Praying the Psalms- Psalm 46

Jenny has begun a journey of praying her way through the Psalms that I have decided to join. Each weekend, we will pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 46

"God is our refuge and strength, 
   an ever-present help in trouble."  Psalm 46: 1

But only if we let Him.

Of late, I have been choosing to fear, to fix my eyes on circumstances, to worry about tomorrow, to race about in a frenzy.

I have forgotten to be still.  Neglected to fix my eyes on my Refuge and Strength and Help.

You see, unless I make a conscious, deliberate choice- an act of the will- to be still, to take refuge, to draw strength from Him, I default to relying on my own strength.  And this never turns out well.  In fact, it usually leaves me alone and exhausted physically, spiritually and emotionally.

That's just where I found myself on Sunday night.  All attempts by my poor husband to speak truth over me, to lead me to Him, were rejected as I was determined to persist in my misery.

But God.  His mercies are new every morning.  As I was faithful to drag my sorry self out of bed the next morning to hear from Him, He was faithful to speak.  And to rebuke my pity party and confront me with my sin and teach me the way I should go.

Father, thank You for being who You are- my never changing, always present help.  Thank You for reminding me that I am never more than one changed mind away from receiving Your refuge, Your strength and Your help.  I pray now that You would teach me to take every thought captive and make it obedient to You.  I ask for a continually renewing of my mind.  I ask that the mind of Christ, which is in me, be in control of my thoughts so that I might honor you in all I say and do.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Multitude Monday

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

747.  Pre-K Thanksgiving Feast with my girl

748.  Half days and days off from school

749.  Watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in our PJs

750.  Cute pictures of the kids with minimal complaining

751.  Giving Thanks as an extended family

752.  Cousins playing and laughing together

753.  Writing letters to Santa

754.  Decorating our home for Christmas

755.  Preparing our hearts, too, with Advent Wreath devotions

756.  Praying for the World

757.  How they remind me to pray and look forward to the new country of the day

758.  Cheering on our boy at the first basketball game of the season

759.  Enduring heartache, suffering, sadness, weariness even doubt- all opportunities for faith

760.  Hebrews 11:1

You can read why I got started here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My dear bloggy friends,

I wanted you to know that "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you." Phil 1:3.  I pray that you have a wonderful, blessed day of Thanksgiving today!

Let's remember to do this today:

Multitude Monday

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:
733.  Hosting a Moms/Teachers Night out in our home
734.  One on one time with my big boy building skyscrapers 

735.  Kids raiding their piggybanks
736.  Teaching them to set some money aside to save and some to give
737.  Agreeing to use the "give" money for this
738.  Saturday night at the Lego store
739.  Sunday afternoon building with Legos

740.  Little boys playing chess
741.  Six year olds playing basketball
742.  Belly laughing courtside
743.  Receiving painful truth
744.  Having the time and opportunity to make things better
745.  Wonderful report cards and Parent Teacher Conferences
746.  Husband doing the food shopping TWO weeks in a row!

You can find my running list of 1,000 gifts in my sidebar and read why I got started here.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 45

Jenny has begun a journey of praying her way through the Psalms that I have decided to join. Each weekend, we will pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 45


What little girl has not dreamt of being the beautiful, princess bride of prince charming?  The fairy tale like quality of weddings and marriage often persist into adulthood.  I know I cannot resist the beauty and detail and pomp and circumstance and love of a wedding ceremony.  It never fails to bring a tear to my eye.


What if there was more to this than mere fantasy and sentimentality?  What if these emotions are a result of dreams God has hidden in the hearts of little girls?  Dreams that He intends to make come true in ways far more beautiful than we could ever ask or imagine!

"All glorious is the princess within her chamber; 
   her gown is interwoven with gold. 
In embroidered garments she is led to the king; 
   her virgin companions follow her— 
   those brought to be with her. 
Led in with joy and gladness, 
   they enter the palace of the king."  Psalm 45: 13-15

This is a picture of us!  We are His bride.  We are royal princesses, daughters of the King.  This is our destiny in Christ.  And look at Him!

