we might have hope...

Pastor Dan taught from Nehemiah chapter 8 this weekend. The Israelites told Ezra to "bring out the Book".

When the Book was read - revival began.

Sometimes I get to hear the sermon multiple times in a weekend and over the course of hearing it twice this weekend I discovered a new hunger for God's WORD. Not just to READ it (I really do - do that... I said "do-do"!). I need to MEDITATE on it; to CONSULT it. It sounds dumb but I'm not sure I've ever slowed down enough to give these "actions" the attention I NEED to give them.
My action points are to simply take time to be intentional about meditating on a scripture passage, letting it soak in, waiting for God to show me how to apply it in my life and praying for daily insight from His Word; as well as forming the habit of searching scripture when I need to make a decision. I don't suppose I will do that when trying to decide things like which parking spot to take or which brand of sour cream to buy (He did give us common sense after all!). But it's pretty evident to me right now that as I pray and dream about things like buying a house and maybe even adopting some day I can't say that I have intentionally sought out answers in God's Word. Duh! What is my problem?? (don't answer that!)

Dan's main points about the BOOK kind of washed over me like a blanket of peace. They are:
Psalm 107:19-20 - His Word brings HEALING
Romans 15:4 - His Word brings HOPE
Psalm 119:105-107 - His Word brings RENEWAL/REVIVAL

Romans 15:4 was what God selected for my TAKE HOME this week:
"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

it's all rubbish

I've been bombarded with scripture the past 48 hours that speak to how fleeting our moments and circumstances here on this earth are. While I know many of the circumstances and especially the people in my life deserve my attention, my time, my concern and sometimes lots of effort - they are not what counts most in the end. What counts most is HIS GLORY.
The tough stuff is still tough but hope grows when I remember that His Kingdom is so much bigger than today's troubles.
Romans 8:18 has been floating around in my brain since someone shared it Wednesday night. It says:

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

Today - Pastor Dan's "Calvary Update" started off with a passage that offers similar encouragement. He shared:

"In 2 Corinthians 4, Paul writes,
'Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day, for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.' "

I am hopeful! Filled with hope! Fixing my eyes!
Learning to trust Him more!

But the Word of our God stands forever!

I was reading Luke 12:22-34 this morning and the Lord brought to mind how much I allow worry to have a grip on my heart. I love Jesus' statement that we can't add an hour to our day by worrying so why worry about any of it. I can almost hear him saying like this "Can any of you add one hour to your day by worrying? Duuuuh!" (Hmmmm, wouldn't the Bible read differently if Jesus had walked the earth during the 80's!!).
Reading His words in Luke reminded me of a pastor I heard during my college years. He would send us out every Sunday with these words from Isaiah 40:8
"The grass withers and the flowers fade but the word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah says in verse 7 "surely the people are grass". It seems like it should be so easy to get my head and heart around it. If I am the grass - everything about my life will wither and fade. His word is the only thing with enough value to stand forever. His truth is the only thing really worth the time and energy my brain spends each day. His word is what I can TRUST.
I want his word to be my main focus, my sustenance, my place of refuge, my source of hope and joy. If I can just get my eyes off of the things that will all burn anyway and dig deeper into his word...
"The grass withers and the flowers fade but the WORD OF OUR GOD STANDS FOREVER."!