Hush and Be Still
Current mood: Trusting and Believing
Hide me now
Under your wings
Cover me within your mighty hand
When the oceans rise and thunders roar
I will soar with you above the storm
Father you are king over the flood
I will be still and know you are God
Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know his power
In quietness and trust
Isn't that the truth though? Within the christian's walk, within the christian's life, to be still and know that He is God. When things are going crazy, when things spin out of my control, when I'm stressed, when I'm distracted, I always meditate on those words, "Be Still and know that I am God" God's basically saying, "hush Amber, listen to me, drown out the distractions, depend on my strength not your own" Telling me to be still, and know that God is the Lord. The Lord of my life, of my heart, of my desires. Sometimes I just have to sit there when I'm stressed, and quiet my myself. Quiet my mind from going everywhere with burdons and friendly distractions, and think about knowing God. Knowing who He is. That statement, "know that I am God" is saying, "Know me, know what I can do," which is such a comfort because I know what God can do. He always takes care of me, no matter the circumstance. No matter how crazy everything around me is, God will always take care of us. One of the most amazing things that I am in awe of in God is how He wants to take care of us, He wants to know us, and us to know Him. That intimacy He desires to have with us, and just that care. Where else can you find that?
My walk with God is like marriage I've began to realize. Maybe that's why I'm not one to compromise. I'm put in situations where I'm tempted to (in my mind basically), but I don't. Even though I've hurt God, even though I've done shameful things against Him and sinned against Him He will always forgive me. There are times when I don't want to listen to God, I avoid Him some days, or I refuse to even think about Him. I like the way I live, and I like doing things my way. Not that marriage is totally like that since we are all human therefore both people sin. But to walk with God is a committment and a broken relationship. I mean, I hate living in this world. It's a distgusting place, full of sin and temptation that I don't want to be a part of yet I do. It hurts my relationship with God, and it makes me feel so wretched. Yet even though it's not that fun of an experience, God put me here to glorify Him. What I look forward to the most in this life, isn't my death, but going through all its struggles, all the temptation, all the pain in health, mental, or emotional situations with myself or with those I love and in the end when I'm alone in my house with my children grown up and my husband passed away, my love for God is shining through. Where it is just me and God, and I can be able to say to Him, "See all this I went through? It was to show how much I love you. That I could have chosen to give up on You, and to take matters into my own hands and live a life pleasing to myself and yet it was worth it just to show my love for You." That is the greatest expression of love I can show my Savior.
Well this weekend was amazing. I needed it so much. I love how when I get together with my friends and with other christians on a retreat, even though the preaching is good, and the games are fun, what I take away the most is how we all want to serve God in serving each other. and when we're together we don't just play games, but we also praise God. I also took away and put into practice a sacrificial love. Sacrificing myself, my time, my energy, for others. But of course, not just for others, but for God by serving others. That my attitude should be that of Christ,
"Who being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)
Jesus made Himself nothing. He did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, which means, He didn't say, "Hey, I'm God too so I'm not becoming some petty human and living on that sucky sin-filled disgusting earth!" It even says he didn't even consider it!! No, instead Jesus made himself nothing. He took the position of a servant. He humbled himself in doing that and was obedient even to death! He obeyed God even though it threatened His life, and took His life. What amazing sacrificial love is that.
So that's something new I'll be practicing. Or actually something to continue to practice more often.
Well, what should you remember most in this blog and that I hope you can grasp?
To just hush, be still, and to know who God truly is.
God bless! :-)
In Christ,
Amber
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
October 16, 2008
"God Have Mercy On Me, a Sinner"
Where do I start?.....sin.
Ya know what's interestingly sad? It seems the word "sin" is acceptable in society. Being "bad" being "naughty" is what we should strive for. I realized why I was so confused when I was younger as I would hang out with unbelieving men and women, and I was confused as to where they stood with what is good. What is acceptable to them? Is it wrong to be pure? They didn't look down upon purity...at least it seemed like that. I realized, people look at purity as something that's rare and will get corrupted eventually. Why? It's because of the very nature of sin within our hearts.Those who don't live for Christ and strive for a God-centered life, to them sin is acceptable. Scandulous sin is appealing. to an extent at least..
Now let's go to the other extreme, the believing men and women I would also hang out with. You could easily see judgement, envy, jealous, anger, and sadly a sort of gossip on their tongues. I also became confused when I was around them. What is acceptable to them? Being impure isn't acceptable of course. Scandulous sin is evil and should be glared it.
It seems as though church society and secular society clashes with one another. Yet what I realized is, before God, I am a sinner. Before God, nothing is acceptable to Him. I am a sinner.
I'm reading Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges, and just the second and third chapter was convicting to me. I like how he defines sin, "Sin is a principle or moral force in our heart, our inner being. Our sinful actions, words, and thoughts are simply expressions of the principle of sin residing within us, even in those of us whose hearts have been renewed."
