I'm pretty sure I've quoted these verses on my blog before, but they've been on my mind again tonight as I consider, 'Who am I?" and think about the many, many things I do not know or understand, and the tasks I am called to that I don't feel equipped to do. This verses remind me that it's not about me and how equipped I feel, it's not about what I have to offer God, it's what He has offered me by His grace. It's about His power, which is made perfect in my weakness.
'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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.' 1 Corinthians 12:8-10
Showing posts with label You Are Amazing God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label You Are Amazing God. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
He's always been faithful
I'm just joining the music team in our church, and learning some new songs. This was on one of our CDs and I love the words especially, decided I would love it to be my life's theme song. Hope it encourages you.
Whatever you're going through, know that God is faithful. Read the countless stories of people in the Bible who have seen and experienced His faithfulness, get to know others who've seen it too. Record the times He's been faithful to you, so when times are tough you can look back and say with confidence, yet God is faithful.
He's always been faithful by Sara Groves
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed, in
awe of the mystery of his perfect ways
CHORUS:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me
I can't remember a trial or a pain he did
not recycle to bring me gain. I can't
remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand
This is my anthem, this is my song, the
theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
Whatever you're going through, know that God is faithful. Read the countless stories of people in the Bible who have seen and experienced His faithfulness, get to know others who've seen it too. Record the times He's been faithful to you, so when times are tough you can look back and say with confidence, yet God is faithful.
He's always been faithful by Sara Groves
Morning by morning I wake up to find
the power and comfort of God's hand in mine.
Season by season I watch him amazed, in
awe of the mystery of his perfect ways
CHORUS:
All I have need of his hand will provide.
He's always been faithful to me
I can't remember a trial or a pain he did
not recycle to bring me gain. I can't
remember one single regret in serving
God only and trusting his hand
This is my anthem, this is my song, the
theme of the stories I've heard for so long.
God has been faithful, he will be again.
His loving compassion, it knows no end.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Delight
Been thinking tonight about that verse that talks about delighting in God. It's so easy to get distracted and to put our hope in other things. Searched Bible Gateway to find the verse (Psalm 37:4), and came across lots of other verses that talk about 'delight', but surprisingly (to me anyway) often in reference to the way God relates to us, rather than only the other way around.
This one in particular stood out to me in the context of a question Sarah asked today, 'Why does God love us?'. It still baffles me that the God who created this universe would 'delight' in us, that He would send His only Son into our world - though a King (the King of Kings), born in a lowly stable and laid in a manger - and that His Son would take our place, my place, on the cross, and pay the price for my sin, all those times I go my own way instead of God's.
Despite our sin, because of Jesus, He delights in us. Oh to delight in Him!
Psalm 147:11 'The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.'
This one in particular stood out to me in the context of a question Sarah asked today, 'Why does God love us?'. It still baffles me that the God who created this universe would 'delight' in us, that He would send His only Son into our world - though a King (the King of Kings), born in a lowly stable and laid in a manger - and that His Son would take our place, my place, on the cross, and pay the price for my sin, all those times I go my own way instead of God's.
Despite our sin, because of Jesus, He delights in us. Oh to delight in Him!
Psalm 147:11 'The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.'
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Shine Conference
I went to the Shine Conference today, and had a great time. I haven't been involved with worship ministry in quite a while, and had almost forgotten how much I love it.
The morning speaker talked about the power of music, and the impact it can have on people and how we should be really wise in the way we use music in our churches - particularly in the selection of songs. Music has such a huge potential to point people to God and to remind them of His promises, even amidst the most difficult circumstances. I can attest to that - so many times I have ended up in tears when God has brought along the right song at just the right time to speak to my heart - He is truly an amazing God!!
In the afternoon I went to the vocals workshop which was fun, and very practical. Made me want to start singing lessons and join the worship team again soon!!
Had two good cups of coffee and met some lovely ladies, and was reminded again just how small Christian circles are!! Didn't meet any great single guys though... shame.
