For several weeks there has been an ad on the christian radio for a chocolate breakfast with the DJ and a local cook...."come, You Deserve it," they say. Vacations...you deserve it. A new car...you deserve it...
What's all this about "you deserve it"? Evidently it is something that Christians and non-Christians agree upon. There is an element of that thought that doesn't ring true to me. Maybe it is all those verses that echo "there is none righteous, no not one" Romans 3:10, or "all have fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23. Where in those verses do I deserve a scoop of ice cream, a new outfit or a magazine or a new boat? This dialogue has been going on in my mind for months and the verse of the day brought again to my mind.
"The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." 1 John 2 : 17
My desires are most often for myself, or for my kids, certainly not for doing the will of God. I get so caught up in all that I am supposed to do I forget that "whether you eat or drink or whatever I do, do it all for the glory of God" 1 Cor. 10:31. Another good verse is 1 Peter 4:11.
Psalm 51 Calls out for mercy and is a prayer of repentance instead of proclaiming how good David's been and deserves better. Amen
After typing "May the words of my mouth" into Google I came upon this very thoughtful "sermon" by a Jewish rabbi. She quotes a wonderful poem by children's author Judith Viorst.
Another search brought me to this site to listen to a song by Tim Hughes "May the words of my mouth.." This "surrendering all" doesn't seem to suggest that we deserve new furniture or vacations. Does anyone else have trouble knowing where a verse is found even though they know the verse? I finally found where the part about the "meditations of my heart" is located:
Psalm 19
"The heavens declare the glory of God;
And the firmament shows His handiwork."
Even though we didn't deserve a trip to North Carolina this past weekend it was good to see the firmament showing His handiwork.
7 comments:
beautiful photograph....
i totally agree with your post and i too, get caught up in the "i deserve" mentality. if i truly got what i deserved, i would be miserable!
thank you God for your grace and mercy!
ditto here, too.
Hey Emily, I came across a picture the other day of us at Hannah's 1st birthday party. John Thomas was in a stroller and we were at some parade. I don't remember that very well, but I recognized you and John is the photo. Too funny! That wasn't that long ago!
I meant to say you and Josh in the photo.
12 years...not that long ago? I have such a bad memory...Josh pointed out a place in Cherokee we bought fudge at on our honeymoon...took me a few minutes to remember, I think I need some medication.
I was looking through some photo albums at Michael's dad's and came across a photo of you, me, Michael and Josh...it was sometime near Christmas, I think......many years ago! I'll have to scan it and forward it......
Coinsidence that you and Melissa both found old photos of us...I think not...something is a foot I do believe. :)
Like what??? Another reunion?
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