Hiding Place

I wrote this one morning after reading God's holy Word. I was thinking about the Scripture in John 6 and I began to reflect on my own testimony of how the Lord drew me to Himself.

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him…”—John 6:44

Unfailing and Boundless

Below is a prayer I wrote two years ago. I noticed in my site meter that someone was reading it today, so I clicked on it, read it again and decided to re-post it. This will be a busy week helping the VIVIT band (that link leads to their new blog that they just started yesterday) prepare for their performance. WOW! They not only sound better than ever, they have made leaps and bounds in the area of spiritual growth. We will also have friends and family over to our home on Saturday to give a pre-performance to help them with the jitters.
By the way, remember to pray for your pastor and his family EVERYDAY!!! ... and your spouse, and each of your children by name, and the missionaries that you support. Consider all that you can be thankful for, whether you are in affliction or in a time of rest. Such thoughts should cause our lips to pour out thanksgiving for the boundless blessings He gives us so abundantly.

Help me not to complain of labor, but value rest.
Help me not to murmur under trials, but be thankful for what I am learning through them.
May I look with wonder and joy at Your perfect provision.
Submitting my preferences to Your wisdom and will.
May I continually abhor sin and long for Your holiness.
Delight in serving You, living for You in all things.
Your goodness to me is unfailing and boundless.
As much as I am sinful, You are far more forgiving.
May Your truth be engrafted into my heart and life.
Write Your Words upon my heart and inscribe them on my lips.
In secret and in public, may I honor You.
Help me not to be discouraged by my deficiencies, but in my frailty, may Your power be displayed.
Let me lean on You alone.
Seek to please You alone.
Sometimes carelessness possesses me.
My only comfort is knowing You.
Living Your truth in heart and life.
But I am slow to learn.
Prone to forget.
Too weak to climb.
Forgive me for serving You in sinful ways.
Working in my own strength.
Placing myself above You.
I repent of my vain pursuits, untrue service, inconsiderate words, neglected ministry opportunities.
It is by Your power alone that I can glorify You and be a blessing to anyone.
Lord, use me as You will to spend my time profitably in Your work both in health and in weakness.
Help me to walk humbly in dependence upon You.
When I sin, help me to repent and replace my due mourning with a song of joy.
You have revealed to me my sinfulness, yes.
But You have revealed all the more to me Your goodness. Your faithfulness.

Just a few things I have learned from children...

... It is best that it is NOT quiet when the children are awake. Really. I have never found that to be a good thing.

... thump, thump, thump thump is not a fun sound to hear when it is your child's head so, make sure the ceiling fan is off when you lift your child high into the air, wee, oops... for that matter, make sure there is no ceiling fan in the vicinity.

... Just come to grips with the fact that it is best not to know what that odor really is.

... Always look in the oven before you turn it on. Trust me.

... Children can catch their own throw-up when they cup their two hands together, which gives them time to make it to the bathroom to finish... hopefully in the toilet and not on the floor.

... Children have to be taught not to eat the bone in the chicken leg.

... Though it does stick to glass and looks really cool when it rolls down the glass, kid's slimy, gooey-gak does not come off the ceiling.

... Learn to laugh even if you really want to cry. A sense of humor will help you survive, even if the laughter comes retrospectively.

(Don't worry. No illustrations have been made to go with this masterpiece :-/

"Whatsoever we have over-loved, idolized, and leaned upon, God has from time to time broken it, and made us to see the vanity of it; so that we find the readiest course to be rid our comforts is to set our hearts inordinately or immoderately upon them."--John Flavel

I Surrender

My Heavenly Father, as I start my day,
May I voice Your truth, Your grace, Your mercy.
May my actions reflect my love for you.
May I acknowledge You over all
that will be spoken, thought, decided, and accomplished
within my home and wherever I go.
May I give you glory and honor in all that I do.
May even my smallest accomplishments
bring You glory.
Lord, when I am confused, guide me.
When I am weary, strengthen me.
When I am in sin ...
convict me and cause me to repent.
When I am burned out, bring to mind Your eternal perspective.
May the work that I do and the way I do it
bring faith, joy, and even a smile
to all that I come in contact with.
May all that I do reflect You.
And oh Lord, I thank you for everything You've done,
everything You're doing, and everything You're going to do...
Even if it is a necessary trial to draw me closer to You.
And may I continually fear offending You, my Holy God.

Excuseless and Senseless

The closer I get to the Lord and the more I try to live for Him, the more I mourn over all that dishonours Him..

My failures are many, excuseless and senseless...
but yet He makes known to me His mercy & grace.

I have dishonoured Him even in my attempts to live for Him;
For all that I do is tainted with sin.
... and yet, He forgives, He comforts, He assures.

Sorrowful in this flesh, this body of death;
And yet REJOICING in the sweetness, the precious promises of His Word.

"You Are My God"

Psalm 139:23
Search me, O God,
and know my heart;
Try me
and know my anxious thoughts"

This came to mind as a result of studying God's Word:

God weighs my heart and judges me righteously;
He tests my mind and His eyes penetrate the depths of my soul.
I cannot hide.

He knows my ways and this comforts me;
He consoles me through trials and when in sin, I fear Him.
He sees all of me.

He does not consume me but His mercy overwhelms me;
His presence calms me but His silence pains me.
Where are You?

I wait.
I seek.
Silence.

Have I kept not Your way?
Have I denied You?
I am so thirsty!

Have I withheld myself from You?
As You withhold Yourself from me?
The pain I must cause You!

Your eyes... You have not withdrawn from me.
You direct my footing, count my steps and hear my cry!
Your guiding hand righteouslychastises me!

Molds me.
Keeps me.
Rest.

You understand me and know me.
You want the best for me.
You are my God!

http://god-willing.blogspot.com/2006/01/just-pondering.html