Let us not become blinded by the works of our own hands, but rather observe the works of the Lord and all that he has done.
When our love for the Lord is far above that of any other, only then can love take its full effect.
Always He will love us greater still;
We can never give our full return.
Sometimes in my time with God I find myself hesitant to speak as I’m afraid all it is going to be is something like a long complaint. Tonight was just one of those nights.
I basically asked God whether I should keep my not-so-pleasant feelings to myself or if He wanted to hear them. Me and my rather blunt question got a pretty straightforward response: He immediately reminded me that whether I choose to share or not isn’t what matters. He already knows my thoughts and feelings…He knows and understands them better than I do myself! He made me realize that what really matters is for me to be willing to change. I need to present myself to Him, mess and all, allowing Him to replace my frustration with peace, complaining with gratitude, and anger with love.
Don’t try and fix yourself. Allow God to fix you.
You, my God, stand beside me;
You hear my every complaint.
No sorrow is too great,
And no anger holds back Your unfailing love!
In Your Name I find rest;
It is by Your truths I find peace.
The night settles,
The coolness comes in,
The stars reveal their beauty within.
There’s something close though it seems far away,
I hear someone calling, I hear a voice say:
“Be still and know that I am your God, Shepherd, and Friend.
I will always be with you, I am the beginning and the end.
I will guide you and keep you close by my side,
Do not be afraid, I will always provide.”
I close my eyes and ponder these things in my heart,
It’s beauty and peace is as an incredible art.
I cannot let go of any words that I hear,
So special to me…I hold them so dear.
I will not forget the words from my Love,
And the gift that my God sent from above.
Jesus is so accepting towards us. We do wrong against him, sin, we’re broken, hurting—and sometimes flat-out hateful—but He is willing to accept us anyways.
Similarly, there are going to be people who do wrong against us. We will experience things we don’t deserve and there will be times we go through that are just plain hard. It is so critical that we be willing to accept these things!
To forgive, to love those who hate, to accept the painful, hard times as Jesus has for us. It is amazing the burden that is carried away from us when we learn to accept!
When we have hatred in our hearts there is less room for love, and we are hurting ourselves more than those whom we hate. When we dwell in our mistakes, weaknesses, and sadness, we are giving it a chance to grow and overtake our lives—leaving no room for strength, true success, and joy.
As Jesus went through just about the hardest time ever in the giving of His life, He got through it and is our Perfect Example of true strength, success, and joy that isn’t just temporary, but eternal.
So let’s look for things that we need to accept and not allow them to have a negative impact on our lives. Rather, let’s look for ways that we can learn, grow, and give through them.
There are many things we have no control over, but it is still up to us how we accept those things and react to them.
What got me to thinking about this was a few weeks ago at a doctor’s office for a pre-op appointment. While in the waiting room I noticed that literally everyone there was doing something on their phone. I have an iPhone myself, and there have been many times I’ve been waiting doing who-knows-what on my phone, but when I noticed this I didn’t like what I saw, and soon decided I wanted to do something about it.
I didn’t particularly want to be in a doctor’s office waiting room–who would? But I’ve been realizing something: no matter what our situation is, we should be seeing it as an opportunity.
Despite the fact that it seemed like there wasn’t anything else to do, I put away my phone. Before long I was able to strike up a conversation with someone. Nothing of great significance, but still–it was a conversation. Though I didn’t have the chance to share the gospel in the short time we were talking, it was enough time to communicate to the person that they are noticed and respected; a person can look at them and smile.
Small things like this can mean a lot more to someone than we might think—and I’m saying this from experience. I distinctly remember the few conversations others have started with me throughout the years. People who didn’t know me that came over and gave a compliment or just started talking about something completely random in such a kind way. They’ve been very uplifting and encouraging—I don’t easily forget them.
There have been many times where I was not feeling well and let that get the better of me by being impatient or unkind. I have no control over not feeling well, but I can choose how to react. No matter what our circumstances or what we own, we are capable of impacting others in a good way or a bad way. It is our choice.
It’s easy to let opportunities slip by while being distracted, or we can simply be unwilling to step out and do something for the benefit of others. This is a selfish way of living, and whether we realize it or not, living selfishly is not healthy for us as an individual.
So let’s make the most of whatever our situation is, and make a difference in someone else’s life for the better.
We cannot have love if we don’t know the Creator,
We cannot share love without its Initiator.
Love cannot stay where hate still resides,
We cannot be filled without the One who provides.
Its very existence is unstoppable,
Without God we are incapable.
Love is something that can’t be substituted,
It is where our lives should always be rooted.
I see these children and so want to hold and care for them. One day…
A true friend never loses hope. A hardship is when true faithfulness is shown. One who is trustworthy never gives up, but encourages you in all your days. Their words of kindness are strength to your bones; their words of truth help you grow. Their honesty brings wisdom to your heart; their confidence helps sustain you.
Ever since I was young there’s always been a place I can come back to. A place on Jesus’ lap. In His arms. A place of peace. A place to cry, a place to let things go, a place to surrender, a place to ask for forgiveness, a place to say thank You, a place to just remember that everything’s going to be okay.
Oh, what a wonderful place!
