Friday, April 30, 2010

Day 5: Praise

PRAISE GOD!!! After last night's post, I just felt amazing. I can't even describe it. It was this euphoric, light-hearted, care-free feeling that lasted for hours. All I could think about was all of the blessings in my life. Just the simple fact that I was alive and well and walking with God was good enough... everything else was just a plethra of great big bonuses. It was spectacular. And I knew it was coming from God. It had to be. Why else would I feel so happy and content about myself and my life just as both are?

I couldn't choose just one day to praise God, because He should be praised every day--every second--but today, I choose to talk about that praise.

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

~Psalm 150 (KJV)

This is one of my favorite Psalms. Praise God for his "mighty acts," as it says. Well, ALL of God's acts are mighty because He IS mighty! Even the simplest little blessing, one that might seem insignificant to other people, is mighty. Holding the door open for someone may not seem like much, but it can 1) make him/her feel better, especially if he/she is not having the best day, 2) remind him/her that there are still kind people in the world, and 3) encourage him/her to take action and also spread a little kindness through a simple deed.

I also love the musical references. Exuberant trumpets can herald God's presence, but soft harps can also bring the same attention to it. Pastoral organs and string instruments can exalt God in their own way, so different from the way of the ardent clashing cymbals, but both ways are equally as wonderful. I also see this as a metaphor for God's children. Each of us praises God differently: some boisterously shout His name and cry out "Hallelujah!" while others sit in quiet, personal prayer and just bask in God's wonderful glory. Does that mean that one type of person is right and the other is wrong? No. There are countless ways to praise God, and since He knows (and created) our individual personalities, I think He loves and appreciates all praise that He receives regardless of style.

God loves praise, He loves music, and He loves all of His children, so grab an instrument (even if it's just your voice or your hands) and make a joyful noise unto Him! Dance around and praise God! He loves to see use happy!

Lord, I will praise You today and every day of my life. You have given me more than I, or anyone but You, can fathom. You guide me through life and carry me when I can no longer walk on my own. You are the reason I am alive. Thank You, God, for every blessing You have given to my family and me; I ask that You please continue to bless us as You have. You are in my heart, Lord, today and always. Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Day 4: Talents

First evening post, not that I really intended it to be that way, but I had quite a few errands to run this morning and then a friend of mine stopped by the house and we spent a few hours (okay, eight) visiting and discussing a project that we're tackling together: a children's book. He wrote it, but had no one to illustrate it. That's where I come in. Being the only "artsy" person he knew, it was pretty obvious who he was going to ask to be his cohort. Hehe.

So, what does this have to do with the Bible, you might ask? Tons! My friend asked me to illustrate it because he knows that I have the artistic ability to do so. I can write out my thoughts like nobody's business, but I'm not as adept at or passionate about writing a story for young children as my friend is. Why? Why can't we both do both things? Why can't everyone draw or write or build cars from the ground up or perform open-heart surgery? The reason is pretty obvious to me: God wants us to be unique. Which leads me to today's verse.

Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

~Romans 12:6-8 (KJV)

According to this verse, God blesses each person with different gifts/talents/abilities. Some people have a flair for ministry, while others have a penchant for teaching. The list goes on and on. I'm no prophet, so I can't say what God's exact purpose for this is, but I believe that the diversity in our abilities makes them more valued not only by others but (more importantly) by God as well, thus making us more special on an individual level. No one person can do everything, nor can every person do the same things well. If everyone was the same, things would be so dull. No one would need to depend on anyone else because everyone would have the same abilities, therefore no one would interact with each other. Everyone's lives would be uniform and cookie-cutter; if you've seen one person, you've seen them all. God isn't boring, so why would He choose to make his children boring?

While differences may seem annoying to us at times--or make us wish we could do something we can't--they are beautiful. Instead of getting jealous at your concert pianist friend, think of what you excel at that he/she might struggle with... not in a smug way, but just as a reminder that if God wanted you to have the ability to play Bach's Two-Part Invention No. 8 in F major, then you would have that ability. So, be proud of who you are just as you are, because God made you EXACTLY how He wanted you to be.

God, I thank You for ALL of the gifts You have given me, including my talents and abilities. I know that every drawing, every painting, every sculpture that flows from me comes from You. I am glad that You made me who I am! Continue to guide me and shape me into the person I'm supposed to be according to Your plan through Jesus Christ. Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Day 3: Ask, and Ye Shall Receive

So, this morning I woke up and started thinking about what I'd like to write about. Admittedly, I was at a loss... I have the entire Bible to choose a verse (or several verses) from, and I can't think come up with anything?! I racked my brain trying to think of a topic, but was coming up short. That's when it hit me: ask God. So I asked Him, "Please put an idea in my head so that I have something to write about to praise you, Lord." Well, within a few minutes, he put several ideas in my head, all of which I verified via a passage look-up website. With so many topics, how can I choose? Well, how about asking God?

