One Sentence...

This morning when I did my devotions, I read alot of different things that stood out to me, made me think, and challenged me. However, out of everything I read and sought to apply to my life, there was one thing that keeps coming back to me. "May my meditation be sweet to Him." Psalms 104:34. That's it! One sentence! Out of everything I read that little phrase jumped out at me and hit me in the gut! My meditation, what I think about, is it sweet to Him? Probably not! If only all the things that we think about and dwell on throughout the day were honoring to Him....no, not just honoring, sweet! Psalms 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer." There are many other passages, espcially throughout the Psalms, that refer to our thoughts and meditations. This obviously must be important, and I think we all know that it is definitely a challenge. I hope that you will make this your prayer as I have made it mine. Reading this verse this morning, set me up for the entire rest of the day as God has constantly brought that verse back to my rememberance. Is everything I dwell on sweet to Him? Remember, all the different things you think about, God knows every single one of them. You are not the only one who knows your thoughts! Make them pleasing to the Lord!
"MAY MY MEDITATION BE SWEET TO HIM!!!!"

Just Some Personal Reflections

The book of Exodus has had a large impact on me as I read through it throughout the last two weeks. Although I have read through this book on many other occasions, God continued to use this portion of His Word to encourage me and exhort me during what is proving to be an extremely difficult period of my life. When God called Moses, he didn’t feel able or adequate. He wasn’t really sure what to say or do and probably felt very overwhelmed, but that was ok. God choice to use him anyway. In Chapter six of Exodus, it tells the genealogy of Moses showing us that Moses was just a normal guy. He was nobody extraordinary from an all-important or well-known family. Moses was a real person just like anybody else. Despite this, God used him in extraordinary ways. God can use me too!
I really like the character of Moses because he was real. He didn’t really know what to do or say, and he wasn’t afraid to speak his feelings and to ask God why. In Exodus 5:22, Moses asks, “Why is it You have sent me?” Furthermore, when God called Moses, Moses was uncertain. Moses didn’t know what he should say or do. In Exodus 4, God tells Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I the Lord? Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” Later in the chapter, God also tells Moses that not only will he teach him what to say, but “I will teach you what you shall do.” This was so encouraging to me because in the last few weeks I have had to ask God so many times what He is doing. What I should do. What I should say. Oftentimes, I feel as if God isn’t answering, but then I reread this part of Exodus. God knew what He had planned for Moses to do and he used him. The fumbling, mumbling, questioning, afraid Moses—God used him! I guess that means God can use me too. If I could hear God audibly speak to me right now, I suppose He would tell me something similar to what He told Moses: “Jacquelyn, I made your mouth and your eyes and your ears. Trust Me. I will show you what you should do and say, but you have to trust me. You have to go.” Then just like when Moses asked God why, and God responded with the simple statement, “I am the Lord.” God would tell me the same thing. I don’t need to know all the answers or exactly what He is doing I just need to wait on Him. Then, maybe Go d will be able to use me just like He used Moses!

Position Yourself!!!

Over the last few weeks, God has been bringing one verse to mind over and over again. I have to say it is a pretty cool verse; so I would like to share it with the rest of you (the rest of you being whoever reads this)! 2 Chronicles 20:17 says, "You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you." Seems like a pretty simple verse right? Well, it just really got me thinking. Oftentimes, I try to fix things and work them out when that isn't my job. God tells me that the battle isn't mine--that I don't need to fight. Instead, I am told to simply position myself! My job is to seek the Lord and be ready to do whatever it is He asks me to. That's it. If I would just be ready and willing to serve Him, then all I have to do is wait and watch and see God work. Now, that is awesome! So today I am going to go out and position myself wherever God calls me to because He is with me! I don't know about you but I can't wait to see what He does today--to see the salvation of the Lord!!!!

What is a "Student of the Word"?

I am beginning my first ever post in my first ever blog! This is exciting--kinda! This blog is called "Becoming a Student of the Word," so you are probably wondering: what on earth does that mean? Well, basically the purpose of this blog is simply to share what God is teaching me through the Bible, His Word. God is my teacher, and I am His student. It is the student's responsibility to listen to, learn, and apply what his professor is teaching. Therefore, in order for me (and you) to do this we need to become students of the Word of God, reading and applying it to our lives! So now you know what this blog is all about! It isn't anything extraordinary merely my thoughts on what God is teaching me and a record of different verses God has recently shown me or is using in my life. I hope that maybe these verses can be an encouragement to you too! So here it goes.....