I really must start praying that my children form a good work ethic. And how do I know? Because this is the conversation I just had with my darling 7 year old:
Her: "Hey mom, I need $9 to pay for the new game I want."
Me: "Well, it won't be long if you save your money."
Her: "Yeah, but how can I get some money."
Me: "Well, if you keep losing teeth like you have lately it won't take long at all!!"
Her: "Or I could do some chores."
Me: "(with great rejoicing!) AWESOME!! I would love to pay you for doing some chores!"
Her: "Na...I think I'll just wait for the teeth!!"
Blessings,
Dori
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
God's Priorities
I wanted to share with you something I read this morning. You are probably like me -- getting very weary of the bad news regarding our country, the economy and global instabilities. But the truth of the matter is that some mornings I can't even think about those things because what is happening in my little corner of the world is almost too much to bear and requires all my energy -- I can't fix the world's problems when I have the weightiness of my own problems bearing down on me.
This morning I opened up "Praying God's Word Day by Day" and this is what I read. I pray that no matter what you are concerned about today that it will bless you to know that your God has your best interest on His heart and mind.
Taken from Praying God's Word Day by Day by Beth Moore.
Blessings,
Dori
This morning I opened up "Praying God's Word Day by Day" and this is what I read. I pray that no matter what you are concerned about today that it will bless you to know that your God has your best interest on His heart and mind.
"Sometimes God may prioritize performing a miracle on our hearts and minds over a miracle concerning our circumstances.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in You, my Lord, I will be joyful in God, my Savior.
For You, Lord, are my strength. You make my feet like the feet of a deer. You enable me to go on the heights (Hab 3:17-19). How inconceivable but true that You can take me to heights far exceeding the depths I have known.
Father, continue to bring me along so that I can rejoice in my sufferings, because I know suffering produces perservance (Romans 5:3)."
Taken from Praying God's Word Day by Day by Beth Moore.
Blessings,
Dori
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Prayer for Our Nation
2007 Prayer for Our Nation
Written by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll
for the National Day of Prayer
Written by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll
for the National Day of Prayer
Almighty God, we pause to reflect on Your character as we seek wisdom for such a time as this.
In these unsafe days,
You remain all-powerful and able to protect;
In these uncertain times,
You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;
In the unprecedented events we're facing,
You remain absolutely sovereign.
Our times are in Your hands.
Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial
. . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant
. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound
. . . our love for You is deep.
We ask that You guard and guide our President
and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation,
under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.
And may that blend of integrity and humility
heal our land.
In our Lord's name we pray,
Amen.The 2009 National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 7, 2009. Author and Bible Teacher, Beth Moore, is the Honorary Chairman. Please join me in becoming involved NOW. For more information, go to the National Day of Prayer website.
Have a great day,
Dori
In these unsafe days,
You remain all-powerful and able to protect;
In these uncertain times,
You remain all-knowing, leading us aright;
In the unprecedented events we're facing,
You remain absolutely sovereign.
Our times are in Your hands.
Therefore, our dependence on You, is total, not partial
. . . our need for Your forgiveness is constant
. . . our gratitude for Your grace is profound
. . . our love for You is deep.
We ask that You guard and guide our President
and all who serve the people of these United States.
May uncompromising integrity mark their lives.
We also ask that You unite us as truly "one nation,
under God." May genuine humility return to our ranks.
And may that blend of integrity and humility
heal our land.
In our Lord's name we pray,
Amen.The 2009 National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 7, 2009. Author and Bible Teacher, Beth Moore, is the Honorary Chairman. Please join me in becoming involved NOW. For more information, go to the National Day of Prayer website.
Have a great day,
Dori
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Moment of Silence
Well, now don't this beat all...as my grandmother would say!
An Illinois federal judge has ruled that the moment of silence practiced in schools across Illinois is unconstitutional and "is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion."
In other words, now the children can not only not pray in school, but they can't even take a moment of silence to think about anything that they choose because the system is afraid they might choose to think about God.
Read it for yourself HERE!
Unbelievable!!
An Illinois federal judge has ruled that the moment of silence practiced in schools across Illinois is unconstitutional and "is a subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to contemplate religion."