Elisabeth Elliot writes:
'The growth of all living green things wonderfully represents the process of receiving and relinquishing, gaining and losing, living and dying. The seed falls into the ground, dies as the new shoot springs up. There must be a splitting and a breaking in order for a bud to form. The bud 'lets go' when the flower forms. The calyx lets go of the flower. The petals must curl up and die in order for the fruit to form. The fruit falls, splits, relinquishes the seed. The seed falls into the ground....
There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go.' Passion and Purity, p163
The morning speaker talked about the power of music, and the impact it can have on people and how we should be really wise in the way we use music in our churches - particularly in the selection of songs. Music has such a huge potential to point people to God and to remind them of His promises, even amidst the most difficult circumstances. I can attest to that - so many times I have ended up in tears when God has brought along the right song at just the right time to speak to my heart - He is truly an amazing God!!
In the afternoon I went to the vocals workshop which was fun, and very practical. Made me want to start singing lessons and join the worship team again soon!!
Had two good cups of coffee and met some lovely ladies, and was reminded again just how small Christian circles are!! Didn't meet any great single guys though... shame.
Elisabeth Elliot writes:
'The growth of all living green things wonderfully represents the process of receiving and relinquishing, gaining and losing, living and dying. The seed falls into the ground, dies as the new shoot springs up. There must be a splitting and a breaking in order for a bud to form. The bud 'lets go' when the flower forms. The calyx lets go of the flower. The petals must curl up and die in order for the fruit to form. The fruit falls, splits, relinquishes the seed. The seed falls into the ground....
There is no ongoing spiritual life without this process of letting go.' Passion and Purity, p163
Friday, August 19, 2011
Contentment
Recently I discovered (or perhaps finally admitted) bitterness in my life... bitterness about my current singleness. Perhaps it's more that I'm single again because I'm now divorced that's made me bitter. I don't know. Anyhow, after I identified it, I prayed about it and asked God what I should do about it... it felt awful and I realised it had really been eating away at me.
Then God reminded me of a well-known verse, that we also looked at in our series on Ephesians recently at church, 'Get rid of all bitterness...' (4:31). In my experience of this verse previously, the focus has been on getting rid of anger (mentioned later in the verse) - the bitterness part has been skipped over. But it's clear, this one's black-and-white, God tells me to GET RID OF BITTERNESS. It has no part in the life of a follower of Jesus. Bitterness = a focus on my circumstances not on Jesus.
I also thought more about contentment, that when we are content, there is no room for bitterness. As Paul wrote, 'I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.' Philippians 4:11b-13
Then God reminded me of a well-known verse, that we also looked at in our series on Ephesians recently at church, 'Get rid of all bitterness...' (4:31). In my experience of this verse previously, the focus has been on getting rid of anger (mentioned later in the verse) - the bitterness part has been skipped over. But it's clear, this one's black-and-white, God tells me to GET RID OF BITTERNESS. It has no part in the life of a follower of Jesus. Bitterness = a focus on my circumstances not on Jesus.
I also thought more about contentment, that when we are content, there is no room for bitterness. As Paul wrote, 'I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.' Philippians 4:11b-13
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Do not be dismayed
'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Be still
It's interesting reading things you've learnt in the past, only to find you're relearning them again,... and again... and again.
I looked back at a couple of my posts from a year ago. In one I asked how often we have a lack of faith as to what God can do. Even though I've seen God at work in the past - in the Bible, in the lives of friends and others, and in my own life - I still have a lack of faith a lot of the time. It's when I look at my circumstances, and forget to thank Him for all His gifts, and for who He is that I lack faith.
So to my heart in that moment, God says, 'Be STILL and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10).
I looked back at a couple of my posts from a year ago. In one I asked how often we have a lack of faith as to what God can do. Even though I've seen God at work in the past - in the Bible, in the lives of friends and others, and in my own life - I still have a lack of faith a lot of the time. It's when I look at my circumstances, and forget to thank Him for all His gifts, and for who He is that I lack faith.
So to my heart in that moment, God says, 'Be STILL and know that I am God' (Psalm 46:10).
