Psalm 119:136

Hey, y'all--happy Thursday! :)

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Psalm 119:136

Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.

 

When I think back over the things that typically make me cry, I don't know that "because men do not keep Your law" would be a common one. Yet, I can't help but think that God's heart weeps over the rebellion of His creation, and the heart of a true worshipper is broken by the same things that break God's heart. So when I look around and see a world that is rejecting God's word at every turn, shouldn't it break my heart?? Shouldn't it cause me to weep and cry out for revival??

 

Father, soften my heart and make it sensitive to Yours. May the things that break Your heart break mine; may the things that bring tears to Your eyes cause me to cry, also. I want to weep and yearn over a fallen world the way You do!

 

May the Lord richly bless you allow your heart to be broken by what breaks His heart!

 

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website

John 10:9-10

Hey, everyone! :)

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John 10:9-10

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 

There are four things offered to the person who "enters by Me [Jesus]", that is, comes to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ and lives by this faith: 1. salvation--"he will be saved"; 2. liberty--"he will...go in and out"; 3. peace and provision--"he will...find pasture"

On the other hand, the world and the counterfeits it offers only bring death, deceit and destruction; the comparison seems pretty easy to me! I'll go for that "life...more abundantly" deal! :)

 

Father, as if just being Yours wasn't blessing enough, You heap blessings upon blessings on those who trust in You! Thank You!! Help me to live fully in the abundant life You have given to me.

 

May the Lord richly bless you as you walk with Him!

 

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website

Judges 20:21-28

Hey, y'all! :)

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Judges 20:21-28

Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites. And the people, that is, the men of Israel, encourage themselves and again formed the battle line at the place where they had put themselves in array on the first day. Then the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until evening, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, "Shall I again draw near for battle against the children of my brother Benjamin?" And the LORD said, "Go up against him."

So the children of Israel approached the children of Benjamin on the second day. And Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah on the second day, and cut down to the ground eighteen thousand more of the children of Israel; all these drew the sword.

Then the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the LORD and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. So the children of Israel inquired of the LORD (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, "Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?" And the LORD said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand."

 

We are not guaranteed instant victory. The Lord had clearly sent the men of Israel to fight against the men of Benjamin in order to bring about justice and a renewed purity after the awful things they had done (see chapter 19). But before they gained the victory, they were thoroughly beaten twice, causing them to cry out to the Lord and weep before Him. So often, we seem to think that we should be able to go out and quickly claim a victory in our life somehow--but that is not always how it works. We have to be committed to and prepared for a long battle, as well as willing to get on our face before the Lord and cry out to Him.

 

Father, I am willing to fight for as long as it takes...help me to seek Your will and Your strength, and to press on in the face of defeat!

 

May the Lord bless you richly with all that He is!

 

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website

Psalm 11:3

Hey, y'all!

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Psalm 11:3

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?

 

Foundations are critical. If a foundation is weak, the house or building standing on it will not last. In life, there is only one foundation that is strong enough to stand on for a lifetime, and that is God Himself; His word, and our relationship with Him, is what forms the sure foundation. But it takes care and attention to keep that foundation strong. If we neglect it, it will be destroyed, and then we are crippled in every area of our lives.

 

Father, help me to keep my "foundation"--my relationship with You--in good repair!

 

May the Lord bless you richly as you seek to keep your life firmly founded on His word and your relationship with Him!

 

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website

Judges 16:21, 25, 28-30

Good morning, everyone! :)

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Judges 16:21, 25, 28-30

Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison... So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may perform for us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them. And they stationed him between the pillars...

Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!" And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.

 

Because of his own foolishness, Samson was bound. Blinded. Forced to serve in the prison house of the enemy. He became the laughingstock of the heathen, a source of "entertainment" to them. But even there, he found redemption. In this place of forced humility, Samson finally realized his source of strength. So he called on the Lord in his darkest hour and the Lord redeemed even that impossible situation--which Samson had gotten himself into! And, He redeemed it in a big way, as Samson accomplished more in his death than in his life. 

God can redeem any situation, even when I get myself into them by my own sin and foolishness. And He will do it, in His way and His time, which is always better than anything I can think up! 

 

Father, thank You for the many times You have redeemed the foolish situations I've gotten myself into! I want to follow You, and stay out of those kinds of situations, but when I do get into them, help me to turn to You and trust in Your grace to redeem them!

 

May the Lord richly bless you with His grace and joy!

 

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website

 

Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14

Good morning, everyone! :)

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Judges 14:6a, 19a; 15:14

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore the lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand...

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had explained the riddle.

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting against him. Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands.

 

Samson may have thought his strength came from his uncut hair, but since every time he accomplished some great feat it is preceeded by the phrase "the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him", I think his strength had a different source. :) The best news is, that same strength is available to me. No, I will probably never kill a lion barehanded, or slay thirty men, or break off ropes like they were burnt string...but God's Spirit will give me the strength to do whatever God is calling me to do. I cannot place my trust in my own strength or in any source of strength except God alone.

 

Father, help me to trust in You alone for the strength to live and walk as You have called me to!

 

May the Lord richly bless you as you walk in His strength!

 

Dancing in the rain,
Haley "SunShine" Miller
"Exhort one another daily while it is called 'Today'" (Hebrews 3:13)
Mornin' SunShine Website