January 25

Isaiah 55:10-11
"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall proper in the thing for which I sent it."  (NKJV)

 God clearly states here that His purposes will be accomplished.  His word shall not return void.  Whether it is us or someone else, God’s word will not return void.  I want to be a part of that!  God has refreshed me and I don’t want to forget it and go about life “as usual” but I want to live my life to declare it!  I’ve noticed that the first day of anything new seems easy.  For example, that first day of exercise is good—its nice to get moving; yeah I’m burning calories; my side hurts a little, but it’ll be worth it in the end!  It’s the second day that gets you—my muscles are sore; it wasn’t this hard yesterday; my lungs are burning, is this really worth it?  The first day of spiritual growth is good—my sins are covered and I’m forgiven; God has put a new song in my heart; pain may have lasted for the night, but joy sure came this morning!  It’s the second day that sets the tone—I don’t feel like I have anything monumental to turn from today; I’m still feeling refreshed today and I prayed a long prayer and read a lot of the Bible yesterday, so I’m covered for today too right?  Queue Satan’s entry as we don’t get through that second or third day and he dumps guilt in our lap for not living up to what we were so committed to yesterday.  We feel guilty and give up hope and resign ourselves to being a failure.  Well, God’s word will not return void!  Don’t sit on the sidelines because you have failed—get back up, ask forgiveness, and resume that sweet fellowship with God!  It is the daily denying of ourselves and His power being perfected in our weakness, in which we will be continually refreshed and in sweet fellowship with Him!

Lord, we know your word will not return void.  I thank you for that and I pray I may be a part of that.  And I pray that this devotional makes sense too.  It’s kind of jumbled, but I pray it accomplishes what you wish and that it brings you glory.  May we daily give ourselves and our power up to You—the One who holds the whole world in His hand.  May your power be perfected in our weakness, because we’re broken and it’s all we have to give.  Amen.

January 24

Acts 3:19
“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. . .” (NKJV)

The Lord has truly refreshed me.
I havn’t had close fellowship with God lately.  I wasn’t listening well and was being prideful and stubborn, doing things my own way.  (Hence the lack of posts the last few days.)  Thankfully, God humbled me today and brought me out of the pit I’d dug for myself.  He is in the midst of showing me so much right now, I can’t even verbalize it all yet.  I feel like Mary, storing all these things up and treasuring them in my heart.  One major thing He’s teaching me that I can verbalize is this: God is in control.  And lately, with different things going on in life, I’ve just had to repeat to myself: God is in control.  God is in control.  Do you get it yet?  Do I get it yet?  God is in control. 
I recently read a biography on Corrie ten Boom, and something her sister said in it has stuck with me: In God’s world there are no “ifs.”  Ever since I’ve read it I’ve been in situations where I keep catching myself saying “If only . . .” or “What if . . .”  or even “I wish I’d known that because if I had . . .”  Each time God has reminded me that in His world there are no “ifs.”  He is sovereign and He made me for a purpose and none of what is happening right now is on accident.
Today was a big day of being humbled and repenting.  I praise God for that!  It has been a day of being drenched in His grace as my sins have been blotted out.  I praise God for that!  And even as hard as the day began, it has been the most refreshing in a long time.  I praise God for that!

Keep me in your presence, Lord, that this refreshing may never cease!  Amen.

January 16, 17, 18

I felt led to share a song for today's devotional (which encompasses the past three days).  The following verses are by Audrey Assad, and it is her song "Show Me."  I definitely recommend buying this song--better yet, the whole CD.  It has definitely ministered to me, as I hope it will to you. 

