While reading Psalm 17 this morning, I came across some great little nuggets that I want to share with you:
vs. 1, the Psalmist says he's not going to pray with "feigned lips". Honestly, when we lie to God when we are praying that's probably one of the stupidest times we lie. Think about it . . . God already knows everything, including what's on our heart and here we are talking to him and lying right to his face! Have you ever had someone lie right to your face and while they are speaking you know they are lying! What goes through your head? Do you really listen to what they are saying? NO! you don't. You're probably aggravated at them for daring to lie to your face, yet we do it all the time in our prayers . . . don't lie to God, He knows when you are and I bet he doesn't even want to listen to your prayer after you start lying to Him!
vs. 3, the Psalmist says that he "purposed that my mouth shall not transgress". You know we have to purpose that too. Purpose here means to have a thought, plan or consider. You have to think before you speak. You also need to have a plan about what you are going to say so you won't sin. Consider before you speak. It would be much better to pause and look a little foolish than to blurt out everything on your mind. In Proverbs it tells us that a fool uttereth all his mind. Don't be a fool. Purpose to not sin with your mouth!
Then the last nugget, this is probably my favorite. vs. 15 says, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness." Romans 8:28, 29 tells us that God is doing a work in our life that is good for us as it conforms us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:5 tells us to have the mind of Christ. We are to be like God, to walk in His presence. That truth eluded me for several years. . . partly because in my dreamer girl state of mind I complicated it. I thought walking in God's presence was close to something the ghostbusters must have experienced when they were in the presence of a ghost. But it's not anything like that. It's much easier, and yet a little harder than that. It is being completely right with God. That means the books I read, the music I listen to, the internet I browse, the movies/tv I watch, the places I go, the things and amount of things I eat, the words I say, etc. are right with God, are Christ honoring, are something I wouldn't mind doing with Jesus sitting right there next to me. Now, that is hard. It really can be especially if you are attached that that series of books that doesn't honor God or if you really want to go see that movie that isn't the best, or if you desperately want to eat that 4th cupcake, etc. But I love that God gives us a promise in this verse, ". . .I shall be satisfied…" Are you satisfied? If not, you can be. Sure maybe you have to change some things but isn't it great that God not only tells us what to do, but he helps us do it! And we feel better afterwards. When you seriously consider it, do those books, those cupcakes, that music, that internet, that movie, etc. really bring satisfaction? Typically things of the world leave us empty and wanting more, but Jesus tells us that we can be filled when we come to Him. I would much rather give up the things I think I want to have the things I need and truly are desiring! Don't settle for less, choose God and you will be happy and satisfied every time!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
How to Have a Good Christmas
So I heard this sermon last night, and no I'm not going to preach, but I am going to share! It was a great little sermon and so appropriate for this day right before all the Christmas festivities happen! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Bro. Lovens started off the sermon by saying that more suicides happen from Thanksgiving to New Year than any other time of the year. People get so depressed during this time. I didn't realize that. I have to admit it made me said that "at the most wonderful time of the year" people get depressed. Bro. Lovens went on to say that part of the reason is because people get caught up in materialism and Christmas has become about what you get out of it.
He went on to read a lot of Luke 2 and then he headed over to Matthew 1 and 2. He read verse 1-2 of Matthew 2 and paralleled how to have a good Christmas with the wise men. He said 1. To have a good Christmas, start out by looking for Jesus. He talked about how we live in a entitlement world where they expect things. At this point I started thinking about a commercial I say this year and this dopey looking dad is talking about how his kids are hard to impress at Christmas but he thought he had done well this time because he got his son a Nokia tablet and his daughter a phone. I pray I have thankful kids. This year, they are getting a lot. It doesn't happen that way every year, nor would I want it to, but I have been stressing for the last two months with them, the need to be thankful. Bro. Lovens warned us to not expect people to give you something. Work for a living. He said Christmas isn't about us anyways! It's about God!
Then Bro. Lovens went on a rabbit trail. He read verse 3-6 and talked about how Bethlehem was adding city at the time. The term "It all goes to Bedlam" was morphed from the term "It all goes to Bethlehem". There was no real industry in Bethlehem, yet we sings songs about it. He talked about how we need to get the gospel out there and share it with people because Jesus can change a life, a community, a nation! He said that when a nation begins to fail, it always begins with their moral system! At this point my heart cried out to God to please help America! And to help me to bring America back to God. To point them to Jesus!
2. After that interesting and necessary rabbit trail we made it back to his notes, and Bro. Lovens read Matt. 2:7-10. He said to have a good christmas we need to make it a day of rejoicing. Make it a rule that on Christmas no one can complain. He said, Don't be the brat of the holiday. Get up and read the bible to yourself as a parent before you read it to the kids. He also said before any presents are opened, open God's word and read Luke 2. Teach your children to remember what Christmas is really about! On Christmas, count your blessings and rejoice! I told my husband later that he said things in that sermon that if heeded will make other christmases go well for others. I loved the Don't be a brat of the holiday. How many times have I wanted to say that. Lol. We all know those brats that want a special day to be about them and them only.
