September 23, 2018
Proverbs 20:5
NIV - The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
MSG - Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart, a wise person draws from the well within.
There is a lot of talk right now about finding your purpose and living on purpose and having a purpose driven life. I struggle to see a specific purpose for me. I know I have one or I would not be here. I hope I did not miss it. Do I just wonder when it will come, and wander until it does?
I picked this verse because I like that it shows that purpose is within us already. It is inborn. We have to be wise enough to draw it out.
My first reading through I missed something very important in the NIV version. It does not say, "The purpose of", it says, "The purposes of". More than one. Many, perhaps. If it is deep water it can hide a lot, and it just came to me that maybe what "fishers of men" partly refers to is helping others draw from that deep God-given well. I did notice that the MSG version is 'person' not 'man' but I am old so to me "man" used like this is mankind/humans, not gender. Finding and living our purpose is also knowing what is right in our heart. Sometimes I think we do not have the faith to believe it is right as it might be a really big idea or purpose. So big that it would disrupt what is expected of us by those who share our life, and so big that takes us away from our comfort zone, but right none the less.
On my second reading and as I write this, I think I want to be open to the possibility of a big purpose, and as I watch and fish for that, go ahead and work on the little day to day, reason to go to work, taking care of my family purposes that occupy my time. But I do not want to be wasting my time. Or so busy that my big purpose looks more like a burden than a gift.
How do we learn to be wise and have understanding to dive into the deep waters after that big purpose? Faith that you won't drown is my first thought. Start with your little toe dip. But is that too cautious? Do we dive right in? Or jump into the deep end, feet first? So many sayings that we have in our world all play to this picture. And maybe just add to the confusion of not only what to do next but how to do it. Going back to the verse, I see that it says 'draw' not dive. When I think of drawing water, I think of putting in a bucket and bringing up a bunch at a time. Which means I get to stay mostly dry, which I like.
I know that God will never give me a purpose or direction that would hurt my family. I have faith and trust in that. He has already given me the promises that the path and the power and the peace and the hope are already mine. Now He tells me that my purpose is already within me, my purposes. It is good to know someone has a Plan!
Love to you all!
Sunday, September 23, 2018
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Hebrews 11:1 - Faith
September 16, 2018
Hebrews 11:1
NIV - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
MSG - The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes like worth living.
I was considering how to show faith to someone who is not a Believer. How to prove that God is God. Real. Available. I thought of this verse as a great expression of what faith is, so I thought I might see what it says after a bit of reflection.
My first reading through says that these two interpretations are very different. Together they show many more sides of faith than I anticipated. I expected the verse to tell me two things. Sure of what we hope for, and Certain of what we do not see. But the Message version also shows that faith is a Fact of existence. That it is a firm Foundation. Are these the same? Is sureness also existence? Does certain encompass a firm foundation?
If faith is what makes life worth living, how do I share that in a way another can see? I am not sure I can. How can I convince someone that God exists if He exists in so many forms He is unexplainable, where He exists completely inside of faith? If there is not any little bit of faith in the promise that God says we can be sure of what we hope for, then no matter what I say, God cannot exist until there is faith that He exists. There is no way to convince someone of God until they chose to open up the possibility within themselves that there is something to believe in. Something that is a fundamental fact of existence.
And extending that to myself, how can I pray anything but pure gratitude for what I am already expecting to happen. Do I doubt it is God's will? He already said we could ask for anything. But if we are to be certain of what we do not see, and we have faith that God keeps his promises, then all I can really pray is a thanksgiving for what I expect. By believing what I know in my heart to be right, then I have faith it is already done. Do I only say thanks for what I can see has happened? I do not diminish the value of gratitude for what I have. But if I say that same real and complete thank you for what I do not see, that I think is where the real faith happens. That is not easy. Not even easy to comprehend. Which is probably why it is hard to get the idea across to someone who can not even fathom God, let alone faith in God. Without faith, God cannot exist in the conscious mind. And He did give us a strong mind.
But that is a verse for another day.
Let me know what you think of this faith paradox.
Love to you all!
Hebrews 11:1
NIV - Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
MSG - The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes like worth living.
I was considering how to show faith to someone who is not a Believer. How to prove that God is God. Real. Available. I thought of this verse as a great expression of what faith is, so I thought I might see what it says after a bit of reflection.