In other words, now the children can not only not pray in school, but they can't even take a moment of silence to think about anything that they choose because the system is afraid they might choose to think about God.
Read it for yourself HERE!
Unbelievable!!
The Past Seven Days
In the past 7 days:
My children had a “snow day” because it was too cold to go to school. Only in the South, people.
We met family at a hotel in Lexington for just some time to rest, relax and catch up with one another. Had a great time. Kids were so well-behaved and well-matched up – you know, their kids’ ages were similar to our kids’ ages so everyone got along and had a “buddy.”
Watched the inauguration and had this dialogue with myself:
“I wonder why she chose green shoes with that gold dress? Wonder how embarrassed Judge Roberts really was when he messed up the oath? Rick Warren’s prayer rocked! Wonder if the President felt the same way? That last pastor kind of made me uncomfortable with his “red, yellow, black and white” comments at the end of his prayer. Wonder if the President felt the same way? Aretha really can get away with a lot of screaming simply because she is, well, Aretha. Can’t we just all get along and hold the booing of George Bush for another time if we are so inclined? What was in that little red box in Mrs. Obama’s lap? Why is my spellchecker wanting me to correct the name “Obama” every time I type it? What exactly were the Bush twins saying to each other? Wonder what the President does on the first morning after he is no longer President? How ironic is it that our new President’s middle name is ‘Hussein?’ Wonder if Mrs. Obama was more worried about her girls behaving during the ceremony than the ceremony itself? I would be! Why did this inauguration cost $140 million and the last one only a fraction of that? How is Michelle going to spend that $100,000 for redecorating the White House? Are the Extreme Makeover people going to be involved? Is the VP going to have that sensor installed in his brain that tells him when not to speak and to remain silent? Why did Dick Cheney hurt his back lifting boxes to move…doesn’t he have staff for that? If Bush aged this much in 8 years, what will Obama look like after his Presidency? Does anyone really understand this poem??”
My entire house is a disaster! Still working on organizing Lindsey’s room and getting rid of a lot of stuff. But it is shaping up to be a really great yard sale for the Spring! The furniture in the living room is all in the middle of the room to get ready for painting – the gold has to go! The office is completely dismantled because I was supposed to get glass for the desk and credenza yesterday but they cut it wrong on both counts. So I just feel like I’m moving furniture around on the deck of a sinking ship! Need to make some small steps today.
Maybe my next post will hold some special nugget of inspiration, but I wanted to unwrap the last week for you! Compelling isn’t it? :)
What about you? What do the last seven days look like to you?
Blessings,
Dori
My children had a “snow day” because it was too cold to go to school. Only in the South, people.
We met family at a hotel in Lexington for just some time to rest, relax and catch up with one another. Had a great time. Kids were so well-behaved and well-matched up – you know, their kids’ ages were similar to our kids’ ages so everyone got along and had a “buddy.”
Watched the inauguration and had this dialogue with myself:
“I wonder why she chose green shoes with that gold dress? Wonder how embarrassed Judge Roberts really was when he messed up the oath? Rick Warren’s prayer rocked! Wonder if the President felt the same way? That last pastor kind of made me uncomfortable with his “red, yellow, black and white” comments at the end of his prayer. Wonder if the President felt the same way? Aretha really can get away with a lot of screaming simply because she is, well, Aretha. Can’t we just all get along and hold the booing of George Bush for another time if we are so inclined? What was in that little red box in Mrs. Obama’s lap? Why is my spellchecker wanting me to correct the name “Obama” every time I type it? What exactly were the Bush twins saying to each other? Wonder what the President does on the first morning after he is no longer President? How ironic is it that our new President’s middle name is ‘Hussein?’ Wonder if Mrs. Obama was more worried about her girls behaving during the ceremony than the ceremony itself? I would be! Why did this inauguration cost $140 million and the last one only a fraction of that? How is Michelle going to spend that $100,000 for redecorating the White House? Are the Extreme Makeover people going to be involved? Is the VP going to have that sensor installed in his brain that tells him when not to speak and to remain silent? Why did Dick Cheney hurt his back lifting boxes to move…doesn’t he have staff for that? If Bush aged this much in 8 years, what will Obama look like after his Presidency? Does anyone really understand this poem??”
