THIRSTING

         

                           …thirst for God, the living God.  Psalm 42:2

Do you know what it is like to be really thirsty, parched,  in desperate need of water?  Our experiences seem nothing compared to those who live in lands with little or no available drinking water.  Yet, sometimes we can truly thirst and we know how that feels.

Recently I had a medical emergency and was not allowed to have water until a certain test was performed the next day.  I was so thirsty, finding myself to be so desperate that I was actually begging for a swab to just wet my lips.  The nurse felt so sorry for me - wanting to give me what I craved - water - but was unable to because of the doctor's strict orders.

I will always remember that night, in torment, tossing and turning, trying to accept the thirst, patiently (or not so patiently) waiting.

I wonder if I thirst for God in the same way?  Is there a craving for Him?  A sense of desperation?  A desire for Him above all else?

The entire experience has opened my eyes to understand a bit more about what thirsting for God means.  It also opens my eyes to realize what Jesus must have felt when, on the cross, He cried out, "I thirst".

May we say with the  psalmist, "As the deer pants for streams of water so I long for You, O God."  Psalm 42:1

SEEING RIGHT SIDE UP

And He (Jesus) caught the blind man by the  hand and led him out of the village, and when He has spit on his eyes and put His hands upon him, He asked him, Do you see anything?

And he looked up and said, I see people, but they look like trees walking.

Then He put His hands on his eyes again, and the man looked intently and he was restored, and saw everything distinctly - even what was in a distance.
                                    Mark 8:23-25

Are we looking at things right side up?  Are we looking at things from God's perspective?  In this world, sometimes it is difficult to see things clearly.  We allow our fears, hopes, anxieties and dreams to shape what we think we see. 

Because our thoughts can mislead us, we need to take those thoughts to God so we can SEE right side up, so we can think His thoughts about a matter.

What helps us think right side up?
Be still before God.
Take our thoughts and emotions to the Throne of God.
Listen to His still small voice which will speak into our hearts and give us peace.
Read His Word for instructions and comfort and…all we need to know.
Obey what He gives us to do.
Trust Him implicitly.

Jesus may need to touch our eyes many times to keep us seeing right side up, but let's go to Him as many times as needed for seeing aright.

Heavenly  Father, Please heal my 'sight' so I can see with Your eyes, think Your thoughts and act accordingly.  In Jesus'  name.  Amen.

'Reflections of God's Glory' copyright 2013 Dawn Ulmer   deu49097@yahoo.com

BE DOERS OF THE WORD

And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to.  If you don't obey, you are only fooling yourself.  For if you listen and don't obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  But if you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law - the law that set you free - and you do what it says and don't forget what you have heard, then God will bless you for doing it.  James 1:22-23

Recently, at my place of employment in a business banking customer care center,  some training was required for a group of us which would increase our skill sets.  In-depth training was provided.  The manual was full of details to be able to do the tasks to meet the customer's  needs.  We were to use our computers to practice what we read in the manual.   Well, that was great for everyone else who had access to the program.  Due to some glitch, I did not have access.  So, while waiting for the access, I studied that manual, underlined, highlighted and added tabs all week.

When it was time to start taking live calls, I just then received access  to the system.  I found that no matter how hard I'd studied that manual, it was rough navigating since I'd never had the hands-on practice.  After four weeks, I am just now feeling more comfortable at 'doing'.

Through this experience, I was able to catch a glimpse of one of the ways God works in our lives.  He has given me the scriptures to see what is expected.  I can read, underline, study and tab and try to make them a part of my mind and heart - yet without DOING in order to practice what He tells me, learning is incomplete.  I need to hear and DO to be able to make the skills mine.

For example, God tells  us in His Word that we are to forgive those who hurt us.  Just reading that, I can nod my head in agreement.  Yet it isn't until He sends someone along who REALLY hurts me that I must take that nodding of the head in agreement and turn into real, honest hands-on DOING.  It is only in the DOING that a particular quality is added to my life.