My first reading through says that these two interpretations are very different. Together they show many more sides of faith than I anticipated. I expected the verse to tell me two things. Sure of what we hope for, and Certain of what we do not see. But the Message version also shows that faith is a Fact of existence. That it is a firm Foundation. Are these the same? Is sureness also existence? Does certain encompass a firm foundation?
If faith is what makes life worth living, how do I share that in a way another can see? I am not sure I can. How can I convince someone that God exists if He exists in so many forms He is unexplainable, where He exists completely inside of faith? If there is not any little bit of faith in the promise that God says we can be sure of what we hope for, then no matter what I say, God cannot exist until there is faith that He exists. There is no way to convince someone of God until they chose to open up the possibility within themselves that there is something to believe in. Something that is a fundamental fact of existence.
And extending that to myself, how can I pray anything but pure gratitude for what I am already expecting to happen. Do I doubt it is God's will? He already said we could ask for anything. But if we are to be certain of what we do not see, and we have faith that God keeps his promises, then all I can really pray is a thanksgiving for what I expect. By believing what I know in my heart to be right, then I have faith it is already done. Do I only say thanks for what I can see has happened? I do not diminish the value of gratitude for what I have. But if I say that same real and complete thank you for what I do not see, that I think is where the real faith happens. That is not easy. Not even easy to comprehend. Which is probably why it is hard to get the idea across to someone who can not even fathom God, let alone faith in God. Without faith, God cannot exist in the conscious mind. And He did give us a strong mind.
But that is a verse for another day.
Let me know what you think of this faith paradox.
Love to you all!
Sunday, September 9, 2018
Romans 8:24-25 - Expecting
September 9, 2018
Romans 8:24-25
NIV - For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
MSG - That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more that waiting diminished a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become and the more joyful our expectancy.
I heard this verse in the "Get Your Hopes Up" book I mentioned last week. It is not the version she used in her book, as it ended with waiting with "patience and composure" but I cannot find that version and my loan of the book has expired. What drew me to the verse is the idea that you cannot hope for what you already have.
I cannot hope for what I already have. Reading the two versions of these verses really gives me a good comparison of what is hope and what is expectancy and how the patience of waiting for the right time is so very important. I can understand better "for in this hope we were (are) saved" by comparing it to the child yet to be born. And to understand well that I am looking for and expecting something not yet delivered to me. It is always harder for the expectant mom to wait patiently than for those around her because she feels the enlarging part so very intimately. The one with the most to gain needs the most hope and patience? (And I know better than to pray for patience.)
Reading this aloud, I hear that waiting does not diminish me. And I am coming to see that I will always be waiting for something. There is always more good God can do for me, and more He has in store for me and my family, and more and more and more. I am to hope for what I do not have, wait patiently, and not no let myself become discouraged or disgruntled in the pregnant pause before the hallelujah.
I remember my boys waiting for the cake to be done, or the miles to pass, or the guests to arrive. They did not always wait as patiently as I would have liked, but in the waiting also grew the anticipation, the excitement, the expectation of all the good that was about to happen. Jesus chuckles at our protestations and says, "Hang on, we are almost there." My whining will not make it happen any faster, but my hope and joy in the patience of waiting can make the waiting easier to tolerate, for all of us! So take a deep breath and get ready, we are almost there.
The song hanging around the last few days is, "Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, Oh for strength to love You more."
Love to you all!
Romans 8:24-25
NIV - For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
MSG - That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more that waiting diminished a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become and the more joyful our expectancy.
I heard this verse in the "Get Your Hopes Up" book I mentioned last week. It is not the version she used in her book, as it ended with waiting with "patience and composure" but I cannot find that version and my loan of the book has expired. What drew me to the verse is the idea that you cannot hope for what you already have.
I cannot hope for what I already have. Reading the two versions of these verses really gives me a good comparison of what is hope and what is expectancy and how the patience of waiting for the right time is so very important. I can understand better "for in this hope we were (are) saved" by comparing it to the child yet to be born. And to understand well that I am looking for and expecting something not yet delivered to me. It is always harder for the expectant mom to wait patiently than for those around her because she feels the enlarging part so very intimately. The one with the most to gain needs the most hope and patience? (And I know better than to pray for patience.)
