Hey, folks! Sorry I have been so silent lately. Jet lag was really a killer this time. I'm still getting up early but trying to use that time wisely. Since I last wrote I have had some incredible quiet times with the Lord. In spite of that, I have still chosen on occasion NOT to meet with him. Why do I do that? Why do I let other things get in the way of meeting with him. When I know he wants to have a relationship with me and at times reveals himself so sweetly to me - why do I still wake up some mornings and choose NOT to meet with him? This morning I spent some time pondering that question with him. It was the day to read Psalm 78. Go there and read it and you will be amazed. The children of Israel were just like me! God had delivered them in some miraculous ways. He had parted the sea for them to escape. He had fed them manna from heaven when there was nothing else to eat. He had revealed himself in ways like a pillar of fire! Wow! And yet, they still - from time to time - chose NOT to meet with him.
Praise God his mercies are new every morning! Today is a new day. And I have chosen to start it with him.
Thank you, Lord, for having patience with me as you had with the chidlren of Israel!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Quiet Time Resources
What an incredible few weeks I have had as I have been becoming "radically intimate" with my Lord. It is truly an adventure to be in relationship with Him. I have been experimenting with all kinds of resources in my quiet time with Him. You know you can NEVER run out of possibilities of devotion to God.
I am nearly finished with the book "Six Secrets to a Power Quiet Time" by Catherine Martin. It has been so helpful in revitalizing my quiet time. I do hope you will check on that resource.
I have also been using some other resources. My Bible, of course, is what I open first every morning. (Did I mention that I am NOT a "morning person" but the last few weeks the Lord has helped me get up and get going with Him?) I have started off reading one psalm every morning. While I am reading through it, I watch for a verse or phrase that really stands out to me. When I am finished reading the psalm, I write the verse or phrase that stuck out to me in my spiral notebook (It is a notebook that I just use for my quiet time.) I focus on that verse or phrase for a few minutes and then I began to write a prayer to the Lord concerning the insight He has given me concerning that verse or phrase. For instance, this morning I read Psalm 65. The first verse stuck out to me almost immediately. "There will be silence before You and praise in Zion, O God." I began to think about Him being the King of Kings and Creator of all things and the awe and respect He deserves. And as I began reading through that psalm again, I began to list all that I learned about Him from it. I listed it in this way:
You:
* hear prayers
* are who all men come to
* forgive transgressions
* answer us in righteousness
* are the trust of all the ends of the earth
* established the mountains
* still the roaring seas
* make the dawn and sunset shout for joy
* visit the earth
* greatly enrich the earth
* prepare the grain and the earth
* water the earth
* settle its ridges
* soften it with showers
* bless its growth
* crown the year with your bounty
Your paths drip with fatness
The pastures drip
The hills gird themselves with rejoicing
The meadows are clothed with flock
The valleys are covered with grain
THEY SHOUT FOR JOY.
Then I began to think about how God is all that and how He does all of that and yet He still wants a personal relationship with little bitty me. He is so awesome. He is so great. What a God.
I also began to think about the last section that seems to be pointing to preparation for harvest. I committed myself, my husband, and my children again to Him. He is preparing all of our fields for harvest. We all want to bring Him a harvest of glory.
Hey, that was just from reading ONE PSALM!
I also use a reading through the Bible program - the one I use is a Max Lucado version. I love how he brings Old and New Testament together as well as a Psalm and Proverb together with a recurring theme.
Some other devotionals that I have used that will really bless your heart:
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (deep but so good)
31 Day of Praise by Ruth Myers
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
Sometimes I listen to a CD of praise music. I have copied the words down on my computer so I can sing along. When I get back to Singapore and we get our shipment from West Africa, I am looking forward to having our Clavinova (electric piano) and hymnbook. I can play and sing sometimes in my quiet time. If you don't sing, just sit and listen. It can really bring you into His presence.
If I have time each day I delve into some kind of bible study. Right now I am doing Beth Moore's study called "A Heart Like His". I don't get to this part every day but I certainly do it as much as I can.
