Consistently keep my personal devotions during NaNoWriMo 2008

ever been walking along a road and stuck your foot in a hole and landed face down; knees and hand all bloody and scraped up, ankle in so much pain you couldn’t stand?
metaphorically, that’s how I felt last night. Everything seemed to be going fine. Then I did something really stupid and landed flat on my face
Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

I’ve read this verse over a gazillion times, but this morning when this verse came to mind those two words popped out at me like never before “stumble badly”
often when we fall we don’t gracefully float to the ground, at least I don’t … I make a major mess of things
even when we think we’re strong we “stumble badly” ... in fact, that is often when we fall the hardest. but when we turn and “wait for the Lord” we “will gain new strength”

it amazes me that we have a God that loves us so very much

and each day it is new
even if we have read it before
we have an amazing God

2 Cor 8:16
But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

how often do I get all excited and have real conviction to live for Christ, to do what I know is right and then when I hit a tough spot I fold because I think it’s to hard or I get distracted by something I think is better at the moment, only to find out that I have been fooled once again? Paul encourages these believers to finish what they have started, they have seen what was best and have gotten excited about it. don’t crumble in the temptation of the moment, use the ability that God gives you to stand strong.

Jesus prayed in the garden just before going to the cross
John 17:24
“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me,

We are all starved for the glory of God, not self. No one goes to the Grand Canyon to increase self-esteem. Why do we go? Because there is greater healing for the soul in beholding splendor then there is in beholding self.

John Piper

(Paul said) that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection

in this chapter Paul talks about all he as given up for the life
he now lives in Christ… He gave up everything
to know God and His power .. the power that raised Christ from
the dead … the power that changed His life

the same power that we can know if we are willing to give our lives
completely to God; To have faith in His word.

so far it’s put me behind
well, between that and other distractions
but at this point, I don’t care

this is not what I did my main Bible study on,
but the verse that has been going through my head all day is
John 15:7
if you abide in me and my word abides in you
ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you

I’m going to take this a step farther and make a commitment to not even write until I have had my devotions for the day

this is the first goal that was picked for me under my new goal
“let one of my readers pick a goal for me to complete”
if you want to read how this all came about, you can find it here
I have to admit.. it’s not what I expected
this will work well into what I am doing this next month,
and I was a little concerned that I might get over taxed with any new goal that was given to me.
I am very happy that it’s not senseless like this here that CC suggested …

I don’t mind … pushing my comfort zone … just give me a reason
there were some good ideas by others both on the council and off
I look forward to completing this and finding out what my next goal will be.

thanks everyone for your hard work great ideas and looking out for my best interest … it is just another example why I love this place!