A Mind-Maker-Upper: God's story

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Psalms 106-109

Psalms 106-109 remind me that God is telling a story through each of us every single day.

It's a story that unfolds as we accept Jesus into our hearts and learn to rely on Him.

Although it may not look and feel like we'd expect it to at times, as believers, we are all living out a beautiful love story of God's grace and redemption.

God's story is full of blessings and has no ending, but even better, everlasting life with Him.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

Psalm 107:1-2

The story God tells isn't just about the happy everlasting ending. It's full of juicy, life-giving, inspiring details full of God's glory each step of the way.

It's not a story God expects or wants us to write ourselves. Trust me. I've tried that. It does't work. Instead, our story with God is simply one God wants us to share with others.

What's your story?

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for Your love that saves me. Thank You for Your grace and the way You tell Your story of redemption through me.

You are a wonderful redeemer.

Forgive me for all the ways I fail to see and love others through the eyes and heart of Your grace.

Empower me and use me, Lord, to tell Your story each day.

In the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit I pray,

Amen

Peace of Christ,

*This post is part of A Mind-Maker-Upper's Everyday Reading Project. Click here to read more.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

1 Chronicles 15-17

1 Chronicles 15-17 is full of God's presence and promises for His people, and echoes what we read in 2 Samuel 6-8. King David realizes how important it is to "inquire" what God wants and needs him to do before he does it. He assembles a team of God's chosen holy servants (the Levites) and brings the ark of God to it's new home tent in Jerusalem. David leads Israel by example in giving God all the honor and glory He deserves day to day. Blessings abound.

I love how David celebrates God's greatness. He is intentional about praising God on a daily basis.

4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol,[a] thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel

1 Chronicles 16:4

And because Jesus died for us and His Holy Spirit dwells in each of us, we are free and called to do the same things in our own lives. The ministers before the ark of the Lord during David's reign tell us what to do...to "extol" God, "thank" Him, and "praise" Him.

Sing to the Lord, all the earth;

proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

strength and joy are in his dwelling place.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

bring an offering and come before him.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness.

1 Chronicles 16:23-29

These verses today are explicit directions for living out an everyday faith. God is so good, and He loves us so much that we are to sing, proclaim, declare, ascribe, worship, and bring ourselves to HIM!

We have the Bible as a record of God's love, mercy, and grace in the lives of those long ago.

What's our record of His "marvelous deeds" today?

I think God is urging us to keep telling His story today. He's still working in us and through us, like He did for David and all of Israel.

Our lives are prime examples of God's glory, power, splendor, majesty, strength, joy, and holiness. We have all of God's greatness in us! Christ is risen and God is just as real today as He was many yesterdays ago.

So, what story can I share for God's glory today?

A prayer for today-

Dear God,

Thank You for my salvation and the Holy Spirit that dwells in me. Thank You for filling me with Your love and grace.

I praise You for the story You tell in me and through me. Help me recognize Your works and share Your greatness with others.

I pray You will show me how to encourage and help others as we seek to celebrate the realness of Your power, Your splendor, and Your majesty day to day. I trust You to work out all the details.

May this blog reach the hearts of those who need it most. Bless them, please Lord, today and forever more.

In the name of Jesus I pray,