"You are the most excellent of men
   and your lips have been anointed with grace,
   since God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one;
   clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.                                    In your majesty ride forth victoriously
   in the cause of truth, humility and justice;
   let your right hand achieve awesome deeds.                                  Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies;
   let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
   a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
   therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
   by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia;
   from palaces adorned with ivory
   the music of the strings makes you glad."  Psalm 45-2-8 

Our bridegroom is full of grace, splendor, majesty, truth and justice.  He is mighty, powerful and righteous.

"Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;
   honor him, for he is your lord."  Psalm 45: 11 

If you've never felt beautiful or worthy of love.  If you've never been a princess bride.  Know this: He is enthralled by your beauty.  Honor Him, for He is your Lord.  And in Him, all your dreams will come true.


(My meditation on this psalm came primarily from the homework I recently completed in Beth Moore's bible study Breaking Free.  It is truly wonderful!)

Must Reads

I'm not sure I am brave or strong or RADICAL enough but...WOW
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I love Kat and her MINISTRY at Inspired to Action:
On Inspiration and the Reasons Why I Blog

Trisha reminds us to combat Dangerous Self-Talk with Truth:
Dangerous Self-Talk

DaySpring Giveaway Winner!

Using the highly scientific "pull a name out of the bowl" method...

We've got us a winner of the DaySpring Giveaway!



Drumroll please...



And the winner is...

Andrea, look for an e-mail with your coupon code worth $20 in the DaySpring store.

And thanks for entering everyone!  I will have another DaySpring giveaway at the beginning of December so stay tuned :)

It's Go Time- Radical Read-Along Chapter 9

I'm linking up today with Marla's Radical Read-Along.  

To start from the beginning of my Radical Read-Along posts, click here.

The Radical Experiment.  Five challenges.  One year.  It's time to stop pondering and start acting.  It's time to take back my faith from the American dream.  For the sake of the poor, the oppressed, the lost.- it's go time!  In Jesus' name. 


Challenge #1:  Pray for the Entire World
Using the free online resource recommended by Platt on p. 189, Operation World, my children and I will begin praying for the entire world.  We will pray for the requests of a new country each day, Monday through Friday, at snack time right after school.  I plan on using the alphabetical list here.  This site has printer friendly prayer resources for every country in the world, which we will use to pray and then store in a three ring binder so we can look back at the countries we have prayed for anytime we want.  We start today with Afghanistan.

Why?  Because before the disciples were told to go, Jesus commanded them to pray (p. 186).  "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field."  Matthew 9: 36-38

Challenge #2:  Read Through the Entire Word
I am not starting this particular challenge right now as I am involved in an incredible Bible study that brings a significant amount of daily homework with it. It ends mid-December.  But, I do have plan and a commitment for this challenge.  I met this really great sister at Relevant who hosts a Bible in 90 Days group several times a year on her blog, Mom's Toolbox.  The next one starts on January 3, 2011 and I'm already signed up!  Who wants to join us?
 
Why?  "If we want to know the glory of God, if we want to experience the beauty of God, and if we want to be used by the hand of God, then we must live in the Word of God." (p. 192)  Amen!

Challenge #3: Sacrifice Your Money for a Specific Purpose
This is something that I have not determined yet as it is obviously a decision that my husband and I will make together.  (And I am lovingly nudging him to finish the book now that I'm done :)  I love Platt's suggestions for rising to this challenge (p.196-107):  "The challenge is not just to give away excess stuff that you don't need anyway.  Sacrifice is giving away what it hurts to give.  First, spend your money on something that is gospel centered.  Second, give in a way that is church focused.  Third, give to a specific, tangible need.  Finally, give to someone or something you can trust."

Challenge #4:  Spend Your Time in Another Context
Again this is something that has not yet been determined.  Platt recomennds spending 2% of your time in the next year "making the gospel known in a context outside your own city."  (p. 200)  2% of your time in the course of a year translates into about one week.  I am confident that God will provide clear opportunities for us to meet this challenge this year.  I could imagine even how challenges 3 & 4 might be intertwined- perhaps we will sacrifice our money to spend it on a week long mission trip bringing the gospel to those who need it. 

