hearing for the first time

We tend to get used to singing the same songs and hearing them played over and over again that we often just tune out to the words. I know I've done that with a lot of songs. Especially if they are played a lot or sung a lot. Yesterday in church we sang "Shout to the Lord". That is a song I've heard hundreds of times and have probably sung it that many times as well. It became one of those songs for me that I just sang and rarely thought about. Yesterday I felt as if I was hearing it and singing it for the first time. I was so thankful that the Lord used that song to touch my heart once again. The line that stuck out to me the most was "I sing for joy at the work of your hands...nothing compares to the promise I have in you." Wow. When was the last time you genuinely sang for joy at the work of God's hands? It's a challenge to all of us to really sing from our hearts and mean what we sing. We shouldn't just sing because others around us are singing and people might look at us funny if we stand there not opening our mouth. We need to be coming into the presence of the Lord with a heart of worship and truly meaning the words that we sing. I know a lot of you have heard this song just as many times as I have. I would encourage you to listen to it again. In a moment of meditation, close your eyes, listen to the song and think of the amazing privilege we have in praising our Lord.

what do i really need?

My Pastor challenged us last week in staff meeting with John 16:24- Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

When I talk to God, what am I asking Him for? What are my requests made up of? Am I seeking His will or just giving Him my wish list? Am I asking Him for my joy to be complete? It's challenging. Here are some other versions of this verse.

"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!"~MSG

"You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy."~NLT

"You have not asked for anything in this way before, but now you must ask in my name. Then it will be given to you, so that you will be completely happy."~CEV

God wants us to be happy and to be filled with the joy only He can give. My focus needs to change from what I want to what He wants. Then my joy will be complete.

the faith of a child

This past week at our church we had Vacation Bible School. It was a busy week and at times it was hard to focus on work. During the week, the kids learned different verses and Biblical truths that went along with the theme. VBS this year was Outrigger Island. They decorated the church like a Hawaiian island…it was fun to walk around and experience.

I remember the days of VBS when I was a child. Really the only thing I can remember is Kool Aid and cookies! But I know there were a lot of truths that I learned as a child that I cling to now as an adult. As I tried to focus on work this past week, I managed to hear the verses that were being shouted out by the eager children. Here is what they were taught:

Motto:
Know the Truth
Speak the Truth
Live the Truth

Psalm 86:11 Teach me Your way, LORD,and I will live by Your truth.Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.

Truth: God is real
I know God is real. I can believe there is no other God.
Isaiah 44:6b I am the first and I am the last. There is no God but Me.

Truth: Jesus is God’s Son
I know Jesus is God’s Son. I can celebrate who He is.
Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!"

Truth: Jesus is the only way
I know that Jesus is the only way. I can confess Him as my Savior.
John 14:6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Truth: The Bible is God’s word
I know the Bible is God’s word. I can explore its truth.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.

Truth: My actions show what I believe
I know my actions show what I believe. I can stand for truth.
Luke 10:27 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.

These principles may seem simple and basic to a lot of us who have known the Lord for a while but our faith is built on these principles that hold such power and truth! Let us not forget the foundation of our faith.

Lord, change me

this came from one of my devotionals. the message struck me. do we go to church just to feel good? to feel better about ourselves? to show others that we are faithful in going? or do we genuinely go to be changed? that can be a scary thing to think on. if my desire is to be like Christ and to be the woman He wants me to be, i need to be willing to change. today is sunday...think about this as you go to church today...next week or the week after. when you walk through those doors, you are inviting Christ to change you.

As I sat in church, my foot began to tap to the lively praise music. It
was refreshing! Then the pastor stood and prayed, "Oh Lord, we have
come here today to be changed by You. Please change us."

The words caught me off guard. I wasn't sure I had come to be changed;
encouraged and refreshed, yes, but changed? I thought about it over the
next week.

As Christians we so often want God's blessing and His strength and His
wisdom...but do we willingly say, "Lord, change me?" I knew I didn't
always. Yet it is the thing God calls us to, to be changed.

I thought of the worm and the butterfly. If the worm were asked, I am
quite sure that he would not feel the need to change, having no concept
of the beautiful, flying creature he would become.

Only the Lord sees us as the finished product of what His grace can do
in our lives. Only He knows the butterfly in each of us.

"The Spirit of the Lord works within us to become more and more like
Him" (2 Corinthians 3: 18, The Living Bible).

Is the Lord asking you to let Him change you? Change is not always
easy. But the joy and the reward of being transformed into the godly person
God knows you can be will surprise and delight you. It will bring a
fulfillment that is worth every effort. And God will enable you, by His
Spirit, to make the changes you have put off too long.

Don't wait any longer for God to change your circumstances, your boss,
your husband or whoever or whatever is holding you back. Ask Him today
to change you. He promises to transform you, and you won't be
disappointed with the result!

By: Gail Rogers

when i gaze into the night sky

i have a calendar at home that shows a scripture for each day of the year. this morning when i woke up i flipped the page and the passage was Psalm 8.

O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:

all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,

the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

there are several songs that we sing today that refer to this passage. however, my favorite is "The Majesty and Glory of Your Name". i remember singing that when i was in choir at church many years ago and always getting teary when i sang it. it's such a beautiful song and the part when it goes into the hallelujahs, i just can't help but get emotional thinking about how we will be singing our hallelujahs to God when we see Him! please watch this incredible version of this song by Sandi Patty.

first work week

i survived my first week at the new job. it went well. i'm glad it's part time for now. the people i work with are very friendly and have welcomed me warmly. i'm currently working on creating a newsletter for the church family. i'm really enjoying using my creativity to come up with something effective.