"Show Me" 

You could plant me like a tree beside a river

You could tangle me in soil and let my roots run wild

And I would blossom like a flower in the desert

But for now just let me cry

You could raise me like a banner in a battle

Put victory like a fire behind shining eyes

I would drift like a falling snow over embers

But for now just let me lie

Bind up these broken bones

Mercy bend and breathe me back to life

But not before You show me how to die

Set me like a star before the morning

Like a song that steals the darkness from a world asleep

And I’ll illuminate the path You’ve laid before me

But for now just let me be

Bind up these broken bones

Mercy bend and breathe me back to life

But not before You show me how to die

Let me go like a leaf upon the water

Let me brave the wild currents flowing to the sea

And I will disappear into a deeper beauty

But for now just stay with me

God for now just stay with me

Psalm 1: 1-3

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall proper.

January 15

Isaiah 32: 9-10

Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech.  In a year and some days you will be troubled, you complacent women; for the vintage will fail, the gathering will not come.

I am not a professional photographer (obviously!).  I do like to take pictures, however, and I am working to get better at it as time goes by.  The above represents what I might get if I never tried to improve, but just stay where I’m at.  The above represents being satisfied with mediocrity. 

It is all too easy to become complacent—in family, in work, in our spiritual life (in our photo blogs).  We are satisfied with where we are.  We are comfortable.  Our behavior in these situations seems to say: “I’m not going to push for anything better, but I will hope things don’t get any worse.”  If we are complacent in our spiritual life, all other areas are not far behind. 

I thought about not doing a devotional tonight.  Here was my thought process: “I didn’t do one last night because I was so tired and it was late when we got back home.  Why bother doing one tonight—I haven’t even taken a picture.  It rained all day and there were no good things to take pictures of.  I’ll just skip today too.  No one ever reads this blog anyway.  I don’t want to be dogmatic about it and feel like I have to do it every single day.  It’s okay to skip two days in a row.  Don’t worry about it.” 

Did you pick up on anything there . . .lets see . . . umm . . .EXCUSES?!?!  It’s easy to make excuses and rationalize staying right where you are.  But in the case of my blog, however, I knew this was something God gave me to do.  I thought about the times when it was 10pm and I had nothing for the day and He gave me a picture and a Scripture.  As I reflected on God’s faithfulness, it encouraged me to push forward.  I wanted to honor what He has already done, what I know He will do, and what He was called me to do.  That motivated me to get going. 

The same can be said for our spiritual life.  We should constantly be pushing forward, delving deeper into God’s Word, striving to know Him better and tuning our hearts and ears to His direction and voice.  If you have become complacent in your spiritual life, reflect back on what God has done for you.  Don’t feel like God has done anything for you lately?  Maybe you should read your Bible—read the gospels, focus on the crucifixion and the resurrection—that should give you a starting point. 

There is new life in Christ—that should be motivation enough to push through laziness and complacency to know Him more! 

Father, thank You for the new life You give us.  Thank You for revealing Yourself to us.  Thank You for not tempting us beyond what we can bear.  Thank You for never leaving or forsaking us.  Thank You for the calling You have placed on our lives.  May Your power be perfected in our weakness as You draw us ever closer to Yourself and out of our complacency and excuses.  May You be glorified in all these things.  Amen.

January 13

James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (NKJV)

 

Many times as we encounter trials we feel mixed up—like a lot of pieces in our life are out of order.  But God tells us in His Word to count these times as joy!  This is difficult.  The important thing is to keep your eyes on the prize—an eternal reward in heaven, spiritual maturity, the glory of God.

I learned how to solve a Rubik’s cube tonight.  It seems a perfect example of enduring as you keep your eyes on the prize.  I’ve never solved a Rubik’s cube before (unless you count taking the stickers off and putting them back so it looks solved!).  It was hard and frustrating, but the person teaching me the method for solving was very patient.  Sometimes I got mad and told him I did the step right and it didn’t work, so he must have written it down wrong.  Even when I made such accusations, he still rejoiced with me when I got a step right.  He kept teaching me and correcting me and helping me until I was able to solve it.  And then I went on to solve it all by myself!  As I kept doing the steps, I discovered that the step was wrong because I did it wrong—his directions were right all along.