How about you?  About what has the Word been speaking to you?  What lies in your pathway which needs the DOING to make it yours?  Let's do it! 

Heavenly Father, please help  me to HEAR what You are telling me and then empower me to DO it.  In Jesus'  name.  Amen.

'Reflections of God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer deu49097@yahoo.com

I CAN'T - I CAN

                                                                I Can't
I (Jesus) am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit for apart from Me (Jesus) you can do nothing.                                John 5:5

                                                                 I Can
                   I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.               Philippians 4:13

Have you ever reached a point in your life when you felt like you  could not go one more step?  Maybe it is because of a physical or emotional challenge. You have run out of steam and cannot  keep going …  one more minute.  You are at the end of yourself.  You find yourself saying, "I can't".  You realize that apart from God and His strength you can do nothing.  Your own strength will not get it done.

God hears us when we cry out and admit "I can't"  in our own strength.  Then when we cry out for His help, that's exactly when He steps in to turn the "I can't" into "I CAN".  He knows we are only made of dust and we need all of the help He is so willing to provide to each of us.

I love this scripture from Psalm 18 beginning at verse 6:
In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.
He heard my voice, my cry to Him reached His ears.
Then the earth quaked and trembled; the foundation  of the mountains shook…
He bowed the heavens and came down.
He reached from on high, He took me, He drew me out of many waters.
He brought me forth into a broad place…
He delivered me….

Heavenly Father, thank You for, so many times,  turning my life from "I Can't" to "I CAN"….  Because of Jesus.  Amen.

'Reflection for God's Glory' copyright 2013 Dawn Ulmer  deu49097@yahoo.com

EVERY WORD

       For out of the fullness - the overflow, the superabundance - of the heart the mouth speaks.

                      The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things,
                    and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.

  But I (Jesus) tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle 
                                                               word they speak.

      For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be 
                                                        condemned and sentenced.
                                                               Matthew 12:34-37

It is always disconcerting, at work, to be invited to a call listening session.  A small conference room is set up for five customer service representatives, also allowing room for five team leaders and the group leader.   Filing in, a seat is taken, the conference call is prepared  to include those in leadership positions from Pittsburgh, Ohio and Michigan.  A call is chosen from a recent phone interaction with a customer.  Everyone is prepared to listen, with pens in hand.

If the call chosen is yours, you  hold your breath as all ears intently listen to every word - the tone, the pace, the pitch, the content…every detail is listened to and analyzed.  One hopes that a GOOD call is chosen, a strong call. As the tape rolls, you wonder WHAT you said?  How would it measure up to the requirements placed upon us?

This entire evaluation and coaching situation reminds me of how God is recording our every  word.   He hears the actual words we use, the tone, and the motive and intent behind the words.  How careful we need to be with every word we say.

                                          Death and life are in the  power of the tongue. 
                                                                  Proverbs 18:21

God is listening…. 

Heavenly  Father, please set a guard at the door of my lips so that the words I utter may bring honor to You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

REAL LIFE

…the godly…even in old age will still produce fruit;  they will remain vital and green.  They will declare, "The Lord is just!  He is my rock!  There is nothing but goodness in Him.."     
                                                                                                                            Psalm 92:12-13

A visit to the greenhouse in early spring is always a delight.  This year seemed to be the year of the Ranunculus.  Everywhere I looked, I saw perfection in those blossoms, buds and leaves. 

The Ranunculus had been grown from bulbs and now were a vision of perfection, at the height of their glory.  Of course they were, they were grown in a greenhouse where conditions are ideal.  The lighting, humidity, temperature , soil, fertilizer and watering schedule were perfectly suited to grow them to perfection.

Of course I adopted a few and brought them home to conditions which were not so perfect.  The temperature was not perfect.   The lighting was different.  The watering schedule  was not as precise…and they began to show signs of being in a world which was not all that perfect.

We, too, are in a world where all is not perfect.  Even before and during birth, we experienced the stresses and strains of being human in a broken world.

