It's been a while since I posted some of my thoughts. This will be a helpful exercise for me to synthesize the things I've been thinking about over the last few weeks. Here are the categories:
- Home schooling Elizabeth - We're gonna do it, folks! All the new questions.
- Brian's daily sleep schedule - specific nap times, maybe later morning waking time, someday!
- My lack of organization/discipline - almost completely lacking...
- Moving to Pittsburgh - too much about that house!
- The Psalms - current Tuesday morning Bible study topic
- The Beatitudes - current sermons you can catch here
- Friendship - Who are my friends? Am I a good or crappy friend? Am I 12 years old?!
- Exercise/my body - When/How to exercise, 'cause seriously, I want my clothes to fit again!
Overall, I've been spending the last couple of weeks thinking about lots of things, trying to figure things out, worshiping the idols of order and perfection, and, oh yes...myself. :( I so desperately want to get everything "right." And what that means is working towards goals and ideals that I create in my head and imagine will fulfill me. (They never do.) It also reveals my lack of trust that my Creator is caring for me, guiding me, loving me. (Will I ever learn?!)
We read Psalm 32 recently in Bible study. Verse 10 struck me:
Though I know God and He has called me to be His own, I spend much of my time living as "the wicked." (My understanding is that wicked here is not a behavioral description, but rather a name for those who have not put their faith in God. Just as the word righteous, used in reference to God's people, is not behavioral, rather their standing before God as a result of putting their faith in Him...an ability He gives to begin with!) Now, back to me being wicked. When I forget, as I am so prone to, that I am an adopted daughter of the King of Kings, beloved of God, secure in His arms, covered by His grace, my sorrows do mount: anxiety increases, worries multiply, anger comes (even more!) quickly, patience decreases, guilt mounts, etc.
Perhaps this is not exactly what the Psalmist was getting at, but it's how it's spoken to me lately. The steadfast love of the Lord surrounds those who trust in Him, whether we're feeling it in the moment or not. How drilling this into my brain would transform my thinking! If you have put your faith in Jesus*, take heart in this truth today. You are surrounded by steadfast (unchanging, sure, serious) love, that cannot be removed from you. (See Romans 8:38-39.) Ask God each day to help you avoid falling into "wicked" patterns of thinking! Keep me accountable to doing the same; please people, I need you! Let us rejoice in this steadfast love, dwell on the goodness of the Father, and be quick to repent and run to Him when we find our hearts aching with one longing or another.
Peace my friends.
*If, at this time, you don't believe in Jesus, this love is not far outside your reach. If you're curious, I'd love to share with you about the forgiveness of sin, becoming part of His family and the object of His profound love.
We read Psalm 32 recently in Bible study. Verse 10 struck me:
Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
But steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
Though I know God and He has called me to be His own, I spend much of my time living as "the wicked." (My understanding is that wicked here is not a behavioral description, but rather a name for those who have not put their faith in God. Just as the word righteous, used in reference to God's people, is not behavioral, rather their standing before God as a result of putting their faith in Him...an ability He gives to begin with!) Now, back to me being wicked. When I forget, as I am so prone to, that I am an adopted daughter of the King of Kings, beloved of God, secure in His arms, covered by His grace, my sorrows do mount: anxiety increases, worries multiply, anger comes (even more!) quickly, patience decreases, guilt mounts, etc.
Perhaps this is not exactly what the Psalmist was getting at, but it's how it's spoken to me lately. The steadfast love of the Lord surrounds those who trust in Him, whether we're feeling it in the moment or not. How drilling this into my brain would transform my thinking! If you have put your faith in Jesus*, take heart in this truth today. You are surrounded by steadfast (unchanging, sure, serious) love, that cannot be removed from you. (See Romans 8:38-39.) Ask God each day to help you avoid falling into "wicked" patterns of thinking! Keep me accountable to doing the same; please people, I need you! Let us rejoice in this steadfast love, dwell on the goodness of the Father, and be quick to repent and run to Him when we find our hearts aching with one longing or another.
Peace my friends.
*If, at this time, you don't believe in Jesus, this love is not far outside your reach. If you're curious, I'd love to share with you about the forgiveness of sin, becoming part of His family and the object of His profound love.
i love when the word of God so clearly impresses on our hearts God's love. isn't it an amazing gift? steadfast love - wow!!!!!!!
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