Writing

When I don't know what to do

You are my wisdom

When I don't know where to turn

You are my direction

When the storm rages

You are my calm

I hold on for your direction

I hold on to find your peace

I hold on to you forever

Your face is all I seek

I hold on to see your promise

Coming true inside of me

Oh you trusted me with favor

With your power inside of me

All my love is yours forever

Monday Devotional :: Dealing With Tempatation

Now the snake was the most cunning animal that the Lord God had made. The snake asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat fruit from any tree in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (Good News Bible)

For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, "If you are God's Son, jump. It's written, isn't it, that 'he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone'?" "Yes," said Jesus, "and it's also written, 'Don't you dare tempt the Lord your God.'" Luke 4:9-12 (The Message)

Why exactly is the devil so hell-bent (Hehe, see what I did there? Hell-bent!) on tempting us? The obvious question is to seperate us from God. The devil knows that he can't have a bunch of people walking around free and loving God and being loved by God because that love leads them to a realization of how blessed and powerful they are. The enemy is aiming to keep people blind to the truth and deaf to God's call to come up higher.

If we look at scripture we see 2 ways the devil uses to get us off track:

1. He questions our view of God. Is God's word really true? Did God really say? 

We need to firmly establish in our hearts who God is to us. The more we study the Bible the more His character is revealed to us. We know from scripture God is good, sovereign, and His word is true. From different passages and stories we also get to know God is love, passionate and full of wonder. The more we read, the more we know. 

One thing we can hold on to though is that every word He says is true. He is the supreme authority in our lives. His word is unquestionable and that's just the way it is. We're faced with aspects of this question the devil posed more and more in our culture: Did God really tell you that this is wrong? I know I face this when it comes to the kind of TV shows I watch. My sister asked me once why if I was so excited about a certain type of show and whether it's something I would be comfortable watching with my pastor's knowledge. I laughed it off, but the question stuck with me.  

Did God really say I shouldn't watch this and that? Did God really say I can only go this far with my boyfriend? Did God really say I have to honour ALL authority? It's hard to make the better choice. I know. I've been there. I'm there right now! The devil tempted Jesus to presume upon the promises of God. We presume upon the promises of God when we purposely sin while clinging to a promise of God. If Jesus had purposely sinned by throwing Himself down from the temple, He would have been testing God’s promise to not let Him fall. If I purposely sin while claiming God's promise to forgive sin, I am testing God. It's the same as praying, "God, please forgive me for this sin I am about to commit,"—it presumes upon God's grace.

We need to look at everything through the lens of the word of God. Repeat after me, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it."

Check out "How to know the will of God" tomorrow.

2. He questions our identity. We need to ask God who we are. Beyond being a child of God made in His image to love and be loved by Him, I've been asking God, "Why did you create me the way you did? Why do I feel like this when this happens?" "What does this trait of mine teach me and teach others about who You are?" 

The enemy wants us to doubt our relationship with God, and to focus on meeting our own needs without Him. Jesus' 1st temptation was to turn a stone into bread. See how he didn't say 'pray to God and ask Him to turn it into bread.' The devil wants us to doubt our identity in God and then place our reliance on ourselves which ultimately leads us straight into chains. When we're disconnected from our creator and disconnected from His purpose for us, we search for other ways to fill the gap and 'be complete'. 

The truth is that we were created by God, for God. Of love and for love. You and I have a desire to have a full life and God has promised  us that we'll live and live to the fullest. We desire for fullness and satisfaction, and God has promised to fill us with Himself. Will you believe Him and find your fullness in Him? Or will you believe the lies of the devil, who tells you that stuffing yourself full of the world will meet your desire for fullness?

We learn 2 ways to resist and overcome temptation, from someone who fell (Eve) and someone who conquered (Jesus).

