Read the Bible in a Year Week 2 2013

Day 8: Luke 9:1-27– Read Scriptures

This is a packed chapter.  I get goose bumps when I let it all soak in.  First of all, can you imagine, Jesus in the flesh, commissioning you?  When we choose Jesus, we too become His disciples.  We too gain the ability to go out into the villages and share the good news and watch of His miraculous workings.  That in itself is beyond exciting.  But I can’t get my mind to wrap around Jesus standing in flesh giving me that authority and direction. And then to return to Him; to share with Him of the journey and experiences, knowing He already knows but wants time with me to tell of the experiences.  We do this in prayer every time we seek Him and talk to Him.   But to see Him… to tangibly be able to look in to His eyes and see of His love and approval. It’s just too much!  And of course, I love the story of the loaves and bread.  And I lived it.  I have seen God do that for me and my family.  When my son feel terminally ill in an instant, we went from a 2 income family to a 1 income family overnight, paired with astronomical financial stresses to try to care for our sweet boy.  It never, ever added up on paper how we were able to pay the regular bills, come up with unexpected travel money, and etc. etc. etc.  For 18 months, through God’s power and His people, our loaves and fish kept multiplying.  It was remarkable and miraculous.  I always smile when I read that story.  The power of truth is so deep for us.  But then, the closing verses just take my breath away.  I close my eyes and I imagine myself sitting there with my Savior, hearing Him speak of his ultimate sacrifice still to come, while He reminds me of the choice each of us will make.  It is hard for me to fathom any of them being able, after looking deep into the eyes of our perfect Redeemer, to reject or deny Him ever again.  It’s hard that is, until I look into the mirror and realize how many times I have, in my own way, been guilty more than once of the very thing I can’t imagine from them.  I have not seen the face of my savior, but I have felt His grace in a way that I will never be able to write.  And yet, how many times have I sought my own plans over His, thought of my own way instead of His, and laid down that blood stained cross for the world’s lackluster replacement?  Oh how grateful I am for grace.  He tasted death for me that I and any, who choose to believe and trust in Him, may experience the Kingdom of God.  Hallelujah.  For the disciples that failed and for me, who fails.  He spoke it then, He speaks it now.  Take up our cross and follow Him and we WILL be given the Kingdom of heaven, but only, only if we heed the warning.  Lord, please help me live as you call.  I can’t do it alone.

 

Day 9: 28-62 – Read Scriptures

The theme of these scriptures for me is WAKE UP!  It seems so clear to us when we read of all that Jesus was doing and how He was even foreshadowing His horrific death on the cross for the second time that they need to wake up.  How could they continue to miss the point?  How could they, at such a serious, pivotal time in the life of God in flesh, worry about who was numero uno?  How, how how…. Oh… wait…. There is the mirror again.  The one that reflects my own heart.  How many ways has Jesus shown me His glory?  How many times has Jesus demonstrated His power and love to me and those around me?  How many times have I read and known and believe fully in the truth of the cross and the cost He paid?  Yet, how many times has my focus turned to the moments or situations rather than what Christ has made clearly known to me?  How many times have I missed the point?  How many times have I made Jesus shake His head at my lack of faith?  And yet how many times have I elevated myself to a place of superiority over others in my faith walk.  How about you?  But then, I look at my youngest daughter.  She was just baptized on Christmas break.  Her faith is full and first.  She trusts first and seeks answers later.  It’s her nature.  It’s how Christ showed us in these scriptures we are to be.  Why then, do we make it so complicated?  Oh Lord, let me yes be instant every single time you ask me to follow You in any direction.  May I go trusting like a child. You are worthy.  Help me to dig deep into you and remember that beyond any situation. 

