Pause and Reflect

Ps. 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praiase: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

This verse brings back memories. I memorized Psalm 100 in first grade - I believe it was the first memory verse of the year. My teacher, Mrs. Parson, copied it from a large print Bible and gave out the photocopies. Funny how things like that stay in your mind so many years later. This is an appropriate verse to learn for the holidays. A reminder to be thankful.

I am pausing to reflect and give thanks for my life. It's a good time of year for folks to take stock of how they're spending their time, which is their life. Questions I'm asking myself? Is this best use of my time? Is this the best use of my talents? Am I unbalanced in an area? How can I correct that imbalance? What is the Lord's will  for me in (whatever) area?

Some areas I'm reevaluating is the amount of time I spend online. Is this a wise use of my time? Am I being a Proverbs 31 woman by doing this? I'll be honest, lately, I'm getting on Facebook or reading blogs, just to log off feeling defeated. I'm trying to supplement our family income in some way from my home, but blogging is draining what precious "free" time I have in which to cultivate my talents, turning them into a profit. I'm also evaluating several spiritual areas, which were highlighted to me during our revival meeting last week.

Because of this, I've decided to take the rest of November off from this blog to think, pray and plan. I appreciate those of you who drop by every weekday to read. I only have so much life, and I want to spend it wisely, on things that will benefit eternity as well as my family in the present.

Thank you for your understanding. Happy Thanksgiving!

God bless,
Valerie

Wonderful and Excellent is He!

Is. 28:29 This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.


I really loved this verse this morning. The verses before it are about the prediction of the Assyrian takeover of Ephraim. Ephraim's fate is a warning to Judah. To wrap up this chapter, Isaiah says that all of this is from the the LORD. He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.

Is is just me, or does it seem like a strange time to praise God? Isaiah's "forecast" for the tribe of Ephraim is not a pleasant one. He begins chapter 28 with "Woe to the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!" It surprised me to read the final verse, which clearly gives praise and glory to our Heavenly Father.

Why does that surprise me? Probably because I'm the last person in the world to give thanks and praise to the Father while going through a trial. Probably because a lot of my prayers sound whiny to the Lord, or panicky. Probably because I want only fun and happy things in my life. But, I know from experience, or rather, experiences, {plural} that it is through trial and heartache that I see the Father's power the most. It is in the storms of life  where I become the closest to Him. I receive miracle-type blessings from Him everyday, but especially in the lean times.

You know, that's something to praise Him for! Yes, I can say with Isaiah, "This [blessing or trial] also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."
I give thanks and praise to my Father, for wonderful and excellent is He!

I'm Thankful for what I Don't Have!

In Genesis 20, we read the story of Abraham jouneying to Gerar. There, for some reason, he told Abimelech, the king of Gerar, that Sarah was his sister. (Which, she was his half-sister, but more importantly, she was his wife!) Abimelech made plans to take Sarah for himself, thinking she was unattached. God intervened before that could happen. God told Abimelech in a dream that Sarah was taken, thus sparing Abimelech from sinning and sparing Abraham the consequences of that sin as well. Even though, Abraham sort of deserved it, since he did lie and all. God took care of Abraham, even though Abraham had sinned!

I often make mistakes. I say things I shouldn't, or I think things I shouldn't, or I make bad choices. Often, I immediately feel pricked in my heart for my wrong doing. I ask the Lord to forgive me, but I don't ask that he erase the penalty for my wrong doing. How can I? I made the mistake, I deserve the punishment. Today, as I read this portion of scripture, I wondered how often the Lord has not just forgiven me for sin, but spared me the consequences of my wrong action? Probably more than I could count! Since He doesn't speak to folks through dreams anymore, I'm not aware of how often He has extended mercy to me by preventing things from happening. We know what does happen - the blessings He sends us - because we see them. But I have no idea what hasn't happened but should've. 

I'm so thankful for God's mercy. I'm thankful for things He hasn't given me.