What It Means To Trust In God

I found this wonderful teaching in Swindol's devotion book. It is from a book by Dr. Raymond Edman called In Quietness and Confidence. I think it truly sums up what it means to trust God.

When Dr. Edman faced a difficult trial first he was quiet for a while with his Lord and then he wrote these words:

First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest.

Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace to behave as His child.

Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.

Last, in His time He can bring me out again-how and when He knows.

Happy Birthday to My Daughter

My daughter's 21st birthday was yesterday. And we did what all good mothers and daughters should do on their birthdays - go shopping, even if we did have some male tag alongs. A walk around the mall while the women shop is good exercise.

Thank you Lord for my daughter, for the wonderful woman she has become. Thank you for the fun we have being together and finding not only the perfect dress on sale but how much we are loved as your children. Thank you for your great blessings and love, a perfect love that drives out all fear. (1 John 4: 18). May my daughter continue to grow in your perfect love and share that love with others in the warm and wonderful way she does now. Amen

Siesta Memory Challenge - June 15

Here is my new verse. I chose it now because I am in the middle of planning my courses for next year and I want to help students learn to work together so that they can teach their students how to work together. I see this verse as one reason to teach cooperatively, so I thought it would be good to have it memorized.

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12, TNIV
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor;
If they fall down, the can help each other up.
But pity those who have no one to help them up!
Also if two lie down together they can keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?
Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of 3 strands is not quickly broken.


Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
Isaiah 30:20-21, TNIV
John 17: 25-26, TNIV
Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14

Confession of Self-Sufficiency

This is a wonderful quote from "The Path of Celtic Prayer," by Calvin Miller from page 147 and 150.

"We can never achieve union with God by clinging to our self-sufficiency. Recognizing and admitting our need in confession creates a heart cry for oneness.

Those who belong to Christ do not have their own agenda. Those who are one with the Savior find their strength not in their own agenda but in that of the Savior. "

This is my greatest battle, my clinging to my own self-sufficiency. Oh Lord set aside my agenda and make your agenda my agenda. Show me your way and give me strength only to walk with you. Amen.

Letting Go

While I was studying and thinking about my new memory verse I realized that to really follow God's leading you have to be obedient. I really want to follow God's every command, but this means I have to let go of things that I think I need to take hold of what he has for me.

I thought about something that happened while we camping at Fall Creek Falls. Thomas and I went on the trail down to Piney Creek. This is a trail that we know really well. We knew where we were going and that the trail wasn't that difficult. After you cross over the suspension bridge you have to climb down a rocky path. It had been rainy a lot the week before so we knew the path would be slick. I went first and there is this tree that you can grab onto to climb down. It has been used so much that the bark is soft and smooth, like a stone in the river. I grabbed the tree and went down. I turned around to see that Thomas hadn't climbed down yet and I asked why he didn't just grab the tree. He said he couldn't reach it. I asked why he couldn't reach it when his arms and reach are longer than mine and I reached it just fine. He said that what I did was to jump just a little ways. That is why I could reach it. I kind of lunged for it. I didn't think about doing this, I just did it.

You see I wasn't afraid. I could see where I was going. I knew that holding on to the tree would keep my from falling. I knew many others had held on to the tree before and I had held on to the tree before. I think this is the way I want to follow Christ. To let go of my safe place and just reach out for Him, knowing that he will be there to keep me from falling. And I want to do this just like I did with the tree, without even thinking about it.

Here is a picture of where we going - Piney Creek above the falls. It is a truly beautiful place, just like where God will always eventually lead us.

Siesta Memory Challenge - June 1

Here is my new verse for June. I found it in my reading of Isaiah. I chose it because I want to be a better listener to God's voice to know the way to walk. According to the notes in my study bible, the word Hebrew form of the word "teachers" can be rendered "Teacher" and can refer to the Lord. This is a great promise.

Isaiah 30:20-21, TNIV
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
John 17: 25-26, TNIV
Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14