3. He said the third thing to do to have a good christmas is to give (Matt. 2:11) He said give of your time and self. Be a servant on that day. Seek to be a blessing to those around you. Help out. He gave some practical ways to help out. He asked What can you give FOR others and not to them.
I think my favorite part of the sermon was when he went to verse 12 and said the last part to having a good christmas is to go home. After the wise men saw Jesus they went home. Know when to go home. Don't overstay your welcome. When the party is over, leave. Lol. So TRUE!
He said that Christmas is about a Savior that was born to save the souls of mankind! This year we set up our tree 2 days early I think because of that, all season we have thrown tradition to the wind. We went on vacation during December, we are not having Christmas at our house like we normally do, we are not going over family's house either, we are going to a church family's house. We won't hang out in our pjs all day. We will go seek to be a blessing to another family and the neat thing is they are having us over to be a blessing to us . . . I just bet we are going to have a good Christmas if each of us and serving the other in Christ's love. I loved this sermon right before Christmas. Bro. Lovens did a good job of drawing our focus onto what was needful for the time.
I hope each of you have a good Christmas and remember to make Christ the reason for the season! (Oh, that was another thing he said, Don't make trite statements like Jesus is the reason for the season . . . lol, Merry Christmas anyways!)
Bro. Lovens started off the sermon by saying that more suicides happen from Thanksgiving to New Year than any other time of the year. People get so depressed during this time. I didn't realize that. I have to admit it made me said that "at the most wonderful time of the year" people get depressed. Bro. Lovens went on to say that part of the reason is because people get caught up in materialism and Christmas has become about what you get out of it.
He went on to read a lot of Luke 2 and then he headed over to Matthew 1 and 2. He read verse 1-2 of Matthew 2 and paralleled how to have a good Christmas with the wise men. He said 1. To have a good Christmas, start out by looking for Jesus. He talked about how we live in a entitlement world where they expect things. At this point I started thinking about a commercial I say this year and this dopey looking dad is talking about how his kids are hard to impress at Christmas but he thought he had done well this time because he got his son a Nokia tablet and his daughter a phone. I pray I have thankful kids. This year, they are getting a lot. It doesn't happen that way every year, nor would I want it to, but I have been stressing for the last two months with them, the need to be thankful. Bro. Lovens warned us to not expect people to give you something. Work for a living. He said Christmas isn't about us anyways! It's about God!
Then Bro. Lovens went on a rabbit trail. He read verse 3-6 and talked about how Bethlehem was adding city at the time. The term "It all goes to Bedlam" was morphed from the term "It all goes to Bethlehem". There was no real industry in Bethlehem, yet we sings songs about it. He talked about how we need to get the gospel out there and share it with people because Jesus can change a life, a community, a nation! He said that when a nation begins to fail, it always begins with their moral system! At this point my heart cried out to God to please help America! And to help me to bring America back to God. To point them to Jesus!
2. After that interesting and necessary rabbit trail we made it back to his notes, and Bro. Lovens read Matt. 2:7-10. He said to have a good christmas we need to make it a day of rejoicing. Make it a rule that on Christmas no one can complain. He said, Don't be the brat of the holiday. Get up and read the bible to yourself as a parent before you read it to the kids. He also said before any presents are opened, open God's word and read Luke 2. Teach your children to remember what Christmas is really about! On Christmas, count your blessings and rejoice! I told my husband later that he said things in that sermon that if heeded will make other christmases go well for others. I loved the Don't be a brat of the holiday. How many times have I wanted to say that. Lol. We all know those brats that want a special day to be about them and them only.
3. He said the third thing to do to have a good christmas is to give (Matt. 2:11) He said give of your time and self. Be a servant on that day. Seek to be a blessing to those around you. Help out. He gave some practical ways to help out. He asked What can you give FOR others and not to them.
I think my favorite part of the sermon was when he went to verse 12 and said the last part to having a good christmas is to go home. After the wise men saw Jesus they went home. Know when to go home. Don't overstay your welcome. When the party is over, leave. Lol. So TRUE!
He said that Christmas is about a Savior that was born to save the souls of mankind! This year we set up our tree 2 days early I think because of that, all season we have thrown tradition to the wind. We went on vacation during December, we are not having Christmas at our house like we normally do, we are not going over family's house either, we are going to a church family's house. We won't hang out in our pjs all day. We will go seek to be a blessing to another family and the neat thing is they are having us over to be a blessing to us . . . I just bet we are going to have a good Christmas if each of us and serving the other in Christ's love. I loved this sermon right before Christmas. Bro. Lovens did a good job of drawing our focus onto what was needful for the time.
I hope each of you have a good Christmas and remember to make Christ the reason for the season! (Oh, that was another thing he said, Don't make trite statements like Jesus is the reason for the season . . . lol, Merry Christmas anyways!)
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