 

Day 10:   Luke 10:1-20 – Read Scriptures

This chapter gets me excited!  When Jesus sent the 70 out, His instructions were so black and white… and so freeing.  He told them exactly what to do and how to do it and He sent them together so that the one could help the other.  He told them to go into the homes, offer His peace, pray for their souls in earnest, and receive their generosity in return with freedom of full enjoyment, realizing it was a small response to the gift of peace they have brought.  He was clear that they must go in prayer, not be bogged down by possessions, and expect difficulties. Heal, drive out demons, and proclaim the good news in His name.  And then enjoy, understanding that those that receive their kindness are really receiving Him and that is worth celebrating and enjoying.  They returned to Him after what was a difficult journey, where they faced rejection and probably physical exhaustion at times, but proclaimed joy.  They got it!  They experienced in full what it means to walk with Him and do His work and their joy was deep in spite of any circumstance.  I want to live like this!  I want to truly, truly, truly live like this.  It’s so hard in our “microwave, please me now” day and age.  And it’s hard when the journey is hard.  But man, when we keep proclaiming, praying, and trusting, we experience that same joy they did.  And it is good.  It is always, always good. 

 

Day 11:  Luke 10:21-42 – Read Scriptures

These scriptures make it so simple.  He comes to those willing to receive Him like a child.  Eternal life is found in those that show mercy to others as He has shown to us.  And stop being so preoccupied with the world’s distractions that we forget to enjoy the One who gave us the world.  Why, when it really is that simple, do we continually make it so hard?  Just this past week, I had so much on my mind.  Big things taking place in our family.  Good things, but some of them difficult to say the least.  I found myself wound up and emotional and even on edge.  I forgot to be like a child, give of myself fully to others not thinking of my own needs, and focused more on the distractions than Him. Sometimes I am really good at being Mary.  God is so near to me sometimes that I am just overwhelmed with Him.  But many days, I get to doing what I think I have to do, and I just flat fail to enjoy Him.  I take for granted He is there, but somehow, I start trying to direct the day. But oh, the peace that flows like a river when I do it the simple way.  I love that I serve a powerful God that can move mountains… and make them for that matter… but simplifies the way to peace so that when we are willing, the sweet taste of heaven touches us right here on earth. 

 

 

 

Day 12:  Luke 11:1-28 – Read Scriptures

These verses give me great hope for those I pray for that doesn’t know my Savior.  Jesus teaches us how to pray, but even more, He commands us to be bold in asking in prayer.  I love that these scriptures remind us that God is ready to bestow His blessings on us, but He waits for us to ask boldly.  And then, when we pray boldly for a lost soul, Christ will drive out the devil from that dwelling place.  We can’t force it or make it happen, but in fervent prayer, in His power and for His glory, Christ transforms the heart just as He drove out demons. It’s not how much we know or even preach; it’s not how much we try to force someone to something; rather it is about the heart.  Without Christ, we are comfortable in our sin and our self-righteous nature is strong.  But when we fall in prayer, seeking and asking God always in all things, we are transformed and our prayers are used in the transformation of others.  The evidence of who has dwelling place rights in our heart is proven in our desire to live His way and we will then begin to see the transformation in others because we will have the eyes of Christ and no longer will we see things from any form of self-righteousness.  “Open they Eyes of our Heart Lord!”

 

Day 13:  Luke 11:29-54 – Read Scriptures

We are so like this.  I find myself saying, “Lord, how about an email?  Can you just make it that clear?  I want a neon sign!”  These verses sting, because I have been given the greatest neon sign of all, the Holy, LIVING Word of God! I can read of every detail of the miracles and signs He has left for us and I can see His miracles every day around me when I look yet, how much I take for granted and act just like these He is calling a wicked generation.  God has given me the sign, His light has come into me, and the more I dig into His word, spend time in His word, and dwell with His son, the more He will show in me so that others will be drawn out of the darkness.  Why would I need more than that?  And yet so often I do.  And then religion… religious people…. I could get on a soap box here, but then, that in and of itself would be hypocrisy because I am just as guilty as the next from time to time.  The key is daily remember humbly, the greatest gift of all, and allow our hearts to be open so that He truly can fill every ounce of our being more and more each day. 

