There are millions who go through life feeling alone, asking, "Where do I belong?"
This classic song by Michael W. Smith reminds us that we need God's light to find our place in this world.
Chorus:
Looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
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DAY 8
Point to Ponder: I was planned for God's pleasure.
Verse to Remember: "The LORD takes pleasure in his people." Psalm 149:4a (TEV)
Question to Consider: What common task could I start doing as if I were doing it directly for Jesus?
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"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men."
ReplyDeleteMy common task is my job. Realizing I am doing my job directly for Jesus; changes my bad attitude into good. It changes my grunting and groaning into gratefulness. It transforms the mundane and makes it more exciting. It makes me focus on my integrity rather than being concerned about everyone else's performance.
Just a bit of honesty, daily readings are hard for us to do consistently. Jess and I try to read one day ahead - like tonight we'll read chapter 9 so we can meditate on it tomorrow (no way we'd get up early enough to read it in the morning!) We're doing ok, but we forgot last night and are catching up tonight. So I read over the past couple posts... and a really simple comment struck me: God loves me unconditionally! That is really awesome.
ReplyDeleteGetting to today's question, I can start doing my job more with Jesus in mind. Jess says she can do the daily tasks (even the dreaded dishes) for Him. She says she's been working on thinking about Jesus throughout her day, and even used to sing worship songs quietly while walking through the halls of her former workplace.
I think it's really neat that worship is more than music... which is what I always thought it was. Everything we do can be worship if done with a heart and attitude desiring to bring glory to God.
I was struck by the truth in the end of the chapter about the obesessive love and thoughts when you first fall in love. How true. It makes me sad to know I was made to love like that for God- but that kind of love goes towards other things. I need to start loving God as "my new man" :) as well as my father and my savior.
ReplyDeleteThe common task I can change for Jesus is sleeping. I have gotten into a bad habit of staying up late reading all night (book addict) or watching movies or t.v.. I am tired and unmotivated the next day to get things done. I just like the house when the kids are sleeping- Jeff and I get to spend time together and no one needs constant attention- breaking up arguments, meeting needs, diapers, feeding, you get the idea. But I would be a better Mom/wife/person if I would give up my late night habits, at least as often as possible, and get some sleep! I think that would please God that I would be getting the rest I need to do his will the next day- it would be directly for him, and not meeting my own wants and needs of entertainment.
I was struck also Lynn and you know what when you think about it God is so easy to fall in love with! I wish it were that way with my marriage! I am confused however where it says the bible tells us that God grieves, gets jealous and angry, etc. *******Please help me understand that.???**** Why would God get jealous? I love emotions, I wish Mike would realize God gave them to us to use! Also, we worship for God's benefit but I'm confused with saying I got a lot out of it (the worship today), I do get a lot out of it I don't believe that should be wrong do you? It is pleasing, it feels good.
ReplyDeleteColleen- God grieves when we are hurt or falling away from him in our lives. He grieves when there is sin. God is a jealous God when we put other "gods" (which could even be addictions) before him- obviously there are people all over the world who worship idols and other "gods" (and you can even look at technology as idol worship). Idolatry is one of the 10 commandments and God wants to be first in our life. He's a jealous God because he created us to worship him and he doesn't want us to worship anything else. He is angry towards evil. He is still a judge of righteousness and perfection- loves us more than anything and wants us to turn to him and love him. If you look up some of those things in the Bible there's info that explains it- probably better than me :) I love emotions too and we have them to enhance our experience of life. I'm thankful for that.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to feel great when you are worshipping. I think that the important thing to remember is that it won't always feel that way every time and so it shouldn't be always emotion based because there will be times you won't want to do it because you won't feel that connection. I think the book is trying to say it should be built on love and faith to get you through those times when you feel like God isn't listening. It is trying to teach you to worship as a discipline. I hope that I am helping you! But I agree it is pleasing and feels good- just to be in nature or hear a really inspirational song or read something in the Bible that really hits home is great to me. There's nothing wrong with feeling good about it!