My entire house is a disaster! Still working on organizing Lindsey’s room and getting rid of a lot of stuff. But it is shaping up to be a really great yard sale for the Spring! The furniture in the living room is all in the middle of the room to get ready for painting – the gold has to go! The office is completely dismantled because I was supposed to get glass for the desk and credenza yesterday but they cut it wrong on both counts. So I just feel like I’m moving furniture around on the deck of a sinking ship! Need to make some small steps today.
Maybe my next post will hold some special nugget of inspiration, but I wanted to unwrap the last week for you! Compelling isn’t it? :)
What about you? What do the last seven days look like to you?
Blessings,
Dori
Saturday, January 17, 2009
January 17 - Proverbs 17
Read some New Living Translation nuggets from Proverbs 17 this morning. I highly recommend reading familiar passages in different translations from time to time to get a new perspective. I try and read the Psalms and Proverbs every month each year and this year I'm using the NLT.
Prov. 17:5
"Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished."
Prov. 17:9
"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."
Prov. 17:11
"Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severly punished."
(In light of my reading and studying Esther, this scripture is filed away for discussions on Haman's plan for evil for the Jews.)
Prov. 17:14
"Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out."
Prov. 17:19
"Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster."
(I almost typed "anyone who trusts in high horses invites disaster"--I think it still fits! What do you think? I can remember many times I should have climbed off my high horse to avoid great disaster!!)
Prov. 17:24
"Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth."
(Love the marrying of this scripture with the passage I'm memorizing as part of the Scripture Memory Team over at the Living Proof Ministires blog - Proverbs 2:1-6.)
Prov. 17:27-28
"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent."
(Lord, let my words be few!)
What are you reading?
Blessings,
Dori
Prov. 17:5
"Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished."
Prov. 17:9
"Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."
Prov. 17:11
"Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severly punished."
(In light of my reading and studying Esther, this scripture is filed away for discussions on Haman's plan for evil for the Jews.)
Prov. 17:14
"Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out."
Prov. 17:19
"Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster."
(I almost typed "anyone who trusts in high horses invites disaster"--I think it still fits! What do you think? I can remember many times I should have climbed off my high horse to avoid great disaster!!)
Prov. 17:24
"Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth."
(Love the marrying of this scripture with the passage I'm memorizing as part of the Scripture Memory Team over at the Living Proof Ministires blog - Proverbs 2:1-6.)
Prov. 17:27-28
"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent."
(Lord, let my words be few!)
What are you reading?
Blessings,
Dori
Friday, January 16, 2009
Camp Town Ladies
Okay, so after that pretty serious and toe-stepping-on post from last night, this one will seem quite frivolous and downright jolly! :)
But we were in the car today and Lindsey asked me if we could sing songs. She then started singing at the top of her lungs:
"CAN'T THIS LADY SING THIS SONG? DO DAH, DO DAH!"
So that begs for the question to be answered, what lyrics have you gotten wrong over the years and were totally shocked when you heard the correct lyrics?
My favorite is that when I was young I sang:
"Are you reeling in the yeast...
Stowing away the time...
Are you gathering up the cheese...
Have you had enough of mine?"
Not exactly how Steely Dan intended it, but as a 12 year old I thought I was spot on!
Have a great Saturday!
Blessings,
Dori
But we were in the car today and Lindsey asked me if we could sing songs. She then started singing at the top of her lungs:
"CAN'T THIS LADY SING THIS SONG? DO DAH, DO DAH!"
So that begs for the question to be answered, what lyrics have you gotten wrong over the years and were totally shocked when you heard the correct lyrics?
My favorite is that when I was young I sang:
"Are you reeling in the yeast...
Stowing away the time...
Are you gathering up the cheese...
Have you had enough of mine?"
Not exactly how Steely Dan intended it, but as a 12 year old I thought I was spot on!
Have a great Saturday!