Monday, May 30, 2011
He offers us His wisdom
The last sentence in the devotion I just posted a link to really rang true for me. Recently I've been grappling with an issue in my life which many Christians spend lots of time giving their opinions about. In my head I knew where I stood, but my heart wanted to convince me otherwise.
Thankfully God has placed wise people in my life who have been able to give me good advice. One reminded me of Proverbs 3:5-6, where God promises to guide our paths as we seek Him. The verses always make me think of a song we taught at Crusaders Winter Escape years ago. Anyway, it didn't happen as quickly as I would have liked, but God did make my path straight - He very clearly guided me as I kept coming to him, doubts, concerns, emotions and all. Here's the sentence from the InTouch devotion for today:
'God assumes responsibility for offering His children sought-after wisdom and enabling them to keep walking on the right path (Prov. 3:5-6).'
Thankfully God has placed wise people in my life who have been able to give me good advice. One reminded me of Proverbs 3:5-6, where God promises to guide our paths as we seek Him. The verses always make me think of a song we taught at Crusaders Winter Escape years ago. Anyway, it didn't happen as quickly as I would have liked, but God did make my path straight - He very clearly guided me as I kept coming to him, doubts, concerns, emotions and all. Here's the sentence from the InTouch devotion for today:
'God assumes responsibility for offering His children sought-after wisdom and enabling them to keep walking on the right path (Prov. 3:5-6).'
Friday, May 20, 2011
Answered Prayer
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.' Proverbs 3:506
I love God's promise to make our paths straight. I love that He answers our prayers, not always in the way we expect, but in the BEST way. I love that His wisdom rules supreme over my thoughts and feelings. I love that He is a faithful, loving, Sovereign God.
Though I don't understand why, I see a God who loves us immensely and who is 100% reliable, As a wise old friend told me recently, if we keep seeking God and asking Him for guidance, He will guide us - that's what He says in His Word. and He has. I can say with confidence, God does guide us, one step at a time, in His perfect timing. He makes our paths straight. :)
I love God's promise to make our paths straight. I love that He answers our prayers, not always in the way we expect, but in the BEST way. I love that His wisdom rules supreme over my thoughts and feelings. I love that He is a faithful, loving, Sovereign God.
Though I don't understand why, I see a God who loves us immensely and who is 100% reliable, As a wise old friend told me recently, if we keep seeking God and asking Him for guidance, He will guide us - that's what He says in His Word. and He has. I can say with confidence, God does guide us, one step at a time, in His perfect timing. He makes our paths straight. :)
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friendships
I'm really enjoying studying Child Development & Learning this semester - thinking about the effects of nature and nurture (temperament, personality, family background...) on the way children develop, and all the interrelating social aspects.
I like to think of it as learning about what makes kids tick. It's very interesting!!
I read this today:
'Healthy friendships come in many forms. Some are brief liaisons, others last a lifetime. Some are relatively casual, others are deep and intimate.' Child Development & Education, McDevitt and Ormrod, p556
Reading about friendships has made me excited about the potential for future friendships, and it's made me reflect a bit on past friendships and how much I've appreciated the input of different friends at different points in my life.
I love that God created us to be relational beings - that He offers us the privilege of a relationship with Him, but also that He provides special people for us to share life with - some as 'brief liaisons' and others as friendships that 'last a lifetime'. He is an amazing God!!
I like to think of it as learning about what makes kids tick. It's very interesting!!
I read this today:
'Healthy friendships come in many forms. Some are brief liaisons, others last a lifetime. Some are relatively casual, others are deep and intimate.' Child Development & Education, McDevitt and Ormrod, p556
Reading about friendships has made me excited about the potential for future friendships, and it's made me reflect a bit on past friendships and how much I've appreciated the input of different friends at different points in my life.
