Words for God Alone

by Elizabeth Stewart

"I love you, Lord 

and I lift my voice

to worship You.

Oh my soul, rejoice!

Take joy my King

in what You hear.

Let it be a sweet, sweet sound

in Your ear." 

-Maranatha Music

I love the simple chorus, "I love You, Lord." I love to sing it to God. For years I've sung it, not only in church, but with my children and now my grandchildren. I love to tell God that I love Him. But, the truth is, I say the words "I love you" to a lot of people. I say "I love you" to my husband, to my children, to my grandchildren, to my extended family, to my church family and to my friends. I don't reserve the words "I love you" for God alone. BUT, there are three little words that I never say to anyone but to God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Author and Finisher of our salvation, the One Who gave us His inspired, inerrant Word through human writers. Those three little words reserved for God alone are "I worship You." 

While God commands us to have no other gods but Him, I don't save the words "I worship You" for Him out of duty but because I love Him and want to honor and serve Him alone. I believe with all that is in me that there are no other god but Him, the One True God, and so there is no one or nothing else for me that is worthy of those words.

God's desire for us to worship Him and Him alone is not because there is some lack or need in Him. God is holy. He is whole and complete and pure and perfect. He doesn't need anything. Does He desire our worship? Yes, He does. He is a relational God Who delights in two way communication with us. He pours love upon us and we respond to Him in love and adoration and worship. I also believe that He knows that worship is good for us. Worship takes our minds off of ourself and our circumstances and focuses us on God and Who He is. Life has a way of making our problems seem bigger than God. But, when we worship, things come into proper perspective. We magnify God and He becomes bigger in our eyes than us and our problems- because He truly is!

Try it with me. In the quiet of your own private time with the Lord say aloud the words meant for Him and Him alone. "I worship You, God. You alone are God. You alone are worthy of my worship. To You alone I give my love and adoration and worship." Such simple words, but what power they contain-power to put life back into proper perspective.

justfollowingjesus.com

The Beautiful Example of Jesus' Humility

By: Sarah Geringer 

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus...

Philippians 2:5 NIV

Humility speaks volumes in a self-centered world. When we choose humility, we shine the light of Jesus into the darkness of selfishness.

We need more humility in our world, and Jesus is our ideal example to follow.

Let's look closely at this famous passage in Philippians 2:3-11, line by line.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves (vs. 3)

To grow in humility, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of sinful conceit or ambition in your heart. Ask him to help you value others more than you value your own opinions.

not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (vs. 4)

Every day, ask God to show you practical ways to put others' interests ahead of your own. For most of us, this will happen in our families and workplaces. But it can also extend to other areas like driving, shopping, and church.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: (vs. 5)

Humility requires a different mindset, a different way of looking at the world. We can't be humble on our own power. We must ask Jesus to help us think like he does and view the world through his eyes.

Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; (vs. 6)

Jesus had every right to use his advantage as the Son of God while he was here on earth. You may have advantages too, which you feel you have earned. Yet if we want to be most like Jesus, we'll do what he did as explained in the next verse.

rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness. (vs. 7)

The One who created all things, distinct and separate from creation, chose to become part of his creation. He went even further, taking the lowest servant position while washing his disciples' feet (see John 13). Through his example, we learn that no job is too low for us to do, if we are doing it to glorify his name.

And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross! (vs. 8)

Jesus' humility cost him everything in an earthly sense. He was so devoted to following the Father's plan to redeem humanity that he chose a shameful, painful death. When you follow the example of Jesus' humility, you may also be subject to mistreatment and pain. But there is hope...

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. (vss. 9-11)

Jesus considered his sufferings of humility a small price to pay so that we will worship him as he really is, as described in these verses. He did this all so we could have a loving relationship with him throughout eternity. If you commit to living a humble life and having the mindset of Jesus, your rewards in heaven are more than you can possibly imagine (Matt. 19:29). Also, you have the blessing of peace now that comes with walking in God's will for your life.