 

Day 14:  Luke 12:1-31 – Read Scriptures

God knows us.  Every single one of us.  Not one of us, whether we remember Him or not, is forgotten or missed by Him.  He knows every hair on our head, our every need, and our comings and goings.  He knows what we do in the open and what we keep hidden.  He knows who comes against us and when trouble will strike.  And He knows what to do about it.  The worst thing that can happen is death and He has defeated death.  It all goes back to faith.  We are here for His glory.  We are here for His purpose.  Just as those beautiful wildflowers by the thousands, planted in that field, without a care in the world, just here doing what they were created to do, so should we.  Does that mean be careless?  Absolutely not.  It just means, that we are to do what it is we are called to do and not spend our time fretting about the what if’s because He is already at work in that.  It isn’t easy.  I find in my life, many circumstances really are challenging to truly release.  But the more I pray and the more I focus on His power, the more I am able to take it one moment at a time.  I yearn for the day my faith is strong enough to be like the lilies of the fields.  Until then, I am just going to keep going back to the truth in these verses… my mantra… GOD HAS THIS 

Read the Bible in a Year - week 1 2013

Welcome!  My prayer is that the focus will be the word.  I share some thoughts that come to my heart as I read through and God speaks, but please, let His word wash over you personally.  God will reward us in precious, tender ways as we seek Him through His Holy Word! I would love you to share your comments.  God can speak fresh to us through His touch on others.  I am praying for you.  God knows you by name, even if I don't.  Will you pray for me as well!  I can't wait to see where He takes us as we journey through His entire word in a year!

Blessings and love in Jesus name!

Robin

 

January 2013

Day 1:  Luke 5:27-39 – Read the scriptures

As I read this, I was immediately convicted.  I am a Christian.  The Lord rescued me at a young age… and He has been rescuing me every day since then.  I know that He called me out to follow Him just as He called Levi.  Though I am not seen as many saw Levi in His day, I can honestly say, without Him in my life, I probably could have been seen much worse.  It is only through His grace that I have any favor this side of heaven at all.  I am humbled by the reminder of how Jesus calls.  I am humbled that He chooses to be with this sick… not the physically sick, though He is beautiful with that as well, but my deepest humility arises when I reflect on the trueness of His love for choosing, in all His splendor and perfection, to be among those most unrighteous in order to draw them into righteousness.  May I never choose to try to be in the swamps of my flesh on purpose, but may I never, ever forget that without Jesus that is where I would remain for eternity.  And may I always, always approach my opinion of sin in others only through first remembering how Christ Himself approaches it, and in remembering how He approaches me.  Graces is a wondrous gift.

 

Day 2:  Luke 6:26-27 – Read Scriptures

The Sabbath and how we should live will forever remain a source of argument among even the most well intended Christians and modern day Pharisees alike.  It is a day that we water down, justify, or condemn others about.  God speaks to me hear, realizing even while my Savior was on earth in flesh on God’s Sabbath, the debate and accusatory tone was present.  What does it say to me?  It’s a heart thing.  If I want to know what God alone desires for me on His Sabbath, then I need to be in touch with Him.  I need to seek Him and trust that if He calls me to something on His day, I best be doing it, but if I am putting anything ahead of Him on His day, I best be recognizing it.  Only God is righteous enough to determine.  And if that leaves any question, the rest of the scripture goes on to confirm, my enemy will be near to bring condemnation and confusion.  I will only be blessed if I am clinging to the gospel truths and in communion with my Father.  I cannot afford to be without His word, His presence, and even His convictions.  The enemy, the world, they are always near ready to confuse my focus.  So quickly I can be sucked into the things of the world and drift from the things of God.  When I do, suddenly that is the only blessing I have.  But my eternal blessing that then enriches my blessings on earth, comes only when I truly desire God more than anything else.  Then, treasures beyond my wildest imagination are offered up for eternity.  Oh thank you God.  Lead the way… on your Sabbath and every other day.

 

