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November 20 Book of JobOkay, I am officially off my rocker because I am enjoying the book of Job so much! It made me laugh out loud today. In Job 12:1 he tells his comforters, "Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!" I laughed so hard. Isn't that human nature. It's mine anyways. I think I have it all figured out, I have so much wisdom, and I better tell everyone because once I'm gone, you all better look out. Wisdom has left the building. LOL!!! I am so full of myself sometimes. And today I felt Job hold up the mirror and show me just how ridiculous I can be.
Then the truth in verse 10, "In HIS hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." And verse 13, "To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his."
Thank you Lord for this look at myself. Thank you for sometimes having a sarcastic sense of humor and making me laugh. Thank you for holding all wisdom and power. Thank you for the reminder that it doesn't all begin and end with me. Hope everyone has a blessed day.
November 18 "Our Julie"The neat thing about having 3 people named Julie in the church is when you distinguish one as "our" Julie, it gives you this sense of connectedness and family. Anyway, "our" Julie turned 17 this past week, and I, as her loser Aunt, forgot to call her on her birthday. So I am dedicating this blog to her. We have a lot of November birthdays - Chelsea, Lydia, Chrissy and Julie. I love them all, but this week I had a lot of thoughts of Julie and I wanted to share them.
I've watched Julie grow up and mature into a beautiful young woman. She has confidence without being arrogant, talent without being pretentious and intelligence without being egotistical. I admire her so much for her musical talent and her willingness to use it for the Lord to touch other people's lives. She is such a dedicated worker in her studies and in helping out in her chores. Lydia tells me she can't wait to be a teenager so she can do chores like Julie, so obviously she does her work without grumbling and complaining.
 Julie's overall "vibe" is one of quiet and secure dedication coupled with a vibrant zest for life. She is passionate about what she loves, and pursues it with diligence and commitment. One of my highest compliments is when Colleen tells me that Julie reminds her of me. So what that she can't even make toast!  My only fear about Julie is that she is SO responsible, that she might crack while she's in Europe and join a gypsy German singing troop! Please come back to us Julie!Okay Julie, that's probably a lot to live up to, but in my opinion you already do. You are a blessing and jewel to our family, and we love you so much! Happy (belated) Birthday! November 07 Isaiah 521 Awake, awake, O Zion, 2 Shake off your dust;
This scripture came to me today while I was praying. I was thinking about the difference between defeat and surrender. I've known a lot of defeat in my walk with the Lord. More times than I can count I have allowed my flesh to defeat me and frustrate my purpose of walking in the spirit and for the glory of God. Sometimes I have gotten so sick of being defeated, that I have tried other pursuits to try and feel victory. I read a book a few weeks ago that said that how you handle your particular idol/struggle is a metaphor for how you handle life. It really struck me, and I thought, okay, what am I trying to accomplish with respect to my idol? It came to me that I am seeking control, power, mastery over myself, etc. I desperately want to be in control. But guess what? I am out of control in this area! Ahhhhhhh! Then I thought of how Jesus takes just about everything man comes up with and turns it upside down to extract truth from it. If you want to save your life, you must lose it! Then I was reading in Galatians about the fruits of the spirit, and this is what my Bible said, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." So there it is. If I want self-control I must pursue the Spirit; self-control itself cannot be the pursuit. Surrender and submission to His will is what will yield the good fruits that I so desperately want.
Anyway, back to Isaiah 52, I have felt like a "captive daughter of Zion." I have felt so defeated by my own expectations and perceptions of what a "good" mom/wife/daughter/child of God looks like. I've felt overwhelmed by my kids lately, they are so physically exhausting! But this morning while praying, I felt the Lord give me these scriptures not as another expectation or "to do" list, but as a promise that I have strength and garments of splendor available to me, and His desire for me is to sit enthroned and free of chains. Praise God for His goodness and enduring love! |
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