the Lord's character

Psalm 103-104

Do you want to know who the Lord is?  Do you want to know what He is like?  What is His character?

^103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
       slow to anger, abounding in love.

 ⁹ He will not always accuse,
       nor will he harbor his anger forever;

 ¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
       or repay us according to our iniquities.

 ¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
       so great is his love for those who fear him;

 ¹² as far as the east is from the west,
       so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

Heavenly Father, may my whole life praise you.  I pray that my heart, mind, soul, will, emotions, thoughts, and attitudes will all be unified with my spirit in fearing you and loving you.  Lord, you are mighty and awesome.  You are powerful, and you are still gracious and kind.  You are merciful, and your love is never ending.  Lord, thank you for being kind to me and my family.  I pray that my life will bless you.  I love you, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

holiness

Psalm 96-99

Man, this week has been busy!  I need to find balance.  I wonder if I need to be accelerating, coasting, or resting during this time.  It seems like there is so much to do.  I just don't know where the balance is of trusting God and still pulling my weight.

^99:3 Let them praise your great and awesome name.
      Your name is holy!
⁵ Exalt the Lord our God!
      Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!
⁹ Exalt the Lord our God,
      and worship at his holy mountain in Jerusalem,
      for the Lord our God is holy!

Heavenly Father, you are holy.  Lord Jesus, you are holy.  Holy Spirit, you are holy.  Holy Trinity, you are holy.  Lord, please purify me and make me holy so that I may fellowship with you and reflect your character.  I pray that my life will be a continuous demonstration of worship.  Lord, please show me the balance in work, play, and rest, and may they all be expressions of worshiping your holiness.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

meditation

Psalm 84-86

My goal is to meditate on these verses by singing them today:

 ^86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD,
       and I will walk in your truth;
       give me an undivided heart,
       that I may fear your name.

 ¹² I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
       I will glorify your name forever.

Heavenly Father, you have written your law on my heart.  I pray that my body, soul, and spirit will be in harmony with you and your will today.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

vision

Psalm 81-83

As I get rolling here at UTEP (filling out a ton of paperwork, preparing to teach, continuing in research, etc.), it is important for me to keep my priorities straight:

^82:3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
⁴ Rescue the weak and the needy;
    deliver them from the hand of the wicked."

I believe that the Lord has given me a vision of helping people around the world (especially Spanish-speaking regions) gain access to improved water supply and sanitation.  In this way, I will cooperate with the Lord to fulfill this charge in Psalm 82:3-4.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the vision that you have given me.  I know that it is your dream, and I know that it will require many battles, but I know that you are victorious!  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your good work. I praise you, and I love you.  In the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

the Lord is my Shepherd

Psalm 77-78

Last night, I was so anxious and fearful of all of the things that I need to get done in my new job as an assistant professor that I couldn't sleep.  Brandi reminded me of Phil. 4:4-9, and I tried praying through it.  And this morning, the Lord reassured me through His Word that He has been faithful throughout my life and throughout all time, so I simply need to trust and walk by the power of the Spirit:

 ^77:20 You led your people like a flock
       by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

 ^78:15 He split the rocks in the desert
       and gave them water as abundant as the seas;

 ¹⁶ he brought streams out of a rocky crag
       and made water flow down like rivers. ...

 ⁵² But he brought his people out like a flock;
       he led them like sheep through the desert.

Heavenly Father, I trust you, and I give you this vocation.  Lord, I trust that you will provide for me as you have always provided.  May my life be an example of your goodness and kindness, and may I be faithful to seek you, listen to you, and obey you for your glory.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

praise the Lord for his faithfulness

Psalm 70-71

^70:4 But may all who search for you
      be filled with joy and gladness in you.
   May those who love your salvation
      repeatedly shout, "God is great!"

^71:15 I will tell everyone about your righteousness.
      All day long I will proclaim your saving power,
      though I am not skilled with words.
 ¹⁶ I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord.
      I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

The Lord has faithfully carried me through some of the most demanding and exhausting weeks of my life.  The last month of dissertating was ridiculous!  I would have crashed and burned on my own, but the Lord sustained me. 

On top of the dissertation and graduation business, we had to say goodbye to our friends and family in Austin and move to El Paso.  We are going to miss being with them so much, and it was such a blessing to have the going-away party at the Cottons.  The love and generosity from our Great Hills family was overwhelming, and we are so humbled that the Lord would use us to impact other people's lives.

As we were unpacking the other day, we let Beau craw around on the floor in the living room. Brandi and I were both encouraging him to crawl toward me, but he got distracted and crawled over to the front door where there were a few dead bugs and some dirt.  I thought that was a pretty good analogy for our walk with Christ sometimes.  Our Father invites us to spend time with Him, and the Holy Spirit urges us to spend time with the Father, but the world entices us to eat "yucky" stuff instead of enjoying the Bread from Heaven.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithful love and care.  Lord, I want to follow you - wherever you lead.  Lord, please heal my heart from being removed from our family and friends in Austin, and please calm my heart from the intimidation of what lies ahead.  Please fill us with joy and gladness as you continue to pour your love, light, and life through us here in El Paso.  I love you, Lord, and I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

waiting quietly

Psalm 60-62

 ^60:1 I wait quietly before God,
      for my victory comes from him.
 ² He alone is my rock and my salvation,
      my fortress where I will never be shaken. ...
 ⁵ Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
      for my hope is in him.
 ⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation,
      my fortress where I will not be shaken.
 ⁷ My victory and honor come from God alone.
      He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
 ⁸ O my people, trust in him at all times.
      Pour out your heart to him,
      for God is our refuge.

Yesterday was one of the highlights of my life, and simultaneously one of the most heart-wrenching.  The Lord has blessed us so richly through the body of Christ at Great Hills.  I had the privilege of guest teaching in the Pursuit class yesterday morning, and I was so thankful.  The Lord gave me a challenge of holiness - the pursuit of Christ by gaining more of Him and shedding everything of this world.

In the corporate service, I had the great privilege and honor of standing in the baptistry with my Brother Tan as he was baptized.  His bold profession of faith was powerful to hear.  I know that the Lord will do mighty things through him.

In the afternoon, our Brothers and Sisters held a going-away party for us, and it was so wonderful to fellowship together.  Brandi and I were blown away by their generous gifts!  But more than that, we are so grateful for how the Lord has woven together our very lives.  We shared many tears.  I look forward to the day when we can celebrate His goodness together forever!

As I think about all of the dear friends that we are going to miss in Austin, I am overwhelmed.  As I look forward to all of the things that I need to do today before we leave, I am overwhelmed.  As I think about living in a new place, in a new culture, and going to work at a new job, I am overwhelmed.

Heavenly Father, let all that I am wait quietly and patiently on you, because you are the true prize.  Lord Jesus, you are the Way!  Holy Spirit, please comfort our broken hearts, and strengthen my Brothers and Sisters, that we may all grow deeper into Christ.  Lord Jesus, please gain more of  us through this process!  We need  you, Lord!  We need your life!  May your grace and mercy pour through us, and may your Love be shown in our lives.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.