Day 3:  Luke 6:27-49 – Read Scriptures

These scriptures always convict.  I have never read these passages and not realized I have a lot of work to do.  It is not easy to do well to those who do harm and wish bad for me or those I love.  And just when I think, “But Lord, this is too much!” I am struck with the remembrance of Jesus when the soldiers came to lead Him to His death.  Peter, in justified anger, struck the soldier, cutting off his ear.  Jesus, without any anger at all, stopped Peter and healed the soldier.  That soldier, without a doubt, because of the good Jesus did in spite of the evil coming upon Him, knew instantly He was in the presence of someone far greater than any man could ever be.  Sometimes we just want to get even.  I think one of the hardest things on earth is turning the other cheek.  But when I read these scriptures, I realize the truth.  It is so easy to love those that love back, but the true blessing is loving someone that seems near impossible.  Then and only then does our tree flourish fully with fruit.  Loving the unlovable is how Jesus ministered many into His following while on earth.  And loving the unlovable, forgiving the wrongs, and looking into our own sin first, is how Jesus draws many into His following through us.  It isn’t easy and it takes very intentional work.  I am amazed at the cruelty on social media, especially with teens.  The way people tear down and attack, even their own friends, is beyond my understanding, always, but especially when I see it happening among Christians.  I get so upset and these verses of bearing good fruit come to mind.  Suddenly, no matter how much a person has loved the Lord, if they are behaving in an enemy fashion, the thing that sticks out is no longer the love, but the hate.  But when the light shines, the fruit is so rich and evident and it becomes easy to recognize those in an authentic walk.  They make it through hard times, painful times, and even hurtful times, with a grace that is unshakable.  I yearn to be like this always.  Sometimes I make it; sometimes it is sadly clear that I haven’t been ensuring my roots are deep in the word and prayer.  The Lord loves me.  May that be the motivation of everything I then do, even when I am wronged.  It isn’t easy.  I fail, but the more I seek Him, the more His ways become mine.  Praise God, there is hope!

 

Day 4: Luke 7:1-17 – Read Scriptures

Stories of Christ’s merciful miracles always give me goose bumps!  I love how many times we are shown of His mercy, not just for our soul, but for our earthly hurts as well.  I am overwhelmed in the story of the Centurion, the humbleness was so great he didn’t even feel worthy of Christ coming to his house.  He had so much faith in Christ; he knew that even without seeing Christ, without witnessing a touch from Christ, his servant could be healed. I am even more overwhelmed that Christ did it… just that simple. And I love, love, love the example of the master loving his servant, how much that servant must have loved his master, and how that led to the ultimate Master, pouring out His love as well.  Chills course down my spine to think of that beautiful transaction!  He rewarded the faith with a miracle.  But the story of the widow, whose son Jesus raised from the dead, brings me to such a tender place.  That story hits a deep, deep chord with me.  Oh how I cried out for my son. I can envision the widow’s grief so personally as I too watched as my son was carried out in his casket, so tiny for a 3 year old body. And I remember holding him for 4 hours that night he died, his little lifeless body growing cold as my tears poured down on him.  And even as I held him, begging God, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and even my precious husband to do something, I felt deep in my soul, God already had.  Our faithful prayers for my son were answered.  Not the way I wanted, but in a way that was perfect for my child who was so, so very sick.  A miracle had happened that night and I had been there.  But sometimes, I can close my eyes and imagine what I might have felt, should God have decided to bring him back suddenly.  Do I shout the joy of his miracle as much in his earthly death as I would have if I had been granted a physical healing for my child? And then I go even deeper.  Do any of us, rise up in our new life in Christ, and truly walk in the miracle we have been given in our new, healed soul?  So much more to these stories that just the miracle.  We must love our Master and know that His love will come back ten-fold.  And we must rise up, no matter how our miracles look, and glorify Him in faith.  That is our daily challenge. 

But ma

Day 5:  Luke 7:18-50 – Read Scriptures

It is all about the heart transformation.  All other things are nothing, without the heart transformation! It never has been, nor ever will be about what we have to offer or how good we look doing it.  And it is those that forget this that begin to miss out on the truth of things and begin to tear down the beautiful grace of God.  Those who had not received understanding from John the Baptist, when he came preparing the way for the One that was coming, were the very ones that did not understand Jesus Himself.  They were dealing in what they thought looked right according to law and not grace.  But those that listened and did the heart work, wisdom was attained.  We are no different.  We will either dig into the word to understand and search our heart condition in order to continue to receive what God has for us both now and for eternity, or we risk full destruction!  It is that simple really.  It was then, it is now.  It is us, in our ego and refusal, which complicates it all.  But man, when I am truly leaning into God, searching His word, my desire to think less of myself and to want to wash His feet with my tears, becomes a longing.  Tonight, as I read this scripture, the question that surfaced is “Where do I fall?  Am I blessed with wisdom to the point that I weep at the feet of Jesus or am I playing Christian and missing the transformation.  My prayer is when that Pharisee attitude creeps in, I will remember this tender woman, so overwhelmed that Christ forgave her in spite of her sin, and may I right then, desire nothing more than to humbly worship Him for saving me the same way!