Reading this aloud, I hear that waiting does not diminish me. And I am coming to see that I will always be waiting for something. There is always more good God can do for me, and more He has in store for me and my family, and more and more and more. I am to hope for what I do not have, wait patiently, and not no let myself become discouraged or disgruntled in the pregnant pause before the hallelujah.
I remember my boys waiting for the cake to be done, or the miles to pass, or the guests to arrive. They did not always wait as patiently as I would have liked, but in the waiting also grew the anticipation, the excitement, the expectation of all the good that was about to happen. Jesus chuckles at our protestations and says, "Hang on, we are almost there." My whining will not make it happen any faster, but my hope and joy in the patience of waiting can make the waiting easier to tolerate, for all of us! So take a deep breath and get ready, we are almost there.
The song hanging around the last few days is, "Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, Oh for strength to love You more."
Love to you all!
Monday, September 3, 2018
Isaiah 40:31 - Hope
September 3, 2018
Isaiah 40:31
NIV - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
MSG - But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
In preparation for today, I have been listening to "Get Your Hopes Up!" by Joyce Meyer. I was disappointed with myself for missing a week, because that miss was me being unfaithful, losing site of God, the peace of Jesus, and the hope of the spirit. I cannot be faithful if I have no hope. If I looked up all the Bible references to unfaithful, I wonder if they all start with, "Lynne, I told you..." I picked this verse today to remind me of how vital hope is every day.
My first read through I picked up 'hope' and 'wait' difference between the first two lines. But both are for a renewal of strength. Keep going and with the focus on God, I can renew my strength to keep fighting, keep trying, keep smiling, and (yeah I try to hide it but I do) keep singing.
When I hear this verse, I hear I need to be expecting what God is bringing. Be faithful, which means living with trust and confidence even if I am not sure of the outcome. I just have to keep going in the direction He is pointing. I am not supposed to know how it will work, so I cannot rely on myself. Hope in the Lord; wait upon God.
The "Do" part is pretty obvious now. I like that Joyce says that hope is not a passive emotion. It is a doing. If we are expecting guests, we prepare our home and maybe food to share. If we are expecting a baby, we get to buy diapers and adorable little clothes. Can we see all the outcomes? Not at all. But we can still be prepared for the arrival however that is given to us. Hope is the preparation for the outcome. Faithful is letting the outcome be out of our control.
Song of the day: Something Beautiful! Another Gaither favorite
Love to you all!
Isaiah 40:31
NIV - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
MSG - But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
In preparation for today, I have been listening to "Get Your Hopes Up!" by Joyce Meyer. I was disappointed with myself for missing a week, because that miss was me being unfaithful, losing site of God, the peace of Jesus, and the hope of the spirit. I cannot be faithful if I have no hope. If I looked up all the Bible references to unfaithful, I wonder if they all start with, "Lynne, I told you..." I picked this verse today to remind me of how vital hope is every day.
My first read through I picked up 'hope' and 'wait' difference between the first two lines. But both are for a renewal of strength. Keep going and with the focus on God, I can renew my strength to keep fighting, keep trying, keep smiling, and (yeah I try to hide it but I do) keep singing.
When I hear this verse, I hear I need to be expecting what God is bringing. Be faithful, which means living with trust and confidence even if I am not sure of the outcome. I just have to keep going in the direction He is pointing. I am not supposed to know how it will work, so I cannot rely on myself. Hope in the Lord; wait upon God.
The "Do" part is pretty obvious now. I like that Joyce says that hope is not a passive emotion. It is a doing. If we are expecting guests, we prepare our home and maybe food to share. If we are expecting a baby, we get to buy diapers and adorable little clothes. Can we see all the outcomes? Not at all. But we can still be prepared for the arrival however that is given to us. Hope is the preparation for the outcome. Faithful is letting the outcome be out of our control.
Song of the day: Something Beautiful! Another Gaither favorite
Love to you all!
Sunday, August 26, 2018
August 26, 2018
I did not come up with a verse to use for today. Listening to a book about Hope so I am sure I will find some inspiration from there.
Love to you all!
Tues: So I looked it up. There are 31,102 verses in the Bible. I am pretty sure I am the one that missed the inspiration and direction that was thrown at me. If I did one verse a week, it would take me 598 years and 6 weeks to cover them all. (Well only 598 years and 1 week, since I have published five already.) Even if I only cover 10% of them, I have almost 60 years of work ahead. Time to get to reading and listening! <3
Love to you all!
