I don't know about you, but there have been several times in my life that I have asked God (or ashamedly demanded from God) "What I am supposed to do?" It is an honest and sincere question when asked in the right spirit! hehehe
To build on "the big two": love God with all your being and love others as yourself, God gave some other things to strive for in our lives in him. The scripture is in today's devotional. I have a LOOOOOOONNNNGGGG way to go before I come close to achieving any of them. Here is the passage I like from 2 Peter 2:5-8:
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Wow! I follow this up with this passage from Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Thinking and acting with the mind and heart of Christ. What a "no ordinary life" that would be.
Lord, I want to love and act like your Son.
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 11 inspired one of my favorite hymns: Flee like a bird. It is a beautiful and haunting and confusing hymn! I never understood the reference until I found Psalm 11. Here are the the lyrics and Psalm 11.
Flee As a Bird
Words and music: Mary S. Shindler (1842)
Lyrics:
Flee as a bird to your mountain, thou who art weary of sin
Go to the clear flowing fountain where you may wash and be clean
Fly for the avenger is near thee; call, and the Savior will hear thee
He on His bosom will bear thee; O thou who art weary of sin
O thou who art weary of sin
He will protect thee forever, wipe every falling tear
He will forsake thee, O never, sheltered so tenderly there
Haste, then, the hours are flying, spend not the moments in sighing
Cease from your sorrow and crying: The Savior will wipe every tear
The Savior will wipe every tear
Psalm 11:
1 In the LORD I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
“Flee like a bird to your mountain.
2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.
3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
He observes everyone on earth;
his eyes examine them.
5 The LORD examines the righteous,
but the wicked, those who love violence,
he hates with a passion.
6 On the wicked he will rain
fiery coals and burning sulfur;
a scorching wind will be their lot.
7 For the LORD is righteous,
he loves justice;
the upright will see his face.
Other Stuff
I had a busy weekend so far getting the house ready for my cookout. It is not a big deal, but I had a lot of stuff that I wanted or had to do before the gang came over this afternoon. I am amazed at my Weber grill. I didn't use it at all last year. It cleaned up very nicely and lit the first time! Wow! This thing is 11 years old! I even opened up the patio furniture in case we wanted to sit outside in the hot weather. I plan to stay indoors in the air conditioning! We had another winter to summer year with the weather. I guess I could count the three months of rain as spring. Uggh!
My mother is staying with me for a few days. She should be arriving any moment. We will probably do a little shopping and go to a movie tomorrow. There shouldn't be much clean up needed from the cookout. Mainly just carrying stuff back down to the basement.
We had a nice service at church this morning. ;-)
I thought more about quiet, confident joy this morning while driving to church. It is a wonderful thing to have.
Hang in there, my friends! I will be upbeat and steady. That is what I do...
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