by Stacey | Feb 12, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
This world is not our friend. It does everything to open innocent eyes and awaken inappropriate desires. This sex-saturated society dismisses traditional values as outdated and boring. It portrays God’s morals as restrictive and close-minded, pitting God against racy movies and titillating novels.
Yet, God’s voice—not the voice of culture—needs to be the main influence in my life. How do I remain pure? How do I protect my eyes from things I cannot unsee? How do I protect my ears from things I cannot unhear? How, when sex is everywhere? Television. Music. Magazines. Online. The enemy steadily increases exposure to unholy things effectively decreasing our sensitivity creating a tolerance for things that should shock our souls.
And my whole being just aches for this generation. It is hungry for deep and wild love and is looking everywhere but where God promised it could be found. In Him.
Anything enjoyed outside of God’s established boundaries will never fully satisfy.
How do I stay pure? In Psalm 119:9-16 the Psalmist shows that the way to remain pure requires action on my part. Purity doesn’t just happen. It is pursued, fought for, and treasured.
Psalm 119:9-16 (ESV)
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
- I seek God with my whole heart and ask for his help to remain faithful.
- I store his word in my heart, memorizing it, and pondering it. The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.
- I choose to obey and not sin. It is always a choice.
- I declare God’s truth.
- I delight in God more than I delight in any other thing.
- I meditate on his teaching.
- I fix my eyes on His way.
- I delight in his rules understanding his boundaries are for my protection.
- I remember his Word.
If you are seeking God with your whole heart, treasuring and delighting in Him, declaring His way and pondering His commands, He will by His grace and power guide you and teach you.
by Stacey | Feb 5, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
It started in a small group at church. Collecting answers. Gathering reminders. An annual tradition of pouring it empty, giving words to faith, remembering to believe.
Slips of plain paper etched with plain truth. God’s answers are everywhere.
- In the obedient child.
- The pretty basement.
- Food in the belly.
It is a discipline to train my eyes to see His answers. To look for extra in the ordinary. To open my heart and pour out praise everyday.
- for surrendered hearts.
- for changed behavior.
- for ears that listen.
One a day for one year. It is not too much. One acknowledgement of His goodness, His mercy, His unchanging dependability. Training the eye to see. Choosing to remember. Believing He hears and He answers.
- through discipline.
- exposing sin.
- convicting souls.
It sits on the windowsill holding truth. Collecting praises waiting to be poured out. Reminders that my God is good. Always good.
365 praises. My pile of stones that give witness to God’s action. A beacon shining from known past into an unknown future. A reminder that I’ve been here before. Waiting. Praying. Listening.
Lord, give me ears that hear, eyes that see, a heart full of praise.
- I praise you for leading our Elders to no and providing the clarity we sought.
- For two vehicles when we had none.
- For shelter that provides more than just shelter.
- For both publication and
- rejection.
- For more than enough
- For sustaining us.
- Employment
- For an unexpected bonus
- For rest
- For difficulty that changes me
This is more than a pile of paper in a jar, more than a pile of rocks by a river. It is a reference point, a story for the next generation. This is where I met God, where His powerful hand provided. It is a waiting story. A story waiting to be poured out so others may also know and believe.
by Stacey | Jan 22, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
She hates knowledge, despises correction, and refuses God. She reaps disastrous consequences and is easily deceived by others and herself. She mocks the righteous, chasing unobtainable goals. With no interest in understanding, she loudly expresses her lofty opinion. She is emotionally driven, giving full vent to her spirit. None who go to her come back. Her smooth words seat guests in the depths of Sheol.
She is Foolishness.
Wisdom offers love, promises that she can be found, and that she will satisfy. She dwells with prudence, is discreet, insightful, strong, and worth far more than jewels. All that you desire cannot compare with her. She speaks noble and right truths. If you receive her words, if you call out for insight, if you seek her, you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. She has lifted her veil and revealed the Lord gives wisdom.
Both women are loud, calling from high. Both lobby for our attention. One leads to sorrow the other to life.
To whom do you listen?
by Stacey | Jan 15, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
My soul waits.
Waits for my God of hope—my solid rock—my salvation—my fortress—my safe place—to do what He says He will do.
I wait in full confidence. His foundation is firm. His resources never run dry. His strength never weakens. His wisdom founded the earth. His understanding established the heavens. By His knowledge the deep broke open and the clouds drop down the dew.
His wisdom. His understanding. His knowledge.
I wait for the Lord.
I pour out my heart. Over and over and over, as many times as it takes to actually leave my heart in his hands.
He strengthens me. He gives me courage. He gives me hope.
My soul waits.
by Stacey | Jan 8, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Oh, my precious child, it is hard, so very hard to watch you struggle against the enemy who battles for your affections. I see the way you do what you wish you didn’t and can’t seem to do what you wish you could. I see how much you long for love—but how you push back against the one who loves you. You dare love to give up, choosing the most cutting words, lashing out in frustration.
But love never fails. It never gives up. It pursues. It waits. It demands everything from you and everything from me.
I am praying for a heart of flesh, for blind eyes to see, for this brokenness to result in full surrender, for God to make you whole again. I’m praying for you. Faithfully. Without end. Praying against your desire to push away the hard instead of working though it. I’m praying you will see your sin in contrast to God’s holiness and at your young and tender age you will choose repentance.
As this battles rages, I will do for you the only and best thing I can. Pray. Through prayer I enter into the battle and fight with you, for you. Lifting you before our Father who loves you even more than I do. Motherhood is more than caring, providing and loving. It is interceding. Faithfully interceding. Always.
My precious child, Seek wisdom which begins with a fear of the Lord. Seek insight which comes from knowledge of the Holy One. Seek Love.
by Stacey | Jan 1, 2015 | Devotionals, reflections, and encouragement
Sometimes the best new resolution is an old one. The same one that God has whispered into my heart from the very first day that I surrendered my life to Him.
Make everything about God. Know Him better. Love Him more. Completely trust Him. Prioritize Him above all else.
Here are some other great resolutions for 2015 graciously shared by godly woman who I admire:
That God would awaken my soul morning by morning to meet with Him. That I would hunger and thirst for more of Him and less of me. That I would live a more obedient and humble heart before Him. That I would graciously follow His plans for my day-to-day and trust His ways far above mine. I thank God for my husband who gives of himself endlessly to love and care for our family. I thank God for my kids who are teaching me so much these days. And I thank God for old and new friendships who keep me pointed to our Saviour.
Seek God’s will for us to live out the great commission with intention. Practise daily gratitude and be faithful to what he has called me to do THIS day. Take better care of the body God has entrusted to me. Pray more with my husband. Find a Titus 2 woman to mentor me…really the list is endless.
Watch my words. Make them kinder, more loving, more gracious. Pray that the words I speak and the meditations of my heart will be acceptable in my Saviour’s sight. Be thankful for every day of life the Lord grants me, and in the spirit of thankfulness enjoy what each day brings (Psalm 19:14, Psalm 90:12).
If you have made a God honouring resolution, leave it in the comment section to encourage others.