If you haven’t yet, find some much-needed time, some quiet, (though I personally prefer some worship music…everybody’s different. 😉 ) and find this place.
So fragile it can’t be left alone,
Yet it can be as hard as stone.
Without it there all hope is gone,
And our life story can’t be drawn.
Where is it set? Is it in place?
Overflowing with love and grace?
What are our goals? Who leads the way?
Do we follow Christ, day by day?
Where our heart is set, all else relies.
Every man will fail, though he tries.
In Christ alone all hope is found,
Where hearts are set on solid ground.
With the pace of the waves on an evening shore,
Continuous as it grows forevermore.
Filled with love from its very first start,
It can blossom and grow, or be torn apart.
So tender and precious to be able to hold,
A value exceeding that of silver and gold.
Each one has a purpose, they are always unique.
With its own way of sharing, its own way to speak.
Every heart deserves to not miss a beat,
To be loved and to love, to be met and to meet.
It should not be stopped, cut off from the earth,
We have hearts inside that were there before birth.
We’ve been given a chance, can’t we see?
Are they any less deserving than you or me?
Through valleys and forests we search for the Way,
Though darkness does follow, in light we can stay.
There is no burden too heavy to carry,
While the strength of our Father is there.
What we are told may be contrary,
But He’s already shown He does care.
Chains can’t pull away what we have in our heart,
Hands cannot break, true love apart.
A constant battle, deep within,
A decision to make, then where to begin.
It seems so unclear, like all is a blur.
Why can’t life just be simple, so we can always be sure?
It’s so often confusing, it may seem we are losing,
But it’s what we’re choosing, in our time, how we’re using,
These gifts we’ve been given,
This life we are living.
The words we have spoken,
Helping hearts that are broken.
You’ve given me a chance to choose,
You never wanted me to have to lose.
Placing before me two ways to go,
Sharing Your light so that I may know,
The life You have laid out for me,
The person that You want me to be.
You are in my heart, and here to stay,
I know inside this is the perfect Way.
Holding me up, when all else slips away,
Speaking through me when I lack words to say.
You see my heart through and through,
You know my thoughts before I do.
You are, and forever will be, my True and Perfect Love.
In my faith I often fail,
In my weakness I won’t prevail.
In my trust I sometimes doubt,
My God I can’t go without.
It’s not me who has the power,
If it were just me I’d only cower.
It’s God who has the plan,
Though I may not understand.
It’s the creator of life and of this earth,
The One who has shown us worth.
The struggles and temptations,
The battle of complications.
It’s in Him I place my trust,
Having Him with me is a must.
He is my hearts desire,
He’s filled me with His fire.
It’s Him I’m running toward,
He keeps me going forward.
It’s His armor that protects me,
It’s His light that helps me see.
By Him I have the guidance,
He provides the patience.
There’s only One who can save me,
Only one who sets me free.
Who’s pleasure am I seeking?
Am I workin’ for my own?
Do I think I have control,
That I’m takin up a loan?
Is this my life or another’s?
For me or for my brothers?
Did I give it to my God when I was born again?
Or was I just speakin’ words, hey, I’m just sayin’…
…if I’s a dyin’ to my self, an’ takin up my cross,
Puttin’ my old life on the the shelf, though it may seem like I have lost,
Can I take parts of it back,
Did I really lay it down?
Is the old body still intact,
And just covered with a gown?
If I gave it up to God,
Then it’s His pleasure that I am after.
The King who offers life,
the One who rules forever.
So, I follow the True Leader,
not the world or my best friends,
Not the popular crowds or preachers,
For it’s God who comprehends,
The big picture, He can see,
What is better, who we should be.
He will speak through us all, in the ways that He sees fit,
He will teach through His servants, as we all are closely knit.
He will be revealed in situations,
in His time and perfect plan.
Not our carefully laid out schedules,
If it’s all in our God’s hands.
The rain, rain down,
It’s coming up deep,
There’s a way to be found,
On this hill so steep,
I start to climb,
The floods arisin’,
I’m runnin’ outa time,
It’s not so surprisin’,
I knew all along it’d be this way,
I knew I was wrong, and I have to say,
I coulda not had these consequences,
coulda gone without these circumstances.
So without a doubt, I now agree,
It’s what I deserved, and now I see.
I’d known I shoulda gone,
and made it right long ago,
don’t know what it was I’s acountin’ on, why I waited, I don’t know.
So now despite these consequences,
I know I can be forgiven,
Even in these circumstances,
I can have a new way of livin’.
Along the way the road is rough,
Recovery may be long,
Though it may seem that I’m so tough,
It’s my God who is so strong.
He’s offering this gift,
A gift that can’t be shaken,
So how can I refuse,
This gift that can be taken?
I understand what is the right decision,
And right now I choose to make it.
It’s not just a new religion,
The real thing, you just can’t fake it.
I now know that I’m forgiven,
That Christ has taken me,
Given’ me a new way of livin’,
A new person I can be.
Down the straight road, is where I’m goin’
Christ’s taken my load, And now He’s asowin’
Plantin’ in me,
starting a new seed,
A new being to be,
Followin’ His lead.
So the rain can rain down, hill’s not quite so steep,
No matter what my God is strong, the god I plan to keep.
Psalms of the Heart 