Thoughts of yesterday May 29, 2015

I am so thankful for the friendships I have made at work. For the sincere affection I have for the women there. I am grateful to be where I am in life. Working hard and providing for my family paying off debts and able to travel. God has been so merciful to me and let me recount some of his tender mercies towards me.

1) fellowship with God
2) church family that encourages
3) family
4) friends
5) opportunities to serve
6) for love that you supply for others
7) that you have shown me who you are through your word
8) that there is no greater love but this that a man should lay down his life for his friends
9) your kindness you have provided for me, cared for me, love me, and more than anything you have changed me for the better

There are so many things, moments, and you answered my prayers.
It's weird because I has started this post to share about my evening yesterday. I was very thankful for the friendship I have with my boss and her sister. I went to a bridal shower. I was thankful for the chance to serve. I was out of my element yesterday, but it made me realize as usual that I want to be a light in the world. By God's grace I want to shine the light of Jesus Christ in all places.
I thank you God, because you have not left me alone, because you are the one who can change a person, because you have shown me so much mercy. I still don't understand why you would have so much kindness to a person like me. Even in my walk I have gone up and down, and had so much bitterness against you. You did not treat me according to what I've done but instead revealed your character. You are faithful when I am NOT faithful because you cannot deny who you are, the faithful God. Be with your children those who by their fruit, by reflecting your Son Jesus Christ show they are yours. Grow them up Lord, reveal your glory! You and strong and mighty shaking the foundations of the world when you remove the veil. To you belongs the Glory, the Honor, You have Dominion over all things Amen.

The Dangers of Television

I live with my family and it is so easy for them to sit in front of the TV for hours. I can't because I have been convicted by many of the things on TV. Whenever I watch something I ask myself. "Does it glorify sin?", "Does it blaspheme God?", "Does it use profane language?", "Is the humor crude and vulgar?". Because of this only once in a while do I watch something and its usually a kids movie.
What does watching television do? I portrays sin with humor and nonchalance. The humor is often sexual. It does not compel a person to seek Christ. It deadens one's conscience.
So I flee but I must admit I did go to the last Fast and Furious movie that I might spend time with my brother, but I sincerely hated that movie. I love my family, I just can't watch what they do. So I find myself crocheting in a quiet room. Spending my quiet time with the Lord there. I am glad that my peace rests on Christ and not on man. It is well with my soul. I just pray that people would see the glory of God and that it would make this song true for them.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There's a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

A song in my heart

Ephesians 5:18-21 NASB
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Colossians 3:15-17 NASB
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.  Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Yesterday night after cooking and the television was off a lot of hymns came to my mind. Great is Thy Faithfulness, How Great Thou Art, and others, I am thankful that at this time we have such rich songs by which one can hear the attributes and worship a Great God, the One True God, The three and yet one Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

When my soul is troubled I find my help in Christ. "I lift my eyes to the hills..." Psalm 121. "Lift me to the Rock that is higher than I..." Psalm 61.

I am including the lyrics below that whoever sees may sing this and be encouraged in the Lord.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name.

Refrain
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

To gain wisdom

So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.

I have been thinking a lot about death about living life without regrets that I was not able to serve God as I should. I have been very contemplative over a lot of things. I do not want my thinking to lead me to sin but when I look at all those things I am daunted and feel overwhelmed.

I guess I will just ask the Lord for this and wait upon the Lord.

Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!

A struggle

God does not lack in any way just because I am not married. Just because I am single does not make Him any less good, any less kind, any less merciful because of the work He did on the cross on behalf of his bride.

So where does that leave me. I struggle and I hate absolutely hate to talk about it because I have mentioned it before. I don't want to hear that same advice as I have heard time and time again. I know people mean well but sometimes I just want someone who truly understands to point me to Christ, to pray together, Its a hard thing to find.