Worry the Thief of Worship:

I have been thinking much on my favourite Philippians 4 verses today (the best counseling passage in the world and the best method of reproof as a parent - as if we get this right, all else falls into place naturally!) It made me realize that worry is the thief of worship... Here is what we did in our family devotions today:

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness...bow down before in Him. We can only rejoice in God properly if we see God for who He is! And then relish and delight in His wondrous character! Know Him that you may worship Him!)

⁵ Let your moderation/gentleness be known unto all men. (once we understand God character and show our love for him in rejoicing then we need to get out there and love people. Obey Him! Take action!) The Lord is at hand. ( And when that is hard to do , who helps us? God of course, for He is always with us!)

⁶ Be careful/anxious for nothing (there is no room for any worrying whatsoever, chuck it out! BUT God does not expect us to just shove our problems under the carpet; why He himself wept over Jerusalem, and at the grave of Lazarus, so what do we do then?) ; but in every thing by prayer (talk to God each step you take in life, every trouble and care that comes your way)  and supplication (in fact beg God with deep, heartfelt begging for His help with your difficulties and sadnesses! Psalm 50:15) with thanksgiving (with gratitude for His answers which may not be our desires, but thankfulness for who He is! The listening Abba Father!) let your requests be made known unto God.
⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (even if we do not get answers that we want (God is not a robot or slave from who we demand an answer, no He chose answers we sometimes do not chose), we can always have peace knowing the God in whom we rejoice as the sovereign God, almighty and the one who plans all things, all things for our good if we love Him, no matter how much we may struggle presently it is for our GOOD! (Romans 8:28) and we can know His peace in knowing Him, enjoying Him, obeying Him and talking with Him, begging Him, and trusting and resting in His answers)

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Do we have a chance now to revert back to worrying having already done our duty, no ways....think on special things when tempted to worry, gird up the loins of your mind, keep active in your continual worship of God)

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (read God's word, look at Paul's life, look at Jesus life and imitate, copy them!)

oh that we may better offer spiritual sacrifices to our Lord, rejoicing in Him again and again.

Again and again I think .....if I 'see God' aright then all else falls into place, even the hardest of hard things. And then I talk to God as Mosses did in Ex 33, for this truly is the only solution: if we see God aright, we see our problems aright and we can cope with anything ( through Christ who strengthens us)!
¹² And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
¹³ Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.
¹⁴ And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.
God bless you in your preparation for worship tomorrow, may we see more of our Lord tomorrow, and less of our problems

A Prayer to turn around Worry (the Thief of Worship):

“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.” Ex 33:13

Dear God of the universe, King of all ages. If we were to be able to go out far enough, out into your immense universe we would not even be able to see the tiny pinprick of our world, never mind a single human being upon our earth. Yet you know how many hairs we have on our heads, you know when one fall.

How puffed up with self-bigness, with arrogant thinking, to think that you would not be able to care for us and cloth us…for you are immense and without boundaries, you are the almighty, all powerful God who owns a thousand hills and all the cattle thereon. You oh God - are you not the one who keeps the mighty roaring oceans in place? Are you not the one who has hewn the highest mountaintops? Why should we be so concerned that you shouldst forget to take care of us when you, oh God, never slumber, nor sleep? Why should we be so concerned that you may chose a hard and treacherous path for us to walk when you are the everlasting one true God with no beginning and no end and you have loved us with an everlasting, covenantal, perfect love. Why should we be so worried about our future possible hardships when you have delivered us from the evil one and his purposes and bought us with your own blood and brought us to a wondrous love relationship, the most beautiful of all? No matter what you may plan to befall us…. nothing, no nothing will separate us from your love. For even in the valley of the shadow of death you are with us, you are our great and tender Good Shepherd.

Oh how ashamed we ought to be for forgetting you as the God of Noah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. You are the God of Mosses who parted the Red Sea for His people and sent manna and quails, and carved in your very own hand the commands which reflect to us your character and how we may obey you and learn of true happiness in following your commands to a life in all its fullness. You are the God of Esther, the God who gave Ester’s husband a listening ear and a kindly king’s heart towards her; you are the King of all kings.  You are the God who saved His people from wicked plans of annihilation through Esther and Mordecai’s faithfulness and supplications. You are the God of Ruth and Boaz and of Naomi, the God who cared enough to arrange perfect tender, tiny little details of food and marriage and the blessings of a grandchild for an old bitter woman who had suffered years of hardship and disappointment. You are the God of Samuel, and Daniel, of all your prophets of old who suffered greatly to see your people need your hand of discipline upon them again and again… You are the God of Paul in all his treacherous hardships, the God of Stephen.

