Heart and Mouth

" May these [Let the] words of my mouth and this [the]meditation of my heart be pleasing [acceptable] in Your [Thy] sight, [O] Lord, my Rock [Stength] and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14 NIV [KJV]

I had been working on another thought for this weeks blog....but yesterday this verse was part of my devotion...and it really spoke to me as I meditated on it...broke it apart and looked at it.
(It is a life verse of a very dear friend of mine, and when I see it I always think of her! ❤)

It is totally amazing to me how God has been continuing to show me "rest"  in verses that keep coming up!  As I read this, even though the word "rest" isn't in the verse it solidified things, for me at least.
REST, as I have said, isn't just the physical staying still, stop moving sort of rest.  Quiet our soul....so that we have nothing of ourselves in our minds as we rest....but we are filled with Him.



Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 1 Peter 1:8

It is fairly easy (well, maybe not for everyone) to control the words of our mouth.  In James it talks about how difficult it is to control the tongue. 
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6


but if we try hard we can usually stop those words from coming out our mouth.  BUT the thoughts are still in our mind!  We have them in our hearts! We may not tell that person just what we think of them, or that situation or that choice they made,  but we sure think about it....even dwell on it ...let it make us angry or bitter or resentful.  Or just self-righteous.
If the meditation of our hearts aren't all Christ then we can not expect our words to be pleasing.  And if we have "pleasant" words, but what is on our hearts is not pleasing ...those words are not pleasing to God.

The verse says ....the words of my mouth AND the meditation of my heart!  We must rest in Him so that we can capture every thought!

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

 So that what is going on inside is as pleasing to Him as the outside seems.
and what I see in scripture and what I know of the character of Christ.....He is as much or more concerned with matters of the heart....what's inside!  (another BLOG!)
The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

So as I read the verse, Psalm 19:14,
I realized that the stillness/rest I seek is for my soul....so that I can meditated on Him....so I am filled with Him.  and then the words of my mouth will flow from that...from Him...and then both....the mediations of my heart AND the words of my mouth please Him today!
And my prayer for you is the same!

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,  so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,  filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. 
Philippians 1:3-6, 9-11

Repost and Reflection

Monday February 19, 10pm
So after finding the glitch on last week's post and then reposting it Monday...for this week....I have been thinking about it...reflecting on it.
It isnt bothering me...per say....but I don't like it when I can't figure something out....why I can't find a reason for why it happend.
BUT isn't that what faith is all about?!
Not being able to understand they how's and whys ..but trusting anyway.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Hebrews 11:1-3


So whether it was a Blogger site issue...or operator error....it happened...I have since,  published the version I had thought I had originally posted!  So I reflect...what can I learn or take away from this?
1.  It was about being still and knowing ....maybe I needed to do the writing that again.....a reminder that it was for me ...to BE STILL and KNOW.

Tuesday February 20th 10pm
I was going to have a list of things.....but here it is in a nutshell....after last night....

AND KNOW

know that HE is the all knowing, all powerful, all loving GOD!  and no matter how things go, or don't go according to our plan, HE is still in CHARGE!

Saw my sister Monday night, she hadn't looked at the post on February 14th, but saw my "repost".  She had had a rough weekend. At a moment, Monday morning, when she needed something, anything, to help lift her.  Prayer time on her knees asking God to help her, He gave her peace, and then she sees my email.  She said the words were just what she needed at that moment!

I have said right along that this blog isn't mine....it is God's.  He inspired the inception, and He inspires the weekly posts, and obviously He is in control of when it is posted!!

I am humbled right down to my socks!  God used my words to touch someone in such a time of need...to make a difference in someone's day, and my sister's at that!  THANK YOU GOD! When I couldn't be with her in that moment....God was...but He allowed me to be a part of it!

Can I get an AMEN!
God is AWESOME!  (and so is my sister!!)

Be Still ....and Know

The last couple weeks, after a minor procedure (my gynecologist keeps telling me "remember, you just had major surgery!")....a minor procedure...
I have been reminded ...and reminded ...to rest and take it easy.   I don't mind sitting still....or even resting....after everything that needs to be done gets done!😉
So after 2 weeks I was making myself sit snd rest...chaffing just a bit..(shouldn't I be done with the resting now? but having very little energy to do much!)...I looked out my living room window at tree limbs laden with beautiful white snow..an almost white sky as the back drop..and this came..loud and clear!

 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God..."  Psalm 46:10

BE STILL

The story of Mary and Martha is one of my favorites and comes to mind when thinking of being still....not busy.  

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

Mary SAT ...which means she must have been still...and listened!  Some times we must be still to listen.

The same sort of thing with Samuel.  He was a boy...whom God was calling ...as he lay still!

and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.
Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  1 Samuel 3:3-10

We must take the time to rest, to hear.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
 Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord    forever. Psalm 23

We rest our bodies to restore and refresh, to give us strength....the same goes for our spirit.  In times of rest we are able to allow God to restore and refresh our soul, so that we have strength to continue to serve Him.

HE WILL give us rest!

  

AND KNOW

God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:12

God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord" exodus 6:2

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Revelation 22:13

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. John 6:35-36

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved." John 10:8

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." John 10:11

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; John 11:25

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  John 14:6

My prayer for you today is that you be STILL and KNOW ...HIM...the Light, the Bread, the Shepherd, the WAY, His LOVE!
How appropriate for Valentine's Day....the greatest love ever!

Enjoy time with the best Valentine Ever!!

Everlasting God by Jeremy Camp

With All My Heart, Soul, Mind, Strength....If I Can?

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’   Mark 12:28-30

With all your Heart.....what if your heart feels still, lifeless, dead?

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

With all your Soul....even when it  feels desolate and empty?

 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1Peter 1:8-9

With all your Mind.....what if you feel you have lost it, you can't even think clearly?

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,  so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ   Romans 15:5-6

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.  Romans 8:5-6

With all your Strength ....even when you feel you can't go on, you haven't the energy to move forward or to move at all?

 He gives strength to the weary
    and increases the power of the weak.
 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
 but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint.     Isiah 40:29-31

 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;

    he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.  Isiah 15:1-3

When we are able to give every "bit" of ourselves to Him, we are able to then love others as we should.  We have to shift our focus off ourselves, knowing, trusting, that God has got it, so that we can serve others as God created us to.

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:31


My prayer for you today....love HIM with all of "YOU" so that you can love others with all of HIM!!!

Come As You Are - by Crowder