Blessings,
Dori
Thursday, January 15, 2009
His Holy Name
UPDATE and DISCLAIMER: Please know that when I wrote this post, I was not addressing any one particular person. I bounced over here straight from facebook where when I opened up my "news" there was not one but three items that appeared there that started with "OMG!" I don't even think it was people that I know -- just people commenting on a friend's post. So please don't leave here with condemnation as it probably sounds like I'm dishing out. I'm so sorry! There is therefore now no condemnation... But I guess I just wanted people to be aware that it is becoming more and more acceptable to the world, but not to Him. Let's just be aware! :) I love you all!!
Original Post:
I am going to be as loving as I can be here. But because this is my personal blog I feel that I can climb up on a soapbox anytime I want. You have the option to do a few things: You can (a) stop reading; (b) leave a disagreeing comment; (c) leave an agreeable comment or (d) leave thinking about what I've written. All of those will be just fine with me.
At almost every turn friends, family and Christian people that I come in contact either on facebook, through my blog or through e-mail are finding it increasingly cool and culturally okay to use the abbreviation "OMG."
Can you I just tell you that just because you don't type out the words doesn't mean it is any less offensive and degrading to the Most Holy God? And your continued use of it makes it more difficult for me to parent my children because I have to continually explain that even though well-meaning teenagers and grownups that they know, love and perhaps worship with on Sundays thinks its okay doesn't make it okay.
I'm just sayin'!
"And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name and separate it for its holy purpose from all that defiles it--My name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them--and the nations will know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service], when I shall be set apart by you and My holiness vindicated in you before their eyes and yours." Ezekial 36:23 Amplified
Blessings on this cold, cold January night!
Dori
Original Post:
I am going to be as loving as I can be here. But because this is my personal blog I feel that I can climb up on a soapbox anytime I want. You have the option to do a few things: You can (a) stop reading; (b) leave a disagreeing comment; (c) leave an agreeable comment or (d) leave thinking about what I've written. All of those will be just fine with me.
At almost every turn friends, family and Christian people that I come in contact either on facebook, through my blog or through e-mail are finding it increasingly cool and culturally okay to use the abbreviation "OMG."
Can you I just tell you that just because you don't type out the words doesn't mean it is any less offensive and degrading to the Most Holy God? And your continued use of it makes it more difficult for me to parent my children because I have to continually explain that even though well-meaning teenagers and grownups that they know, love and perhaps worship with on Sundays thinks its okay doesn't make it okay.
I'm just sayin'!
"And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name and separate it for its holy purpose from all that defiles it--My name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them--and the nations will know, understand, and realize that I am the Lord [the Sovereign Ruler, Who calls forth loyalty and obedient service], when I shall be set apart by you and My holiness vindicated in you before their eyes and yours." Ezekial 36:23 Amplified
Blessings on this cold, cold January night!
Dori
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Love of God
I was sitting in a gathering on Sunday of people waiting to hear Neil Anderson speak on Freedom in Christ. They announced that a young man, only 15 years old actually, would come to the mic and lead us in worship. Imagine my surprise as he led us to sing "Jesus Paid it All" -- all the verses. I love this hymn and it seems like we don't hear it much in churches these days. I was sort of taken back by the number of people who were not singing. The lyrics were not on the screens and very few people even knew the song. It made me sad.
Anyway, it made me want to be sure that I remember the old hymns of our faith. I love the new praise and worship don't get me wrong, but I sure don't want to lose sight of songs like Jesus Paid it All and hymn lyrics like this one, which happens to be my favorite hymn:
"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song"
Lyrics to "The Love of God"
by Frederick M. Lehman, 1917
What's your favorite hymn and why?
Blessings,
Dori
Anyway, it made me want to be sure that I remember the old hymns of our faith. I love the new praise and worship don't get me wrong, but I sure don't want to lose sight of songs like Jesus Paid it All and hymn lyrics like this one, which happens to be my favorite hymn:
"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song"
Lyrics to "The Love of God"
by Frederick M. Lehman, 1917
What's your favorite hymn and why?
Blessings,
Dori
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Happy New Year
Happy New Year, friends and family! I can't believe it is already the 8th day of the year and outside of the "What to Wear" post, I've written NOTHING! I guess rather than jump right into heavy blogging, I should pace myself and catch up with you all.
