diepthoughts

What Should I Give Up for Lent?

2011-03-11T13:13:00.006-05:00

Lent is traditionally a time of remembrance and sacrifice. On Sunday our pastor encouraged us to give up something during Lent to help us remember the suffering of Jesus - to "journey" to the cross with Jesus. I've held back from declaring what I intend to give up. Friends are giving up chocolate, sweets, facebook, and other various pleasures. While I've given up different things in the past, I don't feel like any of those would be much a sacrifice for me. So far the best suggestion I've seen this year came from Ann Voskamp, who suggest giving up ingratitude for gratitude. I've been thinking about what it would look like to truly give up my self, not just a "guilty pleasure." Less of me - more of Jesus; less of my agenda - investing more time in another person. Definitely worthy sacrifices, but, oh so difficult to put into practice. I'm still asking God to show me what He would like me to do.

"My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, you will not despise." Psalm 51:17

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

- Isaiah 58:3-8

mem·o·rize

2011-01-23T20:51:00.004-05:00

A few weeks ago, this blog post by Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience inspired me to consider memorizing Colossians this year. I really didn't want to formally commit to it, because I was afraid I would fail. So I just sort of toyed with the idea, rolled it around in my head, and thought about it some more. I even learned a verse or two, but I was still unwilling to say or think, "I am going to do this." However, this Sunday, I decided to make the commitment when my pastor challenged our church to spend more time listening to God. A friend or two has even agreed to join me on this adventure, and I think that will help keep me on track.

By the way, the original meaning (around 1590) of the word memorize is "to commit to writing." It wasn't until around 1838 that memorize came to mean to commit to memory (or the mind). It's my desire that memorizing Colossians will not only commit the book to my mind, but to my heart and that the results will be seen in my life.

A First Step Toward Simplicity

2011-01-15T22:27:00.008-05:00

Last week my facebook status read, "Why am I so attracted to books on organizing when I am so seldom organized?" I feel the same way about simplicity. I say I want to live a simple life, but too often I make it complicated. This week I've been working on Chapter 1 of Becoming a Woman of Simplicity. Part of the assignment was to meditate on Psalm 23 and answer some questions about what it means. Today I am posting a personalized application of Psalm 23 which I wrote out several years ago.

Praying through Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; God cares for me. He provides for all my needs, and guides me on my way, just like a shepherd cares for his sheep. I can trust Him.

I have everything I need. I can be content. I don’t have to worry about food, or clothing, or a place to sleep. God will provide for me. I can trust Him.

He lets me rest in green meadows. Rest! I can be at peace. I don’t have to be agitated. I don’t have to be perfect to receive God’s love. He gives me rest instead. I just have to trust Him.

He leads me beside peaceful streams. Peace! Walking or sitting beside a stream (or any kind of water) is my idea of the perfect day. Enjoying God and His creation produces calmness of spirit in me. I am content just to be with Him. He knows the way, so I don’t have to worry about where to go. I can trust Him.

He renews my strength. When I feel weak, God gives me His strength. He makes me a new creation! (Gal. 2:20) Troublesome circumstances look different when I have His perspective. I can trust Him.

He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. I don’t have to rely on my own skills, or find my own way. He will show me the best way to honor Him. I don’t have to worry or fret about where I am going. I can trust Him.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. The darkness isn’t scary, because God, the shepherd, is right beside me. Fear is gone, because the shepherd nurtures and protects me. I can trust Him.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. God’s discipline is for my good. His discipline shapes my character. I can trust Him.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. I can trust the shepherd to provide for me. He will bring justice when I have been wronged. I don’t have to. I can trust Him.

You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil. God welcomes me into his family. He makes me feel important and loved, and treats me like royalty. I am precious and honored in His sight . I can trust Him.

My cup overflows with blessings. In Him there is abundance! Knowing Him is all I need. I can trust Him.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life. God satisfies my desire for love. I am always in His thoughts. I don’t have to worry that His love for me will “run out.” His love is always seeking the best for me. I can trust Him.

And I will live in the house of the Lord forever. I am His forever. His love is eternal. Forsaking All I Trust Him (FAITH).

Keep a Quiet Heart

2011-01-11T15:39:00.004-05:00

This morning I joined a new bible study and we are studying Becoming a Woman of Simplicity by Cynthia Heald. One of the Bible verses we read today reminded me of a quote I read a few years ago in Elisabeth Elliot's book Keep a Quiet Heart. I needed to be reminded of these wise words.