You have a choice. Will you follow Jesus' beautiful example of humility? Humility will transform you into the best version of yourself and bless many others. Will it cost you? Yes, it will. But will it be worth it? I'm certain you'll say humility is worth the price as you experience peace now and in heaven for following God's will.

Questions for you:

How does Jesus' example inspire you in your own life?

In which life situation can you show more humility?

If you want to share feedback on this post, please leave a comment below. You can always share at my site if you have any trouble leaving a comment here.

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings and God's peace to you,

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

Photo from Canva.com

Trust God

By: Jenifer Metzger

There is so much uncertainty in life. Just when we think things have calmed down and we settle into our normal, life sends us a curveball. We deal with unexpected struggles such as a pandemic, health struggles, relationship struggles, daily struggles, and even moment to moment struggles.

We never know who or what we can count on. Loved ones let us down, we even let ourselves down! Job security can vanish in a heartbeat. There’s just so little of what we can actually trust in.

Trust in the Lord forever, because in the Lord,

the Lord Himself, is an everlasting rock!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:4‬

We can trust in God! He is our everlasting rock! When no one and no thing in this life can be counted on, God can. He knows our yesterdays, our today, and all of our tomorrows. He has plans for us. Good plans. Plans we can count on.

We’ve all been let down. Let down by people and circumstances. God will never, ever let us down. Let’s become women who trust in God with all of our heart.

It's time for Share A Link Wednesday! Each Wednesday we invite you to leave a link to your latest blog post in the comments. We still desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee or glass of sweet tea, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories.

Your Success as a Mom

By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: James Wheeler

"What then is Apollos? What is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So, then, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." 

~1 Corinthians 3:5-7

Have you ever believed that your success as a mom—whether or not you can be referred to as being a good and faithful mama—is based upon how your children turn out? Have you thought before that if your children turn out to be model citizens, lovers of God who follow hard after Him and proclaim His truth to others, and people who love others well because they are walking by the Spirit, then you are acceptable to God, while if your children turn out to be atheists who hate any notion of God that you are a horrible mother and must have dropped the ball somewhere?

I want to set you free from that lie today, mama.

It is certainly true that we have an incredibly important part to play in the lives of our children. We are called to be faithful to our calling of training our children in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6) and to our responsibility of teaching them the Word of God and how to live it out through our example (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). That is our part—faithfulness. This is where our responsibility ends, however. The results are not up to us. Our part is faithfulness to raise our children in the nature and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). God's part is the results and how He works in the hearts and lives of our children.

As Paul encouraged us in 1 Corinthians 3:5-7, we plant seeds of truth, we water those seeds by our encouragement and example and ongoing discipleship, but God is the One who gives the increase. Not us.

So, mama, as scary as it is sometimes to realize there are no guarantees in motherhood and because we each have to choose the Lord for ourselves, we cannot make our children believe or walk in the ways of Christ, it is nevertheless freeing to know that we are not held responsible for the outcome of the work we do as mothers.

Your success as a mama is based not on how your children turn out, but on how you sought to mother them in the first place. We leave everything else to God and His work in the lives of our children.

So, rest today, mama. Rest in the truth that you are not held ultimately responsible for how your children turn out. 

If that's not good news, I don't know what is!

Families and Rivers

By: Joanne Viola

Today is Memorial Day – a day in which families will get together, barbeque, and enjoy the company of one another while remembering those who have served our country.

As we open to the eighth song of Ascents, Psalm 127, we will discover some wonderful truths about the making of a home and family.

God is the One who builds the house.

“Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted.” (Psalm 127:1, NLT)

While God does not physically build our homes, the psalmist reminds us that our homes and families will only experience success when God is front and center. Without His Presence, success will escape us.

God is the One who Protects our homes. 

“Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.” (Psalm 127:2, NLT)

God takes very seriously the homes He builds and therefore, He protects them and those who live within.

God is the One who blesses the home. 

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” (Psalm 127:3, NLT)

As we gather today with our loved ones, may we remember our families are a gift from God. Each child born into our families is unique and personally placed.