As years passed, we broke our bones, we experienced illness, we get older, good and not so good memories are housed within our minds.  When we look  at ourselves today, we know clearly that we have been 'through it' in so many ways.

Yet God, in His wisdom, only allows into our lives that which was and is for our ultimate good as we've matured and grown in our spirits, souls and bodies.  He knows the perfect conditions to grow…each of us. 

We can trust that He knows just what He is doing.  We can say with the Psalmist:

There is nothing but goodness in Him!

THE LIGHT

Jesus said to the people, "I am the light of the world.  If you follow Me, you won't be stumbling through the darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life."                   John 8:12

A friend of mine took the photo which is above.  Also being a follower of Jesus and a long time reader of 'Reflections', Fred asked if he could send me a photo around which to write a devotional.  Of course, Fred. 

He sent the photo.  I began to ponder, thinking that Fred may have seen and thought differently than what I was thinking.  I didn't want to trample over what the Lord may have been showing him, so asked him to please share his thoughts.

He did:

1.  The little plant was able to overcome seemingly impossible obstacles by following The Light.

2.  Rising above worldly things , the little plant rose above the other plants on the swamp floor - again, by following The Light.

3.  By following The Light, the little plant was experiencing life in a way that the other plants in the shadows below the boardwalk could not even imagine.

As we follow The Light - Jesus - my prayer to the Father for each of us is:

May we overcome seemingly impossible obstacles by following The Light.

May we rise above worldly trials, tribulations and 'things' by following The Light.

May we have a life  in which we experience Life in a way which we cannot even imagine, it is so good.

Thank you, Father, that You have only good planned for us as we follow The Light.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

               'Reflections for God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer deu49097@yahoo.com
                                                      Please feel free to share.

                                        Thank you to Fred Johnson from North Carolina

God's Strength

                              God remains the strength of my heart.             Please read all of Psalm 73

Glorious Destiny

                       You (GOD) guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.
                                                                                                                        Please read all of Psalm 73

The Next Generation

                          Let each generation tell its children of Your mighty acts.     Psalm 145:4

FRAGILE WINGS

God says…"you are mine.. I will be with you."  Isaiah 43:1-2

When the weather gets cold each year in the northern and eastern United States, the Monarch butterfly begins its migration south to Mexico, 2500 miles away.

How can these delicately winged creatures fly through rain, wind and hot sun yet still remain intact to begin another generation?  They appear so fragile yet are quite tough and resilient to endure and thrive!

Sometimes living in this world, do you feel like that butterfly - so human, so delicate,    battered as you navigate through your life in this world?  What is the secret that the Monarch knows which keeps them going and which carries them so far?  What is it that we need to know?

Looking a bit deeper in Isaiah 43, I recently was amazed  at these words:

When you go through deep waters and great trouble…
When you go through rivers of difficulty…
When you walk through the fire of oppression….

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name, you are Mine….  When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you.  

That is the answer!  God is with us as we walk where He wants us to walk.  God is with the Monarchs as they travel this world.  They just do what they were given to do, mile after mile.  May we, too, do what God has given us to do.  He is with us!

Heavenly Father, thank You that I am but dust, delicately made…yet resilient, tough, ready to go the distance as You direct.  Thank you for being with me!  That fact means all the difference to me.  Thank you, in Jesus' name.  Amen.

'Reflection of God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer   deu49097@yahoo.com
Thank you to my son, Sam Morrison for allowing the use of the Monarch image.
Please feel free to share.

When Afraid

  
                                      But when I am afraid I put my trust in You.      Psalm 57:3

He is Close

                                    The Lord is close to all who call on Him.        Psalm 145:18

The Lord Helps

                     The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their load.     Psalm 145:15

BE WILLING

                                 I delight to do Thy will, O God  Psalm 40:8

While reading Psalm 101 the other day, I was amazed at all of the 'I will' statements throughout.

