August 29, 2009

It's a Daily Thing

I love mornings like this. Though tomatoes and strawberries are growing out my back window and a hummingbird darts furiously around a feeder, the perfume of autumn is preceding fall's arrival. I love the colors, smells, tastes and textures of fall. Many link this season with New York's seemingly eternal winter close behind, but I rather soak up each day of autumn and deal with winter when it announces itself.

That in mind, I had a moment to pick up my Christian's Daily Challenge devotional and would like to share with anyone who cares to read. It just seemed to piggyback on this light fall fragrance in the air...

"I must walk today." Lk.13:23
"Give us THIS DAY our daily bread." Matt.6:11

Apprehension sometimes comes from looking too far ahead. How few of us really live in the present! Most of us are perpetually saddened by looking back upon our past, or filled with apprehensions from looking forward into a dim and shadowy future. We are crippled in our exertions because we fail to seize vigorously upon the present. Let us learn to live now. What peace of mind it produces, what weight of character-"I do one thing at a time."

A Christian can no more take in a supply of grace for the future that he can eat today to last him for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at once to sustain life for a week to come. We must draw upon God's boundless stores of grace from day to day, as we need it.

August 21, 2009

Hearing the Voice of the Lord

As jelly-covered fingertips pulled on the back of my hair in a seeming salon attempt, a little voice whispered, "Ohhh, I love you mommy. Petty hay-uh." I could wear blackberry jam highlights anywhere on those words. Eight years after Dr.'s reports seemed to finalize the impossibility of my ever being a mother, this little toddler, playing tug-of-war with my hair strands, speaks words these days I thought I'd only hear in my dreams. I smile constantly from the joy and laughter she has brought into my life. I never get tired of listening to her speak...never.

But I have to admit, I've had the Lord in my life for much longer and to describe what HIS voice does to my heart, mind and spirit, is not even comparable to my sweet little girl. He's absolutely everything to me...and to hear Him speak is life-changing.

I watched a video of a recorded interview with Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, the other day and was stunned to hear her say that she only reads about a paragraph of the Bible each day. She went on to explain the reasons for this and then shared how the Lord seems to speak to her through His Word more than any other way. I love that. It made me jump to her website where I found a free Bible study resource entitled "Learning To Hear His Voice." There is a 9-page worksheet with an accompanying video clip to help anyone learn how to read the Bible, understand what it says and then listen for the Lord as He practically applies the Word to your heart and life.

I watched the video twice and was so deeply touched, I had to share this with anyone who may benefit. Though you may already do this kind of reading and application, it's a great resource to send along to others.

CLICK HERE to go to Anne's website for the free resources with the video link at the bottom of the page.