I Am Determined
Today marks the completion of 56 years since my birth! A lot of life has transpired in that time and I earnestly pray that the time I have left will be used wisely!
As I was pondering on this earlier this morning a song I had sung as a solo several years ago came to mind. Here are the lyrics:
I Am Determined – by Tim Sheppard
Darkness around me, sorrow surrounds me;
Though there be trials, still I can sing.
For I have this treasure – my God reigns within me,
And I am determined to live for the King.
CHORUS:
I am determined to be invincible
‘Til He has finished His purpose in me.
And nothing shall shake me
For He’ll never forsake me
And I am determined to live for the King.
Hell’s gates are trembling from our prayers ascending
Darkness is crumbling from praises we sing.
Our Sovereign, victorious is marching before us,
And we are determined to live for the King.
CHORUS
When I am weary – I’ll look to His face;
And when I am tempted,
I’ll trust in His grace
Yes, I’ll trust in His grace
CHORUS:
I am determined to be invincible
‘Til He has finished His purpose in me.
And nothing shall shake me
For He’ll never forsake me
And I am determined
I am determined
I am determined to live for My King.
I looked to make sure I had not posted this song before and when I did I found this post from my birthday 3 years ago – it still rings true today!
No matter what, Lord, I want to please You. Help me to stay strong in my faith. Enable me to continue to passionately pursue You. These times that we have together have totally changed my life. I have followed You for decades. But I have struggled; I have been defeated again and again. I am still, by no means, perfect but ever since [the spring of 2015], things are different. And all the credit goes to You! You love me so much – You never gave up on me. You pursued me – You wooed me… and here I am. I still struggle. I still lose battles but I am no longer defeated. In Your sustaining grace, I cast my failings behind me and continue to move ever forward. My strength is in You.
But Paul assures us that “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12) In expounding upon these thoughts, my study Bible *states “Don’t give up, Continue to live as You should. God is the only one you need to please. “
Lord, may my faith remain firmly with You. May I grow in Your wisdom and discernment. Live through me. Touch others through me. I am Yours, Lord, use me as You will.
Jan 21st, 2019, Mon, 10:06 am
Perspective
It is icy, snowy and bitter cold, but not inside. Here it is warm and we’ve had an uneventful but relatively laid back day. Father, as we come together may I have open ears and an open heart. Amen.
Mark 1: 29-31 (<<click to read the passage)
perspective / pər-ˈspek-tiv / noun
the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed
Recently in my readings, keywords have been jumping out at me. And today as I read through my study Bible’s notes* perspective is my word of the day,
Each Gospel writer had a slightly different perspective as he wrote; thus, the comparable stories in the Gospels often highlight different details. In Matthew, Jesus touched the woman’s hand. In Mark, he helped her up. In Luke, he spoke to the fever, and it left her. The accounts do not conflict. Just as four people might witness the same even and all recount different details, so the Gospel writer simply emphasized different details of this story.
In life, especially in recent cultural mindsets, we are allowed to have different perspectives on things. Differences don’t necessarily mean division.
The old proverbial blind men encountering an elephant story communicates this concept exceptionally well.
A group of blind men heard that a strange animal, called an elephant, had been brought to the town, but none of them were aware of its shape and form. Out of curiosity, they said: “We must inspect and know it by touch, of which we are capable”. So, they sought it out, and when they found it they groped about it. In the case of the first person, whose hand landed on the trunk, said: “This being is like a thick snake”. For another one whose hand reached its ear, it seemed like a kind of fan. As for another person, whose hand was upon its leg, said, the elephant is a pillar like a tree-trunk. The blind man who placed his hand upon its side said, “elephant is a wall”. Another who felt its tail, described it as a rope. The last felt its tusk, stating the elephant is that which is hard, smooth and like a spear.
Lord Jesus, grant us patience that we may truly strive to bear with one another. We all have different backgrounds and they color everything we see and experience. There is definitely black and white by which we must abide but there are areas in our lives that are grey. Guide and direct us. Fill us with Your love and understanding when we interact with one another. Amen.
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Jan 20th, 2019, Sun, 5:33 pm
Opposition
Well, Father, it’s one of those days where I get to the end of it and realize that I’ve not sat down with You for our time together! We had a nice conversation this morning early and throughout most of the morning then. But to actually sit down? It’s time. Open Your word to me and may I glean what You have set before me. Amen.
Mark 1: 23-28 (<<click to read the passage)
I don’t do it all the time but a couple times in the early morning hours of my bus route, I will sing songs– out loud but to myself. This morning an old children’s song came to mind,
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me, my Lord.