I will sing of  Your love and justice…
I will praise You, Lord, with song…
I will be careful to live a blameless life…
I will lead a life of integrity in my own home…
I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar…
I…will have nothing to do with….crooked dealings…
I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from evil…
I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbor…
I will not endure conceit and pride…
I will keep a protective eye on the godly…

Our lives become what we will or desire.  Choosing in the will to do or not to do something sets our course - toward pleasing God or away from pleasing God.  There is no middle of the road.

May we join in with the psalmist to declare 'I will'.

What are YOUR 'I will' statements?

Heavenly Father, Please empower me to say from my heart, "I desire to do what pleases You in thoughts and actions".  Please make what pleases You so clear that I cannot ignore You   Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

'Reflections of God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer  deu49097@yahoo.com
                                                          Please feel free to share.

He Loves

 
                                 He loves me with unfailing love.                Please read all of Psalm 117

His Light

                                         He brings light to the deepest gloom.               Please read all of Job 12

His Hand

Though they stumble, they never fall - for the Lord holds them by the hand.

                                                                                                         Read all of Psalm 37

IN THE LIGHT

Have you ever experienced being 'blue', depressed, down, in the doldrums, out of sorts?  Of course, we all have.

Have you wondered how to get out of that place - how to get to a brighter place?

Of course, we know that if we take our eyes off the problems, our heartaches and ourselves and then look to God and to what He wants done,  then the blue mood lifts.

Here are a few things God gives in His Word which can also be of help to move us into a brighter place:

Share your food with the hungry
   and welcome poor wanderers into your homes.
   Give clothes to those who need them….

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
     and your healing shall spring up quickly,
     Your vindication shall go before you,
     the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.      Isaiah 58:7 & 8

There are many ways to share food with the hunger - plant a garden and share the produce, take someone out to eat, invite them into your home, donate money for food, cook a meal for a neighbor and drop it off.

There are many ways to bring wanderers or the homeless into your homes besides actually physically doing so if you cannot - donate items to shelters, donate money, write notes to those who are lonely and bring them into your life.

Give clothes to those who need them - let's  look in our closets, garages and basements,  We could probably clothe an entire family with our extras.

Notice that the light begins to shine when we do God's Word..  No more darkness, only the light of  God is present.

Let's try it - eyes on God and begin to do some of the things God directs you, personally, to do.

Heavenly Father, I hate being in such a dark place.  Please, in Jesus' name, show me practical steps that I can take to walk away from it.  Amen.

His Goodness

     
                    He never left them without evidence of Himself and His goodness.     Acts 14:17

Speak Up

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, ensure justice for those being crushed.

Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice.

Proverbs 31:8-9

MAKE IT HAPPEN !!!

So you see it isn't enough just to have faith.  

Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all - it is dead and useless.  

                                                                                                                                     James 2:17

As the new year unfolds, what are some of the 'shoulds' which have been echoing in your mind?

Do they sound somewhat like this:

I 'should be more patient with my spouse…my children…my elderly parents…my neighbor…my friend….

I 'should' eat more oatmeal and take longer walks.

I 'should' do my work more carefully and diligently.

I 'should' clear out some of this clutter from my basement…garage…closets.

i 'should' read the Word daily…pray more diligently.

The list of 'shoulds' goes on and on, sunrise to sunset, day after day.  What are your 'shoulds'?  Which 'shoulds' are from God?  Which are 'shoulds' that society dictates or that your own guilt screams about.   Wouldn't it be best to take those echoing 'shoulds' and surrender them to God so He can tell you what 'shoulds' HE wants you to tackle?

When it is clear what GOD wants, then you  can help MAKE IT HAPPEN.  Not by your own strength but by His Spirit who works within and through you.

For  God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.  Philippians 2:13

Go for it!  MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!  Without faith, it is impossible to please God and without works, our faith is dead and useless.

MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!  Experience all the good God has for you and all the good you can present to Him before His throne.

Heavenly Father, please show me clearly what I should and should  not be doing in this chapter of my life - to bring You honor and glory.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

              'Reflections of  God's Glory' copyright 2013 by Dawn Ulmer deu49097@yahoo.com
                                                              Please feel free to share.