If you do you are not alone. The writer in Psalm 44 felt rejected, despised, and crushed. This in spite of the fact that the people hadn’t turned their back on God or become unfaithful. This whole chapter is full of pain and depression. It speaks of the faithful as rejected by God 1.
Notes:
Low-carb eating goes really well with a smoker. And the two of them go great with an unexpectedly cool, still morning. That’s what I was blessed with this morning, the first time I tried my hand at smoking some jerky. Why was I doing that? I love jerky but finding any pre-made without sugar is near impossible.
While I was at it, I decided to read outside this morning. Today was Psalm 19 that starts with “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.” The birds were giving some proclamation off in the distance as well. This little video sort of sums up how the whole process made me feel.
My much better half took the kids to an evening event. After a long day at work it was nice to be in a quiet house for an hour. It was nice to spend that time cooking for the ones I love.
When they got home I was able to have chopped steaks, sweet potato fries, and green beans waiting for dinner. Healthy, made from scratch, relaxing, and delicious.
Jesus is frequently portrayed as nothing but soft, sensitive, and never offensive. I think Jesus wasn’t that way. Do you view him that way? His followers won’t view him as a convenience, a comfort, or a merit badge you put on and say, “Ah, now I have Jesus.” He has us! We don’t add him to our life, we let him take over it.
He’s to be viewed as a precious treasure which we give up everything for 1. He’s to be so overpowering in our lives that our consideration for our own life and family might as well be hate when compared to him 2.
Do you feel this way about Jesus? If not, contemplate the Lord’s very own words in Matthew 7:21-23. He says “many.” He doesn’t say “some” or say “few”.
If your friends don’t think you’re at least a little too fanatical about serving Christ, why is that? Can your co-workers tell any difference between you and the rest of their peers? We should check ourselves to make sure we are doing the will of the Father. That’s as plain as it can be. You can say “Lord, Lord” but lip service won’t work. Only the ones doing God’s will make it.
I shudder to think of Jesus plainly telling me, “I never knew you.”
This seems to be one of a few themes running through my devotionals and sites I regularly read. Reading in Galatians 2:4 last night with the family I looked at the study note. The comment there was that they came in and did that because people can’t stand to see freedom in others.
Don’t let others control your freedom through conformity. It doesn’t really matter if that conformity comes from their pressure or your own comparisons.
Don’t compare too much to others, but do what feels natural, do what honors the Lord, do what really draws you closer to Him, even if that is perhaps a little more intellectual, a little less emotional than you might see modeled or hear described by other people.
I have been, shall we say, less than dedicated to eating healthy for a while. That is as a result of a poor reaction to some major stressors in my life.
I’m glad to say that I have started back. I don’t know why I ever quit when eating a meal like this on the patio with my wife is part of healthy eating!
I’ve always thought the effect that music has on us is so under-appreciated. This song has changed the direction of my day on several occasions recently. This lively song points to the the futility of our efforts and successes if they don’t include the main ingredient.
via What is the biggest problem facing Evangelicalism? Comfort
This article from UK Pastor Stephen Kneale has application across the pond as well, not just in the UK.
We’ve allowed our culture to define our religion and in doing so are losing it.
What comforting words from the mouth of our Lord. To think that God himself “delights” to give us the kingdom!