It seems this is what we do with God.  He offers us a great adventure and we accept.  But we get frustrated and mad when it gets a little tough and hard to understand some things—when we go through trials.  When things aren’t going the way we want, we tell God that we’ve been doing things right, so He must have made a mistake somewhere along the way.  Despite these accusations, He remains with us, patiently instructing us in the way to go, the steps to take.  He rejoices with our triumphs and is pleased when we give Him the glory.  We discover that He was never wrong, we were.  And we (sometimes) can see how He worked it all together for good.

Remember that God has you on this journey for His purposes, not yours.  If you will let Him be in control, and patiently endure the trials along the way, and let Him teach you in the midst, you will learn so much—far more than if you fight it.  And in the end, you will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing!

January 12

Psalm 30:5“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (NKJV)

It is a comfort to know that if we are in Christ, joy will come in the morning.  That morning could be a literal morning.  It could be when a period of mourning comes to an end, and we focus on the good memories we had.  It could be after days or weeks, or even years, of hard and trying times.  That morning could even be when we join our Heavenly Father in Paradise.  Psalm 16:11 says “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  When I am going through hard times, it the hope of that joy set before me that keeps me going.  I know that the Lord will bring joy in the morning—even joy in the midst of suffering.  And one day I will enter His presence and my joy will be complete in Him.  Will yours?

Thank you, Father, that though weeping may last for the night, Your joy comes with the morning!  Thank you that in your presence is fullness of joy.  May we be found in You, Lord, and on that day our joy be made complete!  Amen.

January 11

Psalm 30:5“For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (NKJV)

Life is full of emotion.  If you don’t feel any, you better check yourself for a pulse.  Sadness is an emotion some of us feel very often.  Sometimes things just look bleak from where we sit.  Sadness can take many forms.  It may take the form of disappointment.  It could be that we are mourning the loss of a loved one.  We could have a feeling of abandonment because someone has left us alone.  And the list could go on.  Why do these things happen?  That is the result of the fall—we brought this upon ourselves through sin in the Garden.

But what is the purpose of these things?  More often than not that is a mystery that only God knows.  Yes, weeping may endure for the night; things may look bleak for a while; perhaps you may even experience God’s anger for a moment.  During these times trust in the Lord.  Sometimes that can be one of the hardest things to do because God doesn’t always work on our timetable, and He doesn’t always show us what we want to see.  But if we turn our back on God, to whom will we turn?   Humans change their mind—God is unchanging.

Remember what Moses said to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:8—because it applies to all of us today just as well--“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

January 10

John 10:28
"And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."

What a glorious promise!  If we are in Jesus, we have eternal life!  If we are in Christ, our tombstone should read just as Mrs. Vivian's does--no date of death, because we are living in eternity with our Heavenly Father!  This verse of Scripture reminds me of my favorite verses in the song "In Christ Alone": 

No power of hell, no scheme of man

Could ever pluck me from His hand

Til He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I stand.

No matter what happens, I am hidden in Christ and nothing and no one can take me from out of His hand.

Thank you, Lord, for your promises.  You are the promise-giver and the promise-keeper.  I pray we will store up Your Word and Your promises in our hearts, that You may be glorified, and we may serve You with all we are and all we have!  Amen.

January 8

Matthew 18:2-3
Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

We must become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven.  I've often wondered how exactly we do that, but this little girl showed me how tonight.  She wanted no one but her mother tonight.  Everyone wanted to hold her and love on her, but all she wanted was Mommy.  We tried tempting her with toys--she clung to her mother.  We tried luring her with food--she held tight to her mother.  We opened our arms, offered her hugs, made funny faces, whatever it took--it was useless, she only wanted her mother.
For me, this showed what Jesus meant when He said we must become like little children.  We must have total trust in Him and cling to Him and want nothing but Him.  Don't let the world lure us into their arms, but cling to our Heavenly Father and bury our face in His chest and hide in Him.  And, just as this little girl's mother did, the Father will scoop us up in His arms and love on us and comfort and care for us.  The more we have of Him, the more we will want of Him.  I pray we may fight against anything that tries to tempt us away from Him, and simply cling to our Heavenly Father with the faith of a child.

