by Whitey | Dec 31, 2012 | Thoughts
“Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalms 150:6 NLT)
What a great way to end one year and begin the new one.
I’m thankful for the new opportunities, experiences and friends the past year has brought. I’m grateful for the support and prayers of my family, friends and churches. I’m thankful for my ministry partners here in Japan.
I’m thankful for God’s grace and strength in my times of weakness. I’m thankful God loves me as I am, but that He’s not finished working on me yet.
I want to praise the Lord for who He is and what He’s done; I want to praise Him for what’s to come. I want to give this new year to Him.
Happy New Year, and praise the Lord!
by Whitey | Nov 12, 2012 | Thoughts
“Stay on the path that the Lord your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy.” (Deuteronomy 5:33 NLT)
Sometimes we forget that the Lord’s commands for us are for our good. It’s all about staying on the path God has set out for us, rather than straying into the woods, where there’s darkness and danger and loss. His path isn’t always easy, but it’s the best way to go if we want to successfully navigate our way through life.
Often we talk about finding our way through life personally — choosing the right job, spouse, place to live… These are important, but we need to remember to obey the stuff we already know first — the path God’s laid out in His Word; the way to life He’s provide through Jesus; the commands He’s given us for our own good.
Lord, please give me Your grace to stay on the right path. Light the way where there is darkness. Help me to see the path clearly and not get off track. May Your Word and Your Spirit guide me today and in the days to come.
by Whitey | Nov 10, 2012 | Thoughts
“So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The Lord is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other.”(Deuteronomy 4:39 NLT)
This verse seems to be the heart of this passage, the heart of God’s message to His people through Moses.
You would think that Israel wouldn’t need to be reminded of this truth after all they’d experienced. But they did. You would think that we, as Christians today, wouldn’t need to be reminded either. But we do.
I certainly do.
Lord, You are God; the only God. And I want You to be MY God today.
by Whitey | Nov 9, 2012 | Thoughts
“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon you or destroy you or forget the solemn covenant he made with your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 4:31 NLT)
Today I’m reminded of God’s promises, and His faithfulness to fulfill them. No matter how often I fail, fall or sin, He will not just abandon me or reject me. He always takes me back, restores and forgives. He’s promised us so many good things. If we trust Him, we will see their fulfillment. Like the promise earlier in this passage, that “if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NLT)
Let’s trust Him today. Let’s seek Him. He is faithful.
by Whitey | Sep 14, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
‘The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’ (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)
What an easy mistake to make! How often do we find ourselves going through the motions of church attendance, devotions, rituals and rules, without actually connecting with God through these things? How often do we follow man-made rules and do at the expense of following Jesus’ teaching and example of love?
Thus is another great reminder if what true worship looks like. It’s not about rules or rituals; it’s about love. It’s not about ourselves; it’s about Jesus.
by Whitey | Sep 10, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.” (v.8)
What a great expression of worship — worship as not just words or songs or rituals, but as a lifestyle. To honor God with our time, money, possessions, relationships, priorities… That is true worship. Am I worshiping God in this way? With all of me? Or am I merely being religious?
“My soul yearns for you in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for you.” (v 9)
How often is God my last thought at night and my first thought in the morning? If I’m honest, there are a lot of times when other stuff gets my attention and I don’t start or end the day with God on my mind at all. How often do I actually long for Him?
But this is the kind of relationship I want to have with God. To long for Him, to desire to talk with Him, for Him to be my first and last thought each day. For Him to distract me from other stuff rather than that stuff taking my attention off of Him… That is true worship.