 

Day 6:  Luke 8:1-25 – Read Scriptures

These scriptures give us very clear understanding that our faith is an action.  It is not in what we say but in how we live.  The parable of the sower, the example made through the lamp stand, the commanding of the winds to be still… and they were, just from the sound of His voice to the amazement of those with him on the boat that day, all remind us that our faith is an action.  We must seek the One from whom our faith comes from or we will never find ourselves deeply rooted in the faith that breeds evidence both within ourselves and in the life we lead.  But my favorite part of this scripture is how Jesus treats us when we dive into Him with all we have.  There was His earthly family, trying to come to Him, but He was under such crowd demand they couldn’t get to Him so they sent word they were outside. What was Jesus’ response when He was told His family was outside?   He said His family was any of us who choose to believe in Him and live out that belief in faith.  He gives me grace.  He gives me mercy.  He gives me salvation.  And then… and THEN… He calls me family.  He levels the playing field and makes me one if HIS OWN.  I can’t even write more on that.  It’s just too much!

 

Day 7: Luke 8:26-56 – Read Scriptures

I love the New Testament and especially the gospels.  I am so encouraged by the hope that is provided my sometimes deeply burdened soul through them!  Does it not give you kind of an adrenaline rush to realize that even the demons are afraid of Jesus?  I fear demons.  Not in a debilitating way, but in a way that I know they are real, ruthless, and they hate me.  They hate me because what they see when they see me, is Jesus.  And oh how they hate Jesus.  But here we see that even as they try to ravage this man they possess, just the presence of Jesus makes them beg out of fear of Him.  This man didn’t have Jesus, but Jesus was bigger than what had the man.  Man that is powerful to grasp.  No matter our demons… health battles, broken relationships, money issues, pain that we wouldn’t share with anyone…. No matter what it is and in our fallen world, there is much….those situations are rendered instantly afraid at the mention of His name!  He proves it in driving the demon out, then He goes on to solidify for anyone still questioning, by instant healing due to one simple touch of His garment, and even through again defeating death when He raises the girl.  He is just powerful.  When I read of His miraculous works and I envision this horrid demon becoming such a baby instantly in the presence of Jesus, the adrenaline flows and I really start to feel what God means when He says that when we are weak, He is strong.  He is made strong through what I can’t do and He overcomes all the things we never could alone.  Just flat cool.  I love God… and I am thankful I am for Him and not against Him. 

 

 

 

 

Week 5 Day 5 - Going For the Gold!

TIES OF GRACE DAILY DEVOTIONS

Week 5 - Going for the Gold!

Day 5:  2 Corinthians 12:9

⁹ 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

This week has really been a week of deep thoughts and processing.  God’s word always moves me when I am in it with the right heart, but this week is one of those weeks where I have just felt a flood of awareness.  I haven’t even been able to sit and write normally because I just felt like I was coming up with unfinished thoughts.  Therefore, I chose to bank on things a couple of days.  My timetable is not God’s and though I wanted to write our daily devotion this week every day, like all the other weeks, I also realize if God wants me to wait a day or two, I better do just that.  So I did!  How refreshing to know that even the timetables are His.  What a load off of us for pressure!  We need goals and commitments, but even more we need to allow God to adjust things His way.  I suspect, mostly, He will allow me to write every day.  But, as this week has shown, times may arise when He says for me to be still AND be quiet.  J  Now back to where we left off….As I wrote of Paul Tuesday in our daily devotion, it led me back into spending more time really digging into his life again. One day wasn’t enough, since I reconnected with him again this week.  He is like a familiar friend to me, as I have spent a lot of time over the years learning more about him and his amazing actions of faith.  As I was led down this path of the theme of perseverance this week, I can’t get past Paul.  He is just one of those men from the bible that bring me encouragement in a way that feels like I can almost just sit in the room and talk of my joys and my sorrows with him, as we share our love of Jesus.  And for some reason this week, I just really wished I could.   Paul is so wise and so real.  He realized that He knows grace on a personal level so he wasn’t the type to sit in a place of legalism or harsh judgment, but instead he sits in a place of “You just have to know what I know!  You need to experience what I am!  It’s too great not to share!” (my idea of what he might say to me if I could sit with him…)  I am captivated by his determination to help others understand the true love of Jesus. He was so blessed in his own redemption that he was willing to go to his death trying to persuade whoever would listen of the availability for their own opportunity for redemption as well.  And because of his authenticity in the matter, he is so contagious.  I want to love Jesus like Paul did!  I believe one of the greatest keys in living out the love in the authentic way Paul did no matter his circumstances  is the truth in the verse today.  Paul persisted with joy because he no longer had a need to have it altogether.  He was free to boast of his own weakness because that is when God could really get it going FOR Him.  I don’t know about you, but for me in the season I am in (okay, any season I am in)… I do not have it altogether.  And I am so very thankful His grace is sufficient and that I am being made strong in Him!   What are you holding back, trying to be strong on your own?  What is preventing your perseverance in the freedom of His grace?

