Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Great Peace

Great peace have those who love Your law,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
Psalm 119: 165

The Psalmist writes that those who love the law of the Lord will have great peace. Love the law of the Lord. What does that mean?

In the Old Testament, the law of the Lord was what is called the Pentateuch, the five books written by Moses. Anyone who wanted to know God would know those books intimately.

Today, we have the entire Bible available to us to know God. The more we know His word, the more we know Him. We've been given a tremendous gift. Loving the law of the Lord, the Bible, means that we want to spend time in it, reading it, studying it, internalizing it. Loving the law of the Lord means we want to "meditate on it day and night." (Psalm 1:2b)

But what about the second part of Psalm 119:165? What does it mean that those who love the law of the Lord won't stumble?

I believe it means that when we know the law of the Lord, when we know His words, we have a way to combat the lies of the enemy. We know we're in a battle with Satan, (Ephesians 6:12) and the only way to really respond to his lies is to know the words of the Lord. When he attacks, we can use God's own words to catch him in his lies. Jesus Himself was able to counter the lies of the enemy when He was being tempted in the desert. (Matthew 4:1-11)

If we know and love the law of the Lord, we can have peace in a growing relationship with God, and we can have confidence that our knowing God's word will keep us from stumbling.

How much do you love the law of the Lord? Do you meditate on it day and night? Do you desire to spend time with Him, getting to know Him through His word? Make a commitment with God right now to learn to love His law.

Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mother's Day

This is such a . . . not difficult . . . I guess, it's a poignant day. I love celebrating moms, and I'm so grateful for my own. I was able to talk with her for a while this evening, and I really love her. She's the best!

But there's a tiny bit of sadness in my heart that I don't celebrate this day as a mom myself. I've truly accepted God's plan for my life--a plan of childlessness. I really have. I'm able to do things that I probably wouldn't have been able to do had I had children.

I have health issues that have limited my capacity, and had I had children, I probably wouldn't be able to work full time AND teach part time AND speak part time. I see how God uses me through my work and ministries, and I recognize that I have time to do things I might not otherwise be able to do.

I spoke once and the lovely lady who introduced me said that some women have the gift of children. Others have the gift of time. And that's the gift I've been given.

So, even though there's that tiny bit of sadness in my heart, I know how very blessed I am. I have wonderful nieces and nephews. And now, I have a sweet great nephew (and I just learned, another on the way!).

Most of all, I have the assurance that God is using me in ways I don't always see.

I pray for each of you moms. You are blessed. I pray you know this.

Enjoy your children . . . and your grandchildren. And I pray that you thank our Lord for the gifts of your children.

Thursday, May 03, 2007

The Lord is Peace

Now may the Lord of peace Himself
give you peace always in every way.

The Lord be with you all.
2 Thessalonians 3:13

The Lord doesn't just give peace. He is peace. Peace has been defined as state of tranquility and serenity. As you think of that definition, do you picture God? Do you think of Him as tranquil or serene? Or do you think of Him as the great disciplinarian, standing somewhere in heaven ready to rain down wrath and judgment?

The Bible makes it clear that God will judge and, like a loving father, He does correct us when we're wrong.

But He's also peace itself.

What does that mean? It means that when we're in His presence, when we sit at the feet of the throne of our Lord, we can experience His peace washing over us like a warm summer rain.

Think about God being peace itself. What does that mean to you? How might that change how you picture God? How might that change how you spend time with Him? Do you want God's peace?

All you have to do is ask.

Ask Him now. Ask Him to fill you with His peace. Ask Him to fill you with Himself.