Challenge #5: Commit Your Life to a Multiplying Community
Platt's suggestion to those of us who are committed to and serving in a local church, which our family most certainly is, is to "look for the best avenue within that community of faith to be about making disciples." (p. 206)  Because of the way that God worked out the details of a new book club ministry I will be involved in leading throughout 2011, and the theme that seemed to naturally flow from the books Andrea and I selected, I believe this will be one of the avenues I will use to make disciples.


God is up to something in the church.  And I don't want to miss it.  Am I a little bit frightened of the cost? Why, yes, I am!  But I am more disturbed by the notion that I might come to the end of this vapor of a life without having risen to His challenge.  I don't want to just call myself a Christian, I want Jesus to be glorified in my life.

Father, thank you for this book.  Thank You for Pastor Platt's calling and ministry.  Thank You for opening my eyes.  I pray, Holy Spirit, that You would lead me and empower me as I walk through this Radical Experiment.  In those areas where I have already made a commitment to obey You, help me to be faithful.  In those areas where I need Your direction, speak to me and show me how to obey You.  Use me Lord over this year and for all the time You give me here on Earth to bring glory and honor to Your name.  In the mighty name of Jesus, amen.

Multitude Monday

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

732.  Bible Jeopardy with the family- thought up and executed by my big boy

733.  Veterans
734.  A day off from school
735.  Playing football in the backyard with the boys and their Papa
736.  Family Movie Night snuggles
737.  An hour of one-on-one time with my little boy
738. Shopping for and packing Christmas gifts for the least of these
739. A night out to raise funds for and celebrate a special family from school
740. A gorgeous, sun filled, fall weekend spent outdoors
741.  More backyard football
742.  SORE muscles (see 735 & 741 ;)
743. 12 bags of leaves filled by my hard-working husband!
744.  Making progress with the seasonal changing the clothing project
745.  Praying the Psalms again
746.  Being honest with Him
747.  He's still teaching me
748.  The opportunity to host a Giveaway for DaySpring- there's still time to enter!
749.  A friend who understands my struggle but does not excuse my sin

You can find my running list of 1,000 gifts in my sidebar and read why I got started here.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 44

Jenny has begun a journey of praying her way through the Psalms that I have decided to join. Each weekend, we will pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.

 

Psalm 44 

I love how God's Word is timeless.  Speaking figuratively, we could pray all these words, could we not?  Not of our physical enemies, at least here, in the land of the free.  But certainly of the Enemy of our souls:

"You are my King and my God,
   who decrees victories for Jacob.
Through you we push back our enemies;
   through your name we trample our foes.
I put no trust in my bow,
   my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies,
   you put our adversaries to shame.
In God we make our boast all day long,
   and we will praise your name forever."  Psalm 44: 5-8

And the hard truth is that we can also lament as the Israelites did.  He will allow pain, suffering, trials and tests.  And He will also allow our honest response to these.

"But now you have rejected and humbled us;
   you no longer go out with our armies.
You made us retreat before the enemy,
   and our adversaries have plundered us."  Psalm 44: 9-10 

"We are brought down to the dust;
   our bodies cling to the ground.
Rise up and help us;
   rescue us because of your unfailing love."  Psalm 44: 26

It's hard to describe (or understand, for that matter) the season of my faith right now.  I have seen growth and victory in some areas while in the midst of defeat and despair in other areas of my walk.  But I have refused to walk away from Him.  I am caught in His grace.  I will continue to call on Him to rise up and rescue me, even as I am brought down to the dust, my body clinging to the ground.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 43

Jenny has begun a journey of praying her way through the Psalms that I have decided to join. Each weekend, we will pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.

"You are God my stronghold.
   Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
   oppressed by the enemy?"  Psalm 43: 2

This has been my lament as of late, too.  I am learning to be honest with Him.

