The Incarnation & David

"Who are we/ that You would be mindful of us?"

Ps 113

PRAISE ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

I can't get my mind off the humility that God, whose train of his robe fills the temple, had in becoming man to be crucified by his own creation, by his own people that he'd delivered from death and bondage numerous times, so that we might have life through his shed blood. There is no one like Him. I love this last verse. God does the impossible. I want to be a joyful mother of children for the Lord someday. (Lord, would you heal Kellie of her cysts, please! Thank you)

In accordance with how great the Lord is, yet how he loves us: David's prayer to God in II Sam 7 in response to God's command to build a house for the Lord's name, and his promise to set up David's seed & establish the kingdom by bearing Jesus' in the bloodline of King David (vs 13 'He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.'):

vs18-22

'Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto?

And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD?

And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant.

For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart, has thou done all these great things, to make thy servant know them.

Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.'

[the prayer continues through vs29]

He knows his servant.

He knows me. All of me, every part of me. My dreams, thoughts, weaknesses, sin, strengths, passions, the # of hairs on my head, whom I'm burdened for, every experience and reaction, my needs, my desires, my life, my heart.

I want to know Him. I want to know his thoughts. His will. His heart, his passions, characteristics, attributes, desires. What he hates, what he loves. What He's done and will do. His promises. His list of favorites. What he cares about and what he'll pass over. His stories. How he loves us. His motivations. What makes him smile and laugh, what makes him sad. Everything. I want to know my God like He knows me.

**

In II Sam 9, David bestows the grace God gave him upon some one else- Saul's grandson (Jonathan's son), Mephibosheth- and M. is completely humbled and grateful. This is such a great picture of what just took place btx God and David!

vs 6-8

Now when Mephibosheth... was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!

And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.

And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?

This is how I feel so often when I think about the holiness and might of God, yet how much he loves me and WANTS to bless me! Why would he want to bless such a dead dog as I? Such a traitor as I? Such an infidel? Thank you, LORD. Thank you. I'm so grateful to be called a son of God!

Let's hit it.

II Sam 1:10 'Ishbosheth Sauls's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, ad reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.'

This guy, Ishbosheth, is known as Saul's son and the king against whom David fights the 7 years' war before David is made King over Israel.

This just makes me ponder how much preparation matters and how just one moment could be everything your life stands for.

Jesus didn't start his ministry until he was 30. He spent almost 30 years in training- probably as a disciple of other rabbis! AND HE WAS JESUS! And then he had his ministry on earth for 3 years. whoa.

This is SO IMPORTANT for me to remember! I'm supposed to be making home my mission field because this is where He has me now. I'm supposed to claim my school and work and every where I go (this is difficult to put in action).

I am being prepared for something greater than anything in this world! For the marriage of the church to the Christ! The kingdom is at stake and I need to get a move on it! Let the Lord prepare the way and prepare my heart and prepare a field for me to harvest with my spiritual family.

Sometimes I just itch to get across the seas and reach those that are far from me, especially those who have little to no opportunity to learn about the truth! I desire to reach the least-reached. I desire to be in the eye of the storm! I desire to go to battle.

I've always considered home="staying by the stuff". However; home needs to be a battle too! Maybe in regards to the other countries of the world, I'm here by the stuff doing the hardest work: prayer! (I need to be fervent and consistent in that!) But I am IN the battle when I go to work, when I go to school, when I bow and pray for my roommate and for my sisters and brothers and the lost and the world, when I worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth.

Sometimes I act as if I'm thinking "this moment is not what it's about, so i'll just live BLAH-like for now and really commit myself when the time has come". NO. THE TIME IS NOW. PREPARATION IS JUST AS IMPORTANT! Man, I need to learn that in EVERY aspect. School. Work. Loving People. Obeying the Lord. His ministry via my life. PREP PREP GET READY FOR HIS RETURN. I hate that I've thought things like that and that I'm so prone to becoming lukewarm.