Do Not Rush. TRUST. And Keep a Quiet Heart.

" I think I find most help in trying to look on all the interruptions and hindrances to work that one has planned out for oneself as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish over one's work. Then one can feel that perhaps one's true work - one's work for God - consists in doing some trifling haphazard thing that has been thrown into one's day. It is not a waste of time as one is tempted to think. It is the most important part of the work of the day - the part one can best offer to God. After such a hindrance, do not rush after the planned work' trust that the time to finish it will be given sometime, and keep a quiet heart about it."

- Annie Keary

Sometimes I get so focused on my own agenda - on getting my work done, that I don't really consider what it might be that God wants me to do on any certain day. Maybe my work for the day is to help someone else, or maybe it is to spend time alone with God.

Isaiah 30:15 - This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

Summer Thoughts from the Transforming Center

2010-06-21T22:27:00.001-04:00

Let Me Live Grace-fully

by Ted Loder

Thank you, Lord,

for this season

of sun and slow motion,

of games and porch sitting,

of picnics and light green fireflies

on heavy purple evenings;

and praise for slight breezes.

It's good, God,

as the first long days of your creation.

Let this season be for me

a time of gathering together the pieces

into which by busyness has broken me.

O God, enable me now

to grow wise through reflection,

peaceful through the song of the cricket,

recreated through the laughter of play.

Most of all, Lord,

let me live easily and grace-fully for a spell,

so that I may see other souls deeply,

share in a silence unhurried,

listen to the sound of sunlight and shadows,

explore barefoot the land of forgotten dreams and shy hopes,

and find the right words to tell another who I am.

Discipline, Duty, and Drudgery

2010-06-15T22:29:00.005-04:00

"So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books." 2 Peter 1:5-9 MSG

In today's reading from My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes: "Drudgery is the test of genuine character." I often struggle with doing the "daily" things in life. It's not that I don't do them. It's more a matter of doing them with the wrong attitude. I am often trying to please myself instead of trying to please God; trying to make myself look good or feel good, instead of serving others out of a grateful heart. Pleasing myself never produces the results I desire. I just end up feeling frustrated.

Peter pictures faith as the foundation needed for building character. To faith we must add spiritual understanding, patience, etc. It's like a puzzle, each piece fitting together and making the picture clearer. Take any of the pieces away, and the picture is incomplete or ruined. Chambers sums it up well: "If I will do my duty, not for duty's sake, but because I believe God is engineering my circumstances, then at the very point of my obedience all of the magnificent grace of God is mine through the glorious atonement by the Cross of Christ."

O Lord, help me to build on my faith with your building blocks. May my service to you and to others not be built out of a sense of duty, but out of gratefulness for what You have done for me.

Advent Poem

2009-12-14T00:48:00.001-05:00

You keep us waiting.

You, the God of all time,

Want us to wait

For the right time in which to discover

Who we are, where we are to go,

Who will be with us, and what we must do.

So thank you ... for the waiting time.

- John Bell

Home Again

2009-05-20T07:14:00.002-04:00

Returning from Mozambique is difficult on many levels. The 6 hour time distance plus the very long plane ride wreak havoc on the body. Finding the right time zone is a challenge. Catching up with work is difficult. And discovering what has happened at home while you were gone can be disconcerting. For us, this year, it meant learning that Bruce's mom had suffered a severe stroke, and was not expected to recover, and then just last Wednesday, she died, and now is living in Heaven. A lot has happened in a very short time.

This morning my devotions were from Genesis 9:8-17. God put the rainbow in the clouds as the sign of his promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood. The following poem reminds me that Bruce's mom has entered heaven, and instead of suffering pain and loss, she is enjoying the "light which never shall decay." For that we are thankful.

A Prayer of Gratitude

The rainbow bending in the sky bedecked with sundry hues

Is like the seat of God on high, and seems to tell these news -

That as thereby he promised to drown the world no more

So by the blood which Christ has shed He will our health restore...

Unto such joys for to attain God grants us all his grace

And send us after worldly pain in Heaven to have a place,

Where we may still enjoy the light which never shall decay

Lord, for this mercy lend us might to see that joyful day.

