Welcome to Day #10 in the Psalms Series!
How do you give an adequate introduction to a kindred spirit? Jen and I went to college together and knew of each other, but really didn’t connect until we moved back into the area last year. Jen is a visionary and delights in helping others soar. At just the right times, she reminds me of how big God is and that what I’m doing matters; what a gift! It is my honor to host Jen today and offer you the gift of her words- her heart.
Jen is a Christ follower, mother of two
boys (currently living in the DRC Congo- waiting to bring them home), and
public school teacher. Jen and her husband live in the middle of Michigan
and are passionate about making a difference in the nations. They started an etsy store to raise money for their current adoption (Adopting Nations) and they work with Reach Ministries International (www.youcanreach.org)
to empower youth locally to make a difference in the lives of youth
globally. Jen personally loves anything outdoors including running,
hiking, and anything to do with the water! She is crazy about all that
God has used her to do, and can’t wait to see what happens in the future!
She blogs over at Adopting Nations.
boys (currently living in the DRC Congo- waiting to bring them home), and
public school teacher. Jen and her husband live in the middle of Michigan
and are passionate about making a difference in the nations. They started an etsy store to raise money for their current adoption (Adopting Nations) and they work with Reach Ministries International (www.youcanreach.org)
to empower youth locally to make a difference in the lives of youth
globally. Jen personally loves anything outdoors including running,
hiking, and anything to do with the water! She is crazy about all that
God has used her to do, and can’t wait to see what happens in the future!
She blogs over at Adopting Nations.
Read Psalm 106
At one point or another in your life, I hope that you have
experienced what it is like to be totally, completely, head over heels,
in love. You know, the kind where you lay in bed at night, unable to
sleep because you keep replaying in your mind, over and over, that one
little conversation, that one little touch, that one little kiss….and
for one brief second, all is right in the world. The birds are singing,
the sky is blue, and someone is following along behind you with a
ukulele singing, somewhere over the rainbow…(sorry, I automatically
think of Hawaii when I think of love!)
experienced what it is like to be totally, completely, head over heels,
in love. You know, the kind where you lay in bed at night, unable to
sleep because you keep replaying in your mind, over and over, that one
little conversation, that one little touch, that one little kiss….and
for one brief second, all is right in the world. The birds are singing,
the sky is blue, and someone is following along behind you with a
ukulele singing, somewhere over the rainbow…(sorry, I automatically
think of Hawaii when I think of love!)
It’s so easy to make the right choices when we are in love. We forgive easier and are patient. Isn’t that true?
The writer of Psalm 106 starts out this way! Don’t we all? Totally completely in LOVE with God.
“Hallelujah! Thank God! And Why? Because he’s good, because his love lasts!” (v.1, The Message).
Selah.
Unfortunately,
time passes, and the cares and worries and monotony of rotating the
laundry, doing the dishes, picking up toys (that you’ve stepped on for
the 15th time today) and the visit to the dentist, numbs our happy
memories with irritations. And by the end of the day we collapse into
bed, too exhausted to remember.
time passes, and the cares and worries and monotony of rotating the
laundry, doing the dishes, picking up toys (that you’ve stepped on for
the 15th time today) and the visit to the dentist, numbs our happy
memories with irritations. And by the end of the day we collapse into
bed, too exhausted to remember.
I wish those words didn’t sting as I wrote them.
Too often, they are true in my own daily life. We are forgetful and
the happy things that once took up so much space in our hearts are
replaced. We must guard our hearts so we don’t forget.
Too often, they are true in my own daily life. We are forgetful and
the happy things that once took up so much space in our hearts are
replaced. We must guard our hearts so we don’t forget.
And as I read over Psalms 106, THIS is exactly the one word that stood out to me,”Forgot.”
This
word is repeated over and over through this long Psalm. The people
FORGOT. They forgot their God. “But it wasn’t long before they forgot
the whole thing” (v. 13).
word is repeated over and over through this long Psalm. The people
FORGOT. They forgot their God. “But it wasn’t long before they forgot
the whole thing” (v. 13).