All night, all day,
Angels watching over me.
It’s pretty simple but it brought comfort to me.
Many people believe in angels – even non-believers. Some may acknowledge the reality of their counterparts – demons – but I think many just sort of write them off as fairy tales and mythology. That may make us feel better but they are not just some figment of our imagination…they are real – very real.
On multiple occasions, Jesus encountered them and very clearly demonstrated his authority over them. For a point of clarity, God created the beings that they starting out being. They were angels at one point but because of their rebellion in following Lucifer’s lead, they became what they are.
Now I don’t believe they are behind every illness or trouble or problem or temptation we encounter – many things are what they are because of sin and our involvement in it. We can’t pass the buck and credit them for our disobedience. But they are active amongst us and I’m sure, take great pleasure in our claim that they do not exist.
What we need to take away from this passage is the fact that there is active evil in the world and the devil and his minions are out to take us down with them. They are already condemned with eternal separation from their Creator and want to entice us into joining them.
But the major point here is that they are defeated. They battle on but the war is lost. Christ is the victor! They submit to Him and are held in check by their creator.
We then must stand strong in our Savior. We must not yield to their enticements. If we are in Christ, they hold absolutely no power over us but must yield to Him.
Lord, strengthen us. Give us the fortitude to within the onslaught. Time is short for the opposition. We are overcomers when we remain in You!
Jan 17th, 2019, Thurs, 9:02 pm
Authority
It’s been a while since I have written this early! A two-hour school delay because of ice is the reason. Father, may I hear You clearly, as we sit together by the wood stove this morning. Guide my thoughts and everything I do throughout this day. I am dependent upon You.
Mark 1: 21-22 (<<click to read the passage)
authority / ə-ˈthär-ə-tē/ noun
power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior
Most of us operate in a world governed by authorities. From the time we are born, we have people in our lives who, for the most part, have our best interests in mind – parents, teachers, pastors, coaches, etc. And we are right in abiding by their direction. It is what helps us to become the individuals that we are.
That is all well and good, but we learn from the fallible. We ourselves are not any more perfect. Mistakes are made. Sometimes the authority figures have their best interests in mind. We can be directed down the wrong path. We pick up habits that are detrimental. We are wounded, sometimes debilitatingly so. Even with a lifetime of effort, we may not be able to overcome our problems.
So in the best of conditions and the worst, is there anyone we can turn to who is infallible? You bet your sweet bippy! Jesus is the one who teaches with “real authority”!
He is our Creator! He knows us through and through, inside and out. No misunderstandings or misconstrued information!
He is our Savior! He came to this dusty globe just so he could save us! He has our best interests in mind. He wants us to be victors
He is our Immanuel! He is God with us! He is always by our side. He will never leave us or forsake us! (Deuteronomy 31:6 <<click to read the passage)
Lord, thank You for loving us – for caring for us – for guiding us! May we follow close to Your side so as not to miss one directive! Amen!
Jan 16th, 2019, Wed, 5:38 am
Smack Dab in the Middle
(Photo by JOHN TOWNER on Unsplash)
I got sidetracked this morning but it’s time to toss those things aside and get to what’s really important. Time with You, Father, should be a top priority. May I clear my mind and hear You clearly. Amen.
Mark 1:21a (<<click to read the passage)
“Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.”
This is just the first half of the first verse of this passage. And at first glance, you might look at it and think, “Yeah…so what?’
In those few words, Jesus shows who He came to impact. By Biblical accounts, Capernaum wasn’t too awfully far away from Nazareth, where Jesus grew up but He purposely relocated here as a home base for His ministry. Here’s what my study Bible* has to say,
“Capernaum was a thriving town with great wealth as well as great sin and decadence. Because it was a headquarters for many Roman troops, pagan influences from all over the Roman Empire were pervasive. This was an ideal place for Jesus to challenge both Jews and non-Jews with the Good News of God’s Kingdom.”
Jesus purposely placed Himself smack-dab in the middle of it all. He didn’t insulate Himself. He didn’t throw up walls – literal or figurative. He was Immanuel – God with us – and He lived it out to its fullest.
Lord, where do we allow ourselves to be placed? Life can be messy and dirty. It can be painful. So do we avoid it if at all possible? Do we separate ourselves from contact with anything that might bring us discomfort? Or challenge us? You didn’t… So if You didn’t, we shouldn’t.
Lord Jesus, help us all to be open to being used wherever You place us. Help us not to see adversity but opportunity. May we be productive for Your kingdom smack dab in the middle of it all!
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Jan 15th, 2019, Tues, 10:51 am