Monday, July 26, 2010

My Hope and Refuge


Psalm 42:1 - " As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God."


 Lord, you are my hope and my refuge. All I need is found in you! Thank you for your blessings and provision in my life! For my family - Rob, Robyn, Judd, Brett, Josh and Cole! They are my closest companions on this journey of life. Thank you for the valleys and the mountaintops in which we walk together. Thank you for Your Presence and provision for each day. Jesus, to you be all glory and honor and praise!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

A Look at Psalm 23

I love the book of Psalms!! There is so much to be gleaned from each chapter - instruction for life, comfort, encouragement, etc. Recently, I received an email taking a look at God's provisions that David describes in Psalm 23 and it was so good that I have to post it to my blog for safekeeping!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd ..... That is relationship!
I shall not want ..... That is provision!
He makes me to lie down in green pastures ..... That is rest!
He leads me beside the still waters ..... That is refreshment!
He restores my soul ..... That is healing!
He leads me in the paths of righteousness ..... That is guidance!
For His name's sake ..... That is purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ..... That is testing!
I will fear no evil ..... That is protection!
For You are with me ..... That is faithfulness!
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me ..... That is discipline!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies ..... That is hope!
You anoint my head with oil ..... That is consecration!
My cup runs over ..... That is abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life ..... That is blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord ..... That is security!
Forever ..... That is eternity!!!

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Guard Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all dilligence; for out of it are the issues of life." The New Living Translation puts it this way, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do."

In Western society, we tend to think that our seat of the emotions (where we think, feel and reason) is our brain, but the Bible identifies this place as our heart. This is the place where everything that we see and experience is recorded. These things affect everything that we do. I believe that is why the writer of Proverbs warned us to guard our hearts, but how do we do that? The word "heart" is mentioned 855 times in the KJV Bible so I decided to search some of these verses for the answer.

Here are some things that I want to make sure are in practice in my life:

  1. I must recognize God in my heart - Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Don't want to be a fool!
  2. I must trust God with all my heart -Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths."
  3. I must memorize God's Word - Psalm 119:11 - "Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."
  4. I must love others sincerely and from a pure heart - I Peter 1:22 - "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart."
  5. I must spend more time cultivating the virtues of my heart than on my outward appearance - I Peter 3:3-4 - "Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
  6. I must serve God from my heart. - Ephesians 6:6 - "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart."
  7. I must love God with all my heart. - Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
  8. I must guard my heart against things that are in it. - Mark 7:21-23- "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." Okay, so I'm not a man, but a woman's heart can contain these same evil leanings!
  9. I must strive to keep a merry heart. - Proverbs 17:22 - "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." I want to be a blessing to those who are around me and uplift their spirits.
  10. I must submit my heart to God for examination and be willing to let Him lead me in His ways. - Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." 

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