Monday, December 12, 2011

Hiatus

Dear friends and followers,
I just wanted to drop in and let you know this blog is on an indefinite hiatus. I'm not sure what direction it will go at this time. I enjoy journaling my devotional time here, but there are days when I'm just out of time.

I may come back here one day, blow off the dust, wipe away the cobwebs and journal again. In the meantime, I've imported all the posts from this blog onto my main site, The Bishop's Wife. They will also remain live here. Please drop by and visit me at my main site and follow me there, if you haven't already.

Thanks for your online friendship and encouragement!

Blessings,
Valerie

Monday, November 14, 2011

Pause and Reflect

Ps. 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praiase: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

This verse brings back memories. I memorized Psalm 100 in first grade - I believe it was the first memory verse of the year. My teacher, Mrs. Parson, copied it from a large print Bible and gave out the photocopies. Funny how things like that stay in your mind so many years later. This is an appropriate verse to learn for the holidays. A reminder to be thankful.

I am pausing to reflect and give thanks for my life. It's a good time of year for folks to take stock of how they're spending their time, which is their life. Questions I'm asking myself? Is this best use of my time? Is this the best use of my talents? Am I unbalanced in an area? How can I correct that imbalance? What is the Lord's will  for me in (whatever) area?

Some areas I'm reevaluating is the amount of time I spend online. Is this a wise use of my time? Am I being a Proverbs 31 woman by doing this? I'll be honest, lately, I'm getting on Facebook or reading blogs, just to log off feeling defeated. I'm trying to supplement our family income in some way from my home, but blogging is draining what precious "free" time I have in which to cultivate my talents, turning them into a profit. I'm also evaluating several spiritual areas, which were highlighted to me during our revival meeting last week.

Because of this, I've decided to take the rest of November off from this blog to think, pray and plan. I appreciate those of you who drop by every weekday to read. I only have so much life, and I want to spend it wisely, on things that will benefit eternity as well as my family in the present.

Thank you for your understanding. Happy Thanksgiving!

God bless,
Valerie

Friday, November 11, 2011

Somebody's Watching

Matt. 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.


When I was 17 years old, my pastor's wife mentioned to me in passing one day, that her little girl wanted to wear her hair pulled up in a clip because that's how I wore mine. I remember being so surprised that her daughter, maybe about six years old, even noticed me. I didn't have much interaction with that age group. But, I was faithfully in church, and so was she. She had been sitting in her pew, taking note of my hair, and copying me.

Today, I read about how Jesus was being watched. He wasn't sitting in a pew, though. He was suffering and dying for all mankind. He knew He was being watched, because He is God. His death made a difference in a centurion standing by. That soldier recognized that He was God, just by watching Him.

This verse reminded me that in good times and bad, I'm being watched. By my children, my church family, and others whom I do not know. What are they seeing in me? Do they see Christ reflected in my life? I hope so. Folks are noticing things much more important than my hair style! Things like, how I react to trouble, sorrow, angry words, accusations, lost people, and on and on.

We just finished our revival meeting, and the Lord gave me a laundry list of things I need to work on! I don't know if I'm quite transparent enough to share them on here or not...maybe in time. I'm still praying and thinking on what needs to be changed. I want to change because I want to obey Christ. I want to reflect Him more clearly to those around me. Because somebody is watching.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Thy Will be Done

Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

Jesus is nearing the time when He must give His all for sinners on the cross. He is Omniscient, He knows about the cruel death that awaits Him. As a man robed in flesh, I'm sure the thought of pain and suffering does not appeal to Him. As the Savior of the world, He longs to offer the way to Heaven for all who will receive it. He prays, "O Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it," - He admits that it will be a hard thing to endure. But then He says the words that caught my attention today, "thy will be done". The Lord has been dealing with me about His will for my life for a couple of days now. I realized that I've been "kicking and screaming" (figuratively of course! haha!) to get out of the trial I'm in. I am always looking for an escape. The Lord pricked my heart just yesterday that perhaps I'm in this trial to learn to accept trials; to learn to stop "kicking" and take it like a woman who trusts God and desires His will.

Believe me, I'm not writing this flippantly. It was a bitter pill to swallow, to say to the Lord, "Oh, Lord, yes, I will stay in this trial for as long as you want me here. I will stop kicking, fighting, wishing to be out of it." I thought of the song by Ron Hamilton called "Rejoice, in the Lord". One part says:

"I bowed to the will of the Master that day, then peace came, and tears fled away."

