The Transforming Word of God

In a previous post, I mentioned that I often use Scripture to jump-start my worship time, so I thought I would write out an example. The following prayer of praise is based on Isaiah chapter 40, beginning at verse 11. This is just an example of how I use God's Word to offer praise to Him. As individuals, we all have our own ways, our own needs. Certain things will resonate with us differently at different times or different stages in our lives. "Oh, God, how I love the picture Scripture paints of You as a shepherd! A shepherd who tends your flock, who gathers your lambs in your arms. I love to imagine me as one of those lambs You hold close to your heart. "I am especially amazed that the God of all creation should care enough to gather me in His arms! You know everything. You understand everything. You have never needed a teacher because all knowledge and understanding is from you. The nations are nothing compared to you. We people are mere grasshoppers when viewed fr

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. As I read the first two verses of Psalm 9 (above), I couldn't help but notice that each statement begins with "I will". In other words, each statement is a willful determination, a purposeful choice.  And when I give wholehearted thanks to the Lord, when I recount His wonderful deeds, when I gladly exult in Him and when I sing praises to His name, I am worshiping my God!  I thank God for salvation, for my family, for my friends, that I have a roof over my head and food in my stomach. I thank God for His transforming Word, for church and Bible study groups. I thank God for sunshine and rain, for His beautiful creation, for the graceful deer I love to watch as they drink from the pond behind our home. I thank God for the awesome way in which our bodies are made.  And as I give thanks

I think we all understand what worry is because we all have occasion to worry. Often it's something as simple as what I'm going to wear or what to serve for supper. Or whether rain will ruin our plans. Some people worry about their health. Others are concerned about cleanliness and hygiene. Some worry about what others think of them. Still others worry about diet.  Then there's worry about money. There's nothing wrong with any of those concerns. We all want to be healthy. Most of us want to be clean and keep our surroundings clean.  And I'm sure we all want to pay our bills and stay out of debt. But when we become preoccupied with legitimate concerns, allowing them to consume our thoughts and negatively influence our behavior, the worry is extreme and even sinful. Sinful? Yes. The Bible tells us not to worry. In Matthew 6:25, we are told not to worry—"do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear." J

As I begin this blog, I believe it is necessary to share some of my faith journey. When I look back on my life, I think I have always believed in God, always believed in the truth of God's Word, the Bible, and always believed in the reason of Jesus' birth, death and resurrection. But belief isn't enough for a relationship with the God of Creation. I had to realize that very fact, to understand that my imperfections caused me to fall far short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and to comprehend the consequences of ignoring the personal offer of justification. [An easy way to remember the meaning of justified is being made "just as if I'd never sinned".] I needed the salvation that Jesus Christ offered when he bore the punishment for my sins and the sins of the world on the cross. That day came when I was seven years old. I don't remember all the details, but I do remember the church service ending and my father saying, "I sensed you were feeling co