Bumpy Monday - Considering Ways (7/22/09)

Haggai1:1-2:23

Consider your ways. Again, consider your ways. The Lord God is with you. Be strong the Lord of Hosts is with you. Consider from today and onward. Again, consider from today and onward.

In two short pages, God asks us to consider four times. Twice He tells us what to consider and twice He tells us when to consider. I teach 3rd-6th graders each week. Our public schools have fallen down on the job of teaching vocabulary and I love words. Words are my love language. So, I've come to the realization that many people don't understand what God is trying to say to us through His love letter, the Bible.

What does "consider" mean? What did it mean when the Bible was translated from Hebrew and Greek? Does it mean the same thing now that it meant then? A little research will show you that the word hasn't really changed in meaning over the years. Some words do but this one hasn't. When we consider something we look at it closely and think carefully about it.

So, God asks us to look closely at and think carefully about our ways. What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What is the desired outcome of what we do? This includes everything we do. Our ways are our day to day activities, our habits, our speech, our interactions, our money, our food, our clothing, our movies, our books, our friends, and so on. We are to look closely at and think carefully about each.

Remember that the Lord God of Hosts is right there with you. He sees your activities, habits, speech, interactions, money, food, clothing, movies, books, friends, and so on. As we consider our ways, do they please Him? Do they honor Him? Do they bring glory to His Name? Or, do we shame the fearful Name of God? Do we embarrass Him? Do we cause Him to turn away in disgust? He's right there with us. Consider it.

When are you to start considering your ways? Now. Then, continue on tomorrow and the next day and the next. That's pretty clear. Don't wait.

God repeated Himself. He said each thing twice. That's like saying, "HEY! PAY ATTENTION TO THIS! IT'S IMPORTANT!!"

(Father God, help me to consider my ways beginning now. Thank you for being there with me. Forgive me for the shame and disgrace that I've caused. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Reflections

On this final day of 2010, I've not felt compelled to think back over the year.  I've not wanted to dwell on the ups an downs.  Instead I sit here doing my normal thing.  I'm here in the present.  I read the blogs on my list and wish that more were updated today.  I smile at the cat curled comfortably next to my husband's Bible on the couch.  I am again thankful to be in this place at this time.

I consider my friend, Ashley, and am grateful for her parents and their dedication to choose life.  Choosing life is a reflection of God.  Awesome.  I consider another family waiting and working patiently for their Ukrainian child.  Their desire to care for an orphan is a reflection of God.  Awesome.  My heart grows heavy when I consider my friend, Jan.  Cancer has invaded her life aggressively.  Yet, she has chosen to live with her daughter and redeem this time to the best that she can.  What a lesson for me to learn!  Sounds a bit like another reflection of God, doesn't it?  My son is defending his faith against an atheist.  Their conversation challenges me to grow more intimate with my LORD.  It requires me to see the reflection of God in His Word.

I know I can't change the past.  It has happened.  I will be exposed to the consequences of it.  And, I can fully trust God for all I need in the present.  I am so thankful to be surrounded by reflections and remembrances and realities of my God.  Awesome!

(Father God, thank you for your great and mighty presence in my life.  Thank you that you surround me with reflections of yourself in so many places.   What a joy!  Father, I pray that as this calendar year closes you will be a welcome, comforting, sustaining presence to Ashley, Angela, Jan, and us.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

My Testimony

Does your family know the important things you want them to know? If you died today, what do you want your husband to remember? What do you want your son or daughter to hold dear through the remainder of their life? What do you want your extended family to hear you say one last time? What do you want your friends to know?

Do they know what your favorite song is and why it is your favorite? Do they know your favorite food and what makes it so yummy to you? Do they know about your relationship with Jesus? Do you have a relationship with Jesus?

The most important thing you can share today or leave behind is your testimony - the legacy of your life.

(Father God, help me to tell those around me that I love them daily. Help me to share Your love, salvation, and hope with everyone I meet. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Beginning a Treasured Year

Today begins a Treasured Year. Yes, I'm teaching a 5th grade class and our theme is "A Treasured Year". God has been faithful in providing for me. He's made it possible for this position. He's showing His control. It's an awesome thing.

I love 5th graders. They have a zest for life and learning that is contagious. It's incredible. We'll be learning about what real treasure is. We'll find out who has treasure and how to get more treasure. We'll be learning nautical terms, music, drama, visual arts, reading, math, science, and history. Oh, it will be exciting.

(Father God, thank you for the blessing and opportunity to teach. I stand amazed at your goodness, grace and mercy. You are an awesome God. I pray that you will watch over each child in class and grant me the ability to show them just a little bit of you. Thank you. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Considering Ways

Haggai1:1-2:23

Consider your ways. Again, consider your ways. The Lord God is with you. Be strong the Lord of Hosts is with you. Consider from today and onward. Again, consider from today and onward.