I'm ready. to go. now. Let's dive in. get to it. There are things to do, people to love, time to spend with the Lord and not in making myself look pretty or playing games or staring at the wall. Get up. ready. go.

***

And he set me on fire and I am burning alive.

With his breath in my lungs

I am coming undone.

And I cannot hold it in and remain composed.

Love's taken over me and so I

propose the letting myself go.

I am letting myself go.

You are my joy.

You are my joy.

You are my joy.

You are my joy..

***

There will be those essential years. or maybe a moment. Something that will define you.

They could be now. and then. and tomorrow.

Regardless, For now: Live in the now. Always live in the now.

In everything give thanks.

Psalm 111: The works of God

PRAISE ye the Lord. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.

The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.

His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

***

LORD, help me to REMEMBER your works and your commandments. Help me to SEEK them out and have PLEASURE in them. Help me to FEAR you and your name and to DO your commandments in TRUTH and UPRIGHTNESS. Your name is holy and reverend, worthy to be revered and respected.

Thank you for your precious Word that clearly shows your works to all those who seek them. Thank you for your commandments and the love that is in them.

Thank you for being gracious and full of compassion.

Thank you for sending redemption to the world through your Son, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for allowing me to be your child, my King.

I will Praise you with my whole heart. I will praise you forever.

Psalm 17:2-3

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

'Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;'

Sentence comes from the Hebrew word mishpat meaning judgement or verdict. I think discernment. Let me not trust in my own knowledge & decisions, but my conclusions, decisions, and "verdicts" be made in spending time with You, Lord, & hearing your voice. I pray for wisdom and discernment that honors and exalts your name & increases my faith so that I may please you.

'Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal'

Father, when you see me and behold the things that are in my life, I want them to be pure and right. May I be righteous before you through Jesus' blood. May I walk upright and humble with a right heart and clean mind. May everything I do be for the LORD & of faith!

'Thou hast proved mine heart'

Over & over again I have failed You, but Lord, my heart's desire is to serve you with all I am no matter my emotions or circumstances. I am yours, Jesus. Consume me, Father. Be LORD over me and prove my heart.

'Thou hast visited me in the night'

I remember when I gave up my pride, admitted my sin & begged for your forgiveness. I was in jr. high- the end of 8th grade- * I cried out and begged for You from my bed. I told my mom the sins I was holding onto that I hadn't yet admitted and as I lay in bed, now turned from my sin and looking toward You, You held me in your arms. You visited me that night and I have been forever changed.

'Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing'

I have been tested. I've gone through trial. I have been caught in my own sin, but now I am here with You. Though friends have taken their own lives, though I've had several fathers, though I've felt betrayed and hated myself at times, I am here. I am surrendered and at your feet. Try me; I pray you find nothing. Give me strength, courage, & wisdom to walk righteously in every trial. Be please by me, your beloved daughter.

'I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress'

God, help me choose wise words that edify people and glorify You. Make my heart right, that my lips may speak my heart wisely and carefully. Let me love people with my lips and let me keep my heart by keeping my mouth shut when needed.

I have Blue days too

It is so much easier to sing about my desires to give my all to Christ than to go out and actually do so. My heart is truly for that. I want Him to be my everything all of the time.

At the same time, I don't want to be all about DOING all the time. or ever. I just want to be with him and walk in the Spirit while worshipping in spirit and in truth.

But do my actions or LACK of certain actions honor and please the Lord? Am I concerned about the state of the people around me, am I concerned about the Lord's will WHILE I'm living my daily life? I want to be. I want everything I do to be about Him and about the mission. Not about me. About me= misery. About Him= power, truth, out-of-this-world amazingness.

FATHER, GIVE ME UTTERANCE. Speak through me, love others through me.

I just need to pray. Fervent, passionate prayer.

