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Friday, January 2, 2009

God Really Spoke to Me Through this Devotional This Morning




Woe Is Me!
So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." '(Isaiah 6:5)

An exalted view of God brings a clear view of sin and a realistic view of self. A diminished view of God brings a reduced concern for sin and an inflated view of self. Isaiah may have been satisfied with his personal holiness until he saw the Lord in His unspeakable glory. Isaiah’s encounter with holy God made him immediately and keenly aware of his own unholiness and the sinfulness of those around him. It is impossible to worship God and remain unchanged. The best indication that we have truly worshiped is a changed heart.

Have we so conformed ourselves to a sinful world that we are satisfied with unholy living? Have we sunk so far below God’s standard that when someone does live as God intended, we consider that person “superspiritual”? If we only compare our personal holiness to those around us, we may be deceived into believing that we are living a consecrated life. Yet when we encounter holy God, our only response can be “Woe is me!”

You will not see those around you trusting Jesus until they recognize a clear difference between you and the rest of the world. God wants to sanctify you as He is holy. When God deals with you, there will be a radical degree of purity about your life that is absolutely different from what the world can produce. The world, including those closest to you, will be convinced you serve a holy God by your consecrated life.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!


Today is the start of 2009 and also the start of our 11 day marathon without Jared. Jared left this morning at 3:30a.m. for Tokyo, Japan. We miss him so much but will be daily praying for his safety and God's effectiveness through Jared. The saddest part for me is hearing Kati Ann asking for "Daddy". We told her that Daddy is on a big airplane. However, she gets excited every time she hears the garage door open because she thinks its her daddy.
You may be wondering how in the world I"m taking care of Kati Ann alone with a broken arm and the answer is I'm not. I thankfully have my in-laws here until Saturday and then my mom comes for the remainder of the stint.
Also, thankfully at this point I'm gaining more use of my arm and feeling much more like myself.