My mind and emotions have been running around like crazy recently. I’ve had a few ideas, one of which is a direct-selling job. Another is the possibility of taking a three-month course at a local institute. The hardest part is not knowing. I toss the options around in my head, and do a crazy amount of research, but I just am not certain what to do.
I think another difficult aspect is letting go. My nature is to try to figure everything out, and to make sure what the right decision is. But God has been teaching me that I need to be still. To quiet my mind, calm my heart, and rest my body. What I DON’T want to do is to move ahead of Him, and to take on something that is not His will. That would be a road that I could not and would not want to travel.
“I do not believe we have even begun to understand the wonderful power there is in being still. We are in such a hurry, always doing, that we are in danger of not allowing God the opportunity to work. You may be sure that God will never say to us, ‘Stand still,’ ‘Sit still,’ or ‘Be still,’ unless He is going to do something. This is our problem regarding the Christian life: we want to do something to be Christians, instead of allowing Him to work in us.” ~ Crumbs
I’ve found that I’ve had to force myself to let go of these decisions. To take my meddling hands off of them. It’s amazing how God has already begun to lead me. Just little things, but I know that they are from Him. I believe that if I continue to quiet my heart and listen for His voice, He will show me the right way to go.
“Be still and trust My plan, I’m more than you think I am.” ~ Danny Gokey
Can I just say, it is so neat how God is opening my eyes to see these “gifts” of His each day? How wonderful it is to be able to focus on the positive things that He provides for me, and to give Him the praise that He deserves!
A Song of Praise – We sang the song “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin last night at our church worship group, and I heard it again today on the radio in my car. 🙂 It’s a beautiful song, giving praise to God as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. It also ties in the fact that this all-powerful God loves each of us and is deeply involved in our lives.
Words of Truth – Also at our church last night, the worship leader spoke words of God’s truth that encouraged my heart. Our area had just received a covering of snow on the ground. She stated that when snow first falls from heaven and covers the earth, it is very white and beautiful and flawless. But when we trudge through it with our feet, we muck it all up. This is comparable to our lives. When God allows certain situations to unfold for us, they start out beautifully as we receive them by faith and move forward with Him. But when we try to manipulate and change and control, we “muck it all up”! I just thought that this was a good word picture that reminds us to trust our lives into His hands.
A Light in the Distance – After my doctor’s appointment today, I came out of the building to my car so that I could drive home. However, something told me to check my car’s tires. Sure enough, one of them was extremely low. I put air into the tire and the machine read that it was at the correct PSI, but the tire was still almost flat. I had no other way to get home, so I prayed, and drove slowly back to our neighborhood. I was so worried that the tire would go flat and that I would be stuck on the side of the road. However, as our house came into view, it was like seeing a “light in the distance.” I pulled into our driveway with gratefulness that God had guided me safely home.
Praise God for Songs Heard, Soft Words, and Lights Seen! ❤
Have you ever wondered about the meanings of the beautiful names for Jesus mentioned in the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6 in Scripture? I have! And I wanted to do a little research on them. Here is an excerpt from an article that I found, entitled “Prince of Peace,” posted on December 21, 2009, updated on March 17, 2013 by Skip Moen. Enjoy! 🙂
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6
Prince of Peace – The last title in Isaiah’s name for the child is the most startling of them all. Today, we are so used to the “Prince of Peace” appellation for the Messiah that we no longer see how out-of-place this translation really is. We don’t realize that the Hebrew word sar (in sar-shalom) is almost always a designation for a vassal king or a subordinate authority. Isaiah does not want us to make this mistake. In fact, this is the only place in all Scripture where the combination sar-shalom is used. That should tell us to be very careful about how we translate this title. It is not to be translated in the usual way. This child is not a subordinate or lesser official in the Kingdom, as are all the rest of thesarim in the Old Testament. When Isaiah coins the title, sar-shalom, he is not thinking of Yeshua as a subordinate god. Isaiah is thinking of the further purpose of the Messiah, and that further purpose is not just about “peace” or about who has authority over peace.
How do we know that Isaiah doesn’t think of sar in the typically Hebrew way? Because Isaiah has already given us two other titles that can only be ascribed to God Himself, el-gibbor and abi-ad. The same child who is “mighty God” and “eternal Father” is also sar-shalom. So, “prince” cannot be correct. Some other translation is required.
To determine what sar means, we must think about the word shalom. Of course, shalom does mean “peace,” and the alliteration “Prince of Peace” has a pleasant sound. But “peace” is far too limited an understanding of shalom. Shalomis a word that really means well-being in all aspects of life; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. When one Jew greeted another with the word “Shalom,” it need not mean, “Have a nice day.” It meant, “May all that you need for your well-being today come to you this day.” That’s shalom. This child is the official in charge of all shalom. This child is the “well-being authority.” If you really want shalom, then you must come to him, for he is the one divinely ordained to give it.
Of course, this means that Yeshua grants peace with God. But that is not the limit of His authority. All that is necessary for men to find well-being is under His care. When Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing,” He meant it. No effort toward well-being is accomplished without the expressed authority of Jesus, even if no one ever acknowledges His power over this effort. All that I need for a life well-lived is to be found in Him.
No, “Prince of peace” is not enough. His authority is much bigger than that. John tells us that His authority extends to all creation; that everything came into being through Him. This is no subordinate ruler. This is no prince. This is the King of glory, the absolute monarch of the ages, the Alpha and Omega of all that is. This child is Pele-yoez-El-gibbor-Abi-ad-Sar-Shalom. Quake before Him! Kneel in submission!
And then remember this: Amazingly, He loves you. Now you can rejoice!
“Offering,” (Christmas version)
Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star While angels sang to lowly shepherds Three wisemen seeking truth, they traveled from afar Hoping to find the Child from Heaven falling on their knees They bow before the humble Prince of peace
We bring an offering of worship to our King No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing Jesus, may You receive the honor that You’re due O Lord, I bring an offering to You
The sun cannot compare to the glory of Your love There is no shadow in Your presence No mortal man would dare to stand before Your throne Before the Holy One of Heaven, it’s only by Your blood It’s only through Your mercy, Lord I come
I bring an offering of worship to my King No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing Jesus, may You receive the honor that You’re due O Lord, I bring an offering to You
I bring an offering of worship to my King No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing Jesus, may You receive the honor that You’re due O Lord, I bring an offering to You
We bring an offering to You We are an offering to You An offering of praise we sing An offering to You
We are an offering to You, Jesus An offering of praise we sing An offering to You We are an offering, oh Lord
We are an offering of worship to our King No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing Jesus, may You receive the honor that You’re due O Lord, we bring an offering to You O Lord, we bring an offering
Offering to You We bring an offering to You We are an offering to You
Knees to the Earth 