- Adapted from "Gascoigne's Good Morrow" by George Gascoigne (1542-1577)

10 More Days!

2009-04-13T21:03:00.002-04:00

Bruce, Rachel, and I are getting ready to head to Mozambique in only 10 days! I know the time will fly by. There are still a few things to prepare, but I think we're in pretty good shape. It will be good to be on our way, and doing the work God has prepared for us to do. Every day I have to remember to TRUST God. Worry is not an option. Trust is a choice, though. It doesn't come naturally. Sometimes, I just think, "I can't do this! I'm not qualified." Then I remember the Apostle Paul's words from I Corinthians 12:9 - But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ's power may rest on me.

O Lord, Help me to trust You!

A Prayer for Effective Ministry

2009-04-08T11:38:00.002-04:00

Fill me, O Christ, with wonder, love and praise, that I may praise you, God with us.

O Lord, be my light and my strength.

O Lord, in my weakness, perfect your strength.

O Lord, make me your messenger.

O Lord, arm me with the sword of you Spirit.

Lord Jesus, speak to me that I may speak for you.

Lord Jesus, help me to speak the truth.

Enable me to show how sweet it is to love you,

to weep with you, and

to rejoice with you.

- Anonymous

Beneath Thy Cross by Christina Rossetti

2009-02-27T14:37:00.002-05:00

Am I a stone, and not a sheep,

That I can stand, O Christ, beneath Thy cross,

To number drop by drop Thy Blood's slow loss,

And yet not weep?

Not so those women loved

Who with exceeding grief lamented thee;

Not so fallen Peter weeping bitterly;

Not so the thief was moved;

Not so the Sun and Moon

Which hid their faces in a starless sky,

A horror of great darkness at broad noon -

I, only I.

Yet give not o'er,

But seek Thy sheep, true Shepherd of the flock;

Greater than Moses, turn and look once more

And smite a rock.

A Prayer for Entering into Lent

2009-02-25T22:41:00.004-05:00

"O God of peace, who has taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and in trust shall be our strength: by the power of your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Book of Common Prayer, page 832

as quoted by Ruth Haley Barton

www.thetransformingcenter.org/pdf/ash09.pdf

The More I Learn the Less I Know :-(

2009-01-15T22:12:00.003-05:00

I am a college student this month. An interesting experience. I'm taking an interim class at Calvin College. It meets every afternoon for three hours. That's a huge chunk out of my day. I'm studying African Cultures and Traditions through Folklore, hoping to learn a bit more about the African customs in Chinhangane. We've read a couple of books, and several short stories. The professor is a Kenyan, married to a Tanzanian. I love it when she shares stories about her personal life. She said she hasn't been able to find any folk tales or myths from Mozambique, but some of her stories sound similar to things I have encountered in Mozambique. I'm still trying to decide whether to audit the class or take it for credit. I'm just not sure I want to write the last paper.

Some Good Advice

2009-01-07T08:59:00.001-05:00

"Start with God - the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning."

- Proverbs 1:7 (MSG)

If your life was music...

2009-01-05T07:21:00.001-05:00

If the moments of your day-to-day life were recorded as musical notes, what kind of music would they make? Would they sound like a breezy pop song or hard-driving rap music? Or would they sound like a beautiful symphony with structured pauses that give resonance to the notes?

- Eugene Peterson

Waiting

2008-12-23T14:40:00.002-05:00

God comes like the sun in the morning - when it is time. We must assume an attitude of waiting, accepting the fact that we are creatures and not creator. We must do this because it is not our right to do anything else; the initiative is God's not ours. We are able to initiate nothing; we are only able to accept.

Carlo Carretto, The God Who Comes

The Tahoe Experiment

2008-12-22T14:25:00.002-05:00

Our family travels at Christmas instead of buying expensive gifts for each other. For the past 20 years, this has mostly translated into trips to Maui, where the days are sunny, the water is warm, and the breezes are always balmy. A lovely destination.

This year, for several reasons, it was decided that Maui was not going to be our Christmas destination. A couple of family members have always want to do a ski vacation, so this year we rented a house in North Lake Tahoe. The house is beautiful, big enough that a person can find a spot to be alone if needed. There's quite a bit of snow, although I think west Michigan gets the prize for snow this year! We are perched on a mountain, that overlooks Lake Tahoe. On a clear day you can see the lake through the pine trees. Very beautiful.

I think the skiers are very happy. Some of us are happy for quiet days by the fire, but I don't know how everyone will feel after the week is over. Does anyone have suggestions for next year's travels?