"Send me your light and your faithful care,
   let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
   to the place where you dwell."  Psalm 43: 3

 And this my prayer in this season.

"Then I will go to the altar of God,
   to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
   O God, my God.
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
   Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
   for I will yet praise him,
   my Savior and my God."  Psalm 43: 4-5

Any my solution, the only solution, really.  Praise and hope!

(I'm catching up from last week when I was not able to post for Praying the Psalms :)

A Giveaway from Dayspring!

Ever since I saw this Ever Grateful Memo Board by DaySpring on Ann's blog a few weeks ago, I've wanted one.  Just look!  Isn't it beautiful?

DaySpring and (in)courage were sponsors of The Relevant Conference and set up a beautiful lounge for us with cozy places to connect with one another and lots of yummy, hot coffee and snacks available at all hours.  They were wonderful hosts and gave the attendees many wonderful items to take home as well as the opportunity to win some beautiful products.  One of the opportunities they offered was to choose an item to keep from their Ever Grateful line and share about it with our readers.  The entire line is beautiful but I knew right away I would request the Memo Board.

It arrived about a week ago.  The Scripture along the bottom reads "Let there be thankfulness to God" Ephesians 5:4 NLT.  The Memo Board now sits on the sideboard in our dining room- at the ready to record the gifts.  And it, too, has become one of them!  I smile and read the gifts recorded by little hands.  Some I can make out such as  "baskteball practice" and "my new Sunday School class" and others I cannot decipher but rejoice that He can.

And now, I have the joy of giving one of you the opportunity to win a coupon code worth $20 to use in the DaySpring store.  Shipping charges will apply.  All you need to do to be entered to win is check out the Ever Grateful line and leave a comment on this post telling about your favorite item from the line.  If you have not already liked One Thing Spoken, Two Things Heard on Facebook (see box on right hand sidebar of blog) you can do so for a second chance to win :).  I will leave the comments open for one week.  On Wednesday, November 17th, I will announce the winner!

Risk and Reward: Radical Read-Along Chapter 8

I'm linking up today with Marla's Radical Read-Along.  Won't you join us?

To start from the beginning of my Radical Read-Along posts, click here.

In the opening paragraphs of Chapter 7, Platt asks the following question: "do we believe the reward found in Jesus is worth the risk of following Him?" (p. 162)  Then he launches into a discussion of the places we'll go if we decide to follow Him.  And to take a page from Dr. Seuss, "Oh the places you'll go!"  Unlike the inspirational children's book, however, Platt reminds us where we are going and how we are sent.  

Like sheep among wolves, He sends us to great need, to great danger and to betrayal, hatred and persecution.  Why would anyone agree to this?  Well, for starters, most of us don't.  But those that do, it seems to me, do so because they answer Platt's question above in the affirmative.  They believe that, YES, the reward found in Jesus is worth the risks inherent in following Him!  They believe their safety is rooted in His sovereignty (p. 172), their security is rooted in His love (p. 173) and their satisfaction is found in His presence (p. 174).


Over the past two years, I have become more intentional about my walk with the Lord.  I have tried to stop covering my sins and get honest with Him.  I have longed for victory.  His response has consistently been- through Bible studies I've done, books and blogs I've read, Quiet Times I've had, retreats and conferences I've attended- find your soul satisfaction in me!  I am " your exceedingly great reward!"


So the message of chapter 7 of Radical for me has been no different than the message of Believing God or A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place or Breaking Free or anything else He's put in my path.  "This, we remember, is the great reward of the gospel: God Himself.  When we risk our lives to run after Christ, we discover the safety that is found only in His sovereignty, the security that is found only in His love, and the satisfaction that is found only in His presence.  This is the eternally great reward, and we would be foolish to settle for anything less."  (p. 181)

Do I believe that the reward found in Jesus is worth the risk of following Him?  Or have I been a fool?

