Right after Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him, this is what happens:
"Peter asked Jesus, 'What about him, Lord?'
Jesus replied, 'If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You follow me.'"
- John 21:21-22
My Prayer:
Jesus, as I worry about today and begin comparing myself, remind me that I follow you, regardless of what others are doing. I sing to you, regardless of how others are singing. I live for you, regardless of how others are living. What are they to me? All I know for sure is that you love me and I am to follow you. May that be true of me today, tonight, and the rest of my life. "You follow me." - Jesus
"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock...Lord, we love to obey your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name. All night long I search for you; earnestly I seek for God.
"Lord, you will grant us peace, for all we have accomplished is really from you. O Lord our God, others have ruled us, but we worship you alone. Those we served before are dead and gone. Never again will they return!"
- Isaiah 26:3-4; 8-9; 12-14
My prayer:
God, lead me to the place where you want me. Show me where to serve. I know where my heart is leading me, but I want to hear from you.
It is wrong for me to dwell on anything but You, oh Lover of my soul. May my thoughts be fixed on you. Mold my heart more and more so that I can truthfully say that "my heart's desire is to glorify Your name!" Reveal to me that all of my earthly 'accomplishments' are really from you. I have never done, and never will do, anything alone or by my own power or ability.
Father, thank you for peace. Help me to trust in you so that I can experience that peace even more. You are my Rock.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
patience
I recently learned the true meaning of the saying, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." My parents used to quote this to me all the time to remind me not to get my hopes up about something that hasn't happened yet. Easier said than done, yes?
I guess I am notorious for getting really excited and passionate about everything. If there's the possibility of an inspirational musician coming to the area, I get excited. If there's the possibility that I might help organize a youth event, I get excited. If there's the possibility that I maybe somehow could go somewhere exciting, I get excited.
And most recently, I got excited over a ministry here at Olivet.
I have very prayerfully been examining my motives for being apart of a worship team in college this entire summer; is this for me and my pride and fame, or for the glory of God? Am I in this to impress people, or to serve my Savior? As I felt a peace come on my heart in regards to sign ups this week, I began researching the different outbound ministries that Olivet has. I found one in particular that really seemed to match what I have been praying for for months.
Imagine how excited I became at the discovery of this ministry, and how much more prayer went into considering it! And then, imagine how crushed I became when I found out that auditions for this ministry aren't until the spring of next semester. After all of my praying and asking and being humbled, I have to wait?
"Patience, my child," God says. "I know what is best for you. I know your heart intimately and right now, this is where I want you."
So, today I acknowledge that when God starts teaching you, He never stops. He is teaching me humility, trust, love, gratefulness, and most recently, patience. God is in the business of changing lives, and I want mine to be changed. And today, that means that I must accept the opportunities He gives me and be patient for the ones that are to come. I'm excited.
I guess I am notorious for getting really excited and passionate about everything. If there's the possibility of an inspirational musician coming to the area, I get excited. If there's the possibility that I might help organize a youth event, I get excited. If there's the possibility that I maybe somehow could go somewhere exciting, I get excited.
And most recently, I got excited over a ministry here at Olivet.
I have very prayerfully been examining my motives for being apart of a worship team in college this entire summer; is this for me and my pride and fame, or for the glory of God? Am I in this to impress people, or to serve my Savior? As I felt a peace come on my heart in regards to sign ups this week, I began researching the different outbound ministries that Olivet has. I found one in particular that really seemed to match what I have been praying for for months.
Imagine how excited I became at the discovery of this ministry, and how much more prayer went into considering it! And then, imagine how crushed I became when I found out that auditions for this ministry aren't until the spring of next semester. After all of my praying and asking and being humbled, I have to wait?
"Patience, my child," God says. "I know what is best for you. I know your heart intimately and right now, this is where I want you."
So, today I acknowledge that when God starts teaching you, He never stops. He is teaching me humility, trust, love, gratefulness, and most recently, patience. God is in the business of changing lives, and I want mine to be changed. And today, that means that I must accept the opportunities He gives me and be patient for the ones that are to come. I'm excited.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
refreshing
There are a few really cool passages that I want to share today- passages that are connected by the theme of prayer and community in a unique way.
"So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses as ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were wining. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up- one on one side, one on the other- so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword...Moses built an altar and called it 'The Lord is my Banner'. He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
-Exodus 17:10-16
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
-Colossians 4:2-6
What would our earthly relationships look like if we lifted up each others' arms when we became weary, like Moses, Aaron and Hur? What would they look like if we were devoted to prayer? If we made the most of every opportunity and allowed conversations to be full of grace? I think we would find our relationships to be incredibly refreshing. I think we would become energized to pursue more relationships to spread the glory of God. I think we would create a network of believers that thrives on grace and love.
"So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses as ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were wining. When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up- one on one side, one on the other- so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword...Moses built an altar and called it 'The Lord is my Banner'. He said, 'For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation."
-Exodus 17:10-16
"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
-Colossians 4:2-6
What would our earthly relationships look like if we lifted up each others' arms when we became weary, like Moses, Aaron and Hur? What would they look like if we were devoted to prayer? If we made the most of every opportunity and allowed conversations to be full of grace? I think we would find our relationships to be incredibly refreshing. I think we would become energized to pursue more relationships to spread the glory of God. I think we would create a network of believers that thrives on grace and love.
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