Several weeks ago, we were reading through John 18. This part of verse 11 just seized my heart"...the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
Later after the boys were sleeping I had to go back and reread that verse again and again.."the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?" As I reread it I could hear trust in my Saviour's words, He trusted His Father, knowing what awful things, painful things would be in that cup. He trusted Him because He knows the Father and never doubted His love. I could hear humility and submission to His Father's will. More over there was the confidence that this way was the absolute best way.
".....shall I not drink it?"
What is in your cup? As I look in my own cup, I see pain and hurts, struggles and failures, heavy burdens and grief.
"...the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?"
Lord, give me the grace to drink the cup You have given me and be merciful please when I hesitate to swallow.
June 10, 2011
Cast
I recently did a word study on the word CAST.
There were several very good verses, but these five touched my heart the most:
Psalms 55:22a Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee…
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Isaiah 38:17b …thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Ezekiel 18:31a Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit…
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Life's burdens are so heavy and when I keep carrying them, I can't hold my Jesus' hand. I walk slower and He patiently walks slower by my side. At the beginning of this journey, He told me to cast all my cares upon Him (to put them in His backpack) because He cares for me. Too often I try to carry them alone.....He never intended it that way. He is so much stronger and His shoulders so much broader. Some of my burdens were given to me for the soul purpose of carrying them to Him and talking to Him about them. Asking for Him to move mightily in a particular situation. I had a day here recently when I had five different prayer burdens going on on the same day. They were instense ones. I felt like all day I was transfering burdens from one hand to another and then into Jesus' backpack. This morning I felt like He took one back out and wanted me to carry it for awhile just so we could talk about it more and burden me to have others pray about it.
Another little thought: when I looked up in the dictionary the word cast one definition said unburden, another said exhale. Think about when you lift a heavy object. You take a deep breath, hold it, lift it, maybe grunt and groan, and after it is lifted-- you exhale. Hmmmm!
I never really shared more about the other three verses but I take comfort in them because God has thrown my sin behind Him, tossed them away from me, and pitched them into the deep sea! And all I can say is Amen! and thank You Jesus, thank You!!
There were several very good verses, but these five touched my heart the most:
Psalms 55:22a Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee…
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Isaiah 38:17b …thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.
Ezekiel 18:31a Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit…
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Life's burdens are so heavy and when I keep carrying them, I can't hold my Jesus' hand. I walk slower and He patiently walks slower by my side. At the beginning of this journey, He told me to cast all my cares upon Him (to put them in His backpack) because He cares for me. Too often I try to carry them alone.....He never intended it that way. He is so much stronger and His shoulders so much broader. Some of my burdens were given to me for the soul purpose of carrying them to Him and talking to Him about them. Asking for Him to move mightily in a particular situation. I had a day here recently when I had five different prayer burdens going on on the same day. They were instense ones. I felt like all day I was transfering burdens from one hand to another and then into Jesus' backpack. This morning I felt like He took one back out and wanted me to carry it for awhile just so we could talk about it more and burden me to have others pray about it.
Another little thought: when I looked up in the dictionary the word cast one definition said unburden, another said exhale. Think about when you lift a heavy object. You take a deep breath, hold it, lift it, maybe grunt and groan, and after it is lifted-- you exhale. Hmmmm!
I never really shared more about the other three verses but I take comfort in them because God has thrown my sin behind Him, tossed them away from me, and pitched them into the deep sea! And all I can say is Amen! and thank You Jesus, thank You!!
June 06, 2011
Much behind on posting
There is much I need to post about. I am several weeks behind on how the Lord has been working on my heart and blessed me so undeserving around my birthday, and carried me through tough incidents and strengthened me to sing. I finally posted what my niece shared with me a month ago!
And I must confess I am still meditating on a man,
that I just can't get out of my mind,
Joseph of Arimathea.......I know, it has been almost a month since I posted about him. My pastor preached about the blood of Jesus washing away all our sin and all I could invision is Joseph lovingly carrying the body of my Lord, gently wrapping up my Jesus, tears running down his cheeks, and the blood of my Lord getting on him as he boldly honored the Master. The precious blood of the Lamb of God that washes away all my sin...........................
And I must confess I am still meditating on a man,
that I just can't get out of my mind,
Joseph of Arimathea.......I know, it has been almost a month since I posted about him. My pastor preached about the blood of Jesus washing away all our sin and all I could invision is Joseph lovingly carrying the body of my Lord, gently wrapping up my Jesus, tears running down his cheeks, and the blood of my Lord getting on him as he boldly honored the Master. The precious blood of the Lamb of God that washes away all my sin...........................