1. Jesus refused to agree/comply with the enemy. Again, repeat after me, "God said it. I believe it. That settles it."


2. He was ready to reply to it. He quoted from Scripture, "It is written". We have to be stubborn about making time for the Bible. Squeeze in the word of God at every opportunity. If it means listening to a sermon on the way to work instead of (often times pervasive talk radio) do it. If it means blasting worship music and singing in the shower, do it. Surround yourself, cover yourself in the word of God.

So Lord, I pray that you'd forgive us for all the times we've doubted who You are. I pray that you would reveal the subtle ways we allow sin into our lives knowingly or unknowingly. I pray that you may show each of us who you made us to be. Amen.

Devotional

Today's devotional comes from Holly Furtick from Elevation Church in NC.

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Point out anything in me that offends you,
and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

I memorized this verse when I was a little girl. And up until the other day, I always thought of it as a verse that was asking God to show me my sin. But the other day the phrase, “know my anxious thoughts,” jumped out at me.

Have you ever had one of those days where your thoughts were just running wild with anxiety? And you knew your thoughts were so ridiculous that you shouldn’t even voice them to anyone? Being anxious like having a voice screaming in your head while you are trying to concentrate on having a normal day.

But how comforting to know that God knows my ridiculous, anxious thoughts. Psalm 139:2 says, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” And God is the One who can calm them. When I have these moments, I have to ground myself. I have to stop and remind myself who I am, and to borrow from my husband’s teaching, I have to remember whose I am.

I think anxious thoughts offend God because it is as if I am saying, I don’t trust God. I am a child of God, called by God. I am empowered, through His grace, to be an amazing mom, and wife, and pastor’s wife. He knows my anxious thoughts and He wants me to trust Him with them. Just like 1 Peter 5:7 say, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Source

Sometime God Wants Us to Obey Before He Meets Us

Matthew 28 [NET]
1 Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you!” 8 So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” They came to him, held on to his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”

I've found myself in a little situation where I'm supposed to send my future landlady money for my rent but at the same time stalling a little bit and not pushing that hard to get my bank stuff sorted out because I'm nervous paying this rent having not yet done my relocation sorted. I'm trusting God to give me favor and I've prepared as well as I can and asking Him to show me how I haven't and what improvements I can make before my interview next month. However the fact is this rent invoice is looming over my head and I want with all my heart to take this great apartment.

Last night I emailed my future roomie and told her my fears and as I wrote I kept seeing the irony of saying I trust God, God loves you, He'll provide for us, yet being worried about this.

I was reading Holly Furtick's blog and she talked about how in this passage, Jesus met the women after they obeyed.

In the same way, God's given me some instructions with what He wants me to do with my life. I have to obey and be where He wants me to be, So He can meet me in that place of obedience. My roomie wrote back and encouraged me to follow what God's placed in my heart, so I write to my landlady and explained the situation and I thank God for me and my roomie having favor with her. I am so peaceful about doing this and committing to walking in the future and the path He has set me on, knowing I will meet Him as I walk.

God Meets Us in that Place Of Obedience.

Devotional

I got today's devotional from one of my new favorite pastors, Pastor Steven Furtick coming all the way from Elevation Church out in Charlotte.

God gives strength for today, and hope for tomorrow.

Sometimes we get it backwards. When we worry about the uncertainties of tomorrow we’re bound to bend and break beneath the weight of anxiety. God doesn’t give strength for tomorrow’s tests. He only gives strength for today. Like manna. Each day has enough trouble of its own .

God’s only provision for your future needs is hope. The certainty of His sovereignty is your only guarantee. Make a note though: God doesn’t give you hope for the needs of today. He gives you strength for your immediate needs-and He expects you to do something about them! I’ve met people who waste time hoping things will work out-when God has already given them the strength to make a change and take a step. You can’t substitute hope for hard work, expecting God to do something for you that you can do for yourself.

Do you a have need today? Walk confidently in the strength of your God for the needs of your now.
Do you have a concern about tomorrow? Tomorrow’s strength will be deposited in your account first thing tomorrow morning-not a moment before.
Until then, put your hope in Christ alone.

Great is His faithfulness!

