THY WORD

Psalm 119 The Message
a paraphrase [selected verses]

1-6 You're blessed when you stay on course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.

You're blessed when you follow His directions, doing your best to find Him. That's right—you don't go off on your own; you walk straight along the road He set. You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now You expect us to live it.

Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course You set;

17-18 Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off Your road. Open my eyes so I can see what You show me of Your miracle-wonders. I'm a stranger in these parts; give me clear directions. My soul is starved and hungry, ravenous!— insatiable for Your nourishing commands.

41-48 Let Your love, God, shape my life with salvation, exactly as You promised; Then I'll be able to stand up to mockery because I trusted Your Word. Don't ever deprive me of truth, not ever— Your commandments are what I depend on.

Oh, I'll guard with my life what You've revealed to me, guard it now, guard it ever; and I'll stride freely through wide open spaces as I look for Your truth and Your wisdom; then I'll tell the world what I find, speak out boldly in public, unembarrassed. I cherish Your commandments—oh, how I love them!— relishing every fragment of Your counsel.

129-136 Every word You give me is a miracle word— how could I help but obey? Break open Your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning. Mouth open and panting, I wanted Your commands more than anything. Turn my way, look kindly on me, as You always do to those who personally love You. Steady my steps with Your Word of promise so nothing malign gets the better of me. Rescue me from the grip of bad men and women so I can live life Your way. Smile on me, Your servant; teach me the right way to live. I cry rivers of tears because nobody's living by Your book!

169-176 Let my cry come right into Your presence, God; provide me with the insight that comes only from Your Word. Give my request Your personal attention, rescue me on the terms of Your promise. Let praise cascade off my lips; after all, You've taught me the truth about life! And let Your promises ring from my tongue; every order You've given is right.

Put Your hand out and steady me since I've chosen to live by Your counsel. I'm homesick, God, for Your salvation; I love it when You show Yourself! Invigorate my soul so I can praise You well, use Your decrees to put iron in my soul. And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me! I'll recognize the sound of Your voice. [emphasis added]

I love the TRUTH of God's Word, even when I might write it out in my own paraphrase giving understanding to how God wants me to receive it! Nothing watered down here - just a joy to devour the meal He has prepared in this Psalm all about His Word. Let God's Word speak to you today - not matter how He brings it across your path. Let's walk the journey together - in unity rather than division, loving each other rather than condemning. May His TRUTH give you understanding, JOY, peace, and... an ability to follow hard after Him.

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Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

PRINCESS WARRIOR

GUEST POST
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The Princess Warrior
by D.J. Hughes © 2010

One of my daughter’s favorite movies is “The Princess Diaries.” In the film, an average American teen discovers that she is the heir to a royal throne – a kingdom currently being ruled by a long-lost relative. Beneath her frizzy hair and clunky glasses, this young girl is really a princess, complete with castle and crown.

The movie was a major box-office success as it struck a chord with nearly every girl’s secret wish: to be a princess. So what does it mean to be a princess?

Simply put, a princess is someone born to prominent parents. And the perks of being a princess are palatial. Besides expensive clothes and designer purses, a princess typically doesn’t have to work very hard at anything – except being pretty – and even that probably comes easily. And that’s to say nothing of the inherent fairy-tale love story wherein a prince rescues the fair maiden from some mild form of distress – such as taking a seriously long nap – as in the case of Sleeping Beauty.

Being a princess – what’s not to love? It’s easy luxury. But on this earth, it’s reserved exclusively for the elite. Thankfully, such an elite status does not exist in God’s Kingdom, for Jesus spoke of His Father’s open invitation. Everyone, rich or poor, are invited to dine at His heavenly banquet (Luke 14:15-24).

In Scripture, anyone who has surrendered her life to Christ is a daughter of the King. Thus, by virtue of His Kingship and our adoption, then we too can call ourselves a princess in a very real, spiritual sense. We are joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

Despite this truth, the word princess bears such pansy-like connotations that I am reluctant to consider myself one. I much prefer the metaphor of spiritual warrior to that of spiritual princess. I would rather see myself as strong and capable and independent. Yet, this desire for self-sufficiency can, if taken to an extreme, become a stumbling block. As a follower of Christ, I must beware of falling prey to the kind of secular mindset that says I can be the master of my own domain – that I can, with enough hard work, control my own destiny.

This way of thinking negates the cross. No matter how self-sufficient any of us become in our own estimation, we will always need a Savior.

Our need to be rescued is a very real one. But it is a deeply spiritual need. The enemy knows this, so he tries to distort our desires and then deceive us into believing that another person could be the solution to our innermost problem; hence, that a man could rescue a hapless princess or a damsel in distress. But only God can rescue, redeem, and restore. This is why Jesus came.

