Saturday, March 30, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
before the throne of God
Jesus was truly such a beautiful and perfect example of devotion in His prayer life with God!
Sometimes, it is absolutely necessary to just get off alone to spend some time in our "prayer closet". Life can get messy and chaotic, and we need to retreat and regroup with the Lord. Often, finding a "solitary place" can be difficult, but it's so precious and vital-- Jesus must have known that; we see in scripture He had a habit of going off alone to commune with His Father (Matthew 14:13, 14:23, Luke 4:42)-- it's just a matter of separating yourself from the burdens and responsibilities of life for a little while (it could be ten minutes) to pray and pour out our heart to the One who's always there and listens to us, and who knows the deepest things about us that even we ourselves can't put into words.
However! This time of prayer should never take the place of the daily reading of God's Word! In any relationship, both individuals should share with one another. Prayer is me talking to God, the Bible is God talking to me. Both must happen daily!
On the other hand, it's just as important to spend moments of solitude in prayer to the Lord Jesus during times of quietness and ease... in doing so our faith is strengthened for the harder times that may be ahead. It's like building your house on the rock so that when the storm comes we are secure in Christ and we can stand strong emotionally. (Matthew 7:24-27)
Another thing I noticed in Mark 1:35 that really convicted me was the fact that Jesus rose up "early in the morning" (before the sun was up!) to hold to this commitment! I know that this is hard. Waking up earlier than you would normally have to, and sacrificing those blissful moments of sleep is NOT something we usually like doing. It comes down to your priorities... what's more important? A few minutes of doing basically nothing worthwhile, or those same moments spent investing in heavenly treasures (Proverbs 2:4,5)? The more we do it the easier it will get, and also the more we will see God blessing our sacrifice... we'll actually start to desire to rise early to start our day off before the throne of God!
One last thing I want to point out: the more time we spend with the Lord... worshiping Him, praying to Him, reading His word, feeling His presence... the more we will adore and fear Him, and the less we will fear man or desire to appease him. Whoever you spend the most time with, they are the one you begin to bond with and desire most to please.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
seek justice
It's heart-rendering, really. If that doesn't make you feel like DOING something, well....
These children are human beings too, with feelings! They know the meaning of both pain and joy-- although probably mostly pain. Their hearts and souls are beautiful and priceless like pure gold in the eyes of the Lord. He died to redeem them so that they could go to Heaven too! The Lord Jesus adores them beyond words.
Aren't we supposed to love what Jesus loves, and hate what He hates?
What I'm concerned about is that as Americans, we get so used to an easy, cushy, materialistic life where we have everything we could possibly want at our immediate disposal. Eventually we have trouble understanding what the concept of poverty is. This is so dangerous... it's called complacency! (NOT hating what Jesus hates to see-- a human heart suffering).
I mean, thank our gracious God that we are healthy and well-provided for, but did we ever stop and think that we might be heaping up for ourselves a whole bunch of additional "treasures on earth" (Matthew 6:19)? maybe becoming infatuated with a happy little world we've constructed for ourselves, to the point where we lose sight of the fact that others aren't as fortunate as us? I'm guilty and deeply ashamed of falling into this myself.
Really it's as simple as doing two things : (1) Do your your homework. Just google it. It wouldn't take you long at all to be awakened to the not-so-pretty reality of the needy orphans in the world. (2) Don't just leave and doing nothing about your knowledge. If you are able, make an effort to give up something out of your abundance to someone who has nothing. It would even be cool to get involved with a ministry that goes out and works with the needy and the orphans hands-on and shares the love of Christ with them... there are needy people right here in America too! There are so many ways you can give of yourself... The Lord will reward you for anything you choose to sacrifice out of love for others and obedience to Him!
Here is a link to a Christian site where you can learn more about orphans, and can have the opportunity to give/support.http://www.hislittlefeet.org/Home.html
"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:15-17
"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?" ...(they are humans just like us!!! don't avoid them!)... Isaiah 58:6,7 (read the whole chapter, it's great!)
Thursday, March 7, 2013
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