Sunday Scripture

But we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation worketh

patience;

And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

And hope maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 5:3-5

I tagged these verses in my Bible after I read it the other night because I wanted to share them with you.

Psalm 66:10-12

For thou, O God, hast proved us:  thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.

Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

I was having a discussion with my cousin on Friday night and we were talking about trials.  So often, we as Christians, do not want to accept the trials God puts us through.  Really, how many of us are jumping up and down shouting, "Over here!  I want a trial, please!  It's about time I had something difficult come into my life.  Life has been way too easy for me these days."  Ummmm......no.  But it's through the trials that we draw closer to Him.  We were created to have fellowship with the Father. If He takes us through a fiery season and it draws us closer to Him, then what better thing could we ask for? 

And the most interesting thing I noticed about these verses is that the Psalmist is referencing God.  He noticed that God brought "us into the net" and God "caused men to ride over our heads."  I love the clear visual picture I get in that passage.  Ouch!  :)

And the passage that I quoted ends with "but thou hast brought us out into a wealthy place."  Incredible! 

On the way home from MI tonight, I was flipping through my uber-favorite book Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? In the chapter I was reading, the author referenced the story of Ruth. 

Here are two thoughts I have highlighted:  

He works on a scale much larger than our individual lives.

and

God's quiet providence was already at hand, but Naomi couldn't perceive it.

It's an encouragement to be reminded of the bigger picture.  It is easy to get hung up on the little things that don't happen according to the plan.  But each trial is God's hand at work to perfect me beyond what I can fathom!

I love lists and cause & effect verses in the Bible.  Lists make everything so straight-forward.  It's not that I think that the Bible isn't straight-forward but I just love lists. 

Anyways, I just wanted to share some {what I call} "cause and effect" verses.

It is a faithful saying:

For if we be dead with him,

we shall also live with him.

If we suffer,

we shall also reign with him.

If we deny him,

he also will deny us.

{Here's the clincher for me.}

If we believe not,

yet he abideth faithful: 

he cannot deny himself.

II Timothy 2:11-13

Lately, it seems that I have been referencing my spiritual trial this summer more frequently.  These verses really hit home.  God has said that He is faithful.  I had to believe Him.  God has said that He will never leave me.  I had to believe Him.  God has said that He cleanseth me from all my sin.  He has given me salvation.  I had to believe Him.  But even if I do not believe, He is still faithful.  He cannot deny Himself.  He is faithful.  Wow!  What an awesome assurance and thought!

on being single

Here's the follow-up post to my multitude monday post yesterday.

On Friday night, my parents and I were chatting and weddings was one of the topics. I commented that if I ever get married, I have determined that my wedding will be focused on two things: family and thankfulness. Because I will be adding family {my husband's} and he will be adding family {mine}. And family is really important to me. The second thing I would like to focus on is thankfulness. Thankfulness to my church family and my parents for investing in my life. And most importantly, thankfulness to God. I was being funny when I said, "For sure, we will be praising the Lord because at that point, it will be an absolute miracle if I ever get married. It will just be a service filled with PRAISE that I am FINALLY getting married!" I told the girl I visit with on Saturday that it will be a regular day of Thanksgiving in the middle of the year if I get married. Maybe everyone should come dressed as Pilgrims? Haha....JOKING...of course!

Now here's a more serious part.

I have had a discussion with another single friend about praying & singleness and she understood what I was getting at. I have had this same discussion with my Mom and she has encouraged, prompted me to pray more because that is what I need to do.

So when I pray diligently about being single and getting married, I never ask the Lord for an answer to my prayer within a time table. If the prayer doesn't get answered does that mean the Lord doesn't answer prayer? Of course not! I believe that He answers three ways: yes, no, wait. But I must admit that I don't have enough faith to pray within a specific time table. So I pray, "...help thou mine unbelief." {Mark 9:24...I know the sentence before it is Lord, I believe.} Anyways, when I pray more about getting married, the guy finding me, etc...I feel like I get more anxious. This is supposed to happen and quickly because I am praying more diligently! So when no magical guy appears, I quickly become discouraged and not content with my singleness. Focus on the key words: not content. And let me say that life is so much easier, joyful when I'm content.

So I jump ship. I quit praying. Sinful, shallow me! But, I'm content, I argue!

THEN. Last week in my devotions, I read this portion of Scripture:

"...Open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

...And they walked in their own counsels.

Oh {love that word in the Bible; shows such emotion!} that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee."

That was a major jolt for me! That is not the entire portion of Scripture in Psalm 81: 10-16 but I included what was a blessing for me. My pastor has a sermon that I've heard in the past based on verse 10. Basically, God WANTS to bless me but I'm sitting here with my mouth sewn shut because I'm CONTENT. When if I open it up in PRAYER, HE wants to FILL IT! Silly, shallow me!!!! My heart's desire is to be a wife and mother. God knows this! So why not pray this with my mouth wide open. I have pictured in my mind little baby birds just hatched, squawking, their mouths w i d e open for food.

So you can guess what I'm up to now!! I'm back to praying WITH MY MOUTH OPEN!

I found this verse while doing a word search here.

Jeremiah 13:16

Give glory to the Lord your God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.

Very, very good!