Being Still

The children's choir that I direct is singing an anthem called "Be Still and Know that I am God". Funny, how the words to that anthem have been out there in front of my face all along. Being still is really difficult for me. Not physically - I can easily stop moving and put up my feet any time. However, mentally being still is absolutely difficult. The words of the song (without the repeated parts) are: "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted in the earth. I am always with you. I will be your strength." I don't know where that scripture is, but the words are very appropriate for my life. I guess like everything else, being still takes practice and discipline to practice. Another opportunity for spiritual growth is at hand.

Here's today's verse: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”- Psalm 19:14

Verse of the Day

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”- Proverbs 27:1

This is Bible Gateway's verse of the day. I like going to the site and seeing what the verse of the day is. It gives me something to think about. Reading this verse makes me feel humble and grateful.

What is it?

I'm looking for what's coming. I sense there is something new coming my way that will be an opportunity for ministry to others while also being energizing for me. Maybe something that will bring in some money? How do I discern it? There have been some opportunities that I believe are not what I'm looking for. Just stay the course. Bloom where you have been planted. Keep the faith. Share God's love. Trust. Keep watch. Be patient. All in God's time. What if what's coming my way is more of the same? Just got to do the best I can.

Here's the verse of the day: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”- Philippians 2:3-4

Not sure how to take that, actually. I'll keep pondering.

God is love.

Here it is:

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”- 1 John 4:16

That helps. I feel a little better now.

Feeling Down

I'm not feeling myself this afternoon. I'm down about the world and my own circumstances. So I'm going to see what the Bible verse of the day is on BibleGateway.com.

A Compelling Book

Last week my friend Linda loaned me a short book to read. It's called Dinner with a Perfect Stranger: an Invitation Worth Considering. She said it would take less than 90 minutes to read and she thought I would enjoy it. I just completed it in 90 minutes exactly and she was right. It's a fictional book about a man who gets an invitation to dinner with Jesus. The man goes reluctantly, but by the end finds himself very glad he went. In the book the man asks "Jesus" (he uses quotes in the book because he isn't conviced at first of Jesus' presence) questions about Christianity and world religions that I myself have asked and haven't found good answers for. The author is David Gregory, and the answers he has Jesus give to the man are convincing. I feel somewhat in awe at the moment. Definitely more connected to the Holy Trinity than before I read it. Linda asked me to return the book to her so she can offer it to others. That's what she plans to do over and over again with this book which was a gift to her. She suggested I might buy myself a copy and loan it out to others as well. I just might do that.

It's Hard in the Morning!

Lord, you know how hard it is for me to turn on my best parenting brain in the morning. Last night MC blatantly disobeyed my instructions and I was able to implement a direct consequence. She wasn't happy about it, but she learned (at least for the time being) that such disobeying might not be so good in the long term. This morning J blatantly disobeyed my instructions, even talking back to me disrespectfully. I simply got mad and frustrated and found myself saying "please do this" to him. Ultimately I shifted the power back to him. Please help me to guide my son in these situations. In taekwando we are learning about discipline, which means "to obey what is right". The instructors make the kids say in class that the parents are right at home and the teachers are right at school. It is so good for him to learn this lesson. He already had the school part down, but the home part still needs some work. He is so much more disciplined than he used to be. At least he didn't throw anything at me or try to hit me (and he hasn't in a long time). Thank you God for the skills you have given J and the maturity he has developed. I pray once again for patience, wisdom, strength, and courage to raise him to reach his potential, and and to be fully equipped to do your work on this earth (and beyond, as the case may well be).