"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost."
Book of Common Prayer
"RESPECT, HONOR AND PRAISE"
Patrick Morley
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE Lamentations Chapter 1 and 2
SITUATION Jeremiah's second lament spoke of affliction and deliverance. Solomon's Temple symbolized God's presence in Israel. Its destruction represented God's rejection of his people because of their stubborn sinfulness.
OBSERVATION God cares more about how we worship than where we worship him.
INSPIRATION If we ponder who God really is before we carelessly utter any remark before or about Him, surely we will render a more considered, respectful utterance. There is no difference from the respect we would show the distinguished stranger if we knew his true identity. When once we see Him as He really is, the trite or casual remark no longer seems appropriate.
In fact, when we know the God who is, our first reaction is to hide from the awfulness of His presence. We want to see the face of God, until the presence of His glory draws near. Then, we want Him to hide us in the cleft of a rock. His presence is like peals of thunder and fierce winds of a violent storm, and we reconsider the foolishness of our whim to see Him. He is a holy god. Not only holy--but holy, holy, holy. 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8)
. . . Let us reconsider who God is--His power, His wealth, His wisdom, His glory, His honor, His Praise. Let us take our cue from the living creatures, elders, and the angels. Let us not approach the God who is holy, holy, holy with caprice or unthinking casualness.
Let us come into his presence with praise and thanksgiving, but also in sober recognition that were in the presence of the Holy, "Let us then approach,the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16), but with the bearing and respect we would show to the One whose identity we have learned; the God who is, who created all things, in whom we have our being.
When you come apart to meet with God, consider these statements as you being your time in His presence. Pause and mediate upon them:
* Father, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.
* Lord Jesus, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.
* Holy Spirit, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.
Enter into the presence of God who is, with the respect and honor and praise He is due. (From Walking with Christ in the Details of Life by Patrick Morley)
APPLICATION Worship God in prayer and song. Find a song that lifts your heart to God; sing it throughout the day. Thank God often for his help and love for you.
EXPLORATION Worship -- Nehemiah 9:2-3; Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 29:13-14; Jeremiah 7:2-3; John 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.
The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
SITUATION Jeremiah's second lament spoke of affliction and deliverance. Solomon's Temple symbolized God's presence in Israel. Its destruction represented God's rejection of his people because of their stubborn sinfulness.
OBSERVATION God cares more about how we worship than where we worship him.
INSPIRATION If we ponder who God really is before we carelessly utter any remark before or about Him, surely we will render a more considered, respectful utterance. There is no difference from the respect we would show the distinguished stranger if we knew his true identity. When once we see Him as He really is, the trite or casual remark no longer seems appropriate.
In fact, when we know the God who is, our first reaction is to hide from the awfulness of His presence. We want to see the face of God, until the presence of His glory draws near. Then, we want Him to hide us in the cleft of a rock. His presence is like peals of thunder and fierce winds of a violent storm, and we reconsider the foolishness of our whim to see Him. He is a holy god. Not only holy--but holy, holy, holy. 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8)
. . . Let us reconsider who God is--His power, His wealth, His wisdom, His glory, His honor, His Praise. Let us take our cue from the living creatures, elders, and the angels. Let us not approach the God who is holy, holy, holy with caprice or unthinking casualness.
Let us come into his presence with praise and thanksgiving, but also in sober recognition that were in the presence of the Holy, "Let us then approach,the throne of grace with confidence" (Hebrews 4:16), but with the bearing and respect we would show to the One whose identity we have learned; the God who is, who created all things, in whom we have our being.
When you come apart to meet with God, consider these statements as you being your time in His presence. Pause and mediate upon them:
* Father, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.
* Lord Jesus, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.
* Holy Spirit, I come to meet with You . . . meet with me.
Enter into the presence of God who is, with the respect and honor and praise He is due. (From Walking with Christ in the Details of Life by Patrick Morley)
APPLICATION Worship God in prayer and song. Find a song that lifts your heart to God; sing it throughout the day. Thank God often for his help and love for you.