Prone to Wander
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander,
Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart,
O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
from "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
This hymn says it clearly, the honest truth, I am prone to wander, we all are. Yet may His goodness like chains hold us to HIM.....
Now reread this part:
Prone to wander,
Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart,
O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
My niece told me last month that she had made this her prayer to God concerning her emotional heart. Many times I have advised teens and other singles to "guard your heart" and that "a woman should hide herself so deep in Christ that a man must seek Him to find her." Yet it wasn't until she pointed it out that I saw this verse from a different perspective, through the eyes of single gals in a couple's world who are prone to wander a way from the Father's best and tempted to give their heart (and sadly often their body) away to the wrong guys who would come between their soul and their Saviour. The wise gals who understand that the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. So like a child giving a parent the candy bar so he won't eat it, the single gal must be willing like the song says to give her heart to God and have Him seal it. For Him and, if He choses, for the one He has prepared for her to be a helpmeet to.
May 09, 2011
Icing on the Cake
I ended up getting the flu on Mother's Day and felt so awful. 
Most of today I was lazy, just weak and still feel queasy, stayed in bed as long as I could and sat at the computer a couple hours. I worked on a post about Joseph of Arimathaea that is requiring some research; as well as checking emails and blogs. My parents came out this afternoon and gave me a hand with the house and the boys.
I am glad I am sick now. Otherwise I might not have read a friends email and responded when I did. She is such a healing salve to me and I thank God for her and our treasured friendship. There were many blessings today!
On Mother's Day, our pastor preached on how motherhood is under attack and how sacred it is. Also how when we face hardships, God has great grace to help, we just have to say yes to God's grace.
So as I kept getting more miserable and sicker and longing for my husband to assist with the children, I kept praying arrow prayers, mostly "Help me, Lord." and "Speak to their hearts as their Father."
When I first woke up this morning I was tempted to say "oh, No, Lord" as the storms came and I still wasn't 100%. Then I remembered Preacher and said, "Yes, Lord, I say yes to Your Grace." Then I was able to have one-on-one devotions with each of the boys. It was precious time, as we all slept in and they woke up at different times. Then my parents called to say Mom would be coming between 2pm and 3pm and Dad would be out later. Ah, reinforcements from the Lord:) The rain stopped and the boys went out to play in sunshine and wind. Another blessing. My boys got guy time with Grandpa. I was able to keep my word about setting up the train set in the attic. And I am caught up on alot of housework thanks to my sweet mom. Then to hear my email blessed my grieving friend blessed me too. You could say it was the icing on my cake for the day!
I still don't feel well and am heading back to bed again, but inside is peace and joy! Thank You, JESUS!!
2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Most of today I was lazy, just weak and still feel queasy, stayed in bed as long as I could and sat at the computer a couple hours. I worked on a post about Joseph of Arimathaea that is requiring some research; as well as checking emails and blogs. My parents came out this afternoon and gave me a hand with the house and the boys.
I am glad I am sick now. Otherwise I might not have read a friends email and responded when I did. She is such a healing salve to me and I thank God for her and our treasured friendship. There were many blessings today!
On Mother's Day, our pastor preached on how motherhood is under attack and how sacred it is. Also how when we face hardships, God has great grace to help, we just have to say yes to God's grace.
So as I kept getting more miserable and sicker and longing for my husband to assist with the children, I kept praying arrow prayers, mostly "Help me, Lord." and "Speak to their hearts as their Father."
When I first woke up this morning I was tempted to say "oh, No, Lord" as the storms came and I still wasn't 100%. Then I remembered Preacher and said, "Yes, Lord, I say yes to Your Grace." Then I was able to have one-on-one devotions with each of the boys. It was precious time, as we all slept in and they woke up at different times. Then my parents called to say Mom would be coming between 2pm and 3pm and Dad would be out later. Ah, reinforcements from the Lord:) The rain stopped and the boys went out to play in sunshine and wind. Another blessing. My boys got guy time with Grandpa. I was able to keep my word about setting up the train set in the attic. And I am caught up on alot of housework thanks to my sweet mom. Then to hear my email blessed my grieving friend blessed me too. You could say it was the icing on my cake for the day!
I still don't feel well and am heading back to bed again, but inside is peace and joy! Thank You, JESUS!!
