Thursday, January 1, 2009
Praise for the new year
In January each year I choose a fruit of the coming year. In 2008 I asked for peace, in 2007 for joy, and for 2006 for goodness. It's enlightening for me to look back and see how the Lord both knew what I needed to ask Him for in the coming year as well as to see how He produced those characteristics in my life through specific situations. This year, I've realized that more than a specific fruit, I need to ask Him for a spirit of praise no matter what the circumstances that come in 2009. David Jeremiah recently spoke about how Mary and Joseph never anticipated what would happen to them following their betrothal. Some of their plans materialized, others didn't, and there was a mix of both struggle and joy. Yet God was glorified as He unfolded their story. May I praise Him this year in how He chooses to unfold my story He has planned for me.
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2 comments:
Wow! This is cool. I just wrote on your wall, before I looked at the blog and wished you and John a "fruitful" year. Our pastor just spoke on how essential it is for us to have "fruit" in our lives if we want to glorify God (john 15). And here on your blog you're talking about fruit, and how you've asked for specific fruit in the past.
I think about the fruit of the Spirit everyday. It is inseperable from the kingdom of God. Gal 5 says those who practice the "deeds of the flesh" will not inherit the kingdom of God... BUT the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy... Paul is almost equating the fruit of the Spirit with the Kingdom of God. Do you agree?
I love how Paul says of the fruit of the Spirit, "against such things there is no law", and how in Romans he defines the kingdom of God as "righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit." Again, it sounds like the kingdom of God is all about the fruit of the Spirit again. :)
One word about Praise-- or a Spirit of Praise, as you mentioned: I long for more of this in my life too. And I have found that when I have that Spirit of praise, I experience more of the fruit of the Spirit, especially joy and peace. In fact, God will often use my experience of lacking joy, or the absence of peace, to remind me to get back in the Spirit. Like Dr. Wecks taught me... being filled with the Spirit is not as much about tongues or prayer languagese as it is about being filled with thankfulness/praise, songs of joy, and submission to others in the fear of God (Ephesians 5).
So my prayer for you for 09, Mrs. Wecks, is that God is very generous in granting your request for a spirit of praise. And I hope that you do not have much sadness or fear or anxiety about your circumstances this year. But mostly I pray that if you do experience any of that yucky stuff, that God quickly uses those feelings to remind you to get back to that spirit of praise! For that will be the way to get back to the joy and peace that we all want for ourselves and for God's glory.
Thanks for reading!
Dear Carley,
How interesting God's ways. While reading about Pastor Paul's heart condition your picture and blog came up ! Oh my,you are going backwards in age! Jenny and I have a small connection now through Facebook....love seeing her family pictures.
Maryann/Brian are parents of four. One of our highest life privileges was being at the Ethiopian orphange December 2007 when Ella and Caleb were brought to us as their family. Never again would they be without a home or family.
A new 'extended ministry' is going to Saudi Arabia for 7 weeks for Warren to serve as relief pastor to expatriate churches. Last summer we were there 6 weeks. Only God could send us to our Saudi family with Aramco paying the expenses.
With fond memories. Love, Shirley
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