Monday Recaps of Sundays Salty,Sweetness
As I set in the chair and sing to my Lord and pray that it is a sweet song to His ear, I find that is the place that the Lord reveals to my mind and heart the very things that help mold me into a deeper love for Him and His people.
I have learned to quickly write down what is revealed to my heart and mind or I will forget. Have heard that whisper of God that you know you don't want to forget. I have a small notebook that I take to church or anytime I hear preaching because that is the place that I hear my Savior the most. Sometimes it may have nothing to do with the passage or the sermon but it has everything to do with my heart, mind and soul seeking and savoring in His Spirit.
Can I share with you this past Sunday's time of gathering with God's people at the Lake Church.
1. As I stood and sung "Holy is the Lord" there is a part in the song that goes, "The earth is full of His glory" and as I turned from the people and looked over the beautiful lake the Lord reminded me that the real beauty is what I turned from. The People. He revealed to my heart that His creation, His people are far more full of His glory than any waterfront property. Even though the sky and seas reveal a beauty that reveals the power of God, We ~ the creation that is made in His image is what reveals His glory. When people love one another in such a way that can only be done through His Spirit, it fills the Earth with His glory. Remember people are beautiful.
"The glory of God is the beauty of His spirit. It is not an aesthetic beauty or a material beauty, but it is the beauty that emanates from His character, from all that He is. James 1:10 calls on a rich man to “glory in his humiliation,” indicating a glory that does not mean riches or power or material beauty. This glory can crown man or fill the earth. It is seen within man and in the earth, but it is not of them; it is of God. The glory of man is the beauty of man’s spirit, which is fallible and eventually passes away, and is therefore humiliating—as the verse tells us. But the glory of God, which is manifested in all His attributes together, never passes away. It is eternal."
2. Singing older worship songs are never wasted.
Older worship songs can bring us back to a place that we first sung that song with all our hearts to find strength in the promises it told of our God. A song can up on the song list that reminded me of a place I was 20 years ago and reminded me of the promises He kept that Has brought me this far. It was if God was saying, "I did it then and I can do it now." Embracing what is, reveals what could be.
3.Now, this next one might sound a bit strange but it is a truth that I needed and maybe you need to also.
I was thinking about the dress I just threw on that I had packed for the retreat and in the bustle of getting everything done this morning I didn't realize that it was a bit tight. I hated that I had put on a few pounds and now my go-to dress felt more like a go-go dress. As I thought about how I felt about my dress of choice that day, I thought of how others my think of the positive things that I have and my thought came to ~ The very person that makes you feel insecure feels insecure themselves. This is so true and why we should not compare ourselves to other people. We all have shortcomings and insecurities, it is what we do with them that counts. The person in front of us may seem to have it all together but in reality her life is hard in different areas, areas you may or may not be able to see. Saying this, lets love one another enough to not compare, only thinking of ourselves but to encourage one another in the strengths we can see, for we may not see their weaknesses.
4. After hearing of how a family lost their teenage son it made me think of how we all long for heaven. When they described the father that worshiped in one of his darkest hours it seemed sweet but coupled with such hurt and pain. I thought of the goodness of the Lord that comes in our darkest hours and how it nourishes our every longing.
We all want the goodness in life without the hurt, pain, and tears. But all good things here on Earth cost us hurt, pain, and even tears but have rewards in heaven. Maybe, God intended for us to run the race with Him here on this earth and enjoy His rewards with Him in heaven. When life seems so hard maybe its then that we see the Lord so clearly. So run your race with endurance and finish well sparing no pain, sweat, hurt, and tears instead embracing it. That is where we will find heaven on Earth.
I know none of these really go together, have any real theme but my heart and mind seem to go in many directions and the Lord seems to meet me there when I seek Him, in letting go of my own understanding. I rejoice when He shares His understanding with a someone who has a hard time seeing past what she has going on to notice what is going on around her.
It just may be that He wants to remind you of something today that He spoke yesterday.
By the way, the sermon was on Psalm 32:11 ~
The Lord is faithful to keep our hearts close to His when humbly come to know Him more and we will rejoice in the Lord, as He purifies our hearts through His love for us and for others. May He never fail to whisper understanding that molds my heart and may I have ears to hear His truths and grace that bring us to a place where we can shine for Him in the way His Son did while we walk this earth.
May you have ears to hear and eyes to see His goodness and grace to all that believe and walk in His ways.