When I'm at a loss for anything--guidance, safety, confidence, words, strength, contentment, answers, patience--I turn to God. I've prayed many a prayer where I would say "please" about fifty times before actually getting to whatever it was I needed (usually one or more of the eight aforementioned things). Not only have I felt better after pouring my heart out to God, but I've always received what I asked Him for, although sometimes in very different ways.

So, today, I actually have two verses:

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
~Matthew 21:22

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

~John 16:24

First off, in Matthew, the verse says that as long as you believe in your heart that God will grant you what you ask Him in earnest for, you'll get it. Albeit it probably won't be in your time, for God's plan overrides everybody else's. And why shouldn't it? He's God! He created the universe and everything in it, including each person individually! If there is anyone out there who thinks he or she can do a better job, they're certifiable. I mean, I can barely keep my own tasks organized let alone take care of the billions and billions of other people on the planet. Wow, thinking about that just proves (in part) how awesome God is. Unfathomable.

Second, is the verse from John. If you don't ask for something in His name, then you're not going to get it. God created everything, He controls everything--He's in charge. If you don't ask Him, then you don't have a snowball's chance of getting it.

Even if you ask for something, but it's not a part of God's plan, then you don't need it. Like I said yesterday, it just means that something (or someone) better is waiting for you.

Today, I ask what I usually ask for--blessings for my family and friends, and the less-fortunate, and protection for those who defend this country. I ask and that You, Lord, forgive me of my sins, and bless me with patience and confidence. Please give me the right words to say and the strength to say them. And may You guide and shape me into the person you want me to be. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Day 2: Provisions

What better way to start out Day 2 of blogging than with the counting of blessings? Hehe. Okay, that would definitely take forever to do (and I'd still miss a bunch), so I'll highlight some key ones.

To start, yesterday was just spectacular for me. It was comfortably cool and sunny outside, and just about everything seemed to work the way it should. I felt calm and peaceful... even if I did get stopped by a train once, but I just shrugged my shoulders and sat happily in my car listening to music. It was great. God is great.

God has blessed me with so much: spectacular parents, wonderful grandparents (and other family members), terrific friends, awesome pets, a lovely home that's just right for me, food in the fridge, clothes in my closet, a car in the driveway, other extra little comforts here and there, and (probably the most important one) ME! God made me and put me right where He wanted me; He gave me all of the talents and quirks and likes (and dislikes :P) that I have. He challenges me to go the extra mile (or two, or twenty), and I am more than honored to do so. God has done incalculable things for me, the very least I can do is serve and follow Him.

I could talk forever about all of God's goodness (and I will continue to do so), but I want to get back to yesterday's goodness in particular. As I was riding in the car with my mother, I was enjoying the scenic little drive and I noticed how green and vivid the trees were. I thought about how God was shaping each and every tree to His exact specifications, just as He shapes each of us. Then my thoughts changed to people and how almost everyone has come to "need" so much unnecessary stuff, and worry about what they don't need to worry about... particularly provision. I saw two black crows standing in someone's driveway and thought, "They're not worried. They know that God takes care of them and provides them with food and the instinct to find it, as well as the knowledge and instinct to find shelter and build nests to live in."

Just like another of my favorite verses:

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
~Matthew 6:26 (KJV)

As a college student, my friends frequently spoke of loans and debt and the worry they felt about both. They would say, "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs," or "I'm never going to be able to pay this off." One friend was in such a predicament (thanks to the recent "recession" and tightening-up of banks) that he wasn't sure he could get a loan for the money he needed to finish his last semester of school; if he couldn't he would have to drop out, but if he did, he would have to start paying his already-accumulated loans, leaving him no money to save toward going back to finish his degree. Although I wasn't in his situation (Thank God), I really felt for him and, admittedly, was worried for him. But I quoted Matthew 6:26 to him, and it really helped. Every time this talk arises, regardless of who I'm speaking to, I send them this verse. It's sparked some interesting discussions (mostly just interpretation), but it always gives them that extra little push towards faith and trust in the Lord. And, for the record, God blessed my friend with that last loan to finish his final semester.