But when Jesus came to this earth the first time, He did not meet the standard expectations of a King. Rather, He rode a donkey and washed people’s feet. The Son of
Man came, not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

(Matthew 28:20). Likewise, if we are born again, then our true calling as the King’s daughter is to serve. Being a servant, though, hardly resembles our idea of royalty.

For instance, even when a young Esther was suddenly catapulted to earthly princess status, her purpose lay beyond the posh and pampered lifestyle of the palace. She was called to serve her people – even at the risk of her own life.

Many of us today may not feel like a princess. We can look around us and see lots of other people enjoying fancier homes and more elaborate lifestyles. In some ways, being a princess today is a little like the awkward girl in the Disney movie – out of place and very much alone – lost and unsure in this world about who we are. But when we surrender our lives to Christ, He lavishes his great mercy upon us. He removes every stain and wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). He exchanges our ashes for his beauty (Isaiah 61:4). Instead of designer clothes, we receive a garment of praise – instead of a tiara, a crown of life.

As members of this sisterhood of princesses, we must represent a Kingdom altogether different than the one Hollywood typically portrays. We must clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Colossians 3:12). And instead of being waited upon, we must serve with the same attitude of Christ, who did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness (Philippians 2:6-7).

Taking the very nature of a servant. That is the call.

But one day the trumpet will sound. Scripture promises that Jesus will come again, only this time He will be riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11). And when He does, his followers will return with Him (Revelation 17:14), which means that being a princess and a warrior is not mutually exclusive; rather, in Christ, they are one and the same.

The End

D.J. Hughes is a daughter of the King. She grew up attending church, but when she was an awkward teenage girl herself, she met Christ in a very personal way. On a mountaintop at summer camp, the Word challenged her to know God deeply, and not be content with just about knowing information about Him. Today, she devotes her time to serving the people that God has placed in her life: her husband and three kids, her friends and church family, and those in her community. One of the ways she feels called to serve the Body of Christ is through writing and teaching the truths of God’s Word. You may reach her at: www.thequietquill.blogspot.com

DISCIPLINE IS LOVE = Part 4

DISCIPLINE IS LOVE = Part 4
Wrap-Up
by Stephanie K. Brower © 2010

Respect [for God’s and the parent’s authority] is developed through discipline. Take time to properly discipline your children. Properly, meaning: with thought, with action, at the time when the problem occurs. It may not always be easy. It might even be embarrassing, but the closer you bring the discipline action to the time of the incident, the better. Your authority as the parent and your follow-through, is key for the child to know that the boundaries you have set in advance – hold!

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Please join me for my final post at Titus 2 In Action, hosted by Sonya Thompson.

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Choosing JOY, Stephanie

Thank Heaven for Little Girls?

Right around the time I found out last June, that my son and daughter-in-law were expecting their third child, God had this waiting for me. The doctors are fairly sure that the little one she is carrying is a girl!

Being 'Mom-Mom' to 7 boys and 1 girl has been a treasure. It's hard to imagine how you can love each one as if they were the only one - but you just do! I am blessed beyond measure with each one! And it is my job to pray for them to become 'mightly warriors for God's kingdom purposes'! I have a feeling that this next little girl will join the others as a 'strong warrior' in her own right!

My precious ones are Justin, Ethan, Collin / Drew, Tessa, Braden / Jyden, Malachi, #9 Baby Girl?

And to think I also have 8 more in heaven ~ waiting there to meet! My husband is blessed to care for them now. He will be gone 4 years this month! Having grandchildren helps me to keep going ~ and to keep his precious memory alive!

Praise God for the miracles He has done in our family! The Lord is forever faithful!

Psalm 22
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before Him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and He rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before Him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim His righteousness
to a people yet unborn— for He has done it.

Choosing GREAT JOY,
Stephanie

DISCIPLINE IS LOVE - Part 3

The ‘rod’ is necessary or the child will become spoiled and will rule the house. God never intends for a child to rule his own father or mother. That example shows the child that he has control , over the household ~ even over God. His mind will remain self-seeking and warped without proper discipline and training.

Proverbs 13:24 [NIV]
He who spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is careful to discipline him. [emphasis added]

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[the word ‘careful’ here, reminds me that we must ‘care in full’ for our children.]

Please join me over at TITUS 2 IN ACTION, hosted by Sonya Thompson. Click the link below and head over to Mighty Warriors.

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

DISCIPLINE IS LOVE - Part 2

A child should be shown from an early age about making a choice to obey his father and mother always. When a child chooses to disobey ~ there must be consequences set forth ~ so that the discipline brings them back to the path of choosing obedience first. To obey or not to obey? ~ this is the question of life – both for children and for us as adults in our walk with God.

Please join me over at TITUS 2 IN ACTION, hosted by Sonya Thompson.

Click on the link below and then on Mighty Warriors link:

Choosing JOY, Stephanie

On the WINGS of the DAWN...

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Choosing JOY, Stephanie

CENTERED on LOVE

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie