My Thoughts Today

Have you ever stopped to think about what you, in this very moment, desire most? I could make a small list of things I desire: 

-To be debt free

-That Drew would have a teaching job for the fall

-To own a lovely house

-To have a new car

What is the deepest desire of your heart though? Of course it's easiest to think of worldly things you desire, at least it was for me. But that's because as humans we long for perfection and we're not living a "perfect life" until we are debt free, have jobs, own a house, drive a nice car, etc. As humans we try to seek fulfillment of this longing for perfection in earthly pleasures or achievements. It's our human nature. But if we're not careful, this often causes us to create idols. When we desire things before Christ, that is an idol that is standing in the way of drawing closer to Him. 

"You shall have no other gods before me." 

-Exodus 20:3

Jesus Christ is the only thing that can fulfill our human longing for perfection because we are made perfect in Him. We need to seek Him to find our fulfillment and feel completely satisfied. 

Lord, I want You and You alone to be the deepest desire of my heart because You fulfill my yearning for perfection.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

-Psalm 37:4

These are just some of my thoughts after doing my devotions today that I felt led to share. Let me know if you have any thoughts.

Happy November

A lot has happened in the last seven days of November…

We gained an hour over the weekend, 

it gets dark a lot earlier now, 

gas prices have gone back up, and 

America has re-elected President Obama for another four years in office. 

I am comforted in knowing that whatever happens, the Lord is sovereign over all, and it was His plan all along. He has a plan for us and for our country and the Lord will use Obama to carry out His plan. Our job now is to pray for wisdom for Obama as he tries to lead our country the best he can. I went on facebook for a quick minute last night just to read my notifications and came across this 'Bible Emergency Numbers' on 98.5 KTIS's facebook page. I think today would be a good day to share this with you being that we all have mixed feelings about the next four years. 

Bible Emergency Numbers

When you are sad, call on John 14

When people have failed you, call on Psalm 27

When you have sinned, call on Psalm 51or 1 John 1:8-9

When you are worried, call on Matthew 6:19-34

When you are facing danger , call on Psalm 91

When God seems far away, call on Psalm 139

When your faith needs encouraging, call on Hebrews 11

When you are lonely and scared, call on Psalm 23

When you grow bitter and critical, call on 1 Corinthians 13

When you feel no one is on your side, call on Romans 8:31-39

When you are seeking rest, call on Matthew 11:25-30

When you are seeking peace, call on John 14:27

When the world seems bigger than God, call on Psalm 90

When you want Christian assurance, call on Romans 8:1-30

When you feel you're failing, call on Psalm 121

When your prayers grow narrow or selfish, call on Psalm 67

When you need courage, call on Joshua 1

When you want to get along with others, call on Romans 12:9-21

When you don't understand what God is doing, call on Isaiah 55:8-9

When you want to live a happy life, call on Colossians 3:12-17

When you pray, call on Matthew 6:9-13

When you are in need, call on Philippians 4:19

When you are losing hope, call on 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

When you need an idea of Christianity, call on1 Corinthians 5:15-19

When you feel depressed, call on Psalm 27

When you want to do good works, call on John 15

When your pocketbook is empty, call on Psalm 37

When you're losing confidence in people, call on 1 Corinthians 13

When people seem unkind, call on John 15

When you're discouraged about your work, call on Psalm 126

If you find the world growing small, and you great, call on Psalm 19

I hope this is able to bring you comfort not only in the season this country is in, but in your own personal lives as well. Just remember overall that God is the one in control and He works everything out for His good. Happy November!

My Father

My Father…

loves me

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16

cares for me

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -Matthew 6:26

forgives me

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. -Psalm 103:12

is compassionate

Who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. -Psalm 103:4-5

is giving

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? -Romans 8:32

is understanding

O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. -Psalm139:1-2

is accepting

O Lord, you have searched me and know me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it all together. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. -Psalm 139:1-6

satisfies

For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. -Psalm 107:9

persistently pursues me

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. -Luke 19:10

is reason

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. -Isaiah 1:18

pardons

Bless the Lord who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases. -Psalm 103:3

heals

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

redeems

for I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. -Job19:25

is loving-kindness

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. -Psalm 86:15

renews

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. -Isaiah 40:31

is righteous

Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord. -Jeremiah 9:23-24

is gracious

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. -Ephesians 1:7-8

is sovereign

The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. -Psalm 103:19