Each day we have with our families is a gift of time. Time to shape and direct lives with a loving, grace-filled, and godly influence.

During the years while they are young and with us, those are the days in which we are to shape and mold them, leaving our imprint in their memories.

May we invest into the lives of our families as we recognize they are the ones we will one day release into the world to leave a lasting impact.

In his book, A Family Shaped by Grace, Gary Morland shares this quote:

“We must begin thinking like a river if we are to leave a legacy of beauty and life for future generations.”
– David Brower

We are writing our family stories every day. Like a river, they will flow on long after we are gone.

Homes and families are a big deal to God.
For in and through them, He does some of His finest work.

Photo by Jack Anstey on Unsplash

 

An Invitation to Peaceful Living

by Elizabeth Stewart

(A repost from my archives updated for times like these!)

We are living in tumultuous times. Once again, this week's news has been filled with political controversy, pandemic updates and economic upheaval. I long for peace and quiet in the midst of this world's chaos. In Isaiah 32:18 we read that God's people can dwell in peace, safety and quiet. I'm longing for peace in the midst of the chaos, are you? Perhaps there are some things we can do invite more peace into our lives.

1) Ask the Prince of Peace to dwell in you and in your home and family.
Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  Invite Him into every area of your life, home and family.  Give Him permission to show you anything in you, your home and your family that is a peace robber.  There are many things that can steal your peace.  Unforgiveness, offenses, worry, anxiety, overcrowded schedules, chaotic surroundings...I could go on and on.  The good news is that God is willing to show us the things that are keeping us from living in peace if we will ask Him to and then listen to Him.

2) Feed on the Word more than you feed on the world.
I'm a news junkie.  I want to know what is happening in our world. But, if I'm feeding on the news more than I am on God's Word no wonder I'm feeling stressed and anxious!  God's Word is the plumbline of truth in this world that has lost its way.  We've got to keep our mind and heart aligned with truth or we'll lose our way as well.  God's ways, the way of wisdom, is a path of peace it tells us in Proverbs 3:17.  Isaiah 26:3 promises us perfect peace when we keep our mind set on God.

3) Take a break.
Quiet times away from stress, the demands of everyday life, and the noise of social media are good for us. Get up in time to have some quiet moments with God before the busyness of the day begins. Take a walk. Listen to worship music or an encouraging podcast while you get some fresh air and exercise. If possible, take your Bible and journal to a park or some other place where you can enjoy the beauty of God's creation while spending some time with Him. Let go of what is causing you stress and ask God to carry it. Exchange it for His peace. 

I think God wants our lives and homes to be filled with peace, not just for our benefit, but also because of the witness that it is to others.  Peace and quiet is a rare commodity in our chaotic world.  Others notice a person whose life is filled with peace.  People want to linger in a home filled with peace. 

A prayer for peace-
Father God,
I thank You that you sent Jesus, my Prince of Peace, so that I can have peace with You.  I thank you that I can walk in love and unity with You because of the righteousness of Jesus that I have been given in exchange for my sin.  If there is anything in my thoughts, words or deeds or in the affections and desires of my heart that is robbing me of the peace that You want me to have, please show me what it is. Bring everything within me to into obedience to You and Your ways so that Your peace can rule my heart, mind and life.

Father, I want my home and family to be filled with Your peace.  Fill our home with Your peace and presence.  Let it be palpable to all who enter our home.  I pray for every family member to come into alignment with You and Your ways so they, too, can walk and live in peace.

I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus.  Amen.

Softening a Stubborn Heart

By: Sarah Geringer 

But when Pharaoh saw that relief had come, he became stubborn. He refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had predicted.

Exodus 8:15 NLT

Do you struggle with stubbornness?

The story of Pharoah's stubbornness and hardness of heart is a pertinent warning to us.

Today we look at the story of Moses, the Pharoah, and the plagues in Exodus 8 & 9.

