Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)
The word meditation resonated with me so I decided to look it up! It comes from a Hebrew word "higgayown" (pronounced hig·gä·yōn') which means "the murmur" or dull sound of the harp, hence, meditation. This says to me that the sound of my heart should be like that of a harp. What comes from my heart and prayerfully from the heart of my child, should sound like a harp. Click on this link to hear some harp music, but be warned...it is addictive!
http://youtu.be/ZWuXOrG7pkU?t=8s
The proper response to the work of salvation in our lives is a constant prayer that God will keep our hearts, words and lives free from sin and pleasing to him. Both the meditation of our hearts and the reflection of our minds should be pleasing to God. (Full Life Study Bible, Study Notes) If nothing else, my heart song should reflect my thankfulness for salvation and the gift of eternal life.
The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." What would life be like for us if we were diligent about keeping our hearts?
Dear Lord, so many times we put emphasis on what comes out of our mouths and the murmur of our hearts go unchecked. Father, we pray that our hearts and the hearts of our children produce melodies that are like a sweet aroma to You. Reveal to us any areas of our hearts that need attention because we want to be acceptable in Your sight. When we get our hearts right, aligned with Your will; we will receive the desires of our hearts because You promised it! In Jesus name, Amen!
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvation. Show all posts
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
April 14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:14-15 (NIV)
Today in church I kept hearing what initially sounded like a child crying, and then I recognized the squeals of Allan. The son of a good friend, confidante and someone I lovingly call "soror"; Allan has Down Syndrome and is currently non-verbal. His mom and I are sisters in a "special kind" of sorority...The Special Needs Mommy Sorority. I turned around to see Allan clapping his hands, squealing and reaching up towards the pulpit. I also noticed that a few of the the folks sitting around Allan and his family had that ignorant, "what's wrong with him" stare on their faces. Just like Jesus in the above scripture; I became "indignant"! During our welcome time, I got up with my son who has autism and made sure that we went a few pews back to see my friend and her sweet little boy. Allan's sister, the vivacious little Miss Vivian (who is always dressed to the nines and carries the cutest purses), was sitting there with her mommy and brother when mom says that they were waiting for pastor because Vivian wanted to be baptized. When the time came, Miss Vivian allowed me to walk down the aisle with her, so mom could bring Allan as well, because she insisted her brother come with her! Once down to the altar; my friends husband came down and mom and dad, got both kids prepared for baptism as I returned to my seat. As I waited for Vivian to be baptized...out comes Allan! You could have knocked me over with a feather!!! For about two years now, I've imagined our son Isaac being baptized. Every time a young man enters the baptism pool; I think...one day that will be Isaac. So when I seen Allan carried out, knowing that like my son he has a developmental disability...well, it was not a pretty sight on my pew. When I learned the back story of what went on behind the pulpit with Vivian (who decided "that bath tub is TOO BIG"); I was reminded of God's sovereignty.
"Receiving the kingdom of God like a child means accepting it in a simple, humble, trustful and wholehearted manner" (Full Life Study Bible, study notes). All along Vivian was cool, calm and confident...she was the forerunner for Allan. I know that Allan blessed a lot of people in that church today...especially me! As for those folk who were staring; I wouldn't be surprised if God used that moment to show them how to receive the kingdom, "...and a little child shall lead them." In the words of my pastor, Keith A. Troy, "it's been a good day"!
Lord, thank you for having your way in our lives today! I thank you for the obedience of little children and I thank you for their innocence. I thank you for the reminder that one day, we will see Isaac receive Jesus in his heart and become a "CrisSHON". Sometimes as parents/adults we think that children do not understand or we discount their understanding of who God is in their lives. Thank you for making it very real and plain, that we are not to "hinder" them, when you desire to hold them. Continue to teach us through the simple, humble, trustful and wholehearted ways of our children...just like Jesus did. It's your servant's prayer, Amen!