Tues: So I looked it up. There are 31,102 verses in the Bible. I am pretty sure I am the one that missed the inspiration and direction that was thrown at me. If I did one verse a week, it would take me 598 years and 6 weeks to cover them all. (Well only 598 years and 1 week, since I have published five already.) Even if I only cover 10% of them, I have almost 60 years of work ahead. Time to get to reading and listening! <3
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Joshua 1:9 - Strength and Courage
August 19, 2018
Joshua 1:9
NIV - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
MSG - Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Do not be timid; do not be discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.
Prepare: My preparation for this every week is looking back on my week before. What was good, bad. What song did my brain give me. Where was I weak, strong. What do I think God is saying to me.
Boy, oh boy, work was something last week. I did not do so well keeping my cool and joy while at work at the beginning of the week. Remember last week when I was told to stop focusing on what isn't working and focus on the love? Well, work made me have to really, really focus on this idea, and work really, really hard at smiling, especially at my co-workers.
There is a song from long ago Bible school that was about racing since it was the time of the Olympics. Every once in a while that is the song that won't leave me.
"Jesus, the way before us, we're running now to win. Jesus, the way before us, our eyes are fixed on him. We are God's children, we're living by Faith. Each day a discovery that Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Way!"
I was trying to figure out what verse I was supposed to learn this week, and then realized the song was telling me. It is that trust thing again! Our eyes are fixed on Him!
See: The "Strength" and "Courage" are kind of hard to miss in this verse. "Do not be discouraged." Stop looking at your feet and the crap that is down there and look up! Quit grumping about things and get them finished. "God is with you wherever you go."
Listen: I like that this verse is another reinforcement of a promise. This one was given through Joshua. My job isn't really too difficult if I compare it to what he was supposed to get done. I am just moving some paper. He had to move 12 Tribes! I need to complete tasks and keep my eyes on God and do what He has for me to do, and stop with the grumpies already. Strength! Joshua was a great leader and he was given amazing guidance from God. We get to be a part of that teaching even without the desert wanderings. I just have to remember why I am wandering around the office. And stop being timid or terrified with the tasks I am given. I have to get these small things done to get the bigger ones!
Do: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in that wonderful face." This is the living word. Word made flesh and He is smiling and eager to teach us a little bit of something. Maybe tug us out of our wanderings and onto the path He already has ready. Be courageous this week!
Love to you all!
Joshua 1:9
NIV - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
MSG - Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Do not be timid; do not be discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.
Prepare: My preparation for this every week is looking back on my week before. What was good, bad. What song did my brain give me. Where was I weak, strong. What do I think God is saying to me.
Boy, oh boy, work was something last week. I did not do so well keeping my cool and joy while at work at the beginning of the week. Remember last week when I was told to stop focusing on what isn't working and focus on the love? Well, work made me have to really, really focus on this idea, and work really, really hard at smiling, especially at my co-workers.
There is a song from long ago Bible school that was about racing since it was the time of the Olympics. Every once in a while that is the song that won't leave me.
"Jesus, the way before us, we're running now to win. Jesus, the way before us, our eyes are fixed on him. We are God's children, we're living by Faith. Each day a discovery that Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Way!"
I was trying to figure out what verse I was supposed to learn this week, and then realized the song was telling me. It is that trust thing again! Our eyes are fixed on Him!
See: The "Strength" and "Courage" are kind of hard to miss in this verse. "Do not be discouraged." Stop looking at your feet and the crap that is down there and look up! Quit grumping about things and get them finished. "God is with you wherever you go."
Listen: I like that this verse is another reinforcement of a promise. This one was given through Joshua. My job isn't really too difficult if I compare it to what he was supposed to get done. I am just moving some paper. He had to move 12 Tribes! I need to complete tasks and keep my eyes on God and do what He has for me to do, and stop with the grumpies already. Strength! Joshua was a great leader and he was given amazing guidance from God. We get to be a part of that teaching even without the desert wanderings. I just have to remember why I am wandering around the office. And stop being timid or terrified with the tasks I am given. I have to get these small things done to get the bigger ones!
Do: "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in that wonderful face." This is the living word. Word made flesh and He is smiling and eager to teach us a little bit of something. Maybe tug us out of our wanderings and onto the path He already has ready. Be courageous this week!