And as the people FORGOT, they found themselves
deeper and deeper into sin, sinking like quicksand. And the offense for
this forgetfulness? Almost too gruesome to mention….
deeper and deeper into sin, sinking like quicksand. And the offense for
this forgetfulness? Almost too gruesome to mention….
v. 35…”they were caught in the trap of idols.”
v. 36…”they sacrificed their sons and daughters to demon gods.”
v. 37…”they murdered infant girls and boys”
v. 38….”the blood of their babies stained the land.”
v. 39…”they lived like whores!”
This is pretty outrageous. And ALL because they FORGOT!?!? Did I read that right?
Yup.
Now I know there are
many out there who take the scriptures pretty literally, and there is a
group of people who might use these offenses to support some
anti-abortion agenda or other radical political issues, trying to use
Christianity as the global moral standard. There is a lot of fire and
some pretty outrageous actions here.
many out there who take the scriptures pretty literally, and there is a
group of people who might use these offenses to support some
anti-abortion agenda or other radical political issues, trying to use
Christianity as the global moral standard. There is a lot of fire and
some pretty outrageous actions here.
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| Shameless plug for Jen’s Etsy store, check out her beautiful handmade creations. |
But, I believe that change begins with ME and for
global change to happen, I must first look inward. The Word was meant
for intimacy with God. He deals with our heart, each one, as ONE. So
whenever we read scripture, we should FIRST ask ourselves, what is it
that God is speaking to ME personally. So what could God be speaking to
ME in this very explicit passage?
global change to happen, I must first look inward. The Word was meant
for intimacy with God. He deals with our heart, each one, as ONE. So
whenever we read scripture, we should FIRST ask ourselves, what is it
that God is speaking to ME personally. So what could God be speaking to
ME in this very explicit passage?
For me, it is about remembering.
You
see, our hearts naturally wander. It’s just TRUE. And when we wander,
like the sheep we are, we forget and lose our way. We MUST learn to
keep the truth of the word in our vision at all times. We must learn to
constantly REMEMBER His goodness to us. We must learn to “walk IN LOVE,”
like we are absolutely head over heels, completely in love, with a God
who is CRAZY about us, where we replay over and over in our minds, that
one little conversation, that one little touch, that one little
kiss….from the King. Selah….When I do this, I fall in love with Him
all over again. It IS true. He loves me.
see, our hearts naturally wander. It’s just TRUE. And when we wander,
like the sheep we are, we forget and lose our way. We MUST learn to
keep the truth of the word in our vision at all times. We must learn to
constantly REMEMBER His goodness to us. We must learn to “walk IN LOVE,”
like we are absolutely head over heels, completely in love, with a God
who is CRAZY about us, where we replay over and over in our minds, that
one little conversation, that one little touch, that one little
kiss….from the King. Selah….When I do this, I fall in love with Him
all over again. It IS true. He loves me.
One way I do this? I put AWAY the Bible. Yup. You
heard me. I put it away. I don’t use my Christian devotional or any
or “thing” meant for a quiet time. Instead, I go for a walk or a run.
I might put some music in my ears and simple “go on a date” with him.
heard me. I put it away. I don’t use my Christian devotional or any
or “thing” meant for a quiet time. Instead, I go for a walk or a run.
I might put some music in my ears and simple “go on a date” with him.
We have places we go. Secret places. One of my places, is on a trail
near my home. This particular trail is in the woods and when I’m there,
I simply daydream and remember all of His goodness and we remember the
happy things together. I remember the moments He used me to pray with
kids at camp. I remember special moments on missions trips where I felt
His presence. I remember the first time I landed in the airplane on
foreign soil. I remember His peace and presence during a specific
tragedy in my life. I recount them over and over in my mind and I am
thankful once again for His goodness, and faithfulness. And I am in
LOVE, all over again.
And God is the same about you too.
In
fact, as you read on in THIS Psalm, we find that GOD remembers! It is
in His very nature to remember and He does NOT forget us. Despite our
failures, He remembers His promise.
fact, as you read on in THIS Psalm, we find that GOD remembers! It is
in His very nature to remember and He does NOT forget us. Despite our
failures, He remembers His promise.