January 6

Deuteronomy 3:24

O Sovereign LORD, I am your servant. You have only begun to show me your greatness and power. Is there any god in heaven or on earth who can perform such great deeds as yours? (NLT)

One of the most important things in life to remember, from my simple perspective, is the Sovereignty of God.  I think that is also one my favorite attributes of Him too.  God is Sovereign.  Even when things seem chaotic.  Even when there is no money in the bank.  Even when there is no food in the fridge.  God is Sovereign.  Even when there is an overflow of abundance.  Even when it seems He is raining down blessings from above.  Even when everything is so perfectly lovely and organized.  God is Sovereign.  No. Matter. What. 

We make the choice to believe this in how we live each day.  Do we thank Him for His provision?  Or do we pat ourselves on the back?  Even when the provision seems so small, He has still provided.  Ask yourself--do I lack anything I need?  The answer is "no" more likely than not.

When the future seems uncertain and I begin to worry, I just have to remind myself--God knows.  And I would rather place my future in His hands than anywhere else-especially my own.   He has only begun to show us His greatness and power!

January 5

2 Corinthians 5: 1, 6-8

For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.  So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.  For we walk by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

It is a great comfort to know where our true home lies—in the Lord.  I have an earthly home, but that will change depending on where Jason and I go in the world.  My home in heaven will never change and it is glorious beyond my wildest dreams!  I can’t even imagine the splendor of it all.  Oddly enough, when I think of having a home in heaven, I often think of homeless people.  Our church houses a group of homeless men for the winter months.  Some of them become followers of Christ while they are there.  I cannot even begin to imagine what it will be like for them when they come into heaven—when they truly arrive home.  To go from being homeless to having breathtaking beauty beyond imagination as your home, illuminated by the light of the Son of God—I get goosebumps thinking about it!  J 

It is important to remember that our true home lies in heaven as we go about life and daily tasks.  Don’t neglect an opportunity to be a blessing to someone by inviting them into heaven through your witness to them.  My prayer is that I will live in such a way that one day when I truly come home, I will hear “Well done, good and faithful servant!  Enter into the joy of your Lord!”

January 4

Proverbs 29:13
"The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives light to the eyes of both."

God has given His Light to the world.  Do you walk in it?  Or do you hide from it?  In John 3:19-20, he tells us that those practicing evil hate the light and do not come to it, lest their deeds are exposed.  But in verse 21, John tells us that he who practices truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen and--here's the kicker--that they have been done in God.  Who are these good deeds done in?  Man?  No.  God?  Yes!  We can do nothing good apart from Him! 
God has been teaching me this truth in my own life lately.  I try and try to be good and to love others and to not judge others--but it comes to naught.  And then I feel guilty because I couldn't do that and aren't I a Christian and supposed to love others and not judge them and do good and why is that so hard for me? 
Its because I can't do that--but if I will let go and let God, He can do infinitely more than I can even think or imagine!  Its so freeing to know that I really can't do all these things myself--only Jesus can do them through me if I will be willing and obedient.  This is really a place where I have seen first hand what can happen if I will cease striving and know that He is God. 
Praise God for His grace when I mess up again and again because I try to do things on my own.  Praise Him for His mercy that He can still chooses to use me--a sinner saved by grace.