In two short pages, God asks us to consider four times. Twice He tells us what to consider and twice He tells us when to consider. I teach 3rd-6th graders each week. Our public schools have fallen down on the job of teaching vocabulary and I love words. Words are my love language. So, I've come to the realization that many people don't understand what God is trying to say to us through His love letter, the Bible.

What does "consider" mean? What did it mean when the Bible was translated from Hebrew and Greek? Does it mean the same thing now that it meant then? A little research will show you that the word hasn't really changed in meaning over the years. Some words do but this one hasn't. When we consider something we look at it closely and think carefully about it.

So, God asks us to look closely at and think carefully about our ways. What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What is the desired outcome of what we do? This includes everything we do. Our ways are our day to day activities, our habits, our speech, our interactions, our money, our food, our clothing, our movies, our books, our friends, and so on. We are to look closely at and think carefully about each.

Remember that the Lord God of Hosts is right there with you. He sees your activities, habits, speech, interactions, money, food, clothing, movies, books, friends, and so on. As we consider our ways, do they please Him? Do they honor Him? Do they bring glory to His Name? Or, do we shame the fearful Name of God? Do we embarrass Him? Do we cause Him to turn away in disgust? He's right there with us. Consider it.

When are you to start considering your ways? Now. Then, continue on tomorrow and the next day and the next. That's pretty clear. Don't wait.

God repeated Himself. He said each thing twice. That's like saying, "HEY! PAY ATTENTION TO THIS! IT'S IMPORTANT!!"

(Father God, help me to consider my ways beginning now. Thank you for being there with me. Forgive me for the shame and disgrace that I've caused. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Issues of Life

What are issues of life?  The King James Version of Proverbs 4:23 says, "Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life."  Other versions translate the issues of life as the source of life or the well spring of life.  The New Living Translation says, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."  The verses before and after all speak to listening for God's wisdom, seeking His understanding, avoiding evil, and doing all this continually.

Sounds pretty important to me.  I must watch my heart daily, hourly to make sure I stay with the wisdom that God provides.  I must take captive thoughts that might lead to wickedness.  I must keep God's word deep in the midst of my heart and soul.  Without God's word, I would quickly turn back and forth between ideas.  I would look upon and follow evil easily.

(Father God, thank you for your Word that keeps my eyes looking right on.  Thank you for the time to ponder the path on which I go.  You are my source of stability.  You are my confidence. Let me never lose sight of that.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Precious Life

I've been reflecting on how precious life is to God.  He thought so much of each life that He became victorious over death so that we could live eternally.  Wow.

Over the past couple of years, I have been exposed to lives that are not easy living.  Each life is a miracle.  Not just because the over come some incredible odds but because God has a purpose for each life.  Ashley is a transplant child.  Vera is a Trisonomy 18 child.  Gwyneth was born very premature.  Each of these has touched my life in a way that I never expected.  My emotions have been pulled and pushed as I've followed each of these lives through a blog.  There have been days when I cried tears of prayers for these and days when tears of joy came unbidden.

As I reflect on all that God has taught me through these lives, I realize that He holds each life precious.  So precious, that He was willing to give His own life in place for them.  He holds the life of babies, mothers, grandfathers, great grandmas, and great-great grandpas precious.  If we ignore the preciousness of infant life, we soon lose track of the importance and preciousness of teenage life, young adults, "middle" aged, and the elderly.  

I've followed these young lifes but obviously I've missed the other stages.  I'm challenged to find a blog that shows precious life at each stage.  Keep an eye on the blogs I follow, there may be some additions over the next few weeks.

(Father God, I thank you for the reminder of how precious life is no matter the stage.  I pray that you will lead me to the blogs that honor you in all.  I thank you for finding my life precious and for making a way that I can know you eternally.  In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.)

Energy Drain

Ever had that feeling that your life energy is being sucked out of you? That feeling sorta like wind blowing over your skin as you move through it- only it's the stuff that keeps you going that is blowing away?

It's been like that for about 5 weeks now. There is so much going on in my head that I don't know what I've thought or what I should think next. There is much around me that pulls the energy away. I know that our battle is not flesh and blood but spiritual.

Television shows that undermine the authority of parents, shows that glamorize death, shows that promote indecency of all shapes and sizes. Music that plants suggestions in the minds of our youngsters. Enraged drivers without self-control and foul mouths all pull away the energy that sustains me.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

This is what energizes me. This is what brings me life. Jesus.

(Lord God, thank you for the life that you have provided for me to live. Thank you for the blessings that line each and every moment of my existence. Thank you for the reminder that you provide life and when you provide life it is good life. In Jesus name, amen.)