Julie’s Psalm 51:10-12

 

Create in me a good, clean, pure, centered on You heart, O God

and renew, refresh, reclaim, remold a good, right, positive, whole, centered on You spirit within me

Cast me not away from Your presence - I would surely mourn, suffocate, be dismal, crushed… die

and take not Your sustaining, guiding, companion, Helper, Holy Spirit from me - I would surely be lost, drift, wander

Restore, make more apparent, envelope me with the riotous, joy, delight, pleasure of Your salvation, saving grace

and grant me a willing, desiring, longing, focused, thriving, to sustain, carry, keep me on track… spirit.

All the other things

 

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)

I see it all around. People feel limited because of some thing they can no longer have. For many it is sugar because of diabetes. For some it is dairy products. Gluten. Or the challenges of sticking to a diet and exercise routine. Or fighting off boredom, even depression.

You can make yourself miserable focusing on what you cannot enjoy (“have”). It will surely grow and multiply until you fold under the pressure and weight of it all. Or you can choose, yes, choose, what else is available to focus on. There are 101 other truly wonderful things to eat and taste and enjoy. If you can’t run – walk. Restless? Struggling to stick to a plan? In all these things, you can create a list of options to refer to. There are 101 other things. You are not trapped. Cornered. Stuck as much as you think you are.

Search the web. 101 recipes for diabetics. Those lactose intolerant. Those needing gluten free. Preview menus before visiting a restaurant. Bring options that work for you to a potluck. And 101 things to do when you are restless, depressed, feel like eating due to emotional upheaval. 101 inspirational sayings and scripture verses to keep your spirits up. 

Create your list of options. Keep it handy. Check, circle, highlight what works for you.

Choose. Choose this day … to trust in the promise of the Lord: I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow. (Jeremiah 31:13)

Enjoy the other things!

Giving God my best

 When I have a project ahead of me, especially one involving a ministerial calling, I want to pour my whole heart and soul into it. I want to preview and plan it all out in the greatest detail, examine every possible obstacle and nip them all in the bud before they get a chance to ruin my perfect outcome. I look at things from every angle. Time. Talent. Resources. Funding. Skills. Education and knowledge. Experience. Anticipate every problem. Then envision the glorious success - my gift to God. From me. And yet…

If I truly want a successful outcome, I have to feel incapable of doing the task at hand. I have to be inadequate for the job… in order for it to be God-fed and God-driven. If I truly want God’s presence and His love to flow through me, the efforts made need to be empowered by God and not myself alone. 

Ugh. But I want to do something for Him. From me … to offer my best to Him.

Not realizing that surrender is the gift He desires. Read the following scripture passages and see what I mean:

 Mary (deciding in her heart): Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me. (Luke 1:38 VOICE)

 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9 NIV)

He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. (Luke 9:3 NIV)

 … for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]. (2 Corinthians 12:10 AMP)

Surrendering the beginning, middle and end: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty—you will succeed because of my Spirit, though you are few and weak.’ (Zechariah 4:6 TLB)

To Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us… (Ephesians 3:30 NIV)

You want the very best outcome as a gift to God? Be inadequate. Incapable. Lacking. Truly, this is the time to let go and let God. Not sitting back and doing nothing. Go when He says, “Go.” But seek the Lord’s guidance in every step. Following His next move and then the next. Trusting in His daily Bread (provision) - daily. And witnessing the equipping and supplying of His at every stage. And then experiencing the glorious success! Yep. Your gift to God. Your best gift to God.

Words of assurance

…  so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11

I'm sure we all have our favorite translation of the Bible.  Whatever it is, it has become the familiar, the cadence and rhythm version that brings the most comfort to us. Some of the most well-known, well-loved verses almost have a sing song-y quality to them as we have memorized and recall them.

And still, there are some words or phrases that are hard to understand. Even though they are in understandable English! So I have been venturing into the world of other translations. Not to replace the beloved Bible I have and use all the time, but to enhance, develop, add depth to my understanding of a passage. That I might recall a fuller meaning even as I recite the familiar.

Come with me. Join me in this morning's adventure of studying and discovering a passage found in the Psalms:

Psalm 42:11
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (NIV) This is the version I normally use and the one that I am able to memorize and remember in times of need. It doesn't really matter which version you connect with ...

