example and praise

I spent some time in Psalm 71 this morning. Verse seven caught my attention above all others:

"My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection."

It caused me to measure up my life. Am I a representation of this verse to the world? Can others claim me as an example because God has been my strength and protection? It's an even bolder statement to claim for oneself. I think of the many times that lack of faith has not carried me through a trial but paralyzed me. Or when worry got the best of me, as in a rocking chair swaying back and forth but going nowhere. I am shamed by the thoughts of, "what if..." when I clearly knew what to say or what to do but did not do.

Oh wretched woman that I am.

I love the following verse:
"That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long."

I know the real me, the one that worries, the one whose faith wavers and even lacks it at times. I know me, the one who stares at the promises of God and dares to pray, "Lord will you really protect me?" Because I know me so well, that is why I can never stop praising Him. Praise, despite me, declares God's glorious strength and protection in my life. Praise reminds me that He is who He says He is. Praise speaks His promises and quiets my fears. Praise can, and praise will, mold me to be an example. So praise on dear friend and you too can be an example to many!

[photo credit]

email: pressing on to know God

I was checking my email at work, when one unread email caught my attention. I work for a faith based company and we receive daily emails with a verse, a Christian thought or an encouraging quote titled Spiritual RX. However, the title of this email read: Pressing On To Know God. For sure I opened it and read it. I am so glad that I did. Below I have copied the email for you and pray that you would also press on to know God is a mighty way this year.


Haiti, 2012

Pressing On

By Chaplain Roy Gaton, DMin., BCC

Let us press on to know the Lord; for as certain as the break of dawn He comes to know us. – Hoseas 6:3

Pressing on to know the Lord. What a New Year’s resolution! At the beginning of each new year, one of the most common activities for everyone is making a list of New Year’s resolutions. Usually at the top of the list is exercising more, losing weight, taking a vacation, spending more time with family. But how about this one: Pressing on to know God. That means more than a mere acknowledgment of a higher power. It means an ever-deepening acquaintance with him.

As surely as the day follows night, the awareness that God exists will dawn on every soul who wholeheartedly “feels after him” (Acts 17:27). But if one goes no further, this realization fades quickly into nothingness.

On the other hand, if we are earnest, we will not be content with the mere knowledge that God exists. In other words, the more we know God, the more we want to get to know him. Having encountered God, having learned to appreciate his character, we long to know him better. We look forward with eagerness to times of communion with him.

For most people, there is no better time for these encounters than first thing in the morning, after a good night’s sleep. It is then that the mind is the clearest and least encumbered by the cares of our everyday lives. For me, this is a very special time at the beginning of the day when I “get to know” my God more.

I would like to share with you a quote that has been very important in my life as a pastor, husband, father, and man.

“Consecrate yourself to God in the morning; make this your very first work. Let your prayer be, take me O Lord as wholly thine. I lay all my plans at thy feet. Use me today in thy service. Abide with me, and let all my work be wrought in thee. This is a daily matter. Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as his providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.”—Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ.

As you commune with God morning by morning throughout this year, may your knowledge of him be profound, intimate, and loving.