Moments of Quiet Truth

" For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,   the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings ."   Micah 6:6     I'm realizing that in my defense of doctrinal truth, as I understand it, I might in actuality be treating symptoms rather than the illness of insecurity. Am I so concerned that if I don't defend doctrine, that it will fall apart without me? What needs to be held to and what needs to be let go of? I have a strong sense of justice - a gift from above - but how do I feel about mercy? Forgiveness? Steadfast love in the face of rejection? of difference?      Being able to rightly handle the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) is what I should strive for, but how well do I know the Author of that Word? I should always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in me (1 Peter 3:15), but what is my motive for doing so? Is it to prove my understanding correct? To prove that I'm right? To defend God? Do I need to defend the Lion of the tribe of Juda...

" Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.' This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them." John 10:1-6 "The voice of the LORD is over the waters;   the glory of God thunders,   the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful;  the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;   the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes the Lebanon to skip like a calf,   and Sirion like ...

"Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, 'Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.' Jesus said to her, 'Your brother will rise again.' Martha said to him, ' I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. ' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? ' She said to him,' Yes, Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world. " John 11:17-27    ...

In your presence there is fullness of joy,  At your right hand there are pleasure forevermore. Psalm 16:11      I've found that journaling is a very healthy way for me to process. I can talk through things and come to come to a better understanding of things, but journaling is more personal and more helpful. It's another, more concrete way for me to process with God what I'm thinking and feeling. He gives revelation as I work through things on paper.      I was sitting outside earlier this week journaling with God and the Lord showed me something that I had not seen before or taken seriously when I did. I realized that I had refused to take God seriously when He said that He saw me, loved me and accepted me because I didn't think He was that interested in me personally. He seemed distant, uninterested, indifferent to me. I thought He only valued me as I was in good relationship with my parents, pastors, or other friends.  I realized that...

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. John 15:9 When do you doubt the love of the Trinity for you? Do you believe that their love is conditional? Conditional on your behavior, your obedience, on your love for them? When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' He said to him a second time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' He said to him, 'Tend my sheep.' He said to him a third time, 'Simon, son of John, do you love me?' Peter was grieved because he said to him a third time, 'Do you love me?' and he said to him, ' Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you. ' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep.'  John 21:15-17 Jesus knows that you love Him. He sees an...

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,  as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live;  in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. But those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be portions for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars shall be sto...

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love."       The past 6 weeks have been a season of pruning and of revelation about the love of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit for me, His bride. A small group of us were reading through the book of John earlier this week and we didn't make past the end of chapter 14. I then proceeded to continue reading on my own but the Lord hasn't allowed me to move beyond this verse.      I'm generally one who loves racing through life, always wanting to know what's next. The Father has placed me in a position of waiting on Him, slowing down, and spending time with Him. Part of the rushing was due to the fact that I didn't think He had time for me or that He wanted to share His plans for me with me.      He has been so gentle to show me that these things are not so. He has all the time in the world for me and He delights in and enjoys spending time with me! He wants to share His hear...