Daily Disciplines of a Devoted Disciple
It happened again this morning! I woke up and began to move. I sat up to get out of bed and my body was so stiff. I have to admit though I don’t want to . . . I am getting older! I am reminded of this every day. My stiff body needs exercise each morning to loosen my muscles. There is a spiritual parallel.
Adonai : The Lord
"It's God we are answerable to - all the way from life to death and everything in between - not each other. That's why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other." Romans 14:8 & 9 (The Message)
Jehova-rapha: The Lord Who Heals
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1
Jehovah : The Self-Existent One
Sometimes I behave as though I AM the only person on the planet. I can become an overbearing freak of a person and act like a one-woman show. I have to not only befriend people, but I also feel compelled to make sure they are happy from that point on. I have set countless friends up (some of them actually married -- gosh, I'm good). I have attended parties and flitted around to make sure everyone was comfortable (even if I was not the hostess, blush). It makes me extremely unhappy if someone is not having a good time, and I become convinced that it is my responsibility and I am failing.
Jehovah-sabaoth: The Lord of Hosts
"I am a great King,' says the Lord of Hosts, ‘and my name is feared among the nations." Malachi 1:10 & 14 As a teen I participated in many summer camps and youth functions. I was surrounded by people who grew up being taught to love the Lord, and few who weren't. I was in the majority then. We would sing praise songs, and I would become overwhelmed with Jesus. It was not a positive overwhelmed, but a pathetic one. I pitied this Jesus who so needed to be accepted. I felt sorry for HIM...not for me.
Elohim : The Creator
The statue of David by Michelangelo is one of my favorite sculptures. I was in Europe backpacking with my friend when I saw the sculpture. I will never forget that moment. I was in the Accademia Gallery of Florence wandering through my own private Wonderland. I turned the corner, and there it stood...14 ft. in height, made out of a solid piece of marble. My friend was waiting for me beside the sculpture, anticipating my reaction (she knows me quite well)...and of course, I cried...
Elohim : God the Creator
"Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much!" Job 38:4 My co-worker said something this week that caused me to extend the exploration of God as Creator for another week. He said, "Why worship the creation when you can worship the Creator?" I asked him if he knew about my writings these past few weeks, and he said he didn't. I believe that it was a word from God. Thanks, Christopher. :) So onto the musings...
El Elyon : The Most High God
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..." Exodus 20:3-5 When I was first married, my life was about my husband. I had other things going on, of course, but I was focused on him. My relationship with the Lord became secondary to my marriage. With all the best intentions, I sunk everything I had into being a wife.
El Shaddai : The All-Sufficient One
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty [El Shaddai]; walk before me and be blameless...Abram fell facedown." Genesis 17:1 The words were thick in my throat. I knew that I had to speak of my love for Jesus to my friend, but my sin was fresh on my mind. Satan started in on me with his usual tactics. "You are so tired. Maybe another time would be better; a time when you are close to the Lord and being obedient. A time when you are not so depressed about your own sin."...
El Roi : The God Who Sees Part 3
"For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21 Before I married, I lived a blissfully ignorant life. I was unaware of just how truly needy I was -- I believed myself to be very independent and confident. I did not know that I had it in me to shout unprovoked. I was ignorant to the ease in which I could flip between anger and sadness...
El Roi : The God Who Sees Part 2
"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind..." Psalm 33:13 "Then the angel of the LORD told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.” Genesis 16:9
El Roi : The God Who Sees
"She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: 'You are the God who sees me,' for she said, 'I have now seen the One who sees me.'" Genesis 16:13 I was recently attacked for my faith. It came from a friend with whom I had shared the gospel. We had known each other for 15 years. I was surprised to have it so harshly displayed by someone whom I called a friend.
Jehovah-nissi: The Lord My Banner
"He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love." Song of Songs 2:4
Jehovah-mekoddishkem: The Lord Who Santifies You
"But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, 'You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for {this} is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you." Exodus 31:13 (NASB)
Jehovah-shalom, Part 2: The Lord is Peace
The word "peace" is used in the NIV 251 times. It occurs in 230 verses. It's obviously an important aspect of belief in God. In many of the verses, Christ says that He has come not in peace but with a sword (Matthew 10:34). And in many of them He tells us to go in peace.
Jehovah-raah: The Lord My Shepherd
"So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals." Ezekiel 34:5
Jehovah-shalom, Part 1: The Lord is Peace
I'm a middle child. We are supposed to be the peacemakers. I think I broke the mold on that one. In my memory, I was the one to stir up trouble. As far as I can remember, my brother and sister got along very well. I was the trouble-maker. If there was a fight to be had, I would pick it. If there was trouble to be found, I would find it. I could find trouble if it were a needle in a haystack. As a middle child, I felt I had to fight to get my due.
Jehovah-ezer: The Lord my Helper
I will lift up my eyes to the hills---where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Jehovah-shammah: The Lord is There
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
4Runners and Rain
“ I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
Jehovah-shammah: The Lord is there (Part 2)
Job’s answer to Zophar: "You really know everything, don't you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you! Well, I know a few things myself-and you're no better than I am. Who doesn't know these things you've been saying?. . . But true wisdom and power are with God; counsel and understanding are his.” Job 12:2-3, 13 (NLT)
Shiny Places
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.” Isaiah 58:12
The Path to Barbies
“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way.” Psalm 142:3