 Source

My Thoughts on Jeremiah 44 #OneYearBible

Jeremiah 44 is pretty interesting. 

We actually had to do Jeremiah in High School CRE (Religious Ed. but right now, I don't get it at all, it's taken me skipping through 44 chapters to finally see what's going on...apparently that A I got on my exam was a miracle, haha!)

God tells the Israelites, “Do not do this detestable thing that I hate” but they did not listen or pay attention and turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. So the anger of the Lord is poured out and the nation is left desolate. (Jeremiah 44:4-6)

God says again, “Why provoke me to anger with what your hands have made. You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves an object of cursing and reproach among the nations of the world. Haven't you learnt from the past? Didn't you see this happen before with your forefathers and kings and queens who came before you?” and he adds, that because they've absolutely refused to recognize Him, punishment is coming their way. (Jeremiah 44:8-10)

The nation of Judah, or rather the remnant of the nation of Judah says: “We will certainly do what we said we will do” no, not obey God, they said, “we will burn incense to the queen of heaven, we will pour out incense and drunk offerings to her just as we and our fathers, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. At that time, we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm, but ever since we stopped burning incense and pouring drunk sacrifices we've had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine” (Jeremiah 44:15-19)

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Alyse on Pinterest

Hello, God said He would punish you with sword and famine, so the only reason you stopped burning incense is because you were dealing with the repercussions of burning incense in the first place! It wasn't your choice!

Moreover, if the queen of heaven was a viable/real god, wouldn't she have saved you from the famine and sword so you could keep devoting yourselves to her? Why do you want to worship a god who wasn't there for you, who apparently only seeks to be appeased without giving anything – not love and not protection in return?

Whereas, you have an offer from:

• A God, who is obviously strong enough and true enough to His word to destroy you just as He said He would,
• A God who has kept pursuing you even as you constantly reject Him,
• A God who tried to correct you and who like a loving parent, felt grieved at you forcing His hand into that correction (Jeremiah 42:10).
• As in a God who has more good in store for you than you could imagine!
• A God who when your fathers obeyed in the past, He prospered them and gave them more than they could imagine,
• A God who’s promised to restore them, despite everything, if they'd only listen to Him and stop burning incense to this other thing.

Jeremiah’s trying to make them see sense and He’s like, “Guys! Don't you get it?! Don’t you see it?! The only reason you're living in this disaster is because you're ignoring the one true God!”

It’s absolutely easy to read this and think, man, why were they so blind?! The truth is though, how many times have I said those exact words? Do any of these sound familiar in your own life? Yup, I'm guilty.

• “There’s no way I can get saved right now, I'm too young and I still have tons of partying to do! I’ll get saved when I'm married/I'm a parent.”
• “There’s no way I can become a Christian, I'm in love of this person, if we don't sleep together we'll break up, I can't break up with them, they're ‘the one’!”
• “There’s no way I can serve in Church, then I’ll be on the spotlight and my behavior outside of Church has to match my behavior inside Church!”
• “There’s no way I can quit watching porn/reading those novels/watching those steamy scenes, they make me feel better and they give me ideas, shouldn't I be well educated in all areas of life.”
• “Life was so much easier when I wasn't saved; I had about 100 people I could date following me, now I have to wait for ‘God’s plan’”
• “My parents just don't get it, fine; they made their mistakes, why should I learn from them? Shouldn't I make my own mistakes to learn from?!”

I could go on and on.

I love how the issues we face aren't anything new, putting other things before God started thousands of years ago and we have the Bible to learn from. I’m absolutely sure that a lot of the time we're blinded by our situations. I look back on some things I did, I'm like, “WHAT WAS I THINKING?” Yet at the time, they seemed like the best idea to me. Now I'm just thankful and constantly think, “Wow God please forgive me and thanks for getting me out of that – alive!” Ha!

I’m so fearful of becoming ‘blind’ again, life then and life now – incomparable! In a good way…a great way.

