Just thinking...

I am thinking about a verse from Psalms that I just heard again. Psalm 19:14 “Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.” So I’m thinking about this and my mind gets stuck. 

WARNING: if you start to THINK about God’s Word, your mind will often get stuck.

How do you do this? Is it even possible for all of my speech and all of my thoughts to be pleasing to God?  As I take inventory of recent words and thoughts, I’m guessing I haven’t been exactly stellar. Oh, I have learned how to bite my tongue so that words I am thinking aren’t spoken in public but does it count if I just mutter under my breath?  And the thoughts…the idea of a mind reader scares me to death! But God knows my thoughts; “For the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts.” (1 Chron. 28:9)

I can never live up to that standard. What a depressing thought!

But then the Psalmist adds, “You are my Rock and my Redeemer.” So what does that have to do with this?

Well the idea of Jesus as my Rock speaks of a firm foundation on which to stand.  Perhaps some of my wayward words and thoughts are a result of not standing firm in Christ. Can my relationship with Christ help me grow beyond some of my inappropriate words and thoughts?

I know I have fallen off rocks before - literally and spiritually speaking. So the thought of Jesus as my Redeemer is awesome! Even when I do fail, Jesus is my Redeemer, taking my ugly sin away and cleansing the stain it leaves behind.

I need to seek to please God in every area of my life even knowing I can’t do it myself. Then, my relationship with Jesus can both improve my speech/thought life AND redeem it when (not if) I fail.

Sometimes getting stuck isn't so bad afterall...

Loving like I am loved

Are You Lonely??? by Bound4Heaven†Saved†By†Grace on Polyvore.com

God has been speaking to me about loving like I have been loved...that is so huge it is overwhelming.   There are so many people in this world - so many right here in WY - too many right here in Greybull - that need to know they are loved by God and His plan is that I would SHOW them that He loves them.  I know that all I'm supposed to need is a confident assurance that I am loved by God and the faith to live like it, but that is hard to do.  So I pray that He will complete the work He has begun in me; I can't do it myself. Lord, help me to love like I am loved.

Trick or Treat

Just how my mind has been working lately...

Halloween comes at the end of the month and people will spend time and money pretending to be someone – or something – they are not. I am aware of the pagan roots of the holiday and the demonic focus it has taken in our culture for some. But to the pure in heart for the most part it is just something fun to do.

When our daughters were younger “dressing up” was a favorite activity. We had the “dress up box” in the playroom and Brenda and I were often treated to dances and songs and shows that the girls imagined while dressed up like a princess, a pirate, a pumpkin or whatever was the costume of the day. Nothing but good clean fun.

So I am thinking about the heart of the matter and I believe it is the heart that matters. You remember God telling Samuel which of Jesse’s boys to anoint as king of Israel; “I (God) do not look at the things people look at. Man looks at how someone appears on the outside. But I look at what is in the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

And no matter how good the costume, you are never going to fool God about what is in your heart. 1 Kings 22:29-40 tells the story of Ahab trying to hide the fact that he was the King as he went into battle. The intent was to be safe from being singled out for attack. Ahab had a wicked heart and had angered God with his sin. Well, you read the story, but the disguise didn’t work.

Whether it’s for Halloween with the intent to get more candy, or any other day when you dress to impress…Dress up all you like, it doesn’t change what is in your heart. You may trick me, but God knows what is behind the mask.