“Still, when God saw the trouble they were in, and
heard their cries for help, He remembered His covenant with them, and
immense with love, took them by the hand. He poured out His mercy on
them” (v. 44-46).
heard their cries for help, He remembered His covenant with them, and
immense with love, took them by the hand. He poured out His mercy on
them” (v. 44-46).
I encourage you today to meditate just on HIM…on
His everlasting goodness to you. Yes, it is good to read the
scriptures, and read your devotional, and pray. But this can become a
“task” on the to-do list. Sometimes, I think we just need to BE, IN
LOVE, with Him….and remember all His grace, all His mercy, all His
goodness, all His faithfulness, and how He has shown that to you, over
and over and over again in so many areas of your life.
His everlasting goodness to you. Yes, it is good to read the
scriptures, and read your devotional, and pray. But this can become a
“task” on the to-do list. Sometimes, I think we just need to BE, IN
LOVE, with Him….and remember all His grace, all His mercy, all His
goodness, all His faithfulness, and how He has shown that to you, over
and over and over again in so many areas of your life.
Find those special places where you can meet with
Him and remember together. Do you have one? The Bible says He DELIGHTS
in you and REJOICES over you with singing…(Zeph. 3:17) He longs just to be with you.
Him and remember together. Do you have one? The Bible says He DELIGHTS
in you and REJOICES over you with singing…(Zeph. 3:17) He longs just to be with you.
This is my prayer for you (and me!)…a great song. http://youtu.be/8BfmrXudGBE
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
With Love,
Jen
Deep Breaths:
1. Go for a walk today or find a quiet place and reread Psalm 106.
2. Take a few minutes to recount the special times that you’ve had with the Lord. Talk to Him about them and thank Him for these moments. Recount His faithfulness and reflect on His goodness.
3. As I read Jen’s words about spending time with God, I am being freed. How often do I get all my study tools out when He may be asking me just to enjoy Him? Of course there is a time and place for studying God’s Word, but this duty vs. delight thing is a constant wrestle for me. What is something that you can do today to enjoy His love and His presence?
P.S. Would you take a few minutes to lift up Jen and her family to you. It is our prayer that she and her husband can go get their boys this year. They need a miracle. Would you join us in that prayer? Thank you.
Great encouragement to just spend time with the Father who loves us so much. Thanks, Jen!
Thank yoU!
Simply loving this series! This was wonderful to read after an evening with my pastors wife discussing the different ways to spend time with God and all and all her message was simply this . . . to remember He wants to spend time with us and oh how that time with Him will bless us. Blessings.
Blessings to you too!
Thank you Jen, What a great reminder to have those quiet in love moments with Him. I really appreciate your words. May God Bless you and your family and put all the details of your boys together.
Yes! Thank you so much!
Oh, I love this! One of my biggest prayers this year is to fall in LOVE with God more. Being more intentional and quiet in my time with Him has helped so much. Beautiful post!
And that song is one of my favorites, bc I know my own heart's tendency to wander and I need God to bind me to Him always. 🙂
🙂 I LOVE that song! I have been finding the old hymns very ministering to me lately, which is so opposite of the last several years for me! LOL!
Remember…this is a key, isn't it? Remembering all that He is, all that He's done, and all His love. Thanks, Jen. Praying for you and your whole family to come together this year. Blessings to you.
Jen – Thank you for sharing and reminding us to respond to the call for inward change first, and to REMEMBER what He has done already. I so often forget what He has done, and what He has promised for me in the future. I see that in a pattern in a child's life as well – a broken, hurting child who hurts others. She forgets her parents are good, that their love endures forever, and as a result falls prey to the world around her. We do the same to God.
God who sees, God who hears, God who is a very Good Father – I pray that you will go before and open the doors to bring Jen's children home to her, to YOU.
Jen, thank you for this precious post. Sometimes I forget to just be in love with Jesus, to remember the sweet times we've had together, and look forward to future ones. I'm convicted today. Thank you. You have spurred me on to just be in love with Him today. This will be what I'll set my heart on and I look forward to seeing what we will experience together today. God bless you, friend!