I was talking to another friend last night who has been relationship-challenged (i.e., single) for a while and he doesn't like it one bit. I talk about God to him quite a bit, especially to cheer him up about anything that's troubling him, but he's never said a whole lot in return. Last night, however, he surprised me a bit. Out of nowhere, he brings up relationships (which he's done before) and begins to explain his reasoning for not being in one. After a somewhat lengthy explanation, he finishes with, "I think that's why everyone I like has a boyfriend, its God's way of keeping me out of harms way." I told him that that was a spectacular way of putting it, and that it means that God has a wonderful girl just waiting for a guy just like him to come along. He admitted it wasn't the easiest thing to accept, but he knew it was the best.

When we are blessed with what we need, then it's part of God's plan. My friend was meant to finish school so that he could go on to make big things happen in his field of study. Sometimes, however, we confuse "needs" with "wants." When we don't get something, we question why we didn't get it or get upset or both. In cases like this, we need to step back and ask, "Okay, what are the pros of me NOT having this thing?" Pondering that and praying about it will usually lead you to some reason(s) why it wasn't a part of God's plan. It's most likely (if not always) because He has something (or someone) more wonderful than you can imagine picked out just for you. You just have to be patient.

So, for today, I pray that God continues to bless me, my family, my friends, and all of his children with exactly what He knows we need individually and collectively. May He bless those less fortunate, and keep us forever mindful of such people so that, for one, we appreciate what we do have a little more, and two, help those in need when we ourselves have the extra blessings to go around. Thank You, God, for this day and every day, for they are some of the best blessings because You made them all special. Thank You for who I am and who I will become through Your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Day 1: A Fresh Start

Today is my birthday. Well, not my real birthday, but this is the day I'm beginning a fresh new life with God. Oh, don't get me wrong, I've believed in God since I can remember, but for the past few months, I've been in sort of a "spiritual rut"... I've been asking myself a lot of questions and have just felt like I wasn't being the person that I should be.

That changes now.

For the past year and a half, I've gotten a "daily devotional for women" email. Needless to say, since my spiritual rut started, I haven't always felt like reading it, but I'm stubborn and kept at it, hoping (and praying) that something would pop up (or hit me in the head like a ton of bricks if it needed to). I usually don't scroll past the verse(s) and editor's explanation, but this morning, Someone was telling me to... so I did. It was there that I saw a link to a downloadable guide about being in (and getting out of) a spiritual rut. I clicked on it and read through the overview and topics included thinking, "Wow, that's what I need... WOW, that's exactly what I've been praying for... WOW, I HAVE TO GET THIS!!!" So, I whipped out the plastic and spent $5.95 on the PDF copy. The instant I got it, I started reading through it. I could relate to so many of the testimonies from other women (and a few men) who told about how they just didn't feel the "chemistry" for God's Word anymore, but explained how God got them out of their own ruts. One man suggested a 90-day program for Bible study (it takes 21 days to learn a habit, and another 21 to set it, but he challenged himself to go 90... that was years ago and he's still going strong). A woman suggested a journal of God's blessings in her own life. I've been an avid journal-writer in the past, but sometimes life happens--okay, life ALWAYS happens--and my journal got put on the back burner, so to speak. After reading that, I though, "Hm, I should start up a journal again," but when I kept reading, I got to another testimony about another woman who started her own devotional/prayer/praise blog online. That's when the bricks hit me: write a blog. My laptop is almost always with me, and I figured, if my "journal" is online, then I can't give the excuse, "Oh, but I left my journal at home," or "Darn, my pen doesn't work," or "Oh, but I'm working on a project on the computer and I can't type and write at the same time." I've had a blog in the past for poetry and monologues (although I haven't posted anything on it in probably a year), so it should be a breeze to start up... I just pray to God that He can bless me with words to write--uh, type--every day! That's my goal: one entry (minimum) every day praising God. I talk to him every day anyway... why not add a different method of talking to Him to spice things up a bit? Besides, when a feeling as strong as this one comes to me, I know that it's God who put it there and that I just have to follow it; God is persistent and He WILL keep putting a thought in my head (and heart) until I follow it. And those are the things that usually turn out the best.

Okay, let's get this show on the rut-free road. I'm going to start out with one of my favorite verses:

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.
~Psalm 25:1 (KJV)

And that's the plan. Every day, regardless of my mood or what's going on in my life, I'm going to lift my soul to God in both traditional prayer and through this blog. He reaches out to me every day--every nanosecond--why shouldn't I reach back?

Please, God, if it's in Your will, let me stick to this plan... this new path to you. Amen.


Love and God Bless,
M.C.