Week 5 Day 2 - Going For the Gold!

TIES OF GRACE DAILY DEVOTIONS

Week 5 – Going For the Gold!

Day 2:  Acts 14: 19-21

¹⁹ Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. ²⁰ But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. ²¹ They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples.

Paul is one of my favorite people to study in the bible.  He was so remarkable!  He came from being the very one hating and persecuting Christians, to being the very one spreading the beautiful message of hope while enduring deep persecution.  I am always drawn to know more of those that have come from such darkness into the light.  The testimony of their salvation is always overwhelming to me, as evidence of the transforming power Christ really has if we let Him.  I love to celebrate it.  And because of powerful testimonies of that nature, I have heard many people that didn’t experience such darkness before they found Jesus claim, “I have nothing big to share, I don’t have a story like that!” and I can see where they are coming from.  Sometimes we are initially most captivated by the “big stories”.  But I think , when I look at Paul, though I am amazed by His transformation, what is most drawing to me, is not the initial change that took place.  What is most addicting to me about Paul is how he lived his life from salvation on until the end.  How he finished his race is what grabs my heart and convicts me to look closely at my own journey! Yes, I am amazed that God grabbed him on that road to Damascus.  It thrills me to see the radical change because it does give hope for those that seem so far from salvation that we pray for.  But that story is just the start.  Once it’s told, it is known.  What is truly contagious is the way Paul lived after.  He endured great difficulty and ultimately death for his faith in Jesus Christ.  The testimony that comes out of how he walked with Christ is far more humbling to me than how God found him.  No matter how we have come to Christ, no matter how easy or how difficult, the real story unfolds starting from the moment we choose Him to be our Lord and Savior. And I want to be like Paul.  I want to be able to face anything and keep my faith.  I want to be able to trust that God has me and loves me and I want to sing His praises under all circumstances.  Paul was a spiritual giant!  I can sometimes sit right down here in Houston, Texas and find myself wallowing in my circumstances and find praise absent from my lips…But not Paul.  Just as these scriptures tell us, along with the rest of scripture that documents his life and ministry on earth, Paul would get up in the middle of the most horrendous circumstances and get right back to the business of sharing the good news to as many as would listen, with praise on his lips for the One that had saved him.  Paul ran his race until the very end where he ultimately met his Maker, with what I am certain was with praise still yet on his lips!  Some would say Paul was defeated because he was beheaded.  Paul knew better.  He knew to keep his eyes up and press on… and he made it Home!  I don’t know about you, but even when things are really bad, I can’t honestly say I have ever been stoned or the such.  I certainly have never faced jail for my Jesus.  So if Paul, in the worst of circumstances, finds praise, how much more can we? 

Week 5 Day 1 - Going For the Gold!

TIES OF GRACE DAILY DEVOTIONS

Week 5 – Going For the Gold!