I didn't mean not to bow to His will, but I haven't been. I will admit, it's hard. It's not fun to die to self and bury the hopes I had for the future. I do have hope that my Lord will see me through this trial. I have hope in Him for a better and brighter tomorrow. If not here, then on the other side! Before, I was hoping in my own desires, not His. I do have peace now. I'm still waiting to see if the tears have stopped. They are probably not gone forever, but maybe now they will less bitter!

I'm learning that anyone can say they want God's will for their lives. It's another thing entirely to want it when no one is watching. He has changed my perspective, and my longing is that it stay focused on Him forever.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Light in the Darkness

Psalm 112:4 Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. 

This verse says that the "upright man" will have light in the darkness. Everyone will experience some sort of darkness. In last night's sermon evangelist Tim Green referred to these times as "wildernesses". Darkness, or wildernesses, will come to all: death of a loved one, financial reversal, betrayal, sickness...the list is endless. My natural inclination is to worry about the future, to doubt whether or not I can make it through tough times. I should know by now that I can only make it with my Savior's help, and He will never leave me. But, I'm just dust, so I worry anyway!

I read this and wondered, what does "upright" mean? The Hebrew root word means "straight". Webster's 1828  dictionary says:  Honest; just; adhering to rectitude in all social intercourse; not deviating from correct moral principles; as an upright man. Job. 1. It's kind of all encompassing. An upright man, or woman, is honest in everything, obedient to the laws of God and man. That doesn't mean we're sinless, but it means we sin less! :) A truly saved person wants to follow the paths God has laid out in His Word.


If I'm living in an upright way, I can rest assured that during the darkest times of life, I will have light. It may not be bright enough to light the entire way for me, but it will be enough for me to see my next step.As someone who is in my own personal darkness at the moment, I can say that it's true. He gets me through each day, moment by moment. And that's all I need, isn't it? Just enough grace to face today. My Father has it all under His power. He will always do what's best for my life, and yours. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Giving Myself to Prayer

Psalm 109:4 For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

In Psalm 109, David is talking about someone who has treated him badly. Obviously, it is someone that he has shown kindness to. Our verse today says that in return for David's love, the people became his enemies. That's always a blessing, isn't it! We treat someone kindly, we go above and beyond for someone, and then they turn against us! As my dad used to say, with friends like that, who needs enemies?

David's words pricked my heart today: "but I give myself unto prayer." Ouch! I'd rather give myself unto complaining. Or eating. Or losing my temper. Or whining. Or all four. Not prayer. Yet, I see the power and truth in David's words. Prayer truly is the answer. Prayer changes things, it changes others, but most of all, it changes me. I admit that my prayer life is one of the hardest things for me to remain consistent on! I don't know why it's such a struggle, I've had many prayers answered over the years, so I know its power. I suppose I'm just lazy. I want to do better in my prayer life; I want to give myself to prayer when life is hard, and when it's good, too.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Anatomy of a Trial

I apologize if my postings here seem to be all on one subject. I suppose, whenever we are going through something, we naturally tend to look for thoughts/encouragement/help from God's Word on that particular subject. Each day, when I open up my Bible, I seem to gravitate toward passages that deal with what I'm feeling.I certainly believe the Lord is strengthening me this way, but I also know that I'm partial; I'm looking for these things on purpose. (And that's okay.) Today, I read a bit from Jeremiah and Psalms. Psalms 107 is a great chapter. I noticed for the first time this morning that the Lord tells me the way trials work right in this chapter. The writer says:

Psalm 107:25-30
25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. 
26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. 
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 
28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. 
29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. 
30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.


Do you see the pattern? This encouraged me so much today! It lays it out for me.
1. The Lord is the one who allows trials to come. (v. 25)
2. He allows them to get bad - very bad. (v.26)
3. The one in the trial suffers, seems to be going crazy! (v.27)
4. They pray, no, they cry! The Lord delivers them.
5. He makes things calm again. (v.28)
6. The sufferer is glad, they have found a solace in the storm. They have survived, and are stronger for it. (v.29)
Then, I'm adding this: Repeat. The process will start over and over until we reach those pristine shores of Heaven. Each storm, each trial is to mold us and make us more like Christ. I am currently in #3 and #4 myself! What a blessing to know that God will bring me through this time. I know I will be glad and I will be in my desired haven someday. I have His Word on that.