Christmas was very, very low key this year. We normally go see family on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Night, but because of a lot of sickly folk (not us - our family has been pretty healthy of late), we stayed home for two solid days. It was very relaxing and I did, in fact, stay in my pj's all day on Christmas Day which was actually kind of fun. But...I miss pictures! If you know anything about me, I love to take pictures -- hundreds of them, actually -- and I missed being with extended family to do that this year. But it was a sweet Christmas just the same.
We took off the day after Christmas and went to Memphis to see an NBA game with the kids. It was a very quick trip, but the kids were excellent and we spent all of Saturday doing one of my favorite things...driving through small, obscure towns on our way back home. When you get off the beaten path you always see things in a different light and more times than not you see things that you hadn't seen before. Maybe there is a spiritual challenge there. Sometimes when I'm just opening up the Word to read a passage I am tempted to go back to the familiar. When I do that over and over again, I miss treasures that I haven't read in years or perhaps have never read. In 2009, I'm going to try and get off the beaten path in God's Word more.
We rang in the New Year in a similar fashion as we celebrated Christmas. We stayed home with the kids and played board games and Wii bowling. We popped popcorn (until I broke my brand new popcorn popper!) and ate pizza (Papa Murphy's - yummo). We were all a bit tired and were tempted to celebrate the New Year along with the Eastern Time Zone at 11:00 instead of midnight. But we rallied and somehow managed to watch the ball drop (again) at midnight in Tennessee.
And once again a new year began. I whispered to God in that moment, "You have been good." I wrote on a blog I contribute to that when I failed Him this past year, He proved Himself unfailing. When I doubted Him, He showed Himself to be believable. When I wavered, He was steady as The Rock. When I wanted to run at times, He pursued. So as the ball dropped in Times Square, I raised my Ebenezer and thanked God for leading me, thus far, one more time…one more year!
I'm participating in a scripture memory challenge over at Beth Moore's blog. She has challenged us to memorize at least 24 verses/passages over the next 12 months. A Jesus-year! That’s what Beth has challenged us to pursue this year by memorizing scripture. When she first asked if we were game to join her this year in memorizing 24 scriptures this year, God had already been putting something on my heart. It was through a bit of advice I had given my darling 7 year old daughter. I’m not sure I had ever said anything like it to her until then. I said to her one day, “Child, you are going to have to learn to not be so offended all the time!” Then Beth’s challenge came with the testimony that when she was having a particularly difficult time treading through the rough waters of a relationship challenge that had the potential for causing anxiety and bitterness, she clung to her scripture index cards. What she said next made me stop and pause and think about it. She said that when she memorized scripture and recalled God's Word as she walked through her circumstances that it calmed her and she kept her from acting how she felt all the time.
So I'm taking Beth's challenge in 2009! I’m not only going to memorize these scriptures just to have some more biblical knowledge in my head! I want these scriptures to consume every part of my inner being! I want to do as Psalm 40 says in The Message – I'm going to enter the mystery of complete abandonment to God and what He wants to teach me through His Word. I want to know how He wants me to act when I feel like doing it another way. I’ve stood outside the fray of the mystery for far too long. I am entering in. Care to join me??
The first passage God asked me to take to heart in January is Proverbs 2:1-6.
I don’t know about you, but if I am going to walk in the freedom of God’s Word and not be controlled by my wayward emotions and how I feel in any given situation, I’m going to need a whole lot of wisdom and ton of understanding. Good news! He is giving it out by the truckloads if we will just pursue it, cry out for it, look for it as hidden treasure!
Will you join me this year for a bit of a treasure hunt – that of a whole-heart, sold out, made up mind, crying out loud kind of Jesus-year by letting His Word not only be our textbook for victorious living, but will you join me and let His Word become our very life and breath -- our one desire, an all consuming holy fire? (Someone should put that in a song...he he!) Will you walk through this year with a made up mind that His voice is your life and you won’t take another step except in the direction that He is going?
I cannot tell you how excited I am for this ride of 2009! A made up mind in 2009 to make this a Jesus-year!
Have a great day, friends!
