Psalm 119:9-16

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands. 

I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

Praise be to you, O Lord;

teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth. 

I rejoice in following your statues

as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts 

and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

 

-Psalm 199:9-16

 

These verses stood out to me this evening.  I'm sure if you went to any type of summer Bible camp you recognize part from the pledge to the Bible (or am I the only person who did that pledge?).  My prayer is that I would daily strive to keep God's word first and foremost in my heart and mind.  May His decrees bring joy to my life, and may I find peace in His commands.

Am I Third?

Earlier this week I was remembering one of our favorite phrases at WinShape: I Am Third.  This phrase stems from the idea of God First, Others Second, and Ourselves Third (or JOY, Jesus-Others-You, as some learned it).  I can't remember the first time I heard this teaching -- it's always been a "truth" at church.

But on Tuesday a friend brought up an idea he'd read about-- should we really be prioritizing like this?  Or, at the core of our being, should we be all about Jesus and let everything else flow out from there?  Instead of putting God, others, and ourselves in a list of priorities, we should be thinking of them in a sphere with God in the center.

At first my mind was very resistant to the idea.  It was like trying to make my body accept a new kidney after getting rid of the one I'd had for 23 years.  But the more I think about it, the more that idea makes sense.  Christian culture has sometimes taken the idea of "thirdness" to an unhealthy level -- a place where we aren't taking care of ourselves.  In the JOY model, it almost feels like they're saying, "How you are doesn't matter."  But if we live with God at the center of everything, our lives should have the perfect balance of service towards others and taking care of ourselves. 

I think the goal should always be to put God at the core of everything we do.  With God at the center, every act and thought will bring Him glory, which is the ultimate goal.  Putting God at the middle of everything is definitely something to strive towards in my life.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. -Mark 12:30-31

Where My Love Lies

     Last night my parents and I watched "I Am Legend" for the first time.  Awesome movie, but it definitely gave me the heebie jeebies.  The idea of being "the last one" is pretty much a universal fear, in my opinion. 

     So I went to bed last night having some not-so-happy thoughts about being the sole survivor, and then this morning at church we talked about the end times.  Great.  As videos comparing Biblical prophicies and current events played across the screen, I could feel the old familiar fear creeping up on me.  The fear of the unknown, of pain, and of fear itself.  

     Now guys, this is me being very honest.  I'm a Christian, which means I have no reason to be afraid of the end times, but I am.  On the drive home, I started thinking about why I have this fear, and one thing stuck out to me: I love this world. 

Ouch.

I'm afraid of the end times because I love this world.  I don't want to leave it.

     What a slap in the face that must be for the God.  He sent His son to die for my sins, and I'm not rejoicing in the fact that one day (sooner or later), I'll be in His presence forever.  In my deepest darkest parts, I love being here on Earth.  I love what I do, music, entertainment, relationships, shopping, and so many other things. 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  -Romans 12:2

     The pull of the things in this world are very strong, and it's natural for us as humans to feel that pull.  But my enjoyment of the things here on Earth should never be higher up than the Lord (or even close). 

Lord, help me to find the joy and peace of knowing You.  Change me so that I desire the things you desire, and so that I am no longer living for this life, but for the life to come.  Forgive me for ever putting material, finite things above You and an eternity in your presence.

Psalm 148:7-10

     Hello from sunny Florida!  My dad, sisters, and I went on a walk this afternoon and it was freezing.  Seriously.  Still, it was a beautiful day to be on the beach.

 

Praise the Lord from the earth, 

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

your mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds...

-Psalm 148:7-10 

-Abby :]

God Who Strengthens My Heart

Surely God is good to Israel,
       to those who are pure in heart.
 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
       I had nearly lost my foothold.
 For I envied the arrogant
       when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
 They have no struggles;
       their bodies are healthy and strong. 
 They are free from the burdens common to man;
       they are not plagued by human ills.
 Therefore pride is their necklace;
       they clothe themselves with violence.
 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
       the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
 They scoff, and speak with malice;
       in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
       and their tongues take possession of the earth.
 Therefore their people turn to them
       and drink up waters in abundance. 
 They say, "How can God know?
       Does the Most High have knowledge?"
 This is what the wicked are like—
       always carefree, they increase in wealth.
 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
       in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
 All day long I have been plagued;
       I have been punished every morning.
 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
       I would have betrayed your children.

 When I tried to understand all this,
       it was oppressive to me
 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
       then I understood their final destiny.
 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
       you cast them down to ruin.
 How suddenly are they destroyed,
       completely swept away by terrors!
 As a dream when one awakes,
       so when you arise, O Lord,
      you will despise them as fantasies.

 When my heart was grieved
       and my spirit embittered,
 I was senseless and ignorant;
       I was a brute beast before you.
 Yet I am always with you;
       you hold me by my right hand.
 You guide me with your counsel,
       and afterward you will take me into glory.
 Whom have I in heaven but you?
       And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
 My flesh and my heart may fail,
       but God is the strength of my heart
       and my portion forever. 

 Those who are far from you will perish;
       you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
       I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
       I will tell of all your deeds.

-Psalm 73

     My Bible study today was all about the names of God.  The one that stuck out to me the most was "the strength of my heart."  In this season of life that is what God is to me.  God is strengthening my heart to stand up for Him in my life and in this world.  My heart will not fail to fear of rejection for God is my strength.

Who is God to you right now?

-Abby :]

Hello, my name is Abby and I'm a worrier.

     Well folks, these days have been cuh-razy.  I have at least three posts on the chopping block at the moment, but I haven't had a chance to finish them.  Just to give you a glimpse of the insanity, I started working rather unexpectedly last week, and I haven't had much time to catch my breath.  But more about that later.
     Today I just wanted to share some verses with you.  I'm pretty sure these are going to become my new life verses.  Just for curiosity's sake, my old life verse was 2 Timothy 1:7.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and of self-discipline.

That verse was very fitting for the past several years of my life, but now I feel that I've mostly moved past my timidity and onto different issues (hooray! haha).  Ok, without further ado, my new, improved, and longer life verses:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
 -Matthew 6:25-34 (emphasis added)

AMEN TO THAT!  These verses are like a welcome kick in the rear-end for me.  Comment with your life verse, if you have one.  Did anyone's change like mine?