Be Still and Know That I Am God

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Be still and know that I am God

Be silent and understand my wisdom

Be calm and see my power

Stop struggling and know my strength

Be still and know that I am God

I am God, watch me

I am your wisdom in your folly

I am your power in your helplessness

I am your strength in your weakness

I am God, know me

Be still

Stop your complaints and accusations

Stop your worrys and fears

Stop your flails and gasps for air

Be still

Look at me

Listen, and I will tell you the truth

Watch, and I will calm the storm

Give up, and I will rescue you

Trust me

Be still, for I am God
Be quiet, for I am the Truth
Be calm, for I am Almighty
Let go, for I am your Savior
Be still, for I am God

Green Grass vs. Brown Grass: An Analogy

I was walking barefoot on a hot summer day when this analogy came to mind. First I was walking on brown, dry grass and it felt hot and uncomfortable to my feet. Then I stepped into the lush, green grass. What a difference! The green grass felt refreshingly cool on my feet. As I walked I thought about the difference. The green grass was refreshing and cool because of the life-giving water it contains. The brown grass was hot because it lacked water in its veins. There are many analogies that could be made with this or that are already in the Bible. The one I thought of is in Psalm 1.

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be as a tree planted by the river of waters...”

God's Word is the water. When we meditate on it day and night, it fills our veins with life. It is then that our life gives refreshment to the people we come in contact with. I want this to be true in my life.

Jesus is coming! Are you excited?

About a year ago I wrote the outline and ideas for this article and I have since wanted to write it and share it. Well, I finally did it. Writing this has been such an encouragement to me and I hope it will be to you as well.

Jesus said, "Surely I come quickly" (Revelation 22:20). Jesus' coming is sure, it is soon, and it is a surprise! This is the recipe for the most joyful anticipation.

Jesus' coming is sure! We don't have to wonder, "Is He coming or is he not coming..." We don't know when He will come, but we know He will come for sure. When I was little, my siblings and I always loved to have visitors. One of our favorite things to do was watch out the window for the visitors when it was time for them to come. We did not know the exact time that they would arrive, but we knew they were coming, so we watched in anticipation. Jesus told us to watch for His coming.

Jesus is coming soon! I used to think, "If Jesus was coming soon, how come it's been 2000 years and he hasn't come yet?" However, God gave me a new thought. The verses in Revelation say "I come," (note the present tense) "quickly." It's like Jesus is a long way away but he is running as fast as he can to get to us. Another way you can look at it is like this. When I was going away to college I wrote a note to my little sister. In it I wrote "I will come back soon. Even though it will seem like a long time, when I do come it will seem short. And I am coming as soon as I can." As the day of excitement comes closer and closer, the anticipation builds. Jesus is coming anytime now, and it should be a cause of excitement!

Jesus coming is a surprise! "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only" (Matthew 24:36). In the context of verses like this one, the surprise has a negative connotation. It is a warning. However, I like to look at it from a positive direction. I like surprises. Especially people surprises. When I was at Verity I often longed for my friends who had graduated to come visit. Sometimes those friends would come back for visits, and sometimes it was a surprise. One time I had been longing for a certain friend and I often found myself imagining her coming to visit. One day, while I was studying, I looked up and saw her. I don't usually express my feelings very dramatically, but I was caught off guard. I exclaimed her name in ecstasy and ran toward her and into her arms. I was in complete bliss. I think that is why Jesus' coming is going to be a surprise. He wants to catch us off guard. If we are anticipating His coming in this way, however, our reaction will be ecstasy rather than fear. This example prompts me to ask myself, "Do I anticipate Jesus' coming in this way?"

So are you joyfully anticipating Jesus' coming? I ask myself the same question. If we do, it will change how we live our life. Living with the expectancy of Christ's return will spur us to work with a new energy. It will motivate us to prepare our hearts and lives. It will cause us to live a focused, dynamic life. Jesus is coming! Are you excited?

Fountain of Living Waters

“For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me

 the fountain of living waters,

 and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).

In this verse God is represented by the fountain of living waters, but what do the broken cisterns represent? In verse 11 it says, “Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? But my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.” The cisterns are other gods; gods which we have made ourselves. Their purpose is the same as the purpose of the Fountain -- to quench our thirst and give us life. However, these cisterns are broken; they are of no use. The water of “life” or pleasure quickly drains out. The other gods we create to satisfy our desires do not give life; they take life away from us. Let us turn away from these gods and turn to the Fountain.

There is life in the Fountain, everlasting life! This water is always fresh and new every moment. It will quench our thirst and satisfy the longing of our soul. The Fountain is always giving, pouring out from its abundance, yet it never runs out. Praise God! Let us come to the Fountain of Living Waters and not forsake the living God.