find Me... Find Life... Real Life... . It got me thinking about how I deal with unpleasant things. A lot of times I try and conquer them or figure out some way to get to the other side of them. I was an "All my problems will be solved by Wednesday" type of child. I would honestly think through my week and ponder everything going on and figure that it when all my problems would be over. I am a thinker, which can be a good thing. It can also be a very bad thing because it can be hard to shut off at times. Those are the times that God reminds me of Psalm 46:10. In the NASB it says, "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
There are many times in the Bible that God mentions to be still. In Saul's day He said, "Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will perform before your eyes" (1 Samuel 12:16). In King Jehoshaphat's day, He said: "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem, Do not fear or be dismayed for the Lord is with you" (2 Chronicles 20:17). In Nehemiah's day, He said: "The Joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10) and the Levites encouraged the calmed the people and said: "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved" (8:11). In Mark 4:39, Jesus told the storm to "Be Still."
I typically find it easier to believe God for the things I consider to be more important or larger. But when it comes to the smaller things, I find myself thinking that not only am I able to deal with them but that they are my responsibility. Yet, God never said that. He is cares about the little things just as much as the big things. I am faced with smaller things more often then larger things. When I deal with the smaller things on my own, they are much more difficult than they need to be because I complicate them.
Do you trust and involve God in every area of your life?
There are many times in the Bible that God mentions to be still. In Saul's day He said, "Even now, take your stand and see this great thing which the Lord will perform before your eyes" (1 Samuel 12:16). In King Jehoshaphat's day, He said: "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem, Do not fear or be dismayed for the Lord is with you" (2 Chronicles 20:17). In Nehemiah's day, He said: "The Joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10) and the Levites encouraged the calmed the people and said: "Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved" (8:11). In Mark 4:39, Jesus told the storm to "Be Still."
I typically find it easier to believe God for the things I consider to be more important or larger. But when it comes to the smaller things, I find myself thinking that not only am I able to deal with them but that they are my responsibility. Yet, God never said that. He is cares about the little things just as much as the big things. I am faced with smaller things more often then larger things. When I deal with the smaller things on my own, they are much more difficult than they need to be because I complicate them.
Do you trust and involve God in every area of your life?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)