Stay Awake

Therefore stay awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning- lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.

Mark 13:35-37

I read this last night while trying to stay awake. Oh God keep the words of Jesus at the front of my mind and steady in my heart today as I serve Him. That I might stand guard and awake awaiting His return. Father, keep my eyes open and help me: Stay awake.

JOYfully in Him,

The Quieter Disciplines of the Christian Life

I have been convicted through a bible study I am doing with the youth girls at our church. I told them that even though the title of the book we are going through is A Young Woman after God's Heart it doesn't mean that I am exempt from the Holy Spirit's piercing sword, that I would be in this study along side them as their "leader". Last week we looked at Martha and Mary and how Mary had a heart that was devoted, set apart for God and it is assumed that she might enjoy the quieter disciplines of the Christian life and then this week was A Heart that Love's God's Word where we went into these quiet disciplines. I admit that I am not in a place in my life where I have a disciplined Christian life as to having a devoted time each day to be hidden away from the distractions of the world to be with God, sad but true. I have always been one to understand the importance of being alone with God every day but lately I have found sleep to be more entertaining or been fooled into this idea. My heart's desire is to find a place to retreat to each morning just to be in His presence, in His word and in prayer. I know what I must do and it is as simple as just doing it throwing out all of the excuses that I find under my pillow each morning! This morning I opened and closed my eyes to the sound of my alarm 4 times... yes 4 times I reset my alarm from 5:15 to 7:00!! Disgraceful. My biggest sacrafice at this time is the pleasure of sleep and the pain of sleep you see because I do not like to go to bed early (anything earlier than 10:30) and getting up any earlier than 8:00 right now. I use to be so disciplined that I got up each morning between 4:30 and 5:00 for my quiet time with the Lord, where did my discipline go I wonder. I am working on getting it back and am saying with Joshua each day... Choose this day whom you will serve... in my case God or sleep?

Have a wonderful day and reflect on these verses:

Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the Lord. (Genesis 19:27)

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. (Psalm 5:3)

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

JOYfully in Him,

Seek the LORD

Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name;
make known His deeds among the peoples!

Sing to him, sing praises to Him;
tell of all His wonderous works!

Glory in His holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!

Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek His presence continually!

Psalm 105:1-4

The Bible

But when I come into God's presence and hold His word in my hand, I feel so very ignorant, insignificant, and needy of His instruction. Further, I feel an incredible sense of awe that He would stoop to reveal the secrets of His heart to me. Surely such riches are worth whatever time, discipline, and sacrafice are necessary to mine them from His treasure store. (A Place of Quiet Rest, Demoss)

Oh that we would feel this way about the living word of God! The LIVING word of God. How we have become numb to the awesome fact that our bible is the WORD of God, it is His words spoken to us. Do you realize how blessed you are to own a bible and if your home is anything like ours you probaly own more than one. Imagine living deprived of the word, it is no where to be found. We have grown to take the abundance of the bible for granted, we do not know what it is like to be with out it. It has been apart of our lives since we began to know God and for some even before. Oh... do we realize how precious and infinitely valuble our bibles are! Listen to to the story of Mary Jones and Margaret Nikol and cherish your bible for what it is, the word of God living and active.

By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Psalm 33:6

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.

Psalm 119:97

I want the heart of the Psalmist! Oh how I love your law! so much that I am willing to make the sacrafices needed just so that I may abide in it! If I must give up sleep so be it, it is well worth it.

Praying in the Word

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. ~James 5:16

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ~1 Thessalonians 5:9

Continue to pray...

Peace left, Peace found

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. ~John 14:27

To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ~Romans 8:6

Peace is not always found in our circumstances, in a clean house, in perfect behaving children, in a believing husband, a cup of coffee, in grandchildren, in the abundance of money or in a certain "season" of the year, not the peace that Christ has left us. We are fooled if we believe that if we can obtain these we will have a peaceful mind for it will soon fade away as all things the world has to offer us. It is a shame that we often find ourselves caught up in the mind of the flesh so taken by the things of this world and what they have to offer us. The peace of Christ is eternal and unfading if we will hold fast and stand firm in our faith that He has given us we will be reminded of it's continual presence in our lives.