2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Joseph of Arimeathea
I find it interesting that God the Father starts Jesus’ life here on earth with a Joseph and ends it with another Joseph. (Interestingly enough, the name Joseph means may he add). Recently while doing family devotions in Mark 15, the Lord has had me really think about this man Joseph of Arimathaea. The gospels describe him this way:
According to Matthew, Joseph was a rich man and was Jesus' disciple.
According to Mark, Joseph was an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God
According to Luke, Joseph was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
According to John, Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews.
The boys and I didn’t just read about what the Bible said but tried to picture the reality of the words.
The love that motivated Joseph to ask for the body of the LORD.
Jesus had brothers where were they?
Joseph had the tomb dug for himself…was he old? Weak in health? Or just being prepatory?
Did he consider that they might deny him Jesus and put him in prison? What was it like taking down Jesus’ body?
How does one get the big nails out?
Gravity would have made the body fall down upon the ground or his body? Jesus’ body wasn’t clean; it had been beaten and pierced and crusified.
Did He get Jesus’ blood on his hands and clothes?
Did he wash the body or just wrap it?
What emotions he must have felt as he touched and wrapped the back and body of his Lord? Did he weep? Did he pray? Did he vent to God in confusion?
How alone he must have felt and how thankful for Nicodemus who came with myrrh and aloes (100lbs of them!)
How he felt to lay Jesus in a tomb prepared for him?
Did he think “It should have been me?”
As he rolled the stone in place, what emotions must have overwhelmed him, like any mourner feels when the casket is lowered into the grave?
Did he run away to a secret place and just bawl or did he gather with the other disciples?
Did he have family and what did he say or do when he eventually went home?
I worked in the nursing home for over 6 years; I remember the first resident that died. I remember helping to prepare the body before the family came in to say goodbye, before the funeral home came for the body. I remember the feeling of washing a body that is minus a soul. I remember the privledge it was to do this one last act of honor toward the life of a person deeply cared for.
Joseph of Arimathaea is one of the people I have read about for years. He has been a part of the Easter story in my little ears as a young child. Yet it wasn’t until this week that I really, really thought about being in his sandals and wondered about him and how he felt. Joseph was a real man and we only see the facts in a few short gospel verses.
I pray I can be like him, bold in the face of the enemies of my Lord, steadfast, faithful and loving, letting my love for my Lord compel me to crave HIM above fear of persecution from the government or from peers. Desiring to honor my Lord no matter what the cost financially, physically, emotionally……
……Waiting for the kingdom of God
According to Matthew, Joseph was a rich man and was Jesus' disciple.
According to Mark, Joseph was an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God
According to Luke, Joseph was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
According to John, Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews.
The boys and I didn’t just read about what the Bible said but tried to picture the reality of the words.
The love that motivated Joseph to ask for the body of the LORD.
Jesus had brothers where were they?
Joseph had the tomb dug for himself…was he old? Weak in health? Or just being prepatory?
Did he consider that they might deny him Jesus and put him in prison? What was it like taking down Jesus’ body?
How does one get the big nails out?
Gravity would have made the body fall down upon the ground or his body? Jesus’ body wasn’t clean; it had been beaten and pierced and crusified.
Did He get Jesus’ blood on his hands and clothes?
Did he wash the body or just wrap it?
What emotions he must have felt as he touched and wrapped the back and body of his Lord? Did he weep? Did he pray? Did he vent to God in confusion?
How alone he must have felt and how thankful for Nicodemus who came with myrrh and aloes (100lbs of them!)
How he felt to lay Jesus in a tomb prepared for him?
Did he think “It should have been me?”
As he rolled the stone in place, what emotions must have overwhelmed him, like any mourner feels when the casket is lowered into the grave?
Did he run away to a secret place and just bawl or did he gather with the other disciples?
Did he have family and what did he say or do when he eventually went home?
I worked in the nursing home for over 6 years; I remember the first resident that died. I remember helping to prepare the body before the family came in to say goodbye, before the funeral home came for the body. I remember the feeling of washing a body that is minus a soul. I remember the privledge it was to do this one last act of honor toward the life of a person deeply cared for.
Joseph of Arimathaea is one of the people I have read about for years. He has been a part of the Easter story in my little ears as a young child. Yet it wasn’t until this week that I really, really thought about being in his sandals and wondered about him and how he felt. Joseph was a real man and we only see the facts in a few short gospel verses.
I pray I can be like him, bold in the face of the enemies of my Lord, steadfast, faithful and loving, letting my love for my Lord compel me to crave HIM above fear of persecution from the government or from peers. Desiring to honor my Lord no matter what the cost financially, physically, emotionally……
……Waiting for the kingdom of God
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)