Really, I think my prayer/our prayer should be, “Lord open my eyes so I can see things like you do. I have ‘queens of heaven’ in my life that I may not see as such, but in your eyes, they are. You are my God, my only God and you're the only one who loves me as God. Help my heart remain sensitive to your word alone God.”

With that knowledge comes this privilege and responsibility, that

1. The Lord knows those who are His - {awesome! That a) He knows me and b) He calls me “HIS”, ahhh, the 'romantic' girl in me is swooning! Ha! }
2. Those who confess the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness (2 Timothy 2:19)

xx

Jo

How To Enjoy Quiet Time / Devotional Time

I've been going through the Morph devotional from Gateway Church and I read from week 2 about all the ways people experience God.

I think we've been so caught up in this picture that spending time with God, is you sitting on a desk somewhere with a Bible and a journal reading and writing; but for a lot of people this doesn't work for them and they quit after a while. As a Church, we believe that people have been wired differently for a specific reason, yet we don't give them space to be themselves in their relationships with God.

The Morph notes speak of all different kinds of people, like an athlete would probably get a clearer conversation with God on a run, or an artist would connect more with a sensory devotional time like painting or cooking, a music lover will almost always feel a resonance deep in their spirit when they seek God through music, a writer finds God in the beauty of the words of the Bible.

For me, in High School, my devotional times would be reading the Bible before preps every morning and every night, although that was a lot more about procrastinating studying than connecting with God. We also had these little woods on either side of our school where people would go pray or hold prayer meetings. We called them, "Holy Woods" and "Geevangee" After I left boarding school and came home, for a while it became watching pastors and speakers on TBN and taking notes and following along with them. Then, it just fizzled out.

I've never really understood scripture that well, probably up until last year and more so this year. What changed is that last year, I stopped waiting for people to feed me the Word and I started reading for myself. What's really changed this year is appreciating that I am a writer, I connect through words, and I am a music lover, this relationship is cemented through music. That's who I am. There are amazing times when the two connect and a poem or a song comes up as I read this book, but these are not as often as I would like ;-)

My devotional time now, never looks the same. A few days, music might spur me on, after that writing might turn my crank, after that, studying and taking notes might be what I need, after that watching pastors and speakers might grow me.

The three things that have consistently so far worked for me though are:

1. Schedule time.
I always get frazzled and my days get more stressful and my fuse gets shorter when I haven't had a devotional time. I try to keep 7 p.m to 8 p.m open for that, but I have classes some nights, so its not set in stone, but I try and make sure I have 1 quiet hour a day, even if its me with my earphones on walking to the bus stop or waiting for a bus home. I may not always get an hour but whatever I get I try and do my best within those minutes. Definitely though is Friday nights (when everyone's at their small groups) or Sunday afternoons (in case my family doesn't visit) that's when all my focus is on quiet time. Friday also works for me because most events/concerts/worship nights are on Fridays so it kinda fits in.

2. Have something to look forward to.
To be honest, if all I had to look forward to was a bible and a notebook, I'd do everything I could to avoid doing this, I'd even offer to go clean the dishes and I hate cleaning the dishes. What's worked so far for me is buying books, or downloading free e-books, or buying music that I like and not listening or reading them until Friday night and kind of building the anticipation for quiet time.

3. Just go with it.
Like I said, it never looks the same for me. One day music might not be what I need, so I read, reading gets dull so I write, writing gets tiring so I sing. Even within singing, sometimes singing gets boring so I dance (I'm not a good dancer so I should say I jump up and down) This week even, none of these worked so I went with my music on my treadmill and I ran as I sang. Whatever you feel led to do, whatever you can do to build that connection, do it.

We have to know though that God doesn't expect us to come to him with loud prayers and quoting scriptures. We may not always have the words to say and that's o.k.

One of the people I look up to is Bill Johnson who pastors Bethel Church, he said,

"Give place to the silent prayers, sometimes your situations can't be represented by words, but by the travail of your heart. Through this you know God is birthing something and you have to be willing to lock eyes with him knowing that something is being birthed."