Day 1:   2 Timothy 4:7 ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Philippians 4:13  ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

As most of the world, I have been watching the Olympics off and on.  I celebrate the wins and I feel so sad with the losses.  It is hard to watch those athletes get so close and fall short.  They represent the finest in all the countries and it is evident the deep dedication they have to their sport.  I was particularly moved watching Jordyn Weiber, the USA gymnast who currently holds the world title and came in at the top of the “fabulous five” gymnastics team.  She had a couple of slip ups that cost her 10ths of a point and landed her in 3^rd place for her team.  The rule is only 2 from one team can advance to the individual all-around, therefore ending her dream of competing individually for the gold.  She was broken hearted.  It was hard to watch her struggle with her disappointment with all the cameras in her face.  Bless her heart.  But as I watch her and the others that succeed or fall just short, the word that keeps coming to my mind is perseverance.  They Olympics are not these athletes first time for hard competition.  I am sure we could look back through all of their careers and find many highs and lows.  The gold medalist swimmer, Dana Vollmer, who broke a record in her 100 meter swim just a day back, had disastrous Olympic trials in 2008 and didn’t even qualify in any event.  I am sure it was a crushing blow.  She could have chosen to walk away.  Instead, it is quite obvious that she dug down inside of herself, determined towards perseverance, and ended up not only qualifying for the games, but sweeping the gold with ease and a world record to really seal the deal sweetly!  So as I watch and feel the joys with the victories and the sadness with the losses, the resonating word remains perseverance.  So as we start another week of daily devotions together, I want to take some time and really look at some of the spiritual giants in the bible that exhibited deep perseverance.  I am always amazed when I read of some of their journeys and all they endured and still yet, persevered.  My prayer is that we will see the things in them that led to their perseverance and apply those same attributes into our own lives, so that we can finish our race well… not matter how many hurdles are in the way or how “uphill” the journey seems to be.  We have been set on a course, as we studied last week, since before we were knit in our mother’s womb.  That is a course destined for success through Christ who strengthens us!  We just have to dig down, dig in, and run the race home.  This week, as we look at perseverance, my prayer is that we will look deep into ourselves and identify the things that most concerns us about the race God has us running.  Identify the costs and identify the gain if we persist and determine that nothing is more valuable that God’s plan. This week, let’s face our obstacles with courage and faith, knowing that with Christ, we really can do anything the God should ask!   What is stopping you from running your race with determination and the perseverance God desires? 

Week 4 Day 5 - Psalms 139 - He REALLY Knows Us!

TIES OF GRACE DAILY DEVOTIONS

Week 4 – He REALLY Knows Us!

Day 5: Psalms 139:19-24

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

We are treading on some sticky ground tonight, if we don’t tread in a heart for Christ and His view of what is meant in these verses.  I believe verses like these tonight, when viewed from a flesh way of thinking and not a God way of thinking, are the very thing that breeds legalism in Christianity.  We must remember God… who He is.  God is LOVE.  We must keep that at the forefront of our mind and heart when we read of scripture that could be interpreted to allow hatred and judgment.  It isn’t optional or we become the very ones that become guilty of sin!  When I read these verses, I can feel David’s feelings when he cried out to God.  I can feel them in the Spirit, but let me be clear, I can feel them in my flesh. Do we not all have situations in our life where we would just like to say, “Excuse me Jesus, could you just step out of the room for 5 minutes?”  Many people wouldn’t admit that maybe, but I am telling you, I am here to be real, and I admit it.  There are times, especially when my children are being hurt, that this flesh thing rises up and I feel my blood boil before I even hardly have time to know what hit.  And if I weren’t in the relationship where I am seeking Christ as best I know how, I can assure you my flesh would be so quick that I would react before I know what hit as well.  But I truly want to try to live in the way God wants and I know the only way I can is to depend on Him to control that flesh in me.  So I pray… and pray… and pray.  I confess and confess and confess.  And He is faithful in those blood-boiling  moments, to send a prick in my spirit that lets me know, “Robin, you are walking a very dangerous rope!  Step back!  Let me lead.”  It isn’t easy and I don’t always obey as I wish I would, but when I do, these scriptures ring ever so more true and clear to me, of what David is actually saying.  David is grieving anyone that is opposing God because David loves God so much it hurts his soul!  That is where our anger should come from.  The hate is not of the person, but of the offense and disrespect of what they are causing to God.  It really shouldn’t be about us at all.  And when we realize that, we are humbled into remembering we grieve God too and suddenly, we are looking inward instead of around, just as David did in these verses.  He is so angry at the way those offenders are enemies of God, but it leads him back to begging God to reveal his own faults so that he is not guilty of the very same thing.  And David knows, by backing off and letting God take care of the judgment and dealing with his own heart, he is set free to continue to live in that beautiful plan God created when He knit him together in his mother’s womb.  Don’t we all have offenders?  Do we all see people that are purposefully going against the very things we cherish most, especially our Heavenly Father?  But don’t we all then look in the mirror and see things in ourselves well?  My prayer is this, “Oh God, I can’t stand outward hate of you.  It really hurts me in a way I can’t explain because of how much You have shown me Your deep love!  I have experienced it so personally through so many highs and lows that I know, that I know that I know how real it is!  So when I see that hate towards you and when that same hate of you causes harm to someone I care about, or even to myself, I feel the flesh in me so strong and I want to get even.  But Oh God, I want to stay tender to You.  I want to find the balance in standing firm in what You have given me conviction for, but I want to realize I am to do that in love because I am absolutely just as undeserving of Your grace.  Search me!  And then please, help me where I can’t help myself.  I need you in order to be like you.  Forgive me and then help me find the way to forgive others…. Even when they don’t want it, don’t care about it, and don’t appreciate it.  Free me and then Father, use me! In Jesus name!”  What has the enemy done to hurt you or to attack God so much in front of you that you are entrapped?  What is stopping you from crying out to God about it all? 