EXPLORATION Worship -- Nehemiah 9:2-3; Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 29:13-14; Jeremiah 7:2-3; John 4:21-24; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16.
The Devotional Bible - Experiencing the Heart of Jesus, Max Lucado General Editor, New Century Version, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Girlfriends In God
"Friends That Sharpen"
Gwen Smith
"Friends That Sharpen"
Gwen Smith
Today’s Truth
“Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]” (Proverbs 27:17, AMP).
Friend To Friend
Whether it’s over a steaming mug of dark roasted coffee, a frilly lunch served at the local sushi restaurant, or a power walk in the wee hours of the morning, my accountability partner and I meet regularly to speak into each other’s lives. We trust each other. We challenge one another. I’m a better woman because she’s my friend – because she speaks with honesty and courage – because she is for me – because she turns my heart toward God and His ways.
As much as I love girlfriend time – and I truly do love girlfriend time – there’s a depth to this particular friendship that flows to the core of who I am. I often feel uncommonly exposed during our conversations. Vulnerable, yet safe. She gets in my grill about my priorities, marriage, mothering, ministry, and faith matters ... and I welcome it. I need it.
We all need friends. We need people in our lives that will love us where we are and help us get to a place of higher living. We need friends that will hold us accountable to God's standards - friends that sharpen us.
The Bible makes a compelling point about this type of friendship. “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose].” (Proverbs 27:17, AMP)
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible says of this principle: “We are cautioned to take heed whom we converse with. And directed to have in view, in conversation, to make one another wiser and better.”
Take time to consider your friendships today. Do you have any friends who sharpen you and challenge your “worthy purpose”? Who make you wiser and better? Is there anyone in your life who asks you tough questions, shares godly truths, and confronts you when you need confronted? If so, thank God for her. Purpose to connect with her regularly, grant her permission to continue to speak into your life, and ask that she give you permission to do the same.
Are you that friend to anyone? Do you long to have deeper friendships? If you find yourself in a wide pool of shallow friendships, I’d encourage you to pray about it. Pray that God would bring meaningful friendships to your life and that He would teach you what it looks like to be a good friend.
Sharon, Mary and I delight to come along side of you each day as your Girlfriends In God – to spur you on and encourage you towards Christ, but we could never replace the real-life friendships God intends for you to have. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIV)
When we have a friend that sharpens and we become a friend that sharpens, our lives are enriched. Think about what our churches, our neighborhoods, our marriages, our work places, and our lives would look like if we all had this type of friend in our lives. Helen Keller said it beautifully: "Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."
Let’s Pray
Dear God, Thank You for friendships. You know the people in my life and the needs of my heart. Please help me to grow as a woman in my ability to pour into the lives of my friends. Help my heart be open to godly, constructive feedback that a friend might speak to me, and give me the capacity to love my friends as You love them.
In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
What friends came to your mind as you read this today? Consider forwarding this email to them.
Send a card, an email, a letter, or a text to a friend today ... just to bless her.
1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." Are there any friends in your life that are toxic? If so, prayerfully consider how that relationship affects you, your family, and your faith. If a friend encourages you to make bad choices and to live contrary to God’s Word, then it’s probably time to reconsider the friendship.
More From The Girlfriends
Need help finding a trustworthy accountability friend? Pray about it first, then connect with the women’s ministry director or family pastor at your church and ask if they could introduce you to some women who would be well suited and available for such a friendship.
GOT FACEBOOK? Gwen loves her Facebook friends! J Stop by Gwen’s page at www.Facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic. While you’re there, leave a message on her wall - listen to a few songs - share the page with your FB friends! (She interacts with and prays for her page friends regularly!)
Every beautiful act of friendship begins with the heart. Has your heart been hurt by a friend? If you would like to learn more about how your brokenness can be transformed into a picture of God’s beauty, order Gwen’s book Broken Into Beautiful. This resource will help you experience the power of hope, healing, and restoration!
Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 725
Matthews, NC 28106
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