Thought for Today

2008-12-16T07:49:00.003-05:00

"My friends, may I warn you from my own failures, that while you will be of immense help to the cause of Christ by being able to defend its intellectual position, you will be a thousand times more potent missionary if you exhibit a life that Christ has changed, if you show in your nature those fruits for which all people hunger, if you love the quiet serenity, that endless good will, that deep joy, and that passionate purpose which are among the important marks of a nature surrendered to our Lord."

- Leslie Wetherhead, a British preacher

God is waiting! God is coming!

2008-12-03T07:11:00.005-05:00

Luke 1:78 - Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light from Heaven is about to break upon us.

Celebrating Advent is a relatively new to me. But over the last few years I've enjoyed reading Advent devotionals. Today's devotion from The Christ of Christmas by Calvin Miller reminds me that God waits for us AND God comes to us. God never gives up - He patiently waits for us to come to Him. He never gives up on His plan for me or His plan for the world. He waits for for us to choose Him, to love Him and to obey Him. To help us do these things God also COMES to us. God came to earth as a baby, giving humans a living picture of who He is, and showing us how to live. The Holy Spirit comes to us too - sent by the Father to convict, to teach, to comfort. He pours His love into our hearts (Rom. 5:5). God comes!

During Advent, we await the arrival of Jesus, and we celebrate His birth at Christmas. But we also look forward to His return. He is coming!

John 14:23 - If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with Him.

You keep us waiting.

You, the God of all time,

Want us to wait

For the right time in which to discover

Who we are, where we are to go,

Who will be with us, and what we must do.

So thank you ... for the waiting time.

- John Bell

Rest

2008-10-29T00:57:00.003-04:00

According to dictionary.com rest is "the refreshing quiet (or repose) of sleep." I have been having difficulty finding "the refreshing quiet (or respose) of sleep. Lately I lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to the sounds in the room, in the house, outdoors. My mind is swirling with thoughts of today's activities, tomorrow's schedule, things I've read, things I've seen, things I've heard, my family - and the list goes on. I try praying, remembering the words of a song, reciting scripture - nothing helps. I recall Psalm 127:2b: "he grants sleep to those he loves." I know God loves me. Why can't I sleep? So I get up, make a cup of tea, and look at what the Bible says about sleep and/or rest. Psalm 91:1 says, "He who dwells (lingers) in the shelter of the Most High will rest in shadow of the Almighty." Maybe I should go back to bed and linger in His Presence....

Postscript: A little "ha-ha" from the mail today. One of the cover articles on my new Discipleship Journal is" When Insomnia Strikes." Maybe it will help me sleep tonight :-)

My Help

2008-09-29T09:07:00.004-04:00

Psalm 121 (HCSB)

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.

Where will my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip'

your Protector will not slumber.

Indeed, the Protector of Israel

does not slumber or sleep.

The LORD protects you;

the LORD is a shelter right by your side.

The sun will not strike you by ay,

or the moon by night.

The LORD will protect you from all harm;

He will protect your life.

The LORD will protect your coming and going

both now and forever.

This weekend I attended the leadership training meeting for Mission Trip Team Leaders. I can hardly believe that I am going to be the Team Leader for the spring trip to Mozambique. I sat in our meeting Saturday morning thinking, "Lord! How did I get here? I don't feel qualified. It's a huge responsibility!" As I went to bed Saturday night, I began to worry and fret. But God brought the words from this Psalm to my mind, and they were like a blanket of peace over me as I slept. And yesterday's sermon reminded me that God IS, and He is and will be all I need. So, today I begin the work, remembering the words of this Psalm. "My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth!"

"'Take courage and work, for I am with you,' says the Lord Almighty. 'My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid." Haggai 2:4-5 (NLT)

"Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin..." Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)

God in Music

2008-09-23T20:11:00.002-04:00

GOD IN MUSIC by Susan Palo Cherwien

Praise to the God in music;

Praise to the God of the morning stars' song

to the God of symphony

the God of sounding together:

Angels and archangels raise their ethereal voices to God,

Hymns and songs create a body for praise,

Stones and trees sing an earthly hosanna,

And the Christ himself sings and dances with his friends,

All in symphony, the great cosmic song

All in unity, the great universal choir.

