Sunday, September 13, 2009

Our God Reigns

The new week is just about to begin. I am expectantly waiting for all the Lord is going to do.
Our God reigns. He is in control. No matter how dire the circumstance, how bleak the future, how depressing the news, our God reigns. We're never out of His sight, off his mind, def to His ears or far from His help. He is all-knowing, all-loving, all-consuming, always. What truth to reflect on.
One thing I know is that we are in warfare. Our minds are the very battle grounds. I was encouraged in the word today to take up my shield of faith and fight off the fiery darts that are being chucked my way. The word doesn't say that we need the shield of faith sometimes or that maybe fiery darts from Satan will come; it's a guarantee that he is trying to defeat you but it's also a guarantee you are fully equipped with protective armour to keep you in the battle and even better, to keep you victorious.
My goal this week is to keep my shield up. When I'm in class, and I can't strum the guitar right or spread my fingers far enough to make a chord, I'm going to hold my shield of faith high so that I'm not discouraged. God can surely teach my fingers to stretch and my hand to strum. When I am feeling homesick and in need of companionship (which was the case of most of my last week) I'm going to hold my shield strong and have faith that God knows all my need and He will supply me with the companionship that will blow my mind and bring real joy.
It's almost ten and I need to practice playing the key family of E..... E, F#m, G#m...... yeah, I need practice.
Remember to hold up your shield this week! And when you are weary, our Daddy has strong arms. If you ask Him for help, He won't refuse :) Our God reigns!

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Leprosy of Sin

Leviticus 13: The Law Concerning Leprosy
My leprosy is my sin. As I was reading through this chapter today, I was reminded how my sin can start so small and seem so harmless, but when left unviewed and untreated, it can spread and consume my entire being.
In this Levitical law, any person who had a sore was to go to the priest, Aaron or one of his sons, and have their sore examined. If that sore was deep into the skin, it was diagnosed as leprous and the priest was to declare the person unclean. Now a person has just a spot on the surface of his or her skin, they were to have the spot examined by the priest, be in isolating seven days, and be reexamined on the seventh day. If the sore healed, the priest was to announce him clean and the person was then to wash his clothes and he was clean.
What a picture this is of our sin. When we let sin fester, when we don’t take it to our High Priest, then it consumes us and takes over our health and our life. A person with leprosy was to shave his head, tear his clothes, cover his face, and cry aloud “ UNCLEAN!” What devastation and agony and grief. Can you imagine spending your life as an unclean person? Can you imagine the shame and suffering?
Then there is the person who comes to the priest when they only view a little suspicious spot on their skin. The priest views it, isolates them, and when they have become clean, they are free to go about life in the way they enjoy it. Free to hug others, to laugh, have people over for feasts, celebrate the Passover and other holidays of remembering how great of a deliverance God gave when He redeemed them out of Egypt, and now, how He healed there skin.
So too, when we come to God with the sin that is scratching the surface of our skin, when we ask for His examination and let Him work on us and heal us, we are washed and cleaned and free up to live an abundant life because of Him.
Just as I was encouraged this morning to not let my sin go un-confessed before God, I encourage you to do the same.
In Matthew 9:12 & 13 Jesus says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.; For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.’”

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Ushering In The 20's

Right now I'm sitting in Starbucks, drinking Passion Tea, celebrating my 20th birthday. I'm getting old... Twenty is a big age! I'm no longer a teen, no longer so dependent on my parents, no longer a little girl, though I feel so little. I don't know if I'm ready to claim this age! I guess this is just what if feels like when one gets older.
"I find shelter in the in the shadow of Your wings, O Lord."
I know that I have my shelter in God. Though I feel small in this giant world, I find shelter in the shadow of God's wings.
Have you ever heard what a mom Eagle does to her eaglette's? When they can't yet fly, she pushes them out of the nest as they fall to the jaggedy terrain below. The eaglette starts flapping it's weak wings in effort to fly, but that effort is proven in vain as they continue on the descent. Then, just when it seems like the eaglette is going to hit the rocks, the mom Eagle swoops below her baby. The eaglette falls on her wings and is saved. That baby eagle finds shelter in it's mom's wings.
In the same way, I find shelter in my Father's wings. Everything around me can be unfamiliar- the people, places, smells, sounds, taste's, but my shelter will never leave.
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned. Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, and I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, and gather you from the west;I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not keep them back!' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth- Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him."
-Isaiah 43:2-7
He's got me and that is so comforting.
So now what do I do as a 20 year old? Well, today, hopefully within the next five minutes after I'm finished proofreading this entry, I'll apply for a job at this Starbucks I'm sitting in. Then, I'll walk to my house. From there, I haven't a clue what God would have me do but I know it's going to be good.
Today is the first day I'm twenty and after reflecting on my Shelter, it's starting to become not so scary. Though I'm a small girl in a big world, I have a giant Daddy :) and He takes good care of me.
Twenties, here I come.