Moses was asking Pharoah to release the Hebrew people from Egyptian rule. Every time Pharoah refused, God sent a new plague over the land. Pharoah would be exasperated by the plague, relent momentarily, then his heart would be hardened again.

I heard these Bible stories many times as a child. They have epic, almost comic, proportions. Frogs in every cooking bowl. Flies swarming around every head. Hailstones crushing every blade of grass.

As an adult, I'm paying more attention to the spiritual battle in this story. Here's what I've noticed:

1. God told Moses ahead of time that Pharoah wouldn't listen. His prediction came true. God was lifted up as all-knowing.

2. The plagues were sent in opposition to Egypt's many gods, so only the one true God would be glorified and the other gods would be exposed as false.

3. After the first few plagues, the scripture says that Pharoah hardened his heart. Then God himself "made Pharoah more stubborn." Ex. 9:12. So God gives people over to their willful sins.

How can we apply this scripture to our own lives? It's easy to think, "I'm not nearly as stubborn as Pharoah." But today I'm taking a hard look at my heart. I'm looking at one area in particular, a hidden stubbornness where I keep making the wrong choice.

Even when I know God is prompting me otherwise, I sometimes choose what I want anyway. Cringing as I admit it to you. The satisfaction is short-lived, then I feel guilt, then I crave relief in my bad choice, and the cycle repeats.

Pharoah's motivating sin was pride. He saw himself as all-knowing and all-powerful, a god figure himself in the Egyptian culture. God was attacking his pride in these plagues.

In my hidden stubbornness, God is attacking my pride too. My idea that I know what I want. That I can decide for myself what's good for me. That the consequences won't matter. That I can step over a line and it's no big deal.

But I don't want to be anything like Pharoah, even in the smallest way. Do you feel the same, friend?

Questions for you:

In the past, were you able to give up a stubborn sin? How did God convict you? How did he help you make better choices?

Is a stubborn sin hidden in your heart? Why do you keep clinging to it when you know better?

If you want to share feedback on this post, please leave a comment below. You can always share at my site if you have any trouble leaving a comment here.

If you enjoyed this post, please share on your favorite social media site using the buttons below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings and God's peace to you,

Sarah Geringer
Finding Peace in God's Word

Photo from Canva.com

Your Refuge and Strength

By: Jenifer Metzger

Recently I ventured out for my weekly grocery trip. As I begin to walk down the main aisle in the store, a woman with her gloves, mask, and Clorox wipes hanging from her purse sees me. With crippling fear in her eyes, she scoots as far over as she can. While we were already more than the recommended six feet apart, her fear drove her to need more space.

Here in the Midwest, we are in what we call tornado season. After being caught in a tornado 17 years ago, I always feel very fearful around this time of year. The watches have me checking the weather and the sky. I can mostly handle the watches. The warnings, however, send fear down my spine. And the sirens, even the test sirens, send me into panic.

God is our refuge and strength,

a helper who is always found

in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not be afraid,

though the earth trembles

and the mountains topple

into the depths of the seas,

though its water roars and foams

and the mountains quake with its turmoil.

Psalm 46:1-3

It is so easy to let fear creep in. When it gets in, it tries to take root and grow. In these times we need to remember these verses in Psalm 46. We need to remember Who our refuge and strength is. We need to remember that we have no reason to be afraid of anything. God is our refuge. He is our strength. And He is in control.

Whatever you are facing today, whether the pandemic going on right now or health issues or financial issues or broken relationships or whatever it may be, remember that God is your refuge and your strength. Lean on Him. Curl up under His wing and take shelter.

I want to challenge you to memorize Psalm 46:1-3. When fear begins to rise in your chest, say the verses until the fear is gone. Remind your head, your heart, and your enemy Who your refuge and strength is.

It's time for Share A Link Wednesday! Each Wednesday we invite you to leave a link to your latest blog post in the comments. We still desire to connect women of God with one another and encourage each other in Christ. So grab a cup of coffee or glass of sweet tea, sit back and visit a few blogs. Be encouraged and share your own stories.