MEASURING UP!

Words of scripture are written to encourage us.

She is clothed with Strength and Dignity and she laughs without fear of the Future. (Proverbs 31:25)

Until they make us question ourselves as a bookmark (gift) did to me.

When I turned it over, I saw the measurement “ruler”—-AARGG!

Conviction trumped encouragement.

Weariness had set in. I no longer had strength. I wasn't measuring up!

I was no longer clothed without fear! I seemed to daily put-on fear.

Was I measuring myself by the world's standards?

But God in His love and mercy used truth to remind me that the only true measurement we need comes from the shed blood of His son Jesus. 

John 15, a fave chapter of Scripture for me, was the needed reminder......

apart from me you can do nothing. (v. 5) Doing for Him is not measuring up. That's more self-credit. Walking with Him in His grace displays His strength, NOT ours.

...In quietness and trust is your strength... (Isaiah 30:15b) More than just alliance, it's reliance. (G. A. Smith, The Book of Isaiah, 1:128)

Leaning in---relying on Him alone! 

As I was typing these thoughts, the melody of the hymn, "My Hope is Built on Nothing Less" sealed it for me.

1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

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

2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]

3 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]

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne. [Refrain]

Words of scripture written to encourage me/us that have me humming & tapping my toes while sitting in my prayer chair!

BREAD AND WATER DIET

In the past, a prisoner's diet often included a "bread and water diet" as  a physical disciplinary measure. Result was often malnourishment.

In Scripture, Christ is described in bread and water terms. With Him we will never be malnourished. "Bread of Life" & "Living Water." Not to discipline but to encourage. Truth which believers can depend on ....a spiritual gift from above, received in our innermost being. A spiritual nourishment of daily bread and living water which which one must seek daily.

A spiritual diet of sorts to be passed along i.e. shared with others! 

Think of an artesian well spilling over.

Today may we allow the flow of the Spirit deep in our hearts, to bubble up & gush forth to others to comfort and encourage them. 

*in web view of this entry, click on living water label to see other entries.

Let it flow, let it flow….

9/3/12…..let it flow. My Utmost entry (9/2) reminded me that it’s not what I gain in my relationship with Christ that’s most important. Rather it’s what He pours out (in me) to flow through me that counts. Out of me should flow to others all the fullness of Christ.

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture* hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37-38)

In midst of meditation on these verses, imagine the thousands of lives that could be touched and refreshed by the lives of believers living out this truth and letting it flow.

For additional info on what scripture says about thirst, check out Isaiah 55:1 and Isaiah 58:11.

SOUL FOOD

10/19/09 Hungry for the Word? In God’s Word, Christ is revealed as the “Bread of Life” and the “Living Water.” Try to digest a small portion today. For me, great value comes from ingesting bit by bit, line upon line, as it were, rather than a large passage. Don’t get me wrong, context is gained from seeing the larger picture of a chapter or lengthy passage. But I tend to scan longer passages rather hurriedly, looking for words to pop out and speak to me and that’s not always a good thing. In years past I would skim a passage quickly in order to check another thing off of my spiritual “to do” list. Conviction! (Okay so I still do it on occasion.) It’s a faux meditation---a way of appeasing my conscience. Sometimes it’s just a habit----because it’s Monday and that’s what I do on Mondays. Not a bad habit to get washed by the water of the Word. It is cleansing. But God……knows the difference and so does my soul. It is way too easy to nibble at this banquet of spiritual food when I should be feasting.

Just as our physical bodies need “healthy” nourishment so does our soul. Without good food packed with vitamins and minerals we can become susceptible to disease---too weak to be effective in our work. Without our spiritual food, the scenario plays out in much the same way---weak in conviction, susceptible to temptation and unable to be effective in the work God has called us to do.

John 7:37-38

37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'"

Today, my friend, drink fully and joyfully expect the flash flood of love that will flow from you to others.