Creation's Praise

2008-09-22T12:24:00.002-04:00

I love how Marilynne Robinson expresses this thought about creation's praise to God in her book, Home. In this quote she is speaking of a giant oak tree: " ...if they could see as God can, in geological time, they would see it leap out of the ground and turn in the sun and spread its arms and bask in the joys of being an oak tree in Iowa."

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and storm, wind and weather that obey him., mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all livestock, reptiles and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord, for his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven!" - Psalm 148:7-13

God's Word

2008-09-17T11:23:00.006-04:00

In the book of Isaiah God says, “My word will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I have sent it.” Ken Gire writes in Windows of the Soul, “Like rain and snow, the word of God permeates the earth…everywhere we look there are traces of His Word. In history. In the circumstances of our lives. In every nook of humanity and every crannied flower of creation.” On a missions trip to Mozambique I learned that everything I do or say says something about who God is. I learned to be faithful to the tasks God called me to do. God is present in the village all the time – not just when a missions team is there. I pray that His Word and His Light will shine brightly so many in the village will have a living relationship with Him. And I pray that His Light will shine brightly in me.

God's Happy Song

2008-09-17T11:06:00.004-04:00

Zephaniah 3:17 - "For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a mighty Savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With his love he will calm all your fears. He will exult over you by singing a happy song."

Over and over the Bible reminds me that God is near. Yet frequently I think of God as being very far away. This verse has been one of my favorites for a long time because of the imagery of God singing a song over me. Imagine that! An incredible picture! And how I need God's love that calms my fears. One of my greatest fears is the fear of failure. God's love can conquer that. His love for me doesn't depend on my performance. His song can quiet my soul. I pray that my life will sing God's song and not my own.

A Bat Day

2008-08-07T22:43:00.005-04:00

I think I have decided to write a book. I'm considering a couple of titles: "My Life with the Bats," "Living with Bats" "Close Encounters of the Bat Kind," or my favorite - "Going Batty." When we arrived home Monday, I noticed there were some dust balls in the living room - on the piano, on a couple of chairs, on the floor. My living room is always dusty, but this wasn't just normal dust. I dragged my husband into the living room, and said, "Something's going on here." He pooh-poohed it, of course, and said it was just dust and not a big deal. I tried to forget about it and I began to get to work. Later in the afternoon I decided to do the wash I brought home from the cottage. I picked up the pile of clothes from the floor in the bedroom and added a few items from the clothes hamper, threw them in the washer, and let the washer do it's work. Just before I went to bed, I quickly went to retrieve a couple of pieces of underwear so they could dry. I noticed something black on the bottom of the washer, and thought to myself, "What in the world did I throw in there?" As my hand went to retrieve it, I realized that what I saw was a bat! I screamed, pulled my hand back and ran to the bedroom and let my Prince Charming save me from the evil bat. I think it was dead. Prince Charming deposited the drowned bat in an appropriate place. When I woke up in the middle of the night, all I could think was, "That disgusting little creature was most likely hiding in my bedroom. I must have carried him in my arrms to the washer" Eeeeww!! So this morning, I am rewashing those clothes so that someday I can wear them again. I've had other encounters with these flying creatures. I wonder how many chapters I could write?

Mozambique On My Mind

2008-06-11T17:11:00.002-04:00

You'd think that coming home from Africa would make me happy to be home and thankful for everything I enjoy. You know - things like hot showers, electricity, computers - stuff like that. And I am very thankful for all those things. However, I've spent a lot of time the last few days organizing pictures and thinking about the 2 weeks I spent in Mozambique. I miss my friends in Chinhangane! I feel a tugging at my heart to go again.

Mozambique Musings

2008-05-25T21:46:00.006-04:00

On Wednesday I returned home from Mozambique. Seen from an airplane, Michigan's landscape was incredibly beautiful. The abundance of water and the many colors of green were a sharp contrast to the landscape of Mozambique.

The women of Chinhangane are beautiful - strong, joyful, friendly. They welcome us with open arms and are generous with their love and friendship. Their land is dusty, hot, dry and barren. There hasn't been a good crop for several years, so food is scarce. Day to day to life is hard.

I don't find it easy to teach about God's goodness in a place where people are hungry, tired, and sick. I see the hardship and wonder how God's goodness allows such hardship. How can I tell them God cares for them when I have so much and they have so little? Do they see Jesus in us? Do they see a loving God in the beauty that does exist in the village? In the beautiful sunrise and sunset? In the beauty of each person? In the millions of stars in the night sky?