Week 4 Day 3/4 - Psalms 139 - He REALLY Knows Us!

TIES OF GRACE DAILY DEVOTIONS

Week 4 – He REALLY Knows Us!

Day 3&4:  Psalms 139:13-18

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand —
when I awake, I am still with you.

My little girl loves to paint.  She draws and scribbles a lot, but her true gift with artistry becomes evident when she holds a paint brush.  One of my favorite things to do is to sit and observe her create, when she doesn’t realize I am watching.  She is always humming or singing while she carefully moves the brush across the paper, adding color and detail one stroke after another.  I never know when she begins, where she will take her painting, and it is never what I expected when she is complete, yet always a delight.  She puts such love into her work and when she is done, one of her most favorite parts about her painting is being able to display it for anyone willing to look.  She smiles with such pure joy when we “ooh and ahhh” over it, and when some of them make frames for display in the house, she almost bursts with excitement.  It is hard not to frame every single one.  The pen doodles aren’t the same.  She messes around and plays with them.  She enjoys it, but I don’t see her passion in them.  But with the paintbrush in hand, the creativity within her lights up and takes off and it is clear with every painting, that she is proud of what she has done, though in such a humble way.  She isn’t proud because she thinks she is great.  She is proud because someone else realizes how special something is that she made with her own hands.  She is proud because they are done with a love of the created.  When I read these verses, I grasp that same image in my head of God as He intricately designed us within our mother’s womb.  I can just see His artistry in every detail from the tendons and veins so perfectly placed, to the color of every hair on our head.  I see Him splashing the color of our path into being as He plans our life from before we were even in the womb all the way into eternity!  I see Him looking at every single person, whether the world thinks of them as flawed by world standards or not, and absolutely glowing with joy over who He created each one to be.  And I can only imagine how much that joy grows when we begin to flourish in the plan and His glory is shown.  I see Him spilling over with joy, much like my daughter looking at her framed art!  And I can imagine the devastation when we refuse to allow the majesty of His beauty display through our lives that were touched by His perfection.  If I were to take my sweet daughter’s art and cast it off as useless or treat it with cruel neglect, how her heart would break.  The master creator cherishes the very work of their hands.  Dear friends, God loves us like that! He knit us together in the secret place because He loves us so.  We live in a very ugly world, when we see from man’s eyes.  When we focus on the tragedies and hardships around us, and especially the evil, it is so easy to forget the beauty of the Master’s hand.  Today, remember who you are…. Who you REALLY are!  Remember who knew you before you were even formed in your Mother’s womb.  Remember this about those around you.  Watch beauty unfold in ways you never expected, when you look at yourself and others in this light.  If I didn’t watch the magical way my daughter approaches her painting, I might never see the true beauty of every peace.  So it is with our Heavenly Creator.  It’s not always easy, but we must run back to the beginning…. And we must remember the Master’s hand, especially when we are struggling with ourselves.  Oh how He loves us!  What is stopping you from celebrating His majestic handiwork in your life?