*

oh my gosh, little yippie dog in some random loft across the way: SHUT UP. seriously. you're so annoying and no one likes you, flufferton. please. stop. now. dang it.

*

I really miss home. I miss my family. I don't know if I want to live on my own anymore :( It's nice, yes, but is it necessary? Did the Lord really tell me to move or did I just really want to move? I can't remember. I kinda want to move in with my dad. I'm sure I'll be fine once May arrives. I'm blaming it on the weather!

*

I am so dang excited to go on a mission to Spain and Morocco with an awesome group of mission-minded people who love the Lord and people! I know God is going to do a work in that place, in my life, in everything. I am excited and ready to get my praying on. Unleashing heaven on earth. BOOYAH. that's the word of the day.

*

I am sick of being alone so much. I just need another body in the room! Preferably a sister or two. Or a few brothers is okay.

*

I need to study music theory. I have a big test Jan 11 (over the entire 1st semester that I was and wasn't there for). I also want to study spanish. And guitar. and more than anything the Bible. but what in the Bible? hmm.

*

I'm quite lonely. and spoiled.

Live in the now. Pray right now. Be vigilant right now. Look for his coming.

I've been wasting time, and I need to get to work. Satan is at work. Ugh, it's so frustrating, but I know that you have already won, Jesus!

I want to want nothing but you. I want to desire what you desire and be passionate about what your heart is all about. I want to be engaged in the mission. I want to be engaged in discipleship and growing others and growing myself. I need help loving people. I need help keeping my brothers and sisters accountable, and I need accountability too. I need to be completely honest with myself and with my spiritual family. I need to let go of every hold I have on this world in my life. I need to fight fervently in prayer for and with my family so the glory and will of the King may be unleashed on this earth.

Jesus, would you be all that I want? I KNOW that you're all I need, but my actions and thoughts don't always portray or reflect that knowledge. Conform me, mold me, change me. I NEED YOU so badly. I need you to move. I'm begging you.

It'd be so nice to be able to completely convey my feelings and thoughts into words, but I always think in ideas! And when I think in words I forget them so quickly. But that's okay if no one else understands, or if even I don't understand the battle that is going on within me and around me. As long as I have You, I know that I have the victory.

I am desperate, but my flesh wants to sleep. I am a soldier, but my flesh wants to be safe. I am a child of God, but I lose my perspective.

Really, that is what I need. The Right Perspective.

Open doors. Open my eyes!

I have the answer, and so many around me do not! Help me get my act together. I need to trust you and get rid of my
doors, please, Father! Save the lost around me. I cannot stand to see them blinded any longer. Give me UTTERANCE, PASSION, the HEART and MIND of CHRIST. GIVE ME YOU. Jesus, all I want is you. I want to walk hand in hand with you every day of my life. That's all I want. Let's Go. ***

Psalm 106:1-5

PRAISE ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?

Blessed are they that keep judgemenet, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;

That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.

Catch me.

How to Pray for Deliverance from our Father

And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.

And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD, saying,O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Incline thine ear, O LORD, and hear; open thine eyes, O LORD, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent to reproach the living God.

...Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.

Isaiah 37:14-17, 20

Know. Even When You Don't Know.

I can hear sirens. EVERY NIGHT for several minutes and usually several times I hear soooo many sirens. It's crazy. It's like CSI/Criminal Minds/Without a Trace is going on right outside the building. Actually, I've seen CSI vans while I've been driving around a few times... It's alright, I've got my mace. And dang plenty of it.

***

I've really been learning/struggling with just believing and knowing and remembering that God has it all figured out. I feel like I need direction in every aspect of my life and I have no clue what I'm doing. I know that's okay, but it's just difficult to continually let God be in control, even when I can't see what He's doing or where He's taking me.

Hey, but it's exciting when I remember He knows me better than I know me, and He has everything figured out! I just need to seek Him and find out his will.

***

Psalm 101:2

I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way.

O when wilt thou come unto me?

I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

Check me.