Blessings,
Dori
Christmas was very, very low key this year. We normally go see family on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Night, but because of a lot of sickly folk (not us - our family has been pretty healthy of late), we stayed home for two solid days. It was very relaxing and I did, in fact, stay in my pj's all day on Christmas Day which was actually kind of fun. But...I miss pictures! If you know anything about me, I love to take pictures -- hundreds of them, actually -- and I missed being with extended family to do that this year. But it was a sweet Christmas just the same.
We took off the day after Christmas and went to Memphis to see an NBA game with the kids. It was a very quick trip, but the kids were excellent and we spent all of Saturday doing one of my favorite things...driving through small, obscure towns on our way back home. When you get off the beaten path you always see things in a different light and more times than not you see things that you hadn't seen before. Maybe there is a spiritual challenge there. Sometimes when I'm just opening up the Word to read a passage I am tempted to go back to the familiar. When I do that over and over again, I miss treasures that I haven't read in years or perhaps have never read. In 2009, I'm going to try and get off the beaten path in God's Word more.
We rang in the New Year in a similar fashion as we celebrated Christmas. We stayed home with the kids and played board games and Wii bowling. We popped popcorn (until I broke my brand new popcorn popper!) and ate pizza (Papa Murphy's - yummo). We were all a bit tired and were tempted to celebrate the New Year along with the Eastern Time Zone at 11:00 instead of midnight. But we rallied and somehow managed to watch the ball drop (again) at midnight in Tennessee.
And once again a new year began. I whispered to God in that moment, "You have been good." I wrote on a blog I contribute to that when I failed Him this past year, He proved Himself unfailing. When I doubted Him, He showed Himself to be believable. When I wavered, He was steady as The Rock. When I wanted to run at times, He pursued. So as the ball dropped in Times Square, I raised my Ebenezer and thanked God for leading me, thus far, one more time…one more year!
I'm participating in a scripture memory challenge over at Beth Moore's blog. She has challenged us to memorize at least 24 verses/passages over the next 12 months. A Jesus-year! That’s what Beth has challenged us to pursue this year by memorizing scripture. When she first asked if we were game to join her this year in memorizing 24 scriptures this year, God had already been putting something on my heart. It was through a bit of advice I had given my darling 7 year old daughter. I’m not sure I had ever said anything like it to her until then. I said to her one day, “Child, you are going to have to learn to not be so offended all the time!” Then Beth’s challenge came with the testimony that when she was having a particularly difficult time treading through the rough waters of a relationship challenge that had the potential for causing anxiety and bitterness, she clung to her scripture index cards. What she said next made me stop and pause and think about it. She said that when she memorized scripture and recalled God's Word as she walked through her circumstances that it calmed her and she kept her from acting how she felt all the time.
So I'm taking Beth's challenge in 2009! I’m not only going to memorize these scriptures just to have some more biblical knowledge in my head! I want these scriptures to consume every part of my inner being! I want to do as Psalm 40 says in The Message – I'm going to enter the mystery of complete abandonment to God and what He wants to teach me through His Word. I want to know how He wants me to act when I feel like doing it another way. I’ve stood outside the fray of the mystery for far too long. I am entering in. Care to join me??
The first passage God asked me to take to heart in January is Proverbs 2:1-6.
“My son (and daughter), if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
I don’t know about you, but if I am going to walk in the freedom of God’s Word and not be controlled by my wayward emotions and how I feel in any given situation, I’m going to need a whole lot of wisdom and ton of understanding. Good news! He is giving it out by the truckloads if we will just pursue it, cry out for it, look for it as hidden treasure!
Will you join me this year for a bit of a treasure hunt – that of a whole-heart, sold out, made up mind, crying out loud kind of Jesus-year by letting His Word not only be our textbook for victorious living, but will you join me and let His Word become our very life and breath -- our one desire, an all consuming holy fire? (Someone should put that in a song...he he!) Will you walk through this year with a made up mind that His voice is your life and you won’t take another step except in the direction that He is going?
I cannot tell you how excited I am for this ride of 2009! A made up mind in 2009 to make this a Jesus-year!
Have a great day, friends!
Blessings,
Dori
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