His will taking root in our lives

I've been hanging out in the Proverbs over these past few days. Wow, how I've forgotten the riches that are in Proverbs. 

Where ( typed that word and then went to do something else and forgot what I was going to write, so moving on )

oh, I remember, I was going to say "where do I start?" I've only made it through the first four chapters of the Proverbs, and I've read the Proverbs before but never before have they impacted me the way it has this time. 

I guess I'll choose one thing and go with it:

Proverbs 3:6 --

"Seek his will in all you do, 

and he will show you which path to take" (that's the NLT)

or 

"In all your ways acknowledge Him

And He will make your paths straight" (that's NASB)

(disclaimer: I like to study these two versions side by side. I find that the NLT can speak to my heart and the NASB can speak to my mind and intellect.)

This morning, God revealed to me that when we find Him and acknowledge Him in all that we do, He will help us succeed. He wants His name to be glorified and when our motive for doing what we do is to glorify Him, why wouldn't He be on our side and help us do what we want, as it lines up with His will. The tough part is discerning if/how/when it is His will and if/when/how and it our own will with our own selfish motives. 

So, taking that, a few chapters later I found this:

Proverbs 4:23 --

"Guard your heart above all else, 

for it determines the course of your life."  (NLT)

or 

"Watch over your heart with all diligence, 

For from it flow the springs of life" (NASB)

From what I've discovered, we will spend the most time doing things that we love; we will do things that our hearts are drawn to doing. If we aren't careful in guarding our hearts with all diligence -- meaning, our hearts will be revealed in the things that we spend our most time doing -- and keeping our hearts focused on what God loves and His purpose/will and glory, then it's very likely that our hearts will become distracted and drawn to things of this world; things that don't bring glory to our Lord and essentially, things that aren't good for our being. 

That was a lot of babbling. That last sentence was a long one, with lots of part, kind of like Paul when he goes on and on in some of his Epistles. Oh well. 

So, as we move forward, or as I move forward, my goal is to keep my heart focused on the things of Christ, things that He approves of, things that glorify Him. As I do this, the promise found in Proverbs 3:6 will prayerfully take root in my life: that God will make my paths straight, or give me success, as I seek His will, find it and live it out. 

Now, this is will not be easy. 

He named the Stars

This morning was so refreshing for me. God has been revealing Himself to me in such clear and obvious ways. It's comforting to be in love with the creator of the universe and to desire more and more of Him each today. 

Today I was reading Psalm 147. I've probably read this Psalm a dozen times, but this time, something new just stood out to me. It's nothing revolutionary but it gave me a renewed sense of peace in my soul and a new recognition for the grace of our Savior:

"He counts the number of the stars

He gives names to all of them" vs. 4

continuing further:

"The Lord favors those who fear Him,

Those who wait for HIs lovingkindness." v. 11

Our God not only created the number of stars, he knows where each one is placed and He even named them. Amazing! Simply astonishing! 

As I've pondered on this thought many times, it just hits me in a new way today: This same God made us, He knows our every detail, even better than we do. 

If you had a friend that could do something as amazing as know every name of the people, let's say: in your hometown, wouldn't you be enamored with the idea of that? Amazed at his capability of something so hard to understand HOW that could work. None the less, enamored with the person himself? 

Look at what God did, with the stars, the universe, ALL of the people of the world and probably so much more that we don't know of right now; but to be revealed to us in eternity. This same God is our best friend, when we allow it. 

vs. 11: God favors those who fear him.

Those who wait for His lovingkindness

The point: who could not fear a God that knows the name of every star, every person, every tree, every mouse, every coffee plant, every cloud and every other living thing that He created? Not a fear in a sense of "Oh, I'm scared of you" but a fear of honor and love and desire to know the person even more.

I want to know Jesus more! I want to love Him more each day. I want others to love Him with me and fear Him with me, fearing in such a way that we recognize that He holds us in His hands, he is protecting us, and guarding every part of all that we are!

I'm going outside.

I like to sleep in. I like to get up early and be with my Jesus.
I like the cold. I don't like to be cold.
I like the sun. I don't like to sweat, unless I'm exercising.
I like to stay up late. I like to crawl in bed early with a good book.

I like to sing. I don't like to sing in front of people.

I like a hot shower. I don't like cold showers.

I like food. I don't not like food.

I like friends. 

I like 80's music. 

I like to run. I like day off from running.

I like to figure out the answer to a problem. I don't like problems.

I liked high school.

I liked being 17. I didn't like being 15.

I like thought out photography. I don't appreciate poor photography.

I like art. I don't like to discuss the definition of art, but I do it. 

I like order. I like disorder just as equally.

I like to be included. I don't like to leave others out.

I like my family.

I like the beach. I don't like the salt water. 

I like straight hair. I don't like to straighten my hair.

I like curly hair. 

I like clean bed sheets. I don't like to make the bed.

I like Coke. I don't like the empty calories in it. 

I like Coke Zero. 

I like jeans that fit. I don't like shopping for jeans. 

I like my jeans with holes. I don't know how the holes got there. 

I like movies. I don't like paying for the expense of a movie in the States. 

I like going to movies in a third world country. 

I like patience. I don't like being patient. 

I like the banjo. I don't play the banjo. 

I like getting fancy and dressed up. I don't do it often enough.

I like reading. I don't know why I hated it so much in high school.

I like traveling. I don't like the ridiculously insane rules at airport security.

I like being a teacher. I don't have the qualification to be a teacher. 

I like dancing. I don't do this often enough either. 

I like using my cell phone. I don't like checking the voicemail, so I usually don't. 

I like people. I don't like to be alone for long periods of time. 

I like my life. I don't own this life. 

I like to learn. I don't see education ending in the classroom.

I like doing this. I don't feel the sun on my face in this room though.

I'm going outside.