Monday I felt so overwhelmed with my sin. I was overwhelmed with my subtle sins, judging someone on how they were acting or dressing, being bitter towards others, entertaining thoughts of making myself seem better than others, and it just put me in a rut. I can't control those sins, and yet I feel as a Christian I have to. I can't let those sins fester if I know in my heart they are there, I have to deal with them, and I became overwhelmed and discouraged. Last night I was also dealing with it. Sin is just such a cancerous and disgusting disease to have. But this morning, even when I was drenched in sinful thoughts once again, I decided to re-read chapter 2 and 3 of Respectable Sins. I thought I had everything down, and I was fine with my sin, and I just had to deal with not thinking in that way anymore, and just ignoring it and "hey, maybe next time I'll resist thinking that way" no. God revealed to me my heart truly. "God have mercy on me, a sinner" and as I kept reading I became overwhelmed again. I asked myself, "if I offend God, if I despise Him and His law every time I sin...how can He deal with me? Not only that, how can He deal with not just my sin, but the sins of every one else in this world, being constantly offended by them? That seems impossible! How can He be real? This must be a flaw in christianity."
Then I was reminded, a need reminder, of what the Gospel is all about.
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
duh! How could I forget that? This is the power of the cross. This is the power of who Jesus is, and what He came to do. This is the beauty and glory of the Gospel. It humbles the most prideful heart, it gives grace to those who are are inadequate. This is the Gospel!
God sent His Son, as an atoning sacrifice for OUR sin! It's the only way I can live at peace with God. I can't fix my sin on my own. I can't, because I am so entrapped by it. But with the Holy Spirit's power I am able to.
God really humbles me in this aspect. Jerry Bridges mentions the parable Jesus told of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Luke 18:9-14 He talks about how the Pharisee prays, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." (v 11)
This is my favorite part of the story..."But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." " (v13)
Now, when I pray, I don't pray like the Pharisee, but what I realized, what God revealed to me through His Word is that, I think like the Pharisee does. "At least I'm not like her," "at least I don't treat people like that.." in order to think I'm on good terms with God, I compare myself with other sinners. That hides and ignores the truth of who I truly am though. When I compare myself before God on His holy throne, I am a sinner. When I compare myself with God, I'm worse than any murderer, any adulterer, any robber out there. Here's another thing I discovered, when I compare myself with God, I see my own sin, and have pity and sorrow on those who commit sin without realizing it everyday as well as the most scandulous criminials. Why? "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15
God reveals to me my scandulous heart. He has searched me and knows me. (Psalm 139:1) I despise God daily (2 Samuel 12:10). I know this, and I am saved from this. The most scandulous criminal to the most law abiding citizen are all in need of this message. Sin is sin.
Bridges takes this idea from a puritan in saying, "It does not matter whether our sin is scandalous or respectable, all our sin is sinful, only sinful, and altogether sinful." I am the worst of sinners because I know better. I know Christ came to die for my place, and yet I have lived like that means nothing to me. I have pity on those who live in that way and mourn for those who's hearts cannot be moved by this message, because it frees the very bondage sin has on an individual. and yet, they cannot see that.
Quoting Bridges again, "All sin, even sin that seems so minor in our eyes, is lawlessness. It is not just the breaking of a single command; it is a complete disregard for the law of God, a deliberate rejection of His moral will in favor of fullfilling one's own desires."
I act upon God's law, as a lawless citizen, a scandulous child of God. There is nothing I can do in my own power to save my soul from this.
It is only by Christ's amazing salvation through His death on the Cross, that saves such a sinner like myself.
I thank my Lord, and Savior for saving me, a sinner, and for God, my Father, having mercy on my scandulous being. Thank you for humbling me today.
Where do I start?.....sin.
Ya know what's interestingly sad? It seems the word "sin" is acceptable in society. Being "bad" being "naughty" is what we should strive for. I realized why I was so confused when I was younger as I would hang out with unbelieving men and women, and I was confused as to where they stood with what is good. What is acceptable to them? Is it wrong to be pure? They didn't look down upon purity...at least it seemed like that. I realized, people look at purity as something that's rare and will get corrupted eventually. Why? It's because of the very nature of sin within our hearts.Those who don't live for Christ and strive for a God-centered life, to them sin is acceptable. Scandulous sin is appealing. to an extent at least..
Now let's go to the other extreme, the believing men and women I would also hang out with. You could easily see judgement, envy, jealous, anger, and sadly a sort of gossip on their tongues. I also became confused when I was around them. What is acceptable to them? Being impure isn't acceptable of course. Scandulous sin is evil and should be glared it.
It seems as though church society and secular society clashes with one another. Yet what I realized is, before God, I am a sinner. Before God, nothing is acceptable to Him. I am a sinner.
I'm reading Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges, and just the second and third chapter was convicting to me. I like how he defines sin, "Sin is a principle or moral force in our heart, our inner being. Our sinful actions, words, and thoughts are simply expressions of the principle of sin residing within us, even in those of us whose hearts have been renewed."
