Lost in Psalms and Music

I'm 4 weeks in to a 10-week course on Psalms and am enraptured. The Psalms are such a great place to lose yourself when totally immersed. There are so many verses to share, but so little time to get on the net. I'll share again soon!

By the way, for those who enjoy my music, I recommend www.air1.com. It's an online radio station that may also have some airwaves near you. It's an upbeat positive alternative to regular radio. I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Movin' On with the Box Closed and at His Feet

After my bout with doubt this morning, I have pulled my head out, repacked the box and handed back to God. I feel His strength and peace once again. The power of prayer! Amen!


Since I don't want this blog to ever be about money, I have started a 2nd blog about earning money so I can earn some money. I'd like to thank Trina (http://adirondack-trina.blogspot.com/) and Amanda (http://motormouthmandi.blogspot.com/) for inspiring me with their blogs. May all of us earn enough to support our families, but not so much that we forget about God and the importance of His gifts.


Please check out my other blog: http://furlough2money.blogspot.com/

Why Can't I Leave the Box Alone?

Not only did I pick up my box this morning. I hugged it close to my chest then stuck my head in it and began suffocating.

Tomorrow the CA state legislatures vote on their budget which not only cuts education drastically (if my husband gets to keep his job it'll be at a pay cut) but also raises sales tax and gas tax. A triple whammy for us. The implications for my family is financially devestating.

I'm struggling right now, trying to count my blessings to pull my head out the box. I'm reading my own prayers and some other people's blogs. I thank those of you who have such positive messages in your blogs that I can refer back to. The ups and downs of life really can be hell some times. Today is one of those days.

The song "Revelation" by Third Day says it all so precisely this morning. If you're struggling, take a moment to listen to the words.

God, I need your grace and your peace to help me get through this day and this struggle. I am so tired and need your strength and guidance. Through Jesus Christ I offer this prayer. Amen.

Stop Picking It Up!

I have some wonderful imagery based on a devotional written by James MacDonald regarding trusting God. Scripture tells us to give our problems to God and trust Him with our problems. Our mistake is that once we leave our problems at His feet, we keep picking them up again!

So I have this image of packing all of my problems which I keep praying about in a box. I place the box at God's feet during morning prayer. Then midway through the day, I pick up the box again. It's like I think it's too much for God or that I can't let Him carry it for me. I just keep insisting on carrying it myself.

Not only is carrying the box physically harming me (heart palps, stress, ulcers, etc.), but it's spiritually harming me. I'm thinking about the box more than I'm praising God. Isn't this idolatry?

I know many of you are carrying your boxes also. Let's make a pact to leave them at God's feet and stop picking them up. I think God is stronger than us and is better equipt to carry them.

Remember Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

God Holds Your Hand

(For best effects, scroll down to the Playlist box and click on the Hootie & the Blowfish song before reading this post!)

Isn't that a wonderful image to have? While I'm going through everything, God is beside me, holding my hand. I feel so comforted by that.

I've been reading through Isaiah because it's a great place to dwell when you feel the world is coming to an end (because of stress, not actual horrific disaster). After each end of the world, doom and gloom passage, Isaiah gives hope. Combining a couple great passages I've come up with the following:

Dear Lord,

You are my salvation as a I struggle to trust you completely and not be afraid. You are the source of strength that gets me through each day.

I am trying not to fear or be dismayed, because you are my God. You give me strength and will hold me up with your righteous hand.

You hold my right hand and tell me not to be afraid because you are with me.

Thank you Lord for the scriptures that remind me to trust and not fear. Through the Holy Spirit I will learn to trust. Through Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

Prayer based on these pasages:

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afaid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song, he has become my salvation.

Isaiah 40:10 Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous hand.

Isaiah 40:13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you."

Prayer for Our Legislators

They are surrounded by sin and deceit so they need our prayers to help them to make the right decisions. Politics is a filthy business and I'm sure good intentions can be easily lost. A more eloquent man than I prayed these words for our leaders:

Almighty God, Our Father, everything we see and everything we can't see exists because of You alone. It all comes from You, it all belongs to You, it all exists for Your glory.

....

When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget You, forgive us.

When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches and civility in our attitudes -- even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve and seek the common good for all. May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day, all nations, all people will stand accountable before You.

...

Amen.

Please join me in praying these words for our government leaders.

By the way, this prayer is from Rick Warren's Inaugural Invocation. Very awesome!