Another Year Is Dawning

I found this hymn by Frances R. Havergal and was so encouraged by it. May this be our prayer as we begin another year.

Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy Presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love;
Another year of training for holier work above.
Another year is dawning: Dear Father, let it be,
On earth or else in heaven, another year for Thee.

Happy New Year!

Contentment & Our Promised Land

I came across the following paragraph in the book Emotional Purity. It was a great encouragement to me as I read it.

“You’ve heard “hind-sight is twenty-twenty”. I think the children of Israel must have coined that phrase. Did they understand what God was going to do when they stood at the Red Sea with their enemies behind them? No. Did they understand or know where their food, water, and provision for their basic needs would come from? No. Did they understand what God did when He said the land He gave to them was filled with giants? No. They continued in their discontentment and the cost became deadly. The Israelites rebelled against God over and over in the desert, and often we do the same thing. The correlation between the children of Israel and us is clear: they were in bondage to the Egyptians, we are in bondage to believing that marriage is going to save us from this state of discontented singleness. God performed a grand exodus to save the Israelites from slavery; God sent His Son to save us from slavery. He led the Israelites through the desert of testing to worship and serve Him there; He wants us to come through the desert of testing to see if we trust Him. Then He allowed the Israelites to enter the Promised Land; and, if you allow God to take you through the arid desert of trials, you will come through trusting and obeying Him. The promised land is not marriage, but rather a place of knowing that you are in the Father’s hands and that you will not be single a day longer than He plans for you.” ~ Emotional Purity: An Affair of the Heart, By Heather Arnel Paulsen, p.92

I love the comparison Heather makes between us as singles, and the children of Israel. It is so important that we gain contentment before marriage. As I have heard repeatedly, “If you’re not content before marriage, you won’t be content after you’re married”. I think the Israelites are a good example of this. Even when they got the freedom they wanted, they still weren’t content. I also love the last sentence in this paragraph. Ladies, marriage is not our promised land. It is so good to be reminded where our focus is supposed to be and what our promised land is and in Whom it can be found.

Saturday Psalm ~ 12-26-09

Behold, bless the Lord, all servants of the Lord,

who serve by night in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your hands to the sanctuary and bless the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion,

He who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 134

Mary's Magnificat

And Mary said:
“My soul exalts the Lord,
and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has had regard
for the humble state of His bondslave;
for behold, from this time on
all generations will count me blessed.
For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
and holy is His name.
And His mercy is upon generation after generation
toward those who fear Him.
He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud
in the thoughts of their heart.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
and has exalted those who were humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and sent away the rich empty-handed.
He has given help to Israel His servant,
in remembrance of His mercy,
as He spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and his descendants forever.”
~ Luke 1:46-55

This passage of Scripture, known as Mary’s Magnificat, is Mary’s response to Elizabeth blessing her and the child she carried. Almost the entire speech is made up of verses from the Old Testament. Mary’s mind and soul was so steeped in Scripture that when she broke out in praise the Old Testament naturally flowed from her lips.

Saturday Psalm ~ 12-19-09

If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,

O Lord, who could stand?

But there is forgiveness with You,

that You may be feared.

Psalm 130:3-4

Saturday Psalm ~ 12-12-09

How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
Who walks in His ways.
Psalm 128:1

A Citizen of Zion

PSALM 15
Description of a Citizen of Zion.
A Psalm of David.
O Lord, who may abide in Your tent?
Who may dwell on Your holy hill?
He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a reprobate is despised,
But who honors those who fear the Lord;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things will never be shaken.

David begins this psalm with questions. He is asking the Lord what the characteristics of a citizen of Zion are. He then answers those questions. This psalm describes to us how a citizen of Zion should behave. From our side of the cross, we can say that this psalm is a description of a Christian. They are good guidelines to be reminded of. Also, if we do these things we will “never be shaken”. What a wonderful promise!

Saturday Psalm ~ 12-5-09

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
Psalm 125:2

Living to be Used by God

What we believe shapes who we are. When we base our lives on the truth of the Bible and allow God to work in our hearts, we become the godly women He wants us to be. However, God doesn’t want to make us beautiful merely for His own personal pleasure. He wants to use us to show others what the Christian life is really like. What do others see when they look at our lives? Do they see Christ? Are they attracted to us because we are different from even other Christians? The difference should be a life focused on God and a willingness to be used by Him. When we have a willingness to be used by God, it needs to be a willingness to be used where He has us right now. The Bible tells us of a young woman who was taken from her home and family to live in a palace. While she recognized it as a great honor, it wasn’t where she wanted to be. However, as she was reminded, God had placed her there for a reason. Esther was willing to be used where she was. Like Esther, God has placed us in this time and place for a reason. Instead of wishing a certain part of our life is different, we need to be alert, watching for opportunities, and allow God to use us in the lives of others. While we might not save an entire race of people as Esther did, we may be the only light of Christ in some peoples’ lives. The Word of God, our relationship with God, and peoples’ souls are the only things that will last forever. God can use His Word in our lives and our relationship with Him to show others the love of Christ and their need for a Savior. As we become beautiful to God, let’s shine forth that beauty and let Him use us for His glory.

“You don’t have to do something for God,
you just have to be willing to let Him work through you.”