08.12.08
Scripture – Nehemiah 11, Psalm 38 & Luke 2
Observation -
Application – I’m not sure exactly which scripture applies today. I am feeling like I’m in such a rut. I don’t know how I get to these points in my life. I have moments of really feeling like I’m doing something great and other moments of wondering what in the world I’m doing at all. I’m not unhappy…I wouldn’t even say that I’m not content…just in a rut.
Lately, I have been pondering the obnoxiousness that is my “all or nothing” attitude. I don’t think that is something that everyone sees (maybe I’m wrong??), but it’s something within me that I am growing to hate. It’s like if I can’t accomplish each little thing on my “to do list” then I might as well not do anything. Mostly this has to do with SOAPing, exercising, eating right, not drinking pop, etc…So if I wake up and don’t have time to SOAP before little T gets up, then I might as well have a Mountain Dew and start my diet “tomorrow”. I’ll walk the dogs when I get home and maybe I’ll have time to SOAP after T goes to bed. And on and on it goes.
It really needs to stop. When I don’t operate in my “all or nothing” mode, then I enjoy life much more. I accomplish more. I feel better. I’m joyful. It’s like I have the answer to my problems, but I’m ignoring myself. I know that I’ve counseled people before and just been like “don’t you get it, if you’d stop doing “this”, then “that” wouldn’t happen anymore”. But I can’t get it through to myself. Or I just don’t care or something. I care, but something isn’t clicking.
Prayer – Father, you know my heart. You know the things I struggle with. You know all the great plans I make each night before I go to bed – as to how the next day will be. Will you please help me to accomplish the things I need to accomplish? Will you help me to be disciplined enough to do what I set out to do? And if for some reason something on my list doesn’t get done (usually due to a diaper situation or a dog getting out of the fence), then help me to get right back on track and not get derailed. I know that it’s in me somewhere…I definitely know that it used to be there.
I like that your mercies are new every morning. I praise you for that. Please work in me so that I can accomplish what I feel you have for me and my family. I love you, Lord!
06.27.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 19-20, Psalm 146 & Revelation 10-12
Observation – Psalm 146:9-10
9 The Lord watches over the sojourners;
he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10 The Lord will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, to all generations.
Praise the Lord!
Application – God cares for widows and orphans; God sustains widows and orphans; He supports the fatherless and the widow – all different translations, but all great wording. It’s really appropriate that I’m reading this tonight. I don’t doubt that God has called us to adopt again and in fact, most likely we will adopt an orphan – hopefully sooner rather than later. Tatum wasn’t an orphan…she was never without a mother. Adopting again isn’t just this “thing” I want to do. I (we) literally feel that God is calling us to do it. I know that each and every day he brings this verse to mind and reminds me that he cares deeply for his children that don’t have an earthly mother and father to care for them. I pray that he’ll touch the hearts of many to also care for these children that so desperately need love.
Prayer – Lord God, please help us to get the message out to people that it’s our job to care for orphans and widows and that we need to show them your love and mercy! I pray that as we start the adoptive families group, that you’ll bring tons of families together to support each other in our unique journeys. I pray that you will bring opportunities for us to share your gospel with others and that through this group, you’ll lead many more families towards adoption! I know you are going to work in this – we give it to you and ask for creativity for planning events and for organic relationships to be formed with other adoptive families. I pray you’ll help us to click really fast no matter where people are at in life. Thank you, Lord!
06.26.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 18, Psalm 145 & Revelation 7-9
Observation – Psalm 145:7
17 The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
Application – I love that I can find something in Psalms that applies to me every single day, it seems. I love when something about God is described as “kind”. There is definitely a reason that “kindness” is a fruit of the spirit. Jesus was kind. I had to look up the actual definition of kind…here we go:
- Main Entry:
- 2kind
- Function:
- adjective
- Date:
- 14th century
06.25.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 16-17, Psalm 144 & Revelation 4-6
Observation – Psalm 144:5 & 6
5 Bow your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
6 Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
send out your arrows and rout them!
Application – Ok, I was going to try to venture out of Psalms a little bit, but I can’t help it. I love how God captures my attention sometimes. I always feel like I have so much going on that I can only focus “so long” on something. I try very, very hard to focus a lot of my time on Matt and Tatum. Also, my mom and sister and the rest of my family. And friends and work. It’s just hard sometimes. It’s hard to fit everyone in. Not to mention making time to spend with my heavenly Father. So tonight when I am really, really sleepy and my contacts are blurry beyond belief (Petra style…sorry, I’m tired) I read these verses. What is the significance of this today? The significance is that on the way to the Denton’s tonight we literally saw the Smoky Mountains on fire. Matt thinks it’s Chillhowee Mountain…I have no idea since I lost all sense of direction when we moved here from the midwest. But anyway, there was a ton of smoke coming from the mountains and I remember thinking how scary it is that the fire has the potential to spread so quickly, but that God could extinguish it…just like that. Just like he can extinguish the lies of the evil one. He can take care of those who would try to lead us astray. It’s all in his hands.