I can't wait to get back to Singapore and find me a basket to put all of my Quiet Time materials in so they will be handy.
Remember the PRAYER outline in doing your quiet time:
* Prepare your heart (reading a psalm, listening to a worship song, etc.)
* Read and study God's Word
* Adore God in prayer (that's what I did this morning as I was writing down all He was and does)
* Yield yourself to Him (take time to just sit and listen and reflect - He wants to speak to you but maybe you are not letting Him get a word in edgewise!)
* Enjoy His presence (it is sweet)
* Rest in His love
More to come....
I am nearly finished with the book "Six Secrets to a Power Quiet Time" by Catherine Martin. It has been so helpful in revitalizing my quiet time. I do hope you will check on that resource.
I have also been using some other resources. My Bible, of course, is what I open first every morning. (Did I mention that I am NOT a "morning person" but the last few weeks the Lord has helped me get up and get going with Him?) I have started off reading one psalm every morning. While I am reading through it, I watch for a verse or phrase that really stands out to me. When I am finished reading the psalm, I write the verse or phrase that stuck out to me in my spiral notebook (It is a notebook that I just use for my quiet time.) I focus on that verse or phrase for a few minutes and then I began to write a prayer to the Lord concerning the insight He has given me concerning that verse or phrase. For instance, this morning I read Psalm 65. The first verse stuck out to me almost immediately. "There will be silence before You and praise in Zion, O God." I began to think about Him being the King of Kings and Creator of all things and the awe and respect He deserves. And as I began reading through that psalm again, I began to list all that I learned about Him from it. I listed it in this way:
You:
* hear prayers
* are who all men come to
* forgive transgressions
* answer us in righteousness
* are the trust of all the ends of the earth
* established the mountains
* still the roaring seas
* make the dawn and sunset shout for joy
* visit the earth
* greatly enrich the earth
* prepare the grain and the earth
* water the earth
* settle its ridges
* soften it with showers
* bless its growth
* crown the year with your bounty
Your paths drip with fatness
The pastures drip
The hills gird themselves with rejoicing
The meadows are clothed with flock
The valleys are covered with grain
THEY SHOUT FOR JOY.
Then I began to think about how God is all that and how He does all of that and yet He still wants a personal relationship with little bitty me. He is so awesome. He is so great. What a God.
I also began to think about the last section that seems to be pointing to preparation for harvest. I committed myself, my husband, and my children again to Him. He is preparing all of our fields for harvest. We all want to bring Him a harvest of glory.
Hey, that was just from reading ONE PSALM!
I also use a reading through the Bible program - the one I use is a Max Lucado version. I love how he brings Old and New Testament together as well as a Psalm and Proverb together with a recurring theme.
Some other devotionals that I have used that will really bless your heart:
My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers (deep but so good)
31 Day of Praise by Ruth Myers
The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer
Sometimes I listen to a CD of praise music. I have copied the words down on my computer so I can sing along. When I get back to Singapore and we get our shipment from West Africa, I am looking forward to having our Clavinova (electric piano) and hymnbook. I can play and sing sometimes in my quiet time. If you don't sing, just sit and listen. It can really bring you into His presence.
If I have time each day I delve into some kind of bible study. Right now I am doing Beth Moore's study called "A Heart Like His". I don't get to this part every day but I certainly do it as much as I can.
I can't wait to get back to Singapore and find me a basket to put all of my Quiet Time materials in so they will be handy.
Remember the PRAYER outline in doing your quiet time:
* Prepare your heart (reading a psalm, listening to a worship song, etc.)
* Read and study God's Word
* Adore God in prayer (that's what I did this morning as I was writing down all He was and does)
* Yield yourself to Him (take time to just sit and listen and reflect - He wants to speak to you but maybe you are not letting Him get a word in edgewise!)
* Enjoy His presence (it is sweet)
* Rest in His love
More to come....
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