-
Dragons and Dinosaurs
The Behemoth Here’s something to consider, and I find this fabulous! Job knew what God was talking about when he said, “Look at the behemoth, which I made along with you and which feeds on grass like an ox. What strength he has in his loins, what power in the muscles of his belly! His tail sways like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are close-knit. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like rods of iron. He ranks first among the works of God, yet his Maker can approach him with his sword. “The hills bring him their produce, and all the wild animals play nearby. Under…
-
Lord’s Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven, holy is your name. May your kingdom and righteousness come here into my life and into the lives of all who trust in you. And may your will be done through me as I pursue your righteousness and walk alongside you. Thank you for today and everyday, as I know you have and always will provide just what I need, and for the needs of my family, however great or small they may be. Because I understand the forgiveness you’ve given me and the mercy I continue to receive through the blood of Jesus Christ, it is easy for me to be forgiving to others, regardless…
-
Your Will Be Done
“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10b I admit that I’ve always battled a bit with this part of Jesus’ prayer framework. I guess I never really understood what it meant. I’ve had many teach about the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) structure of what the Lord’s Prayer was about, making a bit more sense of it rather than the simple recitation of it as is often done in the larger denominations. But “asking” God to have his will done seems a bit beyond the scope of why I’m coming to him in prayer. But after all this time, I’ve come to realize that…
-
A Broken Heart
You know, sometimes I really struggle in prayer. I don’t always feel like my words have validity, and so I feel disconnected. I may go through the motions anyway, but I don’t always feel that God wants to hear what I have to say at the moment. As a result, it’s difficult to pray on others’ behalf, let alone for myself. And at those times when I don’t feel connected to God, I’m typically in a place where I’ll decide to come back when I’m ready. But I’ll never be ready if I’m without humility. Being humble before God is a key component to our relationship. If I act casually…
-
Taking Out the Trash
Because I live in the world, I am prone to have my senses bombarded with visions, sounds and feelings that are unhealthy for me. I really can’t avoid them—yes, I may work to minimize them and their affect on me—but if I’m truly living for God, then I am not sheltered and confined to an environment devoid of ungodly things. How can I share Christ with those who do not know him if I do not allow myself to engage with those who don’t know him 1 Corinthians 5:9-10? While it’s imperative that I refrain from behaving sinfully or engaging in sinful activities, that does not mean I can’t befriend…
-
War and Peace
If we are not at peace with God, we are at war with him. Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Job 22:21 It’s not complicated. There really are only two sides; so pick one. So many of us, since the beginning of time, have elected to go our own way, apart from God and apart from the lives he would have us lead. And those who do, or have done so, believe they are doing so benignly, innocently. There is not always a purposeful hostility towards God, just sort of an apathetic view and desire to live life apart…
-
A New Song
In 1999, I was given new inspiration. After years of running away, I was provided the opportunity to come home. I finally realized that my broken relationship with God wasn’t his fault. He’d been trying for a very long time to show me, but I’d convinced myself it was he who was at fault, and so I refused to listen. I thought that being apart from him gave me freedom, but alas, I was trapped. I had been raised in the Catholic church, but after getting through confirmation at age 15, I decided that I didn’t really want to be a part of The Church, because I really didn’t like…
-
Artificial Light
2 Timothy 4:3-4, Matthew 23:26-28, Matthew 15:14 In the morning when the sun does rise The shadows awaken with a tempered flare Following and leading the prideful heart To the darkened pit of despair As the darkness hides the sins of the day And befriends the secrets of the night There are those who stand terrified That what they’ve done will be brought to light To feel better about who they are Some gather others like them near They talk and sing and listen To what their itching ears want to hear There are some whose lives stay hidden Though the pain is seen so clear It’s the light which…
-
All of My Heart
With all of my soul I worship You With all of my joy I sing With everything I have in me I sing praises to thee With all of my heart I lift my voice With all I have I cry “You are my God, my Lord and King!” And it’s to You I sing… Before the world began, You remembered me When I was at my worst, You set me free Your smallest drop of mercy is greater than an ocean of my sin Because of Your abounding love, it’s You my hope is in With all of my soul I worship You With all of my joy I…
-
In Your Glory
Hear us, O Lord, as we joyfully pray All you have given us, we can’t repay We lift up our hearts, we lift them up unto you Bringing us closer to the one that is true Happiness follows because you are near And we have to sing so that the whole world may hear God our king, thanks to thee For the world’s greatest gift when you died Blessed are we unconditionally As we stand with our hearts held high Hear us, O Lord, as we thankfully sing Of the wonderful gift, called ‘Life’, that you bring It lifts up the body and strengthens the heart From you that connection…