And you are our God… oh what love, that you have cared for us and planned, in your divine sovereignty, for our lives since before the beginning of time. Why should we worry when your word so clearly tells us of who you are? Oh Lord, cause us deep misery when we worry instead of worship, for it is sin and does not allow us to honour your most holy name. Yes, cause such deep misery that, in your grace, we may be moved to love you more and serve you better. For you, oh God, are worthy and you in a mysterious way take deep pleasure in our enjoyment of you our God. It is by your grace that you have drawn us, by your grace may we see you more clearly and love you more dearly.

“Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.” Ex 33:13

Routine:

Do you have troubles organizing your time and priorities? Are you your own boss? As a homeschooling Mum I often find myself having difficulties with my routine and my kids routine is effected by this too. This little devotional is helpful in un-bothering your bothered brain!!    

J.R. Miller

A lamp for my feet!

"Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." Psalm 119:105

God's Word is represented as a lamp for the feet.

It is a "lamp" — not a blazing sun, nor even a lighthouse — but a plain, common lamp or lantern which one can carry about in the hand.

It is a lamp "for the feet," not throwing its beams afar, not illumining a hemisphere — but shining only on the one little bit of road on which the pilgrim's feet are walking.

The law of divine guidance is, "Step by step". One who carries a lantern on a country-road at night, sees only one step before him. If he takes that step, he carries his lantern forward, and thus makes another step plain. At length he reaches his destination in safety, without once stepping into darkness. The whole way has been made light for him, though only a single step of it at a time. This illustrates the usual method of God's guidance.

If this is the way God guides, it ought never to be hard for us to find our duty. It never lies far away, inaccessible to us — but is always near. It never lies out of our sight, in the darkness, for God never puts our duty where we cannot see it. The thing that we think may be our duty — but which is still lying in obscurity and uncertainty, is not our duty yet, whatever it may be a little farther on. The duty for the very moment is always clear — and that is as far as we need concern ourselves; for when we do the little that is clear, we will carry the light on, and it will shine on the next moment's step.

Jesus said, "He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness." Prompt, unquestioning, undoubting following of Christ — takes all the perplexity out of Christian life and gives unbroken peace. There never is a moment without its duty; and if we are living near to Christ and following Him closely, we shall never be left in ignorance of what He wants us to do.

Our daily prayer should be, "Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me." Psalm 119:133

Do you know God?

 I love the Westminster Shorter catechism on who God is....


Q. 4. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit,[7] infinite,[8] eternal,[9] and unchangeable,[10] in his being,[11] wisdom,[12] power,[13] holiness,[14] justice,[15] goodness,[16] and truth.[17]

(Taken from : http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC.html )

And here are the footnotes: 

[7] Deuteronomy 4:15-19. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. Luke 24:39. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. John 1:18. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 4:24. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. Acts 17:29. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

[8] 1 Kings 8:27. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? Psalm 139:7-10. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. Psalm 145:3. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. Psalm 147:5. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. Jeremiah 23:24. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. Romans 11:33-36. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

[9] Deuteronomy 33:27. The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Psalm 90:2. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 102:12, 24-27. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.... I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. Revelation 1:4, 8. John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne.... I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

[10] Psalm 33:11. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Malachi 3:6. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Hebrews 1:12. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. Hebrews 6:17-18. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Hebrews 13:8. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

[11] Exodus 3:14. And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Psalm 115:2-3. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. 1 Timothy 1:17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16. Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

[12] Psalm 104:24. O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Romans 11:33-34. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Hebrews 4:13. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 1 John 3:20. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

[13 Genesis 17:1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Psalm 62:11. God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Jeremiah 32:17. Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Matthew 19:26. But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Revelation 1:8. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

[14] Hebrews 1:13. But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? 1 Peter 1:15-16. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 John 3:3, 5. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.... And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Revelation 15:4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

[15] Genesis 18:25. That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? Exodus 34:6-7. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. Deuteronomy 32:4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Psalm 96:13. Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. Romans 3:5, 26. But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man).... To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

[16] Psalm 103:5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalm 107:8. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Matthew 19:7. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? Romans 2:4. Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

[17] Exodus 34:6. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Deuteronomy 32:4. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Psalm 86:15. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm 117:2. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. Hebrews 6:18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.

(Taken from : http://www.reformed.org/documents/WSC_fn.html#fn7 ) 

Here is the larger catechism if you are interested: http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/larger1.html

faith in troubled times...

Faith is not faith at all, if it is only for the good times...

Fear:

The fear of God is the death of every other fear; like a mighty lion, it chases all other fears before it. —C.H. Spurgeon