But, O my soul, don't be discouraged. Don't be upset. Expect God to act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my God! (TLB) What jumped out for me in this version is the believing God will act. And believing I will have reason to praise yet again. Whatever is upsetting me, will pass.

Why am I so overwrought, why am I so disturbed? Why can't I just hope in God? Despite all my emotions, I will believe and praise the One who saves me, my God. (VOICE) This version sends my heart in two directions: both the frustration of why can't I just hope and believe (!) and when it says despite all my emotions (!) - I will still believe in God.

So I say to my soul, "Don't be discouraged. Don't be disturbed. For I know my God will break through for me. Then I'll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again. Yes, living before his face is my saving grace! (TPT) God will break through for me. God will! For me! Plenty of reasons to praise him all over again. Again and again. It will surely come.

My soul, why art thou sorry; and why troublest thou me? Hope thou in God, for yet I shall acknowledge to him, he is the health of my cheer, and my God. (WYC) The "thou's" don't derail me because I have now read various other translations so I know and understand. I like the use of the word "acknowledge" and also the concept "he is the health of my cheer".

Can you see now how using various translations can pull together a more complete, more in-depth look? You read all these - one after another - and surely your soul can be lifted up and stand secure in the promises of God. The God Who saves you. Helps you. Breaks through for you. Over and over again.

Yay, God!

Beautiful! Just beautiful!

 

Finished shawl, you are beautiful! Oh, the work and time that must have gone into you. Oh, the mistakes made! The corrections. Some overlooked. But still so beautiful even with some flaws. There are some gaps. Holes. Twists. Unevenness. How can it still be so beautiful in our sight? Because we look at the big whole thing. Altogether lovely. And that’s how the Lord views us. Like the knitter, He knows of every mistake but chooses to see the beauty of the whole thing. The whole us.

 May we also choose to not scrutinize every perceived flaw - but instead, like Jesus, look at the whole thing about ourselves and each other. See the beauty of that which has been woven together by the very hands of God. 

For You formed my innermost parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works. And my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139: 13-14)

Just a touch

 

With just a touch. Water, crushed, cubed, or light. 

Maybe life has touched you and left you feeling crushed or cubed. There is a clunking or grinding to your days. But do you see the other options available? Water and light. Where there is crushed and cubed, there is also water and light. You know these as the very presence of Jesus. The very gifts of God.

So what are you filling up your glass with today? See the options available to you. Know that the gifts of refreshing water and comforting light are readily available to you. So come. Fill your cup. 

… for she had been saying to herself, “ If I only touch His outer robe, I will be healed.” (Matthew 9:21)

To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. (Revelation 21:6)

In Him there was life, and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it. (John 1:4,5)

Committed

 

It’s no secret that I like to knit. There are simple patterns that can be followed even while watching a television program. But there are others, like the one pictured above, that require more focus. I need to find a quiet time and place with no distractions so I can read the pattern and remember it, even in bits and pieces as I work it back and forth. But I am so thrilled when I am able to do it, carve out that time, and see the results. Such satisfaction! Knowing I can read it, remember it, and actually do it! I am so thankful for those quiet times when I can let all other things go for a while, and just focus on this one thing.

We all experience this in one way or another. We set aside a certain time slot for a favorite TV show. We have weekly scheduled times for golf or some other enjoyable sport. A “coffee date” with a friend every Tuesday. We make the time, we make it happen, because we enjoy the joy it brings - even when there are moments of challenge or frustration. We see it through. And the outcome - most pleasurable.

Reading the Bible can have similar results. Desiring it and making time for it, even when it’s challenging, can produce a peace that passes understanding. An inside smile that can brighten your whole day. To read God’s Word, remember it, and actually do it - well, I promise you there will be satisfaction and pleasure and enjoyment the world cannot give. We know we can give focus and attention to a variety of things. Whatever we choose. We are able to let go of other options and turn our whole attention to that which we desire. Because we love it even amidst a challenge or two. 

May we transfer that same kind of devotion, love and desire to the Lord and His Word. 

I am excited to see my scarf in the end. It’s going to be glorious! Your committed walk with the Lord is promised to be glorious as well!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law (His precepts and teachings) he (habitually) meditates day and night. And he will be like a tree firmly planted (and fed) by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; it’s leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers (and comes to maturity).  - Psalm 1: 2-3 AMP

Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word (treasuring it and being guided by it day by day). Open my eyes (to spiritual truth) so that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. - Psalm 119:17-18 AMP