Prayer – Father God, I do want to pray for the very real fire that is blazing in the Smokies…please keep everyone from harm and let it be taken care of quickly. I also ask that you would continue to ignite the fire that is beginning to flame in our church body. Please let your kingdom come and your will be done! Let people receive more of your Holy Spirit and let us follow after your will! Amen!
06.24.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 14-15, Psalm 143 & Revelation 2-3
Observation – Psalm 143 7-8
7 Answer me quickly, O Lord!
My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.
Application – I am really enjoying reading and concentrating on Psalms with this reading plan. In the past, I have sort of skimmed or quickly read through Psalms, but I’m really trying to pay close attention to it. The writings really are powerful and, like I said yesterday, I really can see myself saying these things. I think I have said these things before.
Prayer – God, I cry out to you from the deepest part of my heart. I love you so, so much and want more of you in my life. Please take the dark parts and make them light! Holy Spirit, come! I’m waiting on you to move.
This is such a side note…but I’ve thought so many times today that 17 years ago today…yes, 17 years (that is just insane) I went on my first missions trip from Iowa to the NE US. I am a freak about remembering dates and for some reason this has always stuck with me. I actually overslept that nice Monday morning and was almost late. Tania totally remembers this because of all of my planning and packing ahead only to oversleep on the actual day.
Anyway, that trip was life changing. I knew then that I would never be the same again.
06.23.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 11-13, Psalm 142 & Revelation 1
Observation – Psalm 142
142:1 With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
2 I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.
3 When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
4 Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.
5 I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
6 Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
7 Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.
Application – I’ve read this before – most likely at a time of great desperation. I can feel David’s anguish in these words. It seems appropriate and familiar. Appropriate because it’s completely applicable to me today. Familiar because I feel like I could look back in a journal and see those words in my own handwriting.
Prayer – God in heaven – thank you for being there to listen. Thank you for all the times I have cried (and will cry) desperately to you. You listen, very attentively to me. . I love that you’re reliable and so powerful. You are my refuge! Amen.
06.20.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 5-6, Psalm 139 & 1 John 1-2
Observation – 1 John 1:5-10
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
06.19.08
Scripture – 2 Kings 3-4, Psalm 138 & 2 Peter 1-3
Observation – Psalm 138:8
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Application – Out of all the reading today, this one verse really stuck with me. The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me – I find that really encouraging. Especially today. I’ve been praying so much about what to do for our next adoption and I’m finally beginning to have peace about it. Not that $25,000 has dropped from the sky, but the fact that I can rely upon God’s guidance to direct me (and our family) means that I don’t need to worry. I’m very confident about that. I’m also getting excited because I think that there is so much more for me to do in regard to other adoptive families. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I know God is moving. Adoption is so beautiful…all I have to do is look at my Little Goose to see that. It’s just funny to see what it took to get me to this point. Well, maybe funny isn’t the word…funny, sad, ridiculous, insane, but the whole time it was all for a purpose. All for a reason.
Prayer – Lord God, thank you that you will fulfill your purpose for me. I know that at times I’m more willing to cooperate with you than at other times. I don’t want to get in the way of your plans for me. As I seek you, please make things clearer. I long for more of you, more of your Holy Spirit in my life. Help me to be the wife, the mom, the daughter, the sister, the friend that you have made me to be! Thank you, Lord!
06.15.08
Scripture – 1 Kings 18, Psalm 134 & James 1-2
Observation – 1 Kings 18:41-46
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Application – I read these verses with great excitement and anticipation…I know how it ends…I know the rain comesd, but I get pumped each time I read these verses. I could see myself, like Ahab, running to check on the rain. I would probably have gotten discouraged after looking for the clouds the first couple of times, but how encouraged would I have been when that small cloud started forming! Elijah knew that God was going to send the rain. Elijah told Ahab to go eat and drink, which sounds like Ahab was to be celebrating. I’m sure Ahab knew it, too. I think there are times when God tells me to keep seeking something, but I give up after not finding it the first time. What if I’m supposed to look seven times (or however many number of times), but I give up after only a couple times?
Prayer – Father God, thank you for your powerful word! I pray that you will help me to keep seeking you and seeking your will for my life. Help me to be strong and have faith to see things through. And when I don’t quite find what I’m looking for the first time, please help me to keep looking! I love you, Lord!
06.14.08
Scripture – 1 Kings 16-17, Psalm 133 & Hebrews 12-13
Observation – Hebrews 12:11
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Application – Apparently, discipline is fresh on my mind lately. It’s becoming more and more real to me that I have to learn how to discipline my daughter. Not that’s she’s doing anything crazy as she is only 10 months old, but the reality is setting in that Matt and i are responsible to teach and train her. Oh boy! And part of the teaching and training is discipline. I don’t feel equipped for this, but I know that God’s word gives good instruction and encouragement.
Prayer – Lord, thank you for word! It is so powerful and so relevant! Thank you for that! Thank you for showing me that you do discipline those you love and that I can see that example in my own life and that I can use that to help with my daughter. I love you, Lord!
