For the last couple of weeks I've been enjoying good feelings toward the Lord and his word and I've been revelling in each newly recognized blessing that has been poured out onto me.
I was feeling pretty special, and then, pride got me. And pride comes before a fall - in other words my eyes were more interested in looking at the changes in me, than they were at beholding the beauty of the Lord and I crashed.
Now I'm wallowing in irritability and disappointment.
I thank the Lord that he has helped me to see my error and I know that he will help me out of this place yet again and he will be my patient and kind shepherd once more.
c.anna
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
prayer
What a gift! What an absolute honor and privilege it is to pray.
By prayer I can go right into the very presence of God and say whatever I want, however I want and whenever the mood strikes me to do it.
God, in his love gave me this right...and not only me, but to all people. Even non believers are given the space to send their mocking, sneering, provoking words up to his ears.
In his infinite fairness and love, he has made himself open to us - all of us. What an absolutely marvelous thing, prayer is.
May praises be sung to the Lord now and for all eternity, may the words of my mouth become more and more pleasing to him.
c.anna
By prayer I can go right into the very presence of God and say whatever I want, however I want and whenever the mood strikes me to do it.
God, in his love gave me this right...and not only me, but to all people. Even non believers are given the space to send their mocking, sneering, provoking words up to his ears.
In his infinite fairness and love, he has made himself open to us - all of us. What an absolutely marvelous thing, prayer is.
May praises be sung to the Lord now and for all eternity, may the words of my mouth become more and more pleasing to him.
c.anna
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
emptiness
I have a spending addiction.
One of the blessings that God gives to each one who recieves him is self control, and so, I try to claim that blessing and control myself.
It works, until I see a fancy hand bag, or a nifty little wallet or sparkling trinket.
Like a little monkey, I grab at anything shiney.
Somehow I just feel empty. Filling that part of me with the fleeting infatuation of a new item is unsatisfying and is leaving me in a perpetual state of want.
So, I'm shifting my focus away from the emptiness within and onto the promise that the Lord will meet all of my needs. I want to join with the singer who sang '...my cup runneth over, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.'
c.anna
One of the blessings that God gives to each one who recieves him is self control, and so, I try to claim that blessing and control myself.
It works, until I see a fancy hand bag, or a nifty little wallet or sparkling trinket.
Like a little monkey, I grab at anything shiney.
Somehow I just feel empty. Filling that part of me with the fleeting infatuation of a new item is unsatisfying and is leaving me in a perpetual state of want.
So, I'm shifting my focus away from the emptiness within and onto the promise that the Lord will meet all of my needs. I want to join with the singer who sang '...my cup runneth over, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.'
c.anna
motives
Thinking of heaven a couple of days ago, I wondered to myself why do I want to go there...I thought to myself that I don't want to go to hell.
This thought brought to mind the words of John the Baptist who said to the crowd by the Jordan River, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the wrath that is to come!'
OK. So I'm fleeing the wrath to come, yet somehow this seems shallow and somehow I can't imagine that escaping eternal damnation standing alone as a good reason to be ushered into the presence of the Lord of Hosts.
I can't help but think of the risen Christ saying to his disciple, Peter, 'Do you love me?' He not only asked the question, but he asked it of Peter 3 times. One time for each of the times Peter had denied association with the Lord (which is another topic, but the focus here is on the question, 'Do you love me?')
So I ask myself. Do I love Him?
c.anna
This thought brought to mind the words of John the Baptist who said to the crowd by the Jordan River, 'You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee the wrath that is to come!'
OK. So I'm fleeing the wrath to come, yet somehow this seems shallow and somehow I can't imagine that escaping eternal damnation standing alone as a good reason to be ushered into the presence of the Lord of Hosts.
I can't help but think of the risen Christ saying to his disciple, Peter, 'Do you love me?' He not only asked the question, but he asked it of Peter 3 times. One time for each of the times Peter had denied association with the Lord (which is another topic, but the focus here is on the question, 'Do you love me?')
So I ask myself. Do I love Him?
c.anna
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