Lord, I welcome Your conviction and Your Truth. I agree with You on how I've missed the mark and behaved a fool.  Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon me and move me to obey and follow You.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Multitude Monday

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

731.  Hopeful about resolution of a problem at school for my boy
732.  Time to prepare the last details for our church's women's retreat
733.  Making the retreat venue look beautiful
734.  So many hands and hearts that went into the day
735.  God's presence with us
736.  Seeing the JOY on the faces of the women at the retreat
737.  Hearing how God imparted WISDOM to them (and me) that day
738.  Tasting and seeing how good He is
739.  Imparting His love to the woman there through touches and hugs
740.  Knowing that our sacrifice of praise and worship was a pleasing aroma to Him
741.  Sharing with the women at the retreat about the new Women's Book Club Andrea and I will facilitate (We will be reading Not So Fast, Life Together, Authentic Relationships, and Radical)
742.  Receiving feedback from the women that points toward my heart's desire for next year's retreat- a two day event :)
743.  The goodness of God- we give Him all the glory and He gives us JOY!
744.  Family Dance Night with the kids at school

745.  Husband taking two out the three kids to dinner and an indoor play place Sunday afternoon without any suggestions from me
746.  Sunday afternoon on the couch- reflecting and resting in Him

You can find my running list of 1,000 gifts in my sidebar and read why I got started here.

Go read these...

So I Stopped Eating by Emily Wierenga

The Day I Broke Up with Fear by Kat Lee

A Christmas Card Drive of Epic Proportions by Lisa-Jo

Practically Universalistic: Radical Read-Along Chapter 7

I'm linking up today with Marla's Radical Read-Along.  Won't you join us?

To start from the beginning of my Radical Read-Along posts, click here.

Chapter 7 started with a bang for me.  Platt's assertion about how the American ideal of the equality and intrinsic worth of all people has been subtly but powerfully hijacked into the idea that all ideas are equal and valid (p. 141) was an eye opener for me.  American Christians have allowed the enemy a foothold here, I now see.  He took a truth from God's Word about the intrinsic value of all people and twisted it to include validating all their faiths and belief systems as well.  I'm resisting the urge to quote paragraphs here since most of you reading this post have read the chapter already but the end result of buying into this concept is often "to rest quietly in what you believe and resist the urge to share your beliefs with someone else."  Now, I do believe that people have the right to be free from governmental control over their belief systems and/or religion and the exercise thereof.  But allowing for freedom does not mean, we as individual American Christians, should hide the Truth.

While I am thankful that I have escaped the trap of universalism and the corresponding belief that "all religions are fundamentally the same" (p. 142), I do have admit that I mostly live a universalistic life.  Intellectually, I reject the idea that all religions are valid and all roads lead to God, but practically speaking does my life look much different that my counterparts who believe just that?  *sigh*

Chapter 7 also ended with a bang for me.  "We are the plan of God.  There is no plan B."  (p. 156)  For 4.5 billion (yes, billion!) people who are lost, there is no plan B.  "God has clearly decided to use the church - and only the church- as the means by which his gospel will go to the ends of the earth" (p. 157).  *sigh*

Is it just me or do you ever think, why did I ever start reading this book in the first place?  Because I am feeling all kinds of uncomfortable in my American Christianity right about now.  And I am pretty sure that it is going to take a radical outpouring of God's Spirit on me to bring me into radical obedience with His Word.  Good thing that is what He is in the business of doing!  

Multitude Monday

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

719.  Peapod Grocery Home Delivery!

720.  Teacher Development Days mean a short week for the kids

721.  Visiting friends- 3 adults, 8 kids- ALL had fun!

722.  Friends who pray for me

723.  Friends who listen and offer godly counsel

724.  Lots of Halloween (and alternative to) fun!

725.  The cutest policeman, swat team and strawberry shortcake in town

726.  Knowing what one means for evil, He uses for good

727.  Trusting that there will be fruit from this trial

728.  Remembering that I can lay the anxiety down at any time and He will give peace

729.  Learning and teaching to love your enemies and pray for those who hurt you

730.  An email saying I won!

You can find my running list of 1,000 gifts in my sidebar and read why I got started here.