I love that God created us to be relational beings - that He offers us the privilege of a relationship with Him, but also that He provides special people for us to share life with - some as 'brief liaisons' and others as friendships that 'last a lifetime'. He is an amazing God!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Healing for the Broken-hearted
This weekend I'm going to my first wedding since being divorced. Though I'm very excited for my friend and her fiance, I'm struggling a bit emotionally. After having a good old cry tonight I remembered reading a verse about God healing the broken-hearted so did a search on Bible Gateway (such a fantastic tool!!).
Psalm 137:3-4, The Message
He counts the stars
and assigns each a name.
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
we'll never comprehend what he knows and does.'
' He heals the heartbroken
and bandages their wounds.He counts the stars
and assigns each a name.
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
we'll never comprehend what he knows and does.'
Our God is truly an awesome God.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Thanks God for Hope
I'm slowly learning that thanking God takes the focus off me and my worries, and reminds me of how awesome He is and how good He's been to me and how I should be sharing that with others. I don't thank God anywhere near as often as I should.
I love it when I ask the girls what they'd like to say thanks to God for and they come up with things like rainbows and butterflies, different people in our lives, and our cat.
Today I'm thanking God for hope. :) :)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Be at rest oh my soul
Psalm 62:5-6 (New International Version, ©2010)
5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Immeasurably more
'Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.' Ephesians 3:20-21
Why do I so often limit God? Why do I forget that He is Almighty God, who created the heavens and the earth, who created us!
He is able to do IMMEASURABLY MORE than we can ask or imagine... to HIM be the glory!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Hoping in Him
Last week our Pastor preached on Psalm 23, and emphasised the end of the Psalm, 'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life'. Part of me gets a bit skeptical when I read this - I think it could be interpreted to mean that everything will be easy and wonderful if I'm walking with God. I don't believe it means this at all, and our Pastor didn't imply that's what it meant either.
He highlighted that our God is a good, merciful God, and these character traits are what will remain the same. Because of who He is, I can put my hope fully in Him - I often don't, but I should. I love how David in Psalm 25 says that God is his Saviour, and his hope is in Him all day long.
Psalm 25:4-6 (New International Version, ©2010)
4 Show me your ways, LORD,
teach me your paths.
5 Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
6 Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Being settled down
I've had this passage open in Bible Gateway after a friend shared last week how she taught her daughter the well known verse 6 when she was younger. I looked up a few different versions of the passage, and came across the one below in The Message. As someone who has a tendency to worry, I found it really practical.
I love that we're told to 'let petitions and praises shape our worries into prayers'. When I've actually done what God tells us to do in the verse, I have experienced a feeling of peace and being 'settled down', knowing that He is in control.
I also love the idea of God making us into His most excellent harmonies - sounds beautiful!
Philippians 4:6-8 (The Message)
6-7Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Monday, January 31, 2011
This is our awesome God
Psalm 77
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12 I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”
13 Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God?
14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.
15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
16 The waters saw you, God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.
17 The clouds poured down water,
the heavens resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.
19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Dreams
I've had some great dreams recently, sure they're only dreams, but it's nice to dream sometimes. I love that God is Sovereign, and that He has power to do anything... He parted the red sea, He raises the dead to life, He calms the storm.
Yesterday I came across a great version of Ephesians 3:19-21 in The Message and it says that God can do far more than we can request in our wildest dreams. Yes, His dreams may be different dreams to those we come up with, but He has good plans for us - though there is difficulty and adversity, His plans are good and He promises to be with us and to guide us if we seek His wisdom.
14-19My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
20-21God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
A hard lesson
Emotions can be confusing - up and down, up and down.
God's patiently teaching me not to trust my emotions, but to trust Him, that He will be my strength. Hard lesson to learn though. Very hard lesson at times.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy,
and with my song I praise him.
8 The LORD is the strength of his people
Thursday, January 20, 2011
His grace really IS sufficient
God says it in His Word, and He's a faithful God who keeps His promises. I can say with confidence that His grace truly is sufficient. Everything in me was screaming, 'I can't', but He reminded me to keep leaning on Him, to keep holding on to His promises - His power is made perfect in our weakness. His grace IS sufficient!! What an awesome God!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)