Sunday, March 7, 2010

"Guide Me"

S-cripture: Psalm 43:3 = Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.

O-bservation: The psalmist in this chapter is obviously feeling overwhelmed and oppressed by the world and the wicked. But, he obviously knows God is his rock, shield, fortress, and deliverer as he asks to be guided to that place of spiritual peace we all long for.

A-pplication: I must stop all whining, complaining, and grumbling when I am feeling outnumbered and overtaken by the world. Instead, I will delve into His Word, to light my path and guide me! My time with Him IS the holy mountain; it is the place where He dwells.

P-rayer: Father God, Guide me today on this day of rest. Help me to not only recover my energy for the upcoming week, but to reflect on all your goodness, on all you have done for me, and to spend time with you so you may show me who I may next share your love with this day or this week. I love you tremendously. Amen.

On Saturday, my family and I had a wonderful opportunity to spend the afternoon with a friend I met in first grade. We went all through elementary, jr high, and high school together, but lost touch after graduation as we were not super close. We found each other on Facebook a few weeks ago only to learn we both moved to Washington from California, almost exactly at the same time two years ago, and we live 40 minutes away from each other. Aside from the normal fun of "catching up" the last couple of weeks on email and by phone, it was fun hanging out and getting to know him all over again as well as meeting his sweet wife. I hope me and my family were able to show God's love to them...I think we did...he did ask if I was a Christian or went to church and he replied with a "that's cool" when I answered in the affirmative...(which is not always the case here in WA!)...so, I was pleased and thankful to God that He gave us this opportunity to be loving with someone I haven't seen in over 25 years.

Here's praying that God brings more wonderful opportunities to share His love...with not only the easiest people to love, but with any person who NEEDS to be loved.

4 comments:

  1. Thanks, Carol. I SOAPed (It's ok to create a new verb here isn't it?) this morning on Mk 14:31 where Peter says "Even if i have to die with you, I will never disown you." (and all the other disciples said the same)

    We do need to be bold in claiming our relationship with Jesus and not just letting the opportunity pass. I find it is easy to write that I will share the love of Christ when I am sitting here but when I am 'out there' it is easy to let the opportunity pass because of fears. I too pray that God will give me the opportunity today to show Christ's love to someone who needs to experience it.
    Friday I played golf with Sunny and we were joined on the first tee by a young man we didn't know. I prayed, God is this the one you want me to share with today, and then as we walked along tried to engage him in conversation but he just didn't want to talk. So, what do I do with that?
    Father, I pray for new relationships with people you love and want me to share Christ with.

    Wayne

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  2. As we started this Love Dare I have made a more conscience effort to act upon God's promptings. This has been as small as telling someone I go to church and as big as sitting down for long conversations with my son about God's love and what God looks like in his daily life. The small promptings can sometimes feel insignificant. Like, "ok God I did it, but what was the point?" I suppose I may never get to see the point or end result (if any) of promptings, but at least I can feel good by obeying. Today I SOAPed (I'll keep the new verb going Wayne) in Deuteronomy, I really enjoyed it.

    S:Deut 6:6-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

    O: God commanded the Israelites to keep his commandments in their hearts. He told them to teach them to their children and to talk about them, to include them in their daily lives. He gave several examples. These examples really drive at including God's commandments in all aspects of daily life, not just in our hearts, but out loud in our conversations, homes, and with our children.

    A: As I participate in this Love Dare and look for opportunities and promptings to share God's love with others I will remember these examples. If I strive to keep God's commands and live them out loud, hopefully others will see God's love in me.

    P: God please help me to embrace daily opportunities to share your word and love. Help me to stay encouraged when I feel unworthy. I know that when I feel like my contributions are small I need to remember you can do a lot with what seems like little to me.

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  3. Thanks Annie,
    Your sharing and soap has encouraged me this evening!

    This verse stuck out to me as I have had a chance to slow down and do my reading for today.
    Psalm 43:5 Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

    I am so grateful to God for His Word. . . to praise Him and put my Hope in Him no matter if my soul is feeling encouraged or downcast. God is worthy of worship and I do so today.

    Blessings all!
    Ray

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  4. Carol...it is so cool to see how God is using you up in WA! Keep growing in Him, and sharing Him to those who need Him most!!! You so totally ROCK!! but our God is our rock and that is something that comforts my soul every day. love,
    didi

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