January 3

Psalm 123: 1-2
Unto You I lift up my eyes, O You who dwell in the heavens.  Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until He has mercy on us. (NKJV)

Psalm 123:1-2

I lift up my eyes to You, O God, enthroned in heaven.  We look to the LORD our God for His mercy, just as servants keep their eyes on their master, as a slave girl watches her mistress for the slightest signal.  (NLT)

God reminded me of some things I had read in the book "The Pursuit of God" by A.W. Tozer.  The words below describe one idea I have never forgotten from reading the book years ago.  I won't even try to put it in my own words.  I highly recommend going and getting the book.  Now.  Go.
The following quote is pieced together from his writing found on pgs. 83-85.  I'm hoping I'm not breaking all copyright laws (maybe none at all?), but Tozer says what I want to say a whole lot better than me, so here goes.
"Faith is the gaze of the soul upon a saving God.  Indeed, Jesus taught that He wrought His works by always keeping His inward eyes upon His Father.  His power lay in His continuous look at God (John 5:19-21).  Believing, then, is directing the heart's attention to Jesus.  It is lifting the mind to 'Behold the Lamb of God' (John 1:29), and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.  Faith is the least self-regarding of the virtues.  Like the eye which sees everything in front of it and never sees itself, faith is occupied with the Object upon which it rests and pays no attention to itself at all.  While we are looking at God we do not see ourselves--blessed riddance.  Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line."

Amen.
Keep your eyes focused on God today so that, truly, self may fall away.  Blessed riddance.

January 2

Revelation 21:23
The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it.  The Lamb is its light. (NKJV)

Lately God has been teaching me to keep my eyes on the prize: the joy set before me in eternity spent in His presence.  All things in this world are temporal.  There is no gift that is eternal, only eternal life!  What a joy to know that in Christ alone we have eternal life!  This world is not our home!  Death is not the end! 
If we are in Christ then one day we will behold the Lamb.  We will dwell in the city that has no need for sun or moon.  We will behold the glory of God!  We will bask in the glow of the light of the Lamb!  I pray that as Christians we do keep our eyes focused on the only thing, the only One that matters.  I pray we live differently.  I pray that our life will live out the verse in Psalm 73:25: Whom have I in heaven but You?  I desire You more than anything on earth! (NLT)

January 1

1 Corinthians 13:12 

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face.  Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.  (NKJV)

1 Corinthians 13:12

Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God knows me now. (NLT)

Right now there is no one on earth who knows you completely.  There are people who know you well--your parents, your spouse, your best friend--but there is no one on earth who knows every little bit of you.  There is One that does though.  He knows your deepest longings, your wildest dreams, your darkest secrets.  Matthew 10:30 tells us that the very hairs of our head are all numbered!  Psalm 139 tells us that God is acquainted with all our ways (vs. 3) and that His thoughts toward us are more in number than the sand (vs. 17-18)!  He knows us so well! 

However, we are in a haze here on earth.  We have things grabbing for our attention, our love, our allegiance.  We struggle with sins and self worth.  What a glorious thought and a glorious hope to know that one day, that haze will be lifted!  We will see Jesus face to face!  We will truly know Him, just as He has known us completely all along!  The mysteries of our trials, our struggles and everything for which we wonder "Why God?" will be made clear through His sovereignty.  What Joy!  What Freedom!  One day all things will come into focus: and we will truly fix our eyes upon Jesus. 

Preface

I just want to take a moment to say a few things I am not.  I am not a theologian and do not claim to be.  I am not a "good Christian."  I am not perfect and do not pretend to be.
So what am I?  I am a sinner saved by Grace.  I am a humble servant of Christ.  I am redeemed by my Savior who paid the price.  I am His beloved child.
I am starting this blog with the intent of glorifying God.  It is my goal (Lord help me!) to take a picture a day and write a devotional to go along with it.  For a year, Lord willing.  It is going to be a big year with a lot happening.  Somewhere in the middle of 2011, my husband and I (Lord willing) will be moving to Guyana, South America to be missionaries. 
This is an attempt to document the year with all its trials, triumphs and everything in between and point each day back to the One who created it.  This is an attempt to daily focus myself, and anyone else who happens to read this, on the Only One worthy of all thanks and praise.
May the Lord be glorified in and through it all--not in my strength, for it is mere weakness, but in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

~L

[Note:  If anything ever seems out of line with Scripture, please contact me immediately with the Biblical reference so that it can be righted.  Thanks!]