Love to you all!
Sunday, August 12, 2018
Matthew 6:34 - Don't Worry
August 12, 2018
Matthew 6:34
NIV - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MSG - Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
I chose this verse because all week I have had a song stuck in my head that Beth True used to sing a lot. I did tell her not so long ago that I loved this song and remember her singing it, though I do not know the name. Maybe "The Brush". I will look it up later. The words I sang over and over this week are:
We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand.
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today.
I lean on this, along with the promise of peace and the promise that tomorrow is not mine to worry about. Sometimes I am a lot clingy to that, desperately clutching a life saver as the world churns around me, choosing to sing in the middle of chaos. Which, truth be told, sometimes annoys even me, but I am not sure how else to breathe.
Since I know the NIV version of this verse pretty well, there was nothing new that stuck out to me in reading other than CHILL OUT ALREADY like it always does. I do like the Message version of this verse. I like that it says not just to not worry but to focus on God's today work.
To make each verse come alive, to be a Living Word, I try to envision Jesus telling me His message in the verse in real live words. Today, He came to me grinning like a little kid and pointed to the flowers, "Aren't they beautiful!" And to the sky, "Is that the best blue you have ever seen?" And to me with a grin and a huge hug, "You are my perfect child."
Is this what it means to be child-like in our faith? To stop focusing on what isn't working and start focusing on the love that is right in front of us? I had to work extra hard this week to hang onto the promised "My Peace". I had to focus and pray for joy in the moment, and give a prayer of thanks that tomorrow is not my choice. And maybe that is why "We have this moment" was stuck in my head so much (over and over and over again. Good thing it is a good song!) this week.
I am a little unsure about whether or not I am "doing it right" when it comes to Lectio Divina. Is anyone else having a different insight, a different idea on what is being said or what should be seen or heard in the verses, or if there is a level that is missing? I like how it feels each Sunday and through the week, but I want to make sure I am not missing the big picture, point, etc.
Love to you all!
(Ok. So not really a surprise is that the song is a Gaither song called, "We have this Moment". And "The Brush" is also an awesome song, sung by Ben Speer, written by Chuck Milhuff, Beth also sang. You all look those up and listen!)
Matthew 6:34
NIV - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MSG - Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
I chose this verse because all week I have had a song stuck in my head that Beth True used to sing a lot. I did tell her not so long ago that I loved this song and remember her singing it, though I do not know the name. Maybe "The Brush". I will look it up later. The words I sang over and over this week are:
We have this moment to hold in our hands and to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand.
Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come, but we have this moment today.
I lean on this, along with the promise of peace and the promise that tomorrow is not mine to worry about. Sometimes I am a lot clingy to that, desperately clutching a life saver as the world churns around me, choosing to sing in the middle of chaos. Which, truth be told, sometimes annoys even me, but I am not sure how else to breathe.
Since I know the NIV version of this verse pretty well, there was nothing new that stuck out to me in reading other than CHILL OUT ALREADY like it always does. I do like the Message version of this verse. I like that it says not just to not worry but to focus on God's today work.
To make each verse come alive, to be a Living Word, I try to envision Jesus telling me His message in the verse in real live words. Today, He came to me grinning like a little kid and pointed to the flowers, "Aren't they beautiful!" And to the sky, "Is that the best blue you have ever seen?" And to me with a grin and a huge hug, "You are my perfect child."
Is this what it means to be child-like in our faith? To stop focusing on what isn't working and start focusing on the love that is right in front of us? I had to work extra hard this week to hang onto the promised "My Peace". I had to focus and pray for joy in the moment, and give a prayer of thanks that tomorrow is not my choice. And maybe that is why "We have this moment" was stuck in my head so much (over and over and over again. Good thing it is a good song!) this week.
I am a little unsure about whether or not I am "doing it right" when it comes to Lectio Divina. Is anyone else having a different insight, a different idea on what is being said or what should be seen or heard in the verses, or if there is a level that is missing? I like how it feels each Sunday and through the week, but I want to make sure I am not missing the big picture, point, etc.
Love to you all!
(Ok. So not really a surprise is that the song is a Gaither song called, "We have this Moment". And "The Brush" is also an awesome song, sung by Ben Speer, written by Chuck Milhuff, Beth also sang. You all look those up and listen!)
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