"O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Psalm 63:1

Habakkuk 3:17-19

2008-03-17T20:59:00.002-04:00

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strenght' he makes my feet like the feet of a deer."

In uncertain times, Habakkuk's words give me hope. God will provide whatever I need for whatever challenges the future holds.

Failing Fast

2008-03-16T01:46:00.005-04:00

I wanted a mocha. I ordered a mocha. I drank the mocha. It reawakened my desire, so a few days later I went back and had another one. One taste was all it took to rationalize it was okay to do it again. I told myself, "You didn't make a vow, you just thought you would TRY it" (the Lenten fast).

How easy it is to fall back into old habits/sins. Craving what I can't have. My desire for more of Jesus was overridden by my desire for a physical comfort. What's even worse, I didn't really care. I think I have a lot to learn about fasting and how to make it meaningful.

O Lord, help me to desire You above all else, to be faithful to You at all times. Teach me what it means to love You with ALL of my being.

A Lenten Fast

2008-02-23T18:53:00.003-05:00

This year I am doing a limited fast for Lent. I decided to fast from Starbucks mocha coffee drinks because most of my cravings resulted in a purchase at Starbucks. I expected that I would learn to crave Jesus instead of Starbucks. Well, maybe that is is the final result, but I realized it in an unexpected way.

I thought it would be difficult to give up my Starbucks. After all, whenever I craved mocha, I would go buy one. I figured after a few days I would be desparate for a Starbucks and it would be really hard to tell myself, "No!" Instead, the more days that pass, the less desire I have for a mocha. The spiritual lesson for me is the more I fill myself with Jesus, the more I will crave him. And the less attention I pay to Jesus, the less I will want Him.

Prayer for Today

2008-02-18T16:03:00.004-05:00

My sister sent me this prayer today. I think it comes from one of Phyllis Tickle's Books of the Hours. When she sends me the title, I'll post it.

O Lord my God, to you and to your service I devote myself, body, soul, and spirit. Fill my memory with the record of your mighty works; enlighten my understanding with the light of your Holy Spirit; and may all the desires of my heart and will center in what you would have me do. Make me an instrument of your salvation for the people entrusted to my care, and let me by my life and speaking set forth your true and living Word. Be always with me in carrying out the duties of my salvation; in praises heighten my love and gratitude; in speaking of You give me readiness of thought and expression; and grant that, by the clearness and brightness of your holy Word, all the world may be drawn to your blessed kingdom. All this i Ask for the sake of your Son, my Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Mozambique Acrostic

2008-02-17T22:14:00.010-05:00

I used this acrostic for the devotions for our first Mozambique team meeting. (I guess that means I am going to Mozambique in May) I started the acrostic last year when I was praying about the opportunity to go to Mozambique.

Making the Decision – Does God want me to do this?. My fears: how will I raise the money? Will I be able to do what I am asked to do? It’s so far away!

Offering Myself to God – Romans 12:1-2MSG – So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.

Zeroing in on the Mission – David Livermore: “Missions – short term, long term, overseas, next door – is about giving people a living picture of who God is, what He cares about, and how He acts.”

Colossians 2:2-3 – “My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Amy Carmichael: “Can you show us the life of Jesus?”

Asking God to equip me – Pray Psalm 25:4-5 – Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths, guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Mirror Christ’s glory – 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT) – “….we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” Lord, I want to sparkle with the delight of knowing you and to brightly reflect your glory.

Believe God’s Promises – Make a list. Psalm 18:30-31 – As for God, His way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection. For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Imitate Christ. Be humble, be a servant, be willing to receive. Philippians 2.

Quietly trust God - Philippians 4:19 – “My God who takes care of me will supply ALL your needs from His glorious riches which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Undergird Everything with Prayer – Philippians 4:6-7 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Expect God to Work – Praise the Lord that we don’t have to do it on our own. “The One Who calls you is faithful and He will do it.”

I Thessalonians 5:25

Sunshine

2008-01-18T16:51:00.000-05:00

The sun came out this morning! Sunny days in Michigan are a rarity. It was wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun and see the sparkling snow on the ground. The sunlight makes everything better.

"Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord." Psalm 4:6b

Mozambique

2008-01-17T16:12:00.001-05:00

I've been reflecting on last year's mission trip to Mozambique. Another trip is being planned for May and I've been invited. Trying to decide whether or not to go. I've been praying and asking God to show me if I should pursue this opportunity.