Monday I felt so overwhelmed with my sin. I was overwhelmed with my subtle sins, judging someone on how they were acting or dressing, being bitter towards others, entertaining thoughts of making myself seem better than others, and it just put me in a rut. I can't control those sins, and yet I feel as a Christian I have to. I can't let those sins fester if I know in my heart they are there, I have to deal with them, and I became overwhelmed and discouraged. Last night I was also dealing with it. Sin is just such a cancerous and disgusting disease to have. But this morning, even when I was drenched in sinful thoughts once again, I decided to re-read chapter 2 and 3 of Respectable Sins. I thought I had everything down, and I was fine with my sin, and I just had to deal with not thinking in that way anymore, and just ignoring it and "hey, maybe next time I'll resist thinking that way" no. God revealed to me my heart truly. "God have mercy on me, a sinner" and as I kept reading I became overwhelmed again. I asked myself, "if I offend God, if I despise Him and His law every time I sin...how can He deal with me? Not only that, how can He deal with not just my sin, but the sins of every one else in this world, being constantly offended by them? That seems impossible! How can He be real? This must be a flaw in christianity."
Then I was reminded, a need reminder, of what the Gospel is all about.
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
duh! How could I forget that? This is the power of the cross. This is the power of who Jesus is, and what He came to do. This is the beauty and glory of the Gospel. It humbles the most prideful heart, it gives grace to those who are are inadequate. This is the Gospel!
God sent His Son, as an atoning sacrifice for OUR sin! It's the only way I can live at peace with God. I can't fix my sin on my own. I can't, because I am so entrapped by it. But with the Holy Spirit's power I am able to.
God really humbles me in this aspect. Jerry Bridges mentions the parable Jesus told of the Pharisee and the tax collector. Luke 18:9-14 He talks about how the Pharisee prays, "God, I thank you that I am not like other men--robbers, evildoers, adulterers--or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." (v 11)
This is my favorite part of the story..."But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." " (v13)
Now, when I pray, I don't pray like the Pharisee, but what I realized, what God revealed to me through His Word is that, I think like the Pharisee does. "At least I'm not like her," "at least I don't treat people like that.." in order to think I'm on good terms with God, I compare myself with other sinners. That hides and ignores the truth of who I truly am though. When I compare myself before God on His holy throne, I am a sinner. When I compare myself with God, I'm worse than any murderer, any adulterer, any robber out there. Here's another thing I discovered, when I compare myself with God, I see my own sin, and have pity and sorrow on those who commit sin without realizing it everyday as well as the most scandulous criminials. Why? "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst." 1 Timothy 1:15
God reveals to me my scandulous heart. He has searched me and knows me. (Psalm 139:1) I despise God daily (2 Samuel 12:10). I know this, and I am saved from this. The most scandulous criminal to the most law abiding citizen are all in need of this message. Sin is sin.
Bridges takes this idea from a puritan in saying, "It does not matter whether our sin is scandalous or respectable, all our sin is sinful, only sinful, and altogether sinful." I am the worst of sinners because I know better. I know Christ came to die for my place, and yet I have lived like that means nothing to me. I have pity on those who live in that way and mourn for those who's hearts cannot be moved by this message, because it frees the very bondage sin has on an individual. and yet, they cannot see that.
Quoting Bridges again, "All sin, even sin that seems so minor in our eyes, is lawlessness. It is not just the breaking of a single command; it is a complete disregard for the law of God, a deliberate rejection of His moral will in favor of fullfilling one's own desires."
I act upon God's law, as a lawless citizen, a scandulous child of God. There is nothing I can do in my own power to save my soul from this.
It is only by Christ's amazing salvation through His death on the Cross, that saves such a sinner like myself.
I thank my Lord, and Savior for saving me, a sinner, and for God, my Father, having mercy on my scandulous being. Thank you for humbling me today.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
July 23 2007
"Why so downcast o my soul?
Put your hope in God!
Children of God, listen to me.
Your heart may hurt,
Your soul in need of movement,
but put your hope in God!
Do not put any trust in men,
they are only fickle.
God will heal the brokenhearted,
give rest to the soul
so it can come alive once again.
God is our rock, our salvation,
a fortress that cannot be shaken.
Praise the Lord O soul of mine!
Get out of your dark slump.
Trust in God once again
O lonely heart.
God will free you!
His compassion is great!
Praise the Lord O children,
listen to my song.
Take guidance to it,
so you may free yourself
from your gloomy chains.
Praise the Lord!"
Put your hope in God!
Children of God, listen to me.
Your heart may hurt,
Your soul in need of movement,
but put your hope in God!
Do not put any trust in men,
they are only fickle.
God will heal the brokenhearted,
give rest to the soul
so it can come alive once again.
God is our rock, our salvation,
a fortress that cannot be shaken.
Praise the Lord O soul of mine!
Get out of your dark slump.
Trust in God once again
O lonely heart.
God will free you!
His compassion is great!
Praise the Lord O children,
listen to my song.
Take guidance to it,
so you may free yourself
from your gloomy chains.
Praise the Lord!"
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