Today in church I kept hearing what initially sounded like a child crying, and then I recognized the squeals of Allan. The son of a good friend, confidante and someone I lovingly call "soror"; Allan has Down Syndrome and is currently non-verbal. His mom and I are sisters in a "special kind" of sorority...The Special Needs Mommy Sorority. I turned around to see Allan clapping his hands, squealing and reaching up towards the pulpit. I also noticed that a few of the the folks sitting around Allan and his family had that ignorant, "what's wrong with him" stare on their faces. Just like Jesus in the above scripture; I became "indignant"! During our welcome time, I got up with my son who has autism and made sure that we went a few pews back to see my friend and her sweet little boy. Allan's sister, the vivacious little Miss Vivian (who is always dressed to the nines and carries the cutest purses), was sitting there with her mommy and brother when mom says that they were waiting for pastor because Vivian wanted to be baptized. When the time came, Miss Vivian allowed me to walk down the aisle with her, so mom could bring Allan as well, because she insisted her brother come with her! Once down to the altar; my friends husband came down and mom and dad, got both kids prepared for baptism as I returned to my seat. As I waited for Vivian to be baptized...out comes Allan! You could have knocked me over with a feather!!! For about two years now, I've imagined our son Isaac being baptized. Every time a young man enters the baptism pool; I think...one day that will be Isaac. So when I seen Allan carried out, knowing that like my son he has a developmental disability...well, it was not a pretty sight on my pew. When I learned the back story of what went on behind the pulpit with Vivian (who decided "that bath tub is TOO BIG"); I was reminded of God's sovereignty.
"Receiving the kingdom of God like a child means accepting it in a simple, humble, trustful and wholehearted manner" (Full Life Study Bible, study notes). All along Vivian was cool, calm and confident...she was the forerunner for Allan. I know that Allan blessed a lot of people in that church today...especially me! As for those folk who were staring; I wouldn't be surprised if God used that moment to show them how to receive the kingdom, "...and a little child shall lead them." In the words of my pastor, Keith A. Troy, "it's been a good day"!
Lord, thank you for having your way in our lives today! I thank you for the obedience of little children and I thank you for their innocence. I thank you for the reminder that one day, we will see Isaac receive Jesus in his heart and become a "CrisSHON". Sometimes as parents/adults we think that children do not understand or we discount their understanding of who God is in their lives. Thank you for making it very real and plain, that we are not to "hinder" them, when you desire to hold them. Continue to teach us through the simple, humble, trustful and wholehearted ways of our children...just like Jesus did. It's your servant's prayer, Amen!
Saturday, April 13, 2013
April 13 - GET YOUR LIFE!!!
We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 1 John 5:9-13 (NIV)
"This life is in his Son"; the key word in this phrase being 'IS', which is the present tense of 'to be'...it is a verb and it is ongoing. The "Assurance of Salvation" says this:
Father, thank you for giving us eternal life in Your Son! Thank you for giving our children eternal life. We declare right now that we will believe; we declare that we will honor Christ in our lives; we declare that we will love the Father and the Son rather than the world; we declare that we will practice righteousness rather than sin; we declare that we will love our brothers and sisters; we declare that we will be conscious of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us; we declare that we will strive to follow Jesus' example; we declare that we will believe, accept and remain in the Word of Life; we declare that we will have an earnest longing and unbending hope in Christ's return. And we decree these declarations in the lives of our children. They will not just live; they shall have LIFE! In Jesus name, Amen!
"This life is in his Son"; the key word in this phrase being 'IS', which is the present tense of 'to be'...it is a verb and it is ongoing. The "Assurance of Salvation" says this:
"Every Christian desires to have assurance of salvation, i.e., the certainty that when Christ returns or when death comes, he or she will go to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven (Philippians 1:23). John's purpose in writing his first letter is that God's people may have that assurance (1John 5:13). Note that nowhere in the letter does John state that a past experience of conversion constitutes an assurance or guarantee of salvation. To assume we possess eternal life based solely on a past experience or on a faith that is no longer vital is a grave error. This letter sets out nine ways for us to know that we are in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ." (Full Life Study Bible, Article)Some of us have been lulled into believing, as well as our children, that once saved, we're always saved. Being transparent, where I'm about to go, initially was a hard concept for me. The bible says in John 3:15-16 "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Again believeth or believes is present tense or something that is done continually. Think about it this way; I can't accept Jesus as my savior one month and then the following month, join a demonic cult which denounces the bible and the Holy Spirit and still expect to go to heaven. GOD FORBID! The gift of salvation and eternal life lies in an on-going, saving relationship in which we have to work purposefully, diligently and continuously. If the testimony is that God has given us eternal life; then our life (the way we live, move and have our being), our faith and commitment to Him should be eternal too.
Father, thank you for giving us eternal life in Your Son! Thank you for giving our children eternal life. We declare right now that we will believe; we declare that we will honor Christ in our lives; we declare that we will love the Father and the Son rather than the world; we declare that we will practice righteousness rather than sin; we declare that we will love our brothers and sisters; we declare that we will be conscious of the Holy Spirit dwelling within us; we declare that we will strive to follow Jesus' example; we declare that we will believe, accept and remain in the Word of Life; we declare that we will have an earnest longing and unbending hope in Christ's return. And we decree these declarations in the